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!

I will read anything Ashley Herring Blake writes, and this book shows why! Think small town celebrity sapphic romcom + second chance romance. Oh, and that second chance is the person who gave you your first kiss! The spice is SPICING in this book, y’all. Prepare to need a cold shower after chapter 24 is all I’m saying.

I love how complex and layered AHB characters are, and the FMCs in this novel were no different. Both had very different backstories going back to childhood that impacted who they grew up to be and how they handle conflict. There is phenomenal mental health rep!

One drawback for me is that AHB tends to write a lot about characters who keep secrets from each other, which inevitably becomes problematic. I can’t say the miscommunication trope doesn’t irk me! However, with this particular story and these particular characters, it actually kind of worked and made sense.

Overall, this was the cute, mostly lighthearted romcom that I desperately needed to break up my normally pretty dark and triggery reads. Dream On, Ramona Riley is the first in a new series, and I can’t wait for the next book!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

I feel like I’ve been waiting (very impatiently) to read this book for SO long and it was SO WORTH THE WAIT! The two main characters are amazing, but what makes this book so special are the side characters, I am SO happy April will have her own book because I loved her so much:

Both main characters in this book are flawed for very good reasons, but the way they help each other through that and each learn to grow is so beautiful. This book had me laughing, crying, and swooning from beginning to end.

I don’t say this lightly, but I’m pretty sure this is Ashley Herring Blake’s best book yet.

Ashley Herring Blake kicks off her Clover Lake series with Dream On, Ramona Riley, a warm and wistful sapphic romance that blends small-town charm with Hollywood sparkle. If you love your queer romcoms with layered characters, second chances, and a healthy dose of steam, this one’s worth the pre-order.

Ramona Riley had big dreams—art school, costume design, maybe even a red carpet or two—but those dreams got put on hold when her dad’s accident forced her to return home and step into a caregiving role for her younger sister. Now, twelve years later, she’s still in Clover Lake, working at the local café and wondering if it’s too late to want more.

Enter Dylan Monroe—Hollywood it-girl, daughter of rock stars, and Ramona’s long-lost first kiss. When a romantic comedy begins filming in Clover Lake, Dylan signs on for more than just the starring role. She's trying to shed the “nepo baby” label, so she volunteers to shadow a local waitress… Ramona. The only problem? Dylan doesn’t remember her.

From there, sparks fly. The chemistry between Ramona and Dylan is undeniable, and Blake doesn’t hold back on the heat. (Seriously—full star awarded just for the smut.) But what really anchors this book is the emotional honesty beneath the attraction. Ramona and Dylan are both grappling with the weight of their pasts, the choices that shaped them, and the parts of themselves they’ve had to hide or sacrifice along the way.

The romance is sweet with a nostalgic throughline: a shared first kiss that quietly lingers in the background until it’s given the chance to become something more. Blake builds on that history beautifully, and the “movie within a book” structure—complete with a film adaptation of an Iris Kelly novel (yes, that Iris Kelly)—adds a fun meta layer to their story.

I especially loved Ramona’s arc. Her quiet strength, the way she gave up so much without bitterness, and still dared to hope for more—it made her an incredibly compelling character. Dylan, too, had surprising depth beneath her bold, chaotic energy, and her growth felt well-earned.

Was it a perfect read? Not quite. The miscommunication trope rears its head here, and while it’s believable (and emotionally grounded), it did add some unnecessary frustration. A few lines of dialogue took me out of the moment, and the plot leans heavily on familiar beats. But in this case, that familiarity worked in the book’s favor—it’s comforting, cozy, and exactly the kind of small-town queer romance I was craving.

This isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. Dream On, Ramona Riley is a story about reclaiming dreams, finding joy in the unexpected, and allowing yourself to be fully seen. Plus, it sets the stage for the rest of the series in a way that already has me itching for April’s book.

Read this if you love:

Queer romance with emotional depth

Small-town setting meets big-city tension

“First kiss we never forgot” vibes

A behind-the-scenes Hollywood romance

Steam that will absolutely curl your toes

Final thoughts:
This isn’t a life-changing book, but it is a life-affirming one. It’s thoughtful, sexy, and sweet—everything I’ve come to love from Ashley Herring Blake. A solid four-star read that delivers on charm, heart, and heat.

Okay, this was my first Ashley Herring Blake book. I own the whole Bright Falls series but haven’t gotten around to them yet. I mean, I was already planning on reading them, but this has made me even more excited to start Delilah Green Doesn't Care.

This was such a cute read and I loved Ramona and Dylan so much! I'm always up for a second chance romance, so having them meet again as adults after sharing their first kiss as teenagers was perfect. The flashback to the day they met was so cute. And that first date location?? Amazing. Literally the sweetest thing ever.

I found Ramona super relatable. The feeling of missing out on your dreams while, at the same, not knowing how to get back to where you were really hit close to home. I love the message that it's never too late to chase your dreams.

I enjoyed the filming scenes and really liked how they always kind of corresponded to how Dylan was feeling. It gave extra insight to the complexity of her feelings without her outright expressing it which was neat. Her character development was great. Without going into too much detail, I liked watching her learn to trust herself and chase her dreams.

April was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed her character. I'm super excited for her story!

The Bright Falls series is my favorite queer romance series so I was so excited when this book was first announced. I loved this one just as much. The small Easter eggs to the Bright Falls books were great. Ramona and Dylan are both so sweet. Their story really drew me in and made me love them both immediately. I can't wait for more books in this series.

Small town waitress x celebrity who have both kissed each other many summers ago are reunited and find themselves giving into their feelings for one another... but with so many lies, pr stunts, and drama.... can their relationship last? Ramona Riley is a small town waitress who dreams about making it as a Hollywood costume designer and one summer twelve years ago she kissed her dream girl... and said girl turned out to be famous actress Dylan Monroe who is now steeped in hollywood scandal and drama. Dylan is a chaotic nepo baby who's relationships have constantly made the front pages and after her latest relationship fall out she's not getting as many jobs. Yet when her manager gets her a job on a movie about a small town, she's excited for this fresh start... but what she doesn't expect is to meet the girl she kissed all those summers ago... or for her manager to tell her to date said girl to clean up her image. Dylan doesn't tell Ramona... and when the truth gets out will their relationship? This was a small town romance and it was just fine for me. It wasn't blowing me away, and as a small town romance lover it was just fine. I do love the town setting but the relationship was just okay to me because their big miscommunications and lies... that could have been so easily fixed. I just wasn't feeling it as much compared to some of Ashley's other books but I'm sure that others will have fun reading this.

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

"For the second time in her life, eighteen years apart, she had a crush on Ramona Riley." 💕

This was such a cute story! Ramona and Dylan met at 13 years old and were each other's first kiss. Now Dylan is back in the small town Ramona lives in for a movie role. This time, they are grown and Dylan is known as the "bad girl" actress while Ramona has been putting her dreams off to the side for her family.

Pick this up if you are looking for:
-Small town
-Second chance
-Celebrity x small town girl
-Bi4Bi Sapphic romance

I loved seeing how Dylan was navigating who she wanted to be and how open she was about going to therapy. Dylan and Ramona complimented each other sooo well imo. I loved them together and I want a bonus epilogue please. 😩

Thank you @berkleypub @netgalley for the eARC 🫶🏼

4 stars, thank you so much to Berkley for my gifted e-galley! On a summer night after her mother has left the family, Ramona Riley meets a girl on the beach, and in lieu of exchanging actual names she finds herself using a nickname and sharing her first kiss. Unbeknownst to her, she has shared said kiss with Dylan, a very well reknowned actress who is hitting a publicity snafu. She is being deemed as a problem child and one who cannot stay away from heartbreak, so when she's cast in a movie that takes place where Ramona dwells, the two are reunited once again. After being caught by paparazzi, Ramona agrees to a few dates, unknowingly being a part of a dating ploy that would raise Dylan's status. I loved the back stories, how intricate the family dynamics were, and how the conflicts were so well thought out.

This book is everything I love about sapphic romance and then some. It follows a celebrity and a normie as they are reunited when a sapphic movie comes to the small town for filming, after sharing an unforgettable kiss 18 years ago. That one moment lived rent-free in both their minds and now, fate throws them back together for some small town and fake dating shenanigans.

Chemistry is explosive. The steam is turned all the way up in this one, but never at the expense of the emotional depth. Both FMC's are beautifully messy, complex and bi as hell. The story is full of queer joy galore, mutual support and that delicious opposites attract energy.

The writing is astounding as it always is with AHB. It balances fun, flirty moments with heartfelt emotional beats. It's sexy and swoony, yes, but also deeply affirming about love, identity and second chances. This is a perfect read for anyone who loves sapphic stories that go hard on both heart and heat.

I’m in love with this second chance, fake dating, movie star/small town girl, spicy, kinky, FF romance!!!! Ramona and Dylan’s journey was so sweet and spicy. And can we talk about how there isn’t enough FF smut with degradation 🥵🥵🥵 I was reaching for ice water SEVERAL TIMES!

4.5 ⭐️// 3 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love AHB Bright Falls series, so I was super excited to read her new Clover Lake series!

This story is a sapphic, sort of second chance, celebrity romance. Ramona and Dylan shared their first kiss when Dylan visited the small New Hampshire town where Ramona lives as a 13 year old. They had one fun and free night as teens, but never exchanged names. Now, Dylan is back in town for a movie shoot and Ramona instantly recognizes her.

Both women are on a bit of a journey to find themselves. Ramona had dreams of being a costume designer, but had to put these on hold in order to help her single dad take care of her younger sister. Now her sister is going to college and this movie presents an opportunity with having one of her designer idols in town. Dylan is notorious in Hollywood for being the wild child of two musicians. After a very public breakup, she is trying to make a new name for herself and her reputation with this movie. I really enjoyed watching their growth and recognizing what they each needed to do to achieve these dreams.

These two had a lot of chemistry as well! I enjoyed most of their scenes together and the spice was so good as always! AHB is always good at writing an easy-to-read story that has some spice, drama, and heart, so this one fit in well!

I do have to say, while I did enjoy it overall, the drama in the book is due to lack of communication that I saw coming from a mile away. It is the kind that could have easily been avoided with a conversation, so I didn't love that, but it is more of a personal preference with tropes in books. The resolution of the drama was sweet, so I'll give it that.

I was already trying to figure out who will be the FMCs in the rest of the series. For sure we will see an April book! I even am thinking maybe Penny??

Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for the advance copies of the book!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

DREAM ON, RAMONA RILEY is a swoony romance set in a small New Hampshire town. Ramona Riley had put her dreams of being a costume designer on hold to help raise her little sister. When a big-budget rom-com comes to Clover Lake to film, Ramona wonders if this could be her chance to finally follow her dreams.

Enter Dylan Monroe, the person Ramona shared her first kiss with years ago. Dylan is starring in the movie and hoping to repair her reputation as being Hollywood’s favorite wild child. Dylan convinces Ramona to take her around town to do normal people things.

Spending time together and uncovering their past only reignites their spark 💜

I am a sucker for small town romance. I adored Clover Lake and its residents. The excitement of filming a movie in town, the dynamic between the co-stars who don’t like each other, the friendships… I was here for it all.

Sprinkle in a little bit of second chance (my fav trope) with two characters who had their first kiss together… 🤩

Ramona’s relationship with her little sister was precious. They were so open with each other and had such a special bond.

🌈 everyone’s queer
💜 small town romance
🌈 complicated family dynamics
🩷 fake dating
🌈 celebrity x normie

I loved Ramona’s friendship with April. I cannot wait to get April’s love story in the next book 🙌

I absolutely loved Dream on Ramona Riley. This is my second AHB book and so far my favorite of the ones I’ve read. I really enjoyed both Ramona and Dylan as well as all the background characters. I thought it wove a beautiful love story while still dealing with more complex relationships too.

For the most part, I really enjoyed the plot of this book. Both main characters kind of hit a turning point in their life where they both are wanting a second chance at a career they love. Ramona put her life on pause to make sure her family was taken care of after her dad’s injury, and Dylan finally got the opportunity to prove herself as an actress in a genre that she had wanted to be in for years. I loved watching them navigate their insecurities and fears while also recognizing that they are talented and know what they are doing.

Personally, I found Dylan’s story to be really heartbreaking in a way that I don’t usually see because it showcased her life and her struggled while also being famous. It really just made me think about how awkward people look when they are just filming people randomly. It felt so uncomfortable being in Dylan’s point of view and constantly having that recognition of I’m in public, someone is filming me. I haven’t gotten that in other books that I’ve read where one of the characters is famous and I really felt like it added a lot of depth. Her complicated relationship with her parents was also something that I liked reading about. I always enjoy reading that type of plot specifically so I wish we got to see a little bit more of that, but no matter I thought it was handled well. Ramona also had that complex relationship with her family as she helped raised her sister after their mother abandoned them and their father got injured. Her and Olive’s dynamic was really sweet and I enjoyed seeing their growth throughout this. I could say more, but the gist is that I really enjoyed these plot points and thought it added so much to the story that made me enjoy it so much more.

The one plot point I didn’t love as much, was probably the throwback to their childhood. I didn’t mind it most of the time and thought it was cute for the most part, but I will say the cringey nicknames that stuck throughout the book as a result of their time together as 13 year olds was something I could have lived without.

I enjoyed these characters and their growth so much that I didn’t even mind the third act breakup that much. Personally I felt that everything that led up to it was more natural miscommunications due to insecurity which feels more realistic. Overall this book was beautiful. I felt like the characters had a lot of depth, and while I wish some things were addressed more later on, I think majority of things were addressed well and there was a lot of growth throughout this story.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for an earc. All opinions are my own.

*Thank you to the publisher, Berkley for providing ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own *


Heartwarming. A story that you won’t be able to put down.

This is the book where I'm not sure where to start. There were so many things I loved about this book. Dream On, Ramona Riley is the type of story that I like about romance books, and it wasn't just a romance book, but it was so much more. Dream On, Ramona Riley is a story of friendship, second chances, and dreams. I love second chance romance, especially given Ramona and Dylan's history. Even before Dylan learned who Ramona was, he could tell there was something special between them. I felt like the relationship moved a little too quickly. There were moments when I questioned Dylan's feelings for Ramona. There was something about it that initially made me hesitant. However, as the book proceeded, I saw how much Dylan cared about Ramona, but I was also concerned about what would happen once the movie finished.

I've read Ashley Herring Blake's young adult novels: Suffer Love & How To Make A Wish , but it's been years, but I recall loving those two books. Dream On, Ramona Riley was my first adult novel, and now that I've read it, I'm eager to read more of her books. I enjoyed how much character development occurred in the novel, particularly with Ramona, and how Dylan and Ramona's relationship developed, although I wish they were not hiding things from each other. I only hoped that if those secrets were exposed, the two of them could work things out. Those two belonged together. Of course, I enjoyed that it was set in a small town, which is my favorite part of romance novels.

I enjoyed how well-developed each of the minor characters were, particularly April. Aside from Ramona and Dylan, she was one of my favorite characters in the novel. I adored how April was always there for Ramona, no matter what, cheering her on and offering advice. I'm excited to read April's story in the next book in the series. I'm so glad I got the chance to read this book, and I suggest it to any romance fan!

thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for the ARC!

… sighhhh :( I was really excited for this one but it just fell flat for me unfortunately. I liked the concept and a lot of the tropes so I thought I’d love it but I just found myself bored and not invested.

tropes that I loved:
- queer love
- bisexual rep
- grumpy x sunshine
- hollywood star x small town waitress
- stars hollow-esque small town
- second chance (they were each others first kiss)

i did love the setting of this one. the town was so charming and the dynamics reminded me of Stars Hollow! I liked Ramona and Olive.

things I didn’t like:
- April’s nickname being ‘Apes’
- “bff” and “fuckboi” being used in narration voice (not dialogue or texts)
- excessive use of “c*nt” during sex scenes
- the miscommunication!!! it felt like their whole relationship was built on deceit from both sides :(

very grateful for the ARC and loved the representation

This was another great romance from Ashley Herring Blake! I'm looking forward to more in this new companion series. I enjoyed the characters' past history and their present.