As I’ve said before (and will absolutely keep saying), Ava Reid is an auto-read for me. Full stop. A Theory of Dreaming was no exception. Her dreamy, poetic prose and lush, immersive worlds get me every single time. I’m not usually someone who can easily visualize what I’m reading — I don’t exactly “see” books like a movie in my head — my brain just doesn’t work that way. But this book (like most of her others) read like an actual dream: strange, beautiful, a little unsettling, and impossible to look away from.

And listen — I’m not particularly sentimental. (Feelings? Gross.) But this book found me at the exact right moment, when I was neck-deep in managing my own mental health while also holding space for someone I love navigating much bigger, scarier waters. That made Effy and Preston’s story hit extra hard. In this sequel, we get to see Preston’s darkness explored alongside Effy’s, and their messy, achingly tender, complicated love for each other absolutely wrecked me. It’s such a powerful reminder that real love — the kind that actually lasts — isn’t about perfection or pedestals. It’s about showing up with all your cracks and chaos and trusting the other person to stay anyway.

I also loved the structure of this book — slipping between lectures, letters, diary entries, and more. It gave me that delicious, academic, gothic vibe I crave, while the fantastical elements quietly reflected the dark, cruel currents running just under the surface. What’s the quote? “Knowledge is power, but power is rarely kind.” The plot did feel a bit repetitive as a sequel, but honestly, I didn’t mind. I’m here for the formula.

Returning to this world felt like visiting an old, beloved building — the kind where the wallpaper is peeling, the air smells of musty memories, and the drowning dreamworld is battling reality.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Honestly, for an unplanned duology, this book was so good!! There were some parts that needed fleshed out a little more, but hopefully there is another round of editing to clear that up. There is about 100 more pages in the Goodreads count than the ARC, not sure if that's editing, additional writing, or just font size, etc.

I loved getting to jump back into Preston and Effy's world. This book ended up with a little more world building than the last, and was less along gothic creepy atmosphere than the last. This took a more academia-esque turn than the last book.

I loved getting to know their friends, their advisors, the school, etc. and I loved the way it wrapped up! An excellent follow up if you ask me!

Was so excited to see a sequel for this. Absolutely stunning work and answers the question of what happens after the happy ever after. There was a little less magic in this book but it makes up for it in other ways. Loved this book and thank you for the arc NetGalley

(3.5 stars) This book, while beautiful, didn't feel like a necessary addition to the world of A Study in Drowning. I felt that Effy lost a lot of her strength and substance in the book. While I felt that Reid showcased mental health in a vital and empathetic light, it wasn't the same character I knew from ASID. I'm sad that I didn't love this as much as anticipated, but the slow unfolding of the story was still beautiful enough for me to give this a higher rating than I usually would for a book this slow-paced and, in my opinion, unnecessary to the original story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

I definitely was in the camp of people who absolutely loved the first book and although this sequel didn’t give me the same feelings, Ava Reid’s writing and storytelling are gonna do it for me every time. I love how fantastical every sentence is and it makes me feel like I am being coaxed into this world.

I loved the first book, but this was an unnecessary sequel that wastes the excellence of the preceding novel. It backtracks on character growth, does away with plot, and meanders and plods until it comes to a neat end. Though the writing was beautiful as always, I was heavily disappointed.

A Study in Drowning was o e of my favorite in 2023. So when I found out there was going to be a sequel, and a dual POV one (I love dual/multi POVs) I was so pumped.

However...this wasn't a favorite for me. I understand the intention to show the crippling doubt but I just was disappointed that they couldn't communicate. Even up until the near end they still doubted themselves and each other. After everything they went through in book I was hoping they had a foundation of trust in each other. I just wanted them to communicate.

The writing, setting, and dark academia whimsy was everything I love from Ava Reid though. It was deeply atmospheric and whimsical in a dark kind of way so I loved that it carried over into this despite not being set at a crumbling old manor on a seaside cliff.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Study in Drowning was is of my favorite books so I was extremely excited about it getting a sequel. However, A Theory of Dreaming left me wanting more. I have so many questions about the palace under the sea and what its purpose was. Why didn’t the people discover their entire belief system was built on a lie? I just have so many questions and a few half-baked answers for them.

I did cry, many times throughout the book yet Preston and Effy frustrated me. I just wanted to shake them and yell “COMMUNICATE!”. Their moments of finding their own strength also fell a bit flat for me.

It’s not really fair when the first book was literally perfect in my eyes so nothing would ever be able to compare after that. While I did enjoy the sequel, I don’t think it has the power to make me re-read like the first book did.

This book fell a bit flat for me. I didn't like his POV as much as I liked hers. Something felt missing from book 1 and the world building was not as interesting. I personally believe this should have been left as a stand alone.

This is a great second book in the series! A study in drowning was very good and very fun to read. And this book was just as good!

Let me just start off by saying that Ava Reid has become one of my favorite authors over the past year. The way she writes is so visceral and enchanting. I feel hypnotized every time I delve into one of her written worlds, and a Theory of Dreaming was no exception. Following Preston and Effy from A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming explores the complex emotions that result from the tumultuous events of the first book. Taking place at the University that our characters attend Effy and Preston quickly the lines can be blurred between dreams and living.

This book was so gut wrenching (In the best way possible of course). I did not expect actual tears to be pouring out of my eyes by the end of this book. I really enjoyed A Study in Drowning for its lush and dark atmosphere but I loved A Theory of Dreaming for Preston and Effy’s story. First, I really enjoyed the dual POV in this book. I think giving more backstory and narrative to Preston really helped shape his character more. It brought him into the light and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see him shine. Secondly, Effy’s character felt so real and raw. I just wanted to reach through the pages and give her the biggest hug. Her internal dialogue was incredibly heartbreaking and potent, you could feel the heaviness and tiredness he felt lifting off the page.

The backstory and setting of this story was also highly interesting. It was a really nice touch on Reid’s part to include more about the sleepers and their lore. I love the way Reid includes literature throughout the story. You can tell by the way she writes that she has a deep love for words and stories and it shows in Effy and Preston as characters.

However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the plot. The ending felt a bit rushed as we spent so much time with Preston and Effy and their troubles. The war between Llyr and Argant throughout the book felt out of place to me. I think it was really just there to serve as lore for Preston. Granted, this did not make or break the story for me. I still ended up deeply appreciating this book.

Overall, I really appreciate Effy and Preston as characters. I loved getting to know them more, especially Preston. I love the way Ava Reid writes about mental health. It feels authentic and personal. I found myself relating to Effy in more ways than I would have ever thought possible. Though I’m really sad that we won’t get any more books in this universe, I can't wait to see what Reid writes in the future.

Thank you to Harpercollins Children’s Books and Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you HarperCollins International for the ARC

I am one of those people who liked A study in drowning, but didn't love it.
There were some things about the mystery part that in my opinion could've been handled better, but I appreciated the themes it dealt with and the oppressive, gothic atmosphere of the setting.

While I didn't see the need for a sequel, I was curious about reading it, if only to see if it would be better than the first book.
Unfortunately, not only is it not better than the A Study in Drowning, it was completely unnecessary.

It kind of feels like a very long epilogue lacking atmosphere and plot.
I understand this book was more about Preston, but it was sad to see Effy being such a passive character, completely at the mercy of the events happening around her.
And while I understand it was probably a representation of her mental state, it just felt like her character took many steps back.

The plot is weak, the bonds between the characters as well, it all just felt like it was not developed enough.

I did appreciate the themes - some new, some already seen in the first volume and further developed: depression, found family, political corruption, dark academia, misogyny and my favourite: women being erased from history, science and literature in order to be replaced by men. Something that should be talked about and explored more.

On the whole, I think it might have been better to make the first novel longer and wove this part of the story into the second half, but fans of A Study in Drowning will probably enjoy it anyway.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC!

Like A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming is a lyrical atmospheric fantasy whose magic lies on the line between metaphor and reality. ATOD feels like a very natural extension, in prose and content, of ASID, where we have the chance to explore the consequences of book 1 and dive deeper in Preston as character, what he struggles with, and how he copes with it.

It primarily focuses on Effy and Preston's struggle to take care of themselves and each other while faced with their poor treatment by (most of) the people and the institutions around them. The plot is a bit of a less clearly defined arc than in ASID because of this, but I actually enjoyed having so much time to get reacquainted with Effy and Preston.

This book sees the expansion of the world and its politics as we see the return of Effy and Preston from the isolated cliffside to their university and community. I think this expansion is fairly successful, largely because it isn't too ambitious in its scope. We learn more about the conflict between Llyr and Argant, about Llyr's founding lore and cultural influences, but the focus is clearly on how these elements affect our characters—particularly how they impact Preston and his treatment as the only Argantian student at the university. There were some things about the Llyrian lore where I felt like I was doing a bit of catch-up to understand their significance, but I think Reid was generally successful in communicating what mattered in a way that made the characters' experiences and feelings seem very tangible.

There isn't any miscommunication drama in this book, but there is a certain lack of communication between Effy and Preston because neither wants to burden the other with what they are struggling with. This is frustrating at times, but I think fairly well-motivated, and it's satisfying nonetheless how much of an effort they make to still return to one another at the end of the day. They are dealing with things on their own, when they really shouldn't be, but they generally don't use that as an excuse to distance themselves from each other.

Ava Reid's first 3 books worked for me in a way that their most recent 2 just haven't quite been able to live up to. ATOD is an imperfect but still very satisfying return to the lyricism and character-work that I love about Ava's storytelling.

The best way to describe this book is an exploration of the privilege of being able to feel so deeply. While Effy had the spotlight in A Study in Drowning, we really got to know  Preston here, and I loved every minute of it. Ava Reid could teach a masterclass in lyrical, profound writing, it leaves me speechless every time. A Theory of Dreaming was the perfect conclusion to Effy and Preston's story!

This the second to A Study of Drowning, and both of these are so unique and atmospheric - not a fast moving, exciting, fantasy, but a very sweet and magical one. They're also beautiful, if that helps!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC gifted in exchange for my honest review.

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

A Theory of 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.

A Theory of Dreaming was a beautifully eerie conclusion to Effy and Preston’s story, weaving academia, mythology, and quiet longing into a darkly immersive tale. The prose was lush and atmospheric, pulling me into a world where dreams blurred with reality and stories held dangerous power.
Effy’s struggle to define herself outside of myth was heartbreaking and real, while Preston’s descent into his own haunting visions kept me on edge. The tension—both romantic and existential—was exquisitely crafted, and though the pacing lagged in parts, the emotional payoff was well worth it.
A mesmerizing, thought-provoking end to a duology that lingers like a half-remembered dream.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Where book 1 brings a sense of gothic etherealness, A Theory of Dreaming brought true raw emotion. We see more of both of their struggles in real life as they get back to school. The grossly unethical school system working against Effy, the prejudices toward Preston and how they are dealing with those challenges are a BIG theme in the sequel. My heart hurt for especially for Effy though because girl can't catch a break.

Overall I found myself a little less invested in this one but still was able to enjoy myself.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the arc :)

Book Review: A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Ava Reid once again crafts a mesmerizing and atmospheric tale in A Theory of Dreaming, weaving together folklore, identity, and the blurred lines between dreams and reality. This novel is an enchanting, eerie exploration of storytelling, perception, and the subconscious.

✨ Tropes & Themes:
🌙 Dream vs. Reality
📖 Unreliable Narrator
🕰️ Lush, Gothic Atmosphere
🖋️ Folklore & Mythology
🔍 Secrets & Hidden Truths
💞 Slow-Burn Romance
👁️ Haunting Imagery
💀 Death & Rebirth
🏛️ Academic & Intellectual Exploration
✨ Feminist Undertones

A beautifully crafted, thought-provoking novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

A Theory of Dreaming reunites the reader with Effy and Preston as they rejoin their fellow classmates at literature college after their experiences at Hireath and publishing their controversial paper.

This novel digs into the darker aspects of Effy and Preston's psyche and is much more character-focused than A Study in Drowning. The story continues major plotlines such as Effy dealing with her trauma in both the classroom and in her relationships. A heavy focus of the novel is on Preston and his disconnection with reality as he navigates new enemies and being the only Argantian at the college. The motif of female literature/writing is still a dominant plot point, driving some of the decisions and feelings the characters face.

A Theory of Dreaming feels less like a sequel than I expected. Both novels could almost be stand-alones set in the same world. I enjoyed A Study in Drowning for its depth and richness in story-telling and magic, while A Theory of Dreaming made me understand and feel for the characters more. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and followers!