How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True

by Sarah Strohmeyer

From Sarah Strohmeyer, author of Smart Girls Get What They Want, comes this romantic comedy about one girl's summer job from hell. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World.

When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?

Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.

Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary, Fiction

295 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2013

About the author

Sarah Strohmeyer is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of 18 novels for young adults and adults, including the Bubbles Yablonsky mystery series, SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT and THE CINDERELLA PACT, which became the Lifetime Movie, LYING TO BE PERFECT.
Her first mystery, BUBBLES UNBOUND, won the Agatha Award and Romantic TImes Award for Best First Mystery. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL was nominated for a prestigious RITA™. Her books have been translated into German, French, Italian, Turkish, Taiwanese and a bunch of others.
BUBBLES REBOOTS - #7 in the Bubbles Yablonsky mystery series - will be published June 26th in Kindle, Nook and Kobo (pre-order now!) It is an homage to her dearly departed high-school friend, Josh Simon. So 10% of the profits will go to organizations he approved: The Cancer Research Institute & Planned Parenthood.

Reviews

[Fafa's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner !

Beware spoilers ahead!

Last year I had read the authors book Smart Girls Get What They Want and fell in love with the story and the characters! I was quite happy to see that How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True was in my library. While I didn't like it as much I was hoping to I still enjoyed it!

The book begins with a prologue. Zoe is walking the Queen's dog Tinker Bell. Tink has managed to run off and Zoe is attempting to find her. Zoe crosses into a forbidden area and gets stuck in quicksand. With Tink nowhere in sight and with Zoe sinking she has no idea what to do. Then one of the princes comes to her rescue. Zoe can't tell which one of the princes because she has her back to him. The prince comments that Zoe is stuck but he can't help her because she'll tell the Queen and he'll get disqualified. Zoe promises not to tell the Queen and that if he helps her she's in his debt. He manages to find Tink and saves Zoe. When Zoe turns around to thank him, he's gone.

We are then taken to the first chapter in which Jess and Zoe are on their way to Fairyland. Their quite excited for their summer! A year and a half ago Zoe's mother passed away. She died of some sort of cancer. Jess (Zoe's cousin) was there for Zoe. Unlike Zoe's boyfriend at the time who wanted to dump her at the funeral but didn't because his parents told him not to.

Over time Zoe started noticing changes in Jess as well. When Zoe asked what was going on Jess said that her parents lost their job. And they've blown through her college fund. So now she can't go to that arts school she wanted to go in. Jess feels to guilty to ask her parents to work out a way to send her to college. The advantage of getting the internship at Fairyland is the Dream and Do Grant. A girl and a boy will win $25,ooo. Zoe is hoping that Jess will win and she intends to help her in any way she can.

When they reach Fairyland they are told by the interns that there internship starts tomorrow. A guy announces all the cast members. Jess gets Red Riding Hood 2. But Zoe's role is not announced. She tells as much to Andy and he mentions that she is a Lady-In-Waiting assigned to work with the Queen. The way he mentions this scares Zoe. Andy gives her a list of what to do and what not to do. Then sends her off to meet the Queen. Upon meeting the Queen Zoe is surprised because she is not all that bad. The Queen gives Zoe a list of instructions and sends her on her way.

I was definitely expecting more out of this but nonetheless I enjoyed it! This book is written in first person in Zoe's point of view. And it takes place within the summer.

I liked reading about Zoe and Jess's relationship! I loved how close they were and how much they supported each other. Fairlyand was fun to read about. I actually felt like I was there! I liked how it's mentioned that Zoe saw a grief therapist and it was mentioned in a positive light. Reading about her therapist was interesting and sometimes you were told about their conversations. I also liked the relationship between the Queen and Zoe. The Queen wasn't all that bad. She just had a very long list of likes.

When the synopsis mentions the 'cutthroat' competition it was very accurate. It felt like the only reason half of the people were there was because of the Dream and Do Grant. Yes I understand winning money would be really cool. But what about the experience? They got to dress up as fairy tale characters and entertain little kids. That sounds like fun to me.

I enjoyed reading about Zoe's growth. I felt that in the beginning she wasn't as confident until she started working for the Queen. It was also nice how she found a way to move on with her life after her mother's death.

The romance was well done! It was slow burn. Zoe and Ian started out as friends and then became something more. I liked how it didn't take away from the plot. And when Ian found out about Zoe's mom he didn't force himself on her. He was willing to give her time and space to figure everything out.

There was the mystery of the about the mysterious prince that saved Zoe and some other things at Fairyland. I suppose now that I think about it the prince was kind of obvious. The twist at the end was unpredictable. I so didn't see that coming. I liked that ending and the name really fits that book quite well.

I only had two problems with How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True. I was expecting the Queen to be a lot worse. I thought that she would treat Zoe terribly but she didn't. I also would've liked to read about the other characters a bit more. A lot of this book was Zoe doing some ridiculous things for the Queen. For example walking Tink at dawn. Nonetheless I still enjoyed it!

Overall this was a cute book! I recommend this to fans of the author and contemporary fans.

[Mitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True is a lot of fun, but I can't help but compare this with Sarah Strohmeyer's young adult debut, Smart Girls Get What They Want. There's a similar structure to both her books, a deceptively light plot hides a surprising amount of character development and ultimately the kind of message my sister always gets behind, but for a few reasons I think Zoe is a step down from Smart Girls. Not that Zoe isn't good, I just think Smart Girls is better.

That isn’t to say How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True’s completely without its advantages. Zoe really is a lot of fun to read about (I daresay even more so than Gigi, Bea, and Neerja) - come to think of it, silly fun really wasn’t the objective of Smart Girls or its plot, whatever fun to be had was just there as an added bonus when Strohmeyer saw fit to include it, whereas it really seems Strohmeyer went out of her way this time with the witty humor to emphasize just how oddly quirky Zoe’s summer internship as the assistant to the manager of a Disney World style resort really is. Whether it’s the obnoxious boss, the whimsical workplace, or the... interesting coworkers playing the various fairytale characters, Strohmeyer’s light, breezy writing is even better this time around and totally works like a charm. And as someone who’s had more than my share of... memorable experiences as an intern, I absolutely approve.

My problem, though, is that when it’s finally time to get serious, when Strohmeyer finally gets to the message behind the (much fluffier) plot, Zoe doesn’t really cut it, not like Smart Girls did. For one, Zoe’s boss, the Queen, well I get she’s supposed to be this Devil Wears Prada type boss character who’s not only ridiculously demanding but also cold? or aloof? on the outside, but with a surprisingly big heart on the inside once you more than superficially impress her, but I think she needed a little bit more character development for that to have worked. As it is, there’s a plot twist that functions as the ‘Surprise! This is how the Queen really is!’ type moment, but for me at least it’s really not a good surprise, more like a ‘Umm sure’ to the weird people surprising you kind of surprise. If you get my drift. No offense.

But for how crazy the plot turned out, I gotta hand it to Strohmeyer, she definitely excels at creating completely likeable characters. It’s easy to miss Zoe’s character arc about dealing with the death of her mom among the everyday craziness of Fairlyland Kingdom, or even the nominal plot about the competition over the Dream and Do grant cash prize and how the Queen’s imagined dangers threaten Zoe’s chances of winning it, but again, this wouldn’t be a Strohmeyer book if there wasn’t some serious, really good character development hidden in all of the light fluff just waiting to hit with the full force of unexpectedly awesome character development perfectly camouflaged amongst a whole lot of hilarity.

Anyway, I still liked Zoe, it's a good book, I guess I just wanted to see a little more, besides just being sillier (in a good way mostly, except for the surprise I mentioned earlier). But for people who enjoyed this and haven’t read Smart Girls Get What They Want, I totally recommend it. And for people who might not have enjoyed How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True as much, I recommend Smart Girls anyway because I do think it’s better.

[Emily W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
So I will start off by saying that the events of this book are pretty unrealistic & the whole story may be too perfectly wrapped up for some people...but I freaking adored it. I laughed so many times while reading this, and I became way more emotionally invested in it than I expected to. There was not one single moment where I was bored or wanting the book to end. This was honestly one of the cutest things I've ever read, and it made me so happy. The whole story taking place at a Disney-like theme park made this so fun and whimsical, not to mention original. This was the PERFECT summer read, and I highly recommend it!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

3.5 stars
Thank you HarperTeen for sending this copy in exchange for review. No compensation was taken to alter of change this review.

'"What do you think I've been doing? I've been blinking so much, my eyelids have biceps."'

My initial reactions upon hearing about this book was... 'yeah that title is way too freakin long to remember.'
Initial reactions upon receiving the ARC, 'holy crud there's gonna be a lot of copying and pasting in this review. I seriously don't think I can bother reading this.'
Initial reactions upon finishing How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come (Mostly) True, 'O_O This title is freakin perfect, despite it's long ness. Now... When should I write this review...'

I know I need a contemporary read again when I start to fall asleep reading all the fantasy related genres. It's like my sixth sense, I can feel it in my gut when I need one and this book certainly did justice to replenish my thirst. How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come (Mostly) True contained a uniquely absurd premise, cute romance and most importantly, a heap load of delicious humour. It was obviously a cute, light read that was relatively fast to finish for me.

A stitch in time really does save nine. I was rather shocked to find out that this was not the contemporary romance I was expecting. This is no usual romance book and I highly STRONGLY recommend people to read the synopsis thoroughly before digging into this pretty book.

When Zoe and her cousin Jess land on FairyLand Kingdom Theme Park for summer jobs, they are excited to begin. But thats until Zoe received the job of being the Queen's lady-in-waiting. Soon, things start to seem not the way they were before and FairyLand may have just taken a lane down Disasterville.
The synopsis is rather ridiculous and immature, but Sarah turned such a weird sounding book into a beautifully crafted one.

Due to the fact that this writing style is based on the realistic side of things, I was extremely strict on the outcome of the characters. I was quite (mostly) (see what I did there! <---- No? Yeah.. Okay whatever...) awed.
Zoe, our main character holds a cogent role throughout, while I found her a little non-observant as I would've loved, she manages to link up mysteries and seek out issues skilfully without infuriating me on the way. Unlike what I feared, Zoe's trauma of her mother's death did not turn her suicidal or just really drawn back and depressed. The issue seems to be going on trend, and getting too cliche. Instead, the main character conducts the bright cute, side to the novel and keeps the suspicions running conspicuously throughout.

Unfortunately enough, some of the supporting characters did not do justice and went downfall into cliche-land-of-cliche-ness. Most were users, typical jocks and princess-like dolls. While that held the spirit of the book, I felt that Sarah could've reduced the amount of naivety she placed on the characters. Majority of times, I just wanted to punch Dash or Adele in the face. Even Zoe's cousin, Jess screamed trite and clueless dull minded.

The romance was thankfully one of the best aspects of How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come (Mostly) True. There is a mild hint of a love triangle but it is quite dismissible. Romance in contemp novels are like the sugar in lollies. Without it, there's nothing- because that's the core. Sarah demonstrates her writing skills perfectly here, the romance in its own way, is kick ass. Cute, humorous but great in depth and dependence. Sarah may have leaned her romance towards instant love, but she did a great job of developing it comprehensively and flawlessly into a masterpiece that any reader would rave for.

'The images she got back were blurry because of a glitch, but they managed to capture a guy who was slim and dark..."
"And tall and sexy?" He kept his expression dead straight. "Because if he's so hot he broke the camera, then I was definitely the dude." He held up his hands. "Guilty as charged."'

The last small problematic issue I came across was the beginning. To be honest, How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come (Mostly) True did not begin on a particularly flawless note. I was bored and confused (mainly because I was searching for a different contemporary style) but about one fifth on, I was addicted.

Overall, How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come (Mostly) True was an adorable read that had a ridiculous story line but was elaborated fantastically. Recommended to lovers of Sarah's books and Life After Theft.

[Wendy Darling]

Princess-themed amusement park?! I have to check this out.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

Fun, funny, and charming, How Zoe Made Her Dreams... is a book of so much fluff, it might just float off a bookshelf. It's a fast and entertaining read, full of surprisingly developed characters, but unfortunately How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True is just not on the same level as Smart Girls Get What They Want. I liked it, but it just didn't have the same impact as Strohmeyer's first. Zoe struggles with some serious issues, and I might have teared up once or twice when she confronts her issues, but the emotional pulls are few and far between. For ninety percent of the story, this is a fluffy piece, with a silly plot, operated by characters that are pretty generic, if certainly likeable.

Fans of the author's other books, and epecially Smart Girls Get What They Want will find similarities between the novels, but Zoe ultimately ends up a pale copy of its predecessor. I don't mean to knock the author's newest because I was certainly entertained while reading, but anyone who has read Smart Girls before trying this will find it just not quite as good. A lot of my issues stem from the plot and the setting - the competition among the Princes and Princesses for the grant money comes across as frivolous, and often laughable. It's charming and amusing, but never really sells the competition as a serious plot device. As a result, all the drama and suspicions set up around the Dream & Do failed to make me care about its ultimate winner.

Strohmeyer can certainly write a credible teenage voice, however. Zoe, through all her present struggles and past heartaches, comes across as authentic and consistently real teen girl. Her voice is strong and likeable, and the author's style works well for a silly but fun read. Zoe's relationship with her cousin is another strong point; the two girls have a real bond and love another. It's all too rare to find such real, strong friendships between teen girls in YA, but so far, in each novel, Strohmeyer has taken the time to build such remarkable and meaningful friendships for her female characters. For that alone, this novel is a winner. I wish Zoe had more female friends, maybe made during her time at Fairyland?, but I will not take her relationship with Jess for granted.

For a novel of such fluff, it's heartening how well characterized Zoe (and her love interest) are shown to be. While I loved Gigi, I do think Zoe ends up being the more rounded and dimensional main character. Zoe has a lot of facets to her personality, and amazingly, who she likes doesn't define her or her actions during the novel. The romance might not be as endearing as I thought Gigi's was in Smart Girls, but I have to admit I was rooting for the two kids before the end of the novel. It's a light read, and the love interest is pretty great, but I wasn't overtly involved. I just wanted more substance and depth to the plot. If I'd had that, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True could have easily been a four-star read.

If you're looking for a charming fluff read, this is a perfect fit. A "done in one day" read, Strohmeyer's capability for writing YA is evident and lends itself well here in her second YA offering. An amusing plot with a couple twists en route make for a fun few hours spent in the company of this cast of Princes and Princesses and furries. How Zoe Made Her Dreams... may not be the best book of 2013, but it's a great diversion for a few hours of pure fluff.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on my blog, Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You can find it, and many more reviews at the blog.

I read several of Sarah Strohmeyer’s books before I became a book blogger. While I haven’t yet read her YA debut, Smart Girls Get What They Want, I jumped at the chance to read How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True when it became available on Edelweiss. There are some authors who shouldn’t make the jump from adult to YA, but let me tell you: Ms Strohmeyer is not one of them. How Zoe Made her Dreams (Mostly) Come True was a funny, engaging story with a unique concept, great characters, and a positive message.

Zoe was the kind of girl you’d want as your friend - loyal, selfless, and she’d stick up for you no matter what. Her cousin Jess was a great secondary character. Unlike a lot of YA where the best friends end up betraying each other in some way or not standing up for each other, Jess had Zoe’s back, and that was really nice to see.

The setting of this book was part of what made it so unique. Zoe and Jess spend the summer at Fairyland Kingdom, giving the reader a chance to see the inside workings of a theme park, from the people who clearly take their jobs too seriously to the ones who are just getting through the day. Zoe had to face a lot of challenges, and I liked that even in a setting that most people wouldn’t relate to, Zoe remains relatable and her reactions and strength make her a character you can’t help but like.

Zoe and Jess weren’t the only great characters. There were a ton of secondary characters who were really well fleshed out, from the ones who made you angry to the ones you couldn’t help but fall for to the ones who provided comedic relief. A favourite of mine was definitely the Queen - she was so ridiculous and her requests were so nonsensical, I found myself laughing out loud at a lot of the things she said and did.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True was more than just a light, funny read. It was surprising, refreshing, full of unexpected twists, and even a mystery that added just the right amount of tension to the plot. It’s sure to please fans of contemporary young adult, especially those who enjoy modern day Cinderella stories.

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7

I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely adored Sarah Strohmeyer's How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True. Strohmeyer's new young adult contemporary novel is funny, touching, romantic, and as whimsical as the Fairyland Kingdom theme park the novel is set in.

Zoe, the protagonist, is a teenaged girl who has a very close relationship with her happy go-lucky cousin, Jess. Her growth as a character isn't made obvious, but is instead hinted at by her choices and actions. She is a selfless character who never truly considers doing anything that is only beneficial for herself. This aspect of Zoe makes me love her because I can feel the love she has for her cousin, without having her explain how much she cares

Strohmeyer's novel is about more than a summer full of cute boys and the cutthroat competition. It is about overcoming grief, remembering the important things in life, not focusing on outward appearances, to have hope, and to work for what you want. These themes make the novel less frivolous and simple, adding weight to what Zoe thought was going to be a fun summer.

There's also a mystery that takes over the storyline. Strohmeyer is a talented red-herring weaver. She throws you a bone and though you're certain of what is coming next, you can't help but nibble at the proffered clues. She's also great at foreshadowing. The reader needs to pay attention to what is being said and hinted at, or else what is being said will go unnoticed. In all, Strohmeyer takes the predictable and makes it unpredictable.

The romance found in the novel grows as the summer passes and lessons are learned. This summer is about Zoe and Jess, but the romantic situations the cousins get into are in themselves learning experiences. The romantic moments featured are memorable and simply perfect.

I will admit that I may have giggled like a little girl when the romantic bits took place.

The pacing is great and I honestly devoured Strohmeyer's novel. I couldn't put it down, since I needed to know what Zoe was going to do next.

Other notable aspects of How Zoe... are the dialogue (which was FANTASTIC!), how relatable the characters are, the unexpected twist at the conclusion, and the promise of a life beyond the world of the novel.

I recommend How Zoe... to readers who enjoy a sweet romance and adventure-filled summer in a Fairytale theme park. If you like young adult contemporary fiction, then pick this one up--you won't be disappointed. The dialogue is hilarious and realistic, while the characters will make you want to join them in their hectic summer away from home.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know those books that leave you all warm and fuzzy after you finish reading them? Well, that's exactly what How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come True (Mostly) is. It was so freaking cute that by the time I was done reading it, I was left with a grin.

Zoe was a main character who was very easy to root for. She's kind, generous and lovable. Her bubbly personality makes the reader want to befriend her. She was also the kind of person who thought about others before thinking about herself, completely selfless. I loved being inside her head because she was a likable main character. Her relationship with her cousin Jess was one of my favorite elements in this story. These girls shared a bond stronger than friendship. I loved the scenes they were in together. Jess was going through a hard phase and even though Zoe had just lost her mother, she didn't wallow in self-pity, but instead she tried her best to cheer her dejected cousin. Now that's exactly what friendship is. The love interest, Ian, was an absolute cutie. I wanted him all for myself. He was the sweet guy that I love in my YA books. Plus, Ian was always making me smile with his dialogues! Who am I kidding? His very presence cheered me up! The Queen, Zoe's new boss, was a funny but ridiculous woman. Nevertheless, all the characters in this book were an absolute delight and I loved being immersed in their world.

The pivot point of this book for me was the romance. I've already gushed about my love for Ian. He and Zoe made a perfect couple. Although this book was fairly short, their romance never felt like instant love. Instead, it grows from a friendship into something more. You guys, the romance was so cute! It gave me butterflies! Zoe and Ian were very much complimentary with their similar personalities. As a reader, I could totally sense the love and respect that these two had for each other. There was also a slight mystery in the book, which consists of the main story line. But, behind that mystery was actually a message that the author attempts to send. If you want to find out what the message is, then go ahead and read the book because I'm not going to spoil things for you! This is my first Sarah Strohmeyer book, but after reading How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come True (Mostly), I'm convinced that this isn't the last book from her that I'm going to read.

If you're going through a reading slump or are looking for something light and cute to read after reading some dark heavy books, then How Zoe Made Her Dreams Come True (Mostly) is the perfect book for you! Cute, charming and delightful, this book will leave you with a silly grin on the face!

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'd learned that getting most of what you wish for in life is often as good as getting it all."

What's not to like in How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True? It's a story set in Fairyland, a princess-themed amusement park. Every summer, the park hires interns to take part of the roles of different characters, ranging from the royals, the princesses and princes, to the animals and ordinary characters. And Zoe and her cousin and bestfriend, Jess, are hired! Jess badly wants to be a princess so she can up the chances of winning the Dream and Do grant, a $25000 award which can cover Jess's tuition of going to drama school. But only those who attended summer camps since they were young can be royals. Jess is a Red Riding Hood, while Zoe is a lady-in-waiting for the 'Queen', the park's boss.

Although Zoe's mother has just died from an illness , the book managed not to dwell too much on her grief or family life but more on how she just manages to survive running errands for the Queen. She's very strict and makes ridiculous requests for Zoe in the middle of the night, using SAT-vocabulary words in casual conversations. (She's extremely funny, too!) Even wanting her as absurd as to remove something from her eye so she can go to sleep or fetch a sleeping potion near the park's borders. I kept looking forward to her dialogues and requests! If you don't take it too seriously, you'll enjoy her ridiculousness. Hahaha!

Everything about this book is warm, fuzzy, light and funny, which is perfect after reading a tearjerker. We all get the gist of how an amusement park is ran and how all the workers do their jobs. It was nice to see because you'd want to experience working in one, too! The atmosphere of the book was definitely felt and I love how they all want the kids and families to enjoy their stay, even wanting the two Cinderellas to look alike so the children won't be confused, or how the Wolf should be scary so they'll warn Red Riding Hood. It was refreshing and entertaining to read about! It was a concept not all books explore.

Even though everything is predictable or might be too perfect to be realistic, the fun never wavered because it was just a book made to be entertaining. Zoe and Jess were lovable characters and their friendship and bond was unbreakable and inseparable. Even though were rumors about Zoe doing something bad to Jess, Jess knew who to believe and stood up for her. Zoe needed the money, too, to cover up her mom's medical bills, but she wanted Jess to have it instead, even thinking of ways so she can be a candidate of the grant. What I liked the most about Zoe was she never forgot what Jess did for her during her dark days. It never slipped from her mind all the comfort Jess offered.

The romance was way more fun! I can't help swooning over Ian Davidson's dialogues. He makes the corniest puns but was still rather sweet, caring, adorable and selfless to and for Zoe. That instant crush on her and the way he wanted to grab her attention was evident, it was lovable! Their relationship didn't begin in an instant love and Strohmeyer built their friendship first.

This time, in the broad light of day, I was unable to hide my blush, and Ian must have noticed, because he smiled and said, “So there’s hope.”

“For what?”

He shrugged, his long legs taking lengthy strides. “We’ll see.”

“You’re weird, you know that?” I was careful to keep my head down out of fear that if I looked into his eyes, I might give myself away.

After reading this, I felt like I wanted to read more books on amusement parks! The ending was perfect, everyone from the Queen, Andy, RJ and the other romances formed in this book was perfect. However, I felt like it was lacking closure and wasn't nicely wrapped up regarding Zoe and Ian's relationship. I didn't feel that assurance factor, but nevertheless, this was such a fun book. Highly recommended and definitely going for a reread. Sarah Strohmeyer is now my favorite.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Liked

Just about everything. Honestly, this book is insanely cute and funny and basically the perfect summer read. Everything was spot-on, from the quirky humor to the sweet romance.

My favorite part of the book was definitely "The Queen," Zoe's high-maintenance boss. She cracked me up, with her drama and claiming that she hasn't eaten sugar in 20 years (when she has it in her tea every morning). She has so many hilarious lines! She's kind of like Meryl Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada, but a lot less ruthless and way more ridiculous.

I also liked our love interest, Ian. He was sassy and fun, the perfect match for this type of story. I loved how he teased Zoe for being a vegan and ignoring the "cannibal chickens" that he claims exist, and how he misquotes "Don't Mess with Texas" bumperstickers as "Don't Mess with Texans." After the Queen, he was my favorite character for sure.

After characters, I thought the next best part was the setting.



I mean, this is Disney World...but with a different name. Why has this not been done before?! It's so freaking cute! I just loved this premise - how much makeup everyone has to wear, the dances that the princes and princesses have to learn, the cutthroat competition for the best roles.

I had a friend in college who worked for Disney; she was one of the Princess Jasmines, and she went on and on and on about how much she loved working there. She also dated one of the Prince Charmings at one point, but said he was a jerk. So I couldn't help laughing a little when Zoe would describe the primadonna princes and princesses at Fairyland Kingdom.

And on a side note: the bits about "the Mouse" were SO funny! I'm assuming that Sarah Strohmeyer couldn't say "Disney World" because the name is copyrighted, so she just had to imply it. (And really, who doesn't know who "the Mouse" refers to, when speaking of theme parks?) I thought this little inclusion was really amusing.


What I Didn't Like

Not much to say here. I think the pacing was really fast at the beginning - Strohmeyer flew through a lot of the set-up. I didn't really have a problem with that; it just FELT fast, and I wasn't sure if it should have.

Also, it took me a little time to get used to all the fairytale language that she used when describing normal things. For example, the Queen is always called "the Queen" - not her name. Security guards are called "trolls." Etc. etc. This really helps immerse you into her worldbuilding, but there was a little bit of a learning curve I thought.

But really, not many cons to speak of.


Overall, this book is really cute, and I highly recommend it! I read it in one night, if that tells you anything. It was just what I was looking for - something fun, light, and hilarious. This is perfect for people looking for the perfect summer read!

[Sophie Riggsby / allthingsequilateral · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Review published on Page Turners Blog on 6/1/13*
*actually 4.5 stars*

Okay confession time, I read this story right after we came back from our Disneyland vacation. Our family is hugely obsessed with anything Disney and while we had an amazing time, we did run into one grumpy Disneyland cast member. And it did make me think, how can they keep up that level of happy pretense during their 9-hour shifts? Well, Sarah answered that and more in her perfect-summer-read story, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True.

I’ll just say it, I expected a quick, fun read, and I should have known (because I adored her Smart Girls Get What They Want), that Sarah would deliver more. She gave me a villain that was complex and unpredictable, move over Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly and meet The Queen. What a demanding, never-can-quite-please boss. I, of course, loved her.

But mostly, I loved Zoe. Her selfless approach in wanting to help her cousin win the grant left me smiling. And mind you, she’s not completely altruistic. I loved her awkward moments while trying to do the right thing. She’s so completely relatable and gah, adorable.

What I loved best was all the back-stabbing, melodrama that can go on in such a small, competitive environment. It brought me back to my college days and just the simple fact that when you house teens together, for any length of time, drama will readily follow. Okay, and yes, I loved the romance, too. It hit all the sweetness of a summer fling, but also gave me that hopeful moment that all the best romances share.

When you’re picking up your beach reads, be sure to throw How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True in the bag with your sunscreen. You’ll see what I mean when I say that it’s the perfect summer book.

[ExLibris_Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I was intrigued when I heard that this book takes place behind the scenes at a princess themed amusement park. I have always thought that working at one of these places would be a total nightmare and the in and out of costume drama that occurs at Fairlyland definitely provided some twists and turns to this story. While the idea that a park would be staffed almost exclusively by high schoolers is a bit far fetched, it did not take away from my enjoyment of this story at all. There were so many things about this book that made me chuckle. First, I think that Zoe's boss, the megalomaniacal "ruler" of Fairlyland was one of the hidden gems in this story. She reminded me of the boss in The Devil Wears Prada, complete with insane food requests and a dog named Tinkerbell. Zoe's attempts to keep her happy while trying to navigate the politics of Fairyland and keep her chance at the grant made for a very entertaining and surprisingly complex plot.

Sarah Strohmeyer is on my autobuy list forever because of the way she always writes her teen girls. They are smart, funny, and very real. There are no beauty queens or ultra-popular girls here. All of her characters are relatable and I think that's why I always recommend her books. Zoe has known loss in her life, and this internship away from home was a distraction that she needed, yes, but I also saw character growth because of it. I think my only comment would be that I wish I had gotten more about the relationship with her cousin, who is like a sister to Zoe. However, I still really enjoyed the plot twists, funny dialogue, crazy situations and sweet romance in this book. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading any Sarah Strohmeyer books, this would be a good place to start!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 2021: So I decided it was high time to re-read this one! And boy I am glad I did, because this was so much fun, and because it has been almost 8 years after, I didn't remember a lot of details so a lot of things were fresh and new again and I just love love that. Zoe was a great character and I did feel sorry for her that she had to be an intern/assistant to the evil Queen. I loved the apt name of the dog: Tinkerbell given what that dog does. Haha. I loved the romance. I loved the mystery. It was all terrific fun though I have to say that I wasn't always a fan of all the characters, but with the ending that was solved and things clicked together. Definitely would recommend. 4 stars in 2013, 5+ now in 2021.

Just one word: Wow!

[Amy Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5 stars
Honestly, I did NOT have high expectations for this book. It’s a cutesy romance, it has a somewhat embarrassing cover, 3 stars tops. BUT NO. It’s cute, absolutely, but I loved all of the other elements as well. Along with the adorable romance (which doesn’t actually even come into play for about half of the book), the characters are developed, relationships are explored, and there’s a DRAMATIC contest with CRAZY drama kids. For 25 grand. Fun, right? Not to mention, a fabulous ending, which could not have been more perfect. This is such a fantastic cutesy romance, and I highly recommend it whenever you’re looking for something light and fluffy that isn’t ALL romance.

[Jenn G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I wanted! A theme park, many Disney references (*the mouse*) a small mystery and some drama! I wasn't expecting that and I'm so happy it wasn't only a romance! The romance part is actually only a small part of the book!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

*This is an ARC review*

I have heard really great things about Sarah Strohmeyer's YA release Smart Girls Get What They Want, so I was excited to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest book How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True. It looked like it would be a funny contemporary YA read, in other words, the kind of book I LOVE.

Unfortunately, while there were some funny moments in "Zoe", it turned out to be a book that wasn't for me. I think that there will be other readers who will enjoy this book, but I had a hard time getting through it. Before I relay why I felt this way, I will say that the one thing this book has going for it is it's unique premise. The book tells the story of best friends and cousins Zoe and Jess who have landed a summer job at Fairyland, New Jersey's favorite amusement park. This is a pretty big honor because hundreds of teens from across the country apply for a spot and only a handful are chosen. Not only does it look great on college applications and pay, a position at Fairyland means that you will be entered for a chance to win $25,000 in cash towards a college scholarship, something that both Zoe and Jess would love to get their hands on. And Zoe has a special tie to this place, because some of her fondest memories as a child were visiting with her mom who passed away from cancer a couple of years earlier.

Working at Fairyland is kind of like summer theater camp, it's got all kinds of drama going on, both in front of and behind the scenes. And many of the kids who got the job don't mind resorting to backhanded tactics to secure one of the two scholarships.

Zoe and Jess are not those type of people. In fact, Zoe is really hoping that Jess wins the scholarship because her family has fallen on hard times financially. Zoe is forever grateful to Jess who really stood by her when her mom got sick. Zoe could use the money too, her mom's medical bills are taking a toll on her own family's finances, but she really want Jess to get it. She even goes so far as doing the best job she can so she can try and win the favor of the "Queen" of Fairyland, hoping to convince her to select Jess.

Ah, the Queen. Well, she's a real character. And Zoe was handpicked by her to be her personal assitant (read SLAVE) for the summer. Much of the book is spent detailing the ridiculous lengths Zoe is forced to go to to make the Queen happy. Everyone compares her to Miranda Priestly, the fashion magazine editor from the book The Devil Wears Prada, but in my opinion, the comparison is weak. Miranda was a fully fleshed character that you absolutely loved to hate. An ice queen with the hint of a soft interior. The Queen in "Zoe" is rather two dimensional and so silly that she almost felt cartoonish to me.

In fact, the whole book felt rather silly and cartoonish. I read a lot of YA you guys, and never has a book made me feel as OLD as Zoe did. It's very light and fluffy, which I can handle, but for some reason this book just had me grumbling "I'm too old to be reading this."

Zoe's character is not so bad, although I found the lengths that she would go to to get Jess that scholarship to be pretty unrealistic. Waking up at the crack of dawn to walk Queenie's pampered pooch? Being at the Queen's beck and call at all hours of the day or night? Being forced to track the weight of all the "princesses" and deliver the news that they have been fired because they are 5 lbs overweight? Let's set aside the fact that I would have lasted, oh, about 10 minutes had I been in that position, what about the fact that she was doing all of this for someone else? I mean at least in The Devil Wears Prada, Andy puts up with Miranda's crap because she NEEDS the job, it's her last resort. Call me cynical but I just do not see a teenage girl breaking her back all summer for the slim chance that she can get on her boss' good side long enough to talk her into givng her best friend $25,000 in scholarship money.

In addition, the ending of "Zoe" felt WAY too convenient. There is a bit of a mystery written in and the way it all pans out just kind of made me roll my eyes. It tied up way too easily for all the parties involved.

So, in the end, I really wanted to like this book. And while the premise was kind of cool, it was just too fluffy, too sugary, too silly and too CUTE for me. Call me jaded. Call me old. But if you are looking for a cute summer read with a fun cast of characters and some great romance I'd recommend The Trouble with Flirting by Claire LaZebnik instead. It's got a theater camp setting with over the top characters that are actually really well developed, layered and complex AND fun to read. Or give "Zoe" a shot. Just because it's not my cup of tea doesn't mean it won't be yours.

[Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Review originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook

There are certain books that I read not really expecting them to be very realistic all the time. Certain romances and fluffy books are like that. Take The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, for example. Do I really think a young teen girl from the U.S. is a princess? No, of course not, but it’s a lot of fun, and I don’t really mind. I went into How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer with that mentality – that not everything was going to be realistic, but that it would be a fun story and that the characters were going to be awesome. Unfortunately, there was a little too much unbelievability in this one for me to really enjoy.

There were definitely some things that I really did like about How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True. I loved the strong friendship and loyalty between the protagonist Zoe and her cousin Jess. Books with strong female friendships are always a good thing, in my opinion. The setting – sort of a smaller scale Disney World – was another plus. I love the whole idea of being a cast member at Fairyland, and being assigned a fairytale character to portray. I even really got a kick out of The Queen, the head of Fairyland. She sort of reminded me of a nice, and more peculiar Meryl Streep from The Devil Wears Prada. I laughed (and totally identified) with The Queens obsession and determination to treat her dog, Tinker Bell (a bichon frise like my dog Daphne!), like a baby, and I loved that above all else The Queen valued loyalty to Fairyland. She is a little nuts, that’s for sure, but it was ever so entertaining.

However, there were some aspects of How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True that really put a damper on things, and ultimately affected how much I liked this book negatively. Zoe was so careless about things throughout the whole book. She kept making all these stupid mistakes (like talking about rule breaking in a shared bathroom where people can over hear) that I found hard to believe that a real person would do. I also thought that Zoe had her loyalties to certain fellow employees backward. I can’t explain without spoilers, but it kind of ticked me off. Another big part that was just too unbelievable for me was the “twist” ending. In a way, I thought something like that was going to happen, but even so I still just rolled my eyes. It was too much for me.

I feel like How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True is like a Disney Channel movie – but maybe not the awesome ones (like High School Musical!), but the mediocre ones. If you like contemporary, light reads, and you have a fascination with a Disney-like park, then you might like this. However I wouldn’t have high expectations.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (mostly) Come True is like an ABC Family Cinderella movie in book form. You know, A Cinderella Story, Another Cinderella Story, A Singing Cinderella Story, A Dancing Cinderella story (I will shamelessly admit that I have seen all of those movies). This book is a Fairytale Theme Park Cinderella Story, complete with real princes and princesses (yes even a Cinderella!). How Zoe Made Her Dreams (mostly) Come True is similar to those over the top, addicting ridiculous movies, only the story is harder to digest in book form than movie. Probably because I didn't have all those colorful moving pictures to distract me from the fact that this book is not even remotely plausible.

In fact, the more I thought about this book the more I realized that it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Besides the fact that the theme park violates tons of child safety and labor laws, the plot is utterly silly and filled with massive holes. It stretched my suspension-of-disbelief-for-a-contemporary-book abilities to the max. Even so, the story did amuse me, it wasn't stressful and I laughed in several places. I was also fairly surprised by the end, even if that end made the story all the more over the top.

The romance in How Zoe Made Her Dreams (mostly) Come True was cute and triangle free. I did like Zoe's love interest, and the sweet relationship he developed with Zoe. I also did not mind being in Zoe's head. She really tried to do the right things, and I appreciated the efforts she made to grow up and face some experiences from her past. But it was hard to take those parts of the story seriously amidst the rest of the zany fairyland plot. Several of the supporting characters were fun and didn't always do what was expected, which was also a plus. I enjoyed Zoe's supportive cousin Jess, and a few others who became more intriguing as the story went along.

As a retelling of the Cinderella story, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (mostly) Come True has the appropriate elements - an evil stepmother (boss), concealed identities, sabotage, glass slippers, costumes, dances and a prince charming, of course. I liked that the fairytale elements were remixed and the story wasn't always predictable. However, the book was also more confusing at times than it needed to be, and the silliness and my extensive efforts to suspend my disbelief overrode some of the fun of reading it. If How Zoe Made Her Dreams (mostly) Come True was turned into a movie, I would definitely watch it. In book form, it is not quite as charming (pun intended).

Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone

FInd this and other reviews on my blog Love is not a triangle

[Riya · Rating 5 out of 5]

** An advance reader copy was provided by the publisher (thank you!)**

I love how Zoe made her dreams (mostly) come true, but y'all, I'm an even bigger fan of how Strohmeyer made my dreams (ALL) come true with this delightfully witty, cute, romantic read! I knew I was in for a sugarful delight, because after reading Smart Girls Get What They Want a few months ago, I was completely hooked. Sarah, you can release a book called 'brusselsprouts' and I'll be first in line.

This book had everything going for it. From the sweet, likable characters, to the ending (which I'm still reeling from), to the cute, realistic romance. Zoe was a sweetie patootie. I can't believe how positive and upbeat she was even after her mother had just died. If I was in her shoes, I'd be crying at the words 'home-made cookies'. At first, I wasn't really sure which guy I was supposed to be rooting for, because, come on, they were all super charming, but once I figured it out I felt pretty darn stupid, because it was actually quite obvious. I really want me a dose of that Prince Charming Cologne!

Even the Queen, the bossy, annoying, self-righteous step mother, grew on me! I was fully prepared to hate her guts, but I ended up laughing rather than hating on her. She reminded me of an overgrown toddler on Toddlers and Tiaras- but in the best, most pain-stakingly hilarious way possible.

What I especially liked about this book, apart from like, everything, was the fairytale theme! I'm a ginormous sucker for fairytale retellings, so this was perfecto. Guys, it's nothing like the original Cinderella story, so if you go in expecting clichés and for it to stick to the storyline, you'll be surprised and maybe a tad disappointed. But I actually really enjoyed how different and quirky it was compared to all the other retellings out there.

Being a Contemporary/High-School novel I was not at all expecting a twist in the end. But BOY did Strohmeyer get me, hook, line and all. This is one of the rare times a Contemporary novel has managed to shock me, and I have to say, I really enjoyed the whole knocking my socks off. It was... eye-opening, and definitely ego-lowering.

A scrumptious, candied read that whisked me off my feet and transported me to a whimsical land of non-stop laughter, romance, and fairy-tale magic, all the while maintaining an air of heartfelt authenticity.

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review and others at Lost in Literature!

Fairy tales aren't always all giggles and glitter. Not when there's a naughty prince on the loose, breaking rules and causing havoc. Zoe just wants to help her cousin/BFF win the coveted prize, the Dream & Do grant, but with all of these obsticles will she be able to accomplish what she dreams of?

Zoe was instantly likeable to me. She was awkward and fidgety and clueless at times, though she succeeded in getting the job done! Then we have super quiet and shy Jess... yet that girl was tough as nails when she had to be. The other characters were equally wonderful, all unique in their own way. A wonderful cast to tell an adorable story. I don't want to go into specifics on the characters, as it will give away too much of the story. But trust me, you will fall for the awesome ones and hate the horrible ones just as much as I did. ;)

What stood out to me the most in the story was the friendship between cousins Zoe and Jess. Even when times got tough and other feuding cast members accused Zoe of the unthinkable, including alterior motives against her BFF Jess, she saw right through the lies and stood effortlessly by her friend until the bitter end. Friends like that are hard to find. Jess and Zoe had been through a lot in the past, and their remarkable friendship stood strong through it all.

This story was cute and bubbly, had a bit of a romance brewing, yet included a fun mystery aspect as well. I found the hunt with Zoe for the true culprit quite entertaining. And I can't forget to mention the horribly evil Queen and equally evil pooch, Tinker Bell. The story wouldn't have been complete without these horrible characters to make Zoe's internship that much harder to handle.

Strohmeyer is a new author to me, and after this read I will definitely be looking into her other books. As the description says, this is most definitely The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World. Perfect comparison. Drama-ridden, cut-throat interns all in a fairy tale setting. Can't go wrong! :)

* A copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY ZOE is all I have to say! Man this book was so hilarious that I had a pain in the side of my stomach from laughing so hard. I had tears running down my cheeks and my son asked me if I was okay. Man I needed a refreshing funny read after I read some serious books. This one book is a MUST READ because poor Zoe she thinks she is getting one thing and she ends up getting another and it is so dam funny because it was like watching Jane By Design the TV show only the boss was one piece of work.

Zoe and her cousin Jess think they are getting the summer jobs of a lifetime working as interns at The Fairyland Kingdom. Lord if they only knew it would be the summer job from hell.They thought the job was going to be a piece of cake and they both want a chance to win that grant from Dream & Do which is 25,000.00. Man who would not want a job like that with the potential to win a grant for college. Let's face it anyone who has gone to college knows it is hell to pay and very expensive. But Zoe and Jess just think they are going to have the summer of a lifetime and boy oh boy what they get is something totally different.

Once Zoe gets there she realizes she will be the intern for The Queen who is actually the boss from hell! Lord she has Zoe doing all kinds of weird stuff like feeding her dog caviar. Who the heck feeds a dog that????? Plus she has her getting her this crazy drinks. Lord when I was reading that part I was laughing so hard at how Zoe reacted towards her. Remember Zoe wants that grant and she will do anything for it. But then enters Zoe's Prince Charming and things get a little crazy from there. Will Zoe survive this internship from hell or will she quit from the pressure? Will she save her Prince Charming or will she stay and endure her crazy boss? This is a MUST READ and have the tissues handy because you will need them!

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

SO sweet and cute! I loved this book! It was the perfect light romance that just had me smiling.

I loved the idea behind this book. It was a lovely idea that was perfectly executed.

Zoe was a wonderful character. She was very likable and easy to relate to. She has a very humorous, yet realistic, view of things. Her comments about the situations she was caught up in had me laughing out loud. Honestly, there is nothing bad I can say about her, because I just though she was a wonderful character.

Ian was the love interest and he was utterly adorable. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to give him a hug because he was just so adorable. Needless to say, I adored him. His relationship with Zoe wasn't the main point of the book, but it was important and I though it was very well done. It developed slowly and realistically and it was very cute.

I love how the author did the setting of the book. It was probably the best part of the book. The setting of Fairy Land was impeccably done. I felt like I was really in the middle of a Disney Land-like place.
And the competition of the Dream and Do Grant was really fun to follow. The mishaps that occurred because of the competitiveness were hilarious.

The plot moved quickly. I was keep interested the entire way. And there was a secret at the ending that literally made my jaw drop. I never saw it coming. The ending was perfect and sweet, just like the rest of the book.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True was a wonderful, lighthearted YA romance. To any lovers of the genre-or just anyone looking for a light and fun read-you definitely need to read this book.

*Thanks to Edelweiss and Balzer & Bray for a copy!

[Hallie]

Adding based on Mitch's review and Strohmeyer's reply (msg 3). Will keep for a time when I need fluffy + good character development.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread and loved it no less😌

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, hilarious, and satisfying read! Was the plot completely unrealistic and over the top like a Disney Channel Original Movie? Yes. Is that exactly the type of story I was looking for? Double yes! This book may be eleven years old, but it deserves a comeback. Zoe is a great character and the romance is very sweet. The plot twists that led to the happily ever after resolution were wild, but they honestly added to the sense of fun. Most of all, I enjoyed the fairytale theme park setting and I need more of this super niche sub-genre in my life.

[Dorina · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun read! I read it in one sitting. Story takes place in a fairy tale theme park in NJ. The characters are student interns who are hoping to get a cash prize at the end of their time. Combine tens with life and it will take you back to high school. A fun and easy read for teens and adults alike.

[Celeste_pewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two-second recap: With her second YA book, Sarah Strohmeyer proves that she's just as masterful as writing YA, as she is at writing adult fiction. How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly!) Come True is a fun, quirky story that I highly recommend to both teenage and adult readers.

***

Full review:

So. I tend to read a lot of YA these days, both good and bad. While all of the books I read do resonate with me at some level, not all of them make me want to go out and buy a billion copies for friends and family.

However, Sarah Strohmeyer's first YA book, Smart Girls Get What They Want, made me want to do exactly just that. I read Smart Girls right before Christmas, and I ended up buying multiple copies as Christmas gifts for almost everyone I knew.

(Including my boyfriend. Boy, was he confused on Christmas Day.)

Smart Girls was fun, extremely well-written and clever, with an extremely likable protagonist and a wonderful message. And I'm totally pleased to say that Strohmeyer's sophomore YA book, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True, lives up to the brilliance of her first book.

***

Plot Overview:

The summer before their senior year, Zoe Kiefer and her cousin Jessica "Jess" Swynkowski score internships at Fairyland Kingdom theme park.

They're there to join the cast of the (slightly aging, but still completely awesome) amusement park as cast members, in the hopes of winning a $25k Dream and Do grant. Both Zoe and Jess have their own needs for the grant, and both are also willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that the other one actually gets the grant.

However, like all good summer adventures, things don't really go according to plan. Instead of being cast as the hoped-for role of a fairytale princess, Zoe's assigned to be the lady-in-waiting to "the Queen", a.k.a the woman in charge of all cast/park operations.

Though Zoe gamely rises to the challenge of walking the Queen's evil lapdog at dawn, and secretly dousing the Queen with sugar to keep her sweet, various misadventures leave Zoe questioning if she has what it takes to get her happily-ever-after.

***

What worked:

* Strohmeyer has a knack for writing smart, intelligent and most importantly, capable female protagonists. Zoe's incredibly likable from page one. She tosses back bad puns with the pro of a comedian, admits to liking incredibly trashy TV, and handles all of her Queen-related challenges/setbacks without batting an eye.

* The setting. Dude. Who hasn't wondered what goes on in an amusement park after dark? I certainly have. Fairytale Kingdom shows both the highlights and downsides of what it must be like to work in an amusement park all summer.

* The supporting characters. Like Smart Girls, Strohmeyer has created a cast of characters in Zoe who make a strong and likable impact, even if they only have one or two sentences or appearances throughout the book. Characters like Karl, Marcus and Adele all made the book more well-rounded, and far more entertaining to read.

(And I'll be honest: I would jump at the chance to be friends with all of the guys in this book in a heartbeat. Except for maybe Marcus. Though, I would totally keep him around for potential hilarity/the pretty.)

* The Queen. Her antics are hilarious, and it's both rewarding and entertaining watching Zoe learning how to cope with her.

* Zoe and Jess's relationship. It's not too often that you seen girls genuinely and consistently supporting each other throughout the course of a YA book. I loved the fact that they were loyal to each other regardless of what happened, and they mutually helped each other make their dreams come true.

* The writing. I cannot stress this enough. Strohmeyer's the type of writer who can make the reader laugh through one well-crafted sentence. Her jokes are fresh and funny, and will stick with you long after you've finished reading.

***

What didn't work:

Nothing! Except for maybe the fact that I really want a sequel to Zoe and Ian's adventures.

Also, I'm not the biggest fan of the newest/publication cover, but it's largely because I think it undersells the hilarity/profundity of Strohmeyer's writing.

The cover kind of reminds me of a Taylor Swift music video. And while there totally isn't anything wrong with appealing to that age group/crowd, I'd love to see a more universally-appealing cover. I want more people - including people my age - reading Strohmeyer's YA work, and I think the cover is key.



***

Final verdict:

With her second YA book, Strohmeyer proves beyond a doubt that she's a gifted storyteller, with an acute understanding of the teenage voice. Her characters are smart, tough and intelligent young women, who should be viewed as strong role models for all readers.

Highly recommend this book for all readers, but specifically for fans of Maureen Johnson, John Green and Justina Chen.

***

Disclaimer: I was kindly given an ARC of this book by HarperCollins via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you again, HarperCollins!

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 Rating
Review Posted on Reading Lark 3/21/13: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/...

I adored Sarah Strohmeyer's YA debut, Smart Girls Get What They Want, so I was eager to get my hands on this one. I was expecting an interesting premise, strong female characters, a healthy dash of romance, and some wit. Strohmeyer delivered! If you're looking for a sweet, clean summer romance - this is the book for you.

Zoe is still reeling from the death of her mother, but she decides to pack away her grief for a summer working as an intern at fairy tale inspired theme park. Her best friend and cousin, Jess, will be along for the summer and the two girls plan to have fun in the sun. It also doesn't hurt that $25,000 is on the line to the intern who does the best work over the summer and exhibits the best "WOW" characteristics. This felt almost like a summer camp novel and my mind immediately went to others that I have read about camps or summer internships. In true Strohmeyer style, this novel isn't a repeat of the same plots that I have read before AND I dare you to not fall in love with these characters. Zoe, in particular, is one who I would have loved the befriend at that age. I also have to admit, I wish that I could have had an experience like Zoe's when I was a teenager. It seemed like such a fun way to spend a summer.

Zoe isn't perfect - she has her flaws like everyone else - but she has a good heart. She is intensely loyal, intelligent, and always gives 110%. In fact, she is a great inspirational character, and not just for adults. In her shoes, I don't know that I could have worked with the Queen and tried to help people behind the scenes. Not once did she worry about herself. She truly wanted everyone else to be treated fairly and get the rewards. It's not often that you see such a selfless character in YA fiction. It was refreshing and endearing. Strohmeyer does a fantastic job of writing strong female voices and Zoe is no exception.

Furthermore, I loved the romance in this one. My lips are sealed, but I promise it's sweet and light. It's that perfect dose of cotton candy perfection that I crave when the days start getting warmer. It conjures up the memories of summer love and stolen kisses.

The setting makes this novel. I loved the theme park/summer camp/boarding school vibe. It's always interesting to me to observe characters in a setting other than their home. I find that they interact in different ways than I would expect. The lack of parental authority also causes some characters to change in drastic ways and show their true colors. The structure of the park was also interesting and allowed for a lot of behind the scenes drama. It makes me wonder how much of that type of behavior goes on behind the scenes in real life. I don't think I'll be able to look at Cinderella, Prince Charming, or any of the other characters in the same way after reading this book. My mind will be too caught up in what happens when they switch our of their costumes and don their true selves.

Zoe and her dreams were the perfect thing to put me in the mood for summer. She is definitely worthy of a spot on your TBR list. This was good, clean summer fun.

One Last Gripe: I rated this a 4.5 instead of 5 because it felt disloyal to the Smart Girls not to do so. I loved this novel, but it took me a few chapters to get into it. Smart Girls, on the other hand, hooked me from the first chapter.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The plot - it felt familiar and unique all at once

First Sentence: The day after we finished our junior year at Bridgewater-Raritan High, Jess and I hopped into her dad's 1998 Honda Bobmobile and hightailed it down the Garden State to Fairyland with the windows open and our hair flying, Springsteen blaring at full volume.

Favorite Character: Zoe

Least Favorite Character: One of the Prince Charmings who shall remain nameless

[Kaede · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True came extremely surprising, introducing a cast of characters that I fell in love with.

While I've never read Strohmeyer's Smart Girls Get What They Want, I have heard enough praise for it, and for Strohmeyer is general, that I was fairly confident going into How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True that it'd be a book I'd enjoy.

And enjoyed I did - and so much more.

When cousins Zoe and Jess are accepted as summer interns at a Fairyland themed park, they're both certain it's the chance they've been waiting for. Because not only does Fairyland offer a happily-ever-after for all their children guests, but twenty-five thousand dollars will go to two lucky interns who've displayed the most Wow! spirit at the end of the summer. Both Zoe and Jess need the money, but only one of them can win it. But will either one of them even come close the prize, much less last the summer, with so many traitors and betrayals lurking around every corner. It won't be long until they realize that in a place where dreams were made to come true, the only person you can trust is yourself.

I thought the author also did a really good job at capturing how low people are willing to stoop to get what they want. Some of the characters, and the way they treated Zoe, were just infuriating and I wanted to stomp on them.

Zoe was a heroine to root for - kind, selfless, and smart. She was fully willing to put Jess first and help her win the Dream & Do grant, even though her late mother's medical bills were still lingering around with no way to pay them off. I liked that Zoe was perceptive and noticed traps that many young adult heroines would have walked right into and needed a hot guy to come around to save them afterward.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True has a lot going for it, and one of it's strongest points was it's romance. Delightfully sweet, Strohmeyer manages to avoid creating relationships that overtake the story, but still keep the a big important part. Ian was completely lovable, and had me right from the beginning with his talk of chickens being vegetables. I was also secretly hoping that R.J. and Jess would get together so I could have a mega squeal-fest. Tehehe.

Zoe made her mistakes along the way - like bringing a chocolate croissant to the Queen (who I really liked and found her ridiculous needs and demands excessively amusing to read about) that is packed with calories and would sent her into a diabetic shock that could quite possibly kill her - but she learned from them, and that's something notable I always look for in characters. There's no harm in making mistakes if you learn from them and try your hardest not to do it again. And, I mean, as my mother always says, "The best way to learn is by experience."

There were times where I was worried that Zoe and Jess would be changed by the competitive, all-or-nothing atmosphere she was in. The two girls were best friends, each with their own bright and good-hearted natures. That's why I was extremely relieved and happy when Zoe always stood by what she believed in.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True touches on a few darker subjects, but nothing too major. Overall, it was a hilarious, fun, contemporary read and exactly what I needed. I zoomed through the story, even staying up till a little past midnight to finish it. Zoe's narration was every bit as compelling as it was engaging, and certainly something worth recommending.