I have loved reading Nicholas sparks but I felt like this one felt a little flat. Took me a while to get into it and it was slow going to finish. I would say try one of his other books.

Where do I start with this one? I’ve read many Nicholas Sparks books and loved them. I really wanted to like this one. It’s told from a couple different perspectives (Colby/Morgan and Beverly) and the storylines converge at the end. I was interested in Beverly as a character and found her story intriguing and wanted to see what was going to happen. Colby and Morgan’s was less interesting and I didn’t really buy their connection. It seemed forced and not realistic. The end seemed to wrap itself up in a now and it just kind of ended. For me, this was not the best NS novel. Thanks so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Dreamland is Nicholas Sparks’ newest novel. This time told in tandem, chapters fluctuate between main character Colby Mills and a woman named Beverly. Colby is a true farmer from North Carolina that has put his dreams of being a musician on hold to farm the land his family owns. He finds himself with an opportunity to perform for a three week-gig in Florida and heads south for an extended vacation. It’s in Florida that Cobly meets Morgan, a knock out dancer and singer from Chicago. It’s clear that Mogan’s next chapter is a direct link to fame and Colby can’t help being drawn to her. Meanwhile, readers are introduced to Beverly. She’s fleeing a dangerous marriage with her son and trying to make a fresh start for the two of them in the quiet midwest. As a reader, the connection between Beverly and Colby isn’t made for over half the novel and I was constantly trying to put the pieces together. Dreamland is a love story, but there are several other themes present in this novel. Dreamland is complicated and while I appreciate that Sparks has tackled some challenging topics and taboo subjects, it felt a little rushed to me. I craved more of Beverly’s story, history and connections that the last 25% to me felt like it wrapped up too quickly and without enough detail. Overall, I think fans of Nicholas Sparks will be elated with his new novel and as always, he does an excellent job allowing readers to watch two individuals fall in love.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have not had the pleasure of reading a Nicholas Sparks book in a while so reading this was a treat. It was so easy to get caught up in the storyline and I could not put it down. Colby is a farmer and also an aspiring singer who booked a month worth of gigs at a St. Pete’s bar. He meets Morgan, another aspiring singer while he is in Florida and they have a connection. Beverly is on the run with her son from her husband. She wants to have a better life away from her abusive husband. I was not sure how the two POVs were connected at first. Once I figured things out, it was mind blowing. I was not expecting that twist! This is not the light beach read you are expecting at first and there are some heavy topics involved but Sparks handled those topics beautifully. The reader can feel the power of love and family throughout the story. This is a beautiful written story with a great romance and also brings light to mental health awareness.

Thank you to NetGallery and Random House Publishing Group for giving me a copy for a honest review.

Set in a dual timeline format, this book alternates between the story of a Colby a farmer on extended vacation to Florida and Beverly who appears to be a woman on the run from her abusive husband. Colby is enjoying vacation and break from the real world where he meets and falls in love with Morgan, a recent college graduate who is enjoying her last taste of freedom before joining the career world. Beverly has recently escaped from her abusive husband with her son under the cover of darkness. Worried about his job as a Border Patrol agent, she lives in absolute secrecy fearing that she will be found, her son will be taken from her and she will ultimately be killed.
As with several previous books, Sparks has done the dual storyline well and tied the characters together beautifully. I felt book this did not have the same success. Each storyline was good and could have possibly made their own book, but this wrap up was poorly executed. Maybe the book could have used a few extra chapters to make it work, not quite sure. The joining of these two storylines did feel a bit disjointed.

I loved this book! I could not put it down! Each chapter kept me wanting more and I could never have guessed the twists of it! Would totally recommend to anyone!

Colby Mills s a musician at heart, but is the head of his family farn in North Carolina. Colby receives an offer to play at a bar in Florida. There he meets Morgan Lee who graduated from a well-known music school and is destined for Nashville and fame. Beverly and her son have fled from her abusive husband and is trying to start a new life. Fate brings these three folks together and the plot is whether these folks can live the life they dream of and survive or put away the past. I find these books a little too predictable and sappy..

Thank you for approving me to read this great story. Nicholas Sparks never disappoints. He has written yet another heart wrenching story. It’s a story of three people dreaming of a better life and how fate plays out in their lives. It’s a very emotional story of abuse, love, family and heartbreak. You won’t want to miss this touching story.

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks is a dual POV story that eventually intersects. The story follows Colby and Beverly, two very different people.

Colby is a young farmer with a talent for music and his part of the story follows his relationship with Morgan, the influencer and TikTok star daughter of rich parents.

Beverly is a mother and wife. She and her son, Tommie, are fleeing Gary, her abusive husband that holds a secret squirrel government job. Her story was much more interesting to me than Colby’s, as it felt more emotional in the sense that I could easily understand her paranoia and anxiety.

Dreamland was fine; good, not great. My biggest hang up was with Colby and Morgan’s relationship. It came off as shallow. Colby comments, both aloud and to himself, about Morgan’s petite mess and appetite far too often. Like, he admires that she only drinks green tea and a green water for breakfast and he’s astonished that she consumes cookies. It was off-putting. Also, Morgan and her friends are described as perfect It Girls, which de-humanized them. The was they were written in a way that felt superficial. I could tell Mr. Sparks was trying to make them deeper, relatable, and real, but it didn’t translate. Most of the characters just fell flat for me and I am a very character-driven reader.

It gets 3/5 stars from me. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review Dreamland.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am disappointed in this book. It started slow and about 80/85% into the book BANG, mind blowing twist.
Then I felt like the book was rushed to end. I feel like the ending was unfinished and ending quickly.



Colby Mills once felt destined for a musical career, until tragedy grounded his aspirations. Now the head of a small family farm in North Carolina, he spontaneously takes a gig playing at a bar in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, seeking a rare break from his duties at home.

But when he meets Morgan Lee, his world is turned upside-down, making him wonder if the responsibilities he has shouldered need dictate his life forever. The daughter of affluent Chicago doctors, Morgan has graduated from a prestigious college music program with the ambition to move to Nashville and become a star. Romantically and musically, she and Colby complete each other in a way that neither has ever known.

While they are falling headlong in love, Beverly is on a heart-pounding journey of another kind. Fleeing an abusive husband with her six-year-old son, she is trying to piece together a life for them in a small town far off the beaten track. With money running out and danger seemingly around every corner, she makes a desperate decision that will rewrite everything she knows to be true.

In the course of a single unforgettable week, two young people will navigate the exhilarating heights and heartbreak of first love. Hundreds of miles away, Beverly will put her love for her young son to the test. And fate will draw all three people together in a web of life-altering connections . . . forcing each to wonder whether the dream of a better life can ever survive the weight of the past.

I enjoyed this one. There are two different stories that eventually weave together. It started slow and picked up around 60%. Overall it's a typical N. Sparks book and will move well.

Nicholas Sparks never disappoints. Although this felt different than his usual, I loved it just the same. The writing is beautiful, the characters are loveable and the plot will have you hooked from the first page.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks
Pub date: 9/20/22

💫💫💫💫💫/5


Done in true Nicholas Sparks fashion. Have you ever risked anything for a dream? I have been reading Nicholas Sparks books since high school and they are such a comfort read to me! I've always been a hopeless romantic at heart. I enjoyed reading this love story. It felt a lot longer than some of Sparks' other books but not in like a bad way. This book has a little bit of a different spin on it than some of the other stories that Sparks has written. I like that Sparks dabbled a little bit with a somewhat newer topic included in the book. In many ways, I believe that our past shapes and molds us into the people we are now. People come and go but they were/are put in our life for a reason. The older I get, the more I see how accurate this is. I really think you'll enjoy this upcoming new release by Nicholas Sparks. I felt honored and super excited to read and review this ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read Dreamland in exchange for an honest review. Go get your copy in September! Or better yet, pre-order this one. You'll love it.

This book was an actual dream. I’ve never been disappointed after reading a Nicholas book and it’s clear I won’t be anytime soon. It was such a journey and so captivating.
I have no words to describe just how much I enjoyed this read!!!
It felt real at times and the characters were just phenomenal, truly an experience!!
If you love this author as much as I do, do yourself a favor and preorder this already!!

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Random House, I was provided an ARC of Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*****Publishing September 20, 2022*****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A book that will blow you away because you won’t see anything coming! Absolutely loved this book!

This book has two story lines:

Colby Mills hasn’t always had an easy life, raised by his aunt and uncle in Eastern, NC. He had to put his goals aside when his uncle died of a massive heart attack. He had to step up and take over running the family farm. Colby had been in a band, but now just played occasionally for local parties. Colby was playing at a party when the booker of a bar from St. Petersburg , Florida was there and asked if he would come down to play for 2 weeks. He agreed, since he hadn’t taken a vacation and needed one badly. Will this give him the push he needs to pursue his music career?

Beverly is living with an abusive husband who not only physically hurts her, but also causes harm to her son. She knows she has to leave and takes the opportunity one night. Her husband works for the Department of Homeland Security, so is well connected to law enforcement. Will she be able to hide from her husband and keep her son safe?

A highly emotional book that will keep you guessing until everything is revealed. This book will give you a book hangover and have you thinking about it long after it’s done. Definitely a must read for your TBR list!

Part poignant love story part domestic thriller, Sparks is a brilliant writer and this story definitely tugged at my heart strings but the POV of Beverly felt a bit disjointed until deep into the novel. Overall an engaging and solid read, has a different feel from his other works.

If you like a book that will catch you off guard this is it.

Colby and his sister were raised by their aunt and uncle on a farm. Once the uncle passed away Colby took over responsibility of the farm to help his aunt out even though his heart was making music. Colby’s sister is a very talented high end designer of Tiffany lamps. Colby takes a gig in FL on a short vacation and leaves his sister to watch out for their aunt and meets a wonderfully talented girl, Morgan.

Meanwhile there is Beverly who leaves an abusive situation and takes her son and escapes to find themselves in another bad situation.

Will Colby find love? How does Colby’s sister fare with the aunt? Where does Beverly fit into the story?

Interesting read to say the least. I was totally taken by surprise.

I would like to extend a thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited to get the ARC for Nicholas Sparks’ new novel, Dreamland, as I’ve always enjoyed his novels. While I did appreciate his writing style, the dual POV and storylines here still have me a little confused. In one chapter, we are reading a cheesy romance between Colby and Morgan. Then, in the next, we’re reading a creepy thriller about Beverly and her son on the run. It felt a little bit like Sparks put a watered-down version of The Notebook and Safe Haven in a blender. Because the stories were so different, I kept trying to find the connection, which spoiled the twist toward the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Nicholas Sparks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've always loved reading Sparks novels and this was no exception. Very emotional and though-provoking, while making me feel like I knew the characters. I liked that this was essentially two stories in one and I couldn't wait to see how they would intertwine. Sparks never disappoints!

I love Nicholas sparks earlier stuff but this was a huge miss for me. We start off learning about Colby, a struggling musician who took over his family’s farm after his grandfathers death. After a gig on the beach, Colby meets Morgan. Young but confident, Morgan also dreams of making it in music. She has found some fame already by gaining a following on TikTok. They instantly bond over song writing and their love of country music. Colby and Morgan’s love story was all well and fine but then we switch to Beverlys POV. Beverly is running away, with her son Tommie, from an abusive ex husband. How does Beverly have anything to do with Colby? Well.. it’s a doozy. I guessed it pretty early on but you find out about 80% of the way in. This story was well written, as Sparks is a great writer and I think he tried something different here sort of making it one part thriller and one part love story, but to me he didn’t execute.