First off my heart is so full right now it could burst, no exaggeration! I am a massive fan of Sarah’s anyway so of course when I was accepted to be an arc reader thanks to the lovely folks of NetGalley I was ecstatic. This book made me feel so many emotions and around the 70% mark oh my gosh I’m telling you I was a mess 😂take that how you will but my goodness my heart was shattering and I couldn’t seem to breathe but in the best way because when a book makes you feel an emotion so strongly isn’t that the pinnacle of a good book? When it feels like you should just be able to reach out to the characters to catch up with them, to see how they are. Let me tell you when it ended I was baffled because I needed more, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Sarah’s writing truly and this story was no exception I cannot wait to reread this already! And oh my goodness I cannot wait for the next instalment, if you’re looking for a fun and emotional read that will make you swoon and just fall head over heels in love, this is it. We have Arron the mmc who is just an absolute cinnamon roll and golden retriever boy! I truly adore this story and all it talks about a single mum! Amazing the story of fate, it’s such a beautiful thing! 5/5 amazing!

4.5⭐️ ma’am…😭
I don’t even know what to say except, Sarah Ready, do you LIKE shredding me apart while putting me back together again??? Just to do it again and again because OMGGGGG, this book gripped me so badly.

I feel like it altered my brain chemistry; how I think and feel so differently now, I can’t stop thinking about it.

I’ll be honest and say that initially starting this book was hard to get into, but boy, did it not take long for me to DROWN in the story, the characters, the love and heartache. Ughhhhh.

But LISTENNN Y’ALL, this book is like that ONE anime movie, IYKYK. I can’t say because it’ll just give everything away, but I CAN’T. STOP. THINKING. ABOUT IT.

I wish I had more time with the characters in the end. I love how they love, I enjoyed the magical feels this series has given to me, and how the characters just click so well together— main and side characters alike. I NEEDED more Fiona and Aaron towards the end and wasn’t ready to give them up😭. Maybe anything IS possible with love. Something worth fighting for.

I’m so excited for the next book, and so grateful I got to read this E-ARC.

I’m a sucker for books with magical realism and/or time travel. Fated has both. I really enjoyed the story and whilst I knew there’d be a HEA I just didn’t know how we’d get there, and that’s the fun of Fated. It takes you on a journey and you’re just along for the ride.

Even though I know I needed to suspend belief I had trouble understanding how the people on the island were able to buy anything - let alone book airplane tickets or plan for hundreds of miles of open water swimming without phones or internet and seemingly without paying jobs. Other than that I enjoyed Fated.

If you’re looking for a summer getaway to an island or to Geneva, Ready gives you that via her descriptive prose. She transports you to the sweltering humidity of the Caribbean where you feel the sand of the beach sticking to you and to the crisp chill in the air and fragrant aromas of cinnamon and fir trees in Switzerland at Christmastime.

Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for the digital ARC of Fated.

Omg.. there were tears, real tears as I was reading their story. I got so caught up in it that it was as if I was living their story in their place!
I could feel their angst, their enourmous love and the impossibility of being together. That despair and at the same time acceptance to love and let go!

Fiona is a successfull woman, CEO of her and her brother's company, and a workaholic. She is emotionally closed since a bad previous relationship. After living a near death experience, she is handed a watch that can make her live her dreams. And that's how she meets Aaron. She lives in Geneva, but in her dreams she is another woman, and she meets him in a tropical and remote island! Fiona starts to enjoy her dreams, and begins being eager to sleep and return to that little paradise and to Aaron. She falls for him and learns to love once again. 
The only problem? He lives in her dreams. At first she tries to separate the two worlds and even tries to give Max a chace, but her heart isn't there.

" 'If you ever need me, if you ever find yourself awake at night wanting me, I'll be here. I'll be here loving you.'
  'You said you'd let me go'
  'I lied. I'll be here, my hand held out to you. All you have to do is take it.' "

 So when she realises she can make that life, her dream, into a reallity she runs and hold and fights with all she has. After all, if she doesn't she loses a bit of herself also (her heart). 
There's a passage in the book, where she realises she took her 'Dream life' for granted, and realises that she should have valued it then, when she could. Well, even by an impossible circunstance this book gives us that lesson. Don't take what's good for granted. Value it, cherish it and above all fight like hell to keep it!

"For years I believed I didn't want my dreams to come true. But that was before I had dreams that were worth fighting for."

The side characters were really likable too. Daniel is the perfect brother! So supportive! Ohhh, and Max.. my heart broke for him. He loved so much, but not the right time/place/person. I want to see him have a HEA like he deserves too!

I would give this book a thousand stars if I could. It was an emotional roller coster ride, and I would do it all over again!! 
I can't wait for 'Wished' to come out!

Fated is a really different romance. It is the third book in the Ghosted series by Sarah Ready and I think it is the best.

This story is as much about knowing yourself and making conscious choices, as it is about romance. Sometimes we are by ourself for our own reasons whether we know it or not. Fiona is the main character and she is CEO of a Swiss watch company. She stays too busy for love with her job and family. As the story progresses she realizes that she might be closed off to love because of some family issues in her past. By the way, her mother is a funny character that does all kinds of weird stuff.

All of the characters are well developed and interesting. The pace of the story is good. One of the things that I really enjoy about Sarah Ready is that her books have twists and turns. There are times that you think you know what will happen and then you don't. Once I started this book I did not want to put it down.

"Fated," by Sarah Ready, has undoubtedly been the highlight of my reading journey this year. From the very first page, I was swept into a world where love transcends time and dreams become portals to new beginnings. What a ride.
The story revolves around a single mother who, scarred by past heartbreak, hesitates to embrace love again, but finds it in her dreams.
The writing was fantastic and the narrator's voice adds another layer of depth, enriching the storytelling and immersing listeners in every moment.
I found myself completely engrossed in the book, unable to put it down (or stop listening, in my case). The pacing is perfect, with each chapter unfolding seamlessly into the next, keeping the momentum and anticipation alive until the very end. Now I have to fight a “book slump” because I know the next book I read won't be as good as this one!
Having not read Sarah Ready's other titles before, "Fated" has convinced me to explore more of her work. I look forward to diving into the rest of the series.
Thanks NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for giving me copies of the book and audio in exchange for an honest review.

Fiona Abry is always busy running her family's Swiss watch company, with no time to think about love. Everything changes when she inherits a family heirloom that supposedly lets you dream your greatest desire. Suddenly, she finds herself in a dream life on a tropical island, married with two kids, living in a beachside cottage. As she falls for her dream husband and this perfect life, she starts to wonder: what happens when you fall in love with a life and a man that aren't real?

I absolutely loved this book!
I’ve been unable to stop my mind thinking about it for months. The unpredictability kept me hooked—I never knew what to expect and enjoyed every second of the wild ride.

Sarah had me laughing out loud and crying my eyes out. She’s an incredible storyteller! I’ll read anything she writes.

Read this now! Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Your heart will burst with joy and you’ll be squealing with glee.

Thank you to Goodreads and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC.

📚Fated by Sarah Ready
🎧ALC Review(Copy gifted by Swift & Lewis Publishing via @Netgalley
🚨While reviewed copy is gifted, opinions are always my own.
Status: Available July 16 2024, Not KU

🥰Enjoyment: What a wild freaking ride! I started this one off a little lost, sure I had forgotten some major detail that we learned in Ghosted (book 1 in this series) or that I had misunderstood the blurb. But I rode it out (after some reassurance that it would be okay) and I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this story. I quite literally sobbed, like the kind of sobbing where you sound like a goose? Me. It was the first book in months that had me like “someone anyone talk to me about this book” and when I think about it now (almost a week later oops) I still feel that squishy heart feeling you get when you’ve been through the emotional ringer. And now I’m hearing there will be a book 4?! Sarah, I love you.


P.S. As far as feeling like I had forgotten some major detail, I eventually realized that this book appears to have sequentially occurred prior to the start of Ghosted. Since they are interconnected standalones I don’t think it matters if you start here or Ghosted.

I love everything Sarah Ready writes. I absolutely loved this book and maybe my favorite, and could not put this book down. A workaholic gets gifted a watch that allows her to dream of her unspoken dreams and for her it’s an easy life on an island happily married with two kids, except her dream isn’t just that…. A dream. After a few nights in her dream she discovered that she is indeed living this life while she sleeps, and starts falling for her dream husband, and while she falling for her dre husband she learns that she needs to live a little in her real life. After learning from her Uncle that the watch gives you the chance to live not dream, she realizes that staying away from her dream was a mistake, and dives back in to her dream world.

This story grabbed me from the start and kept me ensnared until the end. I stayed up way later than I should have reading this book and didn't want to put it down. The twists and turns weren't what I was expecting and even when I got one aspect somewhat correct, it wasn't exactly how I thought it happened. You do have to suspend your beliefs in this book a bit because many of the things that happen are not very realistic. In addition, there are a couple of critiques. I wish we could have gotten a glimpse into Becca's viewpoint. You only learn about her through other characters, and I had some lingering questions about her that weren't answered. Also, while I like the ending, I wish it could have been more elaborate. I wanted to experience everyone figuring it out and also the meeting of side characters and Fiona. That being said, I had a blast reading this book. It's one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

This is the third book in the Ghosted series. I had a really great time with the second book in the series, switched. This book was no exception. Sarah Ready has a great talent for writing memorable love stories.

In this book the FMC receives a family heirloom that allows her to dream what her heart wants. In her dreams she explores a remote island and comes across love in the process. There’s a couple of twists and turns throughout the book that keep you on the edge of your seat. I adored all of it. This was very well written and overall a great story.

Fated by Sarah Ready is the 3rd book in the Ghosted series and mixes romance with the mystical/fantasy. Whilst I enjoyed the second book - Switched, and couldn't wait to finish it, Fated was a very slow read for me. I enjoyed the twists at the end, but the build-up was quite slow and a little confusing. Thank you, Netgalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, for giving me the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The third book in the Ghosted series, Fated by Sarah Ready, continues to showcase the author's talent for weaving intricate and emotionally rich narratives. The Ghosted series is a collection of standalone books, each exploring different characters and their unique experiences with the supernatural. This instalment follows Fiona, a complex character who navigates a dual existence between her waking life and a mysterious dream world. The story is a captivating blend of romance, mystery, and supernatural elements, making for a truly engaging read. While this is the third book in the Ghosted series, you do not need to read them in order, as each is a standalone story.

Fiona's journey is a labyrinth of emotions and revelations. In her waking life, she grapples with the aftermath of a past affair that led to the birth of her daughter and a truth that shattered her and led to years of solitude, along with a shooting that made her take stock of her life and hectic schedule that had her forgetting to live life to its fullest. In the dream world, Fiona is caught in a complex love triangle with her husband of 15 years, Aaron, and his best friend, Robert. The dream world operates under its own enigmatic rules—time halts whenever Fiona exits, only resuming upon her return. This unique narrative structure, where time in the dream world is suspended when Fiona is not present, adds a layer of intrigue and suspense to the story, compelling readers to unravel the truth alongside Fiona.

Sarah Ready deftly balances the emotional weight of Fiona's real-life struggles with the whimsical elements of the dream world. The narrative delves into themes of self-discovery, love, betrayal, and the pursuit of personal happiness. Fiona's character is not just a protagonist but a mirror reflecting our own struggles and desires. As she navigates her dual existence, she is forced to confront her past, her choices, and her desires, making her journey all the more compelling.

Overall, Fated is a beautifully written tale that delves into the intricacies of love and self-discovery. It's a must-read for fans of the Ghosted series and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, emotionally resonant story. The book's emotional depth and the way it resonates with the reader's own experiences make it a truly compelling read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, for providing me with the audio ARC of Fated. I am eagerly looking forward to Sarah Ready's next release.

This book is the third in the Ghosted series by Sarah Ready and follows heir to a Swiss watch company and single mom Fiona Abry.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Steam: 🌶️
⌚ Dual timeline
🌴 Paranormal/magic vibes
⌚ Opposites Attract
🌴“I'm falling for you."
⌚ Healing from trauma
🌴 Kisses in the rain
⌚ Mid-thirties FMC
🌴 Happily ever after

Our heroine bears the emotional scars from the trauma and abandonment she's felt in her life, all while juggling running her company and raising a precocious, adorable daughter. Beyond that, love is a risk and something she avoided. That is until a life-altering incident after which Fiona is gifted a mysterious family heirloom that supposedly allows the owner to dream their heart's desire.

I absolutely adored Fated. While it took a few chapters to truly grip me, once it did, I absolutely devoured this book. This truly unique story is full of compelling characters, mystifying twists, and so much heart and humor. With its dual plotlines, the storyline is like a two-for-one special, keeping readers captivated from beginning to end. It wasn't just a romance story about love, but also about allowing oneself to explore and mend using the relative safety of dreams. Confronting and conquering fears and fully facing the subconscious. Learning to live fully without regrets.

That idea and slightly supernatural plot are compelling in themselves, but then our dear author tied in an epic, gut-punching love story with turns that had my heart racing, my eyes watering, and, at one pivotal point, had me gasping out loud in shock and nearly cursing the author. It was a journey not only for our heroine but for the reader. Fated>/i> is enthralling and brims with hope and healing—and I savored every moment of it. I highly recommend this one.

I'm also totally invested in reading the other stories in the Ghosted series and continuing on with the next book Wished. Our next MMC absolutely deserves his happiness and his chance to find love.

Favorite Quote:
"You can love someone wholly, completely, and it doesn’t mean that they’re the one for you. You can love someone and they can still be the wrong someone."

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This book snuck up on me - I took probably a week or two to get through the first 30-40% and then once I was hooked I absolutely couldn’t put it down. The story of a woman who has a magic family heirloom which drops her in her “dream world” was planned out so well and you connect with so many characters both in the real world and dream world. The latter part had me on the edge of my seat! Despite this being part of a series I had not read any others and I would never have known but I do want to go back and read others.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5 🌶️
Netgalley ALC

PROS:
This book had no right being as good as it was. I had absolutely no idea where it was going up until the very end. I loved Fiona as a main character; she is smart, loyal, caring. Her memorizing poems to make her dream daughter happy had me in a chokehold. Prior to this I read Switched, but not the first book in the series, Ghosted. Fiona's brother Daniel is the MMC in Ghosted and now I am super pumped to go back and read it. He was a wonderful brother to Fiona, and funny that this book seems to take place before Ghosted as Daniel was still single in this one.

CONS:
The audiobook made me cry while I was trying to drive my car. RUDE!!

AUDIO:
I've never listened to Shakira Shute before but really enjoyed her narration. As previously stated, I was crying while listening to some of the more emotional scenes. She really had me feeling things with Ms Fiona Abry.

Overall, I am thinking the Ghosted series just isn’t for me. This book is the 3rd in the series and while each book can be standalone, they are connected within the same universe.

I adore Sarah Ready, she’s one of my favorite authors but I’ve noticed I’ve had a hard time getting into this series. Especially this most recent book. It’s not bad, in fact the writing is rather lovely…a poetic style to it. I just struggle when there are so many realities, descriptions and characters swapping it’s like I can’t immerse myself into the story. I also thought it was also a bit long. Full disclosure, I also don’t usually enjoy magical realism. This one didn’t really sound like the style of writing she usually does, don’t get me wrong she’s always poetic in her writing, this one just wasn’t the SR I’m used to, to the extent that if I didn’t know she wrote it I would think someone else did (I’m NOT saying that is what happened though, it’s just that big of a change). So she may be making some stylistic changes to how she writes this series but hopefully not her future books.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝...

✅The lucid dreaming aspect
✅The part where she talks about how when you see something through someone else’s eyes and it’s something that they love, you start to love it too
✅When she helps the grandmother at the fish market (reminded me of my relationship with my mommom)

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝗼𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝗼𝐲...

☀️Magical Realism
🕰️Lucid Dreaming
☀️Complex Relationships
🕰️Time Jumps / Alternate Realities
☀️Poetic Writing
🕰️Horology

My favorite books by Sarah are The Space Between and the Josh & Gemma books. I also really enjoyed French Holiday and the Soul Mates in Romeo (Married by Sunday was my very fav in the series)!

“She meets the man of her dreams in her dreams.” What a dynamic summary of this book-borrowed from the author, of course! I listened to this book after not knowing much of the premise and was surprised at how much the story captured me. Fiona, a busy single mother and entrepreneur who isn’t quite happy with her current life, is given a family heirloom, a watch, that allows dreams of what you might be missing in your life. As she dreams, she is transported to another life with a husband and family. The magical realism plays out beautifully and is so immersive, and you just want to find out if Fiona’s dream can become reality. There are many amazing one line quotes, but I fell for this one in particular: “He is the tide that washed over me and opened me to all the good that love can bring.” This is the third book in the series but can be very much a stand-alone. The narrator’s voice was captivating and emotional and added to the experience of this book-especially when tandem reading. A special nod to the spectacular cover design with the colors! The world’s colliding! The characters!

I loved the first two books in the series and so was so excited for this one! I have been big fan of Sarah Ready since I found her books a year ago! This one was disappointing. Not sure if anything changed with her writing or it could be me.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I am giving this book 4 stars because of the plot in general. Although there are some points that don't make sense, and the fact that the development of the character of the real Becca, to me, was needed (especially towards the end), it was a cute story. It has a bit of spiciness but not much. I have to say about the writing, and why the stars went down, is that the descriptions of the characters at the beginning feel forced. I like the magical realism elements, and that it is a fast read. I did not know it was book 3 of a series, but it can be read as a stand-alone.