Only in Your Dreams

I LOVED THIS. Devoured.

It was the perfect amount of angst, banter, second chance, cinnamon roll, swoon, and romance.

Zac has been pining over melody since they were teenagers. They had a moment of an almost kiss, and he said he would be right back but he never did. Mel has been holding a grudge since then, and Zac has been waiting for her to come back to ask forgiveness.

Zac is insanely sweet and romantic. He made a mistake years ago, but he has grown and is making up for it now.
Mel is snarky and scowls, but her dry sense of humour is part of the charm.

I loved the way Zac slowly wove his way into her life, and quietly did things to show he loved her. He knew she would spook easy so he took his time. Excellent boyfriend.

This was my first book by Ellie Wilde, and I found it to be an enjoyable read! Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The story didn’t require intense focus, which made it a light and easy read. While some parts felt a bit lackluster, the romance between Zac and Melody "Clover" was the highlight for me.

Zac, Clover, and her twin brother Parker were inseparable growing up. Zac and Clover clearly had feelings for each other, but Parker’s overprotectiveness made it impossible for Zac to act on his feelings. Parker’s threat to anyone showing interest in his sister kept Zac at a distance, even when Clover attempted to take their relationship further at 18. Instead of reciprocating, Zac ran—putting 15 years and a lot of emotional distance between them.

Fast forward 15 years, and Melody is recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship. She moves back to her hometown and in with her brother, Parker. When Parker sends her on a camping trip with Zac in his place, the trip is filled with intense sexual tension.

Once back home, Zac and Melody finally begin dating, but they’re forced to keep their relationship a secret from Parker.

Melody was a relatable character for me, especially because her experiences mirrored some of my own. Her journey felt authentic and grounded. Zac, however, was harder for me to connect with. While I do love a die-hard romantic, he reminded me a lot of Niles Crane from Frasier—his character lacked depth beyond his obsession with Melody, and I wish we had gotten to know him better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and its focus on love, second chances, and personal growth. Thank you to Ellie Wilde, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

With a wonderful tension built out of blending two great angsty yet comic tropes, this author blends Brothers Best Friend with the Second Chance Romance tropes in the best way! If you like banter and dialogue as much as I do then you have a great choice here for a wonderful weekend read. You'll feel that Melody and Zac are your own friends by the end of the first chapter and you will be rooting for them to get together and waiting to watch their passions explode on the page. Clean, funny, romantic, and wonderfully written I enjoyed every page and the glimpses into the lives of characters I have met before in other books by Wilde.