Another gorgeous title from Reid! This one was much darker than anticipated, between Effy's mental health struggles and the implied plot behind the Neried. The relationship between Preston and Effy is deep and beautiful, though I'll admit I crave a bit more romance. I found this book much sadder than the first one, but still a rewarding and beautiful read.

I loved that this felt like very natural continuation of the first book when it comes to vibes, but not neccessarily focusing on the "happily ever after" and romance but another mystery that helps to get better understanding of Preston when the first book was focusing on Effy.
What I really enjoyed was the pacing for both, these books dont rush through the plot but leisurely pull the story back with such intricate mythology of the world woven into it. It just made me wonder, what else could be found in this world? What mystical stories still need to be told?

"It takes strength, to feel so much. To feel so deeply."

A Theory in Dreaming is the perfect sequel to A Study in Drowning. While the first book belonged to Effy’s struggles and dreams, this book shifts to Preston’s story of discovery and choice. As Effy fights for her place at the literature college, Preston is drawn into dreams that threaten to consume him. With war looming and their past refusing to stay buried, both must decide who they are beyond the stories they’ve told themselves.

Ava Reid’s prose is as lush and atmospheric as ever, tying up loose ends while introducing new favorites (Lotto!) and revisiting beloved characters (Rhia!). The novel beautifully explores the struggles that come after the "happily ever after," making every triumph feel all the more powerful.

A stunning, emotional conclusion to a dreamlike duology.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for this ARC.

This didn't hit home for me. I had trouble getting into the story and understanding what was happening. Maybe the first book wasn’t as memorable and or there didn’t need to be a sequel.

AMAZING READ! I loved a study of drowning and this was a fantastic follow up. A lovely dark academia fantasy, the world building is out of this world

A Theory of Dreaming brings us back to the atmospheric world of Llyr, but this time, the focus shifts. While Effy is still central to the story, this book leans more into Preston’s perspective as he grapples with the aftermath of their explosive thesis, the prejudice against his Argantian heritage, and an eerie shift in his own reality. The novel masterfully blurs the lines between fantasy and truth, making the reader question what’s real just as much as Preston does.

One of the strongest elements of this book is its exploration of mental health—Effy’s depression and Preston’s growing uncertainty about his own mind add emotional weight that makes the story feel deeply personal. Their relationship remains a highlight, evolving in a way that feels raw and authentic. There’s a sense of hesitancy between them at times, as they struggle to share their burdens, but that only makes their journey together more rewarding.

The worldbuilding continues to shine, diving deeper into the mythology of Caer-Isel and the enigmatic sleepers. The dreamlike quality of Ava Reid’s prose makes the story immersive, though some elements—especially the mechanics of Preston’s dreams—were initially difficult to grasp. However, once the novel hits its halfway mark, the tension skyrockets, and the blend of psychological and magical elements becomes impossible to put down.

New and returning side characters add even more depth. Rhia and Maisie offer steadfast support to Effy, while Lotto, Preston’s charming but often exasperating roommate, brings both levity and loyalty to the narrative. These relationships help ground the story amid its darker themes.

While the book starts slowly, the second half is gripping, filled with twists that had me holding my breath. The ending, in particular, was intense and left me reeling. This sequel doesn’t just revisit the world of A Study in Drowning—it expands upon it in ways that challenge both the characters and the reader. If you loved the first book, this is a must-read.

Ava Reid’s theory of dreaming offers a unique perspective, blending neurobiology with symbolic meaning. She views dreams not just as random brain activity but as a narrative space for processing emotions, memories, and unresolved conflicts. Reid emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors on dreams, suggesting they reflect both individual and collective experiences. While some may find her theory abstract and difficult to test, her interdisciplinary approach provides a fresh, intellectually stimulating way to understand dreams as a tool for emotional and psychological insight.

A sequel to A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming continues the story of Effy and Preston and their encounters with magic as students of the literature college in Caer-Isel.

In A Study in Drowning, one of Agharad's famous lines from her poem was often repeated: "I will love you to ruination". This quote and its meaning in Effy and Preston's relationship was explored a bit more in A Theory in Dreaming. Their relationship was probably one of my favorite parts of this book. Thought I was a bit frustrated at times because it seemed like they were keeping their feelings inside so as not to burden the other person, it was part of their process in learning how to love each other. It was nice to see their relationship grow as they learned what it means to love unconditionally, burdens and all.

Ava Reid's poetic prose helped the reader immerse themselves in the fantasy. Although this book was a lot darker than A Study in Drowning, especially when dealing with Effy's depression and her feelings after the events of the first book. It was interesting to learn more about the sleepers and the history of Caer-Isel and Argant. One fantasy aspect that was a bit difficult to understand at first were Preston's dreams, particularly the meaning and reason for them.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable sequel to A Study in Drowning, since the reader got to read more about Preston and his experiences with magic. If you liked A Study in Drowning and would like to immerse yourself once again in this world of fantasy, make sure to read A Theory of Dreaming!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC!

A Theory of Dreaming had a lot going for it after the success of A Study in Drowning. However, I think that just because you can create a sequel doesn’t mean you always should in this case.

I found the plot to be lacking overall. This was a very character driven story, and it focused on both Effy and Preston, which was very different from the first book. I loved Preston’s povs, but I felt like his whole adventure into the realm of magic was lackluster and just patched together. The plot didn’t feel well thought out at all, almost like Reid was told to write a review and didn’t know where to go. A Study in Drowning had the magic, the mystery, the relationship, and the pacing that this one did not have.

I struggled with Effy in this one, as she felt somewhat annoying. I rolled my eyes a lot tbh. I understood her at various points and how she was clearly struggling. But the way it was executed? I found it insufferable.

It wasn’t all bad, and I enjoyed touching on academia and the role women have played in it—women’s work being stolen from them by their husbands or fathers is something I will always love to read about. But again, those concepts felt like they were there just to have something to talk about. The entire plot line of Preston and the dream world? What was the point? I was given crumbs of something that I expected the story to be about. It was just a mid read tbh, and I feel deceived lol.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Thank you netgalley for providing an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

In A Theory in Dreaming, the sequel to A Study in Drowning, the focus shifts from the discovery of Angharad's true authorship and the magical beliefs to the aftermath of these events, told through Preston’s perspective. Effy and Preston share a deep, poetic bond, built on mutual understanding and unwavering support despite facing personal struggles, particularly Effy’s battle with depression. Their relationship is portrayed as a constant source of sanity, with Preston’s love for Effy remaining unconditional, even when she feels unworthy. Reid’s portrayal of depression is relatable and impactful. The story also touches on early 1900s themes, with female leaders like Effy and Angharad challenging the historical narrative of male-dominated authorship. While Preston’s connection to magic is explored through his dreams, his belief in tangible truth remains intact. Lotto, a new character, stood out as a favorite, leaving the reader wishing for more of him. Overall, the novel provides a satisfying conclusion to Effy and Preston’s journey, blending romance, personal growth, and social commentary.

So glad I was able to receive an ARC of this from NetGalley!

A Theory of Dreaming picks right up where ASID left off, as Effy and Preston are thrown into a whirlwind of publicity after publishing their paper, waging accusations against Myrddin, along with Effy finding her place as the only girl in the heavily misogynistic Literature College.

Where A Study in Drowning had a much more whimsical feel to it, A Theory of Dreaming was raw and emotional. It brought to attention real-life issues in a way that wasn't insensitive to those who may struggle with them. Nationalism was a heavy theme in this one, and it was so surreal because it heavily parallels with our world today. While Preston was struggling with escapism, Effy was battling her own mental health, and it was sad to watch them internalize all of it, so they didn't burden the other with more 'problems'.

I really liked getting to read Preston's POV. It was nice to have more of his voice in this one. I enjoyed getting to see his thoughts and how much love he and Effy have for each other.

All in all, I think this was a worthy sequel and I really liked it!

Maybe I'm not the right audience for this but it just didn't hit home for me. I had trouble getting into the storyline and understanding what was happening. It took me sometime to get into the first one too but I found Preston and Effy much more intriguing characters in the first book. I think I also just enjoyed the adventure in the first book better too

So excited to have a copy of this beaut! Wonderfully done! The first one had me wanting more and this one did not disappoint. Darker than the first, love, twists, everything you need to keep you locked in.

actual rating: 4.5. Ava Reid, one day the people will erect statues in your honor. i can see it now!!!! you have written another literary masterpiece right here. i will never ever be over Effy and Preston’s story. they will haunt me in my dreams for the rest of my life!!! and to everyone reading this review: you BETTER buy this book when it comes out. this is a threat <3

Ava Reids writing is so beautiful and whimsical and I really enjoyed the first book of this series but this one really fell flat for me. I felt that the writing in this one was almost unemotional and monotone, I don't know if that's because of the state of mind the characters were in this one as opposed to the first but it just seemed unattached. I also felt that at times this story was very repetitive and I didn't even really understand the point of the book until about 80ish% through.. I also found Effy to be exceedingly insufferable even though I understood the almost PTSD that she was experiencing. I was let down by the romantic elements in this book because I truly just felt like Effy and Preston hated each other. I found it somewhat hard to have motivation to get through the whole book because so little happened and like I said, I didn't really understand the point of the book until it was nearly finished.

Ava Reid wrote this for the codependent girlies.
Upon immediately finishing, I felt a little disappointed that Preston didn’t have an “aha” moment and go “actually Effy can take care of herself” but Reid does this actually more subtly and beautifully. Effy doesn’t need to be punished or abandoned or smothered. She needs to be held. And so does Preston. I have a lot of feelings but none of them include disappointment!!!!

Thank you Harper Collins for allowing me to review this ARC copy!

I was so excited to receive this ARC as I had LOVED A Study in Drowning. This book did not disappoint! The writing was just as poetic, lyrical, and beautiful as the first book in this duology. Ava Reid has some of the most unique, beautifully haunting writing that I have ever read.

This was the perfect second booking answering the all of the questions that we had left from the first installment. While this book is darker then the first book, exposing the hardships of their world, it also shows the true love that Preston and Effy have for each other. The gothic, twentieth century, atmosphere was so immersive I could not put the book down.

The amount of quotes that I highlighted in this book is insane! I truly loved the continuation of Preston and Effy's story. (The plot twist got me too!)

Rating: 5 stars

I was completely entranced in Reid’s first novel in the duet, A Study in Drowning. While its main focus was the discovery of Angharad’s true authorship, the belief in magic, and the developing relationship of Effy and Preston told most prominently through Effy - A Theory in Dreaming procured the aftermath of their claims and was most heavily told through Preston. Preston and Effy share a bond that is deeply poetic based off the first novel, built on a foundation of deep understanding and unconditional support. Despite facing personal struggles and a storm of challenges, including Effy's ongoing battle with depression, their relationship remains a constant and a reliance of sanity even through the doubt that often reigns their minds. Preston’s love for Effy is pure - it isn’t conditional on her mood or mental state, and he’s unwavering in his commitment to being there, even when she feels alone and unworthy which was one of the most beautiful prospects of A Theory in Dreaming. Tackling depression is a difficult topic and Reid wrote about it in such a relatable way.
I have loved that this duet also gives off early 1900s vibes with the war and women being overshadowed by men with leaders like Effy and Angharad herself uncovering the truth of women’s authorship in the literature world which is often staked claim by men of the past and accepted as history until it is challenged.
Preston’s dreams were a focal part of the story but for me didn’t so much make it as by the end I felt he had a deeper connection to magic but did still not change who he is as a believer and scholar in what he can see as truth.
Out of all the new characters introduced, Lotto was my favorite and I actually wish we would’ve seen more of him!
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and was a strong close to Effy and Preston’s love and journey as students transcending the literacy college.

I was super excited to receive this ARC and it did not disappoint. A Theory of Dreaming was just as lyrical as ASID.

Plunging into Preston’s dreams was a treat, and trying to unravel what he was thinking and feeling kept me turning the pages. The dual POV in third person was a great choice and allowed us to see more of Effy’s inner workings, as well.

Check your trigger warnings and prepare to be wrapped in the emotional and healing follow-up to A Study in Drowning.

◛⑅·˚ ༘ ♡ a theory of dreaming (a study in drowning #2).


ੈ♡˳ final rating: 4.5/5 🌙
i received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating, and all opinions expressed below are my own.

this is a love story in its purest form; not only is it about effy and preston and their relationship, but it also a book about the idea of love itself and how passionate it can be. love, in its essence, is a fragile, yet beautiful thing; ava has done it great justice in this world.

a theory of dreaming is more feels than anything—or at least that’s what i got out of it. the pure emotion that is emitted from this story is unlike any other piece of literature i’ve read. their love story is truly a work of art. i could go on and on about it, but i’ll spare you the details. go read this book (and a study in drowning!!) if you want to experience it for yourself. <3

thank you to netgalley and harpercollins for this arc!