This was my first Lovett book although he has been on my author TBR list for awhile. This literary fiction book is told from alternating perspectives of an author in present day NYC and three collaborative writers and friends in 1906-1911. The three authors publish children's adventure stories that the present day writer and his grandfather both loved as children.

The alternating narratives worked well and gave what would have been a slower book some movement (similar to I'll Be Your Blue Sky and The Fall of Marigolds.) The only thing I would felt this book was lacking is some levity. It was a "very serious book" and could have used some humor. Overall, this is a very good book and especially if you like books about books and the history of children's adventure publishing or NYC in this time period, then this book might be for you.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

I have read and enjoyed all of Charlie Lovett's previous novels, and based on the plot premise I thought that this book would be just as magical.

However, I found that the structure of the book was disjointed, making for a frustrating reading experience and preventing me from really getting to know any of the characters in a meaningful way. Because I felt that my understanding of the characters and their motivations was so superficial, I could not understand or empathize with their motivations. Robert, the character living in the present day, was in my opinion the most unlikable of the bunch, although I will say that as he very slowly grew through the arc of his search for the lost book (something I grew to feel was a very much recycled but not as well executed plot from First Impressions and Holy Grail) and ended up not quite as grating as at the very start.

Lovett is an excellent writer, and his ability to make literary research exciting is what makes his writing so beloved by so many bookish people. I just feel like he tried to cobble together a very disparate group of people under the structure of a tale that moved back and forth in time in an effort to weave their tales together in a way that led us to a glowing crescendo, but instead left the reader rather bewildered and in my case ... disappointed.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced copy free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

I love Charlie Lovett's books and this did not disappoint. Set in the Golden Age and current day it is a love story to the power of childhood books and how they can still affect us in our adult lives. The characters are flawed and have their secrets but their love of writing and reading are constant. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of "old"
New York City and the emphasis placed on friendships.

I received a free digital advance review copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing and am providing my honest feedback.

Escaping Dreamland is a multilayered story within a story that will resonate with anyone who grew up devouring children's series such as Nancy Drew, the Bobsey Twins, or the Hardy Boys. Robert, an author in New York City in 2010 is struggling with writer's block after the success of his first novel and the lingering effects of a childhood tragedy that are driving a rift between him and the woman he loves. Alternating chapters focus on Magda, Tom, and Gene, living in New York City over a century earlier, following them from childhood into early adulthood. Their paths eventually intersect as they each become a ghostwriter for a turn-of-the century children's serial publisher and end up collaborating to write The Tremendous Trio, a book that brings together their three fictional characters and becomes a pivotal part of Richard's childhood. It can be a bit of a challenge to keep all of the characters straight in the early chapters, but the payoff is worth it as the connections between the different stories become apparent. Charlie Lovett expertly weaves actual historical events into his characters' lives, ranging from milestones such as the San Francisco earthquake to lesser known details about everyday life in New York City in the early 1900s, which adds richness and depth to the novel. Each of the main characters is haunted by their past actions when faced with devastation and heartbreak, but as they confess their secrets, they discover the hope and joy that endure within the bonds of true friendship even when circumstances drive them apart.

I quite enjoyed ESCAPING DREAMLAND and think author Charlie Lovett did a good job balancing a modern-day literary investigation with the challenges of being a writer in Gilded Age NYC (particularly when not wealthy, straight, nor a man). As a fan of the Hardy Boys and the Bobbsey Twins, or the more recent Goosebumps and Babysitters' Club, I also really appreciated that he made the case for Children's Serials as legitimate (and legitimately enjoyable!) cultural objects, not low-brow, to-be-embarrassed-of, kids books!

Initially, the structural rhythm of ESCAPING DREAMLAND makes it somewhat difficult to get into, if only because the three characters in turn-of-the-Century New York take a while to get together and are interspersed with chapters a century in the future. The novel really takes off once the three have met.

Personally, I'm a sucker for low-stakes investigation and love the connect-the-dots process by which a mystery is uncovered, so I was much more fond of the modern-day story in which Robert Parrish pieces together what happened to the final, promised adventure of the "Tremendous Trio," and visits the libraries and historical sites of NYC under a time-limit imposed by his girlfriend.

The sense of place in both eras is impressive. I loved Robert scouting modern New York for clues. Or the trio's 1905 summer's day at Dreamland. But in a lot of the Gilded Age chapters, you get such great descriptions of regular street scenes and the queer nightlife in the Bowery, that the historically significant events and people feel like overkill, too conveniently dropped into the narrative (or like the author is showing he did his research). In contrast, Robert in 2010 does not brush up against a litany of famous events/people in the same way.

Overall, ESCAPING DREAMLAND was a good read, but did not fully live up to the premise. I would have liked Robert's issues with his father and with his girlfriend to be a little more developed than mere shame/guilt. I also would have liked more of the actual "Tremendous Trio" books – if only to understand why Robert and his father and grandfather loved them so much.

NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

I absolutely loved this premise, but I found the story very hard to follow and often unbelievable. Some aspects of the writing were brilliant, particularly the re-creation of Gilded Age New York. However, the emotional arcs so often felt forced that this left me frustrated and sometimes confused. Ultimately, I tgink many readers will adore this--I just wasn't the right reader.
If you're a sucker for setting, you'll want to check this out right away. If you're all about character development and emotion, you may not enjoy it quite as much.

Escaping Dreamland is a magical and captivating read. Charlie Lovett is a gifted writer and this book will not disappoint his readers. The story takes place in NYC and I feel it was the perfect setting for the book. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Lovett's books and I know that this one will be a wonderful success.

I love a meta book about books. Solid story and recommended for readers of historical fiction. I especially love books set in New York City.

Escaping Dreamland introduces Robert Parrish, a modern day fiction writer struggling with his creativity and lost when his relationship with his longtime girlfriend falls apart. Struggling to figure out who he is, he returns to the fiction books of his childhood that inspired him to become an author. Robert realizes he must confront his past by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series - The Tremendous Trio. Simultaneously, Lovett introduces the trio behind Robert’s childhood novels. In 1906 New York City, Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children’s books that Robert will one day love, but together they also explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island’s Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen. The connections between the authors, Robert’s redemptive journey, and the way their stories come together in unexpected ways make a novel that is an ode to the children’s adventure books of the past and the power of friendship.

I was completely enticed by this story. Charlie Lovett shifts between multiple point of views and between centuries in order to create an intriguing story. Having grown up reading mass market children's novels, I had a personal connection to this story. Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys were some of my favorite series as a child. I knew that multiple ghost writers wrote under pseudonyms, but I was surprised how much more I learned more about publishing syndicates of the early 20th century. The Stratemeyer publishing syndicate is used as the framework for the fictitious Pickering Brothers, the publisher of the Tremendous Trio. Not only does Charlie Lovett create a brilliant cast of characters for his book, but also the lovable cast of children's adventure characters that his characters write about.  Finally, the book is skillfully rooted in real historic events and tackles societal issues such as sexism, PTSD, and LGBT issues. This book wasn't a quick read, but it was a worthwhile read. I highly recommend this book, especially if you're a fan of serial books and historical fiction.

Thank you Charlie Lovett, Blackstone Publishing, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Escaping Dreamland, Lovett takes the reader on a journey to turn of the century New York City to explore the lives of three childrens’ adventure story writers and the mystery of an unfinished manuscript. The Stratemeyer publishing syndicate is used as the framework for the fictitious Pickering Brothers publishing company, the publisher of the Tremendous Trio series written by the three young ghost writers. In 2010, a young writer named Robert Parish, is heavily influenced by the adventure series books he read as a child. When he discovers the first few pages of a manuscript, he begins his journey to solve the mystery of this unwritten Tremendous Trio story. I enjoyed the way Lovett alternated the chapters between the early 1900s and the early 2000s. In doing so, he painted a vivid picture of how the historical events of the time impacted each of the writers’ own lives and the personalities of the characters they created. Lovett’s research of period events and locations was evident through both his descriptions of events and places and through the characters’ reactions to those events and places, most notably the reactions of Magda, Tom and Gene to their day together in Dreamland. I would highly recommend this book. While reading Escaping Dreamland, I found myself eager to begin researching many of the events and places mentioned throughout the story.

My first Charlie Lovett and definitely not my last, most long reads are filled with unnecessary elaborations but this does not do that. The story mainly revolves through point of views of the characters and the writing style, feelings expressed is extremely crisp and clear. One can actually feel themselves flowing along with the story. Somehow I think almost everyone will be able to relate to Robert, our protagonist, the love in the book, the heart felt misunderstandings. The love for children's books, hardy boys being one of my favourite, this was a long, nostalgic and amazing read! Go ahead! Take time to read this book to feel the magic of nostalgia and the magic in the writing style!
I 100 percent recommend this book.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the E-arc.

Escaping Dreamland is a magical read - much like all of Charlie Lovett's novels. He has an exceptional talent for suspending the reader's conscious of their own surroundings and drawing the reader in the story being woven. Like his other works, there is a multi-layered, almost ethereal connection between present days and past lives. Many storytellers struggle to effectively move and forth between different periods in a single novel. Lovett is particularly adept at delivering intertwined tales that seem smart and believable and never contrived.
In Escaping Dreamland, Lovett explores the less than storybook lives of a group three early twentieth-century early adult book authors. These are the works that inspired and entertained child and teen readers in the pre-1970's world. As an avid reader, even then, I will admit that I was of a time that enjoyed just these tales. Today novels such as the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew seem of another time, one of innocence, heroism and discovery that seems absent from today's world. One hears a subtle corrective voice in this work. We often look back through rose-tinted glasses to a golden age - it's not that uncommon. As we gain experience (echoes of Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience here ;-) we become aware of our own altered perceptions. But has childhood changed over time? IN many ways it has, and this has given rise to research, chairs and even full departments in universities today. Escaping Dreamland is Lovett's contribution to this question in the form of a brilliantly engaging series of interconnected stories. This novel explores what we carry with us, what we leave behind and sometimes why experience is quite different from maturity. Ultimately it reinforces why we need to remain in touch with our own inner child.
It is this self-reflection that forms the present-day story in Ecpaing Dreamland - illuminated through the discovery of the past experience.
Robert Parrish is a semi-successful author who struggles in the relationship with his girlfriend. The relationship is troubled by growing distance and professional frustration. We learn early on that this stems from an unresolved life-altering event in his own childhood that he is unwilling to either address or share. This identifies a web of secrets that the novel suggests challenge our personal relationships. Parrish finds a unique catharsis through uncovering the lives behind the stories that were so important to his own upbringing.
By exploring his own journey from childhood and maturation, Lovett, through Parrish makes a compelling distinction between childishness and being childlike. But it is secretiveness that trips us all up - and maturity doesn't always seem to help us accept this.
This is an intricately woven tale skillfully rooted in real historical events, with characters who you genuinely empathise with. So well done is the combination of homework and narrative that it is often difficult to distinguish between the real and the invented.
Escaping Dreamland lives up to Lovett's high standards and together with his previous efforts form a treasure trove of superb reads.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The unfurling mysteries in this book - why do the 'Tremendous Trio' of Tom, Eugene and Magda suddenly end their writing careers?; will Robert win Rebecca back?; why is Robert so embarrassed about his childhood reading choices? - drive this story forward in a compelling manner, despite the rickety start.

Each of the four main characters - three in the past and one in the more recent present-day - is clearly defined, and each has a secret they are carrying. One of my criticisms would be that I don't really believe in some of their secrets. Why would Magda keep her past so secret? Why could Robert not admit to reading the books he did as a child, despite what happened to his father? I kept wondering why he was such a literary snob about it.

The other problem for me was the opening, as it pinged around so frequently between the four characters and the two time-scales and took a bit too long to settle down so that I could tell what was going on. Additionally I wasn't a big fan of the cutesy dating of the early 20th century passages.

Having said that, I am still giving this book 4 stars as I enjoyed Robert's search for a solution to his literary mystery, and the insight into early 20th century New York was really interesting; the true events woven into the story was really well done. The story did keep me reading as well and was definitely a page-turner.

I was totally captivated by this wonderful story. It reminded me of the joy of being a child, while all along it told a well crafted story set in NYC in the late 1800s and turn of the century.

The book started a bit slow and felt wordy. No sooner did I think this than...bam! Off and running. The story is told in alternating voices set in the past and present and is a fascinating look at how things (and people) are not always how they seem on the surface.

I would love to know the book characters in real life. They are so well drawn, and realistic. You feel for them when they are happy and not.

Loved the book. Thank you for writing it, Charlie Lovett!

Robert Parrish is a successful, serious writer whose life is falling apart. His girlfriend, Rebecca, has walked out on him, exasperated with his distance and evasions. He has one week to try to win her back. Robert desperately wants to reconcile. But he's panicked at the thought of unraveling his defenses and revealing his secret passion for . . . serial children's literature.

What? Yes, the younger Robert loved the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and especially a series of the author's invention, the Tremendous Trio, stories about two boys and a girl and their fascinating adventures in the early 1900s. They're why he became a writer. Why can't he share that with Rebecca? Why can't he share that with anyone?

Robert's story is the framing device for this book of stories within stories within stories. The book shifts centuries and POVs, introducing us to the writers of the Tremendous Trio, three friends with dreams and secrets and not always aligning goals, and to their writing, including a tantalizingly lost final adventure.

I loved this book. The characters are distinct, sympathetic, and sharply drawn. The dialogue is true to the characters, often touching, and sometimes slyly funny. Of all the stories in this book, perhaps most compelling for me was the story of the writers of the Tremendous Trio, perhaps because the turn-of-the century settings are so dazzling, perhaps because they experience virtually every dramatic event of the Gilded Age, from the San Francisco earthquake to the Spanish flu. But even contemporary Robert, who comes across at first as a bit of a git, becomes deeper and more relatable by the book's end.

There's a lot in this book. It is not a quick read, and if you have no interest in research, you may tire of Robert's step-by-step, artifact-by-artifact investigation into the true authorship of the Tremendous Trio. But I missed this book when it was finished. I missed the characters. This book is not just a book of stories; it's a book about stories - how they both reveal and conceal, how they reach and call to us across the years.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

I loved this! 3 words meet by chance during the early 20th century and meet to write series stories for children... and then the series' abruptly end. An author in the 21st century loves the original books, he read them with his father who has read them with HIS father. Robert wants to find out why the series ended, but he must also figure out why is most important relationship ended also. This book keeps you intrigued from beginning to end. Charles Lovett is one of my favourite authors.

For those of us who grew up at a certain time, serial books for children were a staple of reading. Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, The Dana Girls, and Cherry Ames, among many others occupied many hours of our time and provided many hours of joy. Mr. Lovett’s new book addresses those readers and gives them a “hero” that they can identify with, a man obsessed with serial books. As with his other books (The Bookman’s Tale, First Impressions, and The Lost Book of the Grail) starts with multiple stories--in this case he begins with a current story and then goes back in time to tell three other stories and then weaves those stories into one. As with his other volumes, he intersorts a lot of history into it, some of which the reader will recognize and some the reader will pursue to learn more. As with his other books, his depictions of the characters, what happens to them and where it happens is so well written that the reader feels as if he/she is right in the story. From Shakespeare to Austen to syndicate writers, he spans different kinds of literature--I can’t wait until he writes his next book.

This is the third Charlie Lovett book that I've read and I have tremendous admiration for him as an author. His knowledge of antiquarian books is deftly woven into his stories in such a way that the reader learns a bit about collecting books and researching titles, but this never becomes tedious--in fact, just the opposite. It was my favorite part of this book.

ESCAPING DREAMLAND is a wonderful story, but the structure Lovett chose for this novel made it challenging for me to initially bond with the book. The three characters whose lives intersect in turn-of-the-Century New York were well-conceived and each interesting in their own way---but meeting them in separate chapters (while simultaneously fast-forwarding 100 years for alternating chapters) just bogged me down for a while. Once I found the rhythm of the book, I enjoyed it---but it took a long time to get there.

The historical characters were definitely the most colorful and interesting to me. The contemporary protagonist was just too angst-filled for my taste and it took him way too long to "find his way." But, those are personal character preferences--a reader doesn't need to marry a book's hero, so I can get over it.

There was a lot to like in ESCAPING DREAMLAND, particularly for those of us who learn their history through historical novels. The scenes of seedy New York club life (and high life), the striving to escape one's family destiny, and the dreams of women who are not offered a chance for meaningful work . . . . these social vignettes are vibrantly illustrated by Lovett as he unfolds his story.

NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

excellent book! I loved the contrast of modern and past situations in the book. None of the characters have anything in common except their loves of books! This was a great read!

This book brings four characters, all living in NYC, one in present time, the rest in the early years of the 20th century. What all characters have in common is the love for books and writing the stories themselves. And how books influenced them in their childhoods.

NYC, 2010. Robert Parrish is a novelist. After a few successful publications, now he is struggling with a new inspiration. It is something from the past that gnaws at him. He pulls a box unopened for sixteen years, which contains old books in children’s series. But one book is missing and he goes in search for it.

In 1899, it was difficult for a woman to have her independence. So Magda Hertzenbergers hopes that 1900, the new century will bring new beginnings. Magda works for a publisher, answering the fan mail.

Thomas De Peyster, born into privilege, is expected to be a banker, but he craves the freedom he sees in characters in the stories he reads. He becomes a reporter.

Eugene Pinkney’s family comes from Jewish ancestors, but they do not practice the religion nor do they talk about it. Which on the other hand, only fuels Eugene’s curiosity. In childhood, he is drawn to scientific books. His fascination with achievements of Thomas Edison leads him to a job for Tesla. Now, someone is trying to convince him to write a story, instead of what he is used to - writing scientific articles.

As the story begins, it brings all those characters separately. So the puzzle is spread. 10% or 15% to the story, when I hoped those characters would start coming together. They don’t and it’s mentioned in the story that you would think on one particular day all those characters mingling in NYC would come together, but they don’t. So this is done on purpose. It takes probably another 15% to see some connection slowly forming among those characters.

There is certainly uniqueness to the way the story is written and it may resonate with other readers, but personally I wished for a better cohesion. The best I can describe it is - when one connection was happening, then at least two more pieces of puzzle were added and that’s when I was becoming more and more disconnected from the interesting characters. Because that’s what kept me reading the characters.

As much as I love books and found the premise interesting, in reality all being about books and writing them turn out to be a bit too much.