REVIEW
cw: parental abandonment, injury, cheating*, suicidal ideation, mentions of death and toxic family dynamics, PTSD
Introvert and workaholic Fiona Abry runs her family's luxury Swiss watchmaking company. She's scared of falling in love again after a terrible betrayal. But when she's given a heirloom watch that allows you to dream of one's greatest desire, she can't help but fall in love with the man she meets in her dreams. McCormick is married with two children and Fiona appears in the dreams as his wife on a remote island. It's safe. He isn't real. So, if she can learn to love someone risk-free, maybe eventually she can take that chance in the real world.

Sarah Ready knows exactly how to tear out my heart! Thankfully, she always repairs it by the end of her stories. There were quite a few twists in this book that caught me off-guard, so I'm going to be extra careful not to spoil anything, which means this review might seem a bit vague at times. But trust me when I say if you love emotional, beautiful reads with a bit of angst, lots of pining and some swoony moments, you NEED to read this book!
Fiona is the older sister of Daniel from Ghosted, and it was fun to catch up with him (although this story is set before he meets Jillian). My heart broke for Fiona even after the first few chapters. Her abandonment issues were so well-written, and I loved the development of her character. Her relationship with her daughter was so sweet, and Mila was adorable. I wish the watch Fiona designed was real because it sounded STUNNING. Aaron (McCormick) was SUCH a good man and a wonderful father. I loved his openness around Fiona, and how readily he was to accept her, seeing her for herself (I know that probably doesn't make sense but trust me, it will once you've read the book). My heart broke for him so many times. You could feel all of his pain, loneliness, and guilt at different points in the story, but especially about the loss of friendships. The slow-burn romance was so exquisite, and even though the author put my emotions well and truly through the wringer so many times, it was worth every moment of pain. I loved them together so much.
The supporting characters mainly appeared on the island, and I loved the camaraderie among the islanders, especially the older women. I hated Becca, and my heart broke every time Fiona came back to some new destructive behaviour or comment from her. I particularly loved Amy, especially her love of literature, and I adored Fiona's relationship with her. I also loved how giving Aaron was, and how much he helped each of the islanders in some way. I had a lot of feelings about Robert, sometimes I felt for him, especially after we learned about the swim, but mostly I disliked him. However, back in Geneva, I adored Max. He was such a sweetheart, but my heart broke when he spoke of his childhood. I was SO excited to see he'll be getting his own story next.
As mentioned, the twists in this story were often unexpected. Chapters 42 and 48 legitimately broke my heart. Seriously! I was overwhelmed by gut-wrenching sobs. Meanwhile, the final dozen chapters had me flipping between being bereft, intrigued, and finally, giddily jubilant. I squealed so much at chapter 56, that I scared my cat!
This was another truly beautiful, unique romance in this series by Sarah Ready. A must-read.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating: 🔥

*Though I've added a content warning for cheating, please be assured that it doesn't relate to the relationship between Aaron and Fiona.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own**

*thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my review*

This is by far my favorite Sarah Ready book. Fiona is a beautiful and complex character, and her story will keep you guessing until the end. I went into this read completely blind, and I’m so happy that I did. I actually recommend a blind read to everyone because it will make the ending so much more satisfying.

So here’s what you need to know—this book is heart-wrenching and beautiful. The characters are complex and relatable, with varied backgrounds. Ready shines in this narrative about what it means to dream, and she will take you by surprise and even warm your heart as Fiona’s story unfolds.

This book is, at its core, a compassionate story. A rare gem where we get to explore both platonic and romantic love. It’s incredible and you will love it.

Stuff and things:
-single mom
-attempted murder??
-found family
-love triangle
-open door
-guaranteed HEA

I loved this book. It is very different from most books I have read. This book will rip your heart out, make you ugly cry and yet you will still want to read it again.

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.

Fiona is given a family heirloom for her birthday/not birthday that allows the user to see what they wish and dream for in life. She falls asleep one night with it in her hand, and wakes up in a new life as Becka, an unhappily married mother of two, who is cheating on her husband with her husband's best friend. And when she is awake and not in the other world, she is a single mother, who is pregnant, and her best friend is in love with her.

Throughout the story, it explores Fiona as Becka, as she learns more about her husband, and falls for him and finds herself wishing for her dream life to be reality. Due to the heirloom "showing her what she wishes for", she also decides to give her best friend a chance (As normal Fiona), hoping that this is what she is meant to do.

This book was so well written and well-paced, and the descriptions of the scenery were so descriptive that it made it so easy to close my eyes and picture the scene itself.

Also, how dare you give us 80%-90(ish)% of this book. What an emotional rollercoaster.

I've heard that the next book is based around Max, and I will be keeping both eyes wide open waiting to see that that book has dropped. Even though I had a feeling that he would not be who the FMC would end up with, I still became emotionally invested in his story and hoping for a happy ending for him.

I will fight for this book until the end of the world. I went into this, not having read any other book by this author, but after this book, I will be adding the rest of the series to my TBR and adding this author to my following list. I was first drawn in by the cover, which is stunning, and then the synopsis, which is a concept that I have not read about before.

I am fascinated by Sarah Ready’s mind. Every single one of the books in this series has gone a different way than I initially thought it would and I’ve enjoyed the journey SO much. It felt like Sarah was saying ‘just trust me on this,’ taking me by the hand, and creating a beautiful garden for me to explore and overanalyse the paradoxes of.
I spent a good portion of this book being like ‘is X bad thing going to happen?’ And I was wrong every time - everything fell into place in the most satisfying way and Fi’s love story was arguably my favourite in the series to date.

Sarah Ready’s stories have always captivated me with their unique and engaging narratives, and "Fated" is no exception. This novel was a real page-turner, keeping me eagerly guessing how Fiona would find her happily ever after with Aaron.

There are numerous aspects of "Fated" that I found delightful. Firstly, the book cover is simply adorable. The "Ghosted" series has consistently featured the cutest and most eye-catching covers. I love the blue and pink watercolor-like design of “Fated”, complete with a chateau and tropical island.

The main characters are both well-developed and utterly charming. Fiona, whom readers got a glimpse of in "Ghosted," the first book of the series, truly comes into her own in this story. Despite her past hurts and issues, she strives to save the company and provide a loving and comfortable life for her daughter. Aaron is equally admirable, showing resilience and courage in the face of personal losses. Despite the challenges in his marriage, he remains a good father and a valuable member of their community.

Ready also excels in crafting memorable side characters that add depth to the story and highlight the nature of the main characters. Max, for instance, is a standout, and I’m thrilled that he’s getting his own story in Book 4, "Wished." Amy, with her intelligent and poetic brain, is another wonderful addition, as are the residents of the island and Mila. Daniel is also present, the lead from the first book, offering a glimpse into his life before meeting his wife, Jillian.

However, one aspect that slightly detracted from my enjoyment and led me to rate the book four stars instead of five was the heavy use of descriptions. Every place, gesture, facial expression, and even food was meticulously detailed, which sometimes felt excessive. While I appreciate descriptive storytelling, in "Fated," it occasionally bordered on overkill.

Despite this minor critique, "Fated" remains a memorable and unique story – one that readers will cherish as one of the year's standout reads. It certainly holds that place for me.

"Fated" is set to hit the shelves on July 16th, and I am once again grateful to Sarah Ready, Netgalley, and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for providing early access in exchange for an honest review.

“I don’t trust easily, I’ve learned a long time ago that if you don’t trust then you’ll live a lonely life. You have to choose. You can trust or you can die alone. I chose trust” Sarah Ready’s stories are full of emotions, feelings, plot twists you never see coming and a magic that keep you reading until the end. Fated is Fiona and Aaron impossible story. They meet in a dream that feels so real that they can’t help but fall in love even if they are worlds apart. The audiobook with Shakira Shute brings the story and their characters magically real. The narration tugs at your heart and you can’t help but fall in love with all of them.

I love this series from Sarah Ready, the magical realism is written in vivid detail, I kept getting lost in this world. The execution was perfect. Three potential love interests that are eliminated one by one as the story goes on, it was such a fun time getting to know these men and realizing they weren’t it.

Fated by S. Ready, published by Swift & Lewis LLC, is the third book of four in the Ghosted Series.
An intriguing read that had me glued to the pages. I loved story and characters, 4,5 stars.
Blurb: Fiona Abry excels at keeping busy, running her family’s company, and guarding her heart. She’s so busy she doesn’t have time for a vacation much less a love life.
But then she’s given a family heirloom rumored to let you dream your greatest desire.
Suddenly, Fiona is spending her nights on a tiny tropical island in a completely different life.
She’s married. She has two kids. She lives in a colorful cottage on the beach.
This dream life is so different from her hectic, busy life in the city that Fiona decides to live her dreams to the fullest.
Swimming in the turquoise sea. Picnics under palms. Star-gazing on the beach. It’s a slow, seductive dream life that conveniently stays in her dreams.
But after kisses and confessions and long nights on the beach, Fiona starts to fall hard for her dream husband and her dream life.
But what happens when opening yourself to love means falling for a life that isn’t real and a man who doesn’t exist?
Because in the end, it’s not fate, it’s just a dream.

Book #3 in the Ghosted series. While this can be read as a stand alone it does contain a character from the previous book. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two, but it was still an enjoyable read. I felt like it was missing some of the usual Sarah Ready sense of humor. This one was more serious in a way and really leaves you thinking. The main character Fi definitely goes through a lot of personal growth and that was fun to see. This entire series touches on finding love in unconventional ways and I like the uniqueness of the storylines. I am looking forward to the fourth and final book in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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.