This started off strong but somehow towards the end it wasn't giving what it’s supposed to be. I love a brother’s best friend trope especially for the tension and this definitely had that! I just felt like it was a little too long for my liking.

4.5 stars

Only In Your Dreams is the first book in the Oakwood Bay series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Second chance romance is always a hit or miss for me, but I loved this one.

Melody went back home after ten years, and Zac, her childhood/teenage crush and brother’s best friend, was there too. As soon as Zac found out, he was determined to get the chance he never took all those years ago.

Ooh, Zac. The way this man was so in love 🥹. Melody was hesitant to trust him, and she had her walls up after what happened before. But Zac was persistent. And even though she was all he wanted, he wouldn’t just sleep with her until he knew she was all in.

The angst and tension, the chemistry between them? So dang good.

I will say the whole reason for the fumbled first chance did make sense, but the time after didn’t. I mean…Zac just gave up.

But I still loved this. I swooned, I was *kicking my feet and giggling*, it was cute, heartwarming, and full of that second chance, it’s always been you angst.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Overall, I liked the whole story with the different tropes (small town, brother's best friend, second chance), but I at times found it a bit long. It was an enjoyable read and made me laugh.

Only in Your Dreams was incredibly underwhelming. The characters were one-dimensional at best, and issues that were brought up were later ignored. The whole reason for this book being a second chance was stupid and unrealistic. This book dragged on and was frankly uncomfortable to read during intimate scenes. It was a struggle not to DNF this read or fall asleep from boredom.

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ellie K. Wilde delivers a swoon-worthy, emotional romance in Only in Your Dreams, blending heartfelt longing with an irresistible connection. With beautifully crafted tension, deep emotional beats, and just the right amount of spice, this book is perfect for fans of angsty, slow-burn romance. Wilde’s writing is captivating, making this a story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page.

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

This was a fun second chance, fake dating, brother's best friend romance about a woman who returns to her hometown from an emotionally abusive relationship and discovers that what she wanted was hers all along. Zac and Melody are pretty adorable and I really loved how she came to realize that her previous relationship was abusive but also that jumping into another relationship, while comforting, was probably not a great idea. Zac is naturally so patient while being completely obsessed with her, but he knows that slow and steady is what she needs, so that's what she gets. The fake dating part was obviously dumb as all fake dating tropes are in the end, but it had some comic value and it was nice to see the other characters in the series get set up. The "I can't sleep unless I'm with you" plot point felt a little forced, but hey, it got them to where they needed to be so I guess that's fine.

This was cute and I'll definitely tune in for the rest of the series.

Zac is sweet, but at times, he felt too passive for a hero trying to win back the love of his life. And Melody… I understood her hesitation, but her denial game was next level. The miscommunication and emotional push-and-pull were drawn out so much that at times, it felt like the book was stuck in a cycle of wanting each other but refusing to admit it. Add in some unnecessary conflicts that seemed to drag rather than build tension, and the pacing started to feel long—which is tough for a romance that should be delivering swoony, heart-wrenching moments.

That said, when the romance works, it works. The chemistry is undeniable, and there’s something so satisfying about Zac’s devotion to Melody, even when she refuses to see it. The lack of a third-act breakup was a nice change of pace, and the ending was genuinely sweet. I just wish the emotional beats had hit sooner rather than circling for so long.

If you love second-chance romance and don’t mind a lot of push-and-pull, this might be a great fit for you. But if you prefer a more balanced emotional arc, you might find yourself wishing for a bit more movement in the story.

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

To be quiet honest, I DNFed this about 20% of the way in. I just could not get into it. This was not the book for me. I went in not knowing it was going to be second chance, and that coupled with the other tropes just didn't do it for me.

This book was good but it took me a while to get through, I liked the overall storyline but I did feel like something was missing.

This was such a cute romance! This book had everything: brothers best friend, childhood friends to lovers, fake dating, grumpy x sunshine. The characters were all very loveable and enjoyable. I am also looking forward to reading future books in this series based on the side characters!

I stopped reading after the terrible prologue. Goodness, this book was a soap opera before it even started. I did not like the direction it was going in and the characters, while realistic, were immature. Melody is a hot mess.

I almost DNF’d multiple times. This was a struggle. It’s written very YA, but with 28 year olds and lots of sexy spicy scenes so it just felt weird. I loved how it started off and the banter between Zac & Melody. Then it just started going downhill with trope after trope for 400+ pages.

It’s not really a second chance if there was never a first. All because her 18 year old twin brother had a rule of nobody dates my sister? And ten years later it’s still a thing? 28 year olds sneaking around scared of the brother. He was just as bad as the ex imo. The brother can kick rocks.

Her ex of 6 years was talked about sooooo much it was exhausting. It was a good representation of mental abuse and the toll that takes in a person. It was nice seeing the fmc get her moxie and grow up and be independent.

Many thanks to author, publisher, and netgalley for the advanced opportunity to read and review early.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book at 17%. The handling of sensitive topics such as weight and abusive behavior was particularly troubling. The MMC's comment, "I could fit you in my pocket," struck me as inappropriate, especially given the context surrounding the abuse and fat-shaming experienced by the FMC. This comment felt tone-deaf and poorly timed. Additionally, the repeated emphasis on the physical size difference between the main characters became increasingly annoying. While I understand that this may be a trope, it detracted from the narrative rather than adding depth.

Summary:
Only in Your Dreams is a spicy small-town, brother’s best friend, sports romance featuring a second-chance love story between a college football coach and the one that got away. Melody Woods returns to Oakwood Bay after a decade away, fresh from a breakup and uncertain about her future. When she unexpectedly ends up on a camping trip with Zac Porter—her twin brother’s best friend and the man who broke her heart—old feelings resurface. Zac knows this is his chance to make things right and prove to Melody that they were always meant to be. But with Melody set on leaving town again and Zac focused on turning his struggling football team around, the timing may still be against them.

Short & Sweet Opinion:
I enjoyed this far more than I expected! While I usually avoid football romances, this one hooked me with its second-chance dynamic and well-paced storytelling. The chemistry between Melody and Zac was both angsty and sweet, and I loved how Zac gave Melody the space to heal and rediscover herself. Perfect for fans of sports romance with just the right amount of spice.

In-Depth Opinion:
This book surprised me in the best way! I love sports romance, but football ones rarely work for me—until now. The second-chance element was beautifully executed, starting strong with Melody and Zac being thrown back together and only getting better from there. The pacing kept me engaged, and I appreciated how their relationship developed naturally. Zac’s willingness to step back and let Melody heal and find herself after her last relationship was such a refreshing and heartfelt touch. Their banter, the emotional depth, and the perfectly balanced spice made this an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys an angsty-yet-sweet romance.

That being said, Melody wasn’t my favorite character. At times, it felt like she was stringing Zac along, and while I understand that a lot of her hesitation came from the emotional baggage of her last relationship, I still found her frustrating. The “fake dating” element that popped up later in the book didn’t really work for me—it felt unnecessary and added messiness that didn’t enhance the story. While it didn’t ruin the book, it did take away from my overall enjoyment.

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions. Definitely recommend if you enjoy brother’s best friend or second chance romance. A bit frustrating at times, but worth the read for the deep emotions.

Loved this! Only in Your Dreams is such a fun second chance/brothers best friend romance. The banter in this was great, and I loved loved loved the camping at the begining of the story. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Absolutely loved this book! I love the tropes, and the fact that Zac is obsessed with her and hasn't really ever dated anyone else. It was only her for him. The tropes all fit together seamlessly, sometimes you can be trying too hard to fit them all in. But each different one really helps develop the story. I often like the FMC better than the MMC, but not in this book. There was so much emotion and such great story-telling. The only things that I could critique on would be: some of the writing/descriptions/events felt a little beginner level. Almost like there was too much description, and trying too hard to get me to like the book. It was amazing on its own without trying too hard! But towards the end of the book I didn't feel like there was that much, just in a couple places in the beginning and middle. Overall, there was a good plot, the story grabbed me and hooked me. There were so many things that I loved about it that I gave it 5 stars. Wonderful book, will recommend to readers, and truly enjoyed. Thank you for letting me review it!

5 ⭐️

You know those romances that pull you in and have you smiling like an idiot, kicking your feet with giddiness, and just soaking up every word to get to the HEA? That was Only In Your Dreams for me. I literally couldn’t stop reading (hence writing this review at 3am) because every minute was pure adorable-ness.

Melody was coming out of a terrible 6 year relationship with a manipulative asshole, only to find the guy she loved through her teenage years still pining for her when she moved back home. Except now Zac wasn’t keeping his pining a secret. He was so loving, so attentive, and so patient - he was basically Noah from The Notebook, which is the highest praise I can give him.

The spice was delicious. These two weren’t afraid to play with each other, from a roll in the mud to a bar bathroom. Zac would’ve happily had Melody for every meal if he could survive on her as a diet.

I’m really really hoping we get a Summer and Brooks follow-on book, because I want that friends to lovers romance so bad. And we better get to see what happens with Noah too, because he was the sweetest 20 year old kid ever. I loved the side characters.

My favorite romance narrator duo of Teddy Hamilton and Carly Robins crushed it on the audiobook. I will literally listen to anything they record.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! I’ll be buying a copy for myself immediately.

This was such a sweet romance!! I really enjoyed reading this book!! The author did a great job keeping you invested in the story! Melody and Zac were so amazing for each other and I loved that they got their happily ever after!!! This book was full of angst, sweetness, and spice!! Highly recommend if you are looking for something sweet and spicy!! 🖤

An all American romance story. I adored the friends to enemies to lovers vibe. The book dealt with post relationship drama in a deep and kind manner. The two main characters being trapped in a tent during a storm was great. I loved seeing Zac slowly try to gain melodys trust while the both recognized they never got over each other.