When the request to review Dream On, Ramona Riley came through my inbox; I was a little hesitant. It being a queer romance is a little out of my comfort zone, but I’m trying to expand my horizons. And I’m quite glad I picked up this first book in the Clover Lake series by Ashley Herring Blake.

This story is about Ramona, a small-town girl who gave up her dreams to help raise her younger sister. Her sister is getting ready to head off to college, and Ramona is stuck. But then a movie crew comes to town to shoot a rom-com, and Ramona comes face to face with the girl she shared her first kiss with as a teen. And then there is Dylan. She has gotten quite the reputation in Hollywood, but she’s signed on to this rom-com with hopes of repairing her image.

I really liked Ramona. She is that typical girl next door who is friends with everyone. She’s a little quirky and has an eclectic circle of friends, but she’s also relatable. I also like that she was comfortable in her own skin, both physically and emotionally. On the other hand, Dylan is harder to like. She’s angry and doesn’t manage that anger very well, often lashing out at everyone around her. And, of course, being in the spotlight her whole life just makes everything so much worse for Dylan and those around her. But I found myself feeling for Dylan and rooting for her and Ramona to find their happily ever after.

The sex scenes took me a bit out of my comfort zone, and after the first one, I pretty much just skimmed past them since they didn’t add to the story for me. They also felt different from the rest of the story, almost like someone else wrote them. The language was coarse and over the top. I just felt taken out of the story. Of course, this could also be a “me-problem” since I’m finding that I tend to gravitate more to “clean romance” rather than more graphic ones as I get older.

Dream On, Ramona Riley surprisingly gut-punched me in a good way. I was drawn into the story, and when there was an unexpected twist, I couldn’t wait to see how it would get resolved. Once I got to know the characters, I kept tearing up as I cared about Ramona and Dylan and their journey. I don’t know if I’ll continue the series, but I am glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to read this book and

Dream On, Ramona Riley is a same-sex romance that draws you in and tugs at your heartstrings. I encourage readers to give this one a try.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I always have a good time with Ashley Herring Blake's stories! I did think the story had a bit of a slow beginning as I struggled a little bit to get into it but after that, the middle and the conflict I thought it resolved pretty nicely. This book is basically about Ramona, a small town girl who dreams about being a costume designer but had to give up these dreams to take care of her family since she was young, and Dylan who is an actress. They met when they were young and reconnected again when Dylan is filming a romcom in Ramona's town. The whole thing is just drama!!

📖 Bookish Thoughts
Oh boy. This book.I both loved it and wanted to throw it across the room. I thought I was in for a cozy, heartfelt sapphic romance. And parts of it were that. But as things went on, I found myself getting more and more frustrated. Not with the writing, it’s well done,but with the characters, the dynamics, the imbalance.

I loved that Ramona and Dylan met as kids. And Ramona? An absolute queen. She’s kind, hardworking, creative, and so painfully giving. She basically raised her younger sister after their mom peaced out, and their dad completely took advantage of her gentle nature. The parentification was heartbreaking. Even when her dad acknowledges how much Ramona sacrificed, it honestly still made me mad. Because it didn’t change the fact that Ramona literally sacrificed everything to raise her sister.

Dylan… sigh. I wanted to give her grace. Her childhood was awful, and her parents were the definition of negligent. But as the story went on, I got so frustrated with her. Even when she acknowledged that she was selfish, she still didn’t change. She kept taking and taking from Ramona without ever really giving back. It was so painful watching Ramona keep giving and getting so little in return.

My heart BROKE for Ramona at the end! There was the usual grand gesture but I still felt so bad for Ramona and how things played out. Honestly, by the end of the book I still felt like Ramona deserved better.

Overall, I did enjoy parts of this book, and Ramona was easily my favorite. I think a lot of readers will connect with different aspects of the story. But the imbalance between them was too much for me to overlook, and it held me back from fully loving their romance.

🗓 Pub Date: May 13, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Why Did I Listen To Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake?
Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake has an absolutely fantastic cover – I found how colorful it was to be quite eye catching. With Pride month coming up and having listened to Make The Season Bright and really enjoying it, I wanted to pick up Dream On, Ramona Riley because I had this instinct that I would enjoy this sapphic rom com. Well, that instinct turned out correct. Blake’s latest is superb and quite a good listen.

What’s The Story Here?
It looks to me like Dream On, Ramona Riley is the first in a Clover Lake series and I am here for it! This book follows main character Ramona Riley who is working as a waitress in her small town of Clover Lake. She has big dreams but she put them on hold to help out with her younger sister when her mother abandoned the family. So, Ramona lives with her dad and sister and has what could be a smaller life than expected. She once dreamed of working in costume design and even got to go to Rhode Island School of Design for a year. Her life is about to get a curveball. You see, Clover Lake is about to be the set of Dylan Monroe’s new rom com movie. Dylan is a famous movie star with famous parents. This isn’t her first time in Clover Lake. You see, she was there as a youth for one summer and meets this girl for just one day. The chemistry was instant. Oh, that girl? Ramona. But, they never exchanged names. So, anyways, Ramona and Dylan cross paths in present day and it turns out, there’s chemistry in the present day as well. And so, the two start to navigate seeing each other. Ramona just might get a chance to pursue her dreams again.

How Did I Like Dream On, Ramona Riley?
After listening to this book, I can confidently say that I want to read the other books by Ashley Herring Blake that I have not read yet. Both Ramona and Dylan are compelling characters – with complicated family dynamics. If there’s one thing I enjoy in a story, it is complex family relationships. Also, Ramona’s best friend is named April and I truly appreciated that little tidbit. It feels like she may be getting a book next, I hope. There’s also an appearance from Iris Kelly. I haven’t read her book yet, but I want to after reading this. I liked how the relationship played out between Ramona and Dylan. There are moments where there is a grand gesture of apologizing. I eat that right up.

How’s The Narration?
Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake is narrated by Gail Shalan. It is 11 hours and 58 minutes long. Of course, I did listen to this at 2x speed. I liked that Shalan had different voices for Dylan and Ramona’s chapters. It made it very easy to keep track of the two different POV characters. I felt like there were true emotions put into the narration as well. It was a compelling, interesting listen. I cannot recommend this enough — particularly as we are going into Pride Month.

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.