Sports romance with second chance, brother's best friend, forced proximity. All the things that add up to a delightful and satisfying romance!

Dual POV, first person
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Spice: 2 🌶️
Tropes: second chance, it’s always been you, sports romance, brothers best friend, forced proximity

It took me a hot minute to land on my thoughts for this book.
On one hand, I ultimately enjoyed the story. I love a good sports romance (he’s a coach) and a second chance romance. Our MMC is a man down bad, which I’ll always love. And our FMC is relatable. And a small town is usually always a good time.

On the other hand, I have some things I didn’t enjoy. Such as, this story could have used a really good trim. There were many parts I felt were unnecessary and caused the story to drag so much that it wouldn’t hold my attention. The reason for the decade long separation felt super thin, which also brings me to the supporting characters also felt thin in a sense of they could have been a bigger part of the story but weren’t used enough. And, until the second half, the story and characters were very surface level.

Did I have a good time in the end? Yes, absolutely. The tropes are my ultimate favorites and the writing/story was worth it. But it was a trek to get through the first bit of the story and enjoy the rest.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series and to see how this author grows.

✨ARC review✨

This book was sooooooo cute! I loved how easy it was to read. and I loved the main characters and their friends. I will recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, easy and cute romance to read :)

**3.75 stars

Melody recently got out of a long term relationship and ends up back in her hometown crashing at her twin brother’s place. She feels like a failure for not making it in the city. On her first weekend back home, her brother asks her to take his spot on a camping trip. Melody begrudgingly complies, only to find out she has to share a tent with Zac— the man who broke her heart ten years ago. When a storm hits, their group of friends looks to escape. Unfortunately, Melody and Zac end up getting stranded back at the campsite.

After a weekend being stuck in the woods, they realize they cannot sleep without the other. This is great news to Zac, but Melody refuses to admit this means something. Zac realizes he needs to be patient as Melody is healing from her manipulative ex still. But what’s a few more months when he’s spent a decade pining for her? The other problem? Melody’s twin brother would have a fit.

I loved seeing Melody learn to love herself again and find what makes her happy. Zac was so patient and so kind.

CW: gaslighting (ex boyfriend)

Read if you like:
• brothers best friend
• childhood friends to strangers to lovers
• forced proximity
• FMC finding herself again
• football coach

Absolutely loved this one! It’s everything I thought it would be. Melody and Zac were great to read about and I can not wait for the next one!

thank you netgalley and atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review !

melody and zac have known each other since they were in high school because zac was melodys brothers best friend

after one night of melody confessing her feelings before leaving for college , zac left her hanging and never came back

ten years later melody is moving back to oakwood bay after a breakup and is faced with her past and rebuilding a life of independence

while i really enjoyed this book, i do fear that it didn’t stand out to me all that much

i heard it was promoted as a second chance romance but there wasn’t really a first chance so i would just say it’s more a sports romance which is still fun

i loved the little re-found family of it all and i can’t wait to read about the rest of the characters (hoping noah gets a book too ???)

and i loved melodys side plot of her trying to figure out how to live life independently and rebuild and relearn from old patterns from her past

while this book didn’t stand out enough to give it a 4 stars i’m sooo excited to see where the rest of this universe goes

zac and melody’s playlist (lots of taylor swift duh)
- right where you left me: taylor swift
- love of my life: harry styles
- bed chem: sabrina carpenter
- HOW YOU GET THE GIRL (!!): taylor swift
- lover: taylor swift
- 18: one direction
- invisible string: taylor swift
- you belong with me: taylor swift
- unlearn: gracie abrams and benny blanco
- THE ALCHEMY (!!) : taylor swift
- STAY STAY STAY (!!) : taylor swift
- this love : taylor swift

A sporty second chance romance seemed right up my alley but I found the pacing off and it seemed too long. This one was just okay in my opinion, but I am sure I am in the minority and others will enjoy it.


Thank you for the advanced reader copy Atria Books and Netgalley.

Only in Your Dreams offers several of my favorite tropes - brother’s best friend, a secret relationship, and small town romance, with a lot of spice. There was a sweetness to to how much Zac was steadily in love with Melody. I wanted to hit both over the head a couple of times for their stubbornness and miscommunication. A couple of minor details bothered me more than they should have - like why didn’t Melody return for Zac’s grandmother’s funeral. She gave her reason but it wasn’t a very good one, considering how important grandma was to everyone. Also, it seemed like Zac loved Melody more than Melody loved Zac. He was willing to do more for their relationship, and he made a mistake ten years ago, that he was going to be making up for the rest of their lives (or so it seemed). Overall, I did enjoy the story, and I hope we get more stories from the side characters.

Oh yikes, this was bad. I am a huge sports romance lover. BUT the plot of this was a mess, the main characters were pretty unlikable, and the smut was so cringy. This is a book I thought I would like but bad writing made me hate it.

I truly loved this book, it was adorable and painfully perfect. I loved Melody and Zac's second chance story and I love that it wasn't insta-love, i love that there was a natural progression to things. I loved the entire book, and literally cannot wait to share this with my friends.

this book was so good. I loved it even tog it started a little slow. I loved that the author didn't rush melody into a relationship with zach after she just ended her last one and I loved the little things Zach did for melody to show he cared

Cute love story for those who have an athletic trope. This was a great read. However, I feel like the author hasn't hung out with a football player because they have a little bit of a different personality.

I would read this over and over again I'm a sucker for a second chance, Melody's character is alright but Zac is totally swoon worthy. So much time wasted when it was solved with a conversation. However I still hung on every word. Also made me realize how a toxic relationship can seem fine until you finally get out of the haze. Melody's ex was a psycho.

I fell in LOVE with this book. I devoured every single word and needed more immediately.

We love a man who yearns and grovels. There was so much to love in this book: the FMC who is learning to put herself back together after a difficult relationship and the MMC who quietly loves her through it all. The found family? OBSESSED.

I could NOT get enough of this book and will be sitting here (Im)patiently awaiting the next book.

5/5 couldn't recommend enough.

We said bring back yearning and Ellie said okay I will - after this.

Melody and Zac are so perfectly matched - I ADORE a grumpy/sunshine where she is the grump and he loves her for it. And boy howdy does he love her for it.

I’m here for groveling, I’m here for cautious and mundane love and affection, I am here for “who did this to you” being uno reversed!!! In this house we subvert common tropes and we love them.

And the friendship subplots were so genuine and warm - and just what Melody needed to help her stumble out of the haze she’d been caught in. Her friends and family love her, as she is, no matter how long it’s been.

Also, 😳. That is all.

Very juicy & sweet. Love the second chance romance trope heavily in this one, so well written, descriptive, steamy scenes, love the character developments, swirling mystery connections/past secrets, sweet sappy moments laden throughout this one! It truly does make you believe in love withstanding all odds & actually being in it. Would be nice to see another follow up to this one, checking in on the leads and the brother finding love!

I’m not usually one for second chance romances OR friends to lovers, but this book absolutely melted me 😭 I cried, laughed, and swooned throughout every single page. I was rooting for Melody and Zac always, but was equally rooting for them as individuals and not just as a couple. I wanted Melody to see her self-worth just as much as I wanted Zac to stop punishing himself. I have so much love for both of these characters (and will be not-so-patiently awaiting Brooks, Summer, and Parker’s HEAs!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC!

4.5 stars!!! Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book is THE swooney sports rom com of my dreams. I am admittedly not a football girly but this book did a college football coach romance SO well that I am definitely reconsidering. I loved loved loved the PINING and yearning Zac gave us. If there’s one thing I love it’s a man obsessed. And I adored Melody and her regaining her confidence and her personality after being in a toxic, manipulative relationship for so long, and I’m glad she now gets to be with a sweet, sweet man who genuinely adores her.

If you’re in the mood for a spicy, romantic, heart warming second chance romance with a good amount of football lingo, this book is for you!!

Swoony rom-com at its absolute finest. At times it felt like it might be just a bit much, but I also think it is just leaning heavily into the genre and I appreciate that!

This has, like, ALL the tropes:

-decades of pining
-Second chance
-Brother's best friend
-Forced proximity
-Small-town romance
-Frumpy-sunshine
- Sneaking around
-“did he hurt you?”
-Fake dating
-sports romance

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria
Books for the ARC!

I could spend this whole review writing about how Zac is everything I’ve ever wanted but that would be a disservice to my husband.
Sometimes I think folks see a sports romance and think it’s not for them but alas let me remind you, this is a sports romance written by a woman.
Melody and Zac had the most amazing chemistry and banter. The issues they were up against in this book never felt frustrating as a reader. I will be talking to anyone who will listen about this story ESPECIALLY Zac.

Thank you Atria Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.