5⭐ 2🌶️

“Well, we’re not in the business of mess-free love, are we?”

Full of angst, emotional turmoil, longing, humorous banter, and deeply moving love, Dream On is an absolute win. Jennifer shattered my heart into a million pieces, gently put it back together….and then broke it ten times more as I traveled through this emotional journey with Lex and Stevie. But the beauty is not only found in the healing and happily ever after; as always, it’s also found in the journey and the raw, devastating moments along the way. It’s in the overcoming and seeing Lex and Stevie finally reach their true dreams.

“I fake my way through indifference and fold my arms. We all have our coping mechanisms, and mine is dissociating–it’s an undervalued superpower.”

Lex irrevocably changed me. On the outside, he’s Hollywood’s Golden Boy and is full of coolness, swagger, and ego but on the inside, he’s so very sweet, broken, and longing for genuine connection. I loved watching his walls come down as he let Stevie in piece by piece and learned to finally trust someone with his shattered heart. His vulnerability tugged on my heart strings and seeing him finally accept his value and true character by the end of the book brought me so much peace.

“At the end of the day, I’m the tragic artist in our real-life show. And he’s the sparkling diamond.”

Stevie was such a force. Quiet, overlooked at times, but unwavering in her loyalty and protection. I adored watching her connect with her family despite everything they’d been through and seeing her let Lex inside her mind and broken parts when she kept such a brave face for the outside world was so sweet. It brought me such joy to see how her confidence and self-worth grew throughout the story and appreciated all the much more the little setbacks and vulnerable moments of questioning she went through–it felt so real and organic to have her journey be less than linear…and it made the ending so much sweeter when she finally shed her doubts and dove head first into her talent, dreams, and love.

“And I think sometimes the dreams we give up make way for the dreams we never knew we wanted.”

The ending was nothing like I thought it would be but everything I never knew I needed. In Jennifer we trust–the journey always leads us right to where we need to be and will be filled with tears (both joyful and heart wrenching), giggles, and swoons along the way. Dream On is an absolute must-read and I’ll definitely be picking it back up in audio on release day to relive this beautiful story once more.

Please please please RUN to preorder this. You will not be disappointed. I could not put it down and when I was forced to it’s all I thought about.

Lexington Hall needs to be protected at all costs. Watching him evolve was so heartwarming to see. I just wanted him to get everything he ever wanted and didn’t think he deserved. Stevie is just an absolute ray of light. The grumpy x sunshine trope in this DID it for me. I loved their big dramatic moments but their small intimate ones just tugged at my heart.

And the SECRET trope? I would have never guessed it. There was several times my jaw was on the F L O O R.

One thing Jennifer never shy’s away from is true traumatic experience and shedding light on those things. It’s something a lot of people can relate to which makes the stories even more relatable.

Fake dating?
Force proximity?
Second chance?
Broken hero?
Angst?
Slow burn?
He fall first?

I’m sat.


Pre- read:
Thank you Valentine PR and Jennifer Hartmann for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, it’s simple: if Jennifer Hartmann writes it, I’m buying it, reading it, and probably crying over it. Once again, she delivers a beautifully consuming story that pulls you in from the very first chapter.

Lex and Stevie? Incredible. Two complex, deeply human characters you can’t help but root for. Their connection felt raw and real, and the way Hartmann explores grief, healing, and love in this book just hits differently, felt so real. My poor Lex!

And let me tell you…the yearning? It was yearning. Capital Y…Yearning. Every moment of tension and longing between them had me fully in my feelings. I really just wanted to scream at times and crawl inside the book.

I also adored Stevie’s family! They were everything and so supportive. They brought so much warmth and emotional depth, and balanced Stevie’s character in such a meaningful way.

True to Jennifer Hartmann’s style, the last 20% wraps up so beautifully, with that perfect blend of closure and longing that leaves you wanting just a little bit more in the best way possible.

4 ⭐️

Thank you Valentine PR for this eARC

Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Hollywoods Golden Boy x Farm Girl
Slow Burn

I enjoyed this read. It was sweet and salty all in one. Not as emotional as some of Jennifer’s other books but still a treasure.

Lex disappointed me a little. I wish he had more of a backbone, he was a bit of a coward and seemed a little lack lustre when you put him up against other MMCs Hartmann has written. I didn’t love his declaration of love being thru text message.

Stevie was a phenomenal FMC. The talent, the passion, the sorrow she went through at the hands of Lex, she stood out and carried this romance.

Rudy was an appreciated side character with his humor and Veronica being a villian and momager was the perfect tie in.

Releases August 12

This is what my soul has been craving!! A hands down 6 star read!! Leave it to Jennifer Hartmann to write such a beautiful, angsty, emotional slow burn, second chance love that will leave you thinking about these characters for the rest of your life. I wish I could read this book for the time over and over again.
While rooting for Stevie and Lex, I wanted to just shake, slap, but ultimately hug Lex. I never wanted to hurt a character so bad before than when I read about the people in Lex’s life. I found Lex’s character completely relatable but the amount of empathy and love Stevie had shown him through the book is astounding!!

Personal favorite Quotes or Lines:

There are moments in your life when you need to make a choice—react quickly, move swiftly, think strategically. But no one ever tells you that those moments are never simple, never clear-cut. You’re not the mastermind you envisioned. You’re just a regular person caught in the cross fire. Sometimes, you make the right call. Other times, you don’t.

“You’re it for me, Nicks. You’ve always been it for me.” “You’re it for me too,” I whisper back, brushing my thumbs along his cheeks. My tears fall like warm rain as I hold him tight, every inch of me on fire. “Come what may, right?” He presses a sensual kiss to my mouth and breathes out, “Come what will.”

“Maybe I’ll call you Nicks.”

“Dream On, Nicks”

A tale of “what if’s” and possible second chances that pluck out emotions!!

I felt the love, fear, heartbreak and anger Stevie and Lex experienced!

Come what may, Stevie and Lex’s story is worth everything! You won’t regret reading this!

Lex and Stevie brought all the high school nostalgia back for me. These two have an indescribable chemistry from their first meeting.

Hollywood child actor Lex is truth blend in to normal life, but Stevie might be his cryptonight. Their attraction during their musical Mulan Rouge is everything Lex has never had until an accident tears them apart.

Four years pass, and Stevie is watching her stort8plsy out on TV staring Lex. In a bid of publicity, she is asked to be his fake girlfriend. Feelings and tension are high because Lex disappeared four years ago without a goodbye breaking Stevie. What starts out as fake soon reveals secrets and dreams.

I loved these characters and their ability to fight for what is right and their individual dreams. They may not do everything right, but they do support each other. Another fantastic book by Jennifer.

Jennifer Hartmann is my Roman Empire author! Going into this book I knew I would not be disappointed. This book was filled with trauma! The MMC was famous and had everything. The FMC was not famous and was poor but had big dreams. The trauma that surrounded the MMC was tragic. You will not be disappointed in this book!

What a beautiful story. The story starts off with Stevie and Lex in their high school years where they connect through their roles in the school musical. Both living different types of lives, they form an unlikely bond. After an unfortunate turn of events they never speak to each other again for four years. When an opportunity presents itself, they end up back in each other's lives temporarily. These two can’t escape the undeniable connection they have to one another.

This was emotional, it was heartbreaking, and it was healing all at once. They both grew up with different types of hardships and trauma that affected them. I loved the way Stevie was the one bright spot in Lex’s life. Their love story was messy and hard fought for but it was beautiful all the same.

If you enjoy angsty and emotional romances I highly recommend Jennifer’s books. Her stories are guaranteed to pull on your heart strings.

“But dreams aren’t always rainbows and sunny skies. Sometimes they clash with your worst nightmare.”

“Part madness, part healing. Half heartache, half hope. And somewhere in between it all… I fell.”

This book was easily 5 stars. The characters and writing style pulled me in right from the first page. I enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster. The character development was so good. The back and forth between the FMC and MMC kept me zoned in and interested. I could see the characters and places so vividly in my mind when reading this. Great job Jennifer Hartmann!

Going into a Jennifer book I always no to expect heartache, swoon worthy love and a compelling heart felt story and this was no different. I couldn’t put this down. I had so many questions, kept looking for the whys and eventually getting those answers. This love story was beautiful even if tragic at times. I absolutely adored watching Lex find himself and heal. Stevie is absolutely perfect. I can’t recommend this book more. But also let me get Jops story pleaseeeeee

3.75 ⭐️

I enjoyed the premise of this book and had a good time reading it … I just didn’t fully connect with the two main characters & I found myself not really liking Lex. There were some moments where his own mother was rude to Stevie and he never stood up for her … overall it wouldn’t be a Jennifer Hartmann book if it wasn’t so emotional. The ups and downs these two go through to get their HEA is so tragic , but I’m so glad they rediscovered themselves & were also able to fully explore what was there 4 years ago.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

All of the stars. Infinity. Top tier. No notes.

This book is raw, emotional, full of baggage and feelings of inadequacy, trauma, healing, and at the bottom of it all, love.

Stevie and Lex begin as unlikely friends in high school, costarring in a musical production. Before they have the chance to become more, everything gets ripped away.

When Lex writes and stars in a show based on their history, he makes her an offer to fake date him, as a publicity stunt. But will they get their second chance at love, or will their story end in ruin, again?

Jennifer Hartmann is the queen of angst, the delicious slow burn, and writes characters who aren't afraid of dragging the dark into the light. Dream On shows some of the horror of Hollywood, and the beauty in simplicity.

Stevie and Lex were perfectly imperfect, my heart broke for them, but at the core of it all, their story was gut-wrenchingly beautiful. These two will be living rent free in my head for the foreseeable future. Highly recommend!

3.5 stars! I love Jennifer Hartmanns writing! I love how she writes her characters and the way you grow to love them, flaws and all! It’s not near as devastating or sad or angsty as some of her other novels (which I LOVE)! That’s the only reason this isn’t a 4 star read for me!

Thanks NetGalley!

There’s just something about the way Jennifer tells a story. The way she writes? It like it breathes life into every emotion and every moment. Her descriptions don’t just paint a picture...they pull you in. I’m always so immersed in her worlds, but Dream On? It gave me all the feels. I think I genuinely love each story more than the last! I finished it sitting in a puddle of awe and tears, Stevie and Lex’s story was emotional, powerful, and so beautifully told. Stevie and Lex completely stole my heart! Their story is the perfect blend of second chances, slow-burn tension, and emotional depth. The Hollywood glitz meets small-town roots in the best way, and the chemistry between them?! Literally electric!! Lex was so full of neglect, shame, and starved of love. it was absolutely heartbreaking. You just want to take away all the pain he’s endured and remind him he’s worthy of so much more. Stevie, on the other hand, was the complete opposite...a true breath of fresh air. I absolutely adored the bond she had with her sister Joplin; it made me crave that kind of sisterhood. And their parents? So heartwarming and full of love. If you love fake dating with real feelings and a touch of nostalgia, and a secret rooftop beneath the stars, this one’s a must-read. Highly recommend. 😍🩶 Thank you, Jennifer, for another beautiful gem to add to my collection.

First August read and first 5 star book! This is an ARC and everyone should read this when it comes out later this month. First, because the FMCs name is Stevie and second just because it’s an amazingly sweet second chance love story all set in the background of Hollywood. Absolutely hated Lex’s mom and dad but truly felt for Lex. Love their story and even the pain. Must read!

"Dream on, Nicks."

Review:
Jennifer Hartmann is an auto-buy author for me. I’ve read 8 of her books so far and loved them all, this one was no exception.

It had a different vibe than her other stories, but in a good way. This one was really unique, but still emotional, romantic, heartbreaking, and healing all at once.
And dare I say… it was slightly less traumatizing than some of her other books (not that I mind emotional rollercoasters, I love them, but this was a breath of fresh air).
I would definitely reccomend this as introduction to Jennifer's work.

Jennifer writes such complex characters and somehow makes you love them no matter what. I absolutely adored Stevie (farm girl 🐄🌾) and Lex (Hollywood’s golden boy 🎬💫).
The Hollywood vibes were so fun, but I also loved their quiet, cozy moments on the farm.
I also don’t always love second chance romance, but it really worked here.

I would definitely put this on your TBR if you haven't already done it.

- Contemporary romance
- Hollywood's golden boy x farm girl
- Second chance
- Time jumps
- Fake dating
- Forced proximity
- Emotional
- He falls first

I was gifted this e-arc by Valentine PR for free and leave this honest review voluntarily.

I wanted to loveee this one, but it left me a little disappointed. I don't want to be hatefull, but, I just did not love Lex.
Yes,yes, I know his is moody, and dark, but he just does not have HERO vibes. In one part, I wanted to trough my kindle, because, I was screaming WHY, WHY...

In few ocations, I wanted to DNF this book ... But I stick around. 3.5 stars for this on

4.5….This book is a journey. A journey of friendship, love and everything in between. A journey that starts in high school and does not end. Just weaves its way through several years. Weaves its way through good times, bad times and times you never want to remember again. This is the journey that is Stevie and Lex’s love story. These two meet in high school he was the rich kid who had found fame on TV…but not everything was Hollywood gold. She was the girl that was raised on a farm. Her family had great times and they had great sadness. For some reason Lex and Stevie have a connection, a bond that no one would understand…not even them. This is a very layered slow burn with a lot going on. Between family drama, Hollywood dysfunction and real life issues this book did not disappoint. These characters were strong and had an important story to tell. This author has a way of writing drama filled emotional stories. Stories that suck you in and don’t let you go. Stories with important topics…sometimes sensitive topics that she always handles with grace. This book was no exception. As this book ends I look forward to seeing what this author will bring us next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I felt every emotion is this book. This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book and I ate it up! I’ll definitely be diving into her back catalog. She has wonderful way of building tension with emotion. And the slow burn, so good!

Lexington Hall might just be the broodiest of all broody MMCs—and trust me, his backstory more than earns that title. Heads up: while I didn’t personally read the trigger warnings, this story could be highly triggering for readers sensitive to themes of domestic abuse or sexual assault.

The story starts back in high school, where Lexington—a former child actor—meets Stevie, a tomboy theatre girl who sees him for who he is, not what he can do for her. Years later, Lexington has written and starred in a hit drama series inspired by their past. To generate buzz, his agent suggests reconnecting with the girl who inspired it all—Stevie—and asking her to play the role of his date for a while.

She agrees, mostly to get the closure she never got when things between them ended so suddenly. But as she gets closer, she realizes the sweet, soft-hearted boy she once knew is still in there—he’s just hiding behind walls she’ll have to take down one painful brick at a time.

Thank you Valentine PR and Jennifer Hartmann for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.