My favorite story by Ashley Herring Blake!! I could read small town, queer romances forever. The fact that this had an added trope of being a celebrity romance made it that much more intriguing. This book has the perfect balance between being sentimental and lighthearted. It’s perfect for a little lakeside read.

Dream On, Ramona Riley is a sweet addition to Herring Blake's romances!

We're introduced to a new, charming small town and a cast of lovable, quirky characters. I enjoyed reading about Ramona and her family and friends, and Dylan made for a compelling love interest. I appreciated the character arcs and how the dash of Hollywood glamor shakes up Clover Lake.

This book didn't quite click with me as much as the Bright Falls books—the sense of place was stronger, but I didn't find the characters as persuasive—but I will definitely continue reading for more love and hijinks!

I had so much fun with this book. I love a celebrity romance but I liked that this one had a bit of a small town twist. Dylan and Ramona were so great together and the spice is perfection!

Thanks to @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the free published copy and e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the review copy of this audiobook!

@ashleyhblake starts a new small town romance series that pairs Ramona, a small town girl with big dreams of being a Hollywood costume designer, with Dylan Monroe a former child star whose reputation needs some rehabilitation. The catch, they were each other’s first kiss as 13 year olds when Dylan came to Ramona’s town on vacation. Now, with Dylan making a movie in Ramona’s town, the gossip magazines are pairing them. But are they both using each other?

This is definitely one of the spiciest sapphic books I’ve read! There’s a lot of scenes and they are hot! I loved their relationship and how they made each other better. The small town vibes were on point, with plenty of great characters and locations. I loved the behind the scenes glimpses into movie making as well. I could not put this one down! And it had a great conclusion.

Even though both POVs were read by the same narrator, she managed to give them distinct voices. I thought the audiobook quality was top notch.

Pick up this romance today. It should be your next beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!

I’m debating between a 2.5 and a 3 for this one. I enjoyed the first half of the book but I found that by the 50% mark I was getting bored. I didn’t feel connected to either Dylan or Ramona and their relationship made me feel nothing. This book also included the infamous third act break up which I am starting to get tired of in romance books. I honestly don’t think I will bother continuing with the rest of the series either as I could also care less about the side characters. Sad this one was a miss but it happens.

Not my favourite book but this author but I LOVED the call back to Iris from her book. As for this one, I didn't really connect with either of the female leads and thus didn't enjoy their story at all. I also didn't by the leaving someone in your bed to go to breakfast with your parents and not even writing a note?? Or taking 2 seconds to go back and grab your phone to message them??

Overall, not my favourite but good for a quick read. 3.5 stars rounded to a 4

Thank you to @prhaudio @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for the free book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book, and there were parts of it that I did enjoy. I loved Ramona. She was sweet and relatable, and I appreciated her plus-size representation. Her backstory had depth, and I felt like she was the only character who showed growth throughout the story.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book didn't quite work for me. My biggest issue was the lack of chemistry between Ramona and Dylan. I could never tell why they fell for each other, and their meet-cute failed to convince me. Further, the side characters lacked depth. For the start of a new series, that is a real letdown. It is clear who the remaining characters will be, but I don't care about them enough to read their stories. Many of the side characters were unlikeable, which completely ruined the small-town feel for me.

Another issue I had was the shift in tone in the second half of the book. The latter half relies heavily on sex scenes, but the lack of a romantic connection between Ramona and Dylan makes it feel unbalanced and underdeveloped.

I also struggled with the audio narration. A dual narration might have helped, as I sometimes struggled to know whose character POV I was in as the voice did not change enough.

After mostly enjoying the Bright Falls series, I am disappointed that this is the second book by this author that hasn’t worked for me, so I think it is time to accept that their writing style might not be a good fit for me. I’m glad I gave it a shot and appreciate a well-written, plus-size romantic lead, but this will likely be my last read from this AHB.

I enjoyed this! I always love a celebrity-normal person romance. Other tropes include small town, queer romance, fake dating, second chance romance, Not my favorite of Ashley Herring Blake's, but a solid romance to add to your tbr!

This is my second book from Ashley Herring Blake and I really enjoyed it! I loved Ramona's characterization and Dylan's personal growth and eventual maturity. Their dynamic was adorable and they felt like the perfect match. The sexual tension between these two can't be topped!! I was thoroughly blushing during several scenes and I think it's time to read this author's backlist 🙈. Dream on, Ramona Riley was a fun queer romance that made me feel seen as a fellow disaster bisexual.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

If you’ve been missing the magic of the Bright Falls series, Ashley Herring Blake is back with her newest sapphic romance novel. Welcome to Clover Lake! The first book in the series features small town waitress, Ramona Riley and notorious actress, Dylan Monroe.

I really liked both characters. I found the dynamic in this book closest to that of Claire and Delilah but also wholly original. Dylan was giving early 2000’s Lindsay Lohan; she is somewhat entitled but still reeling from the trauma she suffered as a child from her parents’ neglect. Dylan’s parents both had substance abuse issues; now sober, she has a difficult time forgiving them for their past actions.

Ramona was a gem! The relationship she has with her sister Olive is very sweet; their relationship is closer to mother/ daughter. Ramona’s mother left when she was 13, leaving her to be very involved in the care and mothering of her younger sister. as Ramona had a significant role in raising her.
It was rewarding to watch both characters mend their familial relationships and work towards healing. Ramona’s dad was just such a DAD- supportive, understanding and I just know he gives the best hugs. The epilogue wrapped up things in this story while leaving room to wonder about April’s future.

I enjoyed the romance between Dylan and Ramona. The moment they share as teens! Gah. It was a lifeline for both; something happy, special and sparkling to look back on during this tough times and hope. It feels like soulmates that they found each other again.

The main conflict is withheld information and deception. Ramona’s friend suggests that she spend time with Dylan to help jumpstart her stagnant dream of apparel design. Meanwhile, Dylan’s manager suggests that they rekindle their romance for positive publicity and to improve her image. While using each other was suggested to both characters, I don’t think it is the real reason they continued to spend time together. I feel like they met their soulmates in each other as teens and would have found their way back to each other regardless.

In AHB’slast book, I missed the close-knit friendship connections we had in the Bright Falls series. Iris makes an appearance! April Evan’s is very Iris coded but also not. It is like Blake took some of my favorite pieces from Bright Falls and personality traits from previous characters to build an endearing and charming new cast for us to fawn over.

Things:
•Small town waitress X Rock royalty actress
•Sapphic
•single mom adjacent
•plus size rep
•complicated family dynamics

Moral of the story, It’s never too late to chase your dreams.

I would recommend! I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read April story’s next. I just adore AHB’s writing voice and storytelling. I just really connect with her writing style. I think this will be another series that readers flock to for its charming setting, small town antics, heart and heat (she is a STEAMY girl).

Dream On, Ramona Riley is a heartfelt, emotion-packed, spice fest of a second chance, celebrity small town romance. From tackling parental neglect and abandonment to safe word strap sex, sapphics and straights alike will be taking the publication day off to binge read this rom-com delight. Fans of Kiss Me, Maybe and Zoe Brennan, First Crush are in the right place!

Ramona Riley has given up. After leaving her dream of costume designing in the dust to come home and help raise her sister, Olive, she’s lived the same day for years. But with Olive leaving in the fall for college, Ramona finally has time to do something for herself… if she can ever get the confidence to do so. Cue Dylan Monroe, a Hollywood nepo baby and certified wild child, who happens to be Ramona’s first kiss when they were 13. She’s playing the lead in a new sapphic romance movie filming in Ramona’s hometown, Clover Lake. And Ramona’s been tasked with teaching Dylan how to act like a real waitress, mustard stains and all.

Dylan Monroe has never known what she’s wanted. From exes who use her for her connections to agents who don’t have her best interest at heart, she’s been pulled in every direction since birth. The child of two famous ‘90s rock n’ roll musicians, she grew up neglected in hotel rooms. That is, except one magical summer when her aunt took her to Clover Lake, where she had her first kiss with a mysterious girl. Dylan has spent the rest of her life trying to recreate the magic of that summer, but never managed to do so. That is, until she finds herself back in the presence of that same mystery girl again, the only issue? She doesn’t recognize her.

The characters and their connection are the best parts of this novel, as it should be with a romance. Ramona and Dylan could not be more perfect for each other, and light up the pages with their chemistry. They hold a mirror up to the reader and force them to face what is holding them back. Romona is the poster child for the eldest sister, oozing responsibility out of her freckled pores. But, as eldest sisters do, she limits herself by pouring all her energy and effort into others. Dylan is a wildly misunderstood hopeless romantic who needs someone to take a chance on, really, truly understanding her. Someone dependable, grounded, and won’t bolt at the first sign of trouble. Not only do these two characters find it within themselves to change, but they also spark a true love connection with each other in a way that will make the reader swoon and blush. Not to mention some of the hottest sex scenes I have ever read in my life. There are multiple toy scenes, safe words, dirty talk, and more, which I discuss at length below in Spoilers and Spice. Make sure to check that out if this is up your alley.

The small town setting was also the perfect backdrop for their romance. It hit that nostalgia itch so many of us attempt to scratch using Dylan’s childhood memories as the proxy. You feel wistful for the infamous Clover Lake secret cove because it is so special to Dylan and Ramona. It also did a fantastic job of discussing Ramona being plus-size. There is no major focus on it, but it is mentioned several times, mainly regarding Dylan’s attraction to Ramona. Ramona unapologetically calls herself fat and not in a derogatory way, just as a descriptor for her body size. The press subtly mentions it as a slight, inferring that she isn’t Dylan’s usual type and is “slumming it” by being seen with her. But that is only used to further the body positivity message without leaning into preachy or annoying territory.

The writing style and pacing are the only drawbacks keeping this dreamy love story from the five-star rating it deserves, in my opinion. Compared to Ashley Herring Blake’s previous work, it felt, unfortunately, juvenile. The character descriptions were a tad over the top and felt reminiscent of a young adult novel. A few of the transitions were clunky, and the physical connection between Ramona and Dylan ramped from a zero to an eleven in just a few pages. When looking for a slow-burning romance, I generally opt for a gradual emotional intimacy, followed by a cautious and timid foray into the physical side of things. However, if you enjoy the gradual emotional intimacy, followed by an immediate jump into bed, you will love the pacing of this book. As well as if you enjoy a “telling” versus “showing” method of descriptions.

All in all, this femme-for-femme, bi x bi romance is a must-read. From the steamy sex scenes to the laugh-out-loud moments, you will not be able to put this down. Not to mention wishing you could rent As If You Didn’t Know in real life. If you love slow-burning small-town celebrity romances, you are in the right place. Happy reading!

CW: Anxiety, alcohol, car accident, emesis, fatphobia, PTSD, and sexually explicit scenes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for sending an eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more sapphic reviews, follow @the.lesbian.library on Instagram, StoryGraph, Substack, and YouTube.

AHB, this was everything to me! I love love loved Ramona and Dylan's romance. It was cute and emotional and sexy and so much fun to experience. Famous person/not famous person is always going to hit for me, and this book was a homerun! I am excited for what's next in this world.

Dream On, Ramona Riley is Ashley Herring Blake at her best: heartfelt, emotionally intelligent, and brimming with compassion for flawed, complicated women who are doing their best to heal and grow. With her signature blend of tenderness, spice, and small-town charm, AHB delivers a sapphic love story that’s equal parts cozy and cathartic.

Ramona Riley is a heroine I rooted for from the first page—a woman whose life was derailed by tragedy, who quietly gave up everything for her family and never let herself grieve the loss of her dreams. When her first kiss and now-Hollywood star Dylan Monroe waltzes back into her life, asking for lessons in “being normal,” sparks fly—but so do old memories, regrets, and unhealed wounds.

What makes Ramona and Dylan’s reunion so stellar is the emotional weight behind it. Their childhood encounter was fleeting but clearly formative, and I loved seeing how that tiny spark grew into something real, raw, and adult. While both women keep significant truths from each other, their growth arcs are handled with care. They make mistakes, they hurt, and they talk through it. Their conflict feels earned, and their reconciliation feels genuine—one of the many reasons the ending left me cheering for them.

As with all of AHB’s work, the emotional resonance is quietly devastating in the best way. Ramona and Dylan are still reeling from childhoods that demanded too much of them—Ramona forced into a caretaker role after family trauma, and Dylan thrust into fame without support or stability. Their pain is deeply human and never dramatized for effect; it’s treated with respect, and the healing is slow and believable. I found myself fiercely protective of both of them, breathing a sigh of relief when they finally began to put themselves first.

And let’s talk about the spice: it’s SOOOOO good. Tender, intentional, and suffused with emotional intimacy. AHB has a gift for writing heat that feels rooted in trust and care. The open communication, the enthusiastic consent, the way vulnerability is met with compassion—it’s everything.

The cast of side characters adds vibrance and warmth to Clover Lake. Ramona’s sister, the café regulars, the film crew—each one is sketched with enough heart to feel real. And I’m already counting down to April’s book—she needs her time to shine.

My only minor critique is that a few narrative beats felt a touch familiar if you’ve read AHB’s previous sapphic romances—but honestly, when the emotional payoff is this fantastic, I can’t complain too much.

Dream On, Ramona Riley is a swoony, slow-burn second-chance romance that beautifully balances emotional depth and lighthearted charm. It’s about reclaiming dreams, navigating grief, and finding love not just with another person, but with yourself.

Set in small town New Hampshire where Ramona feels like she has given up on her life and dreams until a movie filming brings Hollywood to her door. Along with the film crew, the movie brings costume designer Noelle, whom Ramona would love to work with to kick start her career, as well as Dylan, an actress whom Ramona knew a lifetime ago when they were 13 year olds, and with whom Ramona shared her first kiss. Could Dylan be interested in rekindling their romance from childhood? And could Dylan be the step up and introduction Ramona needs?

Overall, this was a really cute romance with rather predictable beats. I really enjoyed how messy of a character Dylan is. She tries so hard and continuously fails to get things right. Ramona is Dylan's opposite in that she's the one always keeping things together for everyone else. I would've loved to see this dynamic play out more and to see them influence each other. Maybe Ramona could get a bit looser and Dylan could get a bit more settled. Instead, the dynamic played out continuously where Dylan screwed things up and Ramona forgave her. It did get a bit tiring as Ramona felt like a bit of a doormat.

This book is also based heavily on the miscommunication trope. Or maybe even anti-communication. The characters continuously either avoid each other avoid talking about things. Even when things get steamy between them. I'm always a bit turned off when characters jump into really kinky sex with no preamble or conversations about boundaries, and in this case Dylan and Ramona have a lot more things to talk about instead of fucking. Because of everything they are hiding from each other, the conflict is quite predictable, and plays out exactly as you'd expect.

I found the resolution to be sweet and I enjoyed the time the characters spent apart. I always love a good solo growth moment.

*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I loved Bright Falls, but I think I love Clover Lake even more. Give me a small town full of character and characters any day.

From the start, I was invested. Your first kiss comes back to town, only this time as Hollywood's wild child with no memory of you, how could you not be? I loved watching Ramona and Dylan fall in love, especially against the background of filming the movie adaptation of Iris Kelly's book. Just the most fun little Easter egg for those hopping over from Bright Falls. And there was some STEEEEEAM - we're talking safe words, dirty talk, and toys. But even more than that, I enjoyed how the conflict was laid out. These weren't just miscommunication problems, they were character flaws that needed to be resolved before the characters could truly live out their happily ever after.

I cannot WAIT to read the rest of this series - hopefully April and Lee? We'll see!!

3.5 stars, 3.5 peppers

First part of the book - loved. adored. great plot setup.
Second half - spice heavy, rushed plot

I think I am forever chasing the Delilah Green high with AHB's books. I really liked the character cameos from that series, but I don't think the characters in this "new" universe were as endearing. The "we had our first kiss at 13 and found each other again" storyline was cute. Some mild miscommunication/misidentification in there - but not a large amount. I had so much fun with the way the story started - especially the movie filming/forced friendship components.

Overall, I felt a very surface level connection to the characters and had a bit of a harder time remembering who everyone was. Part of this may be because it is third-person dual perspective with one narrator - which is really challenging to do unless the narrator REALLY changes the voice. At times I could not remember whose head we were supposed to be in.

The spice was FUN. A little over halfway through the book it kicked in and the first spicy scene was a MARATHON. Like girls. Get some water and take a break. I know some people really did not like certain spicy scenes in this book but none of it bothered me at all.

I listened at 2x.

The first of a new series from Ashley Herring Blake. I love Ramona Riley. She left her prestigious design school to return home to help raise her younger sister Olive, twelve years ago. The buzz of her small New Hampshire town is that a big budget romcom is going to be filmed in Clover Lake. This could be the chance to get back into costume fashion design if she could meet her design hero. The co-star of the romance is Dylan Monroe. Dylan was raised haphazardly but rock star parents of whom bring out a lot of anger and abandonment issues. Add in people often using her for connections and she is wary of relationships.

Ramona gets asked by Dylan to show her the ropes of waitressing for her role in the movie. And then asks her to show her some normal things to do around town. What she isn’t expecting is to remember that once, when they were 13 the two shared a first kiss in a hidden cove. I loved Delilah Green, not so much for the main romance, which was great, but what put it on the top of my shelf was the story of her connection to sister Astrid. This book has a sister story also that touched my heart, although it wasn’t as big of a part of the story as in Delilah.

Romona and Dylan connect and get physical but they aren’t always honest. Their lies of omission are going to catch up to them and you can see it coming. I think I wanted to see Dylan work on her anger issues more than a vague overdue conversation with her parents. Or to speak up for herself to her manager and publicist. I never felt she took responsibility for her own life, career and choices. Romona understands responsibility and I liked her choosing herself when given the chance. Best friend April was great and I will gladly read her story. Blake writes more complex situations and relationships. As a celebrity romance this is fine but because there are more layers I need more closure for the extra emotions. I am probably going to need to read this a second time to catch some of the nuances I missed as I blazed through a first reading. I did love the cross-over appearance of Iris Kelly and Stevie from the Bright Falls series.

Dream On, Ramona Riley is a cute, easy romance that doesn’t shy from tackling heavy emotions. Dylan and Ramona have always held on to the time of their first kiss, and how finding one another felt like a life-changing moment. Reconnecting proved their initial feelings weren’t false. Only now they are adults with intense sex drives, and that innocent first kiss turns into a whole lot of sexy times.

Dylan is a mess, but at the same time, shitty things happen to and around her. She doesn’t know how to process her pain and disappointment in a healthy manner, so instead she drinks and lashes out. The thing is, she knows it’s not healthy, and she realizes she’s unhappy. I like that the author allows Dylan to mature and find help via a therapist.

Ramona has also experienced similar emotions after her mother left when she was 13, and later when she left college her freshman year to help out at home. She doesn’t regret her decision, but she uses her younger sister and dad and a reason she can’t take a risk and follow her dreams.

Each holds a big secret from the other, which you know will blow up and cause problems. It is predictable from early on, but by the time it happens, I was emotionally invested in the pair. Despite the formulaic third act break up, I like that there isn’t a quick fix, and that both characters have time to process and figure out their own issues before realizing they could have a future together.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Clover Lake, NH, along with the found family and friends who live there. I look forward to seeing Ramona’s best friend April find her true love in the next book.

My Rating: B

here's another perfectly fine entry into the ashley herring blake oeuvre - though considering my recent luck with her writing this was probably one of the more successful works for me.

ramona riley had her first kiss with dylan one summer when they were kids. dylan, now a celebrity actor, doesn't recognize ramona when she heads into town to film a new movie. but with a reputation recovering after a tough break-up, dylan's manager insists that dylan "date" ramona for a public appearance recuperation. but dylan is fiercely attracted to ramona and wants to date her for real.

if you can get past the overly-cliche miscommunication trope and the third act break-up this book isn't that bad. i was really into ramona's layered background - making the choice to give up her life and career in favor of returning home to help take care of her baby sister when tragedy happens within her family. i was less into dylan's fame arc or would have taken more interest, perhaps, if the ultimate conclusion of her drama wasn't "oh, i'm famous, woe is me because people take advantage of me".

a real problem for me is ramona and dylan's lack of chemistry. there was no romance that was truly built here in a meaningful, real way, just two people who went straight to pretty intense sex without much build-up and we as readers are asked to buy it. which, you know what? that's fine. the more egregious problem with this book for me was the absolute insane way miscommunications were happening because no one was just... talking and being real with each other. what in the world.

i think if you're a fan of the standard romantic formula then you'll like this one. mind you, it doesn't do anything exceptionally interesting or new, but it wasn't a bad time all around.

Regretfully I had to DNF this book. I hate doing it, but I started this book three separate times and couldn’t get into it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own