I received a free copy from NetGalley. As much about dealing with grief as it is about solving a murder. Make sure you are ready to read about covid.

I liked this one - But didn’t love it. This one kicks off with the death of a young mother, Ashley, who leaves behind her boyfriend Roman and four-year old son. The main character talks about COVID sooo much in this book that it feels like a theme. And I get it to some extent - it was such (and still is) a massive part of our lives and impacted so many, but it took away from the plot a bit. For me this one felt very character driven as we delved into the mind of Roman after the death of Ashley, which I appreciated, but I also want the action and to uncover the clues of the murder a bit quicker.

If you’re looking for a mystery that is character-driven and brings you into the mind of someone grieving, too, this one is for you!

When Roman's partner Ashley is found dead, his reporter instincts tell him something is not right about her death. Told in multiple POVs, including Ashley's leading up to her death, the reader slowly uncovers the truth along with the characters. The ending is a surprise enough that I questioned if I missed something along the way. I like the author's writing style and will definitely read more from her.

I had high hopes for this book and while I think the idea was great and could make for an amazing thriller, I really really am turned of by pandemic/covid topics so that kind of turned me off.

I dreamed of falling is definitely a page turner. It took a minute for me to get into it but made up for it with the ending!

I really enjoyed The Missing Hours, so I was excited to pick up I Dreamed of Falling, and unfortunately this ended up being on the mediocre side for me. I found the pacing to be on the slow side which isn’t usually an issue, but I felt like I was drowning in the mundane aspects of Roman and Tara’s lives. I also found it hard to keep track of all the various characters for some reason, and I wish this story had been told fully from Roman’s perspective with a side of Ashley. There is also a LOT of talk about Covid which I wasn’t really into either. The whodunnit of the mystery really surprised me though and I bet the reasoning and person will be shocking to a lot of readers.

I listened to the audiobook which helped keep me going, and I would probably recommend listening to this as opposed to reading it. Jennifer Blom & Shahjehan Khan were easy to listen to and engaged me more with the characters as well which was very helpful. Not going to lie, I Dreamed of Falling is also a very sad story with family at its heart, and it is going to be something you will have to be in the mood for before you start. I would also highly recommend checking triggers before going in! Read this if you like books with excellent emotional depth, family drama, and lots of subplots.

This was just “meh” for me. It had such great promise but failed in the execution. The writing felt clunky and the plot didn’t flow as nicely as it could have. It started off with a bang and I was invested from the beginning. However, it lost steam and I struggled to finish it. I really wanted to like it but unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.

Long and drawn out. Not much depth to this story. A lot of talk about the pandemic and hints of political opinions, which I don't care for. This had the potential to be a good thriller but fell flat for me.

Dahl is an author I have enjoyed since her first novel. This thriller did not disappoint. I think it is the best one yet. I loved the plot and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. I rated this 4.5 stars (but I can't add the half star here, bummer). Looking forward to her next book!

Julia Dahl's "I Dreamed of Falling" presents a narrative that, while rich in emotional depth, unfolds at a pace that may not resonate with all readers.
One aspect that detracted from my enjoyment was the frequent references to COVID-19 and the pandemic. In a time when many readers are seeking an escape from the realities of the world, the constant reminders of the pandemic felt intrusive and unwelcome. It’s understandable that the pandemic has shaped many narratives in contemporary literature, but for readers like myself, who wish to avoid this topic, it became a source of discomfort.
Despite these critiques, Dahl's writing is evocative, and her characters are well-developed, making the emotional stakes feel real and relatable.
Thank you for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I appreciated the writing in this novel but I found this one hard to read. I didn't like the characters and this book kept leaving me feeling down.
I ultimately did not finish due to not enjoying the characters and the general feel and mood of the book (depressing) that kept rubbing off on me.

The death of a young mother triggers, an avalanche of secrets in a small Hudson Valley town .

A town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy.

Roman Grady is a sole reporter for the local newspaper and when his longtime girlfriend Ashley has found dead he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life .

And when he starts asking questions, he’s not prepared for the answers .

This was a great interesting mystery. I really enjoyed this. I will definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to Julia Dahl, Minotaur books and NetGalley for the advance reading copy

This book was published September 17, 2024 and is available now .

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of I Dreamed of Falling by Julia Dahl. It’s a mystery but also a complicated family story. Ashley and Roman are young parents, and they live with Roman’s mother Tara and her boyfriend in the small New York town where they both grew up. Tara is a very involved and helpful grandmother, sometimes too much so. When Ashley is found dead near a river, the story explores what happened before and after her death, and we try to figure out what happened. There were issues with drugs, as well as corrupt real estate practices. I was pleasantly surprised by this story, had no expectations but I liked it. Did not guess the killer until the author started giving clues. #idreamedoffalling #juliadahl #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #lovetoread #readersofinstagram

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This was a generically good mystery, but man it was depressing. It had some good twists, and the characters were believable and relatable.

DNF @ 25%

I really hate DNF’ing a book, but I don’t think there was a single second of this book so far where the characters didn’t annoy me. Like don’t get me wrong, I know they were going through a hard time, but Roman and Tara were so annoying.

This Hudson Valley town has just had a death. Roman, is broken hearted. The love of his life and mother of his child, Ashley is laying down an embankment in the rain. Roman is the small newspaper's only reporter and he must try and find out what happened. Ashley had lots of complicated relationships. Her time with Roman is just part of a puzzle that needs to be solved. A young child's future and what he knows and thinks of his mother is at stake as well as Roman's heart. Interesting plot with a slow start. Overall a good read.

As a Hudson Valley dweller, I wanted to love this one. Unfortunately it seemed to me that Dahl wasn't sure exactly what she was writing-- a mystery or a literary novel about the complexities of rural life. A book can certainly be both, but this was not successful with either. Great descriptions of the river though!

good mystery about a couple and staying in a house and the other couple there. kept me on my toes . good mystery and figuring stuff out.

this thriller is about Roman, who lives in his small hometown where he is a reporter for the local paper. He lives in a beat up house with his VERY YOUNG MOTHER Tara, his girlfriend Ashley, their 4 year old son Mason, and his mom’s boyfriend, John. He covers stories like park bench dedications and accidental deaths of citizens and is completely restless, bored, and dissatisfied. Ashley is restless as well. They have an open relationship and are emotionally detached, leaving Tara as Mason’s primary caregiver. Until Ashley is found dead.

The local cops automatically assume an overdose, as Ashley and her circle have been known to use and there are pills on her when she’s found. But something isn’t adding up for Roman and Felix, the town’s new detective. The two men embark on their own investigation with the support of Tara and John. As they uncover Ashley’s many secrets, love and loyalties are called into question, but they won’t rest until the killer is found.

This was a mixed review for me. I found the plot a little messy, and the characters selfish and rough. It was a dark one for me, especially with the little boy experiencing all the things he did throughout the story. As a mom, that is always challenging for me to encounter, even in fiction. Tara, despite being YOUTHFUL AF, was a very complex and interesting character, and Roman grew into himself as the story moved.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have been provided with a review copy of I Dreamed of Falling from NetGalley for an impartial review. I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.