Ahhh I absolutely loved this book. I was in the mood for an easy comfort read but this turned out to be so much more🩵

Zac & Melody are everything. They are so perfect for each other. I loved this friends to lovers second chance romance. The perfect combination of banter with swoon worthy moments. They are honestly the exact definition of down bad for each other- yes I googled down bad 🤣

I loved this one from the beginning. The tension is palpable between these two. From the flashback to high school Zac & Mel to them in the woods all these years later I was hooked from the first few chapters 🤭🔥

I loved the way the author was able to convey the FMC journey recognizing the healing from past toxic relationships. The honest and open communication was so refreshing & when they weren’t there were good reasons and I didn’t find myself frustrated with either character during this slow burn - it just felt real. I loved how they created a safe space for one another.

Add in a side of duel POV, brothers best friend, one bed (tent hehe), fake dating, football and found family - This had all the tropes and feels you want and more.

I also CANNOT wait for the next book in series. Give me some comeback Brooks baby 🏈

You know, this was a sneaky book. When I started it, I almost DNFed during the first few chapters because I wasn’t vibing with the writing style. But I’m glad I powered through because it ended up being a fun read!

I liked the dual POVs. I found the chemistry and sweet moments between the two MCs to be very cute. I liked the backstory added and the real world issues addressed that gave the story depth. And, by my admittedly low standards, it was VERY steamy.

I thought things were worked out a bit too easily however. I guess it’s a romance and there’s a happily ever after so things have to be resolved and yadda yadda. But some struggles should have been delved into and dealt with more in my opinion. Overall though, I thought this was adorable and I liked it!

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the ARC. Only in Your Dreams is out today!

Ok I’m making it my mission to own every single book written by Wilde!
Only in Your Dreams is book one in the new series Oakwood Bay.
And I’m obsessed!
I can’t wait to get my hands on book two Only Between Us!

Childhood Crushes, Second-Chance Romance, and Brother's Best Friend? This is SUCH a cute, easy read. Oh and Zac Porter is an A+ book boyfriend.

For Zac, Melody Woods has always been the one who got away. When she returns to their small town ten years later after ending a toxic six-year relationship, Zac is determined to show her she deserves love and help her chase her dreams—even if those dreams don’t include him. In this spicy small-town, sports romance, Zac juggles proving his love, reviving his struggling college coaching career, and dealing with Melody’s protective brother. Meanwhile, Melody must decide if she’s ready to trust Zac—and her heart—again.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ellie K. Wilde for granting me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

Only in Your Dreams is the rom-com you didn’t know you needed! Ellie K. Wilde serves up dreamy characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a love story so sweet it’s practically dessert. It’s like a cozy blanket, and your favorite sitcom had a book, baby. Warning: May cause spontaneous giggles and an uncontrollable urge to root for happily ever afters!

Melody Woods is back in her hometown after 10 years. She just suffered a bad breakup which leaves her with many questions. Living with her brother, he convinces her to take his spot on an annual camping trip with the one guy she has spent the last decade avoiding. Zac Porter has loved Melody since they were 14 but he mucked it up badly 10 years ago. When Melody shows up to camp, he realizes he needs to seize the opportunity to show her how he feels.

Only In Your Dreams. Wow! I wasn't really sure what to expect but this went beyond my expectations. Sizzling tension and lots of spice. The connection between Melody and Zac was something else. They both have growth in this book and there is a very happy ending.

TW: Melody was gaslit by her ex and it comes to light in the book.


Thank you to Atria Books, Ellie K Wilde, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

🏈Sports Romance
🏈Brother’s Best Friend
🏈Forced Proximity
🏈Second Chance

I enjoyed this book, I do feel like it dragged a little at times and could have been shorter because it lost my interest occasionally. That being said I did enjoy the overall story. I loved how Zac always pined over Melody and for him its always been her. His whole world revolves around her and I loved watching him become overprotective and all “you’re mine” at times. The spicy scenes were great and I loved the camping portion 😏. I feel like the reason they stopped talking and didn’t end up together in the first place was weak but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ellie K Wilde for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Melody is back in Oakwood Bay after swearing to never return to her hometown. But after an unexpected breakup with her emotionally abusive boyfriend, she has nowhere else to turn but her brother Parker. When he tricks her into taking his place on the group camping trip, she gets stranded with the guy she's been trying to avoid for ten years.
Zac made the worst mistake of his life walking away from Melody ten years ago. Now that she's back in town, even temporarily, he's determined not to make the same mistake again. He's been secretly in love with her this whole time, unable to let go. He has to find a way to make her give him another chance, but she keeps trying to shove him back into the friend zone.
This book is full of secret longings, angst, and lots of spice. Melody is the grump trying to be the supportive and sunny one while Zac has turned from sunshine to moodiness over the years. It was fun to watch his happy personality come back throughout the book. He's such a cinnamon roll character showing his love in small ways that are so sweet without trying to freak her out. The red shoestring <sigh> just wow!.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While not my favorite sports romance I’ve read, I felt it was a quick and lighthearted read to start the year off. I think this is a good book for someone who is trying to get back into reading and is starting to get into sports romances. Thank you Atria for inviting me to read!

Happy Pub Day to Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde

“It’s always been you.”

After a messy break-up from a bad relationship, Melody finds herself back in her small hometown, trying to rebuild her life and reclaim her confidence.  The only problem, after 10 years of not seeing or speaking to Zac, now there is no way to avoid her brother’s best friend and her first crush.  Especially when her brother Parker forces her to go on the friends camping trip.  To make matters worse a storm strands the two together and the tension builds.

I liked watching Melody find herself and learn to trust herself and others again.  I loved that Zac is protective, but not in a controlling way like her ex and found loving ways to help her with no agenda like all the lip balm.  I enjoyed their banter and the spice.  And I loved the addition Noah brought, showing even more of Zac’s caring side and what could be their future.

I just didn’t really understand the fake dating Brooks part as much.  I mean, y’all are adults, so just have the conversations that need to be had, especially when they are so easy as we eventually see.  Though I did like that there was no third act break-up and found the twist in secrets at the end kind of funny.

“Get her happy. Keep her happy.”

If you are a fan of sports romance, then I recommend this one…and lucky you, it is out today!

Thank you to Ellie K. Wilde, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Excited to read the rest of this series and see characters like Brooks, Parker, and Summer hopefully get their HEAs as well!

Holy Moly!

I knew I was in for a good romance book with this one, but I didn't except it to be as good as spicy as this one.

The tension between Melody and Zak is to die for.

This is THE second chance romance book. The best I've ever read so far.
Zac really loves this girl. He's been pining for her for fourteen years. They way they struggled while being apart for ten years after what happened before she left for college, and they way they fell in love all over again once she came back, heartbroken, was a masterpiece.

Zac really is a fantastic MMC, the way he gives Melody space, room to breathe and make her realise how a woman really should be treated in a relationship should really be anybody's goal.
How he put himself and his feelings aside to help her, to have her flourish, to free herself of everything she's left behind, a terrible job, a manipulative ex-boyfriend, and a life where she felt something big was missing. The something that big was in the shape of a big, kind university football coach, that she has known - and loved- for half her life.

The rest of the gang is hilarious as well, and the revelation at the end, with the bet Summer and Parker had going on was fantastic and I really did not see it coming, which made it a lot more funnier.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: January 21, 2025

Chemistry is dripping off the pages in this steamy second chance, open door sports romance. This read was a breath of fresh air after a few duds to start off the year, and had me hooked from the prologue! I was really rooting for our MCs, the football aspects were well done, and there was a great cast of supporting characters. Anyone who reads this won’t be surprised to learn there will be a second book featuring Brooks as the MMC!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC of Only In Your Dreams!

I thought this was very sweet, and I really liked Zac’s character. However at times the pacing was a bit confusing, especially in the beginning. The characters reconnected after 10 years and she’s just a jerk to him, and he is acting completely normal?

However I did like how they helped each other heal; he taught her that not all guys are manipulative, love bombing a—holes. And she taught him how to be vulnerable and more open. I thought this was cute, spicy and a very fun read. 3.5

This started out so cute! It was funny, the characters were nice to each other, etc., etc., and then we got to the ~big reveal~ as to why our two main characters haven't spoken for ten years, and it was the silliest thing on the planet.
There was absolutely no reason for that to happen. At all. Ten years? For that? Good God. Please communicate.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

4⭐️
Only in Your Dreams was the perfect culmination of like 4 different tropes. Forbidden best friend’s sister, only one bed (tent?), fake dating, and second chance romance (and also a lot of miscommunication so warning if that bothers you). I truly was rooting for the main characters to get past all their issues and just get to be happy together. On the other hand, a lot of the trouble they were running into felt authentic and organic to the story and not forced. I enjoyed their chemistry and thought there was a good balance of spicy to non-spicy scenes.

Also, I loved these cast of characters we were given and can’t wait to see them more flushed out in future books in the series. I do think Parker could’ve been a little more explored since he was supposed to be Melody’s twin and they didn’t really interact much in the book.

Overall, I had a really fun time reading this book and finished it in a day. I definitely recommend!

I am OBSESSED with Zac Porter. Like, seriously. Ellie K. Wilde is singlehandedly reviving the art of male yearning, and I could not be more here for it. When I say I want to read about male yearning, I mean I need a man so head-over-heels in love that it’s painfully obvious from page one. Groveling? Check. Begging? Check. A laundry list of all the ways he adores her? Zac Porter said, “Hold my hammer,” and nailed every single one.

Zac was everything Melody needed and more. After she got out of such a controlling, love-bombing relationship, Zac gave her the space to heal, process, and move forward on her terms. He didn’t rush her or try to fix her—he just supported her and made sure she knew how badass and amazing she was every step of the way. It was so refreshing to see a love interest who not only respected boundaries but celebrated them.

The way Wilde handled Melody’s healing journey was chef’s kiss. It felt so real and honest. Watching Melody rediscover herself and realize she never stopped loving Zac was beautiful. Their communication and her ability to set healthy boundaries made their relationship feel so much stronger.

And don’t even get me started on the house Zac built her. HER DREAM HOUSE from her freaking vision board?! Leaving everything blank so she could fill it with what she loved? Like, come on! How could anyone not swoon? That level of thoughtfulness is what romance dreams are made of.

This book was everything I wanted and more. I cannot recommend Only In Your Dreams enough. If you’re craving a story with healing, love, and a man who will do absolutely anything for the woman he loves, this is it.

Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for reaching out with the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good sports romance and Only in Your Dreams did not let me down. A brothers best friend, forced proximity, second chance, friend to lovers book. The tropes were troping 👏🏽
I felt like this was a fun read, with spice. 🌶️ However, if you’re not a fan of spice, you could easily skim chapters and still not lose out on the core of the story.
I enjoyed Melody’s character progression of finding herself again after her previous relationship, and felt like it was well written.
I’m looking forward to future books within the series!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
3.75 stars
I love a little second chance romance, sports romance, brother’s BFF trope! This was a fun read with great characters. It was a little too long for me, but I did enjoy it. I would read the rest of the series!

4.5⭐️ this was so so adorable and i ate it up. every single bit.

i was a bit wary going in because i saw the words "second chance" throw around but it didnt feel like second chance to me. the characters never actually date and only have a misunderstanding as teens which leads to them not speaking... typical miscommunication things. but i absolutely devoured this. from the brother's best friend to the childhood crush to the boy obsessed, i loved these tropes and how they worked with each other. oh and when i say boy obsessed? i mean OBSESSED 🤌🤌🩷🩷

i loved melody so so so so much. her development from leaving her emotionally abusive relationship and growing into her own person and learning to take control of her own life was so amazing to read and i thought i was done so well. she was the perfect mix of sweet and so stubborn and she made their banter so so hilarious. i loved how she learned that she needed to put herself first and figured herself out before her and zac started anything and he respected that. SELF LOVE QUEEN👏👏👏

zac porter. this man. is so boyfriend. he is literally obsessed with her from page 1 and continues throughout the whole story. where he really got me was THE FLIPPING HOUSE?? LIKE OH MY GOD THIS MAN😭😭 and their little traditional and his "clover" nickname like end me now. i need what they have. he was so understanding of her need to find herself and not have assistance while also be so supportive and always there for her and UGH. hey siri where can i find zac porter?

this book just gave me countless spouts of butterflies and was so so so adorable and so sickly sweet i loved them so much. thank you netgalley for this ARC!!