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DNF @ 41%. I love sewing and theater so I had high hopes for this book. But I just couldn't get through it. All of the characters annoyed me a lot and there was nothing interesting or unique about the plot to me.

Thank you, Level Best Books, for the advance reading copy.

I feel this ya is really a very young ya read which I feel would be best enjoyed by younger readers and beginners.

I appreciate the perfect length of the book and the short chapters.

This is the story of Scarlett who wants to become a fashion designer and has to start from the very beginning. She meets Nathaniel when she tries to sneak into her school’s costume shop.

And there starts their story.

I love how easy it is read and follow the story. I like the involvement of the side characters. However, I would have liked it more if the chemistry between the characters was better and the best friends to be better than this. But you know teens. We know. We all go through this phase.

Well, it’s a fun short ya book I say. Do not expect too much. Choose this book for the cute cover and the short story.

There are YA books for adults, and then there are YA books for kids. And this was the latter. There is nothing wrong with that, I could see this being a good solid read for my kids when they’re older. But it’s not my personal style.

This was.... not a dream for me.

I think a lot of the issues I had were because I'm a bit older than the target audience, but I just couldn't get into the book or really connect with any of the characters. The book started off with us just kind of thrown into the middle of things, which usually works okay, but here it just. Didn't.

I am also a vehement insta-love HATER, and the entire plot of this book was based on that. The dialogue was kind of cringey, and the writing either read way too fast paced –so that I couldn't properly get invested into the story/characters– or felt super isolating?? I don't really know how to explain it but it really felt like this book was written by an adult who was trying to be down with the kids or whatever, and it just came off very weird and like I was being talked down to, almost. I literally read the majority of the book like this: 🤨

The one thing I really liked was the whole theatre backdrop to the story– but that's literally all it was. A backdrop. It would have been so much more interesting if Scarlett hadn't had such a passive role in the show and went to rehearsals or watched Nathaniel (also, why wasn't that shortened to Nate even once? what teenage boy insists on calling themself by their full name anyway?) perform. There was such a great opportunity to add references to musicals and broadway shows, or make us feel like we were more involved with the theatre aspect, but that just... didn't happen.

Unfortunately, the characters, including Scarlett and Nathaniel, were quite 2D and all seemed to very obviously serve a purpose in the story – but not do anything beyond that. I was looking forward to this one, so it's a shame it didn't really deliver.

I feel like I've been in a very bad reading slump and I chose this book because the premise reminded me of that one show I loved with a passion but sadly I didn't connect with the book like I wanted to, I don't blame the book much since I think I may be the problem right now. I hope in a few weeks I can pick it up and give the book a better chance but I just wasn't able to connect with the characters at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for this ARC! I have a lot to say about this one.

This is a YA high school romance following Scarlett, a Junior at high school who wants to be a fashion designer. After an embarrassing run in with a mystery guy she hopes she’ll never see him again but it turns out he is the esteemed actor Nathaniel everyone at school is talking about. When Scarlett volunteers to help out at the theatre to improve her sewing skills sparks fly but things quickly devolve when something traumatic happens to her best friend.

The only reason this book gets even one star is because I found the fashion design elements really interesting and I generally liked the main character even if she was in her own head a bit. I also really liked her relationship with Macie, their friendship was cute.

However this book has absolutely AWFUL SA representation. It feels like it was used as a plot device to cause conflict rather than to actually address the issues surrounding SA and victim blaming. This actually disgusts me as a survivor of sexual violence especially because this book is aimed at young adults. The whole thing was just brushed under the rug and not mentioned again for the next half of the book.

Then we have the side characters who were not fleshed out at all. The love interest was a bit of a flake in my option and could jog on for all I care because apparently this man loves to run away from his problems. The relationship was paper thin and the communication between Scarlett and Nathaniel was absolutely atrocious.

Then there was the writing. I’m so sorry but the writing style was better suited to a middle grade book. I found myself rolling my eyes at some points at how ridiculous the dialogue was and how unrealistically these characters were talking to each other. I think this author was going for some kind of emotional heartbreaking story but it really missed the mark.

Just a reminder to authors SA is not a plot device and if you’re going to include it in your novel at least do your research and actually have a reason for including it whether that’s to educate and bring awareness or to help other victims of SA come to terms with what has happened to them. I won’t be reading anything else this author is written and I can’t in good faith recommend this book to anyone. Especially it’s target audience who might be lead to believe that this kind of representation is normal.

THANK YOU FOR THE ARCS (NETGALLERY)
if you are looking for a good short read this right here
your dream for me by Alison Schaffir
honestly i really like this the beginning was a bit slow and i didn’t love that part but by the middle of it which came really quickly really made up for it i think no i know for a fact i definitely have a crush on Nathaniel the way he treats Scarlett and just everything about him honestly and for me at least a mmc that does theater (well honestly any theater character i have never read about that before) was definitely different for me but from the way this book was written definitely wanna read more book similar to this it was such an easy simple read but even then you got so much detail but not so much that the book became unbearable just the perfect amount however it want to know what would have happened between Gavin and Scarlett if there weren’t a Nathaniel like don’t get me wrong her and Nathaniel are perfect like they are meant to be but i really liked Gavin and how he help Scarlett and the way he also treated her overall this is definitely a good ready you might need some patience in the beginning and a little bit in the end for this book but in all it a good read

This is a sweet YA book, perfect for a teenage audience. The story is about a high schooler, Scarlett, who has a dream of becoming a fashion designer. She has to complete an ensemble as part of her entry to her dream school. Nathaniel agrees to help her with her entry since he has experience in sewing. Scarlett quickly develops a crush on Nathaniel.

Although it has been a while since I was in high school and I am not the target audience for this book, I did enjoy the story!

Sweet YA romance. Centers around mix ups and missed opportunities. The first 3/4 of the book I was enjoying, felt was a bit long but was fun. The ending of the book along with way too many misunderstandings mad me feel just meh about the book by the end. Was a solid start so if this is a first or earlier work for the author I’d gladly give her another chance.

First and foremost, I absolutely love what they've done with the cover of this book. The first time I saw it I was immediately interested without knowing anything about it.

If you're looking for a book that will take you right back to having crushes and the drama of high school, this one really packs that punch. There were certainly some things that might make you cringe normally, but they were written really well so that you didn't have that feeling.

I did really like the different interests that were represented as well as the characters themselves and their development and growth throughout the book.

All in all this was a cute and endearing young adult romance and was an entirely fun read.

This book had an amazing premise and amazing characters, but somehow it ends up falling short, like idk if it's because of their age or the fact that is a YA but something on it didn't do it for me. Still the story is really good and perfect for those younger readers.

3.5 Stars Overall

This book wasn't terrible, and it was a very quick read for me, BUT it wasn't my favorite.

We follow Scarlett, a High School Junior who wants to enter the world of fashion someday and be a designer. The first half of the book is mainly about her friendship with her BFF Macie. She does notice and catch the eye of the new kid, Nathaniel, which she falls head over heels for before even saying 2 words to him.

This is definitely a slow burn YA novel as the love interests don't even get close to any sort of dating until after the first half of the book, which made the book drag on for me.

Scarlett second guesses just about everything she does, which became annoying after a while if I'm being completely honest.

The whole book had your typical HS drama, but the ending, while it was a good ending, I feel like it switched from how high schoolers would end it, to how college students or even someone in their mid-twenties would end things. In my opinion, Scarlett wasn't mature enough, and her character hadn't developed enough for that to happen (even though she swears she had figured life out over the last few months).

Not a book I'd start recommending but I think High School girls would probably enjoy it 😊

Thank you to NetGalley and IBPA for the Advanced Readers Copy

“I just hope that there’s no more drama this week, besides the kind happening on stage.”

Scarlett has two problems: one, she dreams of being a fashion designer despite zero experience using a sewing machine; and two, she’s developed a massive crush on the star theater student, Nathaniel. The fates seemingly align, and soon Scarlett and Nathaniel have a blossoming romance. Scarlett also begins working in the costume department for the spring play, where she’s swept up in a whirlwind of fabric and teen drama. Faced with an incident that drives away her best friend Macie, navigating first love with Nathaniel, and pursuing her clothing designer dreams, Scarlett unravels life’s challenges one thread at a time.

I was eager to read Your Dream For Me, and unfortunately, I was very quickly disappointed. The book’s summary frames the story as a girl stepping outside of her comfort zone for her passions… but the story is more just “girl chasing boy.” There isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, but it was disheartening since I expected to read a book primarily about fashion and costume design. Scarlett does end up making a supposedly show-stopping prom dress for Macie, but the moment is hastily described and underwhelming. This is actually an issue I encountered a lot while reading—most of the action feels like a rushed summary from Scarlett rather than us joining her lived experiences. There are also a lot of nondescript time jumps, so the pacing is jarring at times. The lackluster action was even more apparent due to the characters missing individual voices and depth. Slowing down the story to develop the characters and plot would have helped me care more about Scarlett’s relationships (especially between her and Nathaniel) and her artistic journey. I’d also like more nuance in the story’s conflicts, particularly with Scarlett’s friendship with Macie. Their main conflict comes from a boy attempting to sexually assault Macie at a dance. While I appreciate that this book didn’t fixate on the attempted assault, I wish the aftermath was handled more thoughtfully, given how prominent this plotline is in the book. The neat and tidy resolution to their conflict felt like a disservice to Macie and Scarlett. I imagine I could have enjoyed this book to an extent in early high school, but the story was frustrating for me now. Even so, I am optimistic that Alison Schaffir’s next book might be a better fit.

This was definitely not a dream for me.

A lot of this story was very surface level and things would happen so quickly you weren’t able to develop any sort of investment in the plot or characters.

We have insta-love, a character who magically develops sewing skills, and a love interest that basically goes nowhere. The main character felt like she was a preteen rather than 17 and she very much had that “not like other girls” attitude.

I love a book that showcases character development! The fashion and acting themes are a favorite of mine with fiction books so this read was right up my alley.

I feel like we would have benefited from a more in-depth look at these characters and their lives, as it felt very one-dimensional for the majority of the book. Most of Scarlett and Nathaniel’s interactions felt predictable and cliche. I really enjoyed the author’s writing and style, I was surprised it was a debut novel. While this is a nice, quick read for young adult readers, this book didn’t hit the spot for me.

Overall, "Your Dream For Me" is a touching and inspiring story that will resonate with readers of all ages. Schaffir's beautiful prose and vivid imagery bring the story to life, making it a truly memorable read. It is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of dreams and the importance of never giving up.

I received an ARC copy from netgallery for an honest review. All the opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.

All I can say is I want more of this amazing story! These characters grew on me and still haven't left me. This story is one of a kind and it left me speechless. The main characters support each other and each other's dreams. It made me laugh and sob like a crying baby. It is such an amazing book and story, that you will want to read over and over again!

A fun read, but it felt a little too juvenile for high school. I loved the slow burn romance and the twist at the end. This would make the perfect rom-com movie.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this early :)

This was a really cute YA book about a girl following her passion with a little help along the way. Nathaniel was such a cute and lovable love interest!! Scarlett and Macie's friendship was so fun, and I loved all the side character inclusions too.

However, there were some aspects of this book that I didn't love. The pacing of the book was a bit hard to keep up with and there was a plot point I felt wasn't portrayed in the best way.