3.75 ⭐️

My favorite thing about this book was the snark and sass! I love nothing more than good sarcastic banter between characters! Also, the way the MMC showed his love through both grand gestures and small actions… *swoon*!

What I didn’t love, or maybe just never quite understand in books, was the major miscommunication between so many characters. And for 10 years?!? Eek! This book was a great example of why talking about things with people in your life is so important!

Overall, I did enjoy reading this book sweet and funny, though also heavy, romance! Thank you Net Galley and publishers for the advanced copy! (Note: Check out the content warnings before reading.)

small town romance? give me MORE. brothers best friend? hell yeah! I loved this sweet 2nd chance romance and fell In Love with the sweet MMC for giving the FMC space to figure her self out and waiting for her since childhood. the only thing I didn't love was that I thought it was a little long for the story line and could have been a bit shorter than what it was. the FMC did make me annoyed at times but felt she was justified for her action based off of her ex. over all a fun and easy going read that I would read on vacation or need a refreshing book that not as heavy.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Atria for sending me this arc for an honest review.

I had so much fun reading this, it was a little heavy at first with the FMC’s current situation/past relationship. But the MMC was such a walking green flag, it was perfect. I can’t recommend it enough.

Tropes:
Brother’s best friend
Childhood friends to lovers
Touch him/her and die

This was my first book by Ellie Wilde, and I found it to be an enjoyable read! Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The story didn’t require intense focus, which made it a light and easy read. While some parts felt a bit lackluster, the romance between Zac and Melody "Clover" was the highlight for me.

Zac, Clover, and her twin brother Parker were inseparable growing up. Zac and Clover clearly had feelings for each other, but Parker’s overprotectiveness made it impossible for Zac to act on his feelings. Parker’s threat to anyone showing interest in his sister kept Zac at a distance, even when Clover attempted to take their relationship further at 18. Instead of reciprocating, Zac ran—putting 15 years and a lot of emotional distance between them.

Fast forward 15 years, and Melody is recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship. She moves back to her hometown and in with her brother, Parker. When Parker sends her on a camping trip with Zac in his place, the trip is filled with intense sexual tension.

Once back home, Zac and Melody finally begin dating, but they’re forced to keep their relationship a secret from Parker.

Melody was a relatable character for me, especially because her experiences mirrored some of my own. Her journey felt authentic and grounded. Zac, however, was harder for me to connect with. While I do love a die-hard romantic, he reminded me a lot of Niles Crane from Frasier—his character lacked depth beyond his obsession with Melody, and I wish we had gotten to know him better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and its focus on love, second chances, and personal growth. Thank you to Ellie Wilde, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I loved this storyline and it had some of my favorite tropes!! But I had a hard time really falling in love with the characters..

Unfortunately, this book fell absolutely flat for me. The prologue started off so amazingly well, but as soon as modern-day picked up, I was bored and unimpressed. The FMC was annoying, whiney and I could not relate to her or emphasize with her. The MMC clearly didn't have a backbone and seemed so lackluster by literally doing nothing with his life all for a girl that he didn't even have the guts to talk to until 5 years later and then another 5 years after that?!
I felt so disappointed to learn that the reason why he didn't come back in the prologue was because of Parker - but mostly I was bugged that he lost both of them that night!! And still did NOTHING about it for 5 years! Just a major red-flag for me in real life, so why should I think that that creates a great MMC in a book I'm reading?
Overall, really disappointing and sad. The premise of brother's best friend and a football coach was so alluring but absolutely was not there.

Overall this was a pretty solid read. I love second chance romance and Zac is worth it. Some parts felt rushed while other parts dragged. I appreciated not having a 3rd act break up that we see in many romcoms! Melody at times got on my nerves, but I also understand her hesitation.

This was such a sweet heartwarming romance.
Brother's best friend troupe? Sign me up. Small-town romance? Amazing. Give me ten of them.
Melody and Parker were great. Parker was the perfect MMC. I loved that he gave her the space she needed to work through her shit.
The camping chipmunk scare? Hilarious. I wish the book had more of that.
The only critique is that I found it to be a little long and dragged a little.
Overall, it is a great read.

Only in Your Dreams is a brother’s best friend romance packed with spice. This was such a cute kind-of-sort-of second-chance story between Zac and Melody. I say it’s not really a second chance because they only had a small moment back in high school, but then Zac ghosted Melody and they don’t see or speak to each other for ten years. While Melody has moved on for the most part, Zac most definitely did not. I really enjoyed the story overall, and thought that the characters were well-developed and likable. I liked Melody’s character arc especially and really felt for the emotional journey she went on from realizing she was in a controlling/manipulative relationship and the healing she had to do, and then her discovering her new career path and pursuing that as well. I also like how even though Zac wanted to be with her so badly, that he gave her the time and space to heal and grow on her own timeline. I loved this story and highly recommend. I’m also looking forward to the next one in the series following Brooks.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!

Melody Woods is back in her small hometown after 10 years. She’s broke and jaded about love recovering from being abruptly dumped by her big-city boyfriend. On top of it all, her twin brother, is pushing her to fill his spot on their annual friend camping trip with the one guy she’s spent the last decade avoiding.

After fumbling his chance ten years ago, a devastated Zac Porter was sure he’d lost his chance with his best friend’s twin sister, Melody, for good. So, when Melody shows up at the campsite instead of her brother, Parker, Zac realizes that now is the time to prove that they were always meant to be. No matter how long it takes, he’s determined to make up for his teenage self’s mistake.

Reeling from the ugly truth of her last relationship, Melody plans to stick around only long enough to get back on her feet, then she’s back to the city. Meanwhile, Zac is facing battles of his own: to coach his team to its first winning game in years, show Melody how she deserves to be loved, and to keep Parker from finding out.
If he’s successful, maybe being with her will be more than just a dream.

I really liked Melody's journey after coming to terms with her previous relationship. It’s not talked about in a lot books I've read, and I think it’s an important story to tell. Overall, she was a well-rounded character, we saw not only the love story but her friendships and relationship with her brother. Zac felt a little flat in comparison. His main plot points were centered around his love for Melody, which were adorable and I loved, but I would have liked to see a little more of his story outside of Melody and Noah. As a girl who loves a sports romance, I hoped we’d get a little more of the sports element, but I liked the insight we were given. I love that the end included the “big game”, so many sports romances cut that out!

The side characters were strong and I hope we can look forward to each of their individual stories, hopefully even Noah. I loved him.

NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP! That point alone would sell me immediately.

Thank you NetGalley, Ellie K Wilde, and Atria books for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I'll be posting it about it on my Instagram tomorrow, and on release day

I absolutely adored this book. I love a good second chance romance and brother's best friend. I love that melody and Zac were able to overcome their differences and form the relationship that they always wanted.

Brother's best friend second chance sports romance - all my favorite tropes!

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

Thank you Netgalley & Atria books for my ARC of this book. My review is my own opinion.

I enjoyed reading Only In Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde. It follows Zac and Melody, childhood friends and Zac being Melody’s brother’s best friend. It is fun, sweet, and an enjoyable read. The slow burn rekindling love is my fave. I loved Zac especially. I’m giving it 3 stars because it felt a bit dragged on at times and could’ve been shorter, however it is a cute book!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Only In Your Dreams. Oh how I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it fell right on its face!

I fought through the first scenes of the camping trip and probably should have DNF after that. The fact that no one noticed that there were 2 people left behind set the stage for disappointment. The writing on this felt juvenile and it seemed to have spun around and around in a circle that I found myself skimming about 50% of this. Nothing worked here for me.

The only character I enjoyed was Brooks. I'd give this author another chance on that.

I absolutely loved Only in Your Dreams! Melody and Zac were incredible main characters, and their depth and development made them so compelling. Their history as high school friends—connected through her brother—set such a strong foundation for this story. Not only does the book include two of my favorite tropes (friends to lovers and brother’s best friend), but it executes them perfectly!

This second-chance romance was both fun and emotional, and I couldn’t help but root for them the entire time. After a misunderstanding drove them apart, Melody and Zac didn’t see each other for ten years. When they’re brought together on a camping trip gone wrong—and end up stranded in the woods for a few days (hello, forced proximity!)—their chemistry reignites explosively.

Melody is trying to rebuild her life after escaping the city and an abusive ex, with no plans to stay in her hometown. Meanwhile, Zac is determined to win her back and make sure she chooses him this time. I loved how naturally and organically their relationship progressed; everything felt perfectly timed and authentic. Their bond was so genuine—it was clear they truly knew each other and had such a deep and meaningful friendship.

Zac is the ultimate book boyfriend: completely obsessed with Melody and willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy. His vulnerability and openness made him such a refreshing, non-toxic character. Melody was a really complex character, especially as she worked through the trauma of her past relationship. Watching her grow and slowly fall back in love with Zac was absolutely everything.

The unresolved feelings from their high school years and the lingering misunderstanding could have made this story frustrating, but Ellie K. Wilde handled it masterfully. She made every action and motivation feel realistic and relatable, so I understood the characters’ struggles and rooted for their happy ending.
And last but not least, the spice was immaculate. Zac is such a sweet guy but boy does he have a mouth on him!

This book was wholesome, heartwarming, and brimming with support and love. Zac and Melody made each other better in every way, and their relationship made me swoon.

Ellie’s writing style is so immersive and entertaining, I couldn’t put the book down. I also adored the side characters and the small-town dynamics—community relationships really shine in this genre, and this story delivered.

Only in Your Dreams was such an incredible read, and I can’t wait to see what Ellie writes next!

okay i actually loved this one- i WILL say the first 15% about the campsite really irked me and i didn’t want to push past but im SO glad that i did and it doesssssss have a point! i love zac - he’s the epitome of a walking green flag and a MAN. i love mel and parker and i can so appreciate mel coming into her own after connor and how zac played a part, i really love how she took her time with herself and didn’t let ANYONE push her. im excited to read brooks story and lowkey want a summer and parker one LOL

all opinions and reviews are my own - arc provided by netgalley and publisher for my honest opinion

Starting 2025 off strong with Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K Wilde—coming January 21st! This book had ALL my favorite tropes, and I devoured every page! 😍

🔥 Second chance romance
🔥 Brother’s best friend
🔥 Forced proximity
🔥 Fake dating
🔥 All the spice!

Meet Melody, who’s back in her hometown after a messy breakup. In high school, she was head over heels for her twin brother Parker’s best friend, Zac. They almost had their moment on graduation night… until Zac disappeared from her life. Now, 10 years later, fate throws them together on a camping trip, and guess what? ONE TENT. ONE BED. ONE SHOT to finally talk about the past—and maybe rekindle the spark that never really went out.

Between fake dating shenanigans, cozy sleepovers, football games, and a dreamy playbook of personal goals, Melody and Zac start to realize that what they once imagined could actually become their reality. 🏈💭💖
Ellie K Wilde serves up chemistry, heart, and just the right amount of angst in this swoony romance. You’ll be rooting for Mel and Zac every step of the way!

💫 Add this one to your TBR ASAP—it’s the perfect cozy, spicy read to kick off the new year!
📖 Only in Your Dreams releases January 21, 2025!
✨ Read if you love:
• Second chance romance 💕
• Brother’s best friend 💥
• Forced proximity (hello, one tent!) 🏕️
• Fake dating 🤫

#OnlyInYourDreams #EllieKWilde #RomanceBooks #BookReview #UpcomingReleases #RomanceTropes #SecondChanceRomance #BrothersBestFriend #ForcedProximity #FakeDating #SpicyReads #RomComReads #BookishLove #Bookstagram #MustReadRomance #BookRecommendations #ReadersOfInstagram

This was cute. Very much the case of right person wrong time when the main characters liked each other in high school, something got in the way, they spend years apart not talking, then are forced to face the past and try again. The mmc was so down bad for the fmc and it’s shown through all of his actions. Once he realizes he has a chance with the fmc again he does everything he can to prove it to her he’s worth it.

The book was long at times and I admittedly skim read a little bit. I cared enough to know the story and what was happening, but certain parts dragged on. While I appreciated the no third act breakup, the conflict that happened felt like it wasn’t enough and was there to check a box.

😊 brother’s best friend
🫶🏻 childhood friends
🏈 sports (football)
🏡 small town
🥰 secret tattoo
👏🏻 no third act breakup

dual POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️

This is SPICY. If I could count the times I had to put this book down to regroup. Second chance, reverse grumpyxsunshine, brother's best friend, fake dating, small town romance? The tropes are abundant and Ellie K. Wilde knows how to do it.

Zac is EVERYTHING. Melody needs a brain. Connor can choke on one. And the clovers are a bit excessive but I'll take it.

Ok fine! Here's a little spoiler. Zac literally TAKES A PICTURE OFF OF HER SENIOR YESR VISION BOARD OF HER DREAM HOUSE AND BUILDS IT. BUILDS IT FOR WHEN SHE COMES BACK. TELL ME YOU ARENT IN LOVE WITH THIS MAN!!!! I DARE YOU!!!!!!

Your high school crush/twin brother's best friend rejected you without reason 10 years ago at a party. You've moved on and moved to the big city, are in a steady relationship, and have a job you enjoy. What happens when you have to move back to your hometown to move in with your twin brother after your boyfriend breaks up with you and you want to leave the job he got you? THEN your brother decides to send you on a camping weekend with his friends in his place (one of which is your high school crush).

After getting stuck in a storm together in a tent, you and your high school crush just might feel the same way about each other. But what is that feeling?

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a light read, was decently written, and felt like there was a good spice-to-plot ratio. My biggest critique would be that all of the spicy scenes felt a bit crammed at the end of the book rather than in intimate moments spread throughout the story. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.