It's rare to find romance novels where communication is prioritized and the characters actually behave like adults. But Jamie and Eve do. thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC.

The characters in this book had so much depth and vulnerability that I lowkey feel like I’m still recovering lol 🤎 This was a really beautifully written debut that digs deep into some heavier topics (check the TWs) & reminded me of how unchecked grief and trauma can manifest for folks in adulthood. I was really rooting for my girl Eve to heal and really take the time to discover herself/her desires for her life because she deserved it. I felt every bit of her heartbreak, her happiness, and her journey to self-discovery. I’m also so glad that we get to experience another Black woman character who unapologetically doesn’t have it all together (even tho it can be frustrating to read lol).

Eve’s journey to healing was my favorite part of the book, and while I enjoyed the romance between her and Jamie, something (maybe small) bothered me. Now, 100% transparency, I don’t really read interracial romance books between Black women and white men, so maybe take this with a grain of salt… but I couldn’t let Jamie’s non-verbal “understanding” of Eve’s identity as a Black woman slide. He owned some classic Black books & listened to OutKast… but otherwise there wasn’t a concrete example of him condemning harmful ideologies that felt crucial to her career and identity as a Black woman? I didn’t want it to be performative, but in this economy I needed something to let me know he saw this big piece of her.

Still highly recommend this book if you enjoy interracial romance, small town-ish romance, and layered Black women characters!

I’m still swooning over this romance story! I love that there were so many layers of emotions to Eve and Jamie's story. More than your typical romcom, Dollywood contains many heartbreaking scenarios.
Above all the heartbreak and romance, this is a story full of grief and healing for both characters.

Recovering from infertility, divorce, miscarriages, and more, Eve and Jamie brought this friends to lovers, small town romance to life.

5⭐️ Ashley Jordan’s Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is a heartfelt and emotionally rich debut that balances romance, healing, and humor. It’s a standout for those who enjoy character-driven stories full of warmth, emotional complexity, and Southern charm. If you’re drawn to beautifully flawed characters, heartfelt second-chance love, and authentic growth, this one is a beautiful read to add to your stack.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.
Rating: 4/5
I enjoyed this story, boy when I tell you Eve and Jamie took me through every emotion possible. I understood completely why eve was the way she was and I’m
Glad she had character development over the course of the book. This was a great book on grief , childhood trauma, and parent relationships. For a debut novel this was a great book!

Okay, so I just finished Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan, and honestly… wow. I loved it. From the very first page, I was completely pulled in. The characters feel so real, especially Eve and Jamie. Eve’s this rising star playwright with a ton going on in her personal life, and Jamie’s trying to figure out how to be a single dad while also dealing with all his baggage. Watching them meet, clash, and slowly figure each other out was just… satisfying.
The plots are interesting and layered in a way that kept me hooked the entire time. Some little twists and complications felt believable, not over-the-top drama for drama’s sake, and I found myself wholly invested in what was going to happen next. I loved how the story balanced the romance with real-life struggles and funny, awkward moments. It made the whole thing feel genuine.
Honestly, there’s nothing I would change about this book. Every interaction, every plot beat, every little detail worked for me. I laughed, I swooned, and I even got a little emotional at times. It’s one of those books that sticks with you, where you keep thinking about the characters long after you’ve turned the last page.
I’m recommending this to everyone I know. If you love stories with dynamic, real-feeling characters, a romance that earns its happy ending, and a plot that keeps you interested without being over the top, this is it. I’ll be talking about this one for a long time, and it’s officially going on my favourites list.

Once Upon A Time in Dollywood was a whole rollercoaster, y’all. The miscommunication + third-act breakup had me ready to yell “lemme off this ride!” BUT the writing was really solid and the story pulled me in enough that I had to see it through. I really appreciated the fact that healing, forgiveness, and therapy were recurring themes in the book. This was a pretty good read, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

This was such a beautiful love story. We have two very complex characters who come together at a time when they need each other the most. The way the author was able to make these two people who seemingly wouldn’t be together in the “real world” fit so perfectly together was superb. I am eager to read more from this author in the future.

So many emotional layers to this story. It's an immersive, compelling, beautifully-written debut that I could not put down. Read the entire book in one day. Loved it!

This was a great debut. I found myself getting really sucked into the story. Ashley Jordan did a great job creating characters that you can root for - they are not perfect, but flawed like most people are.

I think that if you are fan of emotional romances, this is a great fit for you!

** I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I’m just going to say it—I love this book. That being said, I do have some conflicting feelings about it. Don’t get me wrong—I didn’t hate it. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it. But there are a few lingering issues, especially toward the end, that left me frustrated. Still, overall, this is a story I genuinely think everyone should read. Just… be prepared for a few emotional bumps along the way.

Let’s start with what I loved—because there’s a lot to love. From the very beginning, I had a strong feeling this was going to be a story that stuck with me. I’m always drawn to characters who are messy and flawed, who are trying to find themselves again after life knocks them down. That’s exactly what we get here.

Eve is deeply struggling, and in an effort to reclaim her sense of self, she decides to isolate herself—leaving behind her family and friends to retreat to her grandmother’s remote cabin, surrounded by nothing but woods and silence. It’s here, in this solitude, that she meets Jamie.

Jamie is dealing with his own wounds, having just come out of a painful custody battle. He’s not looking to fall for anyone—but then Eve shows up. Slowly and quietly, they start to build something together. What begins as a fun, easy connection gradually turns into something more real, more serious. Watching two people, both hesitant to trust again, begin to lower their walls for each other is honestly one of the most satisfying parts of this story.

Eve and Jamie might seem like opposites at first, but they just work. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their moments together felt authentic and heartfelt. They help each other grow, and it’s beautiful to watch.

But now we get to the part that left me conflicted—the ending.

Things start to unravel between Eve and Jamie in a way that just didn’t sit right with me. Up until that point, their communication was growing stronger. They were opening up more, relying on each other. But suddenly, Eve slips back into old habits—shutting down, avoiding real conversations, and pushing Jamie away with excuses rather than honesty.

And honestly, it was frustrating. Jamie has been nothing but open about his feelings. He consistently checks in with Eve, tries to understand what’s going on, and expresses himself clearly. So it makes sense that he finally reaches a breaking point. I couldn’t blame him for walking away from Eve’s repeated coldness and emotional avoidance.

I get that Eve is struggling—but it was tough to watch her lash out and pull away just when things were getting better. I wish we’d gotten more resolution or insight into why she reverted so suddenly. That shift didn’t feel fully earned, and it pulled me out of the story.

In the end, though, despite my frustration, I still think this book is absolutely worth reading. It's a raw, emotional, and honest portrayal of two broken people finding light in each other. It may not be perfect, but it made me feel—and that’s what matters most.

I enjoyed this. This one was a slow burn, but I enjoyed watching the characters fall in love. The side side character is really shine for me. They added comedic relief to what was at times a heavy story. There was just enough spice and a really slow burn. I will say that I think it could have been just a tad bit shorter. I’m not sure every chapter added to the overall story. I enjoyed this!

"Wounds heal; They don't disappear,"

A warm, bright, and at times somber romance that comes together to tell a beautiful love story but an even better story on overcoming trauma and grief.

Jamie was everything you want in a male love interest. Both he and Eve were flawed and guarded but also funny and caring.

My only complaint would be the dragging out of the last like 50 pages (just get back together already), but it's still a really well-done romance.

*Thanks for Berkeley for the ARC* 3.5⭐️
This was a beautiful story. The characters were incredibly human in their thoughts and feelings - almost too real in certain cases 😂. I did appreciate the mental health representation but wished the characters had ran to therapy way sooner in the book. I do wish we got more time to see the two together in a functional couple/relationships with the other characters but the ending wrapped up the story in a cute way.

I came for the name, but I stayed for the emotional trauma. I was expecting a cute, lighthearted romance book set in the Smoky Mountains, but what I got was a highly emotional and introspective look into grief and trauma.

While I appreciate the catchy title, shockingly little of this book takes place in Dollywood, which was a bit disappointing. But there was plenty of imagery around the Gatlinburg area. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the word Tennessee so many times in a book. And I never thought I’d see Food City in a book. They really do have surprisingly good cakes for a grocery store. This book ran the gamut of the state, from Memphis, to Nashville, and into Gatlinburg, and felt like a love letter to the state as a whole.

Yes this is a romance book, and I really enjoyed both Eve and Jamie’s POVs. But this is also a story about past trauma, and how it shapes your life going forward. Definitely check for triggers before diving into this. I recommend it, but it doesn’t tackle tough subjects.

If you like to read romance, this is definitely the book for you! Thank you Ashley Jordan for crafting such a well-written and emotionally compelling book. Major bonus points for the Hamilton reference!!!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵.

Eve Ambroise and Jamie Gallagher met by chance during Eve’s trip to Tennessee to get away from her life that is falling apart in New York. Eventually these two go from acquaintances to friends to something more serious that neither was expecting.

Eve and Jamie both bring some heavy things to the table (especially Eve) and it does not seem like a fairytale ending is in sight unless both of them make some serious changes. I was drawn to the emotional depth in the development and growth of both of the main characters as it made the story feel just that real.

Love truly is like a roller coaster. I am invested in Evie and Jamie’s story. Maybe we can get a novella to see how things continue to develop between the two 👀👀

Fave character: Casey
Least Fave character: Lucy🤣🤣🤣

3.75 stars

I wanted to enjoy this book but I couldn’t because of the characters, I couldn’t connect with any of them.

The storyline is a good one, it addresses trauma, healing and love. It was a truly heartfelt story with emotional depth, but characters were too insufferable .

I did not finish this book, this book finished me. In the best way, I will likely be processing this book for years to come. Infinite stars. So well written. So relatable. Messy in the most poignant, emotionally laborious and edifying way. Truly, a story worth reading.

Thank you, Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group, for the advance reader copy of Once Upon a Time in Dollywood: Reese's Book Club by Ashley Jordan.

These characters had me invested, and I appreciate a book that sucks you in. You can relate to these characters, and that is part of the draw. They feel like people we are or people we know. It is an emotional roller coaster for sure.

Now let's discuss the tomfoolery and fool-wangery.

Our main character, Eve, is a playwright with childhood trauma, a tumultuous relationship with her parents, a relationship that does not serve her, and more. Because her personal life is trash, she runs off to a cabin in Tennessee for some alone time in her grandmother's old cabin under the guise of being on a writing retreat. Eve is also hella stubborn and shut off, and she will wear you thin a little, but stay with her. I am stubborn, and it made me question how I may read on paper. HA!

Our main guy, Jamie, is a single dad who has left a foolish relationship he had with his baby mama. He is finding his way and also spending time in his cabin in Tennessee. He is a man’s man and I LOVE THAT!!!

They don’t exactly hit it off, but there is something there. It's sweet to see how it unfolds, although both don’t want to be played, don’t know how to manage what they are feeling, and are unsure of the next steps. They find their way with the help of their loved ones, who help them see through their BS to what their heart wants and needs. They get vulnerable and nasty, and I love that for us.

This book was a layered ride of chaos, frustrations, disappointments, and the highs and lows of life. But it is also a beautiful story of healing trauma and love. A reminder to not bleed out on people who did not cut you. And to know there is good, and love, and joy on the other side of your healing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advance copy.

Eve is burnt out from her life in New York and escapes to her late grandmother’s cabin in Tennessee. There, she meets Jamie, a single dad dealing with his own struggles after a tough custody battle, while she is also battling her own trauma.

This story focuses on family, grief, and how past wounds can shape who we are. Although Eve carried a heavy emotional burden, I did not enjoy her interactions with her ex because they sometimes felt too harsh and I struggled with that throughout the book. The way their conversations played out made me like the main character a bit less.

Although the pacing felt slow at times, the writing kept me invested until the end. I liked that therapy was included in the story even if it came later because she really needed it.

3.5 stars