After ten years apart from each other, Zac and Melody reunite at a camping trip. They start reconnecting after their friends unintentionally strand them during severe weather and they get closer and closer. Their childhood love starts rekindling and they get closer and closer.
This book was really cute! I’m pretty sure it’s a rerelease which makes me insanely happy for the author, since I’m pretty sure it was indie published before. I enjoyed seeing Melody’s character grow into the person she deserved to be, and seeing her relationship with Zac grow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC of this book!

It has been a long time that a book has hooked me like this one. I LOVED IT. The lead up to Zac and Melody's relationship was the perfect amount of slow burn, had just the right amount of spice and even the lead up to Brooks, Summer's, and hopefully Noah's stories has be begging for more even though this one isn't even out yet. I NEED this one on my shelf IMMEDIATELY. The way I'm racing to the authors contact information to absolutely beg for a copy is wild. You need to read this one.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

This book was tied together so well! We love a golden retriever MMC & the way the FMC grew more confident in herself throughout the book was cool to see. Love that he kept buying extra chapstick to leave around places when she kept losing hers.

I wish it was bit shorter, and the FMC was a little annoying in certain parts.

Tropes:
Second chance
Small town
Brothers best friend
Fake dating

I’m always a sucker for a hockey romance and this book was no exception! I have never read anything by this author before and now I want to look into their previous works

The story was catchy and a great set-up for the series - probably closer to a 3.5.

With a brother’s best friend trope, the reason things didn’t work out when they were 18 was a bit predictable. That said, I liked Zac a lot. He came across as a good guy who helped every one around him (e.g., Noah). He is also the quintessential man in love you love to see in romcoms. I also enjoyed some of the side characters (e.g., Noah, Brooks) which helped build the overall story.

Two main things lower my overall score. (1) it’s long and really drags on. I found myself skimming a lot of then last third, especially since the plot was predictable (2) there were an enough plot holes that I couldn’t overlook them all. Yes the story all came together in the end but it felt like with a little more thought it could have avoided a lot of these pieces that pulled me out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elle K. Wild, and Atria for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Melody's boyfriend breaks up with her, and she's forced to go back home and move in with her twin brother. She's been avoiding her hometown since her brother's best friend, Zac, left her hanging ten years ago. Zac regrets how he left things and jumps at the chance to prove to Melody that he's changed, but will she believe him?

Thoughts 💭
I couldn't put this down. Both Melody and Zac were fun characters, and their growth together was sweet and wholesome. This has so many fun tropes in it: second chance, brother's best friend, small town, sports, and forced proximity. I enjoyed their found family and look forward to reading their stories in the future. There was a decent amount of spice in this and a lot of tension. If you're a romance reader who enjoys these tropes, I wouldn't miss out on this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K Wilde.

This is a new to me author and about 25% in to the book I wanted to know what else she has wrote. Then noting on the Goodreads cover of this book it states “Oakwood Bay series”, I was dying to know who the next book would be about. But this one, you have Zac, the absolutely sweet and lovable guy, a bit of a jock but the kind you can love who makes a very dumb mistake as high school student. Then there is Melody, who was on the receiving end of the mistake. She is known to her friends and twin brother as snarky and funny, but after being away in the city for 10 years and going through a much needed break up from a 6 year relationship with Connor, she is not quite herself. A bad camping trip later, and many conversations, Zac and Melody are reunited but the ultimate question is will they work thru all the baggage and get what they want/need. The best part of this romance is there is not the classic couple falls, couple has a fight and then comes back together. I kept waiting for it, but it never came and it was a nice change. But it is a spicy romance so if that’s not your thing, you may not enjoy this one.

3,5 - Rounded Up

This book was so cute and charming and I couldn’t put it down.

This follows Melody as she moves back home after leaving a rocky 6 year relationship. While home, she wants to work on herself and gain confidence. What she wasn’t expecting is to be forced on a camping trip with her brother’s best friend, Zac, who had broken her heart 10 years prior.

Only in your dreams follows some of my favorite tropes: Brother’s best friend, second chance, forced proximity and found family. Zac and Melody’s tension was so good, and I loved that she didn’t fall for him the second she was back in town. Zac really had to work for his spot at her side. Also, the hilarity and jealousy that ensued as they tried to hid their feelings for one another. One of my favorite parts of this book was that Zac took in his star athlete under his wing and how those interactions affected Melody.

Also the bucket list!! Melody coming into her self was everything I needed.

Thank you Netgalley, Ellie K. Wilde and Atria books for a E-ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a nice pallet cleanser romance. I liked our main characters for the most part but found some moments a little cringy. This was pretty spicy but I think it flowed well with the plot overall. I liked our female main characters backstory with her ex.

I think if you're a fan of the tropes or contemporary romance you'll enjoy this book.

Rated 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook

Melody and Zac parted 10 years ago after graduation. Since then Melody has been in a toxic relationship for 6 years and is finally back home. Zac coaches the college football team and once Melody is back, his attitude and the team improved. I really liked this book. The characters were great and the reuniting of Melody and Zac on a camping trip left a lot of tense yet humorous moments. I liked how Zac imparted confidence in Melody after she had been manipulated by her ex and how he stepped back from his desire for her to let her find herself. Lots of love with true friends that enhanced the story.

I wanted to like this so bad. But the pining and the will they/wont they was just annoying. It was too long. The sex scenes were gross.

The thing I appreciated the most was the depiction of the gaslighting and manipulative boyfriend and how that can affect someone long after the breakup.

Otherwise, I couldn’t have done without the majority of this book.

Es una historía de segundas oportunidades. A pesar de que tiene partes spicy es un poco más YA a mi gusto.
Siento que a ratos eran un poco inmaduros los personajes.
En general me gustó y lo recomiendo si quieres leer algo ligero. Pero ten en cuenta que hay muchos libros ya con este tipo de historias.

A super cute second chance romance. Ten years pass by since high school when Mel gets dumped by her boyfriend. Moving back to oakwood to live with her twin until she can save to move back to the city. She ends up on a camping trip with her old friends and is forced to come face to face with her old crush Zac. Overall loved Zac and how he never forgot Mel even when he knew she had moved on. although the miss communication aspect/trope was annoying and caused this 10 year drift, I still enjoyed it. Cheesy in all the best ways. Highly recommend this one!!

*ARC Review from NetGalley and Atria Books*
Loved everything about this book 😍 I found myself grinning so stupidly throughout most of the book and my heart pounding during the stressful moments. The spice was definitely there but mixed really well with the sweet romance. The MCs are made for each other and everyone knows it 😂 The conflicts weren’t too dramatic and out there but gave me just enough anxiety to wonder how it really was all going to work out. Because I definitely wanted it all to work out desperately 😭 I cant wait to get a physical copy when it comes out and must be added to my favorites shelf.

4.5⭐️ 3🌶️

First, thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ellie Wilde for sending this arc for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book by Ellie and it did not disappoint. She will be an automatic read author for me from here on out.

This was such a sweet story, and while there were frequently used tropes in the story, it was SUCH a unique plot - even with the subtle nod to The Notebook. I couldn’t get enough of it and devoured it in a day.

Zac and Melody were childhood friends, Zac being Melody’s twin brother’s best friend. They both had feelings for each other in high school but didn’t know the other felt the same way, and it just didn’t work out for them before Melody left their small town for college, while Zac stayed behind, playing football for their town’s university and going on to be the head coach of the football team.

Zac’s character is written so well, he’s the sweetest guy with all the pining and adoration, and the depth of it all is so well articulated it makes you swoon and want to cry on his behalf.

Melody is considered the “grumpy” of the two main characters, but is so witty and hilarious, her banter makes for light entertainment mixed in with the deep love story aspect.

I love the light shown on mental abuse (in her past relationship), and how abuse isn’t always physical. Real women go through that and the gaslighting that comes along with it more than people realize, so I appreciate the inclusion of that experience.

Sports romance readers who love when there’s no third act breakup will eat this up. The spice was spicing after the slow-ish burn, the banter is great, and the angst is top notch. The side characters added so much to this book as well, and I hope to see a book for Brooks, Summer, and Parker to come!

Love the Coach approach to the sports romance and the abundance of spice!

Overall: 4 stars
Spice: 4 stars

Melody left her small college hometown 10 years ago, but now she's back recovering from a bad break-up staying with her twin brother. Her goals are to return to the city asap and avoid seeing Zac, her high school crush who broke her heart. When they are forced together on a camping trip and after, can she forgive his actions as an eighteen year old and see the man he has become?

This was a great second chance/brothers best friend/sports romance with extra spice. The story was unique and offered good character development for both Zac and Melody. I did wish Melody spent more time with Summer, her BFF, and Parker, her brother. Zac's gestures to make Melody happy are sweet bordering on over the top. Would recommend to romance readers, especially if you like a strong, aggressive MMC.

*The Best Friend's Little Sister* is a steamy second-chance romance set in a small town, featuring Melody, who returns home after a breakup and is forced to spend time with Zac, her brother's best friend who broke her heart years ago. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but Zac is determined to make things right after ghosting her all those years ago, while Melody is rediscovering herself after a toxic relationship. Their reunion takes a turn when they’re forced to camp together, leading to a mix of tension, explosive moments, and surprising vulnerability. As they navigate their feelings, they’re forced to keep their growing relationship a secret, but the connection between them is undeniable, and they must figure out if this is truly their second chance at love. The story offers a perfect blend of romance, humor, and small-town charm, with a great cast of supporting characters, and a fantastic build-up to a sweet HEA. I'm excited for the next book in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fun, swoony and quite steamy!

Melody was a well thought out, relatable character. It was a pleasure to witness her grow out of her unsureness and discover the things that she truly desired. Zac, from the moment we meet him…swoony as ever. Time and time again, he showed up and showed out. He could write his own book on yearning.

The story was easy to follow, the main characters were well-developed, and a few of the secondary characters even had me in my feels. (The football player he had staying with him? Too. CUTE.)

It could’ve used a little condensing, as some of the main characters inner thoughts got repetitive, and I would've liked to see a bigger moment for Melody when getting closure with her ex, but these are minor complaints.

Overall an entertaining, enjoyable, trope-filled, sports romance read.

Zac is now one of my favorite book boyfriends. That man is head over heels for Melody. This book had me giddy!! If you’re looking for a reverse grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, he never gave up hope book, this is the one for you! I loved every second of Only in Your Dreams!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from Atria books via NetGalley!

I feel like men in romance books have to be willing to throw a punch in order to be considered “strong” and “manly”. Unfortunately, this theme is prevalent in this novel. The MMC has a hard time controlling his emotions and frequently has to restrain himself from getting violent, even with friends, if they come into any kind of contact with the FMC. It’s more annoying than cute, in my opinion.

In the beginning, I enjoyed the aspect of Melody and Zac’s relationship, especially the camping trip, but then the reasons why they couldn’t be together became silly and childish. I feel like this book could’ve been 100 pages shorter in order for the conflict to be less drawn out and repetitive.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Marketing for an advanced copy of this book.