ARC review-

• forced proximity
• fake dating
• second chance romance
• slow burn


Jennifer Hartmann doesn’t just write fictional, emotional love stories. I truly feel like she also writes a different life lesson in each and every story she tells. Dream On was no different.

Meeting Lex and Stevie their senior year of high school, I loved getting to know them at that age. The cool new kid who was a well known child hood actor and the girl who has been around and dreams of being in the Hollywood spot light.

Lex was super reserved and kept to himself, as most who are well known seem to do- but Stevie doesn’t seem him as the actor, she truly tries to get to know him as a person and tries to figure out what makes him tick. The way she wormed her way into his high school heart was both endearing and gut wrenching at the same time.

When they reconnect years later after she learns he created a TV series based on their relationship, they are joined back together much to the dismay of both of them and enter into a fake dating scenario for publicity for the show.

Everything that we learn about Lex’s history absolutely broke me. Reading a story like this in today’s climate, having also been in tv and film production in LA myself, his history and experiences tore me up on a whole new level because it is a scenario that isn’t talked about enough but is so prevalent in that industry. The way Jennifer handled that topic with the care that she did made me appreciate her even more.

If there is one single thing that makes Jennifer’s writing stand out to me the most across all of her stories, it’s the character development that happens with one or both of her characters. I truly feel like we get to know them right from the beginning so the growth throughout the story leaves me invested the entire way through and I have yet to read another authors work who can do that as beautifully and seamlessly as Jennifer Hartmann.

The slow burn was also worth every. Single. Second. I didn’t want it to be that slow but it made it so deliciously worth it. AND THE SECRET TROPE was NOT at all what I expected to be and I loved that it caught me so off guard.

Another story that did not disappoint. Jennifer truly has a gift and I am so honored I got to read another one of her stories early. Because I was dying for release day! Cannot wait to read it again once it comes out!

Thank you so much to Valentine PR and Jennifer Hartmann for the digital ARC of Dream on!

This was truly spectacular. It made my heart do all sorts of funny things that I'm pretty sure it has never done before. It went from feeling squeezed, weighted down, beating erratically to swooning and not all in that order and some more than once. It was so full of emotion. It carried powerful and raw truths about life and love and heartbreak. A beautiful coming to age and realizing your dreams as a young adult. I could relate a thousand different ways to both characters and I am not some Hollywood star. The messages translated beyond the scenes.

I seriously was hooked to every word. The writing is enchanting. I'm so obsessed with Jennifer Hartmann. She is an instant buy. I loved every word. The characters came to life and I felt so close to their journey. Truly truly a masterpiece.

I would 10000% recommend to my romance followers. If you love emotional reads, this will take you there.

I’ve read every book Jennifer Hartmann has ever written, and Dream On is yet another reminder of why I’ll continue to read anything she puts out. Her stories are never easy, but that’s what makes them so powerful. Jennifer has this incredible ability to rip you apart emotionally, only to piece you back together with care and truth. Her writing is tender, haunting, and deeply human.

In Dream On, she brings that same signature magic. The backdrop of fame, split between the bright lights of Hollywood and the quieter, aching corners of Wisconsin, gives this story such a vivid sense of place. I loved the exploration of what it means to be seen, truly seen, and how complicated that becomes when the world is watching.

This book is angsty and emotional in all the best ways. I couldn’t stop reading. Stevie and Lexington are beautifully complex, and like so many of Jennifer’s characters, they’ll stay with me for a long time.

If you love trauma-laced, emotionally honest storytelling with a bit of dramatized flare, this book is for you. It’s not light. It’s not easy. But it’s real, and it’s worth it.

Some of my all-time favourites from her include June First, Older, and The Thorn Remains (co-written with Chelley St. Clair). That one especially broke me in the best way. Jennifer Hartmann is a brilliant author. Her voice is distinctive, her characters unforgettable, and I will continue to read everything she writes.

Hartmann has done it again! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 another book that pulled at my heartstrings 🥹 she really knows how to break you and then piece you back together again. I love me a second chance romance and this story was truly beautiful, I literally couldn’t put it down. I was holding my breathe throughout the whole book because I truly felt what they felt. I wanted to rip them from the pages and hug them tight and tell them that everything is going to be ok. Lex and Stevie were so raw and real and I could feel their pain and heartbreak. Their chemistry jumped right off the pages. The tension was phenomenal and their connection was so deep that I felt it in my bones!

Lex Hall: The “Golden Boy” he was such a layered character. To see his guilt and his grief from his past and present was gut wrenching. His emotional restraint really made him not only a relatable character but an unforgettable MMC.

Stevie St. James: I LOVED her! She really shined for me. The way she said what she meant and meant what she said. She was magnetic, resilient, vulnerable, and had this fire about her. I cried for her and I cheered for her.

Have I found my new favorite Jennifer Hartmann book? I THINK SO! This book was not only a true love story but it also opens your eyes to how Hollywood can truly be. It was unforgettable and that I know I will carry it with me forever. 🫶🏼

I’m not sure why I ever go in to a JH book expecting to give less than 100000 stars. There is no limit to the amount of stars this book gets. Infinity stars.

It was beautiful. Heartbreaking. The perfect vibes to reach my Moulin Rouge millennial loving heart. I knew going in to it that I was going to absolutely devour Lex in all his bad boy glory. At the end of it all he truly is just a Satine- someone who wants to feel love and give it in return. Gah. What a character!
Stevie was an amazing counterpart for him. The Batman to his Robin. Always keeping him on the straight and narrow even when she sacrifices bits of herself to do it. Another amazing FMC written by Jennifer. Again, no limit on stars.

I cannot implore you enough to drop what you’re doing and read this book. Immediately.

This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book, but it won’t be my last. I read 80% of this book in one sitting…I was obsessed!

Stevie & Lex’s story is one I will remember for a loooong time. It was so raw and real, and it just broke my heart.

I loved how the story gave the background of the characters when they were in high school for the first 30%. I feel like that helped build their chemistry and connection. There were some serious topics that were covered in this book, and I felt like they were handled and discussed with such care and impact.

Chapter 46 has me SPIRALING and I was so close to tears way too many times.

Thank you to Jennifer Hartmann and VPR for the arc!

Jennifer Hartmann delivers Every! Single! Time! I know that whenever I pick up one of her books I can expect to read a unique story that will have me all kinds of emotional, and Dream On is no exception.

What could be worse than having your heart broken and life turned upside down in high school by the rich and famous former child star, Lexington Hall?
Him completely disappearing from your life with no explanation, only to use your relationship as inspiration for a hit TV show four years later.

When the public finds Stevie, she’s thrust into the spotlight and has no choice but to take up Lex’s offer of a fake relationship. His team sees it as great press for the show, and she sees it as a way to resurrect dreams of stardom she thought long dead.
With all the unresolved feelings of the past, naturally we were in for an emotional roller coaster of a slow burn second chance romance, and I was locked in for every second of it.

Y’all want yearning? This book delivers. Our damaged hero could not care less about anyone other than our heroine. Does she have a clue? Of course not, cause he think he’s too messed up to deserve her. It’s a tale as old as time but written into a story that’s not like anything I’ve read before.

Five stars. Highly recommend!

Second Chance
Fake dating
Slow burn
Farm girl x Hollywood Star

Thank you Jennifer Hartmann & Valentine PR for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann was one of my most anticipated releases for 2025 and it did not disappoint at all.

Mark your calendars! This releases on 8/12/25 and will be available on KU. Also be sure to pre-order the paperback so you can get the Deluxe edition with sprayed edges.

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2 🌶️

What to expect:
❤️ Second chance
❤️ Fake dating
❤️ Tortured hero
❤️ Super angsty
❤️ SLOW burn
❤️ Secret trope (LOVED THIS)

Just like all the other Jennifer Hartmann books I’ve read expect to go on an emotional rollercoaster with our two main characters Lex and Stevie. You feel all their highs and are crushed with their lows. Boy are these characters put through so much and by the end of the book you are screaming for an HEA (and it is so good and worth the wait). Jennifer always seems to break my heart and put it all back together by the end of the book.

The pacing of this book was great, I literally couldn’t put it down and read it in a day (just couldn’t stop reading). I actually went back and reread the last 20% the following day just to soak it all in again.

Also LOVED the side characters and Stevie’s relationship with her family - especially her sister Joplin. I would LOVE if we get another story set in this same world (maybe one with a 10 year age gap 😉).

Mark your calendars and prepare for a wild rollercoaster of emotions read.

thank you to valentine pr and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

i’ve been a fan of jennifer’s books since lotus, and this one is definitely another great addition to her repertoire. the story follows lex and stevie for a few months in high school and then picks up again four years later. in both timelines, we get to know these two kids who just want to follow their dreams — and be loved, of course.

lex, my bb!! every time his pov came on and he tried to justify his actions, i wanted to cry 😢 he went through so much and never believed he was worthy of love. also, i loved when he called stevie his best friend.

stevie!! i don’t even know what to say. i loved her character so much — she was such a ray of sunshine!! usually i struggle with the whole goody two-shoes fmc trope, but not with stevie. there was something so genuine about her, you can’t help but root for them both.

definitely 4.5 stars rounded up to five!!

check TWs before reading though!! ‼️⚠️

Jennifer Hartmann is an auto-buy author for me. If she writes it. I’m reading it.

This is young adult book but even so I ate it up. Hartmann does such a great job writing about troubled pasts and trauma and really can bring feelings out of anyone.

I went into this one blind. Which I highly recommend with all of her books. I smiled. I cried. I loved it.

oh Jennifer. you never fail to make me sob.

another emotional, angsty, BEAUTIFUL love story.

I will admit- fake dating is not my jam, but I knew if anyone could make me like it, it would be Jennifer.

we have Lex and Stevie. Lex, my sweet, tortured soul. Stevie, our sweet Midwestern girl with stars in her eyes. they meet in high school, and unfortunate events tear them apart. 4 years later, they reconnect, and the story that unfolds will have you feeling every possible emotion.

infinity stars ♾️

thank you Jennifer and VPR for an ARC 🥹

Like most of Jennifer Hartmann's books, this was a super emotional read for me. On the outside Lex seems to have it all. The good looks, the money, the fame from acting from a young age. Not everything is what it appears to be. He doesn't talk to anyone, he doesn't want to make friends. After hitting Stevie's car, that all changes. She is just a ray of sunshine in his dark world. One that he won't let himself have because he doesn't want to ruin her too.

I loved Stevie. She was the type of FMC I always root for in a story. She was strong and caring. She always put her family and friends first. And that is exactly what she does for Lex, but then he disappears.

When 4 years pass and Stevie watches the show that Lex made, about their life, I knew the tension would get good. Now she is his fake girlfriend and living with the man that ruined her life and broke her heart.

And Lex? I never wanted to hug a character so badly. The ending.... well read it and find out. 😝

I dove in blind, and honestly, that’s the best way to experience this story. Lex is such a beautifully broken man, and watching Stevie slowly help him rediscover his worth was everything. This book was a journey: love, heartbreak, healing… and love again. Jennifer, you almost lost me near the end!! My Kindle nearly took flight across the room and I almost stopped reading…but I powered through. Well played, ma’am. Well. Played.

3.5/5

Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann grabbed me from the first page and never let go. It’s a second-chance romance tangled with heartbreak, hope, and the messy realities of fame and small-town dreams. Lexington Hall is Hollywood royalty, but when he steps into Stevie St. James’s high school theatre production, they connect on a deeper level—beyond the spotlight and the secrets. Their young love is fragile, shattered by tragedy and choices that send them worlds apart.

Years later, Lex returns—changed, guarded, and carrying scars from a ruthless industry. When he offers Stevie a chance to jumpstart her acting career, old feelings resurface. But can their love survive the ghosts of their past? This story is raw and emotional, filled with characters you’ll love, hate, and root for. Hartmann nails the highs and lows of first love and second chances with honesty and heart. Plus, there are some seriously spicy scenes to sweeten the deal.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

Reading. Sobbing, throwing up. If i could give it a million stars I would!! But I need to stop crying first. This book Melted my heart, pierced my soul and lodged deep inside me, making it one of the best reads of this year!!
You get Dive deep down in the well of tears as overwhelming emotions spilleth over. JH in her indomitable angsty spirit, dips her pen in blood, sweat and tears, creating immemorable & adorable couple of Stevie Nicks and Child Prodigy Lexington Hall.
She makes them develop crushes and fall in love . Then puts them through a wringer, cause what's true love if not painful.

“ “You can’t put a fire out with lightning.”
No.
But I can burn along with it.”

And they both burn. So hot! Both have dreams of flying high in sky full of stars and fame. While Lex crashes and burns, he doesn't want Stevie to fall with him, so he lets go.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh The soul eviscerating pain that I felt deep in my heart will remain there for a while.

“ That was fiction. Make-believe. Our story could have had a happy ending. If he’d stayed. If he’d tried. If he’d done anything but walk away.”

Every tear that spilled from Steve's eye, rolled down my cheek. Every pinch that Lex felt in his throat, clogged mine too
It was a deeply personal experience to see abandonment and betrayal be the hero in Lexington's story. He's manipulated and maneuvered by people around him till his soul bleeds dry and he's nothing but an empty shell.

“ my heart remains in limbo, living under the same roof with this broken man while unable to mend his pieces.”

Stevie becomes the heart of the story. Pumping life, enough for both of them. She Is a darling doll, though at the receiving end of hurt and ridicule. But it wouldn't be a JH story if we didn't bawl hard, lying on the floor, now would it.
Best part was the purity of love between Lex & Stevie remained untouched throughout. Outside forces tried tainting it, but deep inside, their connection so strong, nothing could faze it.

“Come What May”

Lex took time to decipher and see tree from the forest, but Stevie had 20/20 vision.
I loved the writing so hard, I can't even stop thinking about it.
Fabulous. Fantastic. Fascinating.
“5 stars for Alternate Endings”

“You’ve been the only thing that has ever made me feel alive.”

OH MY HEART!!! OH MY SOUL!!! I can’t stop basking in Dream On, an emotional, Oscar-worthy romance that stole my breath like a kiss: passionate, powerful, raw, and real. This love story sang to my soul. I read it with tears in my eyes and so much love inside. Heartbreakingly beautiful and brilliantly told, Dream On blew me away!

I was instantly transported to a high school in small town Illinois as I lived and breathed the characters in this coming-of-age romance that Jennifer Hartmann so seamlessly and stunningly brings to life. I was drawn to Stevie and Lex’s undeniable pull … a connection of soulmates. I was mesmerized by the depth and raw vulnerability of these characters. Lex and Stevie are drawn together by both acting and painful pasts, yet awaken and save each other. These soulmates held my heart the whole time reading.

Dream On sank itself into my heart where I felt its emotional pull, a paralyzing zap that surged straight to my soul, owning every part of me. I applauded and appreciated its valuable messages of finding the beauty in the broken. Flying after falling. Rising by lifting others. Daring to dream. And, most importantly: true love always prevailing. The best blend of ordinary and extraordinary, Dream On is a stunning, soul-searing masterpiece worth all the stars in Hollywood.

“And I realize it’s those fleeting snippets of joy, the underwhelming moments, that stitch our days together and carry the biggest weight.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ but worth all the soul-searing stars

Reviewed on behalf of Bookalicious Babes Blog

A true gem. This book is incredibly addictive.
Stevie and Lexington meet in school and become leads in the school play. Lexington is a famous celebrity. Everyone always trying to get a peice of him.  Stevie is a sweet girl. Living a quiet life on her farm and cussing her dreams.
These two aren't your typical young love, childhood sweethearts. Their story is full of loss, despair,  heartache, family issues and wonder.  Can these two beat the odds? Find each other after years pass by and make something wonderful together after the turmoil of the past brings itself to the present. 
I really enjoyed the story and characters. It's a neat spin on the trope.
5 stars. I hope there's another book with these two in it .

This book was giving me high school musical meets starstruck vibes. I loved everything about Stevie just a choir girl living on farm and a quiet happy life and then comes Lexington the popular boy who has been in movies and tv shows because of his parents upbringing. Poor girl meets rich boy vibe. One tragedy leads them both to never communicate with one another again until a proposition comes up that leads them to fake date one another. Second....third chance at love? Saving your virginity for the right person? Singing versus Acting? I ate this book up and read it at work and then finished it by night. I could not put this book down because it was THAT good!

ARC Review of Dream On by Jennifer Hartmann
* * * * *
A second chance romance so filled with drama it is overflowing! One decision brings them back together, selfish desires and hope has them clinging on, but what will tear them apart?

Lexington Hall is a household name, not that Stevie St. James cares. He's a blue eyes golden boy beloved by Hollywood, but now he's decided to temporarily be a normal kid at her school and join her school play.
As they rehearse lines, they begin to bond. Over time, Stevie sees past the actor's facade. She's sees the secrets and the pain, what he hides from the world, and how he suffers behind closed doors. Lex wants nothing more to take a chance and be with her, but his hidden past and what the life of Hollywood has done to him ha him pulling back.
Then, their first possible chance comes to a grinding halt. One rejection, and one near fatal mistake.
Years later, Stevie is faced with her time with Lexington being put on the screen. Their story twisted and embellished. When Lex comes back into her life with an offer, one that could jumpstart her career as an actress, they come to an agreement.
Lex has changed.
He's cold and hollow and lets the world of glitter rot him.
Can she help him or will they part ways forever?

Could. Not. Put. The. Book. Down!
Sooooo many people I wanted to punch in that book! Horrible families, disgusting agents, crazy fans who need to get a life! Wanted Lex to get his happy ending so bad and to get away from the toxic environment he was forced to endure, and one he is trying to protect Stevie from. What he endured was horrid, and so many people he should trust and did trust in his life deserve to be punished.
Side characters: Rudy I was on the fence about for a while, but love him in the end. Jopline is an awesome big sister.
Happy with the ending, and how both characters got what they mostly wanted out of the messy experience. Spicy scenes!

“This is what dreams are supposed to feel like…They're not something you fight for. They're what finds you when you finally learn to let go and just be.” And another book where Jennifer gives me the BIGGEST HANGOVER! 🥹😆🙈

I don’t know how she does it but her stories just get better and better! This is a fake dating trope but it is SO MUCH MORE than what you would assume. An FMC who is literal sunshine and innocence paired with a MMC who is battling the most heartbreaking demons. The two are MAGICAL TOGETHER. I’m going to be watching Moulin Rouge now - thanks for that Jen 🤣

A standalone story that will give you alllllll the feelings. A slow burn with angst/tension that I dare you not to devour. I stayed up wayyyy too late two nights in a row finishing this! WORTH. IT.