A girl can dream

by Emily Barr

Love story and un-love story intertwine in the brand-new thriller-romance from the globally bestseller author of The One Memory of Flora Banks, Emily Barr.

Venice, 2024

Hazel is on a spontaneous holiday with her stepbrother, Enzo, and best friend, Phoebe. They have just helped Hazel escape her increasingly destructive relationship with her older boyfriend, and have come away to celebrate her being her again.
In the dreamy Italian sunshine, Hazel is managing to relax, to stop looking over her shoulder in case Freddie has followed her here. But there’s a girl she keeps seeing in the city. A girl with beautiful eyes. And whenever Hazel sees her and their eyes meet, something strange seems to happen - de ja vu, at first, and then even stranger things that make her wonder if she’s really in Venice at all . . .

England, 2022

Hazel goes to see an up-and-coming local band with Enzo and some friends. She locks eyes with the lead singer, Freddie, during a song, and he finds her afterwards and slips her his number. She’s not even 16. He is ten years older. She knows it’s stupid. She didn’t even think it was boys she was into.
Things with Freddie start wonderfully - flowers, dates, he even writes a song about her. It’s everything a girl could dream of. Until it’s absolutely not . . .

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Queer

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2024

About the author

Emily Barr worked as a journalist in London, but always hankered after a quiet room and a book to write. She went travelling for a year, writing a column in the Guardian about it as she went, and it was there that she had an idea for a novel set in the world of backpackers in Asia. This became Backpack, which won the WH Smith New Talent Award. She has since written eleven more adult novels published in the UK and around the world, and a novella, Blackout, for the Quick Reads series. Her twelfth novel, The Sleeper, is a psychological thriller set on the London to Cornwall sleeper train.
In 2013 she went to Svalbard with the idea of setting a thriller in the Arctic. The book that came out of it was The One Memory of Flora Banks, a thriller for young adults, which attracted universal interest from publishers before being bought pre-emptively by Penguin earlier this year. It will be published globally in January 2017.
She lives in Cornwall with her partner and their children.

Reviews

[✧ iva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand what this story tried to convey dealing with domestic and emotional abuse and it did a good job until a certain point

just was annoyed with the mc at some part .. v infuriating

it was still hard to care about the plot bc the writing style was not that compelling

while I did care about the whole Venice part and would have liked finding out more here Venice gotta be the most overhyped city like ever

so didn’t do that much for me

and the love story right after leaving her abusive and way OLDER bf with another girl she just met idk seemed very rushed tbh ..

maybe some much needed healing first… right??

felt like it was used to tick the queer love story box in this book

the different „dimensions“ were interesting but weren’t talked about further

all in all didn’t feel any particular motivation to finish this book which speaks for itself

[Emma Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favourite books of the year, despite, unfortunately, finishing the book after posting my 2024 recap... because it easily should have been up there with my top ten.

I'm a big fan of Emily Barr's YA work, despite having not tried any of her adult books yet, and I knew this one wouldn't disappoint. Hazy, intriguing and beautifully told, the book flirts with the afterlife and the unseen, the world of dreams and secrets, a purgatory state once everything becomes clear.

I love books with dual timelines - they feel so much more complex and layered, somehow - and this one, with its jumping between London/Kent and the beautiful city of Venice, was perfect. Both settings felt rich and varied, with Hazel's altered state clear; I loved the way she was portrayed as fractured, broken, through her shifting memories and time lapses, an almost drunk state. Just beautiful.

Emily Barr writes YA with a sort of simplistic complexity, creating characters who deal with explicit human emotions in an unbelievably teenage way. I loved the way her relationship with Freddie was portrayed. I loved Enzo and Phoebe. I loved the twist, the heartbreak. I didn't want to put the book down.

If you're looking for books to read in 2025, make sure you add this one to your list. Utter perfection.

[Victória · Rating 4 out of 5]

senti todas as emoções e fiquei com vontade de ir a Veneza
4.75⭐

[Kaat · Rating 4 out of 5]

how does this book have less than 100 reviews??? it's not the best book i've ever read but it does deserve ALOT more than this.

I def recommend it, although you might want to check some trigger warnings
(mainly abusive relationships, eating disorder, loss of loved ones)

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

wtf.. Loved it

[mima van eck · Rating 5 out of 5]

An actually UNREAL book 5/5

[Leyla K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, definitely my favourite read this year so far.
I enjoyed the way that the more heavy themes of this book were treated with respect and realism.

[Chevonn (All the books and I) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a review copy of this fascinating and intriguing book. I read the synopsis and was instantly interested in the story that lay in the pages of this book.

So, to be quite frank, when I started this book, I struggled a bit to get into it! And then for the next 70% of the book, I really was quite confused - although I was trying very hard to keep up with everything and wracking my brain to try and figure out what could be going on. We constantly move between two perspectives: Cambridge in 2022 and Venice in 2024 and it's really tough to figure out what's real and what's not - as you get a sense early on that some of it can't be real.

We meet Hazel, who is 15 years old, who meets a rock star musician called Freddie, who she falls crazy in love with. But what starts out as a beautiful, happy relationship quickly turns eerie and toxic. See, the problem is that Freddie is 10 years older than Hazel! 🤨 We all know that it's never a good idea for a teen to be in a relationship with a 20-something!

This story definitely had an interesting premise. Despite being pretty confused, I was really intrigued. Once I sat down and gave this book a decent chance, I could not put it down. I needed to know what happens next! I felt really bad for Hazel throughout this book, despite her stupid decisions ❤️‍🩹

There's a very good exploration of how we can damage the rest of our lives in the pursuit of a relationship we know is not good for us. It's captured so incredibly well in this book. I also really appreciated Hazel's amazing friends and family who tried to give her her space, while also letting her know they are there for her whenever she needs them ♥️ They never stopped worrying about her.

Admittedly, this is a tough read with an interesting concept I've never encountered before in quite this way - the author calls it "the in between" or the "deep down". But I can definitely see how our minds could create this scenario to help us deal with a great deal of trauma and stress.

Overall, an intriguing read. I was captivated and moved and horrified and relieved and heartbroken. I will probably think of this book for a while to come. Oh and I forgot to mention how Venice is described in such beautiful detail that it's easy to see it in your mind and literally watch the story unfold in UHD 😅

I would recommend this read to those looking for something different that is emotional. But I must just warn that this book does cover many topics that could be triggering, such as death of a loved one, abuse, toxic relationships, alcoholism and eating disorders.

[Rhya Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its very difficult to surmise Emily Barr's new novel without giving too many spoilers, so definitely think this is book that people need to go into with an open mind so that they can experience the story for themselves. The dual timeline of past and present, makes for a very interesting read. I did find that at times it was difficult to follow the storyline due to the various sub stories unfolding however this is no disrespect to the amazing content that it covered.

The novel presents a number of issues and themes such as abuse in a relationships, sexuality, loyalty, eating disorders and Hazel trying to find her true self. The introduction of the topics makes the novel very unique and not something that I've experienced previously. The novel was a mash up of various genres such as romance and thriller, which I really enjoyed.

I did however feel that there were some elements that were missing and would have liked more of an understanding of the characters personal development towards the end. Despite this I would recommend this novel and look forward to reading more of Emily Barr's creations in the future.

[Hexenwelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite well done in its plot, although I had to get used to the writing style, which felt clumpy at times.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Arc)

My brain was utterly confused for 80% of this book so sadly that did ruin my reading experience of this book - I'm not big brained enough for the intricate layers this book came with. I've never read a novel by Emily Barr before so I didn't really know what to expect from this but I did enjoy the writing style so I would be willing to give another novel by hers a shot.

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so emotional and moving. It deals with trauma and abuse in a very sensitive way. Hazel goes through alot during this book and I’m so glad she had her friends to support her even if it didnt end how anyone could’ve expected.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that this author writes a different book every time. I went in thinking it was about one thing, but it's also about something else.

It's twisty and you shouldn't be spoiled. But it's also a tough read.

[Febe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had really mixed feelings with this book and was very confused for the biggest part of it. However, the last few chapters really hit me emotionally, which doesn’t happen often, so I will give it a 4 for that.

[milliereadsalot]

DNF at 35%.

I think the story would have been a lot stronger if the whole magical realism aspect hadn't been a part of it, and it had focused on the abusive relationship, because it was constantly being taken out of one storyline and into another without feeling any real cohesiveness.

[Marije · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 ⭐️, ik ben zo in de war van dit boek, in het begin moeilijk door te komen maar op het einde wil je wel even verder lezen

[Emma Neven · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

[Yara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

[jaci · Rating 3 out of 5]

mixed feelings…
3.5

[Leonie Spitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Buch ist ganz anders als ich mir vorgestellt hab, gleichzeitig magisch und super real (falls das Sinn ergibt?). Hab ein bisschen geweint.

[Emma Deprez · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish it. I’m not quite sure it convinced me. It tackles a serious topic, but the way it was done wasn’t really my favourite. That said, the story kept me guessing about how it would end, which was a plus. Still, I wouldn’t recommend it 100%.

[Marleen Serdijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Girl Can Dream by Emily Barr is a well-written novel with an engaging dual-timeline structure (sometimes a little bit chaotic). While the story kept my attention, I was SO frustrated by the subtle red flags around Freddie's character. It was precisely because his behavior was so subtly portrayed that it irritated me so much. But oh well... the irritation made the book better.

The portrayal of strong friendships was a highlight, but the plot was somewhat predictable. I give this book four stars. It’s worth reading, but it does have its flaws.

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Was extremely annoyed at first but surprisingly liked it quite a bit in the end

[Vhairi · Rating 5 out of 5]

if i could give this book 6 stars..i would. this book is so so so so GOOD i will love it forever i want to frame every single page in an art gallery that is what it deserves

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a mindbendingly excellent read.

Seventeen-year-old Hazel wakes up in Venice - she's not quite sure how she got there, but her adopted brother Enzo and best friend Phoebe are there too. She does know she's been through a deeply traumatic time, so it's no wonder she's feeling a bit weird. However, things are set to get weirder. What's real and what isn't? Why does time keep jumping? Why don't their phones work? What's the significance of the glass bird Hazel buys from a street vendor in a Doctor Who T-shirt? It's deeply confusing, but in a good way.

The narrative follows Hazel through her time in Venice, but we concurrently learn about the period leading up to it, beginning when a then fifteen-year-old Hazel meets the man who will, unfortunately, define her life for a long time. It's no spoiler, as it's obvious to everyone except Hazel, to say that Freddie is a creep of the first water, even if he is handsome and in a band. For a start, he's twenty-six to her fifteen, and there's no way that story ends well. She may seem naive, but she's fifteen/sixteen while all this is going on so it's no wonder.

This was a thoroughly engaging and intriguing read - I liked the characters, particularly Enzo and Phoebe (not Freddie, obviously). E. and P. are darlings and exactly the people you want around you. Freddie, you want as far away as possible.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advance copy- I loved it.

[Katka Adamcová · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely destroyed me, in the best way possible.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 Stars)

Have you ever been on vacation, thinking you’re escaping your past, only to realise that the universe is playing a trick on you, and your past is coming back in the weirdest possible way?

A girl can dream by Emily Barr is exactly that kind of mind-bending adventure that pulls you between two timelines, one in Venice, 2024, and the other in England, 2022, where mystery, love, and trauma intertwine to keep you hooked page after page. Think of it as a whirlwind romance with a huge twist, topped off with a dash of eerie suspense. Oh, and it’s got a lot of deja vu.


Hazel is trying to find herself again. After escaping a toxic, controlling relationship with Freddie, a much older, manipulative boyfriend, Hazel embarks on a spontaneous trip to Venice in 2024 with her stepbrother Enzo and best friend Phoebe. A well-deserved getaway to forget her past and breathe freely, right? Wrong. Because once she arrives in Venice, things get weird, not only does she keep spotting a girl with beautiful, haunting eyes, but the encounters are eerily familiar. It’s as though she’s reliving some part of her past she didn’t even know was there. Cue the creeping unease and a slow unraveling of the truth.

While Hazel tries to ignore the mounting strangeness around her, we are also transported to a flashback two years earlier, to 2022. Back in England, Hazel’s life seemed so normal, she was just a teenage girl, going to concerts, hanging out with friends, and meeting the charming lead singer of a local band. Freddie, older and mysterious, quickly swoops in and sweeps Hazel off her feet. What starts as an exciting whirlwind romance turns dark faster than a cup of spilled coffee.

What I Loved

1. Dual Timeline – Suspenseful and Engaging
If you love dual timelines (I do!) then Love Story and Un-Love Story will be your next obsession. Barr flips between Hazel’s life in Venice and her life in England seamlessly. The contrast between the idyllic, sun-soaked Venice and the grim realities of Hazel’s past creates a compelling tension. The pace quickens as the reader (and Hazel) unravels the mystery of the girl with the strange eyes and tries to piece together how it all connects to her tragic relationship with Freddie. It’s a slow burn that’s dripping with suspense, just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Barr throws in another twist to keep you guessing.

2. Complex Characters & Raw Emotions
Hazel is the heart of this story. At first, she might seem like just another girl on a journey of self-discovery, but the layers of her character reveal deep emotional struggles. She’s a relatable character with flaws, uncertainty, and a sense of vulnerability that’s hard to ignore. Enzo and Phoebe, the supportive and funny travel companions, balance out the intensity of Hazel’s internal conflicts. And then there’s Freddie….oh, Freddie. If you’ve ever been in a relationship where everything seemed perfect at first, only to realise you’ve been duped, you’ll understand why Freddie is so terrifyingly real.

3. Haunting and Beautiful Atmosphere
Venice is the perfect setting for a mystery-thriller. The picturesque canals and centuries-old architecture add a layer of intrigue and eeriness to the story. Barr’s writing paints Venice as both a magical escape and a place where dark things happen behind the glossy tourist façade. The city itself almost feels like a character, one that is beautiful but dangerous, hiding secrets in its winding streets. The atmosphere is rich, making you feel like you’re walking through Venice with Hazel, experiencing all the goosebumps she feels when something just isn’t right.

4. The Love Story (and the Un-Love Story)
This isn’t just a romance, it’s the romance that gets tangled up in obsessive love, trauma, and complicated feelings. The tension between Hazel and Freddie is palpable, and it’s hard not to get emotionally invested in their destructive relationship. But the real kicker? The shifting dynamics between Hazel and the girl in Venice. What is real? What’s in her head? Are these connections from the past, or is the universe just playing cruel tricks? Barr has a way of pulling at your emotions, especially when it comes to unrequited love, trauma, and the twisted way we’re often drawn to what’s bad for us.

The Twist – Oh, That Twist!
Without giving too much away, the twist at the end is as delicious as it is unexpected. I loved how Barr takes her readers through the emotional wringer only to pull the rug out from under us at the last moment. The ending leaves you questioning everything, did Hazel’s trauma cloud her perception? Or is there something more sinister afoot? I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say, you’ll want to re-read the last chapter, just to pick up on all the subtle hints Barr laid down throughout the story.

Why You Should Read It
If you enjoy stories that mix mystery, romance, and psychological twists with a dollop of paranormal intrigue, then A girl can dream by Emily Barr is calling your name.

It’s perfect for fans of dark, complex relationships, those who love twisty thrillers with romance on the side, and readers who crave endings that leave them thinking for days. Whether you’re chasing that what’s-really-happening feeling or you just want to read a romance that makes you gasp, Emily Barr delivers it all in this page-turner.

[anthracinus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this one.

I wouldn't say it's CoHo bad, but still, it wasn't what I expected it to be.

The plot was okay-ish. Sometimes, it felt very forced, especially when it came to Kam and Haz. The romance was so unnecessarily fast-paced. I just wish Barr wouldn't have rushed it that much. At the same time, the plot twist in the end made it make sense (somehow). It explained the weird relationship building in some way, but I can't really figure out if it was on purpose or not. That leads me to the aspect I absolutely HATED about this book.

Figurative speech, grammar, and writing.

The first thing I wanted to do when I read the first few pages was to throw this book against a wall and never pick it up again (to put it lightly). The writing was so bad. Like - how many sentences do you want to start with "I"? Now, don't come at me. I know what an anaphora is, but this was too much. It, again, didn't even feel intentional. Also, there are different ways of combining two sentences without using "and" OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I don't believe myself to be a picky reader, but I was never so annoyed by a writing style before (and that's saying something, cause I read three CoHo books). I wouldn't even lie by saying some wattpad books had better writing than this one. I think you get it.

Another thing I'd like to criticise about this book is its genre. Barr described it as a thriller romance, but I can't seem to find the 'thriller' part. I've read a couple of thrillers myself (I might or might not be heavily obsessed with them), and I'm telling you this book is not a thriller. I'd say it has SOME sci-fi characteristics, but that's it. Maybe there's a difference between 'thriller' and 'thriller-romance'?? If there actually is, please tell me, because I'm confused.

Still, I'm quite conflicted with my rating. I thought of giving it two stars (cause of the named reasons), but the plot somewhat caught my interest. It wasn't that extraordinary, but I liked the twist in the end, although it wasn't that hard to figure it out before it was revealed.

Well, I can't really say if I'd recommend it or not, but that might also be because of my low amount of sleep, lol. If you like the representation of abusive relationships and the journey of healing from them with a mix of some queer action (no smut, dw -> or do, if you were looking for some), found family (not really, but kinda) and the mc struggling with herself, I'd say: go for it.

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this book with my girlfriend and right from the beginning we were a bit scared of what to come when there was a typo on one of the first few pages. What followed unfortunately confirmed our doubts about this book and we kept reading in hopes to change our minds but that never happened . Oh man !

I’d like to say that I do understand the direction she was going and the vision that she had for it. However, I just couldn’t enjoy the writing style and my gf and I had predicted the ending less than a quarter way into the book. Maybe it would have been more appealing if we hadn’t guessed what was going on, but even right down to the fate of certain characters we got it all right and it was just a let down to sit at the end going … Well damn .! We could have just DNF’d!

I think that my biggest issue with this book is the way the abuse was written - along with the queer love story in it. I pretty much exclusively read queer books but I think this book would have been better without the queer love story. It felt extremely rushed and like it was just thrown in to draw in a queer audience and that space could have been used to further strengthen the themes that she was going for.

As for the abuse storyline, my main issue is that it just never seemed to have any positives to it - not that there needed to be a crazy amount to romanticise it, i just felt like there should have been SOMETHING to make it feel like Hazel had a reason to stay. Freddie was an asshole right from the start and never really gave Hazel the means to stay other than that one song with lyrics that just seemed to also kinda suck. Maybe i’m just a man hating lesbian but I also just pictured him to be ugly and that probably didn’t help . Even if the reason to stay was just Hazel being obsessed with Freddie before everything happened would have made this stronger to me, but Hazel liking Lena seemed like another way that the author tried to be like LOOK ITS QUEER!

the characters all kinda were just super uninteresting to me and i am an enzo hater. gf and i cheered when we thought he died . god damn enzo was annoying . hazel too . phoebe was ok but she didn’t have much of a plot point other than being a mediator .

All in all wasn’t the worst book out there but definitely have ones that we’ve enjoyed more. I think it might be better for a younger audience, maybe the issue is just that i’m 21 reading a book about teens. Oh well! Respect for the effort though!

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐
You light a candle to pray for someone, and praying can come in many forms.
- Hazel -

!Trigger Warnings!
This story is though and really heartbreaking, dealing with the topic of abuse, emotional healing and some suprises. In two timelines we follow young Hazel, who gets lured into an abusive relationship with someone way older and the outcome is so awful, but so realistic and a daily problem in our society, still! I liked the Venice/after break up timeline more, because Hazel's situaion is manipulating and confusing me as a reader. She is an unreliable narrator, because of her really bad mental health and point of view. We follow her and that leads to incredible unpredictable plot twist, that left me truly speechless! In the end everything rounds up.

Hazel has my heart and is such an amazing, admiring person to follow through this story. She is so young and deals with unspeakable shit. Her personality is shown brilliantly and in detail. For example her love for art is reflected in her descriptions of Venice. „It looks like paint-brushes" Her friendship and family consolation (dad!!) is everything to me and I love (cried) the ending!!

Even though these topics are hard to read, it's soooo important and needs more representation. Especially in march. Women's month! Fighting for womens rights, especially against violence from men. Such a well written and important book! Words have a power than can hardly be compared to anything else. That's probably why I love dark academia and their twisted stories so much!! A surprising favourite of the year!