This was a really fun Hollywood-esque read, with very fun characters and a small-town setting. I really enjoyed it, and I liked the glimpse of movie making, as well! I really enjoy reading this author, and I know that I can recommend this story to the right readers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

3 stars.

"Dream On, Ramona Riley" by Ashley Herring Blake is not my favorite queer romance novel, but it's not all that bad. It just didn't scratch the sapphic romance itch I have come to love and expect from novels like "Kiss Her Once for Me" or "Here We Go Again" by Alison Cochrun, "Late Bloomer" by Mazey Eddings, or even "Mistakes Were Made" by Meryl Wilsner. This book tries to balance drama and reconnection, but I found it lacking both intensity and magnetism. Despite this being a second-chance romance with a solid backstory, I didn't feel a huge connection between the main characters, Ramona and Dylan. There was virtually no spark between them until about 60% into the book. Maybe it's because there is *so* *much* *miscommunication* between the two of them that, once they got together, I just didn't care too much. I feel like the author was striving for a slow-burning romance, but to me, it came off as clunk and ineffectual. Once the spice began, I got into the book a bit more, but it was too little, too late at that point. All of the spicy stuff happens at the end of the book, so it feels a little off-balanced and just. keeps. happening. over. and. over. This story is also pretty a predictable celebrity/normal person tale, which by itself is typically fine, but coupled with all of my other issues, it made this a bit of a chore to get through. There are also so, so many characters in this story, many of whom are thrown out in the very first chapter along with very detailed backstories all at once. I had to go back and read the first few chapters to make sure I had them all correct in my head... it was a lot of information to dole out in the very first chapter! I also think the nicknames Dylan and Ramona used for one another when they were younger were very cringe, so when they started using them as adults, I was halfway to gagging. I haven't read the Bright Falls series, a fan-favorite series that also takes place in a small town, but I didn't feel like Clover Lake had the same charm as the small-town romances I have read from other authors. I love queer romances so, so much. I love watching queer characters get their moment in the sun and spotlight to shine a light on their stories. I love seeing marginalized and underrepresented communities experience joy and happiness and adoration and love (and much, much more). I wish this one had been better because I was really looking forward to it. That being said, I will still give the next book in this series a chance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Herring Blake, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I always have a great time reading Ashley Herring Blake’s books. Her adult sapphic romances are always full of complex characters, great chemistry, and interesting plots. This took the story of a famous actor falling for a small town local while on location shooting a movie and gave it an interesting twist. Dylan and Ramona actually met when they were thirteen and shared their first kiss, but they never saw each other again. They also both have something to prove, for Dylan that she can be more than a Hollywood wild child and for Ramona that she can finally realize her dream of being a costume designer.

Dylan and Ramona both had interesting backstories with their parents and how their lives growing up impacts who they are today. I enjoyed seeing the ways that they connected with each other and doing fun small town things that Dylan doesn’t normally get to do as a celebrity. Also, the chemistry in the steamy scenes was through the roof.

There’s a fair amount of miscommunication and the characters holding back information from one another. Normally that isn’t my favorite way for conflict to be introduced in romance novels, but I thought it worked for the characters and this story in particular. I enjoyed how they solved their 3rd act conflict and where they ended up in the epilogue.

Definitely check this out if you enjoy steamy, sapphic romances!

I received "Dream On, Ramona Riley" as an ARC from NetGalley, so thank you for the early preview. This book is a charming story that blends nostalgia of easier hard times with the reality of present hard times. It's easy to read and the characters are easy to like, even if there are some plot holes that could have stood to be explored more deeply to round it out more fully. This is a solid beach read with heart and a pinch of messy healing.

The Plot: Ramona had to drop out of RISD to care for her father and younger sister, and while she was an amazing stand-in mom, she temporarily gave up on her dreams and is finding it difficult to imagine those dreams as reality. Dylan is supposedly your typical Hollywood wild child and present f*ckboi, but really is just a young woman who experienced a lot of trauma and accidental (?!?) child abuse when she was young and the media loves to spin a dramatic story at her expense. Dylan's movie is shooting in Ramona's town, which Dylan hasn't been to since she was a teenager, when, of course, they're re-introduced. To get into her role better, Dylan wants to know what small-town life is like and Ramona is breathily hoping for her shot with magical costume designer legend who just happens to be part of Dylan's crew. Throw in fake dating, a sibling, some parents, and a BFF and shenanigans and will they/won't they ensue. They spend very little time on set, so while it leverages a film shoot as a setting I wouldn't call it integral to the plot. It's the device that keeps bringing Ramona and Dylan into each other's path.

Tropes & Depth: This book delights in tropes: a brief fake dating stint, childhood lovers to adult lovers, surprise form the past, and small town/big city but never fully settles into one thoroughly. It's delightful but sometimes incomplete. It also tackles some heavier topics lightly: child abuse, parental abandonment, car accidents, which contrast with the summery rural setting but also never fully resolve. I would have loved to read the talk between Dylan and her parents, or Ramona's technical dialogue with Noelle (I think?) that really convinced her to hire her. The characters don't talk as much or as deeply as they do in other AHB books, to their detriment. While not a miscommunication trope book, it does feature prominently. Like most books set around the film industry, there's a lot of skim and not enough depth to make it compelling. In contrast, Allison Cochran did this spectacularly.

Strengths: AHB is always excellent at writing sympathetic characters and I did really enjoyed this book. Community surrounds Ramona and therefore envelopes Dylan, which always makes the plot feel more developed. The dialogue with Ramona's friends, father, and sis are snappy, queer, and I would have loved to spend more time with them, as well as more communication time with Ramona and Dylan -- these moments are too precious and are what left me wanting just a bit more. The intimate scenes are spectacular and seemed more frequent and *ahem* spicy than other books. Overall, the chemistry is easy to sink into, the book is easy to read, the characters are easy to love, there's a nice cameo, and the book manages to explore dollops of reality before waltzing queer love towards the Hollywood dream (thank god).

A heartwarming sapphic romance full of second chances, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt moments.

RATING: 4.5/5
SPICE: 4/5

Starting off 2025 with Dream On, Ramona Riley was an absolute delight. Ashley Herring Blake delivers a heartwarming, fun, and undeniably charming sapphic romance that left me grinning from start to finish. This novel is packed with humor, heartfelt moments, and just the right amount of spice, making it a must-read for romance lovers.

The story follows Ramona, a bisexual, plus-size woman living in a small town, and Dylan, a famous actress. The two first met as teenagers and shared an unforgettable kiss before going their separate ways. Years later, fate intervenes when Dylan returns to town for a summer film shoot, giving them a second chance to explore what could have been. The chemistry between Ramona and Dylan is electric, and their rekindled relationship is filled with swoon-worthy moments, witty banter, and genuine emotional depth.

One of the highlights of this novel is its ability to balance lighthearted romance with deeper themes. Blake seamlessly weaves in discussions on growing up with neglectful parents, searching for an absent parent, and the power of second chances. The romance is at the forefront, but these themes add layers of authenticity to the characters' journeys.

The book also features two beloved romance tropes: miscommunication and fake dating. While miscommunication can sometimes be frustrating, Blake executes it in a way that feels natural and contributes to the overall emotional arc of the story. And let’s talk about the spice—each book from Ashley Herring Blake seems to turn up the heat a little more, and Dream On, Ramona Riley does not disappoint!

A standout quote from the novel that truly resonated with me was: "Letting someone in is always a little scary. No matter who you are or what you've been through. But it is always worth it." This encapsulates the heart of Ramona and Dylan’s story—learning to open up, take risks, and embrace love, even when it feels daunting.

For fans of LGBTQ+ romance, especially sapphic love stories, Dream On, Ramona Riley is a joyful, engaging, and emotionally rich read. Ashley Herring Blake continues to prove why she’s a powerhouse in the genre, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

EXPECTED TO RELEASE: May 13, 2025

Oh my goodness! Dream On Ramona Riley was my first venture into the world of Ashley Herring Blake and the hype did not disappoint! Ramona and Dylan had me hooked from the start and I adored watching them grow into themselves throughout. I loved all of the side characters and I’m looking forward to reading more about April! I’m so glad that Olive and Marley got together (I was rooting for them literally the entire time!) All together an incredible read!

I love a second chance romance, and few do them as well as Blake! Her characters always leap of the page. FIlled with such heart and hope and her latest offering is no different!

This just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters - they all had too many flaws, and the over the top cheesy romance mixed with steamy smut felt forced. The constant lying and miscommunication trope didn’t win me over either. I loved Ashley’s last book (Make the Season Bright), so this was a surprising letdown.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm a big Ashley Herring Blake fan and I was so excited to get an ARC of this book in the newest series. I enjoyed the Delilah Green series so I was looking forward to this one. If you love romcoms, this will probably be up your alley. Love the queer representation, it has humor and romance combined with every day struggles, making it relatable.

Dream On, Ramona Riley is about discovering who you are, rekindling long-lost dreams, and having the courage to trust in something wonderful. I love it! I have Blake's other books in paperback so I'll be getting a copy of this one to add to my collection.

My first five star read of the year! I usually like my romance books a little less messy than this one gets, but when one of the main characters is the somewhat dysfunctional daughter of two rockstars, things are going to be a bit disastrous. I loved Ramona and Dylan's second-chance romance.
Bad girl Dylan is trying to change her image with the new queer rom-com she's filming in the small town of Clover Lake. Ramona left behind her dreams of costume design when she came back home to help raise her much younger sister. The new movie filming in Clover Lake might be her first chance to follow the dreams she's put on hold. This isn't Ramona and Dylan's first time meeting, though. When they were thirteen, they shared their first kiss in a secluded cove. But Dylan doesn't remember she's already met the cute waitress helping her prepare for her new role once before. With so many secrets and dreams help between them, will the two women be able to build something that lasts more than the summer?

Another great book from Ashley Herring Blake. I loved that this book connected back to Iris Kelly Doesn't Date (the movie Dylan stars in is based on her bestselling novel) while establishing it's own context for a new series. I'm already anxiously anticipating the next book following Ramona's tattoo artist best friend April who's still hung up on a life-altering one night stand from years ago.

A wonderful start to a new series for Ashley Herring Blake. I found the characters to be really compelling as both Ramona and Dylan were heartfelt and messy and relatable. The book has a very hopeful tone that I think is really needed right now, that the future can hold more for us if we allow ourselves to dream. Someone we lost in the past can come back to us. It's a cozy sapphic love story filled with queer community that offers something for every reader.

I was so impressed with this book. It felt like there was so much going on plot wise but everything had sufficient page time that it felt addressed and resolved by the end. Loved Ramona!!!! Loved Dylan!!!!

i didn’t really like the book. it had a lot of potential but feel like it was set up to be a cute YA summer vibes book that ended up having really explicit sex scenes and the two vibes didn’t really mesh. i think the characters are cute and its a good concept but could have been executed better

So, I'm not the biggest fan of the Delilah Green books, I think they're okay but a little too hokey for me. I enjoyed the Christmas book from AHB, so I thought I'd give this one a try. However, it's even more hokey than the Delilah Green books.

I really wasn't connecting with the characters in this one and idk the whole town feels so fake - it's just not my jam personally - but I think if you enjoy romcoms in general and or if you've enjoyed other books by AHB you'll likely enjoy this one.

Not the books fault, just not my cuppa.


💗Bisexual/Bisexual Couple
💛Fake Dating
💗Hollywood Setting
💛90s Nostalgia
💗Disaster x Dependable
💛Dreams Deferred
💗Celebrity x Normie
💛Steam x Kinky
💗Small Town MC
💛Movie Set
💗Each Other's First 💋


Many thanks to Berkley Publishing (ily) for reaching out via NetGalley with the complementary advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own. 💐🎀

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of this book.

I'm a big fan of Ashley Herring Blake's Bright Falls series. So I was very excited to read the first in her new series, and it was as wonderful as I could have hoped. The little town of Clover Lake, New Hampshire is as charming and full of fun characters as Bright Falls. But don't let the cozy vibes fool you. This book is spicy and sexy and hot in all the fantastic ways Blake is known for. More than anything, Blake creates worlds that you want to live in. I found myself staying up late to read just one more chapter and picking the book back up when I woke up in the morning.

When Ramona Riley gave up her dream of being a costume designer for movies to move home and take care of her sister, she never dreamed the movies would come to her. And more than that, she never imagined the movie would bring back the woman with whom Riley, as teenagers, shared their first kiss. Of course, as luck would have it, that sweetheart from long ago is now a big time movie star that has a bit of a PR problem thanks to some very public bad behavior. But Ramona can't help hoping there might still be a bit of warmth in that fire from long ago. But when Dylan Monroe doesn't initially remember that first kiss, Ramona is tries to let it go and focus on her opportunity to work with a legendary costume designer. After some very romantic moments, and some very tense ones as well, Ramona has to decide what really is important in her life and what she can't let go.

If you are a romance fan, especially a contemporary romance fan, and have never read a sapphic or queer romance because you think it's not for you, I encourage you to give Ashley Herring Blake's series a chance. It's nearly impossible to not be completely charmed by them.

Loved this book and the characters, especially that Ramona and Dylan’s love story mirrored the film, but was flipped. Also loved that there was tons of personal development along with the romance. Probably won’t buy for my high school library because of the explicit sex scenes, but would recommend to friends!

Ashley Herring Blake's new series is as fun of a romp as her previous Bright Falls series--with a cute little cameo from Iris Kelly for past readers. Sweet and sexy and heartfelt, this bi4bi romance hits all its cues.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group!

I feel like when it comes to Ashley Herring Blake, I am constantly living in the shadow of how much I adored and felt so seen in Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail. I read Astrid at the perfect moment when I was also having my late-in-life coming out, and it just hit so deep.
As I continue to read Blake's books (which I always will), they're just becoming a little more hit or miss with me.

- Delilah Green Doesn't Care: loved
- Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail: LOVED
- Iris Kelly Doesn't Date: it was fine
-Dream On, Ramona Riley: it was fine

I don't know what it was exactly, but I feel like I just couldn't connect with the characters. And that is not to say that these weren't charming and well developed characters, because they were! I just can't really care about the woes of a famous nepo baby, and I'm not close with my own family, so there was always a disconnect? Idk. It's a personal problem.
One thing that will always be consistent with Blake though, is achingly sweet and spicy romance, and she never disappoints.

Thanks! <3

So phenomenal and incredibly adorable, Ashley Herring Blake has mastered the formula for tooth rot romance. It’s actually so unbearably cute I caught myself giggling and kicking my feet. Ramona and Dylan yearn like no other.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read this book early!

Do you love bisexual women, daddy/mommy issues, nepo babies with emotional baggage, cool little sisters, small town romance, flipping people off in helicopters, movie stars, dildos with names, mushrooms that look like brains, and/or second chances at childhood crushes? Then Dream On, Ramona Riley will be the perfect book for you.

I requested this book with hope of truly loving it, as Blake has released some books I adored and books I did not much care for. And ultimately, it was fine. It didn’t change my life, but I didn’t hate it either. Good enough that I definitely will consider it whenever anyone needs a recommendation for a sapphic love story though.

I did really enjoy Dylan and Ramona’s story and the journeys they went on individually. The parental trauma between these two was A LOT and seeing them come to terms with and work through it was so satisfying. They both had such interesting family dynamics and baggage to work through that I found myself caring more about their individual development than the love story.

That being said, I am still so excited for Ramona’s best friend April’s book. I really loved her from her appearance in this book and I cannot wait to read her story.

Thank you again for letting me meet Dylan and Ramona early. I cannot wait for more people to get to know them!