What to expect: second chance, brothers best friend, small town, college football coach, toxic/gaslighting ex & the effects, found family, he’s been pining for years

I enjoyed this book. Melody and Zack had good chemistry and enjoyed seeing how things progressed. I was a little put off at the start with her gaslighting ex and how it shaped her actions going forward but in the end I was cheering her on as she found her own confidence & strength.

this book was actually so cute and i loved the dynamics between melody and zac!! this book was filled with delicious banter and many laughing out loud moments. i also felt like the characters and storyline were very authentic and real. zac porter felt so relatable and i loved how melody helped him. 4.5 ⭐️

This was a super cute, spicy, second-chance, brother's best-friend, dual pov romance. I loved it so much. Zac is just so sappy, I wish I had a Zac for myself. Melody and Zac had feelings for one another when they were 18, but Zac does something and Melody goes away to the city to go to college and live her life. Her and Zac's reconnection is one that I really loved reading about.
Thank you NetGallery for the ARC.

Only in Your Dreams is a steamy second-chance romance between Melody and Zac. Their reconnection is full of emotion and personal growth as they navigate the complexities of their past. While the book has some explicit scenes, the connection between Melody and Zac is captivating. A few minor setting details might feel a bit off, but overall it's an engaging read. I received a copy of this book for review purposes.

I really enjoyed this story. The connection between Zac and Melody was so fun to read. I loved the tropes and how sweet Zac was.

While I enjoyed the story, I felt a if some of it was unnecessary and made the book a little too long.

I liked this book and this world and the setup the characters. It's one step too graphic for me and a little book-tok-y in the nature of the graphic-ness, but that's a personal preference. It was a little weird that this takes place on some mythical coast in who knows what country (probably the US because of the NFL reference) with just a "city" but reference to other football teams in Florida? But Zac and Melody are both likeable characters and you really are rooting for them to succeed. 3.5 rounded up.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley.

The story really dragged on, there was absolutely no need for it to be 500 pages long! Literally nothing happens for a majority of the book! I ended up skipping large chunks when I got 70% in. It was so obvious from the beginning why Zac left Melody 10 years ago and so it was just dragged out unnecessarily

Only in your Dreams
The dynamic between Zac and Melody I loved. Zac was portrayed in such a loving and caring manner. I loved how the book opened up with the moment that ultimately changed Zac and Melody's life. I didn't quite understand it but it all came together as I read more and more. The book fast forward to 10 years later. Melody is back home after a break up and trying to her life back together. Realizing that maybe where she was was not exactly where she wanted to be. When her brother can't make it to a camping trip Melody is tasked with going. The trip allows her to begin to reconnect with Zac. Only in your Dreams gave you the the angst, the love and the dirty talk. Who knew our boy Zac had it in him. The way the relationship evolved and how we got witness every single moment that has affected them past, present and future. IT goes to show that if he simply wanted to he would.
The way the book touched base on how a relationship doesn't have to be violent in the physical sense to be toxic but that also being with a narcissistic individual can be damaging to someones self esteem. The the eye opening moment Melody has when she realizes what her life really was like prior to moving away. The simple fact that she can work on herself and make herself a better person speaks volumes, Ellie K Wilde Only in your Dreams was my first read from you but it will definitely not be mu last. I can not wait to read Brook's story.

“Only in Your Dreams” by Elle K. Wilde

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

this is a fun, spicy, tender romance! Melody is such a sweet, exciting character. I love the way she works through realizing how unhealthy her last relationship was to find her true voice and passions. she’s such a strong and loving character, I loved watching her grow in this story.

and Zac is the most down bad, boy obsessed MMC ever! I love how he falls right back in love with Melody the minute he sees her again then spend the whole book trying to support her and love her in the way she deserves, all while trying to finally get his chance with her. even through the miscommunication and mishaps of the past, he won’t let anything stop him from trying to get the love of his life and it’s magical to read 🥹

things & stuff
- open door
- second chance (ish)
- brothers best friend
- lost in the woods/camping
- sharing a tent
- secret tattoo
- no third act breakup
- dual pov

thank you so much @atriabooks for the arc!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ellie K. Wilde is a new author for me and I would absolutely pick up another book by her.

Only in Your Dreams is the first in a series and features a second chance romance between Zac and Melody. They've known one another for fourteen years, but after an incident ten years ago they've lost touch. They're forced back together when Melody's twin brother, Parker, backs out of a camping trip and convinces her to take his place. Melody arrives at the campsite and ends up sharing a tent with Zac, Parker'a best friend. They are both shocked to see one another and have very different feelings about it!

Melody is fresh off a breakup that she's only beginning to process. Zac is a struggling college football coach with dreams of the life he thinks has slipped through his fingers. I found them to be sweet and more complex than I expected. This is a slow burn with a lot of spice towards the end of the book. If verbal abuse, gaslighting, alcohol abuse or mild violence are triggers for you, I'd recommend skipping this one. None of the above occur between Melody and Zac.

I hope this series continues because I would love to see HEAs for the friends in the book!

This was cute! My first work by this author and it was light and fun.

It’s definitely a little cliché at times and pretty heavy on the tropes, but overall it was fun.

I liked Melody, and I liked that she was kind of a grumpy, snarky character. She’s also like recalibrating her life after a long term relationship and evaluating where she is in the world and where she is personally, in relation to her original dreams. And I think that makes her incredibly relatable to any woman. She’s also freaking oblivious to the fact Zac’s been in love with her since they met, which is something that just drives me crazy!

Obviously I love a dual POV, I think it adds a lot to the story to get both character’s perspectives. And both these characters were kind of dumb, but in a sweet way.

I have to say, there were a few times it was just kind of cringe. Like I love an MMC who’s obsessed, but Zac was a little over the top. And for a guy who literally didn’t talk to her for 10 years, he kind of planned his life around her.

And Zac was so sweet, but he is so clearly a man written by a woman. He felt very 2-dimensional to me. Beyond his love for Melody, I feel like I know nothing about him.

Oakwood as a town felt so bizarre to me? Like it’s a small, coastal town but also has a huge college with a stellar football team. But it’s small enough that everyone knows everyone? Idk, it was maybe just a pet peeve of mine.

Connor the ex felt a bit like a caricature of a gas-lighter, and I knew as soon as the breakup scene flashback happened that we would be seeing him again.

Overall, it didn’t feel entirely new but it was a cute, lovey-dovey, quick read!


Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this one! I think that while I loved it, they also annoyed me. Like what do you mean it's been a decade and now you're still not telling each other everything?! Like don't waste anymore time!! I really loved their chemistry and I loved how obsessed Zac was with Melody. I really did enjoy this one, but something was missing for me. I don't know if I just didn't love the slow burn part of them admitting their feelings or what. Either way, it was a fun book and I ate up their romance and spice.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance reader copy of Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde. This story has a way of making you laugh out loud one moment and swoon the next with characters who feel like friends and a love story that will make your heart flutter.

I loved the banter and the charming twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. The chemistry between the leads was electric, and I couldn’t help but cheer for their happily ever after.

While a few parts felt slightly predictable, it didn’t take away from the overall charm of the book.

🏈Review🏈
4🌟
📖Book: 8/78
📚 Title:
Only in Your Dreams
✍️Author: Ellie K. Wilde
📄Pages: 431
💫Genre:
🏈Fiction•Romance
🟤Pub. Date: Today
••••••••••••••••••••••••
📝Synopsis 📝
Melody, aka Clover, is back home after living 6 years in a manipulative relationship. Zac, her brother’s best friend has held a torch for her for 14 years is happy she’s back. The problem is he left her hanging one night, and she’s never forgiven him for it. How will he ever win her back???

💭My Thoughts 💭
This was such a cute sports romance that I didn’t know I needed. Melody and Zac’s tension was spot on, and I’m not a big fan of slow burns but the plot and fluff in between had me all in. This was such a fun read, and I enjoyed his journey to conquer the girl so much.

🏈Sports Romance
🏈Brother’s Best Friend
🏈2nd Chance
🏈HEA

✨QOTD✨
What football books do you recommend?
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Thank you so much @netgalley
and @atriabooks for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review.
•••••••••••••••••••••••
#bookstagrammer #sportsromance #bookstacommunity
#bookreview #romancebooks #netgalleyreview #bookrecommendations #netgalleyreviewer #bookworms #bibliophile

The perfect blend of sweet and spicy! You will love this story if you are a fan of sports/football romance, brother's best friend, secret romance, second chance romance, forced proximity, and small town romance. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely love a good sports romance and Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wild is no exception. When Melody's abusive (ie mental abuse) boyfriend breaks up with her, she must leave the city to move back with her twin brother until she can afford a place of her own. That also means she will most likely see Zac again, her brother’s best friend and the boy she’s been in love with since high school…who also left her the night she finally broke down and asked for a kiss.

This was an insanely cute football romance that was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. You can instantly feel the emotion between the two MCs. Banter is funny and refreshing and makes you laugh out loud. The angst and yearning are top tier and one of my favorite things about dual POV books.

I especially loved Melody’s journey and the self healing she is able to accomplish with the full support of her friends and family…something she never had with her ex. This book is full of VIBES and I ate every single one of them up.

Check this book out if you love
🏈Second chance romance
🏈Brother’s best friend
🏈Forced proximity
🏈Small town romance
🏈Secret Relationship
🏈He fell first/He fell harder
🏈Sports Romance

A very special thank you to NetGalley, Atria books, and the author for this e-ARC!

Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde is the first book in the Oakwood Bay Series. This is Melody and Zac’s story.
 
This story is a brother‘s best friend second chance romance and Melody and Zac always liked each other and there was a moment that could have been more but never came off it. I felt their sparks from the beginning but there was a lot of back and forth.
 
Melody had a good life looking at it from the outside but in reality, her relationship was horrible, and her ex kept her controlled and small. I liked how this book brought such a toxic relationship to life and how Melody grows from it and looks for her own happiness again. She does her brother a favor and takes over his place in a camping trip and that’s when she meets Zac again.
 
Zac is a college football coach and he always regretted not making a move on Melody and he unexpectedly gets a second chance. He is enamored with Melody and does everything to win her over which was sweet but at times he seemed rather desperate.
 
Melody and Zac have so much chemistry and the tension between them is unreal and that also led to some very nice spicy scenes. Both characters denied each other's love and I loved seeing how they shattered their walls to finally be together. The book is a rollercoaster of emotions and that kept me invested the whole time.
 
If you also like the brother‘s best friend trope, you need to check out this book. 4 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

If you’re looking for a book with pining and the characters have history, pick this one up. The banter? The pining? The it’s-always-been-you? I’ll always be a sucker for these.
I adored that Melody was the grumpy one, and so did Zac. These two have been in each other’s lives since they were fourteen and now at twenty-eight it looks like they might have a chance at getting things right. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book for Brooks story.

I enjoyed reading Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

3.75/5 stars
I needed a fluffy sports romance book to help chase away the winter blues, and this one fit perfectly! It was sweet, charming, and had amazing banter. I love a brother's best friend trope and Zac was the perfect candidate. Zac and Melody had tensions, steam, and amazing support through their friend groups to help them navigate some emotionally difficult situations.