I really like the premise of this book and the fact that it is really easy to read. The characters also are witty and fun.

Only In Your Dreams is a friends to enemies (sort of) to lovers. It’s well written and I adored the MMC, Zac, but it wasn’t pulling me in. It’s not a book I couldn’t put down. I was impatient for it to move along so I ended up skipping a bit to get to the end, which really was satisfying. The author did right by her main characters, for sure. If you’re looking for a spicy romance with more serious undertones, you’ll like this one.

Thanks for Atria books for the ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I want to thank Atria Books for sending me a copy of this book! I couldn't wait to read it!
I'm rounding down, but if there was a way for me to have quarter or half stars, I would do it because this is easily a 3.75 star read. Even though I devoured 45% of this in one day, it did take me a long time to get into and read. Contrary to that, I read a lot of it tonight and I was very eager to see how it ended. I liked how it was a sports romance not in the way you'd expect, with the coaches over the players and the found family aspect of the story was something I adored. The characters were well developed and the longing was definitely there between both mc's. I would definitely recommend this book for any sports romance people, just read it when you have the time to commit to it (which was something I didn't necessarily have when I started it) because it is really good when you put the time into it!
Thank you Atria for sending me this book again, I'm so glad you gave me the chance to read it :)

I would do a 4.5 star if I could. I loved this book and I feel there could be a sequel to it. The only thing stopping me from giving 5 stars is the multiple repeated sex(ish) scenes. Sometimes it just gets old. I found myself skimming through those around 60%. Otherwise, great story...Great ending... would love to read the next chapter of their lives together. Maybe conner makes a reappearance during the knights next championship game...🤷🏼‍♀️

Only in Your Dreams had a lot of cute elements and scenes - like the red shoelaces. But, overall, I felt like it wasn't the book for me. I didn't understand, connect, or relate to the characters. The FMC was a bit too helpless for my liking in many situations, like when the main couple finds itself in a crisis situation, and the female main character gives the male main character the "what do we do now?" look. I wanted to like this book more than I did.

Zac is a college football coach who still regrets his missed opportunity with Melody, his best friend's sister from a decade earlier. When Melody returns to their small town, her brother convinces her to go on the camping trip he had planned with Zac. Zac makes it his mission to show Melody how good they could be together. A second chance, best friend's sister romance.

This was a fun read about a woman who travels back to her small town after a bad break up only to get trapped on a camping trip with the man who broke her heart when they were both teenagers. Fans of small town romance and football coaches will love Zac's character!

Thank you to Atria, Ellie K Wilde, and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC.

Mel just got dumped by her perfect boyfriend. Completely blindsided and now homeless, she moves back to her hometown. She’s avoided this place for ten years and now that she’s back she just needs to avoid one person. The guy that broke her heart all those years ago, Zac. A camping trip throws that idea right out the window.

Zac can’t believe his eyes. Melody, his clover, his standing right in front of him. The biggest mistake of his life was losing Mel. He’s been miserable for ten years knowing he lost the love of his life. She’s back and make no mistake he’s going to prove to her that she’s it for him.

I binged this story. Read well into the night and woke up with a book hangover. And I would do it again. I loved this book. This book was on my TBR and I immediately regretted letting it sit there for so long. Not only was Zac the perfect book boyfriend but the dirty mouth of him had me fanning myself. I definitely recommend reading this book ASAP. Do not let it sit on your never ending TBR.

I absolutely adored this book and was lost in the story right feom the start. Highly recommend you add this to your TBR!

The story follows Mel after she and her boyfriend break up and she is has to leave the city she can’t afford on her own and move 3 hours back home to live with her twin brother. She doesn’t plan on staying long, just enough to get a new job making enough money to move back to the city. Then Zac is thrown back into her life, the boy she used to pine for who also happens to be her twin brother’s best friend since childhood and has definitely grown from boy to man. A man who has never stopped thinking about her and never stopped wanting her.

There are so many things I love about this small town romance. The characters are relatable and well written. The banter is on point and the chemistry is there. The swoon worthy moments and spice are oh so nice. Ellie K. Wilde does an amazing job of creating an enthralling and charming story.

I did not enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. I was disappointed. The brother's best friend/secret crush from childhood trope seemed interesting, but it fell short. Both main characters seemed quite juvenile, especially after 10 years apart! I felt like I was reading a book about high schoolers or young college kids instead of full-grown adults. And it was sickeningly sweet at times, especially the male main character. I basically made myself finish reading this one. There were some truly sweet moments, but they were completely overshadowed by the shallowness of the characters. Also, the spice in the open door scenes was over the top - It was completely unbalanced 180 degrees from the rest of the book. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this read. There is just too much you would need to ignore or get past to enjoy it, in my opinion.

** Thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review **

I absolutely loved the way this author wrote! The feelings of the characters were captured so intently and I found myself hooked from the prologue til the last page. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

This didn’t work for me unfortunately. The characters and development felt quite shallow. The pacing was way off. They hooked up not even 30% in and then enacted a no kissing rule and the only tension was because of her brother? I wish there was more depth and character development. I would’ve been way more invested in the characters.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a treat! It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. Second chance romance doesn’t always hit the mark, but this one did! Throw in a charming small town and you have a hit on your hands. Highly recommend for romance lovers!

Was this an absolute cheese fest? Oh yeah. Did I consume it with a fervor I didn't know I possessed? Also yes. The story is mostly predictable, but there were some moments that I definitely enjoyed. Connor getting his butt kicked. Chef's kiss. Finance bros can be the worst. I appreciated the turn on the "who did this to you" trope and that the big misunderstanding that usually takes place, was actually a normal conversation between adults.

I think the beginning of the story, about them being stuck on a camping trip together was a little wild, and it didn't really match to the rest of the football story line, but I guess they needed a way to be forced into spending time together.

However, the worst part about this was Parker. Her brother mandates a "hands off" policy that somehow every guy follows, leaving Melody super lonely and with limited self-confidence. Then she has to hide her relationship from him because he's acted erratically about it in the past. Even though they are grown adults and he doesn't OWN her. I didn't love that part so much.

The spice was good, maybe 4 out of 5. Overall, I'd rate the book 4.25 if I could. (Mostly because I didn't like the Parker owns her vibe).

Melody and Zac were friends in high school who unknowingly both had feelings for each other. They reconnect a decade later, as Melody is recovering from a bad breakup. Melody and Zac had great chemistry and I was rooting for them. I also enjoyed their friends and the people in the small town. I really enjoyed the book, but I sometimes got distracted by the things Zac had done for a woman he had not seen, spoken to, or contacted in any way in a decade. It was a bit much and might verge on creepy if he weren't such a sweet character. Otherwise, it was a fun, spicy read!

Wow, Ellie K. Wilde is one of my new favorite authors! She managed to pack this book full of tropes I love (brother's best friend, one bed, slow burn, second chance romance), but also create authentic characters who I kept rooting for, not just in their relationship. I want more of Melody and Zac!

After Melody is dumped by her long time boyfriend, her brother sends her on the annual camping trip in his place. A trip she hasn't been on since high school. When she last saw Zac Porter, Melody thought they were meant to be, on the verge of something amazing, and then he just disappeared. Now, ten years later, they are different, but the same connection between them is still there, and this time, Zac isn't going to let his second chance pass.

Throughout this book, I simultaneously wanted to devour it whole, and also slow down and savor every moment of Zac and Melody's romance. They have an electric chemistry that sparks off the page. Outside of their relationship, they are also each recovering from personal challenges; Mel from her ex-boyfriend, and Zac as a football coach who hasn't won a single game. It's so apparent how these two characters are stronger together. This read is spicy and fun in all the right ways.

As a note/heads up to anyone who might be sensitive to content about controlling and abusive relationships, there are many references to past behaviors of that nature, as well as two on-page scenes of the same. The narrative clearly renounces such behavior, as do the characters. Alcoholism is mentioned, as well as neglectful parenting. Additionally, there are two on-page instances of physical violence.

Not my typical tropes of choice but I absolutely loved this second chance brothers best friend romance. Some good spice too, but in all the right places.

I had some fun reading this book but I also skimmed through it. But I loved the "it has always been you" trope. It was a nice book to read.


Thank you for the arc!!

I had such a fun time reading this book. It’s an “always been you” trope… if that’s a thing?

Zac and Melody are so perfect for each other with the banter and snarky comments.

And the tattoo? Just melted my heart and I definitely cried.

It’s an amazing childhood friend, brother’s best friend… though honestly was a little disappointed in the reason why he never came back in her room while she waited…

Definitely still worth the read.

Only in Your Dreams is a spicy second chance, brother's best friend, sports romance where Melody moves home to live with her twin bother, Parker, after being broken up with. Upon her return home, she gets roped into a weekend camping trip with old friends and Zac, her brothers best friend whom she hasn't spoken to in 10 years after an incident the night before leaving for college. Now face-to-face they rehash the past, and where they currently stand.

Over all I really enjoyed this book and learning about Melody and Zac's relationship and unraveling their past with each other, but with Parker as well. They both felt very real in their struggles and it made it easy to connect with them in the story. The tension and pining for each other made this book addicting for the most part, towards the end it did feel a little too much.

One reason I like this book was reading about Melody's journey of rediscovering herself after the end of her 6 year relationship. It was so understandable in her hesitations towards Zac after learning what her last relationship was like. I was nice to see her figure things out on her own and on her own terms.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an arc, I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by Ellie K Wilde in the future.