{"id":2917,"date":"2025-05-18T11:32:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T11:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2917"},"modified":"2025-05-18T11:32:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T11:32:16","slug":"dream-on-ramona-riley-by-ashley-herring-blake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2917","title":{"rendered":"Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ashley Herring Blake\u2019s Dream On, Ramona Riley<\/em> marks a graceful entry into her brand-new Clover Lake<\/em> series\u2014a small-town queer romance that weaves emotional depth, creative ambition, and quiet self-discovery<\/a> into a charming slow-burn narrative. Known for titles like Delilah Green Doesn\u2019t Care<\/em> and Iris Kelly Doesn\u2019t Date<\/em>, Blake continues her legacy of writing sapphic stories that matter\u2014not just for their representation, but for the emotional truth they carry.<\/p>\n

Set against the picturesque lakeside charm of rural New Hampshire, this is a story about what happens when the person you once kissed under a cherry tree shows up twelve years later\u2014famous, radiant, and completely unaware of who you are.<\/p>\n

Plot Overview: Second Chances in the Spotlight<\/h2>\n

Ramona Riley was once a student on the brink of becoming a Hollywood costume designer. But life had other plans. After her father\u2019s accident, Ramona dropped everything\u2014her school, her dreams\u2014and returned to Clover Lake to raise her younger sister. Now, over a decade later, she\u2019s still there, managing life at the local caf\u00e9 and quietly shelving her ambitions.<\/p>\n

Enter Dylan Monroe\u2014an A-list actress with a tabloid reputation and a personal agenda to rewrite her public image. When a romantic comedy begins filming in Clover Lake, Dylan volunteers for a deep dive into small-town life. She ends up working alongside Ramona at the caf\u00e9, shadowing her to learn how to \u201cbe normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s just one catch: Ramona remembers Dylan. Their kiss as teenagers shaped Ramona\u2019s coming-of-age. Dylan, however, doesn\u2019t seem to recall that moment at all.<\/p>\n

As the two women grow closer\u2014through museum trips, chaotic play rehearsals, and late-night confessions\u2014they must reckon with the difference between the lives they planned and the ones they\u2019re actually living.<\/p>\n

Main Characters: Familiar, Fresh, and Full of Feeling<\/h2>\n

Ashley Herring Blake\u2019s characters are always the soul of her novels, and this book is no exception. Every character\u2014main or side\u2014feels like someone you could meet in real life.<\/p>\n

Ramona Riley<\/h3>\n

Quietly fierce and lovingly self-effacing, Ramona is the kind of character whose softness hides incredible strength.
\nHer fat, queer body is never treated as something to fix or overcome\u2014it is part of her, fully and joyfully.
\nShe embodies the ache of growing older in a town that\u2019s too small for your dreams and the courage it takes to believe in those dreams again.<\/p>\n

Dylan Monroe<\/h3>\n

The quintessential celebrity trying to break away from her curated image.
\nBlake writes Dylan with nuance\u2014she\u2019s not just a Hollywood clich\u00e9 but a woman craving truth, connection, and real emotion.
\nHer dynamic with Ramona is filled with flirtation, vulnerability, and a growing awareness that her best role might not be on screen.<\/p>\n

Supporting Cast<\/h3>\n

Olive (Ramona\u2019s sister) represents the reason Ramona stayed, and her maturity and warmth show how much Ramona\u2019s sacrifices mattered.
\nApril, Ramona\u2019s best friend, is a scene-stealer\u2014hilarious, brash, and utterly devoted.
\nEven minor characters like Penny, the eccentric caf\u00e9 owner, add vibrant local color and humanity.<\/p>\n

Themes: Art, Ambition, and Authenticity<\/h2>\n

Blake\u2019s storytelling is emotionally rich, and Dream On, Ramona Riley<\/em> handles several complex themes with subtlety and skill:<\/p>\n

1. The Cost of Sacrifice<\/em><\/h3>\n

Ramona\u2019s character arc isn\u2019t just about falling in love\u2014it\u2019s about reclaiming herself after years of putting others first. The novel doesn\u2019t vilify duty but asks: When do you get to choose yourself?<\/p>\n

2. Fame vs. Identity<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dylan is caught between performance and personhood<\/a>. Her desire to escape being \u201cKillin\u2019 Dylan\u201d parallels Ramona\u2019s yearning to be more than someone\u2019s sister, someone\u2019s waitress.<\/p>\n

3. Memory and Meaning<\/em><\/h3>\n

The kiss they shared at thirteen becomes a metaphor for how we carry emotional truths\u2014even when others forget. Memory here isn\u2019t just nostalgia; it\u2019s a blueprint for healing.<\/p>\n

4. Queer Love as Radical Joy<\/em><\/h3>\n

The romance is affirming and sensual, layered with emotional honesty. It\u2019s not about hiding\u2014it\u2019s about celebrating desire, connection, and the beauty of living openly.<\/p>\n

Prose & Pacing: A Slow Burn with Subtle Heat<\/h2>\n

Blake\u2019s prose is accessible, rhythmic, and laced with gentle humor. She never rushes moments of introspection, allowing emotions to simmer before they surface. While the pacing in the first quarter may feel leisurely, it mirrors the characters\u2019 hesitance\u2014both romantically and personally.<\/p>\n

Dialogue is one of Blake\u2019s strongest tools, and in Dream On, Ramona Riley<\/em>, it does double duty\u2014building chemistry and peeling back layers of emotional armor. There\u2019s no rushed heat here; the relationship grows with each shared memory, each exchanged glance, until it blossoms into something profoundly satisfying.<\/p>\n

Moments Worth Remembering<\/h2>\n

Here are a few standout moments that linger:<\/p>\n

The costume room scene<\/strong> where Ramona shows Dylan her long-forgotten sketches\u2014a tender collision of shame, vulnerability, and hope.
\nThe lakeside confession<\/strong> that mirrors their childhood kiss, now layered with adult complexity and yearning.
\nThe play night<\/strong>, where Dylan watches Ramona shine backstage, finally seeing her not as a waitress, but an artist.
\nDylan\u2019s PR bombshell<\/strong> and the fallout that leads to an honest reckoning about love, ambition, and trust.<\/p>\n

These scenes deliver the kind of emotional payoff that makes romance novels memorable and re-readable.<\/p>\n

Where the Novel Stumbles (Slightly)<\/h2>\n

As engaging as the story is, it isn\u2019t without its imperfections:<\/p>\n

The memory-loss tension<\/strong>\u2014while it fuels early intrigue\u2014feels underexplored later. Dylan\u2019s lack of recollection could have carried deeper emotional implications.
\nThe conflict resolution<\/strong>\u2014particularly around the PR mishap\u2014feels a bit too clean. A longer emotional fallout might have allowed for greater realism.
\nRamona\u2019s career arc<\/strong>, though inspiring, wraps up a bit abruptly compared to the romance arc.<\/p>\n

Still, these are small speed bumps in an otherwise smooth journey.<\/p>\n

How It Compares to Blake\u2019s Other Novels<\/h2>\n

Readers familiar with Blake\u2019s Bright Falls<\/em> trilogy will recognize her signature themes\u2014messy families, creative women, found communities\u2014but Dream On, Ramona Riley<\/em> feels more introspective. While Iris Kelly Doesn\u2019t Date<\/em> leaned into firecracker banter and steamy tension, this novel is quieter, more contemplative.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a bit more emotionally mature. The central romance is not just about falling in love, but about believing that love is still possible\u2014even after years of self-denial.<\/p>\n

Books You\u2019ll Also Love<\/h2>\n

If you enjoyed this book, consider picking up:<\/p>\n

The Charm Offensive<\/em> by Alison Cochrun \u2014 for messy media stories and behind-the-scenes longing.
\nHoney Girl<\/em> by Morgan Rogers \u2014 for themes of burnout, identity, and queer self-discovery.
\nLove Lettering<\/em> by Kate Clayborn \u2014 for romance steeped in creative careers and introspective heroines.
\nThe Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen<\/em> by KJ Charles \u2014 a historical queer romance with emotional resonance and political nuance.<\/p>\n

Representation, Content, and Inclusivity<\/h2>\n

Blake continues her commitment to writing stories that reflect the diversity of lived experiences. The book features:<\/p>\n

Fat representation without tokenism
\nBisexual and lesbian characters whose queerness is part of their joy, not their struggle
\nFound family and strong female friendships
\nMental health awareness, especially in relation to caregiving, grief, and personal reinvention<\/a><\/p>\n

Sex scenes are tender and emotionally significant, with clear communication and enthusiastic consent. Blake treats intimacy as a continuation of emotional growth, not just a romantic reward.<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts: An Emotionally Honest Story That Lingers<\/h2>\n

Dream On, Ramona Riley<\/em> is a beautiful reminder that it\u2019s never too late to chase your passion, make peace with the past, and fall\u2014fully and courageously\u2014in love. With its emotional honesty, magnetic leads, and grounding in real-life stakes, it\u2019s a romance that resonates long after the final page.<\/p>\n

Ashley Herring Blake has once again proven that she can craft stories where queerness is joyful, art is healing, and love is anything but ordinary.\u00a0Romantic, reflective, and richly written\u2014this is a story for anyone who\u2019s ever had to put a dream on pause.<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n

Ashley Herring Blake<\/strong> is the author of:<\/p>\n

Delilah Green Doesn\u2019t Care<\/em>
\nAstrid Parker Doesn\u2019t Fail<\/em>
\nIris Kelly Doesn\u2019t Date<\/em>
\nHow to Make a Wish<\/em>
\nGirl Made of Stars<\/em><\/p>\n

She is acclaimed for her queer romances featuring realistic characters, sharp dialogue, and emotionally honest plots. With Dream On, Ramona Riley<\/em>, she begins her Clover Lake<\/em> series with a heartfelt bang.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ashley Herring Blake\u2019s Dream On, Ramona Riley marks a graceful entry into her brand-new Clover Lake series\u2014a small-town queer romance that weaves emotional depth, creative ambition, and quiet self-discovery into a charming slow-burn narrative. Known for titles like Delilah Green Doesn\u2019t Care and Iris Kelly Doesn\u2019t Date, Blake continues her legacy of writing sapphic stories […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2917"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2917"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2917\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}