I went into this book blind and I am delighted that I did. This book is so much more than romance. We meet Eve, the FMC who is experiencing many challenges both personally and professionally; she decides she needs an escape, in which she takes off to her late grandmother’s cabin in Tennessee. Jamie, the MMC is a single father who just went through a custody battle and he too, is experiencing many challenges personally.
What stood out most to me was the honest and layered depiction of complex trauma and the sensitivity shown by the author. Through the characters' experiences with abandonment, identity struggles, Eve’s grief around infertility, the author gives a voice to pain that’s often left unspoken—especially when it comes to the long road of healing, forgiveness, and learning to set boundaries. I was on an emotional rollercoaster with Eve and Jamie and found myself invested, rooting for them to learn the power of forgiveness, get out of their own way and realize that they too, are worthy and deserving of happiness, in spite of things that happened to them that were not in their control.
If you’re looking for a read that will pull at your heartstrings but leave you feeling warm and fuzzy in the end, this is the one.

Thank you #BerkleyRomance & #NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Is it possible to feel completely seen by a work of fiction? Once Upon a Time in Dollywood did just that for me in both subtle and profound ways. This raw, emotionally resonant romance introduces us to Eve at one of the lowest points in her life. Though she’s a successful playwright, Eve is depressed, emotionally disconnected from her parents, engaged to someone she doesn’t even like, and carrying the heavy weight of unresolved grief. In an attempt to escape it all, she runs to a place tied to her past, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Hoping for solitude, Eve instead meets Jamie, and the two slowly begin to unravel each other. Their connection is immediate but complicated, shaped by Eve’s guardedness and Jamie’s own relationship trauma. Their journey, both together and apart, is deeply affecting as they push, pull, help, and hurt one another on the way to healing.

One of the most powerful elements of this book is how it explores the duality of professional success in Eve’s life was not enough to make her happy until she acknowledged the past she was running from. As Black women, we often live in that duality—celebrated for our accomplishments while quietly breaking under the pressure of systems never built for us. When we falter, it can feel like we’ve failed twice, because we’re not always given the grace of a second chance. Eve’s mental health journey captures that truth with honesty and depth, making her story not only moving but deeply relatable.

You need to read Once Upon a Time in Dollywood to witness a romance built on vulnerability, and to experience the transformative power of reclaiming your story and yourself.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advance reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Eve is running away from her life in New York. She heads to a family cabin in Tennessee, only to meet the neighbor Jamie. Eve finds any mention of children rather triggering, so his status as a single dad gets them started off poorly.

This book has a lot of emotion and focuses on how Eve processes her relationship with her parents and earlier trauma. There were a few brief moments of joy, mostly centered around Jamie's son. But even those moments often felt weighted and heavy. This is a tough one for me to recommend because I know it hits triggers for so many of my friends. I recommend looking more deeply into the content warnings. And beyond that, I recommend this for folks who prefer a slower paced, more serious style of romance.

I found my enjoyment of the book was greatly enhanced by the narration by Matt Haynes and Adenrele Ojo. Their performances were great at helping me feel I better understood and connected with the characters.

CW: pregnancy complications

3.5 stars rounded up

4.5/5 stars

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I’d like this romance novel.
I was hesitant, as sometimes racial dynamics between love interests can be awkward. But, I’m glad that took a backseat in the greater context of the story. This is a novel about grieving, healing, and self searching. Eve (Evie) is a small time playwright who runs away to the hills of TN after a series of traumatic events. She leaves her family, fiancé and life for soul searching and solitude. Jamie is a single dad in the middle of a custody arrangement with his cheating ex-girlfriend. He’s a good guy with a heart of gold who’s grappling with how the actions of the women in his life has shaped him.

As strange of a pairing they are, Eve and Jamie (two damaged individuals) find peace, distraction, comfort, and eventually love with one another. In their bubble, everything seems fine, but Eve refuses to give herself fully.

I think the greatest love we find in this novel is self-love; Jordan does a great job of showing their individual stories. She also shows how our relationships with ourselves impacts our friendships, family dynamics, and love interests. Definitely would recommend to anyone who is looking for more than just a run-of-the-mill small town romance.

This story begins with Eve, who is reeling after another miscarriage and can't seem to figure out what's going on in her life. To try to figure things out, she calls off her engagement and goes to Tennessee to work on her next play. At first, she isn't sure what to do or how to feel until she meets Jamie.

Jamie owns the cabin next to her grandmother's, and Eve doesn't want to trust him or be around him. She doesn't know why her grandmother would want some white boy in her home. At first, Eve is very standoffish, but she quickly warms up to Jamie.

While the two are frosty at first, their attraction is undeniable, and they end up starting to sleep together. Once things get more serious, Eve is ready to back off as she's not sure if she's ready to meet Jamie's son. However, things come to a head for Eve all at once, and we witness her falling apart, which isn't easy to read.

If anything, Ashley Jordan doesn't shy away from the more uncomfortable parts of Eve's breakdown. Even so, seeing Eve work on herself and get better is so satisfying. The same can be said about Jamie, as he's learning to co-parent with his ex and his life isn't sunshine and rainbows either. These are two people dealing with a lot who have to be apart before they can fully be together.

As you might guess, the highlight of this book is their trip to Dollywood, which felt so romantic and something out of a movie. I could just imagine this, and it seemed so vivid. As long as you can handle the topics featured in this book, I think it's worth a read, but it is a heavy and emotional read at times, so be prepared.

Ashley Jordan's debut introduces us to Eve Ambroise, a playwright and college professor in need of a fresh start after a breakup and strained family ties. Seeking freedom, she hides out at her grandmother’s cabin in the Tennessee mountains

Next door lives Jamie Gallagher, a newly single father rebuilding his life after a difficult custody battle. At frist, their connection is awkward, but their friendship blooms into something real and complicated as both deal with baggage and fears of vulnerability.

This novel provides emotional depth with warmth, humor, and romance. It’s highlights of second chances, whether toward love, self‑acceptance, or the idea of home itself were a perfect addition to the book. You will be rooting for Eve and Jamie, while feeling the weight of their individual scars, and delight in their slow journey toward love and forgiveness.

Once Upon a Time in Dollywood
Author: Ashley Jordan
Release: Date: Aug 5, 2025

When I started reading this book, I wasn’t expecting to be pulled into the story the way I was. Ashley Jordan doesn’t just write a love story. She tells a story about how trauma leaves invisible marks, how healing isn’t linear, and how sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose yourself. Especially to receive love again.

Eve and Jamie’s story is emotional yet beautiful, showing how they heal from trauma and grow. The most powerful part was witnessing their journey—finding love not just with each other, but within themselves.

There were also moments in their story that reminded me how even broken people can offer something beautiful—

Thank you @berkleypub & @netgalley for the ARC
I truly enjoyed it ❤️🤗

Go Pre-Order this book 📖 now it’s definitely worth the read!

#bookrecs #arc #bookreview #bookrelease #ashleyjordan #bookrecommendations
#onceuponatimeindollywood

A searing, heart-stopping debut ♾️🌟

Wowwww 🥹 I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did. The blurb and cover caught my attention, but the story stole my heart from the first page to the last! It’s so deep, and so layered. I absolutely love mental health representation in books, and this one spared no stops!

Eve is unhappily engaged, running from her life, weighed down by past traumas, and desperate to escape. She flees to her Tennessee hometown and crashes into Jamie, a newly single dad, who’s also carrying his own scars and trying to rebuild.

At first, I didn’t like Eve! She’s the perfect example of “hurt people hurt people.” But as the story unfolds and she bares her scars, she softened, and so did I. I felt so much empathy for her. 🥲 Jamie was perfect for her. He was patient, understanding, and tender, but he had boundaries, and I loved that.

Also the scenes in Dollywood? 🥰 I usually don’t care for theme parks, but reading about it made it feel like such a fun and magical place.

Beyond the sweet romance, this book dives into the complexities of love and family. It made me wrestle with morality and think about Eve’s choices, whether right or wrong, and how much of her behavior was a result of her upbringing.

I love a book that will make me think, and feel!

Please check the content warnings before reading.

Thank you @berkleyromance for the e-galley and free physical copy!! 🫶🏾 This beautiful debut is out on August 5!

Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan was such a sweet, feel-good story. The setting was charming and full of heart, and I loved how the characters’ connection unfolded with just the right mix of humor and emotion. It gave me all the cozy, small-town romance vibes I was hoping for.

**Thank you Berkley Pub and NetGalley for the free book**

It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I mean wow. The amount of emotions I went through while reading this was a complete rollercoaster.

To start, I truly felt for Eve, the FMC, because of the traumatic event she has in the beginning and the way Ashley writes about Eve’s experience and feelings are all very heartbreakingly accurate. This is one heavy book when it comes to the situations and topics discussed but I enjoyed it so much. Jamie, the MMC, loved him so much. Jamie also had his own situations to sort out and I liked his journey. Jamie and Eve are two flawed people that find each other and their journey (individually and together) is heartwarming. I also loved the bond that Eve had with her best friend and the sisterhood they have. So many great characters.

Even though this book is a bit lengthy, it turns out to be a quick read because I did not want to put it down. Please check the content warnings before reading but if you are ok with those, you will not be disappointed.

I have been looking forward to this book since I read the synopsis and let me tell you it does not disappoint. Once I picked it up I could not put it down, so of course I read it in one day!😂 I have so many things to say but I can’t because it would spoil the book. Eve and Jamie meet each other when they least expect it but also when they are both in stand stills in their life. The complexity of Eve contributes to the story in a way that keeps you intrigue in storytelling. My emotions where all over the place at one point I was teary eyed but than smiling. My only disappointment of this book is there is no epilogue and I normally don’t care about those! One major take away is that knowing your self worth comes with allowing your self to grow.

Really enjoyed this story of Eve and Jamie. Both characters had their flaws. But it was so good seeing them overcome them. Can’t wait to see more from this author!

3.5 stars leaning into 4 stars! The cover drew me in but the content kept me there! I am ok the hunt for more by this author!

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan. If you don’t understand how healing can cause confusion, then you will not understand this book. At first I was a little frustrated with Eve because she was just all over the place. I honestly thought she just liked the game of cat and mouse when it came to Jamie, ugh! After reading further into the book I come to realize that Jamie and Eve were two individuals that did not heal from present in past situations. Unfortunately, they were surrounded by people who still brought them hurt, and instead of wanting them to express themselves, wanted them to bottle it up. So when they came together, Eve and Jamie did not know how to deal with each other. I was shocked at how Eve’s dad flip instead of letting her express herself, I was finally happy that her mother listened to her after all this time. I was rooting for Jamie for finally sending his ground when it came to Lucy. Throughout this book, it showed that hurt people hurt people, even if it’s not intentionally. I think Ashley did a good job on showing how different unhealed people can look like or even act. Also, how you can never fully move on until you heal and forgive for yourself. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

When I saw "Dollywood" in the title, I had to read it twice. Surely it was a typo & they meant Hollywood! 🤭 I loved how the setting mainly takes place in East (& Middle) Tennessee. It was fun seeing my city & surrounding areas mentioned.

This book was more than just a romance - it was about healing & grief. I do recommend checking the triggers before diving in. I loved how Eve's journey to happiness wasn't all glitter & gold. It was rugged & honest as we break down her hurtful past.

I liked how Jamie falls into her life right when she decides to seclude herself from her life's struggles by staying in Gatlinburg. He's her escape, but it pushes her to realize the bigger steps she must take to really live, love herself & move forward.

Such a beautiful story that is also deep & emotional! Even within that, there were a few laughs & things I wasn't expecting to happen during Eve's journey.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Ashley Jordan being that this is her debut. (Extra points from me because she thanks Beyoncé in her acknowledgements 🐝💅🏾)

Thank you to Ashley Jordan & Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

This book felt like a slow exhale. Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is soft, heartfelt, and full of emotional depth. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Eve’s world a woman trying to outrun grief, writer’s block, and the pressure to be “okay” again. Escaping to her grandmother’s Tennessee cabin near Dollywood was supposed to be a pause, but it turned into something more.

Enter Jamie: a single dad who’s just as emotionally guarded as Eve. Their connection is quiet, layered, and earned. There’s no insta-love here just two people who are doing the best they can, finding their way to each other in the most tender, human way.

I loved the setting (so rich and grounded in small-town life), the emotional pacing, and the way this book dealt with both love and loss. It’s not flashy or dramatic it’s about choosing healing, every day, even when it’s hard.

The ending felt a little slower than I wanted, but the emotional payoff was worth it. This book is perfect for fans of introspective romance, strong character development, and quiet second chances.

This was such a beautiful love story. Jamie and Eve’s journey was messy, emotional, and real. The author did a great job showing us how their love grew, fell apart, and found its way back. The way the author highlighted Black women’s mental health and pain was done with so much care. I went into this story blind but was pleasantly surprised that I couldn’t put it down. It is IR romance, but I appreciated that Jamie didn’t have to be spoon fed Eve’s Blackness.

I went into reading this book with minimal expectations, like I pretty much went into it completely unbiased when I got accepted to receive this advanced reader copy. But I mean it when I say I liked it a whole lot more than I expected I would. I wouldn’t call it the traditional romance comedy/romcom by any means!

This is my first time reading any of Ashlee Jordan’s work so I didn’t come into it really knowing anything about what I could expect in terms of her writing style/how she goes about writing contemporary romances. But one thing I will say is that she does a really GOOD job at showcasing true yearning on the page, and I don’t think a lot of authors can do that well or in a way that’s truly relatable or believable.

One of my favorite things to read whenever I am reading contemporary romance, is including characters that are truly flawed and realistic because in reality you will come across that way more often than you’re perfect happy go lucky characters.

Once upon a Time in Dollywood is funny, relatable, and just the right amount of spicy. It explores self introspection, grief, infertility, generational/familial trauma and the importance of self love and self advocacy. It was a beautiful story about going after what you want and what you deserve, because even people that are hurting deserve love.

The topics are heavy but definitely going to the story with an open mind and you can definitely find what you’re seeking.

4⭐️’s.

Thanks so much to Berkeley Romance for the eARC!

I knew within the first couple chapters that I was going to love this book, and I did. Eve is a playwright grappling with a difficult year and writer's block when she retreats to her grandmother's cabin in Gatlinburg, TN and ends up falling for Jamie, the single dad who lives next door. Eve and Jamie's relationship, and their journey toward a happily ever after, was a roller coaster in the best way. One thing I appreciated in this novel was the romantic tension is resolved a little earlier in the novel. Because of this, we get to spend more time with them as a couple, watching those slice-of-life moments as they figure out what a future together could look like. Those moments are joyful, frustrating, emotional, and messy, but they are all the way real and had me all the way invested.

Eve and Jamie are two beautifully flawed characters, both working through some hard things from their pasts. I really loved their dynamic and how tender and real their relationship felt. I also loved how the novel traveled through Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains, Nashville, and New York. The scenes at Dollywood were especially magical and made me want to plan another visit to the area.

Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is such a heartfelt and genuinely good story. I honestly can't believe this is Jordan's debut novel. I'll definitely be reading whatever she writes next.

Eve has her work cut out for her when she leaves her NYC home for a “writing retreat.” She’s completely unprepared for the emotional unraveling this getaway triggers. Jamie thinks he’s got it all figured out—until his own skeletons start to surface, forcing him to confront what he’s tried to bury.

This story offers the perfect blend of generational trauma, lies, and betrayal, layered with rich culture and traditions that give the romance a deep, authentic feel.

I especially appreciated that the characters are in their 30s. It was refreshing to see that love—messy, complicated, and healing—can be lost and found at any stage of life.

Some aspects of Jamie’s background felt a bit scattered and hard to follow at times, but it didn’t take away too much from the overall impact.

I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotionally complex heroines, romance with some depth and weight, and BWWM stories that don’t shy away from real-life challenges.