I found these stories to be mediocre. They werent bad just not that special. I won't be buying this for my library or recommending it to readers.

I love short stories to help cleanse the palette and not get super attached on one story or character. I love the fantasy/Sci-Fi elements they all carried and weren’t made so intense you spent too much time on world building. They were quick, easy and refreshing.

"Upon a Waking Dream by J.S. Bailey is a delightful collection of 12 imaginative sci-fi tales that transport readers to captivating realms. The diverse themes and well-crafted storytelling make each story engaging and thought-provoking. This book is perfect for sci-fi enthusiasts seeking a quick and satisfying escape into the realms of the extraordinary, ideal for those short on time but craving a captivating read."

Thank you NetGalley and the publishing house for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Upon a Waking Dream, by J.S Bailey, walks the reader through 12 sci-fi short stories. With a great variety of themes, there is not a stories that is too dull or mediocre. Each story the author tells, prompts the reader to reflect on the mundaneness of life on Earth, to look further than what our eyes can see and imagine a million possibilities.

I would recommend Upon a Waking Dream to anyone who likes sci-fi and does not have the time to devote themselves to a big novel. With these 12 amazingly developed stories, it feels like one is having a sci-fi snack that makes commutes shorter.

I normally do not read books with multiple stories but this one was a pretty fun one. they were totally out of my comfort zone but they were a light and refreshing read so I got the last page pretty fast.

This anthology was pretty enjoyable. Sci-fi is not a genre I generally lean to but this collection felt "approachable".

I believe this would be a great start to recommend for people weary or just starting out with the genre.

This was a great anthology of short stories by the author. I loved almost all of the stories, though some were definitely better than others. The range that the authors has is amazing. I can't wait to pick up more of the author's work!

This is a collection of scifi/fantasy short stories and I was really excited based on the blurb.

I struggled with a good number of them because I just don't think I vibe with the authors writing style. I also think that as the stories went on I was thinking back to other ones and just could not stay in the short world I was currently in. I think a few of these could maybe be explored further?

I did enjoy The Man of Her Dreams because who doesn't love a cute little time travel!

I would be interested in what else this author comes up with, this was just not it for me.

Thank you Netgalley, J.S. Bailey, and publishers for gifting me a copy of Upon a Waking Dream in return for my honest review.

3.5/5 stars

This is a collection of 12 short sci-fi stories. From Aliens to time travelers there is something for everyone. I enjoyed reading these stories, obviously liking some more than others. While these are all wonderfully written and I would recommend them to others who want short stories, this really isn't a book I would pick up and read a second time.

This collection of short stories was interesting and engaging. I love a book that I can devour one sitting, and this one fit the bill.

Bailey's creative mind takes us all over the universe, but humans and their varied experiences seem to be the focus of each story.

Some of these stories I really loved. Inheritance and The House with an Inside but No Outside are so cozy and bittersweet while others lean more philosophical, tongue in cheek, or even a little cheesy. However, Bailey always seems to avoid crossing over into cringey territory no matter how bizarre the stories get.

Overall, I found this collection to be a nice way to disconnect from reality and visit weird new worlds. My only complaint is that a few stories (Daily Log and Thirteen, for instance) felt more like snippets with no real substance. I don't feel like I got anything from reading those two in particular, but the rest of the stories were all strong and interesting in their own peculiar way.

This is a wonderful collection of sci fi stories. Its quick to read, interesting, well written, and I didnt always love the characters, which somehow makes it realistic (even though none of it is realistic).
These are the kind of stories that really make you think and ponder on the universe, other humans, how much you hate or love humanity, and compare yourself to the characters. We always think we would be better, but can we be sure?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this collection of stories. Beautiful prose, interesting ideas, and at times deeply moving. J.S. Bailey is clearly adept at a number of styles and subgenres, the collection ranges from science fiction to fantasy to others. I was particularly moved by the “Inheritance” story, it was wonderful and made me teary.

I've taken a chance on a couple of anthologies and I now know for sure, even if they're sci-fi, they just aren't for me, unfortunately.

I did enjoy the daily log, I like anything in journal entry form, but the others struggled to grab me.

Beautiful cover!

Really liked the setup of this book and its stories. I did not turn out to be quite my taste in reading but still found it interesting enough to read! I would recommend to those who enjoy this category or want to try something new.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of upon a waking dream. This was a very odd sci-fi book. Completely other world and such but I don't think it really hit it's mark

I typically don't like short stories, but I was definitely intrigued by this one! I love stories that have a bit of sci fi elements thrown in. It makes it especially more interesting if there is a possibility that these stories could be reality one day! It reminds me of stories told in the Twilight Zone. Overall, I enjoyed disconnecting from reality and visiting these new worldsl

Each story in this is unique and kept me entertained. I often was hooked, wanting to know what happens next. I believe this is the 'funnest' read of the year for me. I good pallet cleanser after a reading slump!

Upon a Waking Dream is a wonderful collection of short stories written by J. S. Bailey. The stories cover many genres, though most are in the science fiction and fantasy realms. Having said that, they are not intensely in any genre rather they touch on them.
The characters in all 12 stories are well thought-out and relatable. Overall, I preferred the longer stories because the characters and plot were able to be more developed.

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to preview this anthology. I will be recommending it.

A fun collection of various short sci-fi stories - my favourite was definitely “Daily Log from Outpost #602" - Quack! The idea of a flat earther being abducted was really funny and I loved the twist in that particular tale!

This was somewhat of a new book for me as I don’t read much sci-fi yet but this collection of short stories really caught my attention. I really enjoyed the writing style and I will say that having shorter more serialized stories to sort of dip my toe in really helped. Each story was uniquely its own so you really had some great variety! I absolutely enjoyed my time with this one and will definitely be checking out more from this author.