I had high hopes for Ellie K. Wilde's Only In Your Dreams, but it unfortunately didn’t live up to the hype. As a small town, brother’s best friend, sports romance with a second chance twist, it had all the right ingredients for an irresistible read—but it missed the mark for me.

Let’s talk about the positives: the chemistry between Melody and Zac should have been a knockout. The setup of their past heartbreak and rekindled connection had potential. And I’ll admit, there were a few swoony, heartfelt moments that tugged at my emotions.

But the execution? Predictable. The twists were more like gentle bends you could see from a mile away, and the story felt stretched—almost 500 pages was just too long. I caught myself skimming through repetitive dialogue and unnecessary filler.

Then there’s the believability factor. Some of Zac’s attempts to win Melody back felt more forced than genuine, and their decade long separation didn’t add the emotional weight it needed to. Also, the football subplot? Definitely could’ve been better and more impactful.

If you’re a die hard fan of small town romances and don’t mind a predictable storyline, you might still enjoy this one. But for me, I wanted more sparks and a story that felt fresh, not just recycled tropes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellie K. Wilde, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.