I am still not certain what the plot of this book is. I had to drag myself through it. Ava Reid sets the reader up for some serious world building but does not deliver.

I love Ava Reid’s writing and I loved being back with these characters, but this was much less atmospheric than the first book, and hit on a lot of the same themes so it wasn’t quite as engaging. I did appreciate that the ending gave more closure than the first book.

Eeeeek, I'm with others who have reviewed: "A Study in Drowning" didn't need a sequel. I was excited to see that it was getting one, but disappointed by what this one ended up offering.

thank you to netgalley for this arc!

First of all this book was poetically and tragically beautiful. Following the events of "A Study in Drowning" we pick right up with Effy and Preston who have survived the Fairy King and are now suffering the consequences of revealing that every thing the people have known has been a lie, and that one of the most respected authors in the country lied about writing his own books when in fact his wife was the one behind it.
I think that Reid did a really fantastic job of diving deeper into Preston's history and emotions as the primary plot of the book, while also maintaining Effy's mental health struggles that we've seen getting worse and worse since book one. I did feel as though the ending of the book felt a bit rushed as Effy tries to take her life and then suddenly we're at the end of the book where things are wrapping up nicely. The commentary of Effy being the only woman in the literature college was well done (as someone who was a woman in a typically male dominated field) and every time one of the professors talked down to her I felt my own surge of anger for this fictional character. Reid delivered a successful sequel novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sharing this ARC!

Is Ava Reid an exceptionally prosaic and atmospheric writer? Absolutely. Did "A Study in Drowning" need a sequel? Probably not. There was very little, if any, plot and the fact that the introduction to the book includes a two page author letter explaning that she was pressured into writing a sequel told me everything I needed to know.

A Study in Drowning was a 5 ⭐️ read for me, so I was super excited to read the sequel, A Theory of Drowning. Unfortunately, I did not like it quite as much.

Ava Reid writes beautifully. Her lush prose. makes reading her books such an enjoyment. However, A Theory of Drowning, despite her gorgeous writing, seemed to have no plot. It was just a book of filler. I found myself getting distracted from it easily because there really wasn’t much going on, no matter how much I loved to read about Effy and Preston.

Either way, I’m glad I read this book, to see some closure come for a certain story line, and to read more about Effy and Preston, though I felt disconnected from them this time around. If you loved A Study in Drowning, I would definitely recommend reading the sequel.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

What a disappointment. "A Study in Drowning" was one of my favorites of 2023; when I heard that there was to be a sequel, I was very excited. Unfortunately, after reading "A Theory of Dreaming", I'm not convinced that the original needed a sequel at all. This is very much an "all vibes, no plot" kind of book, where Effy and Preston do a lot of thinking about issues and there's not much DOING. They're passive passengers in this one - a problem I've had with a few books by Reid - and I just didn't connect with it like I did the first one.

I’m so glad to be back in the world of A Study in Drowning! I absolutely loved Effy’s story and was so excited to dive into Preston’s story.

Overall I did really enjoy this book. I adore Ava Reid’s writing style. It’s so beautiful and I love getting lost in the world that she creates. This story has some heavier themes than ASID so be mindful of that when going in.

I’m still unsure how I feel about the story as a whole. I feel like there was a plot… but also that there wasn’t? There was a lot going on, but also not? Maybe I need to collect my thoughts more in order to truly know, but regardless I still had a great time.

I loved getting to know both Effy and Preston’s roommates and seeing all of their friendships. I will forever have a special place in my heart for Effy and Preston. 🫶🏼

Thank you to NetGalley, Harpercollins, and the author for the ARC! ✨

I'm torn on this review. I'll probably settle on 3.5 stars. I loved A Study in Drowning, it was one of my top reads of 2023! Ava Reid is a beautiful writer, and A Theory of Dreaming isn't a bad book by any means, but I felt so disconnected from the Effy and Preston I thought I knew, that it was hard for me to get into. I hate to say it, but I think A Study in Drowning works better as a stand alone.

Lack of communication is a trope that pretty much never works for me. I can get behind miscommunication, but choosing not to talk to each other about very significant things happening in their lives did not fit where I thought Effy and Preston were as a couple, especially when it is repeated how much they love each other. I kept waiting for them to work on their struggles together. It is hard to say more without giving any spoilers.

I might give this book another read once the audiobook is released, a good narrator might help sway my feelings. I am really sad I didn't love it!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins, for an early copy in exchange for this honest review.

If A Study in Drowning was Effie’s story, A Theory in Dreaming was certainly Preston’s. We pick up shortly from where we left off, with Preston & Effie back at school & Effie finally being admitted to the writing college.
I found this book a far heavier read than the first book. I’d recommend reading the trigger warnings on this book before you dive in. I’m going to touch a bit on some of the heavy issues.
We see some of Effie’s mental health struggles in the first book, but they are front & center in this follow up. Preston is also dealing with some mental health issues, but also the increasing war between their country & Preston’s homeland. We get more backstory on both countries, but I find myself still confused about why these men are so revered & put in the Sleeper Museum, believe to one day ‘wake’ again.
We are introduced to some new side characters, some that are awful, but serving the purpose of furthering the story & others that I adored. Lotto, Preston’s roommate, is a standard spoiled college guy, absolutely a complete rake, but I adored him.
Part of the reason I found this read heavier is because it is very relevant to our current world & because of everything Effie deals with, once the ugly issue she deals with in the first book comes back around. This book is such a glaring example of how women are punished in a patriarchal society. Effy is shunned for the assault by her former advisor, she’s punished as if it was somehow her fault & treated as a liar. Misogyny is evident in the way she’s treated, the things said to her, & the way her ideas are brushed off. During her studies, Effie reads the journal of a young woman who is the daughter of an author they’re studying & amongst these entries it is heavily implied (just not right out stated) that her father has started to… treat her as a replacement for her now deceased mother (I’m not putting it in words, so I don’t risk this getting taken down, but you probably get the gist)
Overall, this was a good read, the author has a way with building an ethereal world, but I did struggle a bit to get through it because it weighed a bit on my soul.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I want to like this series and I just don’t. It’s so weird and full of magical realism but I can’t relate to anything. It’s beautifully written so it was easy to read but it wasn’t my favorite kind of story.

I really enjoyed A Study in Drowning and was thrilled to hear that there was going to be a sequel--and even more thrilled to get my hands on it!

Where Drowning focused on Effy and her journey, Dreaming was Preston's story. (Don't worry, they both have POVs and we get to learn more about Effy and her journey, too.) Effy and Preston are back at school following the events of book one, awaiting the certification of their discovery. Effy is dealing with the ramifications of being the only woman in the literature college and struggling with the realization that it might not be all that she thought it would be. Meanwhile, Preston is pulled into the machinations of his advisor which drives him further into the world of the bells. Unfortunately, he's also the victim of nationalistic bullying, the result of escalated tensions with Argant. His decisions become more erratic and a distance grows between him and Effy. Where does the real world end and the world of dreaming begin?

If you are a fan of Ava Reid's atmospheric writing and world building, you will not be disappointed. All the markers are there, even if the tone does shift a bit as we move from a rural seaside town to a large university. This book definitely has some dark academia vibes.

As much as it pains me to do so, I do need to take off one star. While all the elements for a five star read are there, there was something that felt off. We sit in the first half of the book for a while (it's a slow start--but I enjoyed it), but it feels like it was at the expense of the second half of the story. We gloss over so many things too quickly in the last third of the book. Things that were built up to so beautifully that made me want a bit more of a payoff. (Obviously this is my personal opinion and everyone will feel differently about this.) I would have loved the book to be a bit longer or for a quicker setup.

Pros:
Worldbuilding
Beautiful writing
Fun side characters (my favorite was Lotto!)
Tackles some really hard issues in a very organic way

Cons:
Parts felt rushed
I didn't get some of the answers I thought I was going to get

Overall, this was a wonderful book that I flew through. It had its own identity but still stayed true to the first book. This will be a five star read for so many people. There were just a couple things that held me back from that last star. (I will still be buying every book that Ava comes out with!)

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an arc. All opinions are my own.

SIDENOTE: Please check the warnings on this book. It deals with some heavy issues such as nationalism, mental health, etc.

Oh the love that is loved and felt 😭 sequels don’t often rival the original but this was so good. It gives more of our boi and life. The continued world building and understanding hit close to home to a lot of our current climate and it was so well done.

Reid has become one of my favorites and I look forward to seeing more of what they can do.

I loved this book! Ava Reid has done it again! It was so fun to see Effy and Preston again and their love and devotion towards each other was so sweet. The only thing I wish it had more of was the “gothic atmosphere” style whereas it was more academic which I still enjoyed. It was a very good continuation from ASID and the storyline as far as the “dreaming” was interesting that I liked seeing more of Preston’s pov! I want to do a reread when it’s released and do another review on my social but I definitely enjoyed this book and I love Ava Reid’s writing style!

Book Review: A Theory in Dreaming by Ava Reid
Rating: 5/5

A Theory in Dreaming is Ava Reid at her most haunting, lyrical, and emotionally resonant. Known for weaving folklore and feminist themes into lush, dark narratives, Reid takes a bold step into more psychological, dreamy territory with this novel—and the result is spellbinding.

This story reads like a fever dream: intimate, surreal, and full of aching vulnerability. Reid explores the blurred lines between reality and imagination, sanity and longing, with prose that feels like poetry. The characters are complex and deeply human, each carrying their own secrets, trauma, and desires. Every page invites introspection, asking not just what is real, but what is true.

Despite its ethereal tone, the book tackles heavy themes—grief, identity, mental health—with grace and nuance. The romance is quiet but piercing, and the emotional undercurrents will linger with you long after the final chapter. It’s a novel that feels less like reading and more like dreaming with your eyes open.

Perfect for fans of: literary fantasy, psychological depth, dreamlike narratives, and stories that challenge perception
Spice Level: Low, but rich in emotional intimacy and tension
Content Warnings: Mental health themes, grief, and emotional trauma (handled thoughtfully)

While "A Study in Drowning" focuses mainly on Effy's background story, this sequel is full on focused on Preston's and I enjoyed that but I wish we had a little more time with Effy. She's one of my favorite female main characters ever and it might be just a me thing but I just love reading about her. Aside from that, I adored how Preston and Effy's romantic moments were full of so much yearning and devotion.

The pacing of this book was perfect (practically impossible to put down, just like the first one.) The writing was just as beautiful and immersive and I always appreciate how the meaning behind the story has so much power and similitudes with today's current events, specially the patriarchal spectrum, the imbalance in power dynamics and oppression.

I think the reason behind why I couldn't rated this 5 stars is because in some way this was lacking that "gothic asmospheric" vibe that I loved from ASID. This is also in some ways a little bit more triggering than the first book and it deals with heavy topics. I personally wouldn't recommend this duology for young adult readers, even though is marketed as such. It does feels so much more mature. Nonetheless, I think Reid's wrote a wonderful continuation of this story and I am very pleased with how it ended. If you loved the first one, you shouldn't be worried about not enjoying this one. It was great!

A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid is a perfect sequel for A study in drowning. its pacing , tone , prose continue to be an absolute delight and I will certainly be grabbing a physical copy as soon as they are available in my area.

As much as I wanted to love this sequel it unfortunately fell flat for me :( I found that some of the topics discussed were not appropriate for YA (in my opinion) The writing however, was as expected great. no complaints there. I just did not enjoy the majority of this read and felt it dragged

Ava Reid's prose and mastering of the English language is always a dream. This is the perfect follow up to a Study in Drowning, and it actually made me love and appreciate its predecessor even more. I will always always yearn for Ava Reid ARCs. Having Preston as our main character in this book did have my missing Effy a teeny bit, but it added so much to this world and story, I can see this read being perfect for the beach or when you're craving something spookier and academic in the fall. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Welcome back to the “real” world, Effy and Preston. We are rarely gifted what happens next to the heroes and I think ATOD does an incredible job of executing and showcasing those unseen struggles, while keeping mystical elements from ASID. ATID doesn't have the same feel as ASID but this doesn’t subtract from it and works perfectly as a sequel. A simple idea from ASID (the bells still tolling underwater) helped spawn this beautifully tragic story that felt so real and raw. I found myself connecting with both Preston and Effy many times and the end had me bawling. I was absolutely enthralled from start to finish and highly recommend if you were a fan of the first.