if he doesn't love you the way Preston loves Effy, then he doesn't deserve you.

Returning to this world and these characters gave me just the loveliest floating-on-air feeling. I thought book one was a finality, so it truly was like a dream to read. I might still be dreaming if I'm honest. Oh, how I miss them already.

Ava Reid's writing is unlike any other, and she makes you believe in magic and and love. This book is much slower than book one. There aren't as many huge moments and gut-punching action, and remains very character driven throughout the whole book. But it had all the same whimsy, folkloric mysteries that just leaves you unable to put the book down.

Now that Effy and Preston are out of immediate danger, they've moved on from the "honeymoon" phase of book one, and are now dealing with their own insecurities (feeling like a burden, feeling as though they aren't good enough for the other, etc). While Effy is dealing with her own trials and tribulations, this book felt like it was more Preston's story, as he is the one dealing with new magic, and Effy is without the Fairy King. But Ava Reid is queen for showing us their growth as a couple and as individuals, and proves how love truly conquers all evil.

I can not believe i got the arc for this sequel. this was the highlight of 2024 for me. thank you so much Harper Collins!

This book is just as beautiful as the first and even more tragic. I can’t explain but this story broke me in so many different ways but again showed such a realistic view of healing and living with trauma. I love this duology so much.

thank you sooo much netgalley & harpercollins !!!

ava reid’s writing is truly unlike anything i have ever read before … it’s so so beautiful & so detailed that when i read one of her books i’m truly lost in the story … this one was no different!

getting to be back with effy & preston made my heart BURST & can i just say… welcome back marianne & connell bc that’s exactly who they remind me of

the struggle with mental health, the political messaging, the world building… it’s all just perfect to a T

i originally gave a study in drowning 3.5 stars because i really wanted preston’s pov so i was very excited for this one bc we got to see into his brain & it did NOT disappoint … i def think it made the book sooo much better & gave it a lot more depth

the only thing i didn’t like about this (& was also a problem in asid for me) was the fantasy elements.. to me they make no sense & i understand the metaphor but it just confuses me in the actual story 😭 this might be 100% my fault & just something i’m not understanding but it’s just my take on it! i also felt some of the stuff effy deals with at the end was so rushed & not properly addressed

i ended up giving this one 4💫 !! i still super super enjoyed this & thought it was a perfect sequel to a study in drowning!

Wow. Just WOW. I loved A Theory of Dreaming even MORE than I loved A Study in Drowning. This book was written SO well, that I equally enjoyed Preston's and Effy's POVs. We got into more deeper topics, and got to experience depression, grief and racism with these characters in such a way that felt raw and emotional, like I was physically there with them. I loved their dynamic in book two more as well, I love how comfortable they were with each other, they instantly reminded me of an old married couple. I loved the magic, the message and every aspect of this book. I can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy. I can't believe I was blessed with two 5 star Ava Reid ARCS this year!

the second book might be better than the first and I feel like that never happens. thank you harper collins and netgalley. ava reid's writing is so lyrical and beautiful in this book. makes me want to snuggle up in a blanket by a fire for hours

This book is the sequel to Reid’s YA debut A Study in Drowning, and it made me so emotional. I think it might be my favorite book of the year. I wish so badly that I had a physical copy, because I was highlighting so much on my Kindle. It was so amazing.

It has to be so scary writing a sequel to a book that you previously believed was only a standalone and working to recreate the magic of the first while elevating the story higher. Reid accomplishes this and more.

While A Study in Drowning delves into Effy’s life and story, in A Theory of Dreaming we get a better look into Preston’s past and thoughts. It picks up right after the end of the first book, and it’s dual POV. So, we get to continue with both Effy and Preston’s stories as well as their minds’ inner workings. We also get fun new characters that I fell in love with immediately.

The book still advocates against the institutional sexism in academia that the first book did, but it also adds to the conversation of prejudices, the consequences of propaganda, and how the elite dictates information sharing and the injustice of the protection they receive.

It encapsulates mental illness so accurately that I was a sobbing mess while reading it, because I saw my younger self so well documented within its pages. There was a part where she described how reading books helped calm one of the characters, and that felt so personal and hit so close to home. Escapism and coping mechanisms were huge tools written into the fabric of this story.

Reid included such meticulous word choices and filled the pages with the most beautiful purple prose. The pacing was immaculate and made me devour the book within 24 hours. The pacing and the timing that the characters and reader found out new information was perfect. I also don’t think there was any word in this book that wasn’t needed. Everything written was essential to the story in one way or another.

It is a book of hurt and healing and love. It’s incredible how much Reid was able to include in this story and how thoroughly she was able to pull such powerful and raw emotion out of me with such short amount of pages.

I already pre-ordered this book so I can get it once it releases next year and telling everyone possible to read it as well.

My favorite Sad Boy and Sad Girl are back and sadder than ever. I swear poor Effy just cannot ever catch a break. She’s finally in the literature school but her classmates are honestly the worst. And Preston’s started having dreams of a strange world. Throughout the book both of them start to lose their grip on reality and struggle to know what’s real and what’s not.
Effy feels like a burden to Preston and Preston is scared that confiding in her about his strange dreams will make her more worried. These two clearly love each other so much and it was so sad seeing how much they struggled through this book. I loved how Preston just kept showing up for Effy though and making sure she saw through his actions how much he loved her.
This book has all the dark academia, gothic fairytale, eerie rainy vibes of A Study in Drowning and I ate it up. Much like the first book this one somehow feels both low and high stakes which is a little strange but honestly the vibes were so good that I didn’t even mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

This was a very unexpected sequel. The first book was amazing but I did enjoy the deeper dive into the lives and minds of effie and Preston in this book. I feel like I was supposed to read it at this time in my life and for that I am grateful to have been given a chance to read it early. Thank you netgalley for the e arc

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

A Theory of Dreaming picks up right where A Study in Drowning left off and brings us more of Preston’s side of the story as he and Effy navigate life at the university after everything they went through.

A Study in Drowning was my favourite book of last year so I have been eagerly anticipating this book and it did not disappoint. I felt completely surrounded by the sweeping world of these books and loved that there was more of specific dark academia elements (something I like very much). I really enjoyed how much of the book was from Preston’s point of view, as it very much felt like his story, in the way A Study in Drowning felt like Effy’s.

I do wish we had just a bit more world building, specifically in terms of the sleepers, who seemed to haunt the narrative in the same way Myrddin did in the first book. I wasn’t too bothered by it, as the story was so atmospheric otherwise, but this was a wish I had with A Study in Drowning as well. I can’t wait for it officially come out so I can read it again!

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this arc! I absolutely love Ava Reid’s writing and was so excited to see that I got approved for this one.

A Theory of Dreaming is everything I had dreamed a sequel to A Study in Drowning could be and more! The author themself states that this book expands on the world and fills in a lot of questions left from book one, and it absolutely does this! I had wished that A Study in Drowning had leaned even farther into the magical aspects of the world, along with diving deeper into the Sleepers, and this book did exactly that.

I love the inclusion of a POV from Preston as he struggles to reconcile his love of logic and science with the magic of the world.


I love where this book takes the story, even if it managed to tear my heart out in the process.

A Theory in Dreaming by Ava Reid is a mesmerizing, thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the nature of dreams, reality, and self-discovery. Reid’s writing is both poetic and haunting, weaving an intricate narrative that pulls you in from the very first page. The characters are complex and relatable, and their emotional journeys are beautifully explored against a backdrop of surreal, dreamlike landscapes. With its rich, immersive worldbuilding and profound themes, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves literary fantasy with a touch of the uncanny. A truly unforgettable experience.

It feels so wrong for me to write a review that I know could never do justice to how beautiful this book is, but I’ll try. As in Ava Reid’s previous books, you’ll find here an exploration of women’s resilience against the patriarchal world we live in, but not only. An exploration of truth, reality, and how we survive both.

And before any of these things, this book is about love, and how beautiful and enduring it is in front of all the hardships we’re faced with.

I have missed Effy and Preston more than I can put into words and this was the perfect conclusion to their story.

A Study in Drowning made me feel seen and heard as a girl with a little bit of madness in her. A Theory of Dreaming makes girls like me feel like we can be easy to love by someone in the world.

The way Ava Reid writes about women and what it is to be a woman in the world, in these many worlds, gives people hope of being okay in them.

I will absolutely gobble up anything this girl writes and i will probably cry at least once in every single book it is all just perfection

I thoroughly enjoyed A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, and assumed it was a standalone novel—imagine my surprise when I discovered it’s actually part of a duology! Even better, I was chosen to read an advanced copy of the sequel, A Theory of Dreaming, and it did not disappoint.

While ASID focused mostly on Effy's journey, it was a treat to dive deeper into Preston's story this time around. In fact, I found A Theory of Dreaming to be even more captivating than the first book. One of my favorite elements of the story is how Reid explores the ethereal, underwater world in such a haunting way, and this book leans into that aspect beautifully. The imagery and dreamlike atmosphere were incredibly immersive, and I loved every moment spent in that fantastical realm.

This novel expands on Preston’s complex background, particularly his ties to Argant, which added depth and intrigue to his character. Reid's world-building remains as vibrant as ever, balancing the tension between the fairy and magical realms with the ongoing war between LLyr and Argant. It’s a juxtaposition that feels both fantastical and grounded in emotional stakes.

Effy’s emotional journey, especially following her defeat of the Fairy King and what she perceives as her return to “normal,” was nothing short of heartbreaking. Reid does an extraordinary job of capturing the weight of her pain and struggles, making you feel every bit of her spiral. The ending was gut-wrenching at times, but ultimately satisfying.

I am so grateful to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy of A Theory of Dreaming. Ava Reid continues to amaze with her storytelling, and I’m eagerly looking forward to what she creates next. If you love immersive fantasy that blends dreamlike wonder with raw emotion, this duology is a must-read.

I initially wanted to devour this book in one sitting. I have been looking forward to this book since it was first announced. A Study in Drowning is in my top five favorite books of all time.
However, I decided to savor it and read slowly and let myself be immersed in this beautiful world that Ava Reid has created and I am so grateful I did. I felt so immersed in the world of Llyr and the underwater palace. The atmospheric imagery was brilliant.
I love stories where characters slowly started losing themselves and then find the hope they need to come back and this book captured the emotions and experience so beautifully. I bawled several times and felt the love and struggles between Effy and Preston and even from their friends.
I enjoyed Preston’s pov and Lotto’s character! There are so many brilliant quotes in this book as well.
I could go on about how much I love this book and ASID for so long. Thank you, Ava for sharing this story with us.

Thank you HarperCollins, NetGalley and Ava Reid for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Ava…girl…I have no words. WOW.

This sequel had my heart bursting with joy and in pieces all at the same time. Effy and Preston remind me so much of so many people in this life, I mean truly we all know an Effy and a Preston. Those people are the kind who are brave even if they are standing tall with trembling legs, who stay true to what is right even if it is unpopular, and who ultimately are terrified and saved all at once by the very thing we all spend our lives chasing, love. In a modern world like the one we live in, where we are all consumed and clouded by the social media world, in a way aren’t we all escaping reality in the form of a dream? I truly am enamored with the parallels that this story has with our current world.

There are so so many lines from this book that are eternally etched into my heart and I will carry with me forever. The eloquence of which the stories and poems are conveyed with is actually breathtaking in the best way. I am truly obsessed with Effy and Preston and all they are.

I laughed, I cried, and I cried some more (seriously Ava sending you my therapy bill after this one). This is a MUST read.

4.25 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc. This book picks up almost immediately where book 1 ends. I really enjoyed learning more about Preston and seeing Effy grow. The story concludes quite nicely with a touch a mystery still lingering and I’m pleased with it. Will definitely recommend.

Where A Study in Drowning pulled me in with its quiet, haunting story, A Theory of Dreaming took everything I loved about the first book and expanded it in all the ways I wanted to see. While the atmosphere this time around is much more trippy compared to the ethereal tone of the original, it remains just as immersive and well crafted.

If A Study in Drowning was Effy’s book, A Theory of Dreaming is undoubtedly Preston’s. The shift in focus allowed for a much deeper exploration of his character, which was something I was super excited for going into this book. His arc, alongside Effy’s, was perfectly executed, and it was so rewarding to reflect on how much they’ve grown since the beginning of the first book.

Effy and Preston’s relationship was another highlight, and if the first one didn’t solidify their spot as one of my favorite literary couples this one definitely did. Established relationships in books sometimes lose their spark for me, but their dynamic stayed just as compelling as it was in book one. They had so many memorable moments that kept me completely engaged.

One of the areas where this book stepped it up was with the world-building. While the setting in the first was still beautifully described, there was one downside of having that isolated setting, and that was that it felt like we had just scratched the surface of what was happening in the world. Here, we delve into the lore of the Sleepers Lord, the ongoing war, and a cast of side characters who added depth and intrigue to the narrative.

The only issue I had in the was in the middle in regards to pacing. There were a couple times where it did feel like it was dragging especially in Effy’s plot for me, and I won’t lie, I was a little worried this wasn’t going anywhere for a minute. Luckily the last thirty percent more than made up for that, and the ending was a perfect way to wrap things up.

Overall, A Theory of Dreaming is a worthy sequel to one of my all time favorite books, offering a story that feels fresh yet deeply connected to the first book. Though it didn’t quite alter my brain chemistry in the way the first book did and I don’t really consider this a new favorite immediately after reading it, this was still a brilliant continuation that enriched the characters and world I fell in love with in the first book. For anyone who enjoyed A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming will undoubtedly build on that, as it offered so many new layers to the world and characters we’ve come to love.


🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ . 5

I want to preface this by saying this is the THIRD arc by Ava Reid I’ve read this year. The first two being Lady Macbeth and FABLE- both being five star reads for me. Yet unfortunately, this didn’t quite meet my expectations.
I absolutely adore Reid’s vivid storytelling, and her ability to morph her writing to fit any world she creates. Overall this book didn’t at all lack that creativity from her that I’m use to seeing.
After completing, I was left with the feeling that this book honestly wasn’t even necessary, and felt more written to be of fan service than to further strengthen the story and its characters.
I think if anything, it would have been better taking certain key aspects from the book and slimming it into a novella of sorts.
Compared to book one, which is more heavily focused on the plot of the Fairy King/Myrddin, this was more of a highlight of Preston and Effy’s way of coping with the aftermath of the traumas they faced from the events that took place in it.
I loved the concept, enjoying Preston’s chapters a lot more than his paramour. With that being said, it felt we only were getting a bottle half full when it came to our main characters. They almost felt completely different from those we met in ASID.
I still will recommend this book for those who loved book one, as many will have different opinions and may end up loving this as much as the first.

Writing a sequel to a beloved book is always a challenge, especially when the original was intended to be a standalone. A Study in Drowning was my favorite book of last year - maybe even my favorite book ever. One of the things I loved most about it was its ambiguous ending. That said, I think Ava absolutely nailed it with this sequel. If you adored the first book as much as I did and gave it five stars, I think this one will resonate with you, too.

(Heads up—there are spoilers for the first book ahead!) A Theory of Dreaming shifts focus to Preston’s story - his journey of healing after his father’s death and dealing with the fallout of exposing Emrys Myrddin. At the same time, we follow Effy as she navigates her role as the only woman in the literary college, grapples with her family relationships, and wrestles with her self-worth. Ava’s world and characters feel so real that opening this book felt like coming home. While I did enjoy the plot we were following, this sequel dives deep into the characters, offering a rich exploration of Effy and Preston’s lives, and adding more context to the first book. It’s more of a character study, and I loved seeing their stories so fully realized.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is Ava’s atmospheric writing. While A Study in Drowning had dark academia vibes, A Theory of Dreaming fully leans into the aesthetic. You get the classes, the snarky rich kids, and the morally gray professors - everything you’d want in a perfect fall or winter read. Ava’s ability to set a scene truly shines here.

Okay, I promise I’ll stop talking about this book now. Ultimately, this was the perfect follow-up to A Study in Drowning for me. All I wanted was to spend more time with Effy and Preston and see how they faced the aftermath of the first book. They’ve become two of my all-time favorite characters, and I’m already looking forward to re-reading A Study in Drowning in 2025 so I can dive straight into A Theory of Dreaming again. AHHH!