This book was so good, I absolutely loved it. I love books about authors and publishing with lots of bookish content, throw in a good dose of amnesia and a dash of mystery and I couldn't put it down. Truly loved the mental debate about intimacy and the openness about the struggle. Cannot wait for the next book now, I loved the side characters and families 🧡🧡🧡

DNF @ 10% This book failed to grab my attention and I found that I was skimming through most paragraphs rather than reading. Right off the bat, the main character was just annoying enough that her internal dialogue seemed repetitive and never-ending. As a Christian myself who enjoys Christian fiction, I think this author used the first chapter to preach a little too heavy-handedly instead of establishing this character’s wants and needs and setting us up for what’s to come. I think there was potential here, but it didn’t quite hit the mark.

All that being said, if you enjoy Christian romance, pick this one up and decide for yourself—you might enjoy it more than I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This review was given on Goodreads on 5/23.

3.5 ⭐️

I’m not even sure where to start on this, so let me just start here: I am probably not the target audience for this book.

While I read my fair share of Janette Oke's books in high school, I’ve avoided most faith-based fiction since that point, as it has the well-earned reputation of being subpar. But I tried to come into this with an open mind, and I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, there were areas where the writing could have been improved, but the plot was engaging, even a bit bonkers at times. (What in the satanic panic was that ending? Gave the romantic suspense I read a run for its money.)

I can see where this would appeal to someone who enjoys faith-based fiction. There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and the pacing moved along steadily. There was an unfortunate Donald Trump reference early on that made me think Noah was going to be a MAGA-pixie-dream-boy, but that passed quickly. The characters’ decision to be abstinent until marriage was handled with nuance, rather than shoving purity culture agenda down the throat of the reader.

Things kind of fell apart near the end. There were some fairly shocking plot developments in the epilogue, and they almost felt like an afterthought. I wish those developments had been shared earlier, with more of that plotline woven into the story. As it stands, it comes a bit out of left field and the idea felt underdeveloped. I’m hoping there will be more in future books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Taylor Made Publishing for the advanced copy of this book, provided in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Reverie is the kind of book that sneaks up on you. At first, it feels like a whimsical dip into something soft and dreamlike — but there’s an emotional undercurrent that builds and tugs at you the deeper you go. Drew Taylor has created a world that feels ethereal yet grounded, poetic yet painfully real in moments.

This book isn’t just about daydreams and escapism — it’s about the tension between fantasy and reality, and what happens when your inner world begins to bleed into the one everyone else expects you to live in. There’s a beautifully subtle melancholy to it, woven between lighter, imaginative scenes that almost feel like lucid dreams on the page.

The protagonist is vulnerable, sharp, and achingly human. You feel their longing, their confusion, their need for something more — even if they don’t fully understand what that “more” is. Taylor's writing captures the inner monologue with a kind of lyrical honesty that reminded me of what it feels like to be lost in your own thoughts, unsure whether you're breaking down or breaking through.

What made me love Reverie wasn’t just the story, but how it made me feel — nostalgic, exposed, hopeful, a little shaken. It doesn’t spoon-feed answers, and it doesn’t try to resolve everything neatly. Instead, it trusts the reader to sit in the discomfort and wonder of it all.

My only real critique is that there were moments where the pacing slowed a bit too much — scenes lingered longer than needed, or internal reflection took over when I wanted just a little more forward momentum. But honestly, that’s part of its charm, too. Reverie reads like a waking dream, and dreams aren’t always tidy.

Final thoughts: A hauntingly beautiful debut that explores the fragile space between dreams and disasters. If you’ve ever felt like you were living between worlds — or wished you could — this book will speak to something deep in you. Thoughtful, strange, and quietly powerful.

...what did I just read? This book was a WILD ride! Major kudos to Drew Taylor for crafting a Christian romance novel that is so unique. There's metafiction, friends and family, amnesia, suspense, and lots of sizzle.

The story was too over-the-top and insta-lovey for my personal tastes. It also had some tonal shifts and plot shifts that are explained more in Taylor's notes after the conclusion of the book. Overall though, it's just a delectable story. It was so engaging that I read it in a day (RIP, sleep schedule) because I just could not put it down. If you like genre-bending fiction with sizzle and a bit of Christian messaging, check out Reverie!

Thank you to Drew Taylor, Taylor Made Publishing, and NetGalley for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted on Goodreads, and it will be posted on Amazon and Instagram within a week of the book's publication.

Content warnings: This is not clean, but a level 3 closed-door; characters frankly discuss sex and longing for sex, and there are very descriptive make-outs. There is also violence, peril, and injury. A few mild swears.

I have some complicated feelings about this one. On the one hand, I truly appreciate its fresh take on clean romance—there’s a clear commitment to Christian values in dating and sexuality, and the characters openly discuss boundaries in a way that feels intentional and thoughtful. On the other hand, the sheer level of attraction woven throughout the story took me by surprise.

The chapters detailing Esme’s fictional love story is especially passionate, diving straight into romance without the slow burn I typically enjoy. Still, while I admire the author’s creativity and the way God-honoring values are woven in, I struggled with the persistent focus on the hero’s sexiness and the innuendo. Maybe I just have a lower spice tolerance, but ultimately, the steamy moments outweighed my enjoyment of the other elements. The rest of the plot is super intriguing: a mysterious past, a wild trip to Bora Bora, and Esme sorting out life in her late twenties. The writing and story are engaging, but in the end, I decided this wasn’t the right fit for me. For those who enjoy an adventurous romance with faith-based themes, this might be a great choice—but be prepared for plenty of passionate longing along the way.

Special thanks to Taylor Made Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.