AHB is one of my most favorite authors and I have been eagerly awaiting this book after reading an excerpt at the end of Make the Season Bright. I adore the Bright Falls series and was thrilled to see that there was a connection to those beloved characters through one of Iris's novels.

Like with all of AHB's books, this story is brimming with heartwarming moments that leave your eyes a little teary. Ramona and Dylan, like AHB's other characters, feel like real people as their journeys, struggles, hopes, hurt, and dreams are reflect the lived experiences of our own lives or those we know and love. As adults, Ramona and Dylan are still coping with having their childhoods cut short and thrown into adulthood at an early age. Because of this rapid thrust into adulthood, they have not fully processed or begun healing from these events. Ramona, as a teenager, not only had to process her mother leaving, but had to step back from her academic pursuits to step into a caregiver role and look after her younger sister and father following a traumatic event. As the child of famous parents, Dylan has lived a life in the spotlight and under scrutiny since she was born, and while her parents are now in therapy and working on being supportive, she still carries the pain of their neglect. I felt so protective of both Ramona and Dylan and took a deep breath of relief when they finally reached the point of prioritizing their personal mental and emotional wellbeing.

This story was sweet, swoon, and S P I C Y. I really love how there is such intimacy and tenderness in the spice that AHB writes and how these moments where the characters are so vulnerable, there is always open communication and enthusiastic consent.

I cannot wait for April's book and to revisit the delightful world of Clover Lake!

Absolute perfection 🤩 Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!!

Diverse queer representation that feels natural and authentic, and it's performative? Absolutely - I think that's an Ashley Herring Blake signature.
But so are examples of tough love and of self-realizations that feel like therapy. So are best friends who feel like family.

Ramona Riley is an amazing older sister to Olive, and she wouldn't have had it any other way. Her best friend April has been in her corner, trying to inspire her to start going after her own dreams and taking care of herself.
Dylan Monroe is Hollywood's perceived wild child bad-girl, and is looking to clean up her image by starring in a queer romance movie as the shy lead.
When Ramona and Dylan meet, they realize they actually knew each other as kids and have been thinking about each other ever since.

Another incredible, touching, and amazing book by the wonderful AHB!! 🍒🍭

Thank you to Berkley and Ashley Herring Blake for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. ❤️

As an unapologetic Ashley Herring Blake fangirl, I went into this with high expectations. It did not disappoint! Dylan and Ramona meet as teenagers one fateful night on a lake. Never sharing their real first names, they both share their first kiss. Now, Dylan is a world famous actress and Ramona stayed in her same small town, caring for her sister after their mom left and dreaming of being a Hollywood costume designer. Dylan comes back to shoot a movie, and the same sparks fly from childhood.

As always, Blake packs a punch in what appears to be a standard sapphic romance. And while it is that, this book explores so much more. How we feel about ourselves. The things we do for those we love. Living up to others expectations and truly being ourselves, no matter the consequences. I absolutely adored this book! Dylan and Ramona's love story will live rent free in my head for a long time coming, and I can not WAIT to read the next in the series! Ashley Herring Blake has done it again, and I'm just thankful I'm along for the ride!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

This was a cute, queer, small town romance. Dylan and Ramona met as teens one summer in this lake town and had both of their first's kiss, but they never shared their names with each other. Dylan becomes a famous actress and does a movie that shoots back in that same lake town. Ramona is still living there, having dropped out of design school to care for her younger sister after her mom left and her dad was injured in a car accident. Her dream is to be a holly wood costume designer. When Dylan and Ramona run into each other, sparks fly, and Ramona sees an opportunity to finally get out of her small town.

This was pretty solid! I enjoyed reading it, but it isn't one I see myself reaching for or re-reading. I think the celebrity/regular romance is hard to pull off and parts of this felt blah to me. I would recommend if you like celebrity romance, small town romance, bisexual rep, and second chance romance! Overall 3 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for a review copy of this book--all opinions my own!

Not my favorite of AHB's books. It was fine but not great. Didn't really feel like the author had spent much time in New Hampshire, honestly.

Overall, I'm sure some folks are going to love it and the very spicy sex scenes but it was not my cup of tea

4.75 ⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

Ramona gave up her dream of costume design to help raise her sister. Years later, Olive is about to go to college and Ramona's best friend April is begging Ramona to take charge of her dreams again. Enter Dylan, the traim wreck of a star in a movie being filmed in Ramona's town. Only, this isn't the first time Dylan and Ramona have crossed paths.

I love the setting so much. Small town meets celebrity romance with a dash of second chance. Ramona is sunny and wholesome, and Dylan is messy but tries so hard. I wish Dylan's arc with her parents hadn't been so summarized, but I really enjoyed the resolution between Dylan and Ramona.

This was such a fun read, and I can't wait for the next Clover Lake book!

Thanks so much to @berkleypub for the opportunity to read and review.

It seems that fate has brought Ramona Riley and Dylan Monroe back together in Dream On, Ramona Riley after a chance encounter in their teenage years. Ashley Herring Blake weaves a tale bringing struggles of the past in conflict with the dreams of a better future for both Ramona and Dylan. Who do they want to be and how will they get there. With each other there is love, friendship, safety, and a lot of spice. Another wonderful read by Blake. Will recommend.

Ok I’m not gonna lie, small town romances aren’t normally my thing, BUT it worked so well for this story. The plot was well done, and the romance was incredibly sweet. I enjoyed the dual POV, where we really got to understand each fmc, and see their character progression throughout the story. Would 100% recommend giving it a read!

My god, Ashley Herring Blake has done it again. The way she writes sapphic love? Magnificent. The grand gestures? Absolutely swoonworthy. And the raw, believable characters? She could bottle that talent and sell it - but luckily for us, she binds it into books.

Ramona and Dylan are hot. Like, jaw-on-the-floor hot. The spicy scenes in this book? 10/10, no notes. But beyond the heat, they’re also messy and relatable in the best way. The fake dating element is present, but it gently steps aside to let their shared past take center stage - one of those “blip for some, life-changing for others” kind of histories. It’s the kind of connection that lingers, that gave each of them a light to hold on to when things were dark.

Watching them grow - together and individually - was such a joy. And I loved how the movie they were filming mirrored their emotional journeys, giving us this extra layer of reflection and resonance. Classic Ashley Herring Blake move, and it worked beautifully.

And of course, the side characters shine like always. April, Olive, even the parents - each one felt vibrant and alive. And Iris!! I squealed seeing her again. I cannot wait to read Get Real, April Evans the second it drops.

**Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ashley Herring Blake kicks off a new small town series with the second chance story of Ramona and Dylan, who met years ago and shared an evening of fireworks, but haven’t seen each other since. Now actor Dylan is in town to film a movie, and waitress Ramona is supposed to help her prep for the role. Sparks fly immediately but each of them is hiding some important truths, so will the sparks turn into a flame or fizzle out?

I absolutely love all of Ashley Herring Blake’s books and “Dream On Ramona Riley” was no exception. I was so excited to dive back into her writing and to an entirely new group of queer characters. “Dream On Ramona Riley” was an extremely enjoyable book and truly resonates with anyone who's ever had to put their dreams on hold. The main movie plot in this book being based on Iris's book is such a wonderful way to tie it all into the rest of her world. What I loved most about this book is how it explores the themes of rediscovery and the courage to chase your dreams, no matter how long they've been on the back burner. I loved the backstory with Ramona and Dylan, and also found myself falling in love with the secondary characters as well, especially April and Olive. Their relationship is so effortless even though they’ve both been dreaming about each other for 18 years. Ramona and Dylan have incredible chemistry and when they get to come together and...come together it is SO GOOD. OMG, their smut scene is one of my new favorites. It blew my mind. Steam was coming off of my kindle while I was reading it. I’m very excited to read the next one in this series. Thanks to Ashley Herring Blake, Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I will absolutely purchase a physical copy of this book when it publishes! . I'm already anxiously anticipating the next book following Ramona's tattoo artist best friend April who's still hung up on a life-altering one night stand from years ago.

While I enjoyed this one overall it wasn't my favorite by the author. The chemistry between the two heroines was undeniable and I did enjoy seeing the ways they came through for one another when it mattered. But the one-sided fake dating thing left a lot to be desired especially since they could have had a mutually beneficial one and then fall more in love along the way. This is one of the few romances where I understand the annoyance with the miscommunication trope.

One thing it did well was show the downside of being a celebrity. This made Dylan seem like a sympathetic character and she's probably the best depiction of a celebrity that I've read meaning showing all the layers and facets. I think that the mending of the relationship with her parents was a bit rushed (especially her dad) but I understand space limitation.

All that aside this was still a very enjoyable book and I loved how Dylan and Ramona fit together. Even with the deception they got each other on an emotional and physical level that sometimes takes years to master. And the way they reunited was super sweet.

Calling all second chance romance lovers - this book is the one for you! Blake has crafted a new world for us readers to fall in love with, and a new cast of characters to adore. Meet Ramona Riley - small town waitress with the artistic brain and talent, plus passion, for fashion and costume design - who selflessly put her dreams on pause to help her family out when they needed her most.

Enter: Dylan Monroe. Famous daughter of rock and roll legends, whose face gets splashed across the tabloids every chance they get. Messy, wild, chaotic - the labels they slap on her, scrutinizing her every move instead of giving her the chance to grow and be someone new.

But Dylan doesn't have to look too far to find someone more than willing to give her that chance. Thus ensues the rekindling of a fated, childhood romance that blossoms into something that reminds both Ramona and Dylan that second chances are very real, and worth every risk. Because if you're not willing to try, is there even a point?

What I have always loved about Blake's writing is how messy and relatable her characters are. They're not picture-perfect; they deal with hard, tough - excuse my language - shit in their lives, and they do it imperfectly. Their feelings, their hearts, their growth - it's all so real and vulnerable, you can't help but root for them with every turn of the page.

I loved Ramona's relationship with April and her sister, Olive, but I also wish we had seen more of each throughout the story. At times, both April and Olive were getting on my nerves, but that just shows you how great Blake's writing is!

And while I wasn't the biggest fan of the whole 'fated one kiss as teens means we're soulmates' storyline, I still enjoyed Ramona and Dylan's relationship. Their character development did leave me wanting more, but, for what it's worth, I think they were developed 'enough' for where the story ended up.

All in all, I had fun reading this (I'll always love Blake's steamy scenes!) and I'm excited to read April's story next!

I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. Ramona is bubbly and happy with her life, but with her sister graduating soon she knows it's time to start thinking about her next adventure. Dylan is spiky after years of being seen as the daughter of rock stars rather than as her own person. Ramona and Dylan met once as teenagers and now in their early 30's meet again. A 'summer of fun' quickly grows into real feelings that both are too scared to voice. Ramona's dreams are all coming true and Dylan's public image has never been better, but what happens when the other shoe drops?

This book is a wonderful romance from Blake. It’s sweet, sexy, relatable, and full of yearning. It’s a good start to a new series.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for my ARC!!

So I also read this one in one day, because I’m telling you I was ENTRENCHED in this book. And it was worth it!!! it was a super cute read!! I do love a good small town romance, especially when it has to do with a big city character. The book follows Dylan, and actress kind of in the trenches at the moment with life and work, and Ramona, an aspiring movie costume designer.
First of all, this dynamic was fantastic. I loved the way they were each other’s first kiss, but found had found a way back to eachother. It was mean to be!! One thing that stood out to me about this process though was that it was not automatic. This style of reconnection and love allowed it to really feel natural for me, given that the premise of the book kind of isn’t. I loved the element of the movie plot, it really allows for the exploration of both of the character’s thoughts and actions to be an in-depth process. To me, the small town element really allowed for us to get to know who Dylan and Ramona truly were. NOT TO MENTION THE SIDE CHARACTERS??? Olive and Marley?? APRIL??? LEIGH??? I am absolutely so invested in all of them, especially April and Leigh now that I know they’re the next book. Trust me they are so funny and such great additions to the cast. Also not to mention the cameos of a certain favorite past character…
Both Dylan and Ramona had truly compelling and emotional backstories that I’m so glad were there. Because this is not necessarily a realistic plot, this element of their struggles really allowed for the characters to be brought down to earth, but also relatable and humanized for the reader. ALSO THE STEAM??? Ashley. Herring. Blake. You have absolutely outdone yourself. This was absolutely steamy, sexy, smutty and just overall perfect. Like I was BEET RED, doing the phone throw at certain lines. Like Dylan Monroe the woman that you are.
Now here’s the deal…the miscommunication. There’s a huge chunk of that I won’t lie. And as you guys know it is my least favorite trope. HOWEVER!!! It WORKED HERE!! I thought it made sense given the prior experiences both Ramona and Dylan had with others and within their lives. Also they each had the goals that they needed to meet...so maybe it made sense they didn't tell each other about it?? I don't know it's slightly red flag, but oh well it worked out in the end.
I would consider this novel a pick me up, as after I read it I truly felt better. Like it just was a book that made me smile and feel bubbly and giggly. Please give this book a go!! I promise it’s worth it!!

🌟 Ashley Herring Blake does it again! 🌟

Every time I dive into one of her adult sapphic romances, I know I’m in for layered characters, electric chemistry, and a storyline that feels both fresh and full of heart. 💘

This time, we follow Dylan, a Hollywood actress trying to rebuild her image, and Ramona, a small-town local with big dreams of becoming a costume designer. What makes their story extra special? These two actually shared their first kiss at thirteen—and then never saw each other again. 👀💋 Now fate brings them back together in the most cinematic way: Dylan’s filming a movie in Ramona’s town, and sparks instantly fly. 🎬🔥

Both women come with complicated pasts—especially when it comes to their families—and I loved seeing how their histories shaped who they are today. Watching Dylan experience charming small-town life (and Ramona!) was such a joy. From cozy moments to red-hot chemistry in the steamy scenes... trust me, the heat level is off the charts. 🔥🌶️

Yes, there’s miscommunication and secrets being kept, which I’m usually not a huge fan of—but in this case, it made sense. It felt true to who these women were, and I really appreciated how they worked through everything with honesty and growth by the end. 💬💞

The epilogue wrapped things up perfectly—hopeful, romantic, and totally swoon-worthy. 🥰
If you love sapphic stories filled with heat, heart, and second-chance vibes, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR! 🏳️‍🌈💫

Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley for this *free* ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ashley Herring Blake’s Clover Lake series is off to a strong start with a tender, well-paced sapphic romance that feels like a soft exhale. While this is technically a love story, what stood out most to me wasn’t the romance itself, but everything orbiting it: grief, second chances, family ties, identity, and the way queerness finds its place in small-town spaces.

I was hooked from the first chapter, the pacing is just right. I binged it in two days!

Even though I didn’t necessarily relate to either of the main characters, I understood them deeply. Ramona and Dylan felt real: flawed, human, and shaped by everything they’ve carried. Ramona especially won me over. The way she stepped into a parent role after her mom left, giving up her art school dreams to raise her sister, was heartbreaking and admirable. I appreciated that Blake never framed her sacrifice as a loss—but still allowed her a shot at reclaiming her own life.

The romance had a lovely emotional throughline—especially the idea that their shared first kiss years ago could become something bigger and lasting. That kind of soft, full-circle payoff works really well here. I also loved the “movie within the book” setup. Dylan playing a version of Ramona in the film adaptation of an Iris Kelly Novel (the Iris cameo was a treat!) mirrored their own story in a way that added depth without feeling too on the nose. It helped Dylan see Ramona in a new light, which felt like an honest way to build intimacy.

That said, I wouldn’t call this a life-changing read, and that’s completely okay, sometimes I just want a fluffy RomCom. The story is thoughtful, well-written, and charming, but some of the dialogue occasionally pulled me out of the moment (though I know that’s just personal taste—“not today Satan” moments don’t always land for me). The miscommunications between Ramona and Dylan were frustrating, but in the way that real life can be frustrating: they made sense. Their choices felt grounded in their pasts, their fears, and their own healing journeys, which made the payoff satisfying even if the path was a bit bumpy. However, I did struggle with the dishonesty that was at play throughout the story, personally, I don’t think I would have felt confident in the viability of the relationship moving forward if I was involved but hey.

Plot-wise, it’s fairly predictable, but that didn’t bother me. It’s hitting all the right tropes—small-town romance, opposites attract, second chances—and honestly, that’s exactly what I wanted. Blake knows how to deliver on the cozy, satisfying beats while still layering in complexity, especially through family dynamics and personal growth. And she does a great job setting up the next book—April’s story already has my attention.

Oh also the smut was … crazy. A full star has been awarded for that alone. And I have a fanfic background.

If you’re looking for a heartfelt, queer small-town romance with layered characters and some really good not-vanilla smut, this is a lovely one to pick up. Not a five-star life-alterer, but a solid, warm, and meaningful story that knows exactly what it’s doing.

Ashley Herring Blake consistently writes some of the most delightful queer romance out there! I loved Ramona Riley and her dreams. The small-town setting was delightful; it made the perfect setting for Ramona to get a second chance with the woman -- now a movie star -- who was her first kiss many years ago. In turn, the setting is also perfect for Dylan, said movie star, to be the fish out of water. Ashley Herring Blake's supporting characters are always so well written and Ramona's sister Olive and best friend April (and even April's occasional hookup Leigh) are so well formed. I can't wait to read April's book! Oh, and it was super fun for Iris Kelly to have a cameo!

ARC Review: Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake
Pub Date: May 13, 2025

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the #free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #berkleypartner

Ramona Riley is from a sleepy New Hampshire town - Clover Lake. While she once had dreams of moving away and becoming a costume designer, she moved back to help her family and years later, she's still here. When a movie crew and actors come to Clover Lake, Ramona realizes that she has history with the star of the show, Dylan Monroe. Except Dylan doesn't seem to remember her. When Dylan enlists Ramona to help her be more of a convincing small town resident for the movie, the forced proximity causes them both to realize the spark that still exists. But there are many forces trying to keep them apart and Ramona really doesn't want to be the center of a media storm.

I ended up really liking this one, though I did struggle quite a bit in the beginning. I think there are just a lot of characters and I was having a hard time keeping track of who everyone was. I do think the pacing was just a beat slower in the beginning as well and I wasn't immediately invested in the story.

I do think both characters had a good amount of character growth throughout the book, though you definitely have to persevere through some dumb decisions that both make. While this isn't a new favorite for me, I did like it and did end up really liking the relationship between Dylan and Ramona and thought the ending was well done and felt realistic. I am excited for the next book with Ramona's friend!

DNF at 39%. I was excited for a new Ashley Herring Blake book, but I found this one very dull and hard to get into. Ramona as a character is all right, but I didn’t care for Dylan, and the romance didn’t grab me at all.