Friends to lovers slow burn romance. Mel reunites with her twin brother’s best friend after 10 years of separation. This is a good book for lovers of small towns and football.

Only in your dreams is the perfect small town second chance sports romance.

The book starts with a small chapter letting us see what happened that caused these 2 inseparable teens to drift apart for 10 years. Melanie comes back to town 10 years later to the town she left and the boy she hasn’t seen since then. Zach has gone from a high school football star to now a college football coach. But although things have changed, Melanie is still the girl that got away.

I really loved this story! It had all the favorite romance tropes but even beyond that had some very deep topics. I loved seeing the growth both characters had an the way they helped heal each others hearts. I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read with lots of heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC

Instagram review scheduled for 1/12/25

The first book of the year where i literally could not put down for 70% of the book🥹🥹🥹

This was one of the cutest sports romances I’ve ever read, and I am forever thankful for the NetGalley ARC.

Melody & Zac are two people who have to grow apart before coming together, and when they do, it is so heartwarming to watch them. To stop from more spoilers, pls just read this book. Vibes 15/5

3.5 stars- Only in Your Dreams was a swoony romance about childhood best friends who went separate ways after a misunderstood night 10 years ago. Flash forward to the present day and Melanie is back in her hometown after being dumped by big time, narcissistic, ex-boyfriend Connor. On her first weekend back her twin brother forces her to go on a camping trip with the same man who broke her heart all those years ago. As the story progresses, we get to see Melanie and Zac heal with each other and reconnect as the people that are today.

This book was a really cute story, and I loved all the ways that Zac went above and beyond to help Melanie heal from the way Connor treated her. In general, Zac made every character feel special and he has just the kindest heart. I especially loved his relationship with the star quarterback of the college team he coached, Noah. Melanie was a strong and snarky fmc and it was nice seeing how she developed through the book. Zac and Melanie are a great example of characters that grew WITH each other in a book.

While I enjoyed this book, parts of it did feel lacking for me. For example, the beginning just felt very abrupt? I think because we didn’t really get to see how they acted before “that night” I didn’t feel the connection at first and it was a tad insta-lovey. At times, the side characters intrigued me more than the main couple and that’s always a bummer when I’m reading a book.

This was a classic, cheesy, unrealistic, contemporary romance. If you go in with those expectations then this book is going to be a good time.

This is my first sport romance novel and it won't be my last!

I devoured this book! Once I started I had to finish Zac and Melody’s story.

This is a sort of second chance book. I won't say second chances since they never got a real first chance.

Brothers best friend? Say no more and give it to me!

I will say I wanted me about the characters and their background but that's just me being fully involved in the story!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

4 stars for Only in Your Dreams! I really enjoyed this second chance romance and the love story between the two characters, Melody and Zac, but a few things kept this from being five stars for me. Melody and Zac went ten years without speaking, and once the reason why was finally revealed about 80-85% into the book, the reason was so anti-climactic. It was not a big deal at all and could have been resolved so easily! Second, I didn't like how the characters jumped back into a secretive, very physical relationship without discussing why they didn't speak for so long.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Only in Your Dreams is available on January 21, 2025.

If you love second-chance romance with a pining MMC and oblivious FMC - this book is for you! I've never really been into the whole "sports romance" field (no pun intended), but I really enjoyed this.

With no third-act breakup and LOTS of angst, this was such a charming, quick read. The banter between characters was unmatched, I felt at parts like I was actually watching it play in my head as if it was a movie (it was cute, ngl).

Zac is fiercely protective, sweet and utterly obsessed with Melody (I mean, over 10 years of this obsession with her but you'll have to read to find out why) and when she shows back up in their small town - IT IS ON. Melody is just coming down from a narcissistic-filled break up, but watching her confidence rebuild was amazing to see. The sweet AF things Zac does for/to Melody is perfect for this lil romance novel, and the toss up between slow + fast paced was ideal for me. I loved the two together, and honestly I need a story with Summer (her best friend) and Parker (her brother + Zac's BFF) ASAP.

I'll be honest, the REASONING behind Zac "not reaching out" after their fated night (which you'll read about in the first chapter) was weak AF, and I was hoping for something more especially with him being described as he is. I mean, come on, I shouldn't be wishing for a tragedy but that would have soothed so much lmfao. ANYWAY. The book ends with a very HEA, so it's not for naught.

If you enjoy these tropes, you'll love this book:

✨ Second chance
✨ Brother’s best friend
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Small-town romance
✨ "It’s always been you"
✨ Sneaking around
✨ Fake dating
✨ Protective MMC

Thank you NetGalley + Atria Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was super cute!! I enjoyed the friends to enemies to lovers vibe. Zac and Melly had such complicated history and I enjoyed getting to the root of it. The tension and sneaking around was so fun. And the way they played house with Noah and always remained close to him. Wi ty that being said I really wish we would have gotten to see Zac go on the interview with Noah and and have Noah thank Zac or something. But seeing that they were still close in the epilogue was so sweet. I liked the twist of having Brooks fake date her while they were sneaking around. And then toss in the ‘they don’t know that we know’ situation…I was cackling.

All in all a super cute story

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Finding herself at the end of a long term relationship, Melody finds herself back where she never thought she would venture - back in her small hometown, rooming with her brother. 10 years after a life changing night, Melody knows she must avoid Zac like the plague, but when her brother bails on a camping trip with friends she find herself sharing a tent with none other than Zac. With hardships of his own, Zac knows this is his only opportunity to repair what has been broken in hopes he can mend the errors of the past.

I absolutely loved this book! The plot seemed fairly plausible and took a turn I hadn't seen coming pretty early on which led to some of my favorite antics in the entire book. Getting to see the characters grow from beginning to end with the spice added in to enhance the moments really put it over the top and placed into one of my favorite books of the year (so far). Cannot wait to see what else Ellie has in store for us!

This was a great second chance, brother’s best friend read! Great banter, great spice. My first by this author but won’t be the last!

4.5/5

This book wasn’t really on my radar until I saw a couple posts on Bookstagram about it, so I hopped on NetGalley to request. Ya girl loves a sports romance and this one had more depth than many. When things heated up in the first few chapters, I worried about where it was going- but I wasn’t disappointed! Second chance, child hood friends, brothers best friend trifecta! Heartwarming but also hella spicy. It reminded me of the Knockemout series which I loved!

LOVED this book. Can’t-stop-thinking-about-it, highlighting-every-other-line! If you love small-town, second-chance romance with ALL the feels, Only in Your Dreams is for you. 🥰✨

Melody is back in her small hometown, trying to rebuild her life after a messy breakup, when Zac, the one that away, re-enters the picture. He’s her brother’s best friend, her first love, and the guy who’s been pining for her for a DECADE. Cue forced proximity in the wilderness, sneaky moments that will make you giggle and blush, and all the 'it’s always been you'.

Tropes To Be Excited For!
💕 Second chance
😍 Brother’s best friend
🌲 Forced proximity (in the wilderness!!!)
🤫 Fake dating
🛠️ Healing + emotional growth

Zac is the protective MMC of your dreams. Melody? Loved following her journey as she was able to find herself! Watching her reclaim her confidence and shine on her own terms had me rooting for her so hard.

Their chemistry?🔥 The banter? Top-notch. Wilde knows how to balance the spice with the heart, and I am HERE FOR IT.

LOVED that there was not third-act breakup. And it had the perfect mix of angst, sweetness, and spice. That HEA?? Happy tears!

I didn't LOVE the reason for their decade-long silence? Have you heard of texting? A couple of slower pacing moments, but honestly, loved it overall. Also don't love: clover tattoos, you'll get it soon enough.

If you’re a sucker for second-chance romances with protective MMCs, messy-but-relatable heroines, and tropes on tropes, this is IT.

TW: Emotional Abuse

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC of Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde!

#OnlyInYourDreams #EllieKWilde #SecondChanceRomance #BanterAndSpice

Another indie gem that is going trad!! 🥹 I was intrigued by the summary and feeling a sports romance so it felt like the perfect time to pick this up!

Melody and Zac were both so endearing and sweet to each other. OIYD is a second chance, (twin) brother’s best friend romance set in the world of college football. It was perfectly tropey in the best way.

My only complaint was it was maybe a bit longer than it needed to be. There was a lot happening in the beginning, and while entertaining, felt a little disjointed from the middle and end!

Thank you to Atria for the advanced copy! 🫶🏼

Zac and Melody had such a sweet relationship. Their connection and chemistry was easy to feel off the page. What I especially loved was the balance we got. There were spicy moments but we also got a lot of good heart warming moments. They truly brought out the best in each other and were committed to being their through thick and thin. (Also the found family feel with Noah had me swooning 😍)

However my problem with the story/ what is stopping it from being a five star is weirdly the background details. The love bombing, the “forced” proximity while camping, the reason they got stranded, it all just seemed a bit overdone and unnecessary.

Read if you love:
💙 Second chance
💖 Brother’s best friend
⛺️ Forced proximity
👩‍❤️‍👨 Fake dating
🌶️ Spice

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.75 ⭐️

My favorite thing about this book was the snark and sass! I love nothing more than good sarcastic banter between characters! Also, the way the MMC showed his love through both grand gestures and small actions… *swoon*!

What I didn’t love, or maybe just never quite understand in books, was the major miscommunication between so many characters. And for 10 years?!? Eek! This book was a great example of why talking about things with people in your life is so important!

Overall, I did enjoy reading this book sweet and funny, though also heavy, romance! Thank you Net Galley and publishers for the advanced copy! (Note: Check out the content warnings before reading.)

small town romance? give me MORE. brothers best friend? hell yeah! I loved this sweet 2nd chance romance and fell In Love with the sweet MMC for giving the FMC space to figure her self out and waiting for her since childhood. the only thing I didn't love was that I thought it was a little long for the story line and could have been a bit shorter than what it was. the FMC did make me annoyed at times but felt she was justified for her action based off of her ex. over all a fun and easy going read that I would read on vacation or need a refreshing book that not as heavy.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Atria for sending me this arc for an honest review.

I had so much fun reading this, it was a little heavy at first with the FMC’s current situation/past relationship. But the MMC was such a walking green flag, it was perfect. I can’t recommend it enough.

Tropes:
Brother’s best friend
Childhood friends to lovers
Touch him/her and die

This was my first book by Ellie Wilde, and I found it to be an enjoyable read! Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The story didn’t require intense focus, which made it a light and easy read. While some parts felt a bit lackluster, the romance between Zac and Melody "Clover" was the highlight for me.

Zac, Clover, and her twin brother Parker were inseparable growing up. Zac and Clover clearly had feelings for each other, but Parker’s overprotectiveness made it impossible for Zac to act on his feelings. Parker’s threat to anyone showing interest in his sister kept Zac at a distance, even when Clover attempted to take their relationship further at 18. Instead of reciprocating, Zac ran—putting 15 years and a lot of emotional distance between them.

Fast forward 15 years, and Melody is recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship. She moves back to her hometown and in with her brother, Parker. When Parker sends her on a camping trip with Zac in his place, the trip is filled with intense sexual tension.

Once back home, Zac and Melody finally begin dating, but they’re forced to keep their relationship a secret from Parker.

Melody was a relatable character for me, especially because her experiences mirrored some of my own. Her journey felt authentic and grounded. Zac, however, was harder for me to connect with. While I do love a die-hard romantic, he reminded me a lot of Niles Crane from Frasier—his character lacked depth beyond his obsession with Melody, and I wish we had gotten to know him better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and its focus on love, second chances, and personal growth. Thank you to Ellie Wilde, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I loved this storyline and it had some of my favorite tropes!! But I had a hard time really falling in love with the characters..

Unfortunately, this book fell absolutely flat for me. The prologue started off so amazingly well, but as soon as modern-day picked up, I was bored and unimpressed. The FMC was annoying, whiney and I could not relate to her or emphasize with her. The MMC clearly didn't have a backbone and seemed so lackluster by literally doing nothing with his life all for a girl that he didn't even have the guts to talk to until 5 years later and then another 5 years after that?!
I felt so disappointed to learn that the reason why he didn't come back in the prologue was because of Parker - but mostly I was bugged that he lost both of them that night!! And still did NOTHING about it for 5 years! Just a major red-flag for me in real life, so why should I think that that creates a great MMC in a book I'm reading?
Overall, really disappointing and sad. The premise of brother's best friend and a football coach was so alluring but absolutely was not there.