This writing was stunning. So beautiful and atmospheric—I loved the nature writing especially. Montana was such a powerful backdrop for this epic family story that asked so many hard questions.

This shunker of a book had me feeling lots of different things, mostly wishing it was a shorter book and only consisted of the first 30%. Almost so much that I was kind of hoping the rest of the book was a dream and it didn't really happen - did anyone else who read this think that??

We start with a wedding in 2004 between Cece and Charlie, officiated by Charlie's best friend Garrett who Cece has never met before. An email Garrett sends to Cece on the morning of the wedding sends all of their lives into havoc, and the rest of the book, spanning decades, is what happens after the email is sent.

I was so taken by Puchner's writing. Some of his sentences are just "stop in your tracks" gorgeous, almost cinematic. But other times I felt the book was a slog and could have been super edited down. Set in Montana, a so-called dream state of it's own, I think the reader also feels like we're in a dream state while reading. It's a lyrical and lovely book, with a page-turning plot for most of it. A lot of topics packed into one book, which isn't always a bad thing, but I almost just wish he focused on the love story and the family dynamics to keep it a bit more lean and mean.

One of Oprah's Book Club picks, this one is heavy on drama and will she won't she. Cece is in love and arrives at her almost in-laws to finish planning the big event. While waiting on the day to arrive, she begins getting to know her fiancé's best friend. As the days wear on, she begins to question what she wants. Which path will she choose?

@doubledaybooks | #gifted In theory 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘 by Eric Puchner is exactly my kind of book. It’s very literary, character-driven, following three friends with complicated relationships across nearly the entirety of their lives. It also brings in their families, who add another layer of complexity and the Montana setting is beautifully rendered. Adding even more to like, Puchner pushes his story another 20 years beyond today giving us a glimpse of what the world might be like then.⁣
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I fell into this story hard from the very beginning when Cece is in Montana preparing for her upcoming wedding to Charlie. The two have a perfect life planned out. Charlie, who’s still in Los Angeles working as a young doctor, asks his best friend Garrett, who happens to be from Montana, to go see if he can be of any help to CeCe. Thus the stage was set for the three central characters. I loved that first third of the book. I was riveted and anxious to find answers as more and more questions arose. The problem was that many of those answers never really came. Cece held so many, but as a character she was seriously underdeveloped and the questions around her only grew.⁣
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Perhaps because of that, or perhaps because the focus shifted a bit to include the next generation, the second third of the book really bogged down for me. I had to push more than I’d like. The final third I liked, though it was in a bit of a rush to fit all the pieces together. While this was mostly accomplished, the key pieces around Cece left me with a not quite complete puzzle and we all know how frustrating that can be. I keep asking myself why Puchner made the choice to hold back such vital elements of Cece, while at the same time making her fairly unlikeable. To be honest, I truly can’t understand why, but it definitely took away from the overall story for me. I don’t like being left perplexed! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫✨

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

I found this book hard to get into. It didn't catch me at the beginning. The writing was fine, and the plot okay, just not really amazing. Perhaps I was not in the mood for this kind of romance. "As Cece spends time with Garrett, his gruff mask slips, and she grows increasingly uncertain about her future. And why does Garrett, after meeting Cece, begin to feel, well, human again?"

I love a character-driven story. I also love multigenerational family sagas and flawed characters. This one checks all the boxes. It's by no means a feel-good story, but I was fully immersed in these characters and their lives, and couldn't put the book down. A satisfying reading experience!

𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬.

I am one of those readers who doesn’t care if a famous person loves a book, it doesn’t make me buy a novel, nor after reading it change how I digest and feel about the tale. In the case of Dream State, the hype is warranted, which always surprises me. CeCe is getting married to Charlie Margolis, at the place she loves more than any other on earth, his family’s summer home in Salish, Montana. Charlie remains in LA, his work as a cardiac anesthesiologist keeps him far too busy for wedding planning, and the details are left to CeCe to tend to while she is in Salish. Charlie turns to his best friend from college, Garrett Meek to check in on CeCe and help with anything she may need. Garrett’s life has gone off the rails since a tragic death, and he is working in Montana as a baggage handler at the airport, a far cry from the future he was soaring into during college. He is not the same carefree guy and even wonders why he agreed to any of this. Upon meeting Garrett, CeCe is surprised by his appearance, nothing like her handsome, brilliant, optimistic Charlie, Garrett is gruff in manner and untidy in appearance, dressed like a mechanic. Having been told he was “having a bit of a hard time”, it certainly shows. She wonders what it is about this morose man that inspired Charlie in asking him to officiate their upcoming nuptials. When they go on a hike together, CeCe gets a chance to know him better and learns she and Garrett aren’t so different, both having dropped out of college. CeCe isn’t sure what to do with her life, beyond wearing the title of doctor’s wife, feeling she has something to offer the world, but unable to discover just what that is. Garrett’s future is paused, spent working and caring for his dying father, resolved to want for nothing, punishing himself after tragedy but CeCe makes him yearn to reach for a sun that could burn him up. Garrett is better with wild animals; Charlie saves human beings, but both adore CeCe.

When the wedding party and guests fall ill, loyalties are tested, hearts are ripped open, and CeCe makes a big life-altering decision. Is it the right one? Is there such a thing when it comes to the future, to love? What makes this novel hook the reader isn’t the heat of temptation nor the twist of fate that occurs, it is the fractures in our relationships, the fact that every choice brings with it pleasure and pain, success and failure. There isn’t a perfect choice, you can’t live your life without sacrifice, and loss, all things cost us just as much as we gain from our courage, we lose too. Each character struggles with regret, shame, betrayal, and is haunted by what if. Feelings aren’t so easily buried, you can forgive, but forgetting is a beast.

It is when children enter the story that Charlie, CeCe, and Garrett are dissected with precision, offering clarity. They are challenged by more than their conflicted feelings. In fact, this is where the tale sunk its claws in me and took a more profound direction. You can be successful and still be touched by tragedy. Love isn’t a guarantee of unending bliss either. Children have their own minds, their own demons to face down. These are people pulled in many directions, making mistakes, hurting those they love best, unsure of themselves and each other. They are each helpless in being anything but themselves, even if that creates more chaos, isn’t that life? Yet, there is tenderness in unexpected places.

Yes, read it. How strange the human heart is.

Published February 18, 2025

Doubleday Books

This was a very depressing read. Although charting was lovely the story was a tale of sad and desperate people that only put me in a bad mood. I can’t recommend.

O can see why reviews are split- you have to be a certain type of reader to love Dream State. I found it to be deeply moving. The non-linear plotting made it even more interesting. You really have to be a fan of character driven stories. I found it to be a very touching look at how a group of college friends grow after a tragic accident.

Eric Puchner’s Dream State has an appealing cover and synopsis, but the unlikable characters and depressing climate change pages were disappointing. Despite being an Oprah recommendation, it failed to meet my expectations.

This is my kind of book, a family and friendship saga that spans decades and offers you glimpses into the minds of cast of characters at various points in their lives. The premise is intriguing- Cece is meant to marry perfect Charlie but when she meets his dark and twisty best friend Garrett, something shifts in her mind and she suddenly wonders if she’ll be happy with Charlie since she’s carrying around some darkness of her own. The repercussions of Cece’s choices in the first part of the book are explored in the rest of the book.

One thing to note about this novel is that some of the biggest plot points happen off the page, living only in the memories of the characters and referred to obliquely later in the narrative. While reading, I was annoyed, I wanted more details! But I do find this choice to be clever and unique at the same time. It’s also realistic. Some of life’s biggest moments can seem to pass by in an instant whereas they live on in memories forever. “Life seemed like that hike to her sometimes: forever peering through the trees, waiting for a glimpse of flowers. Where was it? Where? She was beginning to suspect it didn’t exist.”

One criticism I have is that other than a look at Garrett and Charlie’s college years, we get very little in the way of Cece, Garett, and Charlie’s histories. A novel that moves so far forward in time after the initiating events should really delve into the past as well, in my opinion. Cece felt like a bit of a cipher in many ways. We can see what Charlie and Garrett love about her, through their perspectives. But who IS she? Is that the point, that she’s only defined in terms of others?

An unexpected aspect of this book that mostly worked for me was the climate change theme. The characters are all growing older over the course of the book and can’t have things be the way they used to as a result. But at the same time, the climate crisis is exacerbating these changes. The summers in Montana in Cece’s early 20s which were so special to her are lost forever, not only because CeCe has aged and made certain life choices but because climate change has resulted in smoky overly hot summer seasons that you can only enjoy conditionally. Late in the book, she finds herself floating on the lake, happy to enjoy this nostalgic activity despite the poor air quality BUT her choices regarding Charlie and Garret hang over her like the smoky haze from the wildfires.

Overall I am a big fan of this book and I really enjoyed reading it. I loved the dreaminess and elusiveness of the narration, I loved how much was left unsaid, and I absolutely adored the flaws characters and their imperfect lives and loves.

Dream State is one of those novels that sneaks up on you. It starts with a seemingly simple setup—a wedding at a Montana lake house, a love triangle that isn’t quite a love triangle—but then unfolds into something much bigger.

The writing is sharp, sometimes funny, sometimes devastating, and the setting feels so vivid. Reading this, I kept thinking about a lake trip from years ago, where nothing dramatic happened, but the air felt thick with things unsaid. Dream State captures that feeling perfectly—the weight of history, the tension between staying and leaving, and the way time reshapes even the deepest relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC.

This was just an okay read for me and I found it frustrating at times. I like to read how pieces of the story evolve and in this book there are many occasions where major events happen but it’s told as an afterthought.

WHEW this was a heavy one.

This novel was like one of those quiet, low budget indie movies. Where they couldn’t afford music and play the same recognizable piano tune throughout the film while people walk from one place to the next, or as time passes and people age and the wife ends up with Alzheimer’s and makes a scene in a pharmacy and it’s completely silent aside from her shouting and everyone feels tense and uncomfortable.

It has everything, a husband that leaves his wife for a man, sons from different generations with drug addictions and parent issues and grief and trauma, a woman who leaves her husband a week after they get married for his best friend, a daughter who grows up to move to LA to be a movie star.

We start at the beginning with our characters, and we travel with them through life, the chapters flowing together with the fast forward in time pretty seamlessly.

Everyone is flawed and troubled and no one is truly happy and they’re constantly chasing something better instead of appreciating what they have, and wondering “what if…”

The scenery is a huge part of this novel, with a focus on climate, climate change, and the California wildfires.

The book was well written, really lovely writing, it was just a rough listen. Like, no one is ever really happy, and that’s addressed near the end of the novel so it’s pretty self aware.

I’d recommend this, just make sure you’re in a the right moody mood to read it. Like in your feelings, ready to feel more things. Sad, griefy things. I feel like this would also make a good book club book, lots to chat about.

Thank you @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Officially 3.75, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. I enjoyed this book--the writing was excellent, the characters real and interesting, and the story engaging. I love books that follow characters throughout their lives, so the format of this book really worked for me. The only reason I didn't rate it higher was because the pacing felt a bit uneven, and it was frequently hard to tell what year it was or how far into the future the book had jumped. I also wanted more from CeCe's perspective--more insight on many of her choices would've been interesting. Overall though I enjoyed reading this book--it definitely makes you think and would be an excellent book club choice.

A true epic! The way parallels the deterioration of our natural world with the difficulties endured in the main characters past was beautifully done.

If you like stories that follow the same characters over and over a long span of time, just pick this up and dive in. I went in without knowing much at all and loved being along for the ride and just letting it unfold. When I read a review and then the synopsis I was really surprised to see how much it gave away. I am glad I hadn’t read them first.

What I will say is that this book starts right before Charlie and Cece are getting married. From there, we see them at different points in their lives over fifty years. I loved the writing and highlighted so many parts but I want to let you discover them for yourself. This one isn’t for everyone but for the right readers, it’s an absolute gem. Thank you to Doubleday for the free ebook to review.

Sometimes in a novel, you stumble across that perfect mix of a gorgeous setting (Montana ) and engaging characters (Charlie, Cece, & Garrett, et al) whose life challenges compel you to read through lunch, dinner, and into the wee hours of the night. Spending time with these characters causes laughing out -loud one minute and in the next moment sudden tears blur the words on the page. Dream State hits the sweet spot with just that perfect aggregate of tears, laughter and insight into the human condition.
Highly recommend for the totally immersive experience that all readers seek.

I ended up enjoying the idea of Dream State more than the execution. Sweeping, character-driven novels that are flawed and original with a dash of climate change effects are typically elements of a 5-star read for me. However, I wanted a little more with this book.

In short, Cece is in Montana to prepare for her wedding with Charlie. As she gets tasks in order, she meets and spends time with Charlie's best friend, Garrett, who plans to officiate the wedding. Surprising both, they can't help but find themselves drawn to each other. The rest of the book takes us through their lives and all the ups and downs they face.

The time jumps were frequent and took you right into the action. My critique is that I never felt I had a sense of these characters. Their actions didn't mesh with their previous actions, and there wasn't enough time within a section to explore who these people were and what their motivations were. It also really delved into their heavier moments, which I agree is interesting, but I felt very weighed down by the end of the story.

I did think the attention to the Alzheimer's diagnosis was very well done, though. Despite my criticism, I do still believe this is an engaging book that people will appreciate.

As Cece is planning her wedding to the man of her dreams, she meets his unusual best friend, Garrett, who she feels an inexplicable draw towards. When the wedding does not go according to plan, she finds herself making a decision that changes the course of her entire life. Caught between the two men, she builds a life that she sometimes questions, reflecting upon the obstacles that every marriage faces.

This book spans many decades, following the characters throughout their tumultuous lives, filled with the ups and downs that are promised in any lifetime. The characters are well-developed and believable, and the story is evocative and nuanced. It took me in many directions I wasn't expecting to go, but it was always intentional and never failed to bring the focus back.

I loved the decision from the author to end the book with the wedding day, giving more insight on that fateful day that changed everything.