I have spent the greater part of a month attempting to read this book and have finally given up. I am character and plot driven and found myself unsuccessfully forcing myself to read a chapter a day when I finally gave up. Unfortunately I really didn’t like these characters yet I’m sure there are many readers who could get involved from the onset. I’m just not one. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an ARC for an honest review.

I could not get into this book. Maybe I will come back to it later? I just didn’t feel like there was anything exciting about it. It felt predictable and slow. It definitely has the potential to be a great thriller, it just fell flat for me.

When Roman’s longtime girlfriend and the mother of his child, Ashley, ends up dead at the bottom of a cliff, suddenly Roman has to face the fact that he knows little of what Ashley was up to in the last months. Ashley and Roman live with his mother and her Fiancé (Tara and John) and Tara has become the main care taker of their young son, Mason. Was Ashley’s death drug related … or was it something much more sinister? Small town secrets come to life as the story unfolds. None that were earth shattering! With a cast of unlikable characters, open relationships and drug use, this one was not one I enjoyed. As a dual/read listen, the narrators did a good job of telling the story, but it was a story that I was not fond of. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book.

Kinda freaking out over here …

I pray I can do this book AND Julia Dahl, justice with mt review .

I’m a huge fan of Dahl, in case you can not tell. I have read them all, The Missing Hours, invisible city, conviction, run you down, to now, I Dream of Falling.

I literally squealed in delight when my approval email came in.

How did I get so lucky ?

I will tell you one thing, this book, does not disappoint . Not that a Dahl, book ever could but just WOW! This book exceeded my already high expectations and left me in udder disbelief.

The character development was on point, the storyline was narrated with precision and the twist? Well, you are going to have to read it to find out but I promise you, it will leave your jaw on the floor .

In true Dahl, fashion, there is no way you could rate one of her books less than 5 stars without it being considered criminal. So here it goes, I Dream of Falling, breaks the 5 star scale and soars to my number one spot for thrillers.

Check out this teaser:

Roman Grady is the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town - a town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy. But when Roman's longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead, he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life.

And when he starts asking questions, he’s not prepared for the answers.

What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? And why does it seem like everyone in town suddenly has something to hide? As Roman and his mother dig into Ashley’s last few months, the truths they uncover threaten to expose painful secrets. The kind of secrets that can get you killed.

What was cool about this book is that it takes place right in the same area that I live. The town in the book isn't a real town, but they mention real towns in the area as well as the Bear Mountain Bridge.

I enjoyed how realistic these main characters felt. They were just a regular flawed family doing what they could to get by. There's no clear character to root for, other than Mason, because none of them are perfect.

I wasn't able to correctly guess who Ashley's killer was, so hats off to the author for stumping me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This novel red more like Women’s Fiction to me than as a Thriller. I enjoyed reading about the family, but there was more about their day to day lives than about what happened to Ashley and why. There was a lot about the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I understood why. I felt that by the time we found out why things went the way they did, the story was rushed.

Having grown up in a small town, I certainly know far too much about everyone knowing everything. But I also know that sometimes, knowing something and telling someone else are two very different things. And who wants to talk to a reporter anyway? Who wants to give info to someone's ex?

This book was well written and very interesting. It's definitely a book I'll recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

I recognize the height of COVID was 4 years ago, but I still don't think I am ready for books using it as a major point in their books. Unfortunately that point compounded with how slow of a read this one was made it not one I'd reach for.

I was initially ready to write this book off as boring. This book started off so slow and I kept getting confused with who the different characters were that I almost gave up. However, once the story picked up about halfway through, it was very intriguing and I couldn’t get enough! This was definitely a slow burn thriller but I didn’t see the big twist coming which I always see as a win. There is an excessive amount of references to the pandemic, so be forewarned.

Covid covid covid covid.... did it need to be bought up so much? It was repetitive and annoying.

The story was interesting but it was way too slow. Less covid, faster paced and this book would have been the best of the month.

It was a real shame because there was some quality writing here.

3 stars

Wildly intense, and a roller coaster of a ride thriller. Small-town murder mystery crossed with a heartfelt journey of grief, I Dreamed of Falling is excellent. Multiple POV's with a time-hop framework keeps you engrossed in this suspenseful and intense story. Loved it!

"I Dreamed of Falling" is definitely more of a slow burn mystery than the full-on thriller I was expecting! The premise was super intriguing, but I found the constant mentions of COVID a bit grating. 😬 On the bright side, the writing style was fantastic, and that surprising twist at the end? Major points for that! It was slow and sometimes almost painful, but the twist made it worthwhile. Overall, I’m giving it 3 stars!

I DREAMED OF FALLING by Julia Dahl was that slow, twisting, ever-changing mystery that requires patience with the slow pace, the cast of unlikeable and yet realisitic characters, the final twist that I never saw coming, but now seems perfectly logical given the way we got there. I love mystery, love small towns and the way familiar never is quite as you expect. This story failed to grip me even though Dahl's strong writing was so fluid and the dialogue believable and the sense of place so strong. Covid realities are also off-putting when they are so clear and ever-present. Given another mystery set in a different place with more interesting characters, I would like to read another story by Julia Dahl. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

While I enjoyed the overall premise of the novel, I had difficulty connecting to the story and characters. I found it to be more of a slow-paced mystery (not at all a thriller like expected), and just had difficulty keeping my attention to the story. I thought that the overall story had an interesting plot, I just had trouble focusing on it.

I also very much disliked all of the characters (except for Mason). They annoyed me at parts, and frustrated me at other times.

I will say that the ending was 100% unexpected. It really surprised me, and was a good twist! I love it when an ending can catch me off guard. But it took a while to get there.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from Minotaur Books. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Thank you for the ARC. I believe this book had potential, but for me I am not a fan of slow storylines. It often felt like it wasn't really getting into anything, the characters were fairly unlikeable as well. When you have unlikeable characters there still has to be some sort of connection you can feel to them, I didn't get that from this. Also the COVID topic seemed really saturated, I understand it was a big part of the last 4 years but it just didn't really hit the mark as relevant to anything for me.

With a Gillian Flynn blurb of "simply one of the best thriller writers working today," I knew I had to read I Dreamed Of Falling by Julia Dahl!

What I love about psychological thrillers is how slowly character development occurs, but by the ending all secrets are revealed. Dahl reflected upon and explored a lot of emotionally charged topics as each characters' layers were discovered, which stands to make aspects of this book controversial, while simultaneously luring readers into the dark plot and helping make these characters three dimensional! Many thought-provoking questions are posed in this story which is filled with family drama and shifting roles, fearlessly showcasing past regrets and the warmth unfailing love provides.

It was a slow, and often meandering road to get there, but the ending was worth the wait, and I didn't see that answer coming at all!

This is now the second book I've read that has been narrated by Jennifer Blom, and her voice fit Ashley so perfectly; once again I've noticed a lack of emotion with her style of narration, and again this fit the character she gave voice to so perfectly! Shahjehan Khan performed the rest of the story in a way that mirrored Blom's style, making for a cohesive audiobook experience!

I am not easily triggered, but this one has topics that bothered me. Warnings: abortion, abortion clinic, miscarriage, suicide, substance abuse, loss of spouse, graphic death of a loved one, open relationships, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

This book is full of red herrings, and although I could have done without a few of the sub-plots being so politically strong, this was an absolute four-star read!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Julia Dahl’s I Dreamed of Falling is a riveting psychological thriller that masterfully explores the dark undercurrents of a small Hudson Valley town. With its intricate plot and deeply human characters, this novel is a testament to Dahl’s prowess in the crime fiction genre.

The story centers around Roman Grady, the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town. His life takes a tragic turn when his longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead. As Roman begins to investigate her death, he uncovers a series of unsettling secrets. What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? As Roman and his mother dig deeper into Ashley’s last few months, they uncover truths that threaten their own existence and security.

Dahl excels in creating multi-dimensional characters. Roman is a compelling protagonist, driven by grief and a desperate need for answers. His journey is heartbreaking although inspiring as he navigates the complexities of his personal loss while uncovering the hidden facets of Ashley’s life. The supporting characters, including Roman’s mother and the enigmatic residents of the town, add depth and richness to the narrative.

The author’s writing style is both engaging and evocative. Dahl’s ability to build suspense is evident from the first page, with a narrative that seamlessly blends tension and emotional depth. Her descriptive prose vividly captures the small-town setting, enhancing the story’s atmospheric quality. The pacing is expertly managed, with each revelation adding to the mounting sense of dread and intrigue.

I Dreamed of Falling delves into themes of love, regret, and the hidden lives people lead. It explores the impact of secrets on relationships and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their loved ones. The novel also touches on issues of inequality and the complexities of forgiveness, making it a thought-provoking read.

I Dreamed of Falling is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense. Julia Dahl delivers a well-crafted story that is haunting and unforgettable. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a deep, character-driven mystery with plenty of twists and turns.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC!

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this book. It seemed to drag on and on 👎🏼 Also, they mentioned covid and the pandemic 482058 times which got super old super fast 🙃 This one just didn’t do it for me

1/5 ⭐️

#idreamedoffalling #juliadahl #arc #netgalley #newrelease

I’m not sure why I struggled to connect to this book. Perhaps because none of the characters were even the tiniest bit likable. I normally need at least one of the characters to be at least 30% likeable so I can even care enough to finish the book.
As it stands I did finish this thriller. It honestly didn’t feel like a thriller to me. It felt like a long; slow, inner monologue.
With all that being said, I do believe this book has an audience who will love it. Just be warned going In that it might not be your cup of tea.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Ashley has just been discovered dead over the side of the cliff. Roman, her partner, soon discovers there is more to Ashley’s life than he knew. Being the reporter he is, he does not let her death go by the wayside. He is determined to know what happened!

This story is a bit slow and drawn out. But there was something about it that kept me reading. The author does create enough intriguing situations surrounding Ashley’s death to keep you reading. And then the ending….that was not exactly what I expected!

The narrators, Jennifer Blom; Shahjehan Khan, did very well! They are probably the reason the intrigue is so strong.

Need a mystery with a surprise ending…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.