4 ✨ for A Theory in Dreaming, the sequel I didn’t even know I needed. Apparently true love really does conquer all.

Somehow this book manages to be both dark and creepy, yet ethereal and stunning at the same time. Effy and Preston are both faced with so many difficult struggles within the waking world; my heart aches for them. When the lines of reality begin to blur and Preston finds himself caught between the allure of dreaming and the pain of physical existence, he has an important decision to make.

Things I enjoyed about this novel: beautiful prose, whimsical darkness, academia setting, unconditional love, and the messy emotions/feelings/actions of human beings. If you enjoyed A Study in Drowning, I think you’ll be delighted by A Theory in Dreaming.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

Who thought A Study in Drowning would have a sequel? I was so excited when I found this title on NetGalley and immediately requested. I adored A Study in Drowning and was especially attracted to whimsical atmosphere. Ava Reid's writing gives the water (a main part of the first book) life, making the ocean dark yet luring. Unfortunately, I was not as engaged reading the sequel, the writing was much less atmospheric (maybe because there is no more water in this book).

There are a lot of things happening in the second book - Effy and Preston's relationship, the war between Llyr and Argant, Preston's past, more work from other writers, etc., because of this, I feel a little overwhelmed and didn't learn any of those things deeply.Like the author mentioned in her introduction to A Theory of Dreaming, the sequel touches upon Preston's background much more than the first book. It also is much more of a dark academia setting. While A Study in Drowning focuses on water, the sequel focuses on dreams. Preston created his own palace in his dreams, it reminds me of the movie Inception. Effy and Preston's interactions in this book are also not really pushing the plot, they seem to have less chemistry in this book.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I know there are many out there who will enjoy this book simply because of the fact that they're getting to spend more time with these characters from book one, but I am just not one of them.

In this installment we see Effy and Preston dealing with the aftermath of their discoveries from the first book. Effy is having to learn how to deal with the real world without the "cushion" of blaming magic when life becomes too much. Preston is learning to accept that magic is real by almost literally being thrown into it by way of dreaming, and trying to find a way to not let it overcome his real life.

Pros:
- Much more of a dark academia vibe that I was expecting from the first book
- We get a lot more of Preston and his journey in this story

Cons: (for me)
- Very little meaningful interaction between Effy and Preston. Nothing that would make the reader believe that their relationship is growing and strengthening.
- So much secret-keeping between the two MMCs
- A lot of the same plot ideas revisited from the first book
- The character growth was hardly shown. Most of what we get to see is both of them sinking deeper and deeper, then the growth/healing is really just glossed over at the end. (Preston's get shown a little, but still not what I would have liked to see.)

Again - if you LOVED the first book you'll still probably very much enjoy this one. I was only lukewarm about the first book and thought the second one would save the duology for me but that just wasn't the case here.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing me an ARC for one of my most anticipated reads of 2025!

A Study of Drowning was one of my favorite books because of its atmosphere and this continued with A Theory of Dreaming. Although I wouldn't say this was a sequel I was dying for - I didn't even know there was one on the table until very recently!- , I still enjoyed it overall. We get to know more about Effy and Preston after the truth they uncovered in the first book, the backlash they receive because of it and their coping mechanisms which while they aren't great make them more real. Preston's sunken palace gave me Piranessi by Susanna Clarke vibes all the time which I found interesting. I feel like I missed something with the value and the meaning behind the palace for Preston but I still managed to enjoy the ride. I did, however, feel like the book didn't have a clear purpose or plot we were getting towards but more like it was written to get to know the characters better after the aftermath of the first book, and there are aspects of Preston's and Effy's relationship that I didn't enjoy, particularly Preston caring for Effy like she is a glass doll. While I understand his concern, I still found it a little suffocating for my liking.

To end this review, here is my favorite quote of the book:
"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."

5/5

A Theory of Dreaming is a sequel that throws you back into the onslaught of the storm but does not lose hope in its eventual passing. No amount of this sequel feels overwrought, its dialogue and thematically rich commentary on a nation stand strong in today’s political landscape. Connecting the power of story in building the ideology of a nation utilized as fuel for propaganda and war, Reid highlights its scars and its lasting legacy. Ava Reid balances this with the continued love story between Preston and Effy as they chafe against the constraints of their world and their place within it. A Theory of Dreaming proves that there is still more to surmount but that love is the reason we can continue to navigate this waking world – and that sometimes we must be the ones to save ourselves. For Preston and Effy that is acknowledging just how much they need each other all over again. The undertow to this duology being Effy and Preston finding love and livelihood even as they confront fascism and violence is life-affirming as it is a form of resistance. It's been a long time since I’ve been surprised by Ava Reid’s brilliance (it is their natural state after all) and this sequel is not only brilliant it is vitally necessary. Consider me in awe of Ava Reid from now until the end of time.

My full review is published now on my blog.

This is the second book in the series so if you haven’t read the first, please do this is worth the read and will not disappoint. The special editions are amazing looking as well, but this author is wonderful.

I really appreciate this second book even though i have doubts

The first book is one of my fav book, and well i think this book is okay but not as good as the first one

It picks off right after the events of the first book.

In this book we get to know more about the conflict between Llyr and Argant. The book also mainly focused on Preston's POV even tho Effy's POV is also present.

If you like the romance from the first book, this book has such cute moments between the leads.

This book mainly sets in their college. Tho there's the dream realm that i think it's a nice concept but i feel like the book didn't explore it that much which is a shame.

Mainly the problem with this book is... it feels like this book wanted to tackled a lot of topic (such as politics, fantasy, romance) but turns out half baked...

Overall if you're craving extra content from the first book, you can read this book

“𝘚𝘰𝘣𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴, 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦.”

This book broke me and put me back together. Ava’s writing always delivers! Such beautiful prose and such heartbreaking characters! I really savored this one and I’m so glad I did.

It was so fun to go back into this world of fairytales and folklore. One of the intriguing things about this duology is that the characters (and the reader) are constantly grappling with what is and isn’t real. The entire setting also feels very dreamlike.

Although both Effy and Preston are struggling in their own ways after ASID, I loved getting to see more of Preston’s perspective this time around. I also loved getting to see more of Preston and Effy’s relationship and how incredibly sweet Preston is with Effy.

This second book definitely grapples with some darker themes and I feel like it adds to the tone and intensity of the story. I was intrigued by the journal entries Effy finds and how the journal coincides with her own struggles as a woman in a male dominated field.

I don’t want to say too much more about the story so as not to spoil anything, but I really enjoyed this and if you loved ASID, you will love this conclusion to the duology. I can’t wait to read what she writes next and can’t wait to grab the physical copy!

I adored A Study in Drowning. It was so beautiful and magical. It was a love letter to stories and books. With this, I felt like I was trudging through A Theory of Dreaming. I didn't feel as connected to Effy and Preston this time around. It felt like there were a lot of inconsistencies overall. Ava Reid's writing is beautiful, as always. She's an excellent writer. I felt that ATOD was a bit longer than needed and felt that it could have been a novella. It didn't feel like it fit in with A Study in Drowning. There were times when I felt that the plot was a bit lost. Overall, it was nice to be back in the world with Effy and Preston again. I look forward to reading more of Ava Reid's writing.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the eARC!

WE ARE BACK on the soggy, sad train that is the Study in Drowning duology with the spotlight on Preston in this sequel. Preston, deliciously infuriating cynic that he is, can't get over the fact that his dreams are real, yet doesn't question that he magic LASIK-ed himself to have 20/20 vision. He essentially dreams himself into a Piranesi-esque palace dedicated to the beautiful baby angel princess that is ~Effy~ which his mentor, Master Gosse, weirdly wants to break into. 
Effy is dealing the with the repercussions and PTSD of a devil Fairy King literally grooming her from when she was a child, while the people that were supposed to be taking care of her made her feel like a nuisance for taking up space...  She is struggling with the belief that she is broken and that she cannot trust her own thoughts, coupled with being judged by others as this unhinged, amoral woman, all while trying to to be a voice for women that have been unheard for decades. No wonder this girl is going off the rails popping pills that I do not know where she is getting from. Seriously her <s>drug pusher </s> psychiatrist should re-examine that Hippocratic Oath, because what the actual eff. 

Effy and Preston's relationship was beyond frustrating for me as 90% of their conflicts could’ve been solved if they just had an honest conversation . Their mental health's implications on their personal identity and on their relationship was so relatable, but as a third party observer you just want to shake them out of their dangerous thought patterns. Preston is the epitome of functional anxiety, taking on the role of caretaker for so many of the people around him at the cost of his mental sanity. He is constantly worrying about Effy and taking care of Effy and making sure nothing happens to her while simultaneously keeping things from her (hence conflict). 
This is a story about grief, childhood trauma, misogyny and about what happens after the fairytale ending. Ava Reid's writing is beautiful and lyrical as always. I love how the pieces of this puzzle from multiple stories across multiple cultures came together in the search for the truth. I loved how the story of Antonia Arden shadowed and supplemented the main story of Effy and Preston. Certain details seemed glossed over in the end and the main conflict wrapped up too quickly for me to feel fully satisfied.  I truly was here for Effy and Preston and the vibes so this wasn't a huge detriment in my opinion. 
<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

dnf at 43%

I think people who are die hard A Study in Drowning fans will appreciate and love this sequel. I liked ASID, but I didn’t love it. And so when I started A Theory in Dreaming, I found myself just not totally caring about the continuation of Effy and Preston’s story. Ava Reid’s writing is beautiful as always, but where we wrapped up in book one is good enough for me.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you so much, Netgalley, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, for the chance to read this awesome book!!!


TW: abuse, implied rape, bullism, racism, misogyny

I loved A study in drowning and I was both scared and freaked out to read its sequel. What if I liked less than the first? What if I didn't? I shouldn't have doubted Ava Reid because this book is spectacular!

Heartbreaking, brilliant, profound and whimsical, A theory of dreaming by Ava Reid is the perfect sequel, letting the reader into the minds of Effy and Preston, uncovering lies and half-truths and leaving the audience speechless, captivated by painful beauty and truths.
As they have to face the consequences of what they have discovered in the last book, Effy has to face mysoginy and Preston bullism and racism, a war supported by Llyrian's myths and magic and a new way of dreaming that could change everything.

I adored reading this book, I've devoured it. The mix of stories, myths and literatures is exquisite and the way Ava Reid talks about love, depression, trauma, abuse and rights is incredible. I felt so close to these characters and I loved how seamless everything was.
Masterpiece!

I really enjoyed this book. It was highly atmospheric and expanded upon the university setting introduced in A Study in Drowning as well as the literary history of the world. As with A Study in Drowning, the characters were interesting to experience and we got to see more of their motivations throughout the book.

***Spoilers Below***

My one gripe is that, while I enjoyed seeing more of Preston's thoughts and motivations, I wish it didn't come at the expense of Effy's mental health. Due to her current state of mind and health, Effy spent the majority of this book sidelined which made it harder for her to really push for the type of change it felt like she was driving coming off of book one.

A big thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to continue with these characters coming off of A Study in Drowning.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Woo boy this book hurt my feelings a bunch.

I will start off by saying I appreciate the formatting change from book one by having more/shorter chapters.

It picks right up where book one left off, and the character development is off the charts. They're flawed and unreliable and we're still not quite sure what's real and what isn't, but they grow up the best way they can given their circumstances in the most heartbreaking ways. I really enjoyed reading their story (and seeing them continue to fight the patriarchy, as always

It is interesting that A Study in Drowning was not originally supposed to have a sequel, yet we got this gem of a sequel. I think the first book left just enough questions to warrant A Theory of Dreaming, and all of my questions were answered in this book (most of which were political).

I was hoping for more of Preston in this book- not only was there more of Preston, he had his own chapters! I need someone to love me the way Preston loves Effy.

It was an interesting contrast between Preston and Effy’s POVs. While Preston’s chapters were him in love with Effy, Effy’s chapters were a cry for help.

A very solid YA fantasy duology.

I think this book is for the die hard fans of A Study in Drowning. Which I’m not. I liked it! But I wasn’t obsessed. There was just…. No need for this book. It felt completely pointless the whole time and there is quite literally nothing happening in the plot until.. 75% percent and by then I just didn’t care. AR writing is beautiful and poetic and all of that but this just felt like a disservice to book one and the characters…

This might be an unpopular opinion but unless you were in LOVE with ASID.. I think you can skip this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

A Theory of Dreaming is a succulent and luscious novel that returns to the dark academia world surrounding Effy and Preston. Be prepared, because Reid absolutely brings on the darker elements - much darker than the first. However, Reid does an excellent job and 100% delivers (as usual!) with vivid descriptions and fantastical prose. While the darker elements are there, they're there for a reason and aid the progression of the plot. Watching them grow from their previous trauma really healed me, and it was a lovely ode to the first book as well.

Some parts did make me confused, (some from my forgetfulness) and others that I genuinely didn't understand. But that's ok! I feel that different people will interpret it in varying ways.

Unfortunately, my review for this book is much shorter than I'd like, but I don't want to include spoilers! What a lovely book - Ava Reid is without a doubt, an insta-read author for me!

*I was offered an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.*

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Firstly, I want to preface this by saying A Study in Drowning changed my whole brain chemistry. I believe some books finds us exactly when we need them, and that's exactly what Effy and Preston were for me. When I was approved for A Theory of Dreaming, I knew it was going to become my entire personality for the next month. I aim to keep my review spoiler free, but there will be lots of gushing! If I'd had this book when I was Effy's age, I think things would have been a lot better for me when I was in school!

"He could not make the world see him as he wished. Instead the world pressed in around him, molding, crushing, until he was the shape they made him."

While reading the first novel, I was constantly drawn to Effy's introspection and the raw, haunting emotion that came along with it, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself more connected to Preston this time around. His desire to both mold himself to fit in and stand out really resonated with me, as well as his anxiety to protect the things he loves and the people he cares about. I love how utterly human he is in this book, and how love has continued to mold and shape and develop him overtime. I also really resonated with the themes of fantasy versus reality. It's so easy to lean into escapism, but we have to face our fears head on.

While part of me missed the spookier/mystery undertones that came with the first book, I found the academic setting really played well with the emotions of the book overall, and I loved learning more about the world and the school itself. Effy and Preston are doing their best to grow out of the trauma and the tragedies they've faced, and continue, in every human way possible, to falter and fail and pick themselves back up again. The themes of prejudice were really cleverly woven into the narrative, and I appreciated the many layers Reid added into the work. We see Effy constantly pigeonholed as female archetypes, stereotyped by her peers, ostracized and objectified, but still she continues to rise and fall and never shields her emotions. Strength isn't just wielding a sword. It's holding your head high even while the tears are falling.

Ava Reid has a way with words that is both mesmerizing and addictive. Their prose is the perfect balance of lyrical and sharp, bleeding me out and then stitching me back together. There isn't a single book by Reid that I won't be purchasing.

If you're looking for characters that will haunt you after the final page, you've found them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of A Theory of Dreaming!

I love Ava's writing style, it works for me - however, the pacing of this book was a little slow compared to the first book. That being said, I still enjoyed it!

The ensemble adds some depth, however, the writing lends to a beautiful telling of Preston and Effy's story. I loved ASiD and AToD had some elements of heaviness that I had to prep myself for.

Overall, I'm glad I read this, I had just finished ASiD, so I had the luxury of a back to back read, and that honestly helped with the dark elements and how academia focused this read is. Would definitely recommend picking this up!

4⭐️

Firstly, the you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this early. Secondly, opinions on this book are my own.

I will try and keep this as spoiler free as possible, but there are a few things that I feel could potentially spoil a few plot points, as there are several trigger warnings and moments that I feel are important to know before going into this. AToD is a LARGE fraction darker than ASiD. I know this is dark academia, but I cannot stress this, enough: it’s pretty dark. It took me a few days to get through the book as it was heavy. TW for suicide attempts, racism, sexism/misogyny (these are the main stand out TW’s). With this all being said, Ava Reid delivers a compelling story with vivid descriptions and several beautifully written passages/quotes. I have so many highlighted, she really has a way with prose. I think these two books would make really good movies if they were ever adapted!

Overall, I liked this and I probably would’ve liked it more if I was in a better head space/wasn’t currently in a depressive episode. I definitely recommend this book, however, I’m not sure I would recommend to read it right away for someone who is not in the best headspace to read something pretty heavy.