This book is so swoonworthy!

Mel and Zac's banter was truly laughable- definitely the part with the shaving of Mel's head and wanting to wear her hair as a wig. That is my type of humor.

This book was an easy 4 stars for me. It had everything. It made me laugh and most importantly it made me want someone like Zac on my team. He was so sweet and caring and I COULD NOT get enough.

"I've never been single. I've been yours." ENOUGH SAID. I'm gagged. If I don't find a love like this I don't want one at all!

Thank you Netgalley and Ellie Wilde for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review :).

I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between Zac and Melody in this second-chance sports romance. The tension and playful banter between them really stood out, creating a compelling and emotionally charged story. Melody is still reeling from the heartbreak of a toxic, manipulative relationship, and Zac, ever the supportive friend, stands by her side as she works through her feelings. Both characters are also navigating their own personal and career challenges, making for a rich, layered narrative.
One of the most refreshing aspects of the book is Melody’s emotional healing journey. Watching her take the time to process her past heartbreak, grow, and ultimately regain her sense of self was incredibly fulfilling. Because who doesn’t want to ditch all your ex’s gifts and start to feel like you again ?!? It felt both realistic and inspiring, providing a wonderful contrast to the romance and adding depth to the overall story.
Zac, too, was the perfect protective male lead. His unwavering support for Melody—without rushing or pushing her—was exactly what she needed. He exudes that perfect balance of strength and tenderness, making him a swoon-worthy character and a true anchor for Melody’s healing. I wasn’t entirely sold on the reason for their 10-year disconnect, while Zac had been pining for Melody all that time. That said, the palpable "it's always been you" energy between them still made for an emotionally satisfying payoff.
What really worked for me, was the delicious tension and spice in their evolving relationship. The element of sneaking around—especially hiding their connection from Melody’s brother—adds an exciting, forbidden “who knows” vibe, especially with their friends in on the secret. It’s that perfect mix of playful and thrilling.
Overall, it’s an engaging read with great chemistry, and a wonderful mix of tension, romance, and personal growth. Read this spicy flirty story that will keep you on track for your yearly reading goals. I bet this will be one we will look back on at the end of the year.


Thanks to @NetGalley and @AtriaBooks for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an amazing read! I loved all the characters and the last like 20% of this book really hit it out of the park for me! I love that there was no third act breakup and these ADULTS communicated like ADULTS and actually listened to each other!! I also really love how Melody didn't leave the life she wanted and adjust to life her man has!! Him adjusting his plan for her really made this even better in my mind. We love to see it!!

This was a great book, and I loved Zac and Melody, as well as their friends/Mel's brother. There weren't too many characters to keep straight which is always nice.

Melody shows growth throughout the book healing from a very toxic relationship, while slowly coming to terms with her love for Zac 10 years after he hurt her. I was glad to see that the reason for what he did that night was a pretty good one.

I love football, so I enjoyed that side aspect of it. I wish we had a final detail with where Noah ended up. There was also a character they nicknamed Baby Clark Kent who just disappeared from the story with no details on if he got better with his team.

I liked the spice (several scenes🌶🌶🌶), that it's 1st person POV, and there is no third act breakup. I also really liked the way the relationship reveal to her brother went. Overall it was a good book, but nothing super memorable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC 🤍

✨ARC Review✨

Now *this* is fun. A brother’s best friend to lovers romance. A childhood friends to lovers romance. An “it was always you” romance.

Melody spent her teen years quietly loving Zac, her twin brother’s best friend. On the eve of her departure to college, she asks him to kiss her. He says he’ll be right back, but he doesn’t come back. She goes to college heartbroken and spends ten years resenting him for leaving her hanging.

Now she’s back in their hometown after a breakup with her longtime boyfriend which left her basically homeless. When she’s coerced into a friend group camping trip, she’s spending an exorbitant amount of time with a fully-grown and insanely attractive Zac.

Their chemistry is off the charts and the push and pull is glorious. I love Melody and Zac. I love how he wants her exactly as she is naturally- kind of a grump, to be honest. And the way Melody strives to get his biggest grin. And y’all. Their spicy times be spicin’ hard.

There is a plot point that doesn’t quite work for me, but it was easy for me to disregard. Everything else is so good.

QOTD: Are you still friends with school pals? One of my besties and I have been friends since freshman home room. And that’s a looong time.

I received this eARC via #netgalley and @atriabooks. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance! #romancebooks #contemporaryromance #spicybooks #spicyromance #onlyinyourdreams #elliekwilde #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram

I’ve heard great things about this book and author when it was originally self published. I am so excited to be able to dive into it now that it is getting traditionally released. The romance was so sweet and the writing was top-notch. Cannot wait for more!

Heartbroken 10yrs ago and now forced to go back to your hometown with the person who broke your heart sucks. Then being forced to share a tent with him in a storm is even worse. I understand Melody’s heartbreak as it was warranted but her attitude starting mid book was just unwarranted I feel. She did finally get better in the end. It was a really cute story and I loved Zac.

This was a cute story. It look me a little longer to read this story then I usually take. I think some parts I didn't like so then I would stop for the day and come back. A brothers best friend/off limits younger sister is always a fun trope. This one had some sports in as well. I think each character could have been developed a little more. Maybe some more sweet moments instead of just all sex. I would definitely read more from this author and hope some of the characters will get stories as well.

Thank you so much to Atria books for my ARC and physical copy!

I am a huge fan of sports romance and while second chances can be a miss or hit sometimes, I do enjoy a good brother's best friend trope.However, sadly I had to DNF this one half way..I really wanted to love this book but I couldn't continue little past 50% . It actually started off great, the prologue had me so intrigued and there were some good scenes but the characters weren't working for me. The conversations doesn't seem organic and the way they act or react come off as a bit juvenile for being an adult romance.

There were quite a lot of cliched scenes and for me the chemistry between the MC's was lacking and it felt dragged for what ever has transpired until 50% felt so very little and the whole concept of getting left behind in the forest during a camping trip by their own friends for three whole days felt a bit unbelievable to me personally. The romance wasn't working for me either with how they wanted different things and yet act so out of character which left me confused

📚ARC Review 📚

Only In Your Dreams ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

After being dumped by her boyfriend of six years, Melody Woods moves from the city back to her small town. Now she’s sharing an apartment with her twin brother while trying to figure out how to get back on her feet. She needs to figure out what she wants to do with her life now that she has a say. Unfortunately, she runs into her high school crush and her brother’s best friend, Zac Porter.

Zac hasn’t forgotten 10 years ago when he walked away from Melody. It was the biggest mistake of his life. Now that she’s back in town, he will do anything to win her back.

This book had all the tropes I love! I loved the small town feel and the forced proximity. Melody has been through a lot with her past boyfriend and how he treated her. She’s learning to find who she is and do things on her own terms. Zac is the perfect partner for her and helps her overcome her fears. The way he shows her just how much she means to him and he would do anything to make up for what he did years ago. I also loved the friend group and their dynamic. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of of all the spice in this one. I felt like there were some cringe moments but honestly this book would have been just as good without it, but that’s just my personal opinion. I did love Noah and how Zac was not only his coach but a father figure/friend to him. His character made for some funny moments throughout the book. Overall, this was a good read.

This book will publish on January 21, 2025. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my advanced readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Even though the book did take me longer then most I did enjoy the story & found it to be a cute read. I found myself struggling at times to move past Melody’s behavior as well as her brothers. Zac tried his best & was really a redeeming aspect of the book over-all. As someone who is not a huge fan of the brothers best friend trope, I found this was written well which is mostly what kept me reading.

I love a good contemporary romance, and this book absolutely delivered! It gave us everything: banter, drama, a second-chance romance, brother’s best friend, a stranded-in-the-woods moment, and an obsessed MMC. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a single day.

The only trope I wasn’t a fan of was the fake dating—especially when it wasn’t between the MMC and FMC. At first, I was a bit irritated that Melody wouldn’t hear Zac out (girl, give him a chance!), but her resistance didn’t last long, and his charm won her over quickly.

Highly recommend this one to all my contemporary romance girlies—it’s worth the read!

This was a swoony, angsty delight that perfectly captures the magic of second chances and undeniable chemistry. This small-town romance brims with sizzling tension, heartfelt moments, and just the right amount of spice to keep you hooked from start to finish.

The story beautifully weaves together themes of love, redemption, and personal growth, all set against the cozy charm of Oakwood Bay. The characters are richly developed, with a connection that practically leaps off the page. Their journey is filled with snappy dialogue, emotional depth, and plenty of moments that’ll make your heart flutter.

Whether you’re here for the small-town vibes, the emotional stakes, or the undeniable romance, this book delivers it all. It’s the perfect read for anyone who loves a heartfelt, unputdownable story with just the right blend of heat and heart. ✨💕

3.5 ⭐️
This was cute and cheesy. Zac was down so bad for Melody the whole book. He was so sweet and such a green flag book boyfriend. I loved watching Melody’s development post breakup and seeing her grow throughout the book. These two were cute together but I did feel like the chemistry was lacking. Also learning the reason he ghosted her for 10 years made me so mad. I expected something more juicy. But we got no third act breakup so i’ll take it. Overall it was a good book just way too long. It felt dragged out in parts and feels like it could have been shorter and still get the point across.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for letting me read this arc 🫶🏻

Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K Wilde is a contemporary romance that I loved! It follows Melody and Zac who were friends in high school but left things on bad terms before they left for college. Zac is also Melody's brother's best friend. Ten years later Melody is fresh from a breakup and is dreading returning to her small town and risking running into Zac. However, when she is forced on a camping trip with him, they are forced to confront the feelings they had in school. I was hooked on this story by the first chapter. I instantly related to Melody and her grumpy demeanor. I found it interesting to read her thoughts post-breakup when she started realizing her ex was a pretty bad guy and taking control of her life again but this time for herself. I loved Melody and Zac's dynamic and how he understands what she needs and always does the right thing for her. Another highlight of this book were all the side characters who I am obsessed with. I'll definitely be needing future books for all of them! I also found this book to be so funny to the point that I was laughing out loud. I plan to look out for future books by this author because I loved this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a review!

“You’re a real catch, Zachary Porter.”
“So, catch me.”

I loved every second of this! Only In Your Dreams took me through the full range of emotions from heartbreak to indignation to absolute joy.

A perfect small town, second chance romance that will have you crying one chapter and kicking your feet the next!

I didn’t necessarily dislike this, but it was a bit too long for me. The story just felt like it drug out in the middle for no reason. The idea was cute, but the execution wasn’t there for me.

My first infinity-out-of-five star read of the year!
This second chance romance had absolutely everything I could want, and even what I didn't know I needed! Right away, I loved the longing I felt from Zac. I love an explosive Prologue like that where you're already left heartbroken and must keep reading to see what happens!
It was such an unassuming romance novel going into it, too. I kind of loved that I didn't know just how hot these two were going to be! We had a tension filled campout, sneaking around, public bathroom, brother's apartment, in the elevator, in the shower. So so steamy, but still a strong plot and development.
Only In Your Dreams was a delicious slow burn and truly the second chance romance of my dreams!



Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC and physical galley!

I know there will be plenty of people that love this book. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. It started out great! I loved them getting stuck at the campground. But then most of the rest of the book I couldn’t wrap my head around. I found myself cringing a lot. There was just so much thrown into this book that seemed unnecessary. We all love a one bed trope, but not being able to sleep on your own because of one encounter with a wolf was ridiculous and completely unbelievable to me. Also, I felt that after being in an abusive relationship, there should be more growth or maybe some therapy before jumping into another relationship. Honestly, I felt Zac had some red flags that she should watch out for. Buying her clothes because he knew it would make her happy is exactly the same as her ex, just presented in a nice way. It was a spicy read which is fine, but I also felt it was added too early considering her healing from an abusive relationship. Anyway, I know people will love this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

“𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆.” “𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆. 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔.”

I can't believe the type of rollercoaster my heart had throughout this book! 🎢 I suffered, laughed, gasped, and ached with Melody Woods & Zac Porter 💖

Melody Woods goes back home because she got dumped and after 10 years reunites with her childhood crush Zac Porter aka brother's best friend aka bring on the TENSION! 😏🔥 I loved how they reunited (from an awful "goodbye" between them) and the way they had to share a tent and, even worse, get stranded together (WORSE FOR THEM, AMAZING FOR THE READER 🏕️ heheheh)

This book had it all! The way Zac was obviously still into her and Melody tried so hard to deny herself... let me just say, it didn't last very long. 😂 It was a medium slow burn, and I loved how the author sprinkled in tiny details that screamed how obsessed this MAN was with the "one that got away" vibe. 😍

𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎. 𝑷𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒔.

𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚, 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍-𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈-𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔-𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔-𝒊𝒏-𝒕𝒉𝒆-𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.

The progression from friends to lovers, followed by Zac giving Melody the space she needed to grow and love herself again after her last relationship, was so beautifully written 💖 I definitely recommend it and can’t wait for the rest of the series! Even though I adored them, I felt the book was a bit long... but hey, it entertained me nevertheless! ❤️✨

Tropes
💙 brother's best friend
💙 sports romance (football coach x she's a fan)
💙 forced proximity AND SO GOOD
💙 he falls first
💙 second chance
💙 small town romance
💙 secret relationship/hookup

Thank you Netgalley & Atria Books for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest review