potential spoilers ahead!!

throughout reading “Only in Your Dreams”, i primarily was struggling with believing the pining the characters were feeling. ten entire years felt too much a time for them to think of one another that extensively. actual flashbacks of them sneaking glances or their whispered conversations or hangouts without parker around, or a separate path of melody coming home for the holidays and having to interact with zac, THAT woulda helped me grasp the longing that was happening. but a few years less off their reuniting is all it really needed. now, i did love that we jumped right into the book and had them interacting almost instantly. and zac is continuously so patient and so kind, rooting for melody and committed to proving to her that he’s changed.

it’s not one hundred percent what i was expecting; however, i still relatively liked it and would like to read more from ellie. i’d devour whatever comes out for brooks getting a happily ever after. noah too, honestly! i’d love to read a cutesy little story with him aged up a bit, living his NFL dreams. you know those side characters you get super attached to and you start grinning when they finally come back on page? that’s totally him.

thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ellie K. Wilde for providing this eARC!

Zac and Melody grew up together and thought they were going to give being together a chance at the end of high school. One night Zac leaves Melody hanging and they don't talk again for 10 years. Melody is back in town after a bad breakup and these two finally get their chance to give it a go.

I usually love brother's best friend and a football coach too?! Yes please. Unfortunately this one just got a little long for me and I really just had a hard time believing they didn't talk for 10 years despite Zac being best friends with her TWIN.

If you can get past that stuff and you're a contemporary romance fan than give this one ago!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the eARC.

Sports romance and I don't get along. This is fully on me.

This was my first book by Ellie K. Wilder and it certainly wont be my last! I absolutely adored Only in Your Dreams, and was intrigued in Melody and Zac’s story from the very beginning!!!

I adored Melody’s character and getting to watch her grow, heal, and overcome the hurt from her last relationship was so lovely. I enjoyed her witty and dry sense of humor, her thoughtfulness, and her determination to find herself again. I loved her depth and how relatable she felt, and I truly think a lot of readers will be able to relate to her in some way, shape, or form. I enjoyed getting to know her character so much!!!

Zac is a man obsessed, who is not afraid to grovel and pine, and honestly… what’s better than that?? I loved Zac’s character and his kind, thoughtful, and charming personality. He loves hard and his relationship with Noah made my heart HURT!!! IT was so sweet and heartwarming and UGH. I really enjoyed the depth that we see in his character through his career struggles, and honestly I related so heavily to the imposter syndrome (sigh). Getting to see him work through those struggles and grow overall as a character was so great!!!

Melody and Zac’s love story is filled with a whole lot of tension, pining, chemistry, and second chances. I loved these two together soso much!!! Their dynamic is so good, filled with so much banter, flirting, and longing. Zac is absolutely down BAD for Melody and I was about to start begging her myself to give him a chance to right his wrongs. I loved getting to see them slowly work through things, find comfort in each other, and fall in love. It was so sweet, so fun, and so enjoyable!!! The smut in this is so good, you can literally feel the years worth of desire & longing RADIATING off of this book.

This is a small town, brothers best friend, sports romance with a splash of second chance!!! Truly such a fun, enjoyable, and easy read that I 100% recommend!!!

If you love a cute brother’s best friend read, with football elements this book is for you! The main chapters are so cute and I really like the progression of their love story! I really like that the main female character is a twin which makes the brother’s best friend trope really hit!

ARC Review

Thank you to Ellie K. Wilde, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This had so many of my favorite tropes: second chance, brother's best friend, sports, and found family! Plus some obvious fake dating! I loved it!

I've become a big fan of quiet expressions of love in romance books instead of the grand gesture. Zac does quiet love in the best way! I love that he sees Melody and does everything he can to empower her! Especially after everything her ex put her through!

I will be sharing a review on Instagram (@readsinhyperspeed) soon!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books & Ellie Wilde for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I ate this up. Brother's best friend. Second Chance Romance. Forbidden/secret cuddles/sleepovers. Sports. Gaslighting/emotionally abusive ex and realizing your worth! SMART women. Found family. And intimate scenes that followed a strict set of boundaries and managed to leave me verklempt.

I am thrilled that we will get book 2, Only Between Us, giving us Brooks' story, this summer. Maybe we'll be blessed with Summer's story after that? Then Parker? Please? The friend/family group was so well written and established that I want to live through all of their loves too!

DNF @ CH 13 ~ 30%

I was really excited about this one as it sounded like something right up my alley - football romance with old high school friends re-kindling their romance.

Unfortunately, this one really fell flat for me with what I read, and I don't want to force myself to read anything this year that I know will end up with a low rating when I'm not enjoying it. I DO think that other people could really enjoy this book, as what I read of the spice was great and the issues I had were personal feelings about how things were written, but I think others could 100 percent have the opposite opinion and love this book. It just didn't work for me.

From the first 30%, I really struggled with the past drama that made them not speak for a decade. It was something that didn't seem significant to me, and then when he tries to have a conversation about it in the present, she refuses. This seems to be a major communication issue, which I strongly dislike in books.

She also has trauma from an ex that I don't think was written well or respectfully. I was struggling with this and wish there had been more sensitivity readers or someone with knowledge of this kind of relationship to give feedback earlier as I found it mishandled.

The characters were fine - she annoyed me due to communication issues, he seems like he will be a good character, although somewhat pushy.

I was actually more interested in the side characters than I was them, so I might try a future book about one of the other characters to give this author a second shot. This story was just not for me.

As always with a critical review, these are my personal opinions. This is not a negative reflection of the author or other readers who liked it. This book was just not for me, but I hope others are able to read and enjoy!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the free early copy of this book.

Second Chance Romance and No Third Act Breakup? Count me in.

This book had about every good romance trope in it!
It was such an easy read which sometimes as readers, we all need as a way to break up reading slumps.
I loved the chemistry between our FMC and MMC.
It was spicy without being only spice.
I will totally be reading the second book in the series.

4.5 stars ✨

Thank you so much to the author and netgalley for this ARC!

I LOVE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE!!!! I especially love a second chance romance where the MMC gives the FMC the space to find herself and find her own way. What I loved about this book was even though they both had so much pain from spending a decade apart, it was clear that that time was necessary for them to grow into each other’s perfect person! Zac has found himself a permanent place in my perfect book boyfriends list, for so many reasons, but especially for building her dream house she mentioned once in case she ever came back to him! I also will never get over the relationship those two had with Noah, and I really hope he gets his own book someday!! Can’t wait for the rest of this series!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the for the widget. I will start of by saying that this book was muy caliente and I was here for it all. Uggg I loved the MMC Zac Porter he was so swoony and just so lovable. This is a second chance story and I was here for it. Melody is out of a 6 year relationship and there was manipulating so there are some triggers but nothing bad. I loved and really enjoyed this story and cant wait to read more about Oakwood Bay

✅ Melody, late 20s, newly single and back in her hometown & Zac, same age as Melody, football coach
✅ brother’s best friend
✅ college town romance
✅ Melody hasn’t realized her ex was emotionally abusive
✅ dual POV
✅ no third act break up
🌶️: yes and starts in the first third of the book

This wasn’t exactly “light” because of the whole ex thing but it was a lot of fun with a great cast of side characters.

A sweet and mildly spicy second chance romance between Melody and Zac- who find themselves sharing a tent on a camping trip. They haven't seen each other in 10 years (since high school) and now they're reigniting their relationship. This has all the good trope-y feels and if it's a bit predictable it's also what you need sometimes after a long day. Good banter, personal growth and fun characters make this a good read.

This was a cute, spicy, feel good story about reconnecting with the one that got away. Zac & Melody (Clover) carried a flame for one another for over a decade, but it never worked out. I love a sports romance and a forbidden romance, so this was an easy win for me. I don’t think men like Zac really exist - he’s SO down for her - but, it’s a nice thought. I did feel like it was a little too long (some repetition), and at times, I wanted to shake the characters (mainly Zac) for not being more forthright, but I was pleased with how the story ended.

This one comes out next week, but I was excited that there will be a second book this summer to give some other characters their story.

The prologue was so intriguing, but the rest of the book fell flat. I wasn’t interested in the back and forth “i know and you don’t” but also “let’s not talk about it”? and the “I’ve always loved you” but “let’s just be casual and keep it a secret so no one knows”? Make up your mind. The entire book could have condensed into more showing and less telling. The pacing is slow, the repetitive conversations feel mostly unnecessary and the spice scenes felt more cringy than Id prefer. I want characters I can’t help but root for and this was not that.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m going to be honest, nothing in the first few chapters really pulled me into this book. I just wasn’t invested and am choosing not to finish it for now. I think there’s potential but I needed something to get me excited early on.

**Only in Your Dreams** by Ellie K. Wilde is the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and surprisingly emotional storytelling—it’s everything I’ve been looking for in a romance novel. Honestly, this book deserves the hype. With real depth, lovable characters, and a love story that feels authentic and earned, it’s hard not to get swept away.

On the spice scale, I’d give it a solid **3.5/5**

The story alternates between the POVs of Melody and Zac, our two main characters, and it’s *chef’s kiss*. Melody used to be close with her twin brother, Parker, and secretly crushed on his best friend, Zac, since she was 14. After high school graduation, she finally made her move—and Zac completely ghosted her for 10 years. *POOF*

In the 10 years since Grad night, Melody thought she built a life for herself. She finished college, moved to the city, and spent the last six years in a relationship that seemed fine on the surface...until her controlling ex dumped her and left her with nothing. Now, feeling stuck and lost, she reluctantly agrees to move back to her hometown and crash with her twin brother while rebuilding her life.

Cue the drama: her brother bails on an annual camping trip and sends Melody in his place, where she ends up tent-sharing with none other than Zac—her ex-crush and current mortal enemy. Let the awkward (and electric) tension begin!

What could have been a predictable, fluffy rom-com turned out to be so much more. Yes, there’s humor and heartwarming moments, but there’s also genuine emotion and character growth. I cried a few times.

Ellie K. Wilde deserves all the flowers for crafting a romance that balances sweet and smutty with actual depth.

the pining in this book is actual insane. he is so down bad for her and i absolutely love it. there is so much tension in the beginning, which makes the banter throughout the book sooooo good. it's some top tier banter. and I will always love a childhood friends to enemies to lovers plotline. and a betrayal where he was just protecting her?! 10/10

This book had me swooooooning! Second chance romance and forced proximity?! My favorite! I loved Mel & Zac’s banter I just wish there was slightly more character development. It was a cute and spicy read!

Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde is a delightful and engaging YA contemporary romance that offers a fun and emotional rollercoaster ride for its readers. Centered around the protagonist, Lila, a teenager with a complicated relationship with both her family and her aspirations, the novel takes readers through the ups and downs of high school life, friendship, and the messiness of growing up.

The story is deeply rooted in themes of self-discovery and personal growth. Lila’s journey of learning to balance her dreams with reality, while managing her relationships with friends, family, and a potential romance, feels authentic and relatable. Wilde’s writing shines in capturing the emotions and struggles that many young readers will connect with—whether it’s the pressures of academic success, navigating complex friendships, or confronting the uncertainties of love.

The romance element in Only in Your Dreams is sweet and swoon-worthy, but it doesn’t overshadow the protagonist's personal journey. The relationship develops in a way that feels organic and realistic, providing both moments of joy and tension. Wilde’s ability to create a believable romance while still focusing on Lila's emotional growth adds depth to the book and avoids the typical pitfalls of genre clichés.

While the pacing of the book is generally smooth, some readers may find certain plot developments predictable. However, the emotional payoff and character-driven moments more than make up for any predictability. Wilde’s writing captures the complexities of teenage life with a refreshing, lighthearted tone that balances humor with more serious themes.

In conclusion, Only in Your Dreams is a charming, heartfelt novel that will appeal to fans of contemporary YA fiction. Ellie K. Wilde delivers a story full of relatable moments, lovable characters, and a journey toward self-acceptance. It's a sweet reminder that sometimes the best dreams are the ones we create for ourselves, rather than the ones we think we’re supposed to follow.