Ashley Herring Blake writes messy characters trying to find themselves very well, and I appreciate how that makes the characters feel so real. Ramona and Dylan had a lot to work through both individually and as a couple, but I loved where they wound up

Read If You Like:
🥈Second‑chance Romance
👯‍♀️ Sapphic Romances
🏳️‍🌈 Bisexual Representation
🏘️ Small‑town meets Hollywood
🥵 Spice & Dirty Talk
🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Single Parent Families
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Hollywood Royalty’s Adult Child

After giving up her dream of becoming a Hollywood costume designer to help raise her younger sister after her mom left their family and her dad got hurt, Ramona Riley never left her quiet New Hampshire hometown of Clover Lake. Now years later she is working in a café, wishing for dreams beyond her reach, and wrestling with what comes next when her sister goes off to college at the end of the summer. So, when filming for a queer romantic comedy comes to town starring her first kiss and daughter of the infamous Monroe’s, everything changes.

Dylan, known as Hollywood’s “wild child” and daughter of rock legends, takes on her role to prove she’s more than a nepo baby with a bad attitude after a recent breakup and very public breakdown. When they first reunite, she asks Ramona to show her how to be “normal”, not realizing Ramona was that girl who was her first kiss in the small town of Clover Lake all those years ago.

As old sparks reignite as they spend more time together ‘hanging out’, the two must decide if their reunion can reignite their sizzling chemistry from when they were 16 and forgotten dreams—or if their past and choices while they hang out will hold them back from having a movie worthly love story.

I really loved the side characters sprinkled throughout the story, including Ramona’s heartwarming bond with her little sister Olive and her dad. Also, the small town setting was so perfect with all the messiness that small towns serve in romances!

This was my second Ashley Herring Blake romance and definitely won’t be my last! Thanks so much to PRHA for my gifted audiobook copy!

This was a very sweet small town queer romance. I absolutely loved Dylan and Ramona's story. There were so many elements at work that brought them to the moment they met each other again and I think it was a beautiful second chance-ish romance. And the grand gesture at the end was brilliant. I love Ashley Herring Blake's writing and I'm really looking forward to April's book!

Cute and tropey, which is what I expect (and am generally looking for) from an Ashley Herring Blake book. I really enjoyed this in the way that I have her previous books - it's a good easy read, great for distracting from *gestures around* everything for a second in order to recoup.

I would love to see the author move away from or change up how she uses certain norms of the romance world *cough* miscommunication, third act breakup *cough* because, while I'm pretty tolerant of them, they're starting to feel stale among her books. It can be done better or avoided and while I love the characters, this is starting to detract from them.

4.25/5

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing an ebook ARC for review!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. I am a big fan of Ashley Herring Blake, having read all of her previous novels prior to this. While in my opinion Ramona Riley wasn’t as strong as some of her other offerings, it was still a very enjoyable read. The plot did feel a bit predictable throughout, but for me it was comfortable predictability. I loved reading about the journey of Ramona and Dylan through the discovery of their shared past and their rocky road with each other during the present day. I also appreciated how characters from past novels made their way into the story. Interconnected, but stand alone series are my favorite.

Thanks so much to netgalley @berkleypub @berkleyromance or @acebookspub for the free ebook!

I super love ashley herring blake adult romances. Love rhe small town with fun and quirky side characters and how some get rheir own book. I find her books entertaining and tropes i love

#BerkleyPartner #AceBooksPartner

Ramona Riley dreamt of being a costume designer before her dad had an accident, causing her to drop out of college. She's been raising her little sister in her small town since. Actress Dylan Monroe is the daughter of two rock legends who weren't there for her. She's got a reputation as a wild child, and is trying to shake that by starring as a sweetheart in a romcom. When the movie comes to Ramona's small town, their worlds collide - again, since they had a chance meeting as teenagers.

I have read 4 of Blakes' books before this one - one hard hitting YA and her entire Bright Falls series - and thoroughly enjoyed them all, many getting 5 stars. So, I was super excited to get my hands on an eARC of this. This didn't end up being a new favorite of hers, but I still had a good time.

What did I like about this book? I liked what we saw of the individual lives of the main characters. They each have interesting things goin on - processing parental relationships and trying to choose yourself after sacrificing for so long. I liked the setting of a movie set in a small town was fun. I bought the chemistry and romantic backstory of the characters. I enjoyed the steamy scenes. In terms of content, I think her books have only gotten steamier - so, if you thought her previous books were almost too much for you, I'd advise against this one. 

What was I less a fan of? I REALLY wish we would have seen more of a lot of things. Let's see more of their lives outside each other, like more movie stuff or costuming. There were also a few references to characters talking about things rather than us seeing it happen. I think this relies heavily on people not talking about important things. I had a couple cringes. I think the ending of this was middle of the road as far as her books go - still abrupt, but not so much as to ruin the experience. But mostly, I just wanted to expand on most of this. Give me 100 more pages. 

Overall, I had a good time with this, but was left wanting in some places. I plan on reading book 2 (which just got a BEAUTIFUL cover), but I'm not chomping at the bit for it.

This has the cute trope of both main characters sharing their first kiss when they were teenagers. When their paths cross again over a decade later when a blockbuster romance based on THE Iris Kelly’s novel is being filmed in the small town where they first met, Ramona and Dylan can’t help but find their way back to each other

This is very cookie cutter AHB. Some people like this and others don’t, so do with that what you will. Otherwise, the sesbian lex??? 🥵 Might be my fav scenes Blake has written so far

Thank you @berkleypub for letting me read this in advance in exchange for an honest review!!

I really enjoyed a lot of this! I thought both Ramona and Dylan were interesting characters. I just wanted a bit more towards the end. I didn’t quite believe they were in love by that point and I wish we’d seen more of them falling in love. Also, I wanted one of them to communicate and got frustrated that they both chose the wrong thing. Overall though, it’s cute and I’ll definitely keep reading the series!

I think this might be my favorite Ashley Herring Blake book! I enjoy all her books, but this one really blew me away. I absolutely adored Ramona and Dylan’s story and how it was the perfect mix of sweet and sexy (there were only two spicy scenes but they were hottt 🔥) the third act breakup did frustrate me as there was miscommunication on both ends. Aside from that I did really love this story and these two chaotic bisexuals 💕🫶🏻

I can’t wait to return to Clover Lake in book 2 aka April’s story which apparently is between her and the younger woman her ex left her for? 😧 Shut uppp that sounds so good!

With each new book I read by AHB, I think it might be time to cut my losses with this author.

I loved Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, liked book 2 enough, and my enjoyment has just decreased with each book. I’m not here to discuss the list of issues I’ve had with the other books (of which there are many), but this might just be my final straw.

Humans are complicated and real relationships can be messy at times, but I stg this author sets out to find the messiest, often gross behaviors they can give their characters. This relationship was built on so many lies and felt so tainted that I found it hard to root for them.

I love Ashley Herring Blake’s sapphic romances so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of her latest, Dream On, Ramona Riley, which is a spicy, small town, second chance romance, and the first book in her new Clover Lake series.

Once upon a time Ramona dreamed of being a costume designer in Hollywood. She even went to school for it, but her dream came to an end when her dad’s accident forced her home to Clover Lake to take care of her little sister. When a big budget film comes to shoot in Clover Lake, it brings second chances Ramona’s way, both professionally and personally, when it turns out the film’s star is none other than Dylan Monroe, a young woman Ramona shared her first kiss with years ago.

I enjoyed this story! Ashley Herring Blake is so good at writing messy, flawed characters and Dylan, in particular, fits that bill. She is trying so hard to shed her wild child image and being taken seriously as an actress. This film is a fresh start or second chance for her as well. To prepare for the role, she asks to shadow a waitress at the local cafe, which is how she and Ramona reconnect. At first Dylan is so frazzled, trying to handle the pressure she has put on herself with this new film, that she doesn’t seem to even recognize Ramona but once she does, it’s clear that they still have the same incredible chemistry they had all those years ago. They both have issues they need to work through before they could possibly be a couple, but it’s very easy to root for them to figure things out and I loved seeing the flashbacks from when they first met.

If you’re spending June daydreaming about summer afternoons at the lake and late sunsets with friends, the small town of Clover Lake is waiting for you in 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐎𝐧, 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲!

Thank you Berkley for sending me a free copy of one of my favorite author’s newest book!

Read if you 💕:
•🎬 Celebrity/PR romances

•🍭 Secret nicknames

•🌈 LGBTQIA+ rep

•💗 Relating to Eldest Daughter Syndrome

In Ashley Herring Blake’s newest novel, Ramona Riley has spent the last twelve years working at a local café after giving up her Hollywood dreams to care for her family. When a romantic comedy begins filming in Clover Lake, she’s stunned to find the star is none other than Dylan Monroe—her first kiss and Hollywood’s resident wild child. As sparks fly and old memories resurface, both women are faced with the question: can their connection survive the weight of their dreams and the pull of reality?

Low stakes and a sweet-yet-sizzling romance make Ramona and Dylan’s story a perfect beach read! While the book touches on a few heavier topics (if you think your family’s complicated, wait until you meet Dylan and Ramona’s!), the banter, small-town hijinks, and scenes with Ramona’s friends and younger sister keep the story light and breezy. I’ll admit there were moments where it got a bit too lackadaisical for me, but it would pick back up after a chapter or two.

I especially loved every scene with April, Ramona’s best friend—I’m so excited to learn more about her in Book 2 of the series!

If you’re a fan of second-chance romances and celebrity crushes meeting small-town charmers, be sure to grab a copy of 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐎𝐧, 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 at your favorite local bookstore!

Loved this!!! I’m a huge fan of the Delilah Green books and was pumped to read this. I loved the light-heartenedness of this book and am always a sucker for a hollywood celebrity in a small town plot!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copy & ALC!

I keep waiting for an Ashley Herring Blake book to hit as good as Delilah Green did. (I haven’t read the rest of that series though.) I feel like Dream On, Ramona Riley is perfect for readers looking for a cozy, spicy, small town summer romance in a book.

I felt like the stakes felt very low for most of the book. While I’ve grown to enjoy some second chance romances, having the first meet be when they were so young, and then having Dylan not recognize Ramona for 40% of the book, made it feel very friends to lovers and slowburn without any burn. The spice was DEFINITELY spicing when it finally happened though, and I enjoyed the second half of the book a lot.

The audio was good, I thought the two POVs were really distinct, and any flashback transitions were clear. Each character had a unique voice that made the story easy to follow!

I wanted to DNF this book 85% of the way through and I decided to just push through it, which is out of the normal for me. I realized that I didn't like the characters, I didn't care about the story, and I thought the couple didn't have any chemistry outside of the bedroom. But despite all this, I was curious how AHB would do the infamous third-act-breakup. Maybe I've finally learned my lesson about romance novels and I'll stop requesting them on NetGalley. Spicy romance just doesn't work for me and it's entirely my fault that I keep pick them up.

This one was so much fun—possibly my new favorite Ashley Herring Blake yet!

Dream On, Ramona Riley brings all the charm of a small-town romance with the added sparkle of a Hollywood star crashing into real life. Ramona is such a relatable, quietly ambitious character who’s been stuck in place for too long, and Dylan is the perfect chaotic but lovable celebrity with something to prove. Their chemistry is electric from the start, and watching their connection deepen had me grinning (and maybe tearing up a little, too).

The dynamic between them is sweet, funny, and occasionally tense in that oh no, they’re catching feelings kind of way that makes for a perfect slow burn. I also loved the themes around reclaiming dreams, redefining success, and learning to let people in—even when it's scary.

Bonus points for the fun little crossover with Iris! Fans of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date will definitely enjoy that.

Overall, this was a cozy, queer, feel-good romance that still managed to pack in some emotional depth. Highly recommend if you love small-town stories, sapphic slow burns, or any kind of “celebrity meets real life” trope.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars, rounded up to 4

“Heartfelt and funny, but weighed down by miscommunication.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Dream On, Ramona Riley is a warm, queer coming-of-age rom-com with a relatable lead, swoony moments, and a strong emotional core.

That said, the heavy reliance on the miscommunication trope really tested my patience. So many conflicts could’ve been solved with a single honest conversation, which made parts of the story feel repetitive and stalled character growth.

Still, the voice is engaging, the romance is sweet, and the journey is ultimately rewarding—just be ready to yell “just talk to each other!” a few times.

Ramona is a small town girl whose big fashion designer dreams got dashed when she needed to help her single dad care for her little sister after an accident. Dylan Monroe is the daughter of rock stars who is now in town to film a rom-com to help her bad girl image. Ramona and Dylan met when they were teenagers, though, and once they recognize each other, start on a path to rekindle things that might have been when they were a kids. But at the same time, both of them might sneakily benefit from the relationship...

I'm going to own some things right here.

1. I never read anything by this author before and had no idea what to expect.
2. I think one of my limits is heavy spice in a romance novel about a couple ladies.

I loved the falling. I love the storyline. I like all the resolution to the drama. I just didn't need the spicy stuff.

As a straight lady, I think that's where I draw my own personal line on an LGBTQA+ romance. I am still here for people to love who they love, and I'm glad that there's a romance novel for everyone, so that people who are not me get to enjoy a novel about people like them. I'm GLAD for it. I want everyone to be able to read a book about people like them.

The love story is so nicely done. I kind of enjoyed how the author loved up the plot of the movie to the plot of their relationship.

This is a great book for someone that's into a spicy FF romance. The characters both identify as bi, and are surrounded by people all up and down the spectrum of love interests.

I'm glad I read it. I'm glad I know where I draw a line for my own reading comfort and enjoyment. Because life is too short to read things you don't want to read, and my TBR pile is obscene, so knowing what to skip for my own reading is important.

Am I going to avoid books? Not necessarily. Am I going to do a bit more digging before I dive in? Probably. Is that okay? Absolutely.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own. #Berkley #BerkleyPartner

This is the start of a breand new series from Ashley Herring Blake. Ramona Riley gave up her dreams to become a costume designer and returned home to help her father raise her much younger sister. But now a film is set in their small town, and she might have a second chance at her dream. And a second chance at romance.

I thought the characters were so well paired in this romance. Both have family issues and individual baggage about their own choices. Dylan is an incredibly messy celebrity nepo baby. She and Ramona both have a lot to figure out. Neither is particularly open at the start, and watching them navigate the mess they created is part of what I enjoyed most. Their chemistry was hot, and the steamy scenes explored dynamics I hadn't expected. And I am always pleased to see a lot of necessary character growth.

The small town setting was fun. And I especially loved just how open and queer friendly it was. I'm thrilled that this will be the start of a new series because there are several characters I already want to get to know better. Plus I loved the mini cameo for Iris Kelly, one of the main characters from a previous book