🌴Small town FMC
🎬Hollywood actor MMC
🌴Second Chance
🎥He Falls First
🌴Fake Dating
🎬Broken with trauma MMC
🌴Soulmates / strong connection

Omg!!! I have so many emotions throughout this one! I will say this is one of the more lighter reads for Jennifer, but that doesn’t mean that the depth and emotion we expect from her isn’t there. It’s there and be sure to be ready for all the second chance angst… and the feels only Jennifer gives.

This is the story of Lex and Stevie. Lex is a childhood actor, comes from money… but that doesn’t mean he’s happy and without trauma. His home life isn’t the best, the expectations put on him are something he struggles with. Lex is broken and troubled by the industry… just wanting a normal life he enters highschool for his senior year… him and Stevie do not start off on the best of terms. They meet one summer day briefly when he totals Stevie’s car…. And then the enemies to lovers vibes kick in.

Stevie our FMC has big dreams. Acting is her passion! She wants to be an actor some day and leave her small town farm life behind. Her and Lexington get the lead in the musical together and through a version of forced proximity, build a bond. Their connection is real and undeniable. When tragedy strikes…. These two spend years apart….

Years later Lexington needs Stevie for a publicity stunt… which is where the fake dating comes into play. Will their past trauma’s and misconceptions of who the other is now, get it the way? Can Lex finally open himself up to being loved? These two are soulmates but in the end is that enough?

The modern day Hollywood vibes was so much fun to read about. Seeing Stevie thrust into lexingtons world and how they navigate that dynamic… and their past was so enjoyable to read about. This is heavy on the character development and more of a character driven story, but I ate it all up!

P.s This is marketed as Young Adult, but there is definitely some steamy scenes that are open door.

Oh my stars, what an emotionally gripping , compassionate and beautiful story—not only as an opposites attract, second chance romance but one of never giving up on your dreams. Stevie was from the poor side of town with big aspirations to make it big as an actor, Lexington seemed to have it all as former successful actor looking for a quieter life. One night changed their paths and after four years they cannot fight the pull that connected them. The character development and growth of Stevie and Lex was stellar! I felt their feelings, I mourned their losses past and present (also literally and figuratively) and celebrated their accomplishments. I appreciated the time given to their backgrounds, through their time in high school and then through to their reconnection—each phase was complex, emotional and immersive. Such a deeply moving story of a second chance at your dreams and at love. 4.5 stars

This wasn’t my favorite Jennifer Hartmann book, but it was still an okay read. I loved the connection and chemistry between Stevie and Lex, especially in the beginning, but felt it went downhill from there.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I felt like Stevie deserved so much more from Lex.

“I wonder why she likes the color so much.
I wonder why I care.”

- Lex

okay first and foremost, I am extremely late with posting this due to my new title of mama x2😅 life has been extremely chaotic so i’m grateful I even had time to read this (and I got the ARC btw).

now where to start with my review for Dream On? guys, if you have not read this, I can guarantee you that it will have you emotional. there are so many quotes that I loved from this book.

Lex Hall being the gorgeous, famous rich boy was extremely deceiving. there were more layers to him than Stevie would have ever imagined. he is basically trapped and devoid of giving a damn, until Stevie. now Stevie is not someone you’d expect Lex to go for, despite how beautiful she may be, due to his entitlement and her way of living. she lives on a farm, Lex lives in a mansion. see the difference? but on a deeper level, these two just belong.

I loved this book but that is no shocker considering I have loved all of JH’s books since I started reading them.

this book shows you that just because you and others may come from different lives, doesn’t mean that love can’t grow there. it’s all about what is underneath the layers. the right person with unpack all of that.

*please check your trigger warnings before considering this book.*

4.5 ⭐️🥹

Oh my heart. My little tiny heart. This book was precious and I absolutely loved it. The meanings that were behind the words on these pages were so relatable and true. I’ll carry this one with me for a while.

Thank you ValentinePR and Jennifer Hartmann for this ARC!

I had the honour of receiving an ARC of Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann, and what an absolute pleasure it was. From the moment I opened the first page, I was eager to lose myself in the emotional world of Lexington and Stevie. This is a “friends to enemies to lovers” romance that delivers on every front; tender, tense, passionate, and utterly soul-stirring.

Going into the book, I made a conscious effort to avoid all promotional teasers and spoilers. I wanted to experience it completely blind, and I’m so glad I did. From the beginning, we meet Lex and Stevie as 17-year-olds navigating the emotional turbulence of high school. Their first encounter is far from smooth, but a shared passion for theatre and fate itself soon thrusts them together when they’re cast as the leads in the school play.

Their chemistry is undeniable, even when masked by friction and resentment. There’s something deeply nostalgic and honest about their early connection; raw, angsty, and brimming with Romeo and Juliet vibes. Coming from starkly different socioeconomic backgrounds, their worlds couldn’t be more opposite, but that contrast only adds richness to their dynamic. Hartmann beautifully captures the intensity of young love; the vulnerability, the hope, the fear of not being enough; in a way that feels incredibly authentic.

But as life often reminds us, not all stories follow a straight path. A tragic accident shifts the trajectory of Lex and Stevie’s relationship, tearing them apart and setting the stage for the second act of the book, four years later.

When they meet again as adults, the bond between them hasn’t faded; it’s simply evolved, shaped by time, grief, and the weight of all that was left unsaid. And in true Jennifer Hartmann fashion, we’re gifted a delicious dose of forced proximity, the kind that makes your heart ache in the best way.

Their reunion is anything but easy. Their relationship now carries the weight of old wounds and unresolved emotions. It's messy and complicated, but also full of hope and the possibility of healing. Watching them navigate this new version of their bond is a deeply emotional experience, equal parts heart-wrenching and uplifting. Hartmann has such a gift for portraying complex, human emotions with honesty and grace, and it’s on full display here.

One of the most impactful aspects of Dream On is the way Jennifer Hartmann handles heavy, real-life themes. She doesn’t shy away from the darker corners of human experience, but she approaches them with a sense of care, empathy, and reverence. These topics are never treated as plot devices, instead, they are woven into the narrative with sensitivity and respect, giving voice and dignity to those who’ve lived through similar pain.

It’s this emotional authenticity that makes her stories resonate so deeply. Hartmann doesn’t just write characters; she breathes life into them. You feel their joy, their grief, their longing, and their growth. She invites you into their world and asks you to stay a while, to feel everything they feel. And somehow, through all the heartbreak and healing, she always finds a way to leave you with hope.

I gave Dream On a well-deserved 5 stars. As always with a Jennifer Hartmann novel, I devoured it, heart wide open, tissues in hand. Her storytelling is rich, immersive, and emotionally intelligent. This book brought both tears to my eyes and a smile to my face, sometimes within the same chapter. It’s a poignant exploration of love, loss, forgiveness, and the power of second chances.

Dream On is an unforgettable journey, raw, honest, and deeply moving. If you’re a fan of emotional, character-driven romance with real depth and soul, this book is not to be missed. I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced it early, and I already can’t wait to see what Jennifer Hartmann shares with us next.

Jennifer Hartmann is one of my favorite authors. I love the way she writes about trauma. She helps you understand why Lex is the way he is. She slowly reveals his trauma without shocking you immediately. You can't help but feel heartbroken. Stevie appears to be a meek girl but she is the strength in this book. Loved it.

thanks Netgalley

I didn’t feel that this was one of Jennifer’s best books. The first act was strong but then went on to kinda fall flat for me. The romance was there but the characters were kinda blah to me. If you’re a fan you might wanna try and form your own opinion. Unfortunately it just wasn’t one of the best for me

This is only my second Jennifer Hartmann novel, but it was such a good one! She has a way of writing that is so compulsively readable, that you can't put the story down. A great second chance romance, with tons of emotion.

I loved Dream On. This is one of those stories that pulls on your heart strings and make you feel all the emotions. Lex comes across as this tough, arrogant, rich kid that doesn't care about anything because he can get whatever he wants with money. But deep down, he's broken, he's hurt, he's longing for normalcy and genuine love from his parents. I hurt for him. Stevie has everything he doesn't. She's not from money, but she lives on a farm where they pick from their garden for food, they have a cow for milk, she has the love and attention of her parents. She doesn't have money to buy her way through life, but she has all the normalcy Lex is longing for.
The story itself is beautiful. Is it original? No. But it is still beautiful in its own right. Lex has just had a rough life, though surrounded by luxury and money. Stevie is such a beautiful, sweet, soul. She's so patient with Lex, even after allowing his mother to treat her the way she did. Even after Lex himself treating him the way she did. She kept her patience. I loved their characters. Their personalities played off of the others so well.
The story is enjoyable and keeps you hooked. I can't wait to see what's next. If you're a Jennifer Hartmann fan, this is definitely not one you want to miss!

Jennifer did it again. Wow. Dream on was so good. I loved Stevie so much. She was so sweet, innocent and kind. She looked at lex like he was a real normal person and took his bullying so effortlessly. She could see behind his mask. Lex was such a broken boy. He was just trying to live and avoid any drama. He wanted to feel normal. His parents are awful and what happened to him is awful. I love thy e fake dating trope so of course it was so good to see the tension and the want they both had for each other. I loved her parents and how hard they loved and forgave. Overall this was such a good book and I’m so happy how it turned out!

Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann was such an enjoyable read! What really stood out to me was how the story took us through Stevie and Lex’s relationship from the very beginning—starting all the way back in high school. Following their journey across different stages of life gave such a full, big-picture perspective, which made the depth and complexity of their relationship feel even more meaningful and real.

I especially loved Stevie’s unwavering devotion. She was always there, always seeing the best in Lex—even when he couldn’t see it himself. That dynamic added so much heart to the story.

I also found the Hollywood angle really fascinating. Hartmann didn’t shy away from showing the reality behind the glamour—the loneliness, the pressure, and the constant demands of being in the spotlight. That honesty added another layer to the book that I truly appreciated.

Overall, this was a heartfelt and layered story about love, growth, and the cost of chasing dreams. I really enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it to readers who like emotional, character-driven romance with an honest look at life behind the scenes.

this book, this book! i loved it so much. each “act” of this book had my attention and wanting to know more and more. so much of lex’s story had me upset and wishing i could hug him, and watching him struggle through everything in his life felt so hard. stevie was literally the most perfect girl for this story - and her family? ugh! i loved them all so much. there were times i was so pissed off i couldn’t handle it and wanted to throttle characters and how they acted. but the way the author brought it all together, had my heart healing and my eyes misting. jennifer hartmann really knows how to bring the emotions to every book she writes!

I loved this book! It was my first read by Jennifer Hartman and it definitely won't be my last. It had second chance,slow burn, forced proximity, fake dating, everything i love in a book. The story flowed so good! I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Dream On completely blew me away. It’s raw, emotional, and so unique. The mix of heartbreak, healing, and unexpected love had me hooked from the start. Jennifer Hartmann makes you feel every single moment—messy, beautiful, and unforgettable. This book isn’t just a romance, it’s a journey, and it left my heart absolutely full.

This is my first Jennifer Hartmann book that I have read and that I really enjoyed this book.

We meet Lex & Stevie in this book it starts off in high school when they both share the stage for there musical and things between them ignite. After high school they go there separate ways. They meet up again four years later where Lex is a well known household name in television by turning their past into a television sensation. He's spun our story for the world to see, while I'm still haunted by what we lost. With millions obsessed over the "real" Stevie St. James, Lex reappears with an offer too tempting to turn down: a fake romance to keep the buzz alive, in exchange for the financial freedom I desperately need.

I convince myself I can play the part. But as old feelings resurface and new risks emerge, the line between fiction and reality begins to blur.

Dreams are easy to chase―but falling for the guy who shattered mine could cost me everything.

I just really loved reading there story and seeing were it would go and to see if they would get a HEA.

Thank you Jennifer Hartmann and Valentine PR for allowing me to read this early before it was released.

One of our favorite reads on the year. Lex’s character development is what makes this story. Jennifer Hartmann continues to demonstrate what a poet she is with her heartfelt and heartbreaking love stories.

Jennifer Hartmann’s Dream On is an emotional rollercoaster that blends heartbreak, healing, and hope into a gripping, slow-burn romance. It is a love story that makes you feel and not just swoon. If you like your romance with depth, angst, and redemption, this one (as well as her other books) is well worth the emotional investment.

Jennifer Hartmann is the master at breaking your heart and breaking it again. Her style is evocative and deeply human, bringing out the depth and complexity in Stevie and Lexington. Their journey shows that even love weighed down by scars and baggage can still find its way to the surface. Stevie is a small-town dreamer. She has experienced heartache and financial instability but that doesn’t keep her from remaining hopeful and determined to not let those hardships define her. Lex was a childhood Hollywood star who was forced to give up normalcy for wealth and in the spotlight. Lex gets the opportunity to have a high school experience and meets Stevie who is able to break his emotional wall. After some time, they experience their lives apart and then come back together for a fake dating experience.

All the stars ⭐️❤️

This one had me feeling all the things! Stevie and Lex come from very different backgrounds and that’s something Lex notices when they start hanging out regularly to go over their lines for the school play. After the show ends, they still hang out up until something bad happens that makes them go their separate ways. Years later after Stevie sees something about Lex and him making a show about their life do things start to pick up! Lexs’ parents irked me so badddd I’m glad he finally stood his ground and stood up for Stevie. I loved reading this! The ending was great! Back to the home roots 🥹😭

Anything by Jennifer is a must read and always more than a 4 star! 💫