Jennifer Hartmann delivers yet another emotionally charged romance that tugs at every heartstring. Dream On is an opposites-attract story wrapped in tension, healing, and heartbreak, exactly the kind of angsty slow-burn Jennifer does best.

Lexington Hall is Hollywood royalty, jaded and emotionally closed off. Stevie is grounded, sincere, and shaped by a far humbler past. Their connection begins in high school, brought together by a production of Moulin Rouge that sparks something real, until Lex disappears without a word, leaving their budding love story unfinished. Years later, Lex reenters Stevie’s life as a rising TV star capitalizing on their story...and offering Stevie a life changing opportunity. But mistrust and emotional walls still linger. What follows is a slow unraveling of secrets, resentment, and longing, all undercut with that signature Hartmann tension, the kind where even happiness feels fragile, like it’s always one step from falling apart.

What makes this story so compelling is how deeply personal it feels. Lex’s aloofness isn’t just for show. Once you understand what’s behind it, he becomes heartbreakingly human. And Stevie is the one person who can cut through his defenses, making him feel in ways no one else can.

The romance unfolds across years, capturing everything from the naive spark of first love to the bittersweet maturity of second chances. Their growth, as individuals and as a couple, feels earned, raw, and satisfying. By the end, you’re not just rooting for them, you’re feeling every step they’ve taken to get there. It's classic Jennifer Hartmann. A roller coaster of the heart in every way.

Dream On balances the trauma and emotional weight with moments of genuine tenderness and healing. It's deeply felt overall, though perhaps not quite as gutwrenching as her others, which keeps this feeling sweet, sincere, and a bit more gentle...but still hard fought.

Beautiful & tragic love story. Lost family, found family.. the Broken man lex is 🫣 ouch this one hit home but in the best way. Thank you again Jennifer, you’re the best

The emotional rollercoaster that Lexington Hall took me on was just plain rude. (Kidding, kind of) Our boy was just trying to deal with truly horrific parents, trauma, and fame, and it led him to do some of the dumbest shit...And Miss Stevie, she had herself broken so many times over him...emotionally and physically...
So many times, I found myself just saying, “USE YOUR WORDS, LEX” because he was getting in his own way.
The book starts with the two of them in high school, him having moved in after, as his mother calls it “an incident” *insert eye roll here*, and him hitting Stevie’s new-to-her car is where their story begins. We get a four-year time jump, where the two are brought back together, and again, more of me going “USE YOUR WORDS LEX” but it was no use, ha!
I literally could not put this book down. I was finding any and every chance to sneak in a few pages because I would not get enough of Stevie and Lex, even if he couldn’t stop his self-sabotaging.
And this book is my cue to go and read more of Jennifer’s work! I loved how she wrote this story, and if her other stories can pull me in just as much, I will be glued to those words.
Also, f*ck Veronica Hall. That is all.

Ok wow! This book was a freaking emotional roller coaster! This is the second book I’ve read by Jennifer and I have no clue why the heck it took me so long to read another one! I LOVED this! This had me so completely engrossed in the story that I lost track of time, and things I was doing 😂 That doesn’t happen often lol but I just couldn’t put this down, or focus on much else while reading! Jennifer’s writing is incredible and her storytelling is beautiful and will have you devouring her books!

Lex and Stevie had such a hard road back to each other. The things they went through, especially Lex, were absolutely heartbreaking and I just wanted to reach through the pages and give them the biggest hugs. This had some fantastic side characters, especially Rudy and Stevie’s whole family ❤️

I adored Rudy 😂 He was hilarious and truly an amazing friend and support for Lex as he navigated the craziness that was Hollywood. This story broke my heart and pieced it back together with the ending 🥹❤️

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel going into this because I felt like I had a hard time connecting to both Lex and Stevie in their high school era. I’ve only seen positive reviews of this book so I told myself to just keep reading. I was pleasantly surprised about 50% in. I loved the dynamic between Stevie and Lex and their trauma was handled so well. I could not believe the things Lex went through in Hollywood and even in his own home. His parents were the definition of nightmares and to be sexually assaulted at 17 by a woman more than 2x his age? Absolutely disgusting. I was shocked more times then I could count reading the last half of the book and I’m so happy Stevie and Lex were able to find their way back to each other.

This was my first Jennifer book and I have a feeling a lot of her books will put me in my feels. I need more of that in my reading life.

Thank you @netgalley and @valentine_pr for gifting me this ARC. Lexington and Stevie are the high school dream couple that gets separated by tragedy. Four years go by and Lexington is the celebrity of the moment due to their high school romance turned into screen sensation. Now, everyone wants to know who the real girl is behind the love story. Lex will find Stevie again with an offer that she can’t pass.
This story has everything and I felt all the feelings. The characters are very likable, most of them because the villains are real deal abominable. I was so mortified for Lexington and his relationship with his mom, the level of psychological abuse to what she exposed little Lex just broke my heart and grossed me out and the worst thing is that this is a reality for many celebrities, we still see it today. At the same time, it made me think about the mom’s own trauma and how she never dealt with it. She just kept going on with the vicious cycle. As always, check trigger warnings before you read.
@author.jenniferhartmann has this talent to write beautiful stories enveloped by the worst scenarios, you always know that no matter how horrible the circumstances, her characters will find a way. I’m always amazed by how hopeful I feel after reading one of her books.
Also, the way she played with my feelings, if you read it, you know what I’m talking about.

Stevie St. James is your typical small town girl that grew up on a farm with her hard working family. Stevie has a passion for acting and music which leads her to try out for her high school musical. There, she is introduced to Lexington Hall, the golden boy of Hollywood. While practicing for the musical, Stevie and Lex get to know each other on another level and things ignite for them until suddenly, Lex disappears. Four years later, Lex is a Hollywood super star staring in a show that he wrote about their story. The world is obsessed with the real Lex and Stevie, and Lex's agent is adamant that they need Stevie to help "play" the part in real life. Lex reaches out to Stevie with a deal she can't turn down. Pretend to be in a real relationship with him in exchange for a huge paycheck. But, can they put on the show of their lives while keeping the lines between reality and fiction clear?
Review:
Jennifer Hartmann is one of my favorite authors, I will read everything and anything she writes. She knows exactly how to crush my heart and then put it back together again. But, I was not the biggest fan of this one compared to her other stories. I found it to be very slow and it lacked the normal heart crushing story that I am used to. Typically, I am ready for lots of twists and turns and a fast paced enthralling and emotionally heartbreaking story line, but this didn't have that. I found myself not wanting to pick it up. I did love Stevie's character, but I just was not invested like I typically am with Jennifer's stories and characters. I do know that a lot of people loved this story and I love that for them! I encourage everyone to pick it up and form your own opinion, because it may be your favorite book of the year.
Dream On is available now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Hartmann, and Bloom Books for this ARC of Dream On in exchange for an honest review!

Did I think this was going to be a swoony fluffy romance? Yes. Was it? Absolutely not, but in the BEST way. 👏🏻

I absolutely LOVED this book & the chemistry but also understanding & emotional connection between Lex, the Hollywood Golden Boy, & Stevie, the small town theater farm girl, was phenomenal.

@author.jenniferhartmann writing in this book is top tier & makes you feel each and every single emotion of these characters (yes some tears were shed at 2am reading). 😭

4.5⭐️ A beautifully written, slow-burn second chance romance that takes fake dating and makes it feel raw, emotional, and real. Stevie and Lexington’s story is filled with tension, longing, and vulnerability. This is the kind of love that hurts, heals, and makes you believe in dreaming again.

Stevie and Lexington were once everything to each other. Now, years later, they’re strangers forced into a carefully crafted fake romance for the public eye. To everyone else, they look perfect. But behind the cameras, every staged smile and touch is a reminder of heartbreak, regret, and the love they’re both too afraid to claim.

The push and pull between Stevie and Lexington is electric, every chapter dripping with “what ifs” until the storm finally breaks. And when it does, the emotional payoff is unforgettable!

This is the first YA/NA book I’ve read in a while, and it was so beautifully done. I’m used to Jennifer Hartmann’s darker reads, but this one was no less heartbreaking. The story of Stevie and Lex captured all the yearning, hope, and dreams of teenagers chasing big futures.
The struggles each of them faced made me ache for them. From the outside, everyone believes Lex is lucky—blessed with good looks and money—but beneath it all, he’s a boy who endured something traumatic and simply longs to be loved. Then there’s Stevie, who has a loving family but has also endured a life-altering trauma of her own. Their hardships shaped who they are, and together, they became something even more powerful.
I loved watching their journey unfold from teenagers to adults. This was another beautiful and moving book by Jennifer Hartmann.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

A R C • R E V I E W ✨
Dream On by @author.jenniferhartmann
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication date: August 12, 2025

My thoughts 💭
First, anything Jennifer Hartman writes I am going to read she is an Amazon author. 🤗

This book follows Stevie who is a small town girl, she is reunited with Lex her high school crush who is now a Hollywood Star. I loved both Lex and Stevie and Jennifer had my heart on an emotional roller coaster as always.

It is a beautiful story that you must read, I felt the heartbreak and hope this book carried. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it. 💖

#bookcommunity #bookrecommendation #bookreview #arcbookreview #netgalley #netgalleyreviews #bookobsessed

20 million stars!! This book was stunning, soul crushing and the most beautiful masterpiece. I seriously don’t know how Jennifer does it. Every. Single. Time. It’s a home run times a million. This story that she makes has you falling in love with both main characters, Stevie and Lex. There are good times and there are awful times and everything in between. I cried. I cried for Stevie and Lex and all the road blocks that their story faced. I want to remain spoiler free, but wow!! I seriously don’t have words. You will not want to miss out on this one. It will have you in all your feels!

I enjoyed this book and the realistic subjects that Jennifer writes about in it.

Domestic Violence, SA, and things people do or hide for money… all things that happen. Yet she was still able to write it in a way where you just need to keep reading, and start to love/hate certain characters.

Jennifer can write inner turmoil without it becoming annoying, which I am thankful for. Many authors can’t do this.

Jennifer hartmann always fixes my reading slump.

What to expect:
*Slowburn
*Fake dating
*Second chance
*Forced proximity
*Friends to lovers
*He falls first
*Emotional
*Trauma

Dream on follows Stevie and Lexington who meet in Highschool doing a play together. After an accident, they separate and meet years later when he needs her help.

The way that JH can just absolutely wreck me with her books is magical. She has this way of weaving stories to make you fall in love with the characters so fast. Lexington has gone thru certain events that makes me traumatized and it made my heart hurt to see him struggle. I loved this book so much. I can't recommend it enough!!!

a must read

Wow, where to begin with this book?! First and foremost, loved the characters. Even the ones who you love to hate, they were a crucial part to Lex’s story. That being said, Lex and Stevie were absolutely perfect for each other. Stevie is a dreamer and loves with her whole heart. Lex thinks he broken and undeserving. Growing up in the spotlight left him wanting normalcy after an incident happened. So he moves to Chicago his senior year and with his acting history, lands the lead opposite of Stevie in the school play. They are amazing together. Along the way, Stevie tries to break down his walls while they both secretly fall for each other. But demons win out and leaves them both scarred. So when years pass by and Lex’s new series comes out, telling their story, a web of lies leads Stevie moving to LA and being his fake girlfriend. Lex tries to keep her at a distance and Stevie tries to guard her heart, but the tension was high, memories flood back and they both fall. Hard. But can Stevie handle the spotlight?! When the truth unravels and harsh words said, will these two be able to salvage their hearts?! A beautiful story with twists and turns, spice, love and family. Can’t wait to read what Jennifer has for us next!!

Jennifer Hartmann can do no wrong. Her storytelling is incredible.

This book had my heart in a vice.

Lex & Stevie had amazing character development, and both seemed wiser than their years.

The elements of miscommunication was done in a fresh, subtle way adding a layer to the plot. Give me all the angst.

I loved their story. The exploration of trauma & healing tugged on my heartstrings.

Tropes:
•Angst
•Fake dating
•Second chance
•Forced proximity
•Friends to lovers

If it’s one thing I can count on, it’s going to be Jennifer will make me feel all the emotions in her writing. And let me tell you she did it again with Alex and Stevie.
This story is done in 3 parts which I loved. But man the trauma and the heartbreak kept you longing for their HEA. If you like a slow burn, forced proximity and a broken hero this is definitely your book.

A story drenched in feels à la Jennifer Hartmann, yes, this author’s unique brand is, once again, masterfully executed, her way to portray stories never fails to pull at your heart strings.

With Hollywood and a heartwarming farm as background, Lex and Stevie’s story will bring you on a journey through a challenging and emotionally charged path.

Stevie and Lex first meeting isn’t what the film industry refers to as a “meet cute” and yet its meaning sets off a series of events that will propel the story forward. Lex is a celebrity who happens to attend the same school as Stevie, however his tendency to be on his own and standoffish persona hide more than a mere desire do be left alone.

Stevie is a talented singer and performer, her love for acting and passion for the stage find the perfect outlet when she applies for the leading role in the school rendition of Moulin Rouge”. Lex is also taking part in the same audition for the lead male role. When they both get the part the school director suggests all the involved parties to also practice outside the school grounds to get familiar with their parts and seamlessly ease into their respective roles.

As they start to slowly get to know each other we learn more about the main characters we begin to understand Lex pain and a distressing past that hides a deep trauma, a family who doesn’t care about him, their only concern is appearance and money. On the other side of this world we find Stevie, her sunny disposition, big heart and a strong family who support her and help each other, she also harbours some painful past events.

As Stevie and Lex develop their relationship while rehearsing for the school play, we witness two different worlds that collide and two people who find solace in their own bubble of friendship. As it typically happens with Ms Hartmann, the path isn’t smooth, heartbreaking events are just a page away, and while we see a brave Stevie and a broken Lex, we also prepare to hand in our fractured heart.

Unfortunately Stevie love and courage aren’t enough, Lex is still young and his baggage is too heavy for him to carry. After soul crashing separation the action moves forward to a new setting. Years later, two separate cities, two adults and still both brokenhearted, Stevie and Lex lead their own lives.

Yet, theirs story is far from over, when Hollywood drama brings them together their unfinished past is a looming reminder that makes living in the present extremely hard and threatens a promising future. I love the way the author pens these characters, the reality of their situations, the impossibly of overcoming obstacles and their resilience in never giving in to despair. Even when reaching top bottom their love was there, their dream was there even when they couldn’t see or feel. The endurance and determination to see the end was such a powerful experience. I loved this journey and savoured each slow, painful moment.

Stevie and Lex are two beautifully crafted characters, I also enjoyed how the secondary characters were portrayed and were an active part of the story. This author has a real ability in making me wish for secondary characters stories, and Dream On is no exception.

Thank you Jennifer for another wonderful heart-wrenching opus, I love the way you make me teary on each journey.

Arc Review: Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

Jennifer never misses! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, she is one of my all time favorite authors. This book yet again proves that. It has everything you could want from a book. Want to laugh? Want to cry? Want a romance that'll have you swooning? Want some spice? I recommend you pick this book up right now. Her writing is beautiful in this book, but if you've ever read anything from her prior then you know that's nothing out of the norm.

I fell in love with both main characters. Lex and Stevie are very well written. I couldn't put this book down! I went into it blind and wasn't sure what to expect. I would recommend readers do this as well so you can experience the full story as it unfolds. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and healing. The ending was incredibly satisfying!

Please do yourself a favorite and read this book! It's available now on Kindle Unlimited and most book stores.

Tropes:
🩷 Fake dating
💚 Second chance
🩷 Hollywood's golden boy
💚 Forced proximity
🩷 Angst and emotional

*I apologize for such a late ARC review. I was sick with Covid and it was kicking my butt😅*

I will drop anything to read a Jennifer Hartmann book and it was no exception for Dream On. If Jennifer Hartmann writes it, I will read it. This was such a wonderful emotional roller-coaster ride of a book. As always, with her books, they pull you in instantly and you want to just keep reading and never stop. Dream On is probably in my top three reads of hers.

I fell in love with the main characters... I mean how could you not. Stevie and Lex's story was heartbreakingly beautiful. They both grew so much throughout the book. From first young loves to second chance romance as adults.

This book broke me, in the best way, but I loved every minute of it and I can't wait for her next book!