I loved getting to know Preston more! I had been curious about his background throughout Study in Drowning and was glad to see his character flushed out a bit more. That being said, I think that the ambiguous ending to Study in Drowning was all that the stroy needed. If there were a way to combine the two books it would be perfect, this almost felt like a bit of an after thought. Still a fun read and loved revisitng the world!

I usually love Ava Reid's books, but I thought that this one felt a bit unnecessary. I think the ending of the last book provided the closure that I needed even though it had an open ending. This book didn't give me what I was looking for at all and I honestly think it's better to just read the first one by itself. This book was also a bit confusing, which is mostly my fault because it took me so long to finish but I didn't understand a lot of what was happening in the book and it felt like certain plot lines were dropped that I wish were developed more. Other than that, it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read but there didn't need to be a second book in my opinion.

This sequel to A Study In Drowning has the same ethereal feel, while also feeling more real.
In A Theory of Dreaming, we get to see what happens when Effy and Preston return to university after writing their groundbreaking paper.
There are many more frustrating struggles for them. Preston's love for Effy is what we all want.
This might have been 5 stars for me if I had any idea what to make of the sleepers and the mythology that their entire society is made of 😬

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.

I absolutely love, love this book and characters. Definitely held my attention for start to finish. Will definitely check out more books from this author.

Everything I disliked about book one was exacerbated in this book. It was constant Effy crying, being treated terribly by men, not standing up for herself/relying on Preston.

Also looking back at my review of book one I realized a some stuff remained kind of unaddressed from book one (like the climate crisis going on in the background). I guess it was nice to get more background on the countries being at war and the Sleepers, but honestly I’d forgotten so much of book one that it didn’t even have much impact on me. I guess spoilers but fact that the whole war was justified basically because of something that was fake and easily could’ve been verified if you looked at a book that was openly accessible in a museum was so dumb. Nothing happened in the plot until the end but by that point I was skimming because I was so bored and wanted to finish already.

I was thrilled for a sequel as I loved the first book. However this one just seemed off. Unfocused, where the first book hit the gothic feel on the head.

I powered through it, but my opinion remained the same through out the remainder of my read through.

This was a good story, I thoroughly enjoyed the first one and was craving to get back into this world. At times I found myself thinking that the storyline was boring and not much was going on, but I also think that was kind of the point. Effy has undergone many traumatizing experiences, and this is her and Preston's journey navigating the aftermath. I liked getting to see Preston's point of view. I just wish there was more to the overall plot. I really enjoyed my time in this world though.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

I’ll start this by saying I absolutely loved A Study in Drowning. It was one of my favorite books that I read last year. Not realizing she was writing a sequel, I took it as a standalone. After reading A Theory of Dreaming, I wish it had been. I was bored throughout. Where the first was dark and mysterious, and actually earned the term gothic, this was depressing and unfocused, not gothic in any sense of the word. The characters changed drastically from one book to the next, not even a whisper of their original selves. The storyline wasn’t engaging and I found myself powering through just to finish. Unfortunately this wasn’t the sequel I had hoped for.

I adored the first book and knew I would love the second, and indeed I did. A fantastic depiction of how mental illness and grief lives within us, how little magics can be made within ourselves. Highly recommended.

A Theory of Dreaming felt more like a fiction novel more than a fantasy novel. This did not feel like part of a duology. Preston and Elly have a very codependent relationship and most of this plot surrounded that codependency.

Some trigger warnings: this story contains depictions of alcohol, use of pills, and suicide.

This review feels harsh, but I really do enjoy Ava Reid’s writing and I believe she is very talented. I will continue to read everything she publishes!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for this ARC!

“The real magic was never the men themselves. It was their stories.”

Ava Reid never ceases to amaze me with her ability to write dark and atmospheric stories, without being too graphic in her YA books. A Theory of Dreaming manages to keep that eerie charm of its predecessor, with the author's unique and almost poetic style making it even more engaging.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, and I think that was because it was too inconsistent plot-wise. Many scenes felt like filler, as if they didn't add much to the story itself, although they did help a lot to understand the main characters' healing process after the events of the first book.
However, I do recommend it for those who enjoyed A Study in Drowning. It's still a beautiful and flowery encore, which delves much deeper into the characters, although the plot isn't strong enough to save it.

“Whatever faults I might have— and I have plenty—just know that I think of you, always. My mind is never empty of you. Not in waking; not even in dreaming.”

Overall rating: 3 stars
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Pub Date Jul 29 2025

Thank you to the author, HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this story! It was a cute little YA adventure that would be fun on a vacation. Recommend for sure!

I loved this book just as much as I did the first one. I like the friendship and I like the companionship I love the mystery and the atmospheric elements. Ava’s writing is unmatched. Definitely read this in 2025!!!

I absolutely loved diving back into this world! Effy and Preston truly have my heart in book two, they are so wonderfully fleshed out. This was definitely Preston’s book, and his POV was everything I wanted. He’s the perfect swoon-worthy lover boy! The story beautifully explores Effy’s mental health and the journey of healing and overcoming struggles. I appreciated how the author balanced realistic, deeply emotional issues with the magical, atmospheric world, creating an immersive experience.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc

Ava Reid has some of the most lyrical writing there is. This book had mystery and intrigue, but I wanted more from this gothic fantasy. Its tone fell flat compared to A Study in Drowning and I personally wanted more from Effy in this book.
Preston is the main character in this, with Effy as support, and while I enjoyed the story it just didn’t grab me as much as the first book.
This book has some major trigger warnings (incest/r*pe, su*cide attempt) that should be viewed prior to reading.

At the halfway point in this book, it felt like it was dragging but I was still intrigued and wanted to continue. It began to pick up again around the 70% mark and held my interest.
While it is an interesting story, I wish it had tackled more of the loose ends from the first book. I also wish that this book was a little more open ended, like a gothic fantasy should be. Overall it was enjoyable, but I would have been okay with A Study in Drowning being a standalone.

A moody, atmospheric addition to the Study of Drowning universe. The opening immediately hooked me with a news article style recap of book one + lyrical prose that oozes a gothic chilling ambiance, making it easy to remember what happened in book 1.
I liked how the dark academia setting was a lot heavier in this one (I felt the anxiety of imposter syndrome all too well). I will say though, the main conflict felt a bit repetitive from book 1 which made the plot a bit underwhelming. Still, I liked following the characters through their arcs/ the beautiful writing & vibes.

4 stars! 🌊💖

“Nothing is ever lost, only changed, and grief is no more than the knowledge that a wilted flower cannot be made again to bloom.”

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for sending me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a great way to wrap up a magical, lovely tale between Effy and Preston. As a huge fan of asid I was not sure how I would feel about a sequel, but it was so refreshing to be a part of this world again and read from the perspective of my favorite characters.

In “A Theory Of Dreaming” Effy is finally able to attend the literature college, although not without criticism from her peers. Preston is suffering with his own personal battles, while facing harassment for being Argantian as the ongoing war has increased in severity. With the help of one of his teachers, he is pushed into a “dream world” that makes him question his own reality and those within it. How will our beloved couple overcome these hardships?

I found that this sequel focused more on Preston and his insights rather than Effy’s. He has been struggling with his own demons and anxieties and does not want to share his feelings with others in fear of putting too much emotional strain on them. Effy is having an exhausting battle with her own mental health that is especially heartbreaking as she cannot recognize the fact that she deserves love, and a promising future.

Loving someone with severe anxiety while suffering with your own, is such a hard task and I really appreciate the way Reid writes about this experience in such a sympathetic and understanding manner.

Although dark at times, the ending was a light at the end of the tunnel and felt like real closure for these two.

Que the happy tears 😭✨

This book legitimately healed something in me I didn't even realize was wounded.

A Theory of Dreaming picked up almost exactly where A Study in Drowning left off, and it was so nice not to feel like the story was backtracking to world build. It started at the same high ASiD ended with, and it kept that same momentum the entire time.

Following Preston as he struggled to differentiate between reality and fantasy was the best choice Ana Reid could have made for a sequel. Effy still gets her own POV, and she is in no way a background character, but Preston still had so much to learn about himself and the world. In that sense, I think this is a fantastic example of the New Adult genre.

A Theory of Dreaming really sheds light on the pain of growing up - the almost self directed betrayal of leaving childhood behind. There's only so much you can experience before the darkness of life creeps in, and when it does, no one knows what to do. Whether it's grief, love, loss, or just a general establishing between right and wrong, the person you become as you step into adulthood is crafted by the sacrifice of who you were in your childhood, and that's a journey Preston and Effy both go on in this novel.

It was agonizing to see Preston and Effy struggle and search for meaning while not leaning on the other. There were so many times I thought they would finally confide in the other, and it was maddening to see them choose differently. However, I think that again plays into the emotional depth of both of them and their growing up. Love is hard and weird and scary, and when you don't really know what it should be, you have no idea how to accept it. While Preston and Effy clearly love each other, it's extremely fragile to them both because neither knows what they're getting into. It was actually really beautiful to see them get it wrong and get it right.

In terms of story, Ava Reid is just so smart. I mean, really. Not only did this beautifully written book contain various journeys through self acceptance, change, love, self assurance, and more, the fantasy plot was also extremely engaging. It was a constant push and pull between real and potentially real, and the tension never once became stagnant despite there being no "big bad" in the story. And the war/discrimination story line that was explored with Preston! It was just brilliant.

A Theory of Dreaming really made me feel so much. It's a love letter to story. It's a self help book for readers who feel as lost as Effy and Preston in their pursuit of the world. It's an embrace for young adults who are looking around them and questioning if they have the strength to try to follow their dreams. It's a hand to hold for the grieving, and it's a nod of encouragement to those that have forged themselves back together again and again. It's an acknowledgement of strength and a daring request to keep going.

Though this book is "dark academia" or "romance" or "fantasy" or "fairytale", it's so much bigger than any of those. Reading A Theory of Dreaming was truly an experience, and I dare to say it has deeply affected me as a person. This was an incredible and beautiful read, and I am extremely grateful Ava Reid decided to finish Effy and Preston's stories.

Ava Reid is an auto-read author for me and I’ve loved their work tremendously. When I read Study in Dreaming I read it slowly, to really savor the beautiful work she’d built for Effy and Preston. Although I originally believed it to be a standalone, I was excited to see they’d written a sequel to spend more time in that space.

I think had I read Study in Dreaming more recently, I may have felt like A Theory in Dreaming was repetitive, but the expansion on revisited themes, when paired with an added perspective from Preston, there was just enough variation for A Theory in Dreaming to be its own book.

I don’t know that I’d recommend reading this as a duology, back to back. But if you’ve read A Study in Dreaming and are wistful about the feelings you had when reading it, this was a lovely addition. We get a great deal more color on Preston’s homelife and background, a fuller picture of what the war is costing him personally, and a really charming friendship with his dilettante roommate.

The whole novel was an entire vibe – it felt like a Pinterest board sprung to life– from the dreamscape to the dark academia settings. On that alone, I got so much joy from reading this novel.

I wish tremendously however that the relationship between Preston and Effy, two young main characters, hadn’t been wrapped up in the way it was – it felt age inappropriate, and like a poor choice given Effy’s ordeals of the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the advance copy! I look forward to reading more of Reid's work!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I so badly wanted to love this book but I couldn’t find myself immersed into the world. Whereas A Study in Drowning was an absolute wonder of a read for me, the plot and characters ultimately fell flat in this sequel. Reid’s writing is still beautiful, if a bit too atmospheric at times, but the story feels like it’s barely moving and more so just existing. The new characters didn’t enrich the plot, and honestly I found Preston and Effy to be far more boring than their initial introductions. There are moments of true excitement in this book but they’re typically overshadowed by the way this book just insists upon itself. While not the worst sequel I’ve ever read, I’m not sure it is one I think needed to be written.