Short and sweet review time…

What I Liked🌿

✨Dark academia? ✅ Secrets and lies? ✅ Murdery mystery whodunnit? ✅ What’s not to love?

✨The narrator is unreliable, the characters are unlikeable and the vanity and arrogance are of extreme proportions. It was deliciously irresistible to read.

✨Ends with a completely unpredictable twist I didn’t see coming.

I couldn’t turn these pages fast enough and recommend In My Dreams I Hold a Knife with four stars.

My thanks to @NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book before its August 3 publication date.

I could not put this book down! So many twists and turns that I did not see coming. Compelling and well-written, would definitely recommend! Excited to read more from this author.

This was the first I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed the setting and premise: woman goes back to her college reunion to prove how great her life is and also to erase the past. I had a hard time keeping up with who was who and the switching timelines from past to present also tripped me up a few times. The first twist was a tad predictable but then I didn’t see the end coming. Overall, a decent read and I would try this author again. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wowza, what a fast paced, riveting, thrill ride! This was so well written, absolutely unputdownable, chilling as heck, and dark of course! Had me flipping pages like a mad man to get to that final page, which didn’t disappoint! One that’ll grab you in a choke hold and not let go until you finally finish that very last word! Intense, intriguing, and riveting! Highly, highly recommend this to those looking for a phenomenal thriller, which is sure to give you all the little things you crave when reading one!

Will buzz around platforms and use my Top Amazon reviewer number on release!

Although a little slow to start, characters begin to develop and storyline picks up with a mystery to solve. As a group of friends meet for a college reunion each has secrets which begin to unfold and tensions rise. Alternating chapters fill in the past and continue with the present day. Sometimes things are not as they seem as the friends realize the dysfunction in not only their own lives but also their group. Ending is rather abrupt and wrap up is a bit contrived but overall a good mystery.

Have you ever read a book where you loved and hated the protagonist in equal measure? That was Jessica Miller for me. The story centers around her and friends at a prestigious college in North Carolina. It goes back and forth in time between their 10 year reunion and their college days. One of the core group was murdered senior year, and one (or more) of the group know more than they’ve been letting on.
This was a beautifully written, fast paced thriller that had me hooked from beginning to end. But the characters, nearly all of them, were such awful/annoying people. That didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, which speaks to the author’s skill at storytelling, because that isn’t always the case for me.
I rated this one 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Loved this book and can’t wait to read what the author comes up with next!

First and foremost I am thankful I was given the opportunity to read In My Dreams I hold a Knife, before the release date.

There are many things I absolutely LOVED about this novel! The dual timeline between past and present has always been a favorite writing style of mine . I quickly attached myself to the characters and their personalities (Frankie was a favorite of mine!!) The description of each character made you feel as though these people were real and even at times felt like friends of mine.

Although the novel did start out slow, it quickly picked up and started to flow much easier. What had started out as "let me read a few chapters before bed" , turned into "ONE MORE CHAPTER!!!" , then quickly turned into finishing the book while staying up close to 3am to finish.

Each chapter was filled with twists that left you craving MORE.

Ashley Winstead will easily become a household name after the release of In My Dreams I hold a Knife and I look forward to reading anything else she may release in the future.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

Great twists. Didn’t like the dark side of one of the main characters just morally seemed wrong. It was a hate to love character. It felt like Everything they did was so ethically wrong. Other than that Great storyline with diverse characters.

I kept seeing this book on one of my favorite FaceBook pages for thrillaholics and had to ask for it. So excited for this one and it was definitely worth the wait.

An excellent addition to the crowded thriller genre. A recommended first purchase for collections where similar titles are popular.

Special thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

If you love a twisty thriller with a reunion involved of six friends (seems like it's been done before, right?) but I assure you this book set in dual time periods of now and when the friends went to college, this debut author, writes a juicy book full of betrayals, lies, and secrets with a twist of who killed one of their classmates years ago.

This book is a worthwhile a seasoned author and you'll be sure to be turning page after page deep into the night!

This book was fast-paced and kept you guessing - all the characters are well fleshed-out, and though it is a mystery/thriller, there are aspects of it that go far deeper into examining interpersonal relationships, and that is one of the most successful driving forces of this book. I would advise going into this book not knowing much - though warnings for sexual assault and physical violence (which the e-book did advise of).

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the chance to read this book!

I really enjoyed this thriller. Though I began not liking the main character very much, the author was able to flesh her character out so well that I began to identify and sympathize with her. The characters were all very layered and there were a lot of twists and red herrings along the way. The final twist was not predictable and yet made sense. This was a suspenseful enjoyable read and I look forward to more books from this author.

This is absolutely genius, outstandingly entertaining, extremely heart pounding, absolutely better mash up of Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars than “one of us is lying” installment!

You’ll ask me why this book is so much better?
I say: the character development is mind blowing, surprisingly honest and deeply layered. The pace is well balanced, intriguing. Haunting
I think I found this book bolder, smarter, shocker and more enjoyable!

East House Seven characters are bunch of liars, cheaters, stalkers, drug dealers, drug addicts. Their strong friendship bond consists of lies, betrayal, rivalry. But who cares? They’re legends, infamous group of Duquette University!

The other thing I loved about this book is well thrown bombs in our laps, sucker punches the author orchestras out of nowhere and the delicious fiery ending sealed the deal. I loved this wild, action packed, trickery, whodunnit premise so much and devoured it at one sit!

The promising premise centered on 10th anniversary reunion of university students which also a reason to drag them to the murder scene to solve the cold case of Heather’s brutal killing by stabbing 17 times with a scissor in her dorm room ( I still have conflicts about book’s name as you see the murder weapon is not knife but scissors !!!)

Her brother Eric is adamant to find the real perpetrator! So their reunion turns into murder investigation against them. One of them is killer! And sooner or later the all secrets they have been hiding are about to reveal to change entire dynamics of their relationship. Nothing as it seems.

Main character Jessica Miller is one of the best portrayed flawed, insecure, trying to hard to become someone attract entire spotlight, scaring the hell of being called as nobody. She’s self centered, ambitious, broken, over achiever, competitive, a true self destructive person showing sociopath tendencies.

And I easily connected with her because even though you hate your, you wish to grab her shoulders to shake some sense into her: you cannot help yourself for being sorry for her as well. Because of her wasted childhood, her warped moral compass, she cannot see what her true purpose and her father’s entire life goals replace her own dreams.

Coop is my favorite character represents Judd Nelson’s bad boy character John Bender from Breakfast Club. Drug dealer, coming from poverty, smart, snarky, charismatic, seeing the true face of Jess from the beginning and he is the only truly accepts her. In my opinion his sweet fiancée Caro was too much light weighted for his caged darkness.

Our other characters and suspects are star athlete Frankie,brain ( that fits with both for Jess and our victim Heather), golden boy Mint who was long time boyfriend of Jess and left her for social media influencer princess Courtney ( even though she is not the member of unlucky number seven, she’s involved into murder investigation by being married with Mint), sweet, social, loyal friend and Coop’s new fiancée Caro, shy, lovely Jack who was also boyfriend of Heather has been accused to kill her but Eric finally knows he was not the one who killed her sister so he didn’t involve in his murder investigation.

So who killed Heather? What dirty secrets the East house 7 members keep from each other?

I’m telling you this is great, unputdownable, entertaining read while you’re lying on your couch, filling your mouth with greasy pop corn and enjoying each chapter.

I liked the smart conclusion. I liked going back and forth between different timelines which give enough clues about characters’ motives and perspectives. Especially last two flashbacks involving Jess’ birthday party with her family and and her talk with Heather where do they see themselves ten years later were the best flashback chapters of the book shook you to the core.

I already talked enough. Giving my five blazing stars! I truly more books of the author. She did amazing job!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This book is fascinating and mysterious in all the same ways that people who seem untouchable are.

But what those on the outside don't see is the narcissism, ambition, jealousy, desire, and rage.

This story thrillingly captures those exact imperfections the untouchable people desperately try to hide. And us readers on the outside get to see just how destructive false pretences can really be.

Utterly riveting, dark academia at its best, and easily a new favourite.

An absolute must read! Such a page turner. I couldn't read this book fast enough! Like I gobbled this one up!
I went into this book blind! Had no idea what thus book was about. But let me tell ya.... It was amazing!
The writing I absolutely loved and enjoyed! Wonderful book!

Wowzer—an absolute must read who-done-it! Ashley Winstead’s debut novel In My Dreams I Hold a Knife is most definitely one you will not want to miss!

In Jessica Miller’s freshman year at Duquette University, she was thrilled to form a solid group of friends known as the East House 7. Jessica was sure she was making life-long bonds that nothing could ever break. That is until one of the seven ended up dead in their senior year! Her life was truly upended, but since graduating 10 years ago, Jessica feels she’s created the ultimate life for herself. Her career is booming and although she hasn’t found Mr. Right yet, her life is going exactly as she hoped- which is a far cry from how her college journey ended! After getting an invitation to Homecoming weekend at her alma mater, Jessica actually finds herself looking forward to catching up with the old gang. What Jessica doesn’t expect is for this Homecoming weekend turning into a giant who-done-it! Everyone has their own suspicions and more importantly, their own guilty conscience!!!

This book was unputdownable! Such a well though mystery and I was on the edge of my seat the entire way through! The novel is told by time-hopping between then and now which worked perfectly with the plot! Ashley Winstead did a fantastic job with creating so many different possible outcomes that I was truly stumped until the very end —LOVE THAT! In My Dream I Hold a Knife is a 5 star mystery/thriller that has truly wow’ed me! I am looking forward to 1-clicking whatever Ashley Winstead comes out with next! I highly recommend this gem to everyone!!!

Jessica is invited to her 10 year college reunion from Duquette University....this is where this story begins.. The author Ashley Winstead builds up the suspense relentlessly. I wanted to know the who, the why, and the how related to the murder of Jessica's friend and fellow classmate Heather. Jessica, Mint, Coop, Caro, Jack, Frankie, and the deceased Heather were close-very close during college. I highly recommend this thriller where you just don't know until the very end just who is the real monster.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This is one of those books I left up on my Kindle while I was cooking. And when I had to sit and eat, I asked everyone at the table it if was okay for me to read. (Thankfully, I live with a bunch of readers.) Winstead plunks us right in the story, and quickly takes us back to familiar college days and feelings of inadequacy, fear, and failure. She follows that up with a back and forth narrative (now and then) to reveal the main characters, a group of friends known as the East House 7. In the "now," they're back at college, celebrating Homecoming ten years after graduation--or so they think. In the "then," they're showing the reader the complexity of their relationships and the events that lead up to the murder of one of their own. Winstead keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to reading more from her!