♾️⭐️
Wow! This story had me hooked from the first page. The emotions and the angst really had me all of the place but I feel in love with Lex and Stevie. They have an epic love story that is passionate mixed with tragic. Jennifer’s writing is beautiful and makes you feel deeply for her characters.
This is a perfect mix of opposites attract, second chance romance with so much angst mixed in. Lex and Stevie have a complicated relationship in high school. They’re drawn to each other but at the same time have hesitation with giving each other their all. I don’t want to give too much away but they go their separate ways after an accident. Four years later, successful actor Lex is being thrust back into Stevie’s world. They fight their attraction and have to decide if overcoming the past for something new is worth it.
This is my second Jennifer Hartmann book and it won’t be my last! I loved this book so much.

Thank you Valentine PR & Jennifer for the arc!
Read if you love:
✨fake dating
✨second chance
✨Hollywood’s golden boy
✨forced proximity
✨angsty

Real, raw, and achingly emotional. This story rips you apart and tenderly stitches you back together. The connection and chemistry between Lex and Stevie is everything. Jennifer Hartmann has cemented herself as an auto-read author for me. It hit on so many levels—especially ones I’m living through right now. Emotional damage I didn’t know I needed. Perfect read. 5/5 stars.

✩4.5

✦What to Expect✦
•Hollywoods golden boy
•Fake dating
•Second chance
•Forced proximity
•Angsty & emotional

✦Characters✦
•Stevie St. James
•Lex/Lexington Hall
 
✦Fav Quotes✦
They don’t know how she can captivate an audience with a single look, how she sings like a goddamn angel, or how her talent is bigger than anything I could ever create.

I’m scared to let her go. I’m scared to be alone again because now that she’s back, I remember. I remember what it’s like to really feel.

“Come what may, right?”
“Come what will.”

✦Thoughts✦
Jennifer has done it yet again!

Lex!!! This poor man and what happened to him…. I wanted to give him a big hug!
I also wanted to throat punch his mom lol.

Stevie is an angel and I loved her so much!

There was so much angst between these two, they had me in my feels.
Such a great and unique story!

•ARC Read•

My chaotic thoughts. I have a super hard time putting my emotions and thoughts into words but I try.

I stayed up till 1 AM to finish Dream On, and once again, Jennifer Hartmann shattered my heart only to piece it back together. This book is nothing short of epic. If you haven't delved into a JH book before, prepare to be surprised. JH's narratives are beautifully tragic, steering clear of perfection as her main characters come with complex backstories.

One of the aspects I loved about Dream On is its structure, divided into three acts. We first meet the MC's at 17, then reconnect with them at 21. JH has a way of causing physical emotions when I read; reading this book was an emotional journey, much like her others.

The way in which I wanted to give Lex a big hug, that boy (man) 😭. I was invested in everyone in this story. I would LOVE to visit this group again, RUDY?! We need a follow up.

Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann.
First off i am so excited that I was able to snag this eARC from valentine PR and Jennifer Hartmann!!!!! She is one of my favorite authors!!!! So to say i was excited was an understatement!

This book did not disappoint, Jennifer Hartmann has a way of grabbing you from the opening words and not letting you go to the very last sentence!

Lex and Stevies story was beautiful, throughout the book so many things happened to keep me on the edge of my seat, I couldn’t put it down. Everything described set the perfect scene. I could visualize it all. I loved the dynamics of rich actor, and sheltered farm girl! It had all the best tropes, second chance romance, fake dating, slow burn, forced proximity, and broken hero.

The meet cute was more of a meet crash, and i loved it! I love starting to read a book and you feel a certain way towards characters introduced but by the end you feel like you have new best friends and you’re happy for how their lives played out.

To not give too much away this book was about Lex who had some demons in his closet and didn’t feel seen or heard until Stevie walks in and shows him what real love is, but then he’s ripped away and 4 years later he’s all Stevie hears about and tries to avoid. She has some demons of her own but after time has passed and an offer she cant refuse, the old Lex creeps through. Together they overcome lots of obstacles and hurdles to make a beautiful heartbreaking love story come to light.

Some authors have a knack for ripping your heart out, stomping on it and then sewing it back up in my chest. Jennifer Hartmann is such a surgeon.

The meet cute is rough. Stevie is your typical girl, raised in a loving family. Lex is a hot mess, raised in a dysfunctional environment that would increase anyone's ACEs score. They literally collide and just keep colliding. Despite his cool and aloof exterior, Lex is always protecting Stevie. It's just that sometimes she doesn't know he's doing it. Sometimes he doesn't even know he's doing it. Other times, it takes everything in her to understand why he does what he does.

Lex's home life, his parents... They are just as tragic as he is. His father was not so much a father as one of them old time-y gangster guys who mistreats all his employees and plays Lord of the Manor. His mother was all about perception and money. They treat Lex like an object they own, pimping him out for their own personal gain. Stevie, on the other hand, has parents who courage her, love her and don't treat her like a possession. They are from different worlds.

The characters in this book are the best and worst examples of humanity. The way Lex tries to cope with his trauma only seems to dig him into deeper trouble. Stevie, on the other hand, is a true talent with big dreams and an innocent heart. But with the bright lights and darker edges of Hollywood and LA pressing in, you can’t help but wonder: will this world lift her up or swallow her whole?

This book was beautiful, tragic and overflowing with emotion. Stevie and Lex had me feeling so some kinda way for both of them. I laughed, I held my breath and a cried more than a few times. My heart was torn in so many directions, but by the end, this story put me back together again. Absolutely fantastic.

☆☆ ARC REVIEW ☆☆
Releasing: 8.12.25

Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann
Lex & Stevie 'Nicks'

☆ My Rating: 5⭐️
☆ Slow Burn Romance
☆ Moulin Rouge
☆ Fake Dating
☆ Second Chance
☆ Forced Proximity
☆ Angsty & Emotional
☆ High School Theater Partners
☆ Broken Hero
☆ Hollywood Golden Boy & Farm Girl
☆ Secret Trope 🩷
☆ Spice: 1🔥
☆ Spicy Chapters: 35, 43, 44
☆ TW: Reference to SIDS. Past Sexual Assault Flashbacks. Domestic Violence.

I loved the moments in chapter 44. The moments that were stolen from them when they were young. The moments that should have been. And that they finally got with a creaky bed and a broken door lock.

I don't think Jennifer Hartmann can write anything bad. This author knows how to write them. I absolutely love her unique, slow burn and angsty stories. This book was everything and more. I immediately fell in love with the plot and the characters. I had so many feels reading the beginning of act II. My heart couldn't handle it. I felt so mad. So sad. So angry with Lex. For not standing up for Stevie or himself. What a journey it was for Lex to finally get his happily ever after. It ended exactly how I had hoped. What an amazing book. I have no doubts this book will be extremely successful when it releases. How does anyone ever recover after reading any of Jennifer Hartmann books.

Thank you for letting me read this amazing book.

This is my second Jennifer Hartmann book and it won’t be my last, this woman can write!! You can feel the brokenness of her characters and you get to experience their healing, it’s beautiful.

This book felt real, real problems and real love. I laughed, I cried, and I felt everything in between. Stevie is so relatable and has a heart of gold, and Lex is the bad boy at first glance type but really he’s just a boy who’s been hurt and let down by the world.

This was an epic love story and one that I could not put down. I can’t be the only one hoping Joplin gets her own story next!!

No one writes an emotional rollercoaster like Jennifer Hartmann! I love how there’s a complexity in each character and story she writes and Lex and Stevie are no different. Her broken MMCs always steal my heart because Jennifer writes them so real and messy. I can’t help but love how she redeems them. We’re thrust into a story of unresolved feelings and failed plans all coming together for that second chance and redemption in a way only Jennifer can write!

Thank you Jennifer Hartmann and Valentine PR for the gift of this early read!

The way this woman story tells her books is captivating. The words are poetic as they hit every heartstring the reader has. No matter the story I'm drawn in and I feel like I'm floating as I watch the book unfold. The emotions are real, raw, heartbreaking, and tragic, but the way they reunite has me gripping the pages to see how it turns out. Stevie and Lex's story is absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. So much depth to her work.

This book was so good! Once I started it, I had to k is what happened. Act one really got me and then who doesn’t love a fake dating plot?? And leave it to jennifer to pack an emotional punch.

4.5

I really enjoyed this one, it had me so emotionally hooked, I could not keep up with the rollercoaster that it was. Getting to explore these characters and all their complex layers, was so heart-breaking. Lex goes through so much turmoil throughout this entire book and quite honestly, I’m surprised to see him get to where he is at the end of the book because that boy has experienced way too much heartbreak and trauma and he is honestly an inspirational character to show so much resilience. Stevie is one hell of a tough cookie and she has a heart of absolute gold, she is there for Lex through so much but also watching her come to terms with her boundaries and learning her limits was really awe-inspiring but it is also a true testament to that a person can only be pushed so far before they break, which made me relate to Stevie so much. Their story is one of pain and love, how you can’t experience one without the other, of how life can put you through so much hell but there will always be some light, whether that be a person or a thing, that will guide you through. Family and friends are a major part of their story, as it shows how much having the right people surrounding you can have an impact on not just how you view life but how it makes you feel valued and secure. The writing was beautiful and all topics were handled with such care, a truly impactful read that I recommend anyone to pick up but do check your triggers. I’m really intrigued to see if we will get a spin off for some certain characters, as that could be a really interesting one to explore.

🎤 ARC Review:

4.5/5⭐️s

I swear I would willingly read Jennifer Hartmann’s grocery list if she let me.

To say I was excited for this ARC would be an understatement. There’s just something so fulfilling when you get the honor of reading something early for an author you adore.

I’ve mostly only read her darker/taboo romances, but this was a nice change of pace. I loved that it was a feel good romance, while also still touching on some heavier subjects (would definitely check the trigger warnings for this one).

I love when a story introduces its characters at a younger age and then we get to watch them fall in love again as adults. Is that a trope? I think it might be a trope. But whatever it is, it’s one of my favorite things.

The chemistry and the tension between Lex and Stevie was so good and I needed them together from the very first page. Definitely one of those love stories that makes you feel all the things before the mcs finally get their happily ever after.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Hartmann, & VPR! 🫶🏼

Jennifer Hartmann’s never misses! This book, like her others, stirs up a whole mix of emotions. The story follows Lex, a famous and wealthy actor, and Stevie, a small-town girl dreaming of becoming an actress. They meet in high school during a musical and, after a tragic event, they go their separate ways. Four years later, they come back together under a fake dating setup. Both characters are relovable; Lex might come across as arrogant, but he’s dealing with his own issues, while Stevie is all about selflessness and determination. The novel dives into the gritty realities of Hollywood and who people are behind their persona. The fake dating was perfection, and Harttmann has a way of painting the most vivid scenes—from the high school musical to their homes— her descriptions kept me totally hooked. This layered tale of first love and second chances really drew me in. Lex and Stevie will always have a special spot in my heart, and I can’t wait to revisit their story.

Thank you for the arc for my honest review!
I really wanted to love this book because i absolutely love this author! I didn't love the FMC in this book and because of that I couldn't get into this book and connect with the characters or story.

I think others that can get over this will truly love it!

🎤ARC review🎤

Dream on by @author.jenniferhartmann
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Oh man, that ending really got me. I didn’t know what to expect but this was so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Takes the right person to love you for you to finally love yourself too. Ugh I loved this so much. Your books just do something to me. I cannot get enough of them 💥

As always, J Hartmann tore apart my heart, and put it back together again!

-Second chance
-Fake dating
-Movie star & Aspiring movie star
-Dual POV
-Forced proximity
-Slow burn
-Spice

This story deals with some tough elements and possible triggers from the characters past, but it was so heartbreaking and yet fulfilling by the end of it for both of our MC's.

Fast paced, twists and turns, lots of emotions and swooning - I ate this whole thing up in 2 days. Highly recommend for any Hartmann fans, but also highly recommend for any romance lovers in general!

Complete perfection. I adored absolutely everything about this book. ❤️🥹

Lexington Hall and Stevie St. James meet as high schoolers as they’re cast opposite each other in their high school musical. Dynamically different, Lex was a Hollywood child star, while Stevie grew up, lower income, on a farm. When Lex leaves town abruptly after their opening performance and returns to Hollywood, Stevie is heartbroken. Their paths cross 4 years later after he’s a huge star and she is still hoping to break into the Hollywood scene.

These characters are written so beautifully. We see Lex’s struggles dealing with childhood fame and a lack of real love and parenting at home. Then we see Stevie, whose family doesn’t have much but love is the centerpiece of their lives. The love story between these characters is so beautiful.

This book had me captivated from the start. I’ve loved every Jennifer Hartmann book I’ve read and this is another knockout. This book will destroy you emotionally and then put all the pieces back together so nicely. I cannot say enough great things about this book.

Jennifer Hartmann brings readers another heart-wrenching story full of all the angst and emotions that come along with teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. Does she put Stevie and Lex through the wringer? Yes. Yes, she does. Did it tug at my heart strings? Again, yes. Yes, it did.

This tale of teenage love had warning flags flying all over the place. Lex is a product of his environment and the perfect example of how child actors, most of the time, do not make it out unscathed by the dark underbelly of Hollywood. And as much as I wanted to commend him for what he perceived was his attempts at protecting Stevie, most of the time I just wanted to drag him to a therapist or adopt him myself and show him what a loving mother really looks like. Because Lex’s mother and father were the most despicable parents I’ve read about in quite a while.

As far as Stevie, I vacillated between wanting to hug her, and wanting to yell, “girl, run far away!” She truly was selfless when it came to Lex, mostly to her own detriment. And as much as I wanted to shake sense into her, I had to stop and remember this is a teenage girl just entering adulthood, and life is all about learning from our mistakes. Most of hers had big consequences behind them, from decisions that Lex made. He always managed to come out on top while poor Stevie was left cleaning up the messes and trying to pick up the pieces of her life and shattered dreams.

Yes, this is a very emotional story. And it was very long. There were a few storylines, and quite a bit of dialogue that I feel could have been taken out and we still would have gotten the same emotional punch that Jennifer is known for. My emotions ran the gamut. Lots of heartache for these two young people, but also a lot of frustration. At Lex, at events and incidents that took place. I kept waiting for Lex to man up, but it took him way too long, hence why I wanted Stevie to run far away.

There are several supporting characters that I just fell in love with. Stevie’s whole family. What a blessing they were for her. Mr. Hamlin, the high school theater teacher. Rudy, Lex’s agent. There were also several characters I detested with the intensity of a thousand suns. I’ll let you figure out who they are.

The ending did bring a huge smile to my face, and I wished the good and happy parts to happen sooner at the end. I wanted to relish them a bit longer than we were given.

Readers that love to have their hearts ripped out, who thrive on angst are going to eat this story up. I’m looking forward to seeing what Jennifer brings us next.

Lex and Stevie's story is going to be in your heart for a long while after you read this book.

Dream On is the perfect blend of A Walk to Remember and the Beauty and the Beast. Lex is rough around the edges, living in a family with an abusive father and a mother who uses him and calls it love. He's distant, closed off emotionally, and not much for words.

Stevie is a small town farm girl from a family that has suffered tragedy, and despite this, she has grown to be caring, warm, and thoughtful. They both get the leading roles in their high school musical Moulin Rouge, and end up tangled in each other along the way.

Rather than wanting to be around Lex for what he looked like or his fame, she wanted to talk to him and ask him questions in order to unlock the person he is on the inside. He is used to being used a pawn, but he instantly feels safe and connected to Stevie in a way he hasn't with anyone else.

This was my first book from Jennifer Hartmann and I immediately want to read more. I enjoyed reading a book about a male character who was broken, rather than one with a female character who needed to be rescued. Their relationship was raw, real, and messy.

This is a lesson in carving out room in our lives for friendship, opening up our heart, falling in love, being brave enough to let someone go, living in denial, and grieving after loss. It's bittersweet, heartwrenching, and lonely, but it's also warm, hopeful, and deeply emotional. I laughed, I cried, I felt pain and love for these characters. I already know I'm going to be thinking about this book long after I have read it.