Favorite Quotes:

Although his boss had to pretend to embrace the family-friendly nature of the town whose newspaper he ran, privately he was a man with a heart as atrophied as his calf muscles.

His chin was crumbling and sobs felt like stones in his mouth.

Tara felt as if her entire body were made of wet sand. Like chunks of it might fall off if she moved.


My Review:

This was my first experience reading her work and I quickly began to covet and admire Julia Dahl’s exceptional word skills for creating and maintaining an eerie and prickly atmosphere that was taut with tension and unease while pregnant with an odd and incongruent mixture of anticipation, sensual pleasures, and deep-seated resentments.

This skilled wordsmith’s agility in shaping her deeply troubled and fatally flawed characters’ development was beyond insightful, richly perceptive, and profoundly observant. Poignant handling and thoughtful touches tucked in unexpected places added additional heft and depth to the reading experience. I was riveted to my Kindle.

This book had all the makings of a good thriller. Unfortunately, I just didn't care much and it ended up being just OK. I struggled to finish because I found it moving a bit too slow for my tastes.

This one has a number of good reviews, so it could definitely be a me issue. I'm very much a mood reader and perhaps this just didn't work for my mood at the time. It's not that I didn't like it, I just feel like it was lacking something for me.

What If....What if is a question many have asked in their lifetime. What if I had done this/not done this? What if I had said this/not said this? It's part of life, especially in a relationship, as Ashley, Rowan and Tara find out in this book. Grant it there were moments when it was a struggle to read one more page, then something would be said/done to move things along at a steady pace. Every thing that was said, everything that was done was because of family ties, especially where Mason, Ashley and Rowan's four year old son. Tara was a loving grandmother, but was also trying to right a past wrong when she was a teenage mother and she struggled to raise Rowan. We're all human, we make mistakes. Couples relationships, family relationships, need two things to work, to survive. Communication and Listen!! That's the two things these three people failed to remember. Had they talked and listened to each other more, little Mason wouldn't have lost his mother, Ashley. The one good thing in this tale was Rowan finally became the father he needed to be and he and Tara finally had the mother/son relationship they should've had so long ago. Though there is mention of drug use, sexual exploits and political bashing, I highly recommend this one!!

Title: I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: September 17, 2024
📖 347 pages

Small-Town Mystery
Psychological Thriller
Exceptionally Dark Writing
Family Drama
Substance Abuse

This story moved so very slowly, but if you're looking less for a suspenseful mystery and more for a slow paced story that focuses heavily on the grief of losing a loved one at a young age and touching bases on multiple political issues, then you'll probably enjoy I Dreamed of Falling.

Though I understand the inclusion, I don't love the *social issues* that were touched on, because the particular ones included give me such immense anxiety and affected my family (and so many others) so heavily. It's regular inclusion made the book a difficult read for me. Honestly, a lot of this felt like a political statement and I intentionally avoid that because it stresses me out so much, I struggled to get through it. I appreciate the opportunity, this one just wasn't for me.

2.5/5 rounded up

TW: suicide, substance abuse, loss of spouse, multiple mentions of pandemic, abortion

Thank you so much, @Minotaur_Books @stmartinspress and @NetGalley, for the digital review copy ❣️

#IDreamedofFalling

A young woman’s death rocks a small town,

In the small town of Adamsville along the Hudson River, Ashley lives in a rambling house that is regularly in need of repairs with her four year old son Mason, Roman (her longtime boyfriend and father of Mason), Roman’s mother Tara, and Tara’s fiancé John. Ashley and Roman have loved one another since they were in their teens, but their relationship of late is strained. Roman left Adamsville after high school to attend NYU and study journalism, and is now the sole reporter for the town’s paper the Advocate….not exactly the hard hitting career that he had envisioned, but what was practical after Ashley became pregnant. Ashley had a rough time after Mason’s birth; the pregnancy wasn’t planned, it was a difficult birth, and Tara has ended up being more of his mother than Ashley was able to be. She teaches a few yoga classes, occasionally helps out at the local coffee shop, but doesn’t have much of a direction in life. All that changes the day that Ashley doesn't show up for a work shift at Koffee and Roman, who had spent the previous night away from home, goes out to look for her when he returns. She was seen at the house of a former friend, Bella, who is even more messed up than Ashley is and with whom she hasn’t been friendly for years….or so Roman thought. While at Bella’s house, Ashley’s body is discovered at the bottom of a steep cliff at the back of the property. She is dead….but was it an accident, perhaps while she was drunk and/or under the influence of drugs? A bag of pills is found in her pocket, and Bella is known to not only use but deal, so that could be the explanation. Or that could be the explanation someone wants people to believe. There are plenty of secrets that people want to hide in this town; is one dark enough to merit murder?
I Dreamed of Falling is at its core a thriller, with Ashley’s death the question that needs answering. Roman is a reporter, perhaps underutilized in his current job but still equipped with the skills to investigate Ashley’s life over the preceding months. There is a wealthy family in town which wields a lot of influence, including at the Advocate where Roman works. Roman had recently uncovered some unsavory business deals in which that family was involved….could that have anything to do with Ashley’s death? Then there’s the matter of drugs; Roman smokes the occasional joint but is a casual, occasional user. He thought the same was true of Ashley, but maybe he missed signs as their relationship was drifting apart. Each of the main characters has a mixed bag of hard knocks and bad luck in their past, and each is damaged in their own way. What secrets might each hold? Roman and Tara, both feeling guilty about their relationships with Ashley and with Mason, dig for answers. But what sets the tone for the book, generally overpowering the thriller at its center, are the issues of dysfunctional families, drug use, the trauma of the recent pandemic (as other reviewers have noted, COVID gets mentioned a lot, which is a bit odd given that it is no longer as prevalent a force as it once was), city dwellers buying up property in small towns like Adamsville and making it harder for locals to hang on. In short, it is as much a family drama as it is a thriller, and the pace of the story gets bogged down in that aspect. The characters, at least for me, where hard to like and most seemed a bit formulaic. Was it a bad story? No, but it wasn't the gripping thriller I had been expecting, so I recommend it with reservations. Readers of authors like Fiona Barton, Megan Abbott and Gillian Flynn might enjoy the story. My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me early access to a copy of I Dreamed of Falling.

This book started out so slow that I almost gave up. It just didn't give me any feelings other than I disliked almost everyone in it. I didn't see what everyone was saying about the COVID thing. Yes it was mentioned a few times in the beginning but that was the reality of that time period so it made it real. As for other political beliefs.... Books are allowed to speak a little about politics. At least I think so. It was not forced on anyone to believe or take as literal, just part of the story. Some things are just a part of life and the times we are in. Or were in as the case may be.

I did lile how it ended and wasn't expecting it. It was a little rushed but still good.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl is an intriguing small-town mystery that follows Roman Grady as he navigates the aftermath of his girlfriend Ashley’s sudden and suspicious death. As Roman, a local reporter, starts to uncover the tangled web of secrets surrounding Ashley’s life, Dahl slowly reveals the layers of hidden truths in their tight-knit Hudson Valley community. The suspense builds steadily, with twists that keep the reader engaged, though the pacing occasionally lags as Roman digs deeper into the case.

While the mystery is compelling, the emotional depth of Roman’s grief and his complicated relationships take center stage, making this more of a character-driven narrative. Dahl’s exploration of themes like love, regret, and betrayal adds a poignant touch, but the story sometimes struggles to balance the mystery with its emotional core. Overall, I Dreamed of Falling is a solid read for those who enjoy thrillers that delve into the personal lives of their characters, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on its initial suspense.

Grief and feelings of inadequacy can make you to become hyper-focused on keeping your life in a routine. When Tara fears that her daughter-in-law is going to take her grandson and go far away, she panics and tells her partner that she would rather die than live without him. She wants to make up for being a less-than-stellar parent for her son Roman. Roman and Ashley love each other and their son, but unresolved issues and communication problems stop them from completely understanding each other. After Ashley sneaks out one night and doesn't come back, Roman goes out in search of her and finds her at the house of a former friend. At first, it is believed that she may have overdosed on drugs, but Roman does not believe so. There are many twists and turns in this story and things are not as they seem.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc!

After Roman finds his long time girlfriend and mother of his child, Ashely, dead, he goes on a hunt to find out what really happened. But where it leads, isn't what he expects at all.

I really enjoyed this book - I was definitely hooked from early on. The characters were well formed, flawed and relatable in some way. The plot was well thought out, partly reading as from an investigative journalist, partly from the investigation of the police, partly from the other cast of characters, including a few flashbacks into Ashley's past. The ending was a little unexpected. I wasn't suspicious until the last minute about whodunit.

I highly recommend for anyone who loves thrillers/mystery.

Triggers: drugs, overdose, mentions of abortion

**Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read to me. With all its twists and turns, suspense, and mystery. And a big surprise at the end. Keep on writing them, Ms. Dahl and I will keep on reading them.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I’ll start by saying that I had high hopes going into this one after reading the synopsis. I’m always into small town murder mysteries that make me rapidly turn pages to uncover the truth.
However, this was such a slow burn that it almost felt like we were going backwards. I felt like there was really no true investigating going on and the ending was predictable. The writing was flat and repetitive and there weren’t really any “aha” moments for me.

A couple of side notes that may only be a “me” thing, but figured I’d throw them in here in case:
1. The son’s upbringing was hard to swallow as a mom. Both parents were just so NOT present that it made me dislike them, also making me not really care about solving the mom’s murder.
2. I hate when politics are brought into stories with no relevance. I understand that everyone has their beliefs, but there’s a time and a place 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thank you to Minotaur for my gifted copy.

3.5 stars (rounded down). I thought it was an interesting mystery, although it was slow to get started. Most of the characters are morally ambiguous (depending on your level of judgment), but I could find something relatable about each one of them. I enjoyed the Ashley chapters later in the book. I didn't think Covid was overly mentioned, but was used as a reason that the characters felt isolated by 2022 (which is when the book is set). Lots of regret in this novel.

"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."

Thanks to NetGally and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

I was super surprised by the ending and how this one wrapped up. I wasn't expecting it at all. However the beginning was very slow for me. The last half really made up for the 1st half of the book in my opinion. There was so much covid talk that it was just overdone. I did love how the family issues were very realistic. The audio made the storyline easy to follow and helped me to keep up with the characters. It was narrated very well. I didn't love this but I also didn't hate it. I would absolutely try out another book by this author.

🖤 Thank you Julia Dahl @netgalley @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress @minotaur_books for Arc and audio! #IDreamedOfFalling

A small-town death reveals big time secrets...

I Dreamed of Falling is my favorite kind of mystery/suspense, the kind that doesn't try to give you whiplash with twists and reveals, but instead plots them in a way that allows the reader to fall into the story, to get attached to the characters, to enjoy the ride, and to be shocked at the ending that I didn't see coming. It's a jaw-dropper, and I loved it.

Julia Dahl’s I DREAMED OF FALLING is a look at the people we see and love everyday, but don’t really know. Scary thought!

Roman Grady is the only reporter for a small Hudson Valley town thus he covers everything that goes on there. But things happen in small towns that never make it into black and white. When his girlfriend, the mother of his four year old is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, he begins to learn that he doesn’t really know her or his neighbours .She’s got a packet of pills in her pocket, sans ANY fingerprints and has been in recent contact with her old partying friends. Just what has been going on in Ashley’s life of late? Did she jump? Was she pushed by someone?

Roman and his mother, Tara begin to speak to the people from Ashley‘s past; Bryce, an ex who said that Ashley was planning on leaving Roman, her mother, Kelly who is now with Bryce, Kierra, who befriended Ashley soon before her death and Bella, her best friend from high school and party buddy who now has property that other people want. From learning of an investigation into the mayor because of a casino and trying to find out what the richest family in town has to do with things, Roman and Tara begin to put the pieces together and what they unearth is shocking, to say the least.

I enjoyed this one. The writing was clear and concise and led to an enjoyable, easy read. I could feel my heartbeat quickening as I raced to find the answers. I will certainly be keeping Julia Dahl on my radar for future reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

I was drawn in from the first pages totally drawn in to the story.Sat down to read a few chapters and wound up reading late into the night,#netgalley # Ideeamoffalling

I feel like this book started out really strongly but the very first chapter did seem like a character dump and I feel like I could’ve benefited from a slower introduction to each character. I liked the overall book but did get frustrated by the many references and overkill when it came to mentioning COVID and the characters experiences with it. I also felt like I kept forgetting that Roman and Ashley were only supposed to be 25. They felt much older. I feel like the bulk of the book was so speculative and then the final few chapters flew by and got wrapped up too quickly. At the same time, I feel like there were some things that were missing from the ending. It was good, I just see potential for it to have been better.

I Dreamed of Falling is a story about second, and maybe even third, chances for several characters caught within the cycle of generations of family dysfunction and trauma. I found myself cheering for the underdog because I try to see the good in everyone and want the best for them, but my hopes and dreams for them seldom came to fruition. The storyline had me guessing at every twist and turn of this mystery. There were many characters, and most had motives of course. However, I’m still not convinced that in the end the character traits developed along the way matched the guilty person’s actions. Nonetheless, the resolution speaks to the idea that people will go to extreme measures for the ones they love. An interesting quick read that will keep you engaged and sharpening your sleuthing skills!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I dreamed of falling is the latest page turner by Dahl, reminiscent of long bright river. By Liz Moore. Ashley and Roman are a young couple rising their son with the help of Roman’s mom, Tara. Tara is recovering from substance use, but is getting her life on track after accepting a chance at redemption with her grandson mason. When Roman discovers Ashley dead after she doesn’t go home, Tara and Roman’s life spiral as they try to find out what happened to Ashley in their small-town where everyone seems to be hiding something. The story tackles addiction and poverty in a small town in a very realistic way. Dahls writing is fast- paced and pulls the readers in instantly, as you will relate to and feel for Roman, mason, and Tara. The twist at the end doesn’t make a ton of sense, but it still doesn’t detract from the lead up!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one was such a quick read for me. I was instantly drawn in and raced through the audiobook like there was no tomorrow. While there’s not a ton of drama or suspense, the grief is immense and that’s something I love in a book for some reason. I also didn’t see the ending coming until it was right up on us, so that was fun. Thanks to Minotaur for my advanced audiobook and eARC. I Dreamed of Falling will be published tomorrow.