While the writing for this was beautiful and well done, the instant "love" connection between our two main characters didnt feel developed well enough.

Reverie’s beautiful cover drew me in, but it was the layered story that enticed me to stay. This is a book within a book, and is one of the most meta and self-aware stories I’ve read in years. It’s a romance first and foremost, but it’s also a deep-dive into learning to embrace who you are, to trust God with your dreams, and to tell the story He places in your heart. Because you never know where that story will take you.

When we first meet Esme, she is sitting down to finally start writing the story that has been living in her head and heart since she suffered an accident nine months ago that resulted in amnesia, costing her any memories she had made over the last three years of her life. Since then, she has had a sexy, endearing voice in her head, weaving a tale of adventure and love at first sight that Esme knows would make the perfect romance novel. What she can’t believe is that something so wild and wonderful could ever happen to her, or that a man as perfect for her as Noah could exist outside of a book.

Sometimes we dream too small, because we don't trust God with the deepest desires of our hearts. Believing that God is ultimately in control should be freeing knowledge, but we often feel stifled by or resentful of it instead. We want to control our own destiny, even when we know from experience that we steer our lives in the wrong direction time and again.

I fell in love with Noah, the voice in Esme’s head, pretty immediately. He’s a fantastic male lead, in both the main plot and Esme's novel within the story. He's bright and charming, open and endearing. And insanely attractive. Esme is pretty lovable herself. She has some foibles that made me roll my eyes at times, but she’s a believable and sympathetic protagonist overall.

The faith content and the romance were both equally important to the story, and both equally well handled. I liked seeing characters who were striving to wait to sleep together until marriage, but who were also struggling with very understandable lust. That’s not a balance I’ve seen often struck in Christian romance, and I was impressed by Taylor’s handling of it. I also liked her usage of the insta-love trope. I know that’s a trope that many readers dislike and find unbelievable. But as I fell for my husband the night I met him, it’s something to which I relate when handled well. And Taylor utilized it beautifully.

There were a few quirks to the writing style that threw me on occasion. For instance, this story is told in the first person present tense, which isn’t my favorite. There’s an overuse of proper names in conversation, which felt inauthentic to me. But these are incredibly minor, subjective complaints. Aside from those very nitpicky issues, I had an absolutely delightful time with Reverie. I immediately pressed it into my mother’s and grandmother’s hands. It was my first introduction to Taylor’s books, and I look forward to reading more from her.

The premise of Reverie immediately caught my attention — it’s unique, imaginative, and full of potential. I really enjoyed the unexpected twist with the lead characters, which added a fun layer to the story.

That said, the story world feels much broader than what we actually get to see in this book. There are hints of something darker and more complex beneath the surface, but it never fully takes shape within the pages of this story. It left me curious, but also a little disconnected, like I was only seeing part of the bigger picture.

Overall, a creative concept with intriguing characters, but I’m not entirely sure I’m invested enough to chase down the rest of the series to fill in the gaps.

🧡BOOK REVIEW🧡

Wowza! What a pleasant surprise!

“Reverie” is such a unique story concept that kept me guessing at EVERY TURN! It had great elements of romance and suspense, but what I loved most was the FAITH content🙏🏻 Drew Taylor has a masterful way of telling stories from a Christian world-view, while also keeping her characters realistic and imperfect which is soooo refreshing👏🏼👏🏼 I love it when I can walk away from a story with nuggets of wisdom about faith and trusting in the Lord’s timing and promises❤️

I just looooved the FMC & MMC together and seeing how they navigated the ups & downs of the plot with trust in the Lord🙏🏼 I don’t want to say much more about our MC’s at risk of giving away some of the ✨magic✨of the reading experience, but you definitely need to read this book!

I did want to mention, that for those readers out there who aren’t a fan of the “insta-love” or “love-at-first-sight” trope, don’t hesitate to pick up this story because Drew wraps everything up in a beautifully satisfying way!! Well….ALMOST… I have to say I’ve never read an epilogue that was SO GRIPPING!! Definitely came out if left field and has me ITCHING FOR BOOK 2!! I NEED ANSWERSSSSUH DREW!! 😤😤😤

Overall, I enjoyed this sweet, romantic, amnesiac, suspenseful story and can’t wait to continue on in the series!🧡

⚠️TW: amnesia, attempted kidnapping & brief mild violence
🚨CW: no spice & no language!

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book, but I enjoyed it. The story plot was different from other romance stories with twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting.

The story follows Esme's life after suffering amnesia and how, while she’s writing her story, is trying to figure out what’s real from fiction, and heal from her past. I also enjoyed Noah’s character/personality and arc, though I hoped it’d have been explored a bit more.

I loved how the author portrait the relationship between God and each of the characters throughout all the story. How even in the roughest times, they growth to trust in Him.

Lamentations 3:25
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;”

**I received a complimentary arc from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. All opinions listed are purely my own.

This was such a fun little small-town romance. The amnesia piece was original..at least to anything I've read before, and the characters were fun. The bonus epilogue was fire. Looking forward to what happens next in this series.

I've never read a story like this before. It was written as a story within a story. This at times was a little confusing for me.



I really enjoyed the main characters Esme and Noah. Noah is super flirty and romantic! Esme has been through the ringer of life but is going forward with such strength.



There were some loose ends that should be remedied in later series.



Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

The premise of this story was interesting and it started out strong. But…while the author was very clear in the book that the main characters wanted to honor God with their relationship, it was only in relation to not sleeping together. It was a very physical book. All about lust and attraction and touching. Being so graphic just drove home the point that the physical attraction was the main point of the story. To me it didn’t read at all like a Christian novel--I certainly wouldn’t want my teen to read it, especially since the way they spoke to one another (the innuendos were very suggestive) and the physical limits they tested, are not in line with keeping yourself for your spouse. If these intimate moments were things they were struggling with, and it was part of their redemptive story (as she dealt with in one of her other books) then I’d view this very differently. Unfortunately, it all felt glorified. I also didn’t like the slight tilt towards a love triangle. Unfortunately, because I was prepared for a Christian novel, this one didn’t hit the mark for me.

"Reverie" by Drew Taylor has a lot of story packed into 329 pages. There is an amnesia trope, attempted kidnapping, love at first sight, a woman wanting to be a romance author and a hero with a handsome twin who might also be a hero himself. Esme writes as she's recovering from amnesia but is that story just a story?

There are so many twists and turns the reader doesn't always know what will happen next. The book also brings the reader on a journey of self-discovery and romance. The ending was quite the surprise and I felt it was leading into the next book of the series. Since I don't like to give spoilers I'll leave any readers to find out what happens when they read the book. Definitely do not jump to the end...you have to read this one straight through to get the full concept of the story.

I liked the Christian faith ARC of the book and that faith is important to the main 3 characters. This is a closed door romance with some spicy kissing, which gives this a realistic heat to this story featuring a couple that is super attracted to one another. I look forward to seeing what comes next in this series.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Reverie by Drew Taylor is an imaginative romance sure to keep you in suspense until the very end. When an author writes a story that she thinks is just her imagination what happens when it turns out it maybe real? This was a delightful, clean romance that will keep the reader engaged until the end. I give this book 4 stars. I received a complimentary review copy of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.

This book blew my mind. It has a similar flavor to Juniper Bean (if you've read that one), but it was definitely unique story. I really loved Esme and her development as a character and a person. And I think the message is one we need to wrestle with, and while the book doesn't answer it fully, I think it begins the conversation well. I did have a struggle with one element of the story, but it was explained in the acknowledgements, so if you're curious, read them.

UPDATE: I finished this amazing book by Drew Taylor. I loved it so much. I’ll be reading it again in the future. I loved this author, Drew Taylor. She always writes with such a heart of gold and from a Heart of God. This is a new experience reading this type of Women's Fiction with clean romance and Christian themes. I loved how the FMC was trying to find herself and how she discovered her value is in Christ, not in man. It was funny also with her dialogue and the way she describes her MMC and with the side characters. I thought I was gonna be confused because of the way the story line is set up, an author in a real world that is writing a book in a fictional world, but I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this beautiful read. I will definitely be picking up this book again sometime soon.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me. I was excited for a contemporary Christian novel, but the religious aspects were a bit too much for me, and it overtook the rest of the story.

Buckle up, Readers, because Reverie delivers a wild ride of adventure, suspense, bold & flirty romance, and twists I didn’t see coming, from the first chapter all the way to the very last word. This is the easiest five stars I’ve ever given a book! With a mix of chick lit, women’s fiction, suspense, mystery, and of course, romance, Reverie has something for everyone.

This book absolutely sucked me in, and I don’t want out! It is unlike anything else I’ve read! I’m still ruminating on this story, and I’ve read it twice now! Both times, I experienced the story in a new way. My first time reading, I was on the edge of my seat, trying desperately to untangle the strands of reality vs. fiction in Esme’s story. Just when I thought I had something figured out, I was thrown for a loop and had to get my bearings again.

The second time reading might have been even more enjoyable than the first! I knew what would happen, but I savored every word, picking up on things I didn’t the first time through. Like a search-and-find book that you’ve already completed once, details popped off the page that I’d completely overlooked my first time reading, making for a completely new experience. I can’t wait for the audiobook to come out, as I know that will peel back even more layers I might have missed!

Aside from the incredible writing and storytelling capabilities of the author, can I just say how much I appreciate how Drew Taylor addresses issues like lust/attraction from a biblical perspective in her books? Like many of you, I have found her writing so refreshing for taking on previously “taboo” issues that real Christian women struggle with, while always pointing to Christ. Her characters grow and learn, and sin is never glorified. What a beautiful way to minister to Christian women and encourage us to seek Christ in our struggles!

Reverie is a must-read this summer! It releases June 17th, and is available in ebook, paperback and hardcover formats. And there just might be a couple extra surprises included with the hardcover edition, including a certain recipe from the book. Happy Reading! And if you need any emotional support while reading this book, my DMs are always open!

Intimacy: Sizzling Kisses only
Language: None
Content Considerations: Some violence, panic attacks, innuendo, and lust/attraction dealt with from a biblical perspective.

(thank you victory editing and netgalley for the arc in the exchange for an honest review)

❝He wants me to share the message that love-true love—is ultimately given and received through Him alone.❞

‘Reverie’ is the first book in the Daydreams & Disasters series. The plot follows Esme Jenkins who has lost the last three years of her memories and though still herself, she is emboldened to pursue one of her dreams, writing a book. A romance book to be exact with the main female character representing and named after herself.

‘Reverie’ also happens to be a book within a book with alternating chapters of Real Esme Jenkins’s life and Book Esme Prewitt’s life. They share quite a bit. Both were left at the altar and went on their honeymoon as a vacation. But while Book Esme’s life was swept into a whirlwind romance after being saved from assault, real Esme doesn’t remember anything from that time. When meeting potential publishers for her book, she meets an agent, Nikhail Ashton Prewitt, who looks startlingly similar to her male main character, Noah Ashton.

Esme Jenkins and Nikhail Prewitt.
Esme Prewitt and Noah Ashton.

The coincidences are alarming but that’s all they are, coincidences, right?

I requested this book for certain reasons. I’m always in the lookout for more christian romances with unique plots and the synopsis immediately captured my attention. The whole mystery aspect of why her book characters are weirdly coming to life sounded right up my alley and the cover?! Absolutely gorgeous.

Yet absolutely nothing worked for me. It had two of my worst romantic tropes: insta-love and the whole short-quirky-female-mc with their oh-goodness-you’re-so-tall-male-mc. I’m so sick and tired of this trope. Still, I decided to still give this book another chance and while the faith aspects were so wonderfully done, it didn’t detract from how bad I found the mystery plot. Listen, I understand this is a christian romance but really? This is what we’re going with? Those last chapters pissed me off so much, I nearly threw my phone across the room. I feel awful because this book is clearly loved from the reviews but I pretty much hated it from beginning to end.

One star for the cover and the other for the faith depiction.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Reverie is a meta-layered story about memory, healing, and second chances, centered around Esme, an author who loses three years of her life, including the whirlwind love she found during a solo trip to Bora Bora. Now back home and physically recovered (aside from the amnesia, of course), she unknowingly begins rewriting her own story through an unfinished manuscript and the persistent memory of her male lead. Enter Ashton, the CEO of a publishing house who looks like he walked straight out of her novel and, in more ways than one, already knows her story.

The book hits its emotional stride early, especially through Ashton’s quiet presence and genuine care. But when Esme and Ashton finally locate Noah (around 65% in), the story pivots hard to reestablish Esme and Noah’s connection... and that’s where things got complicated for me. While the romance is technically between Esme and the man she forgot, it was Ashton who felt like the emotional anchor. His patience, grief-for-two, and gentle steadiness pulled me in, and I found myself wishing the story had taken a different route.

With Noah’s reintroduction, the narrative somehow simultaneously slows and rushes in order to reframe him as the true romantic lead, but for me, it didn’t land. Despite the text telling me how deep their love was, I didn’t feel it. Ironically, in his feedback to Esme’s manuscript, Noah says, “You tell me about her heartache… but I’m not feeling it for myself.” That line stuck with me, because that’s exactly how I felt about him. The physical chemistry between Esme and Noah never matched what I felt had already been built with Ashton emotionally. Maybe it’s personal taste (Noah’s wilder personality and charm didn’t work for me, and in fact felt redundant, since I thought Ashton was plenty rascally himself), but the rekindling felt contrived, and the book’s early spark dimmed.

Even knowing this wasn’t Ashton’s story, I still fell for him—not because I misread the plot, but because I saw what Esme could have had: a love grounded in the present, not just lost in memory. And I’ll be honest, that made the intended pairing harder to root for. I’m not sure if that’s a writing issue or just a case of personal preference, but the author may have done too good a job making Ashton the better choice. I will say, one possibly unintended bonus was that his presence could serve as confirmation for Esme that even as a non-romantic lead, textbook romantic men do exist, and Lane was just talking out of his butt.

As the story re-centered Noah, side characters like Lois, Branda, and Grannie began to feel more like tropes than people, their sass and sentimentality slipping into caricature. I wanted to love the ending as much as I loved the beginning (especially with that bonus epilogue, which pushed the pivot even harder). The setup was rich, the emotions layered, and the relationships complex, but the resolution didn’t land for me. I wish the story honored the tension it built, rather than defaulting to the expected path. Readers who enjoy second-chance romance and layered grief will find a lot to love. Just don’t be surprised if you walk away mourning a different version of the story.

Reverie by Drew Taylor is a new author for me. I read the blurb for the book and thought this would be a cute and sweet read. Well, it is, but much more than that. I'm not certain how to classify it - a bit chick lit, and a bit mystery and suspense too. I found the read to be original and different. I enjoyed it and want to read more by the author. This book is about an aspiring author who was jilted at the altar and goes to Bora Bora on her honeymoon by herself. She meets a gorgeous man and it's insta love. Or did she really? She gets amnesia and doesn't remember. So, as she writes her book, is she writing about her memories or did they really happen? You need to read the book and find out. I was given a copy of this book by the author, and this is my honest opinion.
3.75 stars

A chick-lit romance that delves into themes of faith, hope, and healing. The story is noted for its emotional depth and the way it sneaks up on readers, leaving a lasting impression. It's a poetic and grounded tale that resonates with many.

this was great however My main concern was with the romance, which felt far too rushed for my taste. There wasn’t enough development or explanation behind why the characters were so drawn to each other, which made it hard for me to fully invest in their relationship. I’m generally not a fan of the insta-love trope , and the intensity of the romance was a bit overwhelming at times.

smart, fun and whip smart this book was. it had me in my mystery loving era but then swooped down with a total snot fest of an emotionally deep story. then we swing up high to the swoon worthy points of a romance genre and this book rounds off to be all we need in a book.
it captured me in every page. there was almost sun beams shining from these pages as it just felt so good! i cant really explain enough without giving too much of the plot away. but it was good. really really good. it takes you in and takes you to s snug little corner to feel held and warm whilst you invest yourself amongst the pages.