The reader meets Eve when she’s at her lowest. Eve is in a dark place after suffering multiple tragic losses. She feels disconnected from her fiancé, parents, and her writing. With the walls closing in, Eve seeks refuge at her deceased grandmother’s cabin in Tennessee. Enter her new neighbor Jamie, a single dad trying to rebuild his life after a messy breakup with his cheating ex.

Although Eve and Jamie have different experiences, they have similar wounds. Both are grappling with the aftershock of parental betrayal at an early age. While Jamie’s trauma led him down the path of martyrdom, Eve’s trauma made her somewhat of an escape artist. Both parties use their careers and roles as caretakers to distance themselves from the root causes of their pain. The more Eve and Jamie try to ignore their pain, the deeper their wounds become.

Eve and Jamie meeting serves as the initial spark of their healing journeys. As Eve and Jamie navigate their budding relationship, they come to realize how stagnant their lives have become. They both have to chip away at their respective walls to allow for true growth to occur. Part of that growth involves rebuilding trust and understanding the strength of vulnerability. Eve and Jamie also come to realize they cannot solely depend on their romantic partner to get them to their end goal. Their true healing occurs when they begin their individual work to better themselves, with a focus on progress not perfection.

This book will definitely have you in your feelings. There are moments of humor interspersed with heartache and tenderness. It’s an impressive debut novel. Ashley Jordan is definitely an author to watch. Thanks NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group.

4.25 / this is ultimately a story that shows that grief, healing, and finding joy is not linear at all and that even the worst parts of (most of) us deserve love. once again, to be loved is to be seen and Ashley paints such a beautiful portrait of what love can look like in acts of service, perseverance, and patient. i thought this was a beautiful story that really started coming together at around 60% when i began rooting for the main couple. my only question is if this might’ve worked better in first person POV but idk anything about writing so take that with a grain of salt!

gorgeous romance filled with All. The. Feels! the vibes are great throughout and the character connections work really, really well. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

An excellent beautiful emotional love story.

I love the focus on both of the characters and the struggles they both dealt with.

Eve’s story was really heartbreaking. Her relationship with her parents, friends, and lovers was so nuanced. I truly felt in touch with her.

And, Jamie…I wanted to hit him over the head a few times. But his character was so easy to root for.

I’m very excited to see more from Ashley in the future. She is such a talented and fantastic writer.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to review this eARC.

I loved this book so much! What an emotional roller coaster! This book dealt with a lot of heavy topics and trauma but was done so expertly and with care. Eve was so relatable and I loved that Jamie wasn’t some perfect person to rescue her. They both were flawed, traumatized and ready to heal for each other!

This book really resonated with me and made me feel seen.

Thank you!

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

I really enjoyed a lot of this book. As a Tennessean from the area where a lot of this book is set, I was excited at how wonderfully accurate the setting was. I had so many moments of excitement at the things about life here that I recognized.

I loved the focus on Eve’s growth, especially. Eve was a very relatable character. And Jamie was a fantastic MMC. So thoughtful and kind.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was that it slowed down a bit toward the end. It felt like the stakes resolved and then unresolved in a way that was meant to add length.

But on the whole, this was a good book, and I’m excited to see what else Ashley Jordan writes!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Ashley Jordan’s Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is a heartfelt and intense debut that blends emotional depth with small-town charm. It follows Eve, a successful playwright whose life is unraveling in every possible way, so she escapes to the Tennessee mountains for a reset. But it turns out healing isn't just about solitude; sometimes, it comes wrapped in unexpected connections and inconvenient feelings.

This was a story about self-discovery, about learning to stop running, and finding the courage to try again, even when you’re still healing. A little slow at times, but the emotional payoff made it worth the pace. An impressive debut that left me rooting for everyone.

This was quite a debut novel. It’s a wonderful combination of heartbreaking and heartwarming moments with some great laughs in between. The journey to happiness is not always linear, and the author does not shy away from creating a messy, beautifully human story.

Eve is facing turmoil on multiple fronts with her life in New York— her fiancé, her career, her parents, and grief/infertility. She decides she needs a break to focus on writing her new play to continue her journey as a playwright. So she leaves New York for a sabbatical in Tennessee for a combination of work and healing. She does find the isolation she was seeking at her grandmother’s old cabin, but it doesn’t last long once she meets the neighbor, Jamie.

Jamie is a devoted father, trying to balance his happiness and prioritizing everyone around him. He’s juggling a lot in his own life but still makes Eve a priority. Eve is emotionally exhausted and has every wall up possible, but Jamie is patient and persistent. They have wonderful chemistry and they have a lot in common, like their taste in books and music—which creates some cute moments.

I really loved that Eve and Jamie both have emotional baggage and they’re clearly flawed, which is so beautifully written. Both main characters had vulnerabilities and insecurities from external and internal sources and they expressed it in different ways. This made them feel even more relatable, especially when they struggled with how to process all. Leading to what I really, really loved the most, was the message of healing— through seeking therapy, through putting yourself first, through stepping out of your comfort zone, through setting boundaries, and through forgiveness.

I definitely felt like I went on an emotional journey with these characters and I felt invested in their story. I recommend this book if you enjoy a good emotional story and characters with real depth.

Debut WHERE?

This book is some kind of beautiful. It’s emotional, healing, introspective, sensual, and empowered.

Eve is a Haitian-American playwright in New York turning the corner of burnout. She’s just suffered an intense loss, and not for the first time, and is struggling to write her next play.

So she leaves and makes her way to a little cabin in Gatlinburg,Tennessee owned by her late grandmother for some R&R and tuck-in and to write her next play. When Eve leaves, she leaves to the displeasure of her parents and unceremoniously dumping her long-time fiancée.

Going back to the cabin brings up a lot of suppressed feelings for Eve and doesn’t necessarily help her get her play off the ground. Especially when she meets her new neighbor Jamie. Their early friendship is tenuous until it gets very, very hot.

But whenever there’s a fish out of water (Eve) and a clock (Eve’s play) the couple feels like they can’t invest in something that’s bound to be short-term. In addition to the looming play deadline, Eve has a wildly successful play that’s facing numerous opportunities in New York that requires her attention. Jamie is a single dad to a darling son with a very messy ex, both of which are in Nashville where he lives full-time. Their time in the cabin is a sort of bubble that feels bound to burst.

Eve is very cautious to go beyond the surface with Jamie. He’s so gentle with her (except when he’s being deliciously filthy) but as a single dad, he can’t bring someone in and out of his life.

Both Eve and Jamie are working through feelings of holding themselves back in their personal lives one way or another. Eve has a lot of guilt and resentment about her previous time in Gatlinburg while Jamie has always made sure everyone around him was comfortable, often to his detriment. In this story we see them working through those issues and working towards one another.

If you’re looking for a romance that floods you with every emotion, this is the perfect next read for you.

Thanks to Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the E-ARC! Loved so much! Amazing debut. Great characters & loved the setting. Excited for more from this author!

This book was not an easy read, in the best way. It was as much about self discovery and recovery as it was about romance (though damn, the romance was good).

One of my favorite authors is Kennedy Ryan, and if you like her work too, absolutely get this book. This is a different voice, a different take, but the richness developed and care taken with such heavy and delicate subjects strikes a similar chord.

The only thing I wanted for was more — further exploration of Eve’s backstory, a deeper connection in a few scenes — just a little more to dive into.

I loved it and can’t wait to see what’s next from Ashley!

I truly appreciated the author's note in the Dear Reader section, addressing the heavy themes woven throughout the story. Ashley Jordan's debut novel is a heartwarming tale that skillfully combines themes of healing, unexpected love, and new beginnings set against the stunning Tennessee mountains.
Introducing Eve Ambroise, the FMC, a playwright struggling with writer's block, childhood trauma, and a challenging year. Her retreat to the mountains to escape it all leads her to Jamie Gallagher, the MMC—a charming single dad embarking on his own fresh start. Their journey from casual fling to profound connection feels incredibly genuine and will keep you cheering for them every step of the way.

This story explores facing fears, taking emotional risks, and discovering magic in life’s quiet, everyday moments. If you enjoy feel-good reads with authentic characters and a touch of fairy-tale charm, this book is a must-read!

4.5 stars

🌟🌟🌟 3/5 stars
This book started so strong—I was all in from the first few chapters. I loved the setup, the setting, and the emotional vulnerability both characters seemed to carry. I was even staying up late reading, fully invested in where Eve and Jamie's story might go.
But around the 24% mark, something shifted. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first, but the dynamic between the characters started to feel off. The black cat/golden retriever energy was clear—Eve being guarded and sharp, Jamie being soft and eager—but somewhere along the way, Eve's defensiveness became straight-up You know what. And combined with Jamie’s Insta –Love vibe I already was waiting for the trauma bonding to begin. and the grumpy/sunshine vibe felt a bit forced just to prove a point.

That said, just because I didn’t care for the character dynamic doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy Ashley’s writing

This book was so cute! I I loved the romance, and all the Dolly references. It was romantic and funny as well. What a great time!!!

This was a beautiful and emotional story covering topics such as divorce/ child custody and infertility wrapped up in a beautiful love story.

I enjoyed Eve and Jamie both as characters. They were each dealing with challenges, but their humor and personalities shone through. I loved reading about Eve’s efforts to deal with and work through her past traumas.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley for this ARC!

Emotional
Healing
Trauma
Depression
Single Dad
Before I start and before you read this book, please read the content warnings! This book is heavy. Yes it’s a romance but it’s heavily about childhood trauma, relationship issues, and healing. With that said, this had my eyes burning! I don’t know if I can put into words what I want to say. It’s realistic. It’s heartbreaking. It’s heartwarming. This is beyond a romance. You see two people who are carrying a lot come together, and over time see the effects of said baggage affect their relationship and ultimately, healing. The progress they make during their relationship, the ups and downs due to certain guards being up. I loved seeing this explored (especially in this genre!)
I don’t want to spoil so I’ll keep this brief. Unfortunately, wounded people wound people but not necessarily intentionally. Being vulnerable when that hurt you is hard because it can be thrown back at you. You see the two characters, Eve and Jamie, go through patterns and cycles, repeating what the other did that hurt them. Remember, this is more than a romance. It’s a story of healing. Stay tuned for its release August 5th!

4.5 stars - This was a beautiful and emotional story covering past trauma, grief, and infertility. It was a difficult read at times, but so worth it. The writing was wonderful, the pacing was good, and the characters felt so grounded and real. Eve's journey throughout the book was very well done. I could feel her pain and sadness and it was wonderful to be able to see her grow and process everything that had happened to her. There were difficult moments with her character where I was frustrated by certain actions, but I also understood why it was happening. Jamie's character was really interesting. I don't feel like we got to know him quite as well as Eve, but I still thought he was a very compelling character and liked how he was with Eve.

The progression of their relationship was done well and very realistically. I enjoyed how they both were able to truly find some healing and peace on their own before coming together in the end and I loved the growth they both had. While this was a different kind of romance than I normally gravitate towards (there are a lot of heavy subjects) I'm so glad I picked this up. Would absolutely recommend.

Many thanks to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

3.5* I wasn't sure what to expect from this one given the title and premise, but it definitely is not your traditional romcom. It's heavy. It deals with really heavy themes such as fertility, grief, and loss. I did enjoy Eve and Jamie's story, but I found the pacing to be a bit off at times, and it was a lot to balance the romance with the heavier parts of the story. I did enjoy Ashley's writing, and I felt it read more like a screenplay at times (which is fitting given Eve's career as a playwright).

This is not a sweet romance. Lots of issues with parents, significant others, miscarriages, adoption, and more. I did skip the intimate scenes and the foul language. I wanted see how they could possibly get to their happily ever after. It was good to note that despite being a mixed couple, race was never a problem. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.