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.

I’ll preface the review by saying that I wanted to love the book. As a big theatre fan I really liked the idea of a theatre-based romance between someone working on-stage and someone working off-stage but unfortunately it just wasn’t executed well and fell really flat for me. Although Your Dream For Me is a YA novel, it largely felt more suitable for a younger audience, potentially as a transitional read between the middle grade and YA genres. Largely I think this is down to the characters as not only do they lack any real depth and have very little character development during the story but they also really lack maturity. Our protagonist Scarlett had a very immature voice which would have been more fitting in a 13/14 year old character than a 17 year old. She had very dramatic spiralling reactions to things that could have been resolved through simple communication and honestly just didn’t seem mature enough to have a relationship.
Unfortunately, not only is Scarlett immature but she is also quite unlikeable as she felt very self-centred and naïve. Scarlett is also very disillusioned about the world around her as although she has big ambitions of going to a world-renowned fashion school to train as a fashion designer, she doesn’t seem to be doing anything to work towards it. She seemed very disillusioned that a good GPA, fashionable dress sense and a Saturday job in a clothes shop would give her any chance of getting in to such a prestigious school when she lacked basic fashion designing skills such as sewing.
The character of Nathaniel did charm me from his very first appearance and I think his character is one of the highlights of the story, which makes it disappointing that we see so little of him despite him being the main love interest. I did find the speed that Scarlett fell for Nathaniel very unrealistic and superficial as she is practically besotted with the boy after a mere 5 minute interaction where they don’t even swap names. Fans of the insta-love trope might enjoy it for this reason but it just wasn’t for me and I didn’t buy into their chemistry.
The conflict which leads to Nathaniel ghosting Scarlett was a little bit ridiculous and I struggled with the instant-reprieve the main antagonist Tina had after simply apologising. It made the drama feel even more superficial and I would have considered not finishing the book had it not been so close to the end. The ending of the story is incredibly frustrating and I think the less said about it the better but overall I think it’s testament to the lack of maturity we see in Scarlett.
I am keen to highlight some of the strengths of the book through and I think the representation of a strong female friendship through Scarlett and Macie is one of them. But unfortunately this doesn’t last the duration of the story as they start to clash with each other after Macie is sexually assaulted (which is a major potential trigger all prospective readers need to be aware of). Scarlett is initially very supportive of her friend but I grew very quickly frustrated by Scarlett’s lack of empathy to how the trauma of the assault was affecting her friend. This all further demonstrated a real lack of maturity in Scarlett which only made her even more unlikeable.
I did really like Macie and I thought the exploration of Macie’s assault and the effect it had on her was really interesting and well executed. So much so, that I think the character was wasted as a supporting character and would have made a much more interesting protagonist than Scarlett.
Overall, I think Your Dream For Me would be a good read for a younger YA audience who may be oblivious to the issues with characterisation and plot and simply be able to enjoy it as a cute high school romance.
⭐️⭐️/5
I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

This is such a great debut novel from Alison Schaffir! It was a super cute YA novel that truly showcases what it’s like to be in high school. I loved Scarlett and her can-do attitude, how she was always there for her friends, and how she never gave up on her dreams. Her romantic interest, Nathaniel, was also great! He was a dumb teenage boy at times but, like, what do you expect from a teenage boy (laugh emoji). I wish we would have gotten to know him a little more, but I understand why he wasn’t a huge part of the book as it was 100% all about Scarlett. In terms of pacing, the first 80% of the book flew by! The ending, however, was a bit slow for me. Overall a great book and one I recommend if you’re a fan of YA Romance.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! These opinions are completely my own.

It was cute. I really wanted to like it, I just don't think I was the correct audience for it. If I read this in high school, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more. It was very very YA, which is great, if you're a young adult. I really enjoyed the fashion/ theater aspect of the book, but the rest kind of fell flat. I also was not the biggest fan of Scarlet as a character.

Also, that ending!! I am all for high school students breaking up after high school to experience life on their own, but I don't prefer to read about it... I'm a HEA girl through and through so the ending really spoiled the whole book for me.

Your Dream For Me by Alison Schaffir was definitely written for a young adult audience as it is a coming of age story. Scarlett wants to be a fashion designer but doesn't even know how to sew. This was a stretch for me and hard to get on board after it. The meet cute with Nathaniel was swoon worthy but cheesy at the same time. Overall, I wasn't the target audience but this will be good for the younger crowd.

A cute YA romance! wasn’t absolutely hooked into the story but definitely enjoyed reading it. I think maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more had it been a dual POV as the writing was actually really good.

Finished ✔️ Your Dream for Me by Alison Schaffir

3.5 ⭐️’s
Publish Day: March 7th, 2023
Kindle Unlimited: No
A book about not living up to your parent’s expectations
It was a decent story
Didn’t grab me from the beginning
I did enjoy the characters a little bit.
I’d recommend to others

#DeesReading #DeesRecs #DeesBookRecommendations #BookNerds #BookNerdProblems #BookNerdsUnited #BookProblems #BookProblems101 #BookNerds #Bookworms #BookwormProblems #BooksOfFacebook #DeeTheBookReviewer #BookReviewer #NewToMeAuthor #ReadOfTheDay #BookOfTheDay #YourDreamForMe #NetGalley #AllisonSchaffir

Seventeen-year-old Scarlett, unlike her theatrically gifted parents, is not one to spend time near a spotlight. She dreams of becoming a renowned fashion designer. So it's no surprise when she sneaks into her school's costume shop to explore the racks. Unexpected, however, is coming face-to-face with Nathaniel Wilder, a talented theater student who piques a new interest.

Theirs was an adorable meet-cute 😂 Nathaniel was cheesy and oh so swoony 🥰 he didn't really waste time making her aware of his feelings. He went out of his way to always make sure she was okay.

I loved her friendship with Macie. It had its lows, but they overcame and grew closer. She showed up for Macie when the self-doubt and misplaced guilt about a bad incident brought a cloud over her cheerful demeanor. I loved to see that.

The ending caught me off guard. It was bittersweet, and had all the feels. When the title finally makes sense, it's so beautiful. This story will definitely stick with me for a time to come. Amazing debut 👏🏾👏🏾❤️

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC.

This is a cute YA romance book. Though it's a bit too high school-y for me because of the drama of the teenagers. I'm retired about crushes. Though I would say, I would probably enjoy it if I am still in high school.

And love the qoute about changing the mindset not sulking or be a victim of circumstances.

I was a little nervous going into this book because I kept seeing low ratings but I enjoyed it!
It definitely has those high school vibes going on and brought me back to my own high school days. There were some points through out the story I could connect with (all the drama the love story and the friendship) and there was some where it was so far fetched in my opinion. I think this would have been fun to read in a multiple POV. It was cute and easy to read. I do recommend it!

A charming story of high school romance and big hopes for the future, Your Dream for Me deals with the ups and downs of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. When Scarlett meets Nathaniel in her junior year, she feels an instant spark between them. To spend more time with him, Scarlett volunteers to usher at the school’s drama presentation, which stars Nathaniel. As they get to know each other, they share their dreams for the future. Scarlett wants to become a fashion designer, and Nathaniel’s wish is for a career in acting. Scarlett develops an interest in behind the scenes wardrobe, and she hopes their futures will be intertwined. Their mutual attraction to each other and love of theatre makes for a sweet love story.

But what is high school without a little 'drama'? Enter Tina, who plays the lead opposite to Nathaniel and who wants Nathaniel for herself. Willing to do anything to keep Nathaniel away from Scarlett, she creates a rift between the two couples. Added to that, Scarlett’s best friend, Macie, is convinced that Scarlett has betrayed her confidence. Separated from the boy she loves and the friend who no longer trusts her, Scarlett attempts to find out the cause of their estrangement.

A strong young woman, Scarlett works toward her personal goals, but looks out for Macie’s best interests, advocating for her friend when she gets involved with the wrong boy. She roots for Nathaniel and supports his dream of going to NYC to study theatre, even through their breakup.

The romance and friendship between the characters was heartwarming, and I was compelled to read on to find out how they resolved the challenges in their path. Alison Schaffir has woven mystery and intrigue into the story, leaving the reader to wonder why Scarlett’s friends have abandoned her. This was a fun romantic read about young love and carefree days, but it also dealt with some very real social issues and provided great insight into the trials facing young people on their way to becoming adults.

A great debut for Alison Schaffir, and highly recommended whether you are a teen looking for a romantic story or an adult reminiscing about your high school crush, your dreams for the future, and all the related drama of growing up.

your dream for me 💭
⭐️⭐️⭐️

release day: 7th march 2023 🗓️

~ scarlett’s passion is costume design… it’s possible my love for her character comes from my educational background in textiles which holds a big place in my heart🧵

~ the loyalty and honesty between scarlett and bestie macie is so refreshing, especially when things get tough! 👭🏻

~ nathaniel has the best and purest intentions with everyone, he’s such a loveable character within the drama department and the rest of the school 🎭

… the scandal really shocked me, totally unexpected! would highly recommend, such an easy read and all the characters were loveable 🤍

I loved the premise and I really wanted to love the actual book more than I did. However, for a YA read, it felt very middle-grade in tone, and lots of the themes/characters weren't particularly fleshed out. At its core, the writing wasn't poor and proved rather easy to read, but when larger elements of theme and character development began to be introduced, this suffered slightly too, and the overall romance plot arc became obscured. The ending, I believe, will divide many a reader. Whilst I found it to be realistic, especially given the characters and their relationships that had become established over the course of the book, it isn't necessarily expected or satisfactory. In fact, it's quite a bold move and (even if it had been a five-star read) I think it would have been a marmite (you love it or you hate it) feature.

I don’t think this one was for me. It felt younger than YA. At times it felt like weird high schooler propaganda and the characters were surface level and not fleshed out all the way. Not for me!

❌/⭐ | DNF AT 36% — Aaa I really wanted to fall in love with this but I just couldn't!

At the beginning I found myself really enjoying the overall vibe of the book, but later I found out that I am actually liking the contemporary elements, not the romance ones. It was as if I was reading a story about Macie's and...whatever the other girl's name was, friendship instead of a romance book! 😵‍💫

To be exact, during those nearly 40% I have read the love interest (who's name I actually remember!) only appears few times just to have a short talk with the MC, yet she's still totally head over heels for him??? Like I would fall in love with him too not gonna lie 🤭🤭 But still, it pretty much disappointed me and bored me 😕

But I do have to say that I really enjoyed MC's and Macie's friendship! It was very sweet and adorable! 💘

I decided to not continue this though. The story felt boring to me and I've also heard a lot of people complain about the ending leaving them very disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and Level Best Books for providing me with this eARC. I adore this book so much.

So, it's a sweet YA romance story with a lot of drama and that's what high school romance is about! It's enjoyable to read. I love both main characters, the secondary couple, and even the female antagonist in this book. It felt like I was watching a teenage movie while reading it. It's also very well written. I hope there'll be a second book because I want to see what will happen next for Scarlett and Nathaniel. They do deserve more!

Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 3⭐️)

Publication Date: March 7th 2023

Author: Alison Schaffir

Review: SO….. This book was a little too highschool for me, don’t get me wrong it was a cutesy book but that’s as about it really did scream YA so did about 90% of the book.

That ending though… really you are just going to do that to us? Man the book was fine it was an easy ready truly but that ending is what kind of ruined it for me🤷🏼‍♀️ maybe that was the point so you are more willing to read the next book if there’s one (which I would do to get some answers)

If it was based more on adults like if these same characters were in college I think it would of much a much different storyline. But still a cute and easy flowing book.

I read Your Dream For Me in one sitting. Good plot, good character development and an easy read. Lots of teenage angst. It does need a trigger warning for some readers. However, I felt it was a great story with good life lessons to share. It's a definite... you find out who your friends are storyline. I would recommend this book to YA readers.

Seventeen-year-old Scarlett, unlike her theatrically gifted parents, is not one to spend time near a spotlight. Scarlett dreams of becoming a renowned fashion designer, where she can flex her creative talents away from a crowd. So it's no surprise when she sneaks into her school's costume shop to explore the racks. Unexpected, however, is coming face-to-face with Nathaniel Wilder, a talented theater student who piques a new interest.

With fashion still as her main priority, Scarlett vows to learn how to make a 50s-inspired dress for her best friend, Macie. After all, she needs a strong portfolio of work to help her get into her dream school, the Fashion Institute of Technology. The one problem? She has no idea how to operate a sewing machine. Thanks to Nathaniel's encouragement, Scarlett decides to shadow the school's drama teacher to practice her skills, hoping to fuse her passion for fashion with theater...and be closer to him for the spring play.

Scarlett's designs are unfolding, but a distressing event involving Macie shakes everyone in Scarlett's world—causing their friendship to falter and Nathaniel to unexpectedly pull away. With building stressors threatening the rest of the year, including a rival who wants to tarnish Scarlett's reputation, Scarlett must rely on her determined spirit and newfound sewing skills to keep her fashion dreams—and her most important relationships—from unraveling.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. It had potential but it was just a struggle to really get into.

Scarlett didn't feel like a 17 year old at all. It more felt like I was reading about a 13 year old at some points.

The dialogue both internal and external didn't feel super natural. It more felt like I was watching a show from Disney Channel in the 2000s.

Let me say that is not a bad thing. This book would be Fantastic for a younger audience. I think around 14 years old would be a great time to read it and 14 year old me would have loved it but I think I might be a habit old for this one

This one’s a sweet YA story about love and friendship. There was a lot of drama.. because obviously! That’s what high school romances are all about. For a debut novel, I must say it’s very well written. I loved the strong female friendship representation here and the perfect balance between sweet and emotional moments. As the story progresses, it did have some surprising moments. While some bits seemed a tad bit over the top and predictable, overall I quite enjoyed this book and hope there’s a second one because the characters deserve more. I really really wanted to see more!