I received an early release version of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading this author and they writing style was smooth and understandable. She did a nice job with character development and you found yourself invested in the main characters. With that being said, the content of this book was quite heavy. I found myself feeling pretty down every time I sat down to read it based on the events. Solid writing, solid plot, just a lot of heavy content.

A small Hudson Valley community rocked by the sudden death of a loved young woman from town who found success during the pandemic in online yoga posts. Was it an accident, suicide or murder?
I enjoyed this twisty novel that had me wondering and believing all three scenarios at different parts.
Will definitely read more Julia Dahl!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced readers edition. Save it now to your list of books to read when released in September.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.

Julia Dahl’s new standalone, I Dreamed of Falling, is an absolute triumph that left me breathless and on the edge of my seat. Set in a small Hudson Valley town where every mundane event is newsworthy, this novel masterfully combines the gripping suspense of a thriller with the poignant exploration of family and loss.

Roman Grady, the sole reporter for the local newspaper, is thrust into a nightmare when his longtime girlfriend, Ashley, is found dead. The shocking discovery propels Roman into a dark and twisted investigation, revealing that he knew far less about Ashley’s life than he ever imagined. As Roman and his mother peel back the layers of Ashley’s last months, they uncover a web of secrets that threaten not just their understanding of her, but their own safety as well.

Dahl excels at creating an immersive atmosphere filled with tension and dread. The mystery surrounding Ashley’s death is intricately woven, with each revelation drawing you deeper into the labyrinth of deceit and hidden truths. The character development is exceptional; Roman’s journey from grief-stricken partner to relentless seeker of truth is both heartbreaking and inspiring. His relationship with his young son adds a layer of emotional depth that is both tender and raw.

The setting of the small Hudson Valley town is brought to life with vivid detail, making the town itself a character in the story. Dahl’s portrayal of the town’s close-knit yet secretive community is spot-on, capturing the duality of intimacy and suspicion that permeates small-town life.

I Dreamed of Falling also delves into profound themes such as love, regret, inequality, and forgiveness. Dahl’s unflinching exploration of these themes through the lens of crime fiction is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. This novel is not just a thrilling ride but also a compelling study of human nature and the complexities of relationships.

In sum, I Dreamed of Falling is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted, emotionally resonant story. Julia Dahl has once again proven her mastery of the genre, delivering an unforgettable novel that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

I though this was a really good thriller. There are a lot of ups and downs! I couldn't put the book down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Roman and his partner Ashley live in a Hudson Valley town, where Roman works as a journalist for the local newspaper, while Ashley and Roman’s mom Tara care for their 4 year old son Mason. And when Ashley is found dead at the cliffside home of a friend, Roman realizes he may not have known Ashley as well as he thought he did. I Dreamed Of Falling is a melancholy and gripping tale of a family suffering a loss, of secrets that kill, and of the struggles of parenting in a divided family. The words flow smoothly as Roman’s grief is palpable and his efforts, with the help of Tara, to unravel the mystery of Ashley’s death propels the plot. But make no mistake, this is a character-driven novel, and the writing here is top notch. In fact, it’s not until you finish do you realize just how good this book was! It’s a little slow paced, but that pacing builds the tension as the plot unfolds. Well done! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When small town reporter Roman's girlfriend and mother of their 4-year-old son is found dead, Roman can't believe that her death was due to a drug overdose. Together with the new cop in town, Felix, they set out to prove that the pills found in Ashley's back pocket were not hers. The local police chief wants to write this death off as a simple drug overdose, (considering Ashley's past) but the evidence doesn't add up. Why do the local police want to hush up this death? What's in it for them? Were they involved? As Roman digs deeper into Ashley's past and present lives, he discovers a web of connections leading right back to his own front door. Was Ashley planning on leaving him? Where did she get the large sum of money currently in her bank account?
Author Dahl, presents plenty of twists and turns not only among the suspects, but also possible motives for Ashley's death. Will Roman be able to put it all together and will he be able to survive with the answers he finds?

I don’t know about this one. So much of the text is mundane and doesn’t move the story forward. Time wasn’t spent on finding out what happened, rather, it was about Tara, her past and her controlling behavior. I thought this would be a fun mystery, but it just isn’t for me.

This was a fantastic read that was fast enough to binge . New Author for me and a clever storyteller, would not hesitate to read her books again. Loved the plot twists.

This was a rollercoaster of emotions on a fast paced mystery that will keep you entertained.

A heartbreaking story unfolding tragic secrets, and the struggle of their relationships.

Well developed characters that you will love and hate at the same time.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.
Publication Day 09/17/2024

As a reader who typically enjoys dramas, thrillers and stories with intricate relationships, I eagerly picked up "I Dreamed of Falling." However, despite my initial enthusiasm, I found myself unable to finish the book due to a lack of connection with the story and its characters.
The novel promised a gripping thriller, however, I struggled almost from the beginning.
As I delved deeper into the narrative, I struggled to engage with the characters. They felt distant and somewhat predictable, lacking the depth and complexity that would have made them relatable or compelling.
Additionally, the pacing of the plot felt uneven and boring. Also, there was a concealed political reference which I felt was unnecessary and I certainly did not agree with and it totally turned me off. This was when I decided this book was definitely note for me.
Ultimately, after struggling through several chapters, I made the difficult decision to set aside "I Dreamed of Falling." While the book may resonate with readers, it unfortunately did not strike a chord with me.

I sort of like this book but I didnt love it. It tried to be alot of things and kept me wanting to read through to the end, which I found disappointing.
The writing was ok but the story a bit of a push and parts really didnt make any sense

Roman and Ashley along with their four-year-old son live with Roman’s mother, Tara and boyfriend John. It’s not a perfect situation. Ashley had a hard time with Mason’s birth, and Roman dislikes his job. In addition, Tara is very protective of Mason. So much so that Ashley and Roman sometimes wonder if their son would be better off without them.
Then the unthinkable happens. Ashley is found dead. Was it an accident or murder? Roman is consumed with grief, and as he finds out more and more about the life Ashley was leading, he vacillates between missing her desperately and hating the choices she made.
Told mostly by Roman and Tara, with some chapters by Ashley. It was hard to like these characters as they were all pretty messed up. I didn’t even look twice at the killer. I was so sure that I knew whodunnit. I read this in an afternoon and the reason for Ashley’s death was oh so sad.

This book was ok but I felt that it could be developed further. When young mother Ashley dies, her reporter boyfriend Roman and her family/friends try to figure out what really happened.

The mystery was decent but I struggled a little bit with the details behind the scandal. I did figure out the villain but it took me a good ways into the book to do so. My main issue is that none of these characters felt relatable to me and there was so much talk about covid, political candidates, and open relationships that I felt it was just trying too hard to be relevant in 2024. It definitely kept me reading and I was even ok with the way it ended, but I wasn’t totally invested.

Overall, interesting storyline but the characters and the actual telling of the story left a little to be desired. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not for me. The characters were unlikeable, the plot was all over the place and the constant mention of COVID was annoying and did nothing for the story. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Roman is shocked to hear about a woman who was murdered. He can't fathom why their was people nearby, who saw nothing. He learns through his investigation that some people don't want him to solve the murder. A good read.

A young wife and mother has been found dead. A community and her family grieve her loss, while trying to find out what happened to Ashley on a warm summer night.

I found most of the characters in this book unlikable, specifically Roman’s mother Tara. Though Roman was a bit much too. I guessed what had happened to Ashley, but it was a quick easy read. Overall pretty standard thriller, with nothing that will make you gasp with surprise.

I want to thank me thank Net Galley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing an e-kindle ARC. This book proved to be very interesting in many ways. As I always say it is a good thing, I always complete a book even though I seem to hate it as I am reading it.
About sixty percent of the book was used to develop the characters before becoming a foreboding mystery. Having the murdered character reveal how the story progresses was an unusual writing strategy that made following the story difficult for me, but helped everything came together in the end.
Taking place in a small fictional town in the Hudson Valley of New York, a place many probably will relate to (and recognize, Ashley, the book’s protagonist, develops into a complex and tormented character. She is tormented in the modern themes of being young and trying to find herself; not married but living with her son’s father her boyfriend since high school, drugs, and nosy in-laws. Small town living is dissected with all its flaws, power brokers emerge with no care for the people in town, and people on the take. You will meet, Tara, Roman, John, Kiera and many more interesting characters.
You will never know what is coming.

I have mixed feelings about this one. It's pretty well-written and has the makings of a good story, but I just didn't connect with it at all. It felt (intentionally I hope) really gloomy and morose, and I don't think there was one smile to be had the entire story. I didn't mind reading it -- it wasn't a chore, but I was glad when it was done.

I think some folks will really enjoy this tale -- there's certainly an audience for it.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

The beginning of *I Dreamed of Falling* was full of promise, and I loved it. However, once the body was found, it failed to keep me invested. In my opinion, most of this isn’t a thriller; it’s women’s fiction from a man’s point of view—is men’s fiction a thing? 😅 Anyway, it didn’t work for me. Finding out the killer was a surprise, but not a good one since, looking back, it feels like there were no clues to lead readers to that character. Three things especially annoyed me: one, all the characters, however unrelated, are doing drugs; two, the story happens in 2024, and Covid is somehow still a main element of the story; and three, they keep nicknaming the four-year-old “mister.”