“I just hope that there’s no more drama this week, besides the kind happening on stage.”

Scarlett has two problems: one, she dreams of being a fashion designer despite zero experience using a sewing machine; and two, she’s developed a massive crush on the star theater student, Nathaniel. The fates seemingly align, and soon Scarlett and Nathaniel have a blossoming romance. Scarlett also begins working in the costume department for the spring play, where she’s swept up in a whirlwind of fabric and teen drama. Faced with an incident that drives away her best friend Macie, navigating first love with Nathaniel, and pursuing her clothing designer dreams, Scarlett unravels life’s challenges one thread at a time.

I was eager to read Your Dream For Me, and unfortunately, I was very quickly disappointed. The book’s summary frames the story as a girl stepping outside of her comfort zone for her passions… but the story is more just “girl chasing boy.” There isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, but it was disheartening since I expected to read a book primarily about fashion and costume design. Scarlett does end up making a supposedly show-stopping prom dress for Macie, but the moment is hastily described and underwhelming. This is actually an issue I encountered a lot while reading—most of the action feels like a rushed summary from Scarlett rather than us joining her lived experiences. There are also a lot of nondescript time jumps, so the pacing is jarring at times. The lackluster action was even more apparent due to the characters missing individual voices and depth. Slowing down the story to develop the characters and plot would have helped me care more about Scarlett’s relationships (especially between her and Nathaniel) and her artistic journey. I’d also like more nuance in the story’s conflicts, particularly with Scarlett’s friendship with Macie. Their main conflict comes from a boy attempting to sexually assault Macie at a dance. While I appreciate that this book didn’t fixate on the attempted assault, I wish the aftermath was handled more thoughtfully, given how prominent this plotline is in the book. The neat and tidy resolution to their conflict felt like a disservice to Macie and Scarlett. I imagine I could have enjoyed this book to an extent in early high school, but the story was frustrating for me now. Even so, I am optimistic that Alison Schaffir’s next book might be a better fit.

This was definitely not a dream for me.

A lot of this story was very surface level and things would happen so quickly you weren’t able to develop any sort of investment in the plot or characters.

We have insta-love, a character who magically develops sewing skills, and a love interest that basically goes nowhere. The main character felt like she was a preteen rather than 17 and she very much had that “not like other girls” attitude.

I love a book that showcases character development! The fashion and acting themes are a favorite of mine with fiction books so this read was right up my alley.

I feel like we would have benefited from a more in-depth look at these characters and their lives, as it felt very one-dimensional for the majority of the book. Most of Scarlett and Nathaniel’s interactions felt predictable and cliche. I really enjoyed the author’s writing and style, I was surprised it was a debut novel. While this is a nice, quick read for young adult readers, this book didn’t hit the spot for me.

Overall, "Your Dream For Me" is a touching and inspiring story that will resonate with readers of all ages. Schaffir's beautiful prose and vivid imagery bring the story to life, making it a truly memorable read. It is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of dreams and the importance of never giving up.

I received an ARC copy from netgallery for an honest review. All the opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.

All I can say is I want more of this amazing story! These characters grew on me and still haven't left me. This story is one of a kind and it left me speechless. The main characters support each other and each other's dreams. It made me laugh and sob like a crying baby. It is such an amazing book and story, that you will want to read over and over again!

A fun read, but it felt a little too juvenile for high school. I loved the slow burn romance and the twist at the end. This would make the perfect rom-com movie.

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!