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

This is probably my favorite Ashley Herring Blake book yet. A lot of the drama from the book came from situations and circumstances outside of the main couple, which made it easier to root for the couple to be together. And to the extent that it’s a second chance romance (sort of? in a very small sense?) there isn’t a negative past between the main characters. I also liked the characters individually and appreciated their own personal development. Having said that, I just didn’t feel a ton of relationship development outside of the physical scenes. It’s definitely a spice forward book which is fine but it left less room for why the characters fell in love. It was hard for me to see why Ramona actually wanted to be with Dylan, so I had to just sort of suspend disbelief and go with it.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance and Ashley Herring Blake for this ARC!!

I think I have a new favorite Ashley Herring Blake book!!!

I am not even sure how to write this review because, to me, this was a perfect book. I loved Ramona and Dylan so much. I loved them individually. Ramona, my cottage core small town sweetie pie with big dreams she is too afraid to chase. Dylan, my rough around the edges baby just screaming to be seen and loved for who she is. They were both perfectly flawed characters and I love them so deeply. More importantly, I loved how they fit together when they both had so many internal doubts on how they could possibly be good enough for one another.

There were so many elements to this story that left me truly breathless that someone could write a moment so beautiful.

We meet Ramona Riley at the top of this story as she is approaching one final summer before her little sister goes off to college, the little sister she put all of her own dreams on hold to come help her father raise when their mother left their family. Ramona’s relationship with her family was the truest testament to who she is as a person. Helping her dad care for her baby sister after her mom left them all behind, while also grieving being left by a parent who is supposed to love them unconditionally. That level of selflessness at the age of thirteen, and throughout Olive’s entire childhood… I will never get over Ramona Riley. I love how Ashley Herring Blake touches on how heartbreaking it is that they missed out on the normal dynamics of a sibling relationship with Ramona being thrown into being a parental figure for Olive rather than just her big sister. I loved watching Ramona gain the confidence to believe in her dreams again, and even if it pained me to see her not communicate those dreams to Dylan, I was rooting for her to chase them anyway!!

Dylan Monroe is one of my favorite characters I have ever encountered. There was something so powerful about the way her inner monologue was written in contrast to the way she would act out in various scenarios and towards others. She is someone who from the outside looking in would appear to have it all. Learning more from her about what her life truly looked like, and how hard she is trying to overcome all of it (cheers for my girl Dylan for being in therapy!!!!!!!!) was both heartbreaking and heartwarming to see. She had several losses on this journey, but they made me celebrate the wins with her even harder!

I also loved being able to see Iris and Stevie in this book, and did cry when I learned the movie Dylan was staring in was a film adaption of Iris’s book. So proud of my girl!!! I also absolutely adored April from the moment I met her and was rooting the entire time for book #2 in this series to be about her, I am so so happy I was right about that one!!!!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All
Opinions are my own.

AHB can do no wrong, I fear. This was so dang good! I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters. I loved the writing style. I loved the representation. I just loved everything about it. It gave me everything. I couldn’t stop once I started. You HAVE to
Read this!

3.5⭐️

This was...fine? I listened to the audio which made it a much more enjoyable experience, but I had some issues with it. On the petty side, I was thoroughly annoyed by Ramona announcing to us that her sister would be going to Vanderbilt on a full ride softball scholarship. THAT DOES NOT EXIST AT VANDERBILT. It's the only school in the SEC (a massively successful softball conference) to not have a softball team. The radio staffs of other schools rag on them all the time for not having one. Seems like a small thing to be annoyed about, but when truth is such a central point of this book, it seems worth mentioning.

Most of the conflict of this book would've been resolved if they just opened their mouths and that kinda pissed me off. I'm not a miscommunication hater, I just want it done right and this wasn't in my opinion. There was plenty of space for them to be open and communicate a circumstance, a concern, their feelings and instead they would kiss their way past it and jump into bed together. YOU CAN HAVE BOTH. The story wouldn't have suffered if they communicated.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!

I had a lot of fun with this book! Ashley Herring Blake writes such cute, lovely queer romances and every time they are just beautiful to read. I love the descriptions of the plus size character as well, they felt so kind and beautiful. I really liked this!

I absolutely devoured Ashley Herring Blake’s Bright Falls trilogy, so I couldn’t wait to dive into Dream On, Ramona Riley. This one had a lot of what I love in a romance: steamy chemistry, small-town charm, and complex emotional arcs. It’s both sweet and spicy, with a great central romance and some really lovely family and friendship dynamics woven in.

Ramona was an easy character to root for. She put her dreams of working in fashion on hold to help raise her younger sister after their dad’s accident, and that sense of responsibility has shaped her whole life. When a movie comes to town, it feels like her second chance, and the reappearance of her childhood summer crush (now a celebrity!) complicates everything in the best/worst way.

The chemistry between Ramona and Dylan absolutely crackled, and I loved how their early teen connection was treated with real emotional weight. I related so much to that intense, butterfly-filled kind of memory, and it really shaped how I felt about their dynamic. That said, I struggled with the fake dating setup. Ramona didn’t even know she was part of it at first, which took away the consent element of a trope I usually love. It left a sour note that was hard to fully shake (this definitely affected my rating).

While I didn’t love Dylan as a character because she felt immature and a little aimless, I do think her arc showed some growth by the end. But honestly? I kind of wanted Ramona to take off to LA and live her dreams solo for a bit longer.

The writing was breezy and heartfelt, and I loved the cameo from Iris (Bright Falls fans will know!). This is a good pick for readers who enjoy the small-town girl-meets-celebrity trope, first crushes, and emotionally grounded heroines returning to themselves.

I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Ashley Herring Blake writes next.

As a teenager, Ramona Riley had to drop out of RISD and give up her dreams of being a costume designer to come home and help with her family. She doesn’t regret the choice she made, but with her little sister getting ready to go to college and her father doing just fine, Ramona is feeling a little lost. Then Dylan Monroe, Hollywood’s bad girl, comes into town. Dylan is the daughter of two famous musicians and grew up in a chaotic, neglectful environment. She’s looking to prove that she’s more than some nepo baby and is desperate to change her image. The role as a shy waitress in a queer romantic comedy is just the key. But Dylan has never had a normal life or worked a normal job. So when Ramona starts showing her the ropes, Dylan takes a chance on asking the cute girl if she can show her more. Sparks fly, but both women have old wounds that haven’t fully healed. Can a fling be enough to become something more or will they fizzle out when filming ends?

Ashley Herring Blake makes celebrity-in-a-small-town feel fresh in Dream On, Ramona Riley. Ramona and Dylan’s story is sweet, spicy, and wonderfully engaging.

Dylan and Ramona met one night long ago, at a turning point in both their lives. The sweetness of that memory is something they both hold dear and it’s an utterly charming beginning to their story. Ramona is hardworking and talented, but she’s in a rut. With her sister starting college she doesn’t know how to start chasing her dreams and feels it’s too late. Then the movie comes to town along with the costume designer she’s long looked up to and it seems like fate. But how to get on the set? Well, teaching the star of the movie how to waitress is a good start. I adored Ramona – she’s just plain easy to like – and wanted to see her find all the love and happiness that she deserved. But it’s Dylan who truly captured my heart. Dylan has a lot of privilege, sure, but she is so wounded and vulnerable that it broke my heart. She is wonderfully imperfect throughout this book, making a mess of things more than once. But she tries, she learns, and she grows and it’s oh, so lovely to see. I absolutely loved her and Ramona together. They have wonderful chemistry and are funny, sometimes dorky, and totally sexy together. I hated to put this book down because I was so wrapped up in their tale.

Dream On, Ramona Riley is the first book in Herring Blake’s Clover Lake series and I loved how charming, welcoming, and queer this town was. I adored spending time there and am very much looking to seeing more of it in April’s (Ramona’s best friend) book. And while you don’t have to have read the Bright Falls series, fans of Iris Kelly will enjoy hearing what everyone’s favorite redhead is up to. Ashley Herring Blake has never let me down and Dream On, Ramona Riley is no exception. I adored Dylan and Ramona’s story from first page to last and I cannot wait to read more Clover Lake stories.

This is my favorite sapphic romance so far!! I really vibed with the small town setting and the “big star falls for small town nobody” trope (flashback to my 1D phase lol). And as a girl in her 20s who’s also navigating life and figuring out what she wants to do, the themes here really hit!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!

Pub Day Pick: Dream On, Ramona Riley. Thanks to @berkleyromance for the eARC through NetGalley and the free ALC from @prhaudio.

Ashley Herring Blake is back with a new book and a new series! Dream on, Ramona Riley is a second chance, big movie comes to small town, sapphic romance. I enjoyed this sweet funny romcom that pulled on my heartstrings in all the right ways.

🎧It was great to listen to the audiobook, read by Gail Shallon. She gives an entertaining performance and captures the different characters well.

The dynamic between Romana and Dylan is delightfully sweet. Each tries to protect the other, but can a small town girl with dreams of more and a wreckless but successful actress make it work with the whole world watching?

Fans of Blake’s first series Bright Falls will also appreciate a fun cameo appearance of a favorite character❤️

QOTD: Small Towns or Big cities? Do you prefer the same in real life and fiction?

#dreamonromonariley #berkleypartner #audiobooks #prhaudio #ashleyherringblake #summerromance

Ashley, you had me at sapphic small town celebrity romance!

This book was everything. The queer representation in this little town made me so happy and the spice was spicing in all the best ways...

I loved this Clover Lake tale so much, I made it my book club pick for June and cannot wait to stock it at my store!

Thank you to PRH and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you, Netgalley and Berkeley, for the E-ARC!
This is my 5th AHB book, and it’s probably one of my faves! I loved the plus-size and bi representation. I loved Ramona as a character and the small-town girlie with big-city dreams vibe that she gave off. I also enjoyed Dylan’s character as well, it’s the celebrity arch, but I thought her relationship with her parents and all that drama made her more relatable than a lot of celebrities I have read in romance books.
I was a little worried that I wouldn't enjoy the fake dating element based on how it was set up. HOWEVER, I thought the execution made a lot of sense and made the third act break up really believable.
The new cast of characters we were introduced to seems great, and I can’t wait for the rest of the series!!

Dream On, Ramona, dream on.

And Ashley Herring Blake is back at it again. I absolutely adore this couple.

Ramona and Dylan met as teens, had their first kiss and never knew each others real names. Cherry and Lolli meet up years later on a filming set and fall for each other. Again.

Small town feels, all the YEARNING. You know I love a good yearning couple. The way their personalities complimented each other is unmatched. I wish we had more banter between them and more consistent pacing.

I wasn’t sure Ashley could top the Bright Falls series, but she absolutely did! This book is full of real, authentic, messy characters that will have you rooting for them from the first page.

Ramona is a confident, curvy woman who dreams of being a costume designer in Hollywood someday. She is such a sweet, caring, and family oriented person. Dylan is an actor trying to branch out into new genres and erase her problematic past. Both Ramona and Dylan have so much to learn about themselves and each other throughout the story. As things heat up between them, you’ll be begging for the sultry, intimate scenes between our two leading ladies.

I will always eat up Ashley’s books. She has a way of writing sapphic stories that are sexy and fun but that still have important life lessons woven into the story. You’ll walk away wondering if you have a degradation kink while simultaneously learning that it’s okay to put your own needs above others sometimes. The story contains multitudes and is everything I want in a queer romance. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a great sapphic read this summer!

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for access to the eARC of this book!

No surprise here, but Herring Blake has once again hit it out of the park with this one! I loved pretty much everything about this story and these characters. I LOVE Ramona! She is perfection and can do no wrong. More confident, fat femme representation in sapphic books, please!! Dylan was often frustrating, but in a “We were rooting for you! We were all rooting for you! LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS.” kind of way. There was a lot of depth and realness for both characters, which made the story believable - sometimes heartbreakingly so. I’m looking forward to seeing some of what the future has in store for Ramona and Dylan as we return to Clover Lake!

For those wondering (you know you are!), the spice is spicing in Clover Lake!! I think Herring Blake is turning up the heat a little more with each book she writes and I, for one, am very appreciative of these efforts!

The 3 stars are for Ramona and April and not for Dylan. I loved Ramona. She was so sweet and funny. Her friendship with April felt so genuine. It makes me excited for April's upcoming book. I did not like Dylan. She was selfish and difficult. I didn't feel like she had enough of a redemption in the book. Telling the reader that she goes to therapy isn't enough of a change for me. I needed more for me to think she deserved Ramona. This was one of the cases in a romance book where I didn't think the two characters should have ended up together.

Oh Ramona and Dylan, where do I begin! From the beginning I thought I was going to love this book. I thought Ramona and Dylan both sounded like incredible characters who were well developed and well, you just wanted to be friends with them. But by the end, I was begging for mercy (and not in the super great way.)

I found Ramona to be quite blah. I thought that Dylan's chapters were more interesting and I just liked her as a character more. I was also unfamiliar with the length of the chapters...holy hell were they LONGGGGGGGG. Overall, I was just left wanting more from their plot and their chemistry as a couple outside of the bedroom. The one thing I had no problem with was the smut! Whooeeeyyyy this one was packed full of it! We did have to work to get there but man it was spicy.

Thank you Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the arc!