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Once Upon a Time in Dollywood
A playwright must grapple with her difficult year and writer’s block while falling for the single dad living next door in this emotional debut novel from Ashley Jordan.
Eve Ambroise may be a rising star playwright, but her personal life is falling part. Desperate for a fresh start, she breaks up with her fiancé, cuts off her parents, and heads to the Tennessee mountains. But keeping up the lie that she’s just on a writing retreat becomes near impossible when faced with the well-meaning townspeople and a neighbor who has just as much baggage as she has.
Coming off a contentious custody battle, Jamie Gallagher is restructuring what his life looks like as a single dad, and spending more days at his cabin makes his new “free time” a little less empty. Especially when he meets the beautiful—and prickly—woman next door. The last thing he needs is a new romance to shake up his family dynamics even more, but there’s something about Eve.
What starts out as a fling quickly becomes more serious, and it’s not long before Eve is running scared once again. She’s loved and lost in every possible way, and risking it one more time could finally break her. But like the fireflies that fill the mountains around them, Jamie’s and Eve’s lives keep falling into sync. A fairy-tale ending could be in the cards, but only if the new couple can get out of their heads and put their hearts first.
Eve Ambroise may be a rising star playwright, but her personal life is falling part. Desperate for a fresh start, she breaks up with her fiancé, cuts off her parents, and heads to the Tennessee mountains. But keeping up the lie that she’s just on a writing retreat becomes near impossible when faced with the well-meaning townspeople and a neighbor who has just as much baggage as she has.
Coming off a contentious custody battle, Jamie Gallagher is restructuring what his life looks like as a single dad, and spending more days at his cabin makes his new “free time” a little less empty. Especially when he meets the beautiful—and prickly—woman next door. The last thing he needs is a new romance to shake up his family dynamics even more, but there’s something about Eve.
What starts out as a fling quickly becomes more serious, and it’s not long before Eve is running scared once again. She’s loved and lost in every possible way, and risking it one more time could finally break her. But like the fireflies that fill the mountains around them, Jamie’s and Eve’s lives keep falling into sync. A fairy-tale ending could be in the cards, but only if the new couple can get out of their heads and put their hearts first.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2025
887 people are currently reading
22486 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Jordan
1 book186 followersAshley Jordan (she/her) is a millennial from Atlanta by way of Brooklyn. She attended Spelman College, obtaining a degree in Psychology and a lifelong love and appreciation for women’s stories. While she currently works in public health, she has embraced writing as a hobby since penning her first short story in second grade. When Ashley isn't at the day job or writing, she is either at a Beyoncé concert, rewatching Mad Men, or arguing about basketball with anyone who will listen. In 2023, she became a Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 705 reviews
June 15, 2025
“You’re not just a fantasy.”
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is another five-star read for me. When I say Jamie and Eve had me giggling while also giving me heart-wrenching comfort? I mean it. Ashley Jordan beautifully captures how love is often an arduous journey—and how we frequently bring our own unresolved trauma into relationships. Healing, growth, and even therapy are sometimes necessary before we can fully love ourselves and others. Relationships take work, and in BIPOC households, that work can look very different.
One quote that stayed with me:
“Black folks rarely got to concern themselves with their version of happy. Didn’t ask for much beyond safety, financial stability, and family. Black happiness was too often rooted in plain old survival.”
This line hit me hard—and it's one of many that showcases Jordan’s deft exploration of generational trauma, love, and joy.
It's rare to find romance novels where communication is prioritized and the characters actually behave like adults. But Jamie and Eve do. You witness them grow—not perfectly, but honestly. Mistakes are made, but you stick around because they're worth it. This isn’t an easy love story, and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.
I laughed. I cried. And I absolutely adored that Eve came from a Haitian family. Huge props to Ashley for how she also delves into the ways faith can be weaponized “in the best interest” of a community, while ultimately causing more harm than healing.
With Once Upon a Time in Dollywood being associated with Reese’s Book Club, I know many eyes will be on Ashley Jordan. My one request to readers? Go into this book wholeheartedly and blindly. Let it move you. From New York to Tennessee the locale was lush. And yes, the nods to Dollywood were present.
My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC. This book has been on my radar for a while, and I’m so glad I got to read an early copy. Out later this summer—don’t miss it!
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is another five-star read for me. When I say Jamie and Eve had me giggling while also giving me heart-wrenching comfort? I mean it. Ashley Jordan beautifully captures how love is often an arduous journey—and how we frequently bring our own unresolved trauma into relationships. Healing, growth, and even therapy are sometimes necessary before we can fully love ourselves and others. Relationships take work, and in BIPOC households, that work can look very different.
One quote that stayed with me:
“Black folks rarely got to concern themselves with their version of happy. Didn’t ask for much beyond safety, financial stability, and family. Black happiness was too often rooted in plain old survival.”
This line hit me hard—and it's one of many that showcases Jordan’s deft exploration of generational trauma, love, and joy.
It's rare to find romance novels where communication is prioritized and the characters actually behave like adults. But Jamie and Eve do. You witness them grow—not perfectly, but honestly. Mistakes are made, but you stick around because they're worth it. This isn’t an easy love story, and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful.
I laughed. I cried. And I absolutely adored that Eve came from a Haitian family. Huge props to Ashley for how she also delves into the ways faith can be weaponized “in the best interest” of a community, while ultimately causing more harm than healing.
With Once Upon a Time in Dollywood being associated with Reese’s Book Club, I know many eyes will be on Ashley Jordan. My one request to readers? Go into this book wholeheartedly and blindly. Let it move you. From New York to Tennessee the locale was lush. And yes, the nods to Dollywood were present.
My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC. This book has been on my radar for a while, and I’m so glad I got to read an early copy. Out later this summer—don’t miss it!
August 20, 2025
Absolutely loved it. Layers and depth and love and hurt and sadness and fear and courage and joy and becoming. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 6, 2025
Thanks so much to Berkley Publishing Group for the free book! #BerkleyPartner
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is an ambitiously deep and compelling debut.
Eve and Jamie are two people drawn to each other in extremely challenging times in their lives and they're able to plant the seeds for a beautiful relationship that is not without its challenges. With that said, this is genuinely one of the most romantic books I've ever read simply for the fact that it is so incredibly romantic to be scared and fight to do the hard thing anyway, especially when it comes to learning to be loved for the first time in the way you know you deserve. Jamie is a single father learning boundaries with his ex and the mother of his child while he comes into his own, and Eve is grieving multiple losses while birthing the career she wants to have doing the work she wants to do.
I will say that this book contains multitudes in terms of the spectrum of how Jamie and Eve relate to one another. In the same way they are both capable of loving one another in the way they need, they are also capable of hurting each other deeply. I actually really enjoyed the messiness of this; the necessity of sitting in your wrongness and correcting harm done in order to heal and move on.
I loved Eve's journey with therapy. I loved the way Eve got to be messy and imperfect and unlikable and then claw her way out of that while someone gave her the space and grace to grow. I loved the way Jamie was a solid, good man, and that he didn't pretend to fully understand Eve's plight as a Black woman, but remained committed to being there by her side to support her.
I laughed, I cried. I held my heart and ached for Black womanhood, Black motherhood, and the secrets family forces you to keep. I loved Eve being in her mid-thirties and still figuring it out.
Ashley Jordan's writing is beautiful, engaging, and breathtakingly bold. This is a story that needed telling.
5 ⭐️s
1.5 🌶️
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is an ambitiously deep and compelling debut.
Eve and Jamie are two people drawn to each other in extremely challenging times in their lives and they're able to plant the seeds for a beautiful relationship that is not without its challenges. With that said, this is genuinely one of the most romantic books I've ever read simply for the fact that it is so incredibly romantic to be scared and fight to do the hard thing anyway, especially when it comes to learning to be loved for the first time in the way you know you deserve. Jamie is a single father learning boundaries with his ex and the mother of his child while he comes into his own, and Eve is grieving multiple losses while birthing the career she wants to have doing the work she wants to do.
I will say that this book contains multitudes in terms of the spectrum of how Jamie and Eve relate to one another. In the same way they are both capable of loving one another in the way they need, they are also capable of hurting each other deeply. I actually really enjoyed the messiness of this; the necessity of sitting in your wrongness and correcting harm done in order to heal and move on.
I loved Eve's journey with therapy. I loved the way Eve got to be messy and imperfect and unlikable and then claw her way out of that while someone gave her the space and grace to grow. I loved the way Jamie was a solid, good man, and that he didn't pretend to fully understand Eve's plight as a Black woman, but remained committed to being there by her side to support her.
I laughed, I cried. I held my heart and ached for Black womanhood, Black motherhood, and the secrets family forces you to keep. I loved Eve being in her mid-thirties and still figuring it out.
Ashley Jordan's writing is beautiful, engaging, and breathtakingly bold. This is a story that needed telling.
5 ⭐️s
1.5 🌶️
August 16, 2025
I absolutely hated this book. (I will never again trust a Reese Witherspoon opinion on books.) The main characters were so obnoxiously introspective, it really made me sick. The graphic sex descriptions were gross and unnecessary. This book was a waste of money and time. Characters were thrown in for certain effects, and it was disgusting.
I didn’t even want to give one star, and this author needs a different profession.
I didn’t even want to give one star, and this author needs a different profession.
August 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ | Ashley Jordan definitely unpacked a lot in this story and took us on an emotional roller coaster. She dove into some series topics such as childhood traumas and complicated parental relationships, yet at the same time gave us characters like Maya for some comic relief. It was simply a perfect mixture of emotions.
I don’t think there will be a single person that was not rooting for Eve and Jamie’s love story to blossom. When these two damaged souls collided, I could definitely feel the chemistry through the pages. It truly showed how people should take the time and heal to try and prevent past emotional traumas to follow you into your future relationships. Eve had so many layers to peel back and I absolutely love how Ashley showed us in this book that sometimes “it’s ok to not be ok.” I absolutely loved Eve and Maya’s relationship, and Maya is simply that friend that everyone needs..
I don’t even know where to start with Jamie. He was simply too good for those that did not appreciate him. Literally the best man, despite his own past traumas that have also followed him from childhood. He has definitely made the book bae & super dad list.
I don’t know how personal this story was to this author, but it definitely felt personal as the emotions radiated throughout the story. It’s not often that a story makes you fall in love with the main characters and the supporting characters. I also loved Casey, his bluntness and caring demeanor was a highlight for me.
Being a Tennessee resident, it was so cool to hear about all these cities that I am very familiar with and a lot of the story took place where I live now.
I enjoyed the narrators in the audiobook, the dual narration was excellent! Especially during those moments as they were texting back-and-forth & each narrator spoke as though they were truly having a conversation. Matt Haynes & Adenrele Ojo did a phenomenal job bringing life to the characters in this story.
Overall and simply put, a really great, emotional, and unforgettable read. The only thing I would have loved to see was maybe an epilogue about a year or so later. However, the author definitely gave enough for readers to have an idea of how things turned out. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Random House Audio and NetGalley for the advanced reader & listening copies. All opinions are my own.
Publication 🗓️ : 08.05.25
I don’t think there will be a single person that was not rooting for Eve and Jamie’s love story to blossom. When these two damaged souls collided, I could definitely feel the chemistry through the pages. It truly showed how people should take the time and heal to try and prevent past emotional traumas to follow you into your future relationships. Eve had so many layers to peel back and I absolutely love how Ashley showed us in this book that sometimes “it’s ok to not be ok.” I absolutely loved Eve and Maya’s relationship, and Maya is simply that friend that everyone needs..
I don’t even know where to start with Jamie. He was simply too good for those that did not appreciate him. Literally the best man, despite his own past traumas that have also followed him from childhood. He has definitely made the book bae & super dad list.
I don’t know how personal this story was to this author, but it definitely felt personal as the emotions radiated throughout the story. It’s not often that a story makes you fall in love with the main characters and the supporting characters. I also loved Casey, his bluntness and caring demeanor was a highlight for me.
Being a Tennessee resident, it was so cool to hear about all these cities that I am very familiar with and a lot of the story took place where I live now.
I enjoyed the narrators in the audiobook, the dual narration was excellent! Especially during those moments as they were texting back-and-forth & each narrator spoke as though they were truly having a conversation. Matt Haynes & Adenrele Ojo did a phenomenal job bringing life to the characters in this story.
Overall and simply put, a really great, emotional, and unforgettable read. The only thing I would have loved to see was maybe an epilogue about a year or so later. However, the author definitely gave enough for readers to have an idea of how things turned out. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Random House Audio and NetGalley for the advanced reader & listening copies. All opinions are my own.
Publication 🗓️ : 08.05.25
August 7, 2025
This one was not for me. Didn’t love the tropes nor the chemistry. I wanted to love it because I was excited about the mental health representation. I think the MMC not having a southern accent bothered me a bit. He was supposed to be from Gatlinburg, TN.
October 13, 2025
4.5/5
gorgeous cover, gorgeous writing, amazing all around!!
it doesn't take much to get me excited for a book, with a cover life this, a synopsis revolving a playwright and a single dad, plus mental health representation, i was excited from the beginning! and now i can happily report that the book was spectacular and everyone should read it. this is a debut people, A DEBUT, and it truly blew me away. i felt so much for all of our characters and i was glued to these pages, waiting for their happy ending!
eve is going through a lot, her relationship is over, she's struggling mentally, and she has past traumas that never healed. following her through this book and seeing her grow, get healthy, fall in love, i was overjoyed. all i wanted was the best for her and jamie really was that, i adore them!! i also adored how jamie had his own life and his own things to overcome before the two could be this happy family. i think both characters were so well rounded which made it so easy to root for them. the communication felt so perfect, so real. yes they have their moments of weakness but they know how to speak to each other and how to love each other, i need so many happy epilogues with them traveling with jack now!!
obviously i adored this book and i can't wait to see what this author comes up with next but i couldn't rate it five stars and it's a me problem. my personal reading taste doesn't like when things get resolved in the very last chapter. an epilogue, earlier resolution, ten more pages, any of these things would've helped me love the ending more. eve's growth was a 5/5 though and it was written with such care.
please pick this up if you're looking for an emotional romance with personal growth that will make you feel like you also need to go back to therapy...
gorgeous cover, gorgeous writing, amazing all around!!
it doesn't take much to get me excited for a book, with a cover life this, a synopsis revolving a playwright and a single dad, plus mental health representation, i was excited from the beginning! and now i can happily report that the book was spectacular and everyone should read it. this is a debut people, A DEBUT, and it truly blew me away. i felt so much for all of our characters and i was glued to these pages, waiting for their happy ending!
eve is going through a lot, her relationship is over, she's struggling mentally, and she has past traumas that never healed. following her through this book and seeing her grow, get healthy, fall in love, i was overjoyed. all i wanted was the best for her and jamie really was that, i adore them!! i also adored how jamie had his own life and his own things to overcome before the two could be this happy family. i think both characters were so well rounded which made it so easy to root for them. the communication felt so perfect, so real. yes they have their moments of weakness but they know how to speak to each other and how to love each other, i need so many happy epilogues with them traveling with jack now!!
obviously i adored this book and i can't wait to see what this author comes up with next but i couldn't rate it five stars and it's a me problem. my personal reading taste doesn't like when things get resolved in the very last chapter. an epilogue, earlier resolution, ten more pages, any of these things would've helped me love the ending more. eve's growth was a 5/5 though and it was written with such care.
please pick this up if you're looking for an emotional romance with personal growth that will make you feel like you also need to go back to therapy...
November 2, 2025
I’m sad about this one. I tried to rally empathy for Eve and get behind the romance. She’s hard to like and I didn’t feel the chemistry between Jamie and Eve. This was a spicy trauma dump. Overall, not for me, but I’d read this author again. Liked the book over audio… I DID love the setting in the Smoky Mountains!
August 23, 2025
Sometimes I wonder how certain books are able to be published and this is one of them…It feels like the author did voice to text and no one edited this book. I am disappointed in this Reese Witherspoon pick. And I feel like I might scream if I see “wanna” instead of want to… and all the other weird grammar.
Especially disappointing because I grew up in Knoxville TN and going to Gatlinburg and the Smokies. I bought this book for my friends I’m going on a girls trip with in the Smokies and now I’m embarrassed of this pick.
I don’t even know what the real plot is here. Of course you feel bad for Eve- but she’s such an a$$hole. And does Jamie only like her because of how “beautiful” she is? Which is mentioned so much in the book.
I don’t recommend this one.
Especially disappointing because I grew up in Knoxville TN and going to Gatlinburg and the Smokies. I bought this book for my friends I’m going on a girls trip with in the Smokies and now I’m embarrassed of this pick.
I don’t even know what the real plot is here. Of course you feel bad for Eve- but she’s such an a$$hole. And does Jamie only like her because of how “beautiful” she is? Which is mentioned so much in the book.
I don’t recommend this one.
August 26, 2025
This was emotional whiplash😭😩 but we did get a happy ending
Read
August 5, 2025
The Best New Books of August in Every Genre:
As a rising playwright, Eve Ambroise's professional life may be the only thing going half-way decently for her. That's probably why she, after breaking up with her fiancé and cutting off her parents, dips out to the Tennessee mountains to start over. She's there under the guise of being on a writing retreat, but that lie can only hold up for so long. Especially when it comes up against concerned townspeople and a neighbor who also has some things to work through. Speaking of that neighbor—Jamie Gallagher—he's just come off a nasty custody battle, and is still figuring out what his life looks like as a single father. Spending time in his cabin helps...and so does spending time with the new pretty lady who moved in next door, prickly as she is. So Eve and Jamie start messing around, but what's meant to be a little fling gets serious and has Eve ducking and dodging again. —Erica Ezeifedi
As a rising playwright, Eve Ambroise's professional life may be the only thing going half-way decently for her. That's probably why she, after breaking up with her fiancé and cutting off her parents, dips out to the Tennessee mountains to start over. She's there under the guise of being on a writing retreat, but that lie can only hold up for so long. Especially when it comes up against concerned townspeople and a neighbor who also has some things to work through. Speaking of that neighbor—Jamie Gallagher—he's just come off a nasty custody battle, and is still figuring out what his life looks like as a single father. Spending time in his cabin helps...and so does spending time with the new pretty lady who moved in next door, prickly as she is. So Eve and Jamie start messing around, but what's meant to be a little fling gets serious and has Eve ducking and dodging again. —Erica Ezeifedi
September 20, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🎥Millennial author Ashley Jordan is a debut author and her first novel attracted the attention of the world-famous Reese’s Book Club. An emotional book filled with heart, life, love and difficult decisions, this is bol female centred first novel from a new writer.
🎥I picked Ashley Jordan’s first release up because it was last month’s Reese Witherspoon's Book Club selection. I opted to listen this this on audio as I wasn’t able to source a physical copy. The audiobook version is narrated by a combination of voices that come from Adenrele Ojo, Matt Haynes, and Ashley Jordan herself, which added to the unfolding story.
🎥The main character Eve’s struggles as a woman with a past and her work as a playwright facing writer’s block really definitely kept me interested. Jordan uses her lead character’s employment to give the reader a glimpse into the creative process and the pressure places on writers who experience stalled ambition. This was definitely quite insightful and made me more aware of what immense pressure this career places on people.
🎥The Tennessee Mountains setting was a good part of the novel. This fresh and new to me backdrop offered me plenty of atmosphere and grounding to the narrative. The setting was quite original and the backdrop to the action gave the story a decent slant.
🎥Themes wise, Once upon a time in Dollywood touches on family dynamics, broken relationships, the search for peace, starting over, romance and loss. Past secrets, regrets, trauma and the challenge of moving forward all come together. Jordan explores risk, life choices, breakdown and protection within her narrative.
🎥In terms of the romance, I found the affair sequences involving Eve and her neighbour next door somewhat tempting, but I expected it to really carry me away and unfortunately it didn’t. So while I seemed to appreciate areas of this novel, the love story itself didn’t quite win me over (I think I went in with high expectations). It had the working elements but it didn't seem to take off for me.
That said, I still valued the emotional aspects, the risks made by the characters, their undoing and recovery along with the linked aspects of family, the past, confronting reality and the idea of personal growth.
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is a read that you should consider if you are a fan Reese’s picks, especially if you admire a female focussed discovery story.
🎥Millennial author Ashley Jordan is a debut author and her first novel attracted the attention of the world-famous Reese’s Book Club. An emotional book filled with heart, life, love and difficult decisions, this is bol female centred first novel from a new writer.
🎥I picked Ashley Jordan’s first release up because it was last month’s Reese Witherspoon's Book Club selection. I opted to listen this this on audio as I wasn’t able to source a physical copy. The audiobook version is narrated by a combination of voices that come from Adenrele Ojo, Matt Haynes, and Ashley Jordan herself, which added to the unfolding story.
🎥The main character Eve’s struggles as a woman with a past and her work as a playwright facing writer’s block really definitely kept me interested. Jordan uses her lead character’s employment to give the reader a glimpse into the creative process and the pressure places on writers who experience stalled ambition. This was definitely quite insightful and made me more aware of what immense pressure this career places on people.
🎥The Tennessee Mountains setting was a good part of the novel. This fresh and new to me backdrop offered me plenty of atmosphere and grounding to the narrative. The setting was quite original and the backdrop to the action gave the story a decent slant.
🎥Themes wise, Once upon a time in Dollywood touches on family dynamics, broken relationships, the search for peace, starting over, romance and loss. Past secrets, regrets, trauma and the challenge of moving forward all come together. Jordan explores risk, life choices, breakdown and protection within her narrative.
🎥In terms of the romance, I found the affair sequences involving Eve and her neighbour next door somewhat tempting, but I expected it to really carry me away and unfortunately it didn’t. So while I seemed to appreciate areas of this novel, the love story itself didn’t quite win me over (I think I went in with high expectations). It had the working elements but it didn't seem to take off for me.
That said, I still valued the emotional aspects, the risks made by the characters, their undoing and recovery along with the linked aspects of family, the past, confronting reality and the idea of personal growth.
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood is a read that you should consider if you are a fan Reese’s picks, especially if you admire a female focussed discovery story.
September 1, 2025
At first I felt very intrigued by this story, but the longer it went on, the more bored I became, and the more the main character grated on my nerves. I appreciate that she was a messy character, and it's not condoned by the story, because several characters call her out on it, but I still didn't like how mean she acted towards others, particularly the love interest. I debated DNFing a couple of times, but I stuck with it because I wanted to see how the story would end. This was definitely still worth finishing, because towards the end, some important conversations took place, leading to growth and healing, and that made the book a whole lot better. I just wish this had happened somewhat earlier in the book.
July 31, 2025
When I saw "Dollywood" in the title, I had to read it twice. Surely it was a typo & they meant Hollywood! 🤭 I loved how the setting mainly takes place in East (& Middle) Tennessee. It was fun seeing my city & surrounding areas mentioned.
This book was more than just a romance - it was about healing & grief. I do recommend checking the triggers before diving in. I loved how Eve's journey to happiness wasn't all glitter & gold. It was rugged & honest as we break down her hurtful past.
I liked how Jamie falls into her life right when she decides to seclude herself from her life's struggles by staying in Gatlinburg. He's her escape, but it pushes her to realize the bigger steps she must take to really live, love herself & move forward.
Such a beautiful story that is also deep & emotional! Even within that, there were a few laughs & things I wasn't expecting to happen during Eve's journey.
I'm looking forward to reading more from Ashley Jordan being that this is her debut. (Extra points from me because she thanks Beyoncé in her acknowledgements 🐝💅🏾)
Thank you to Ashley Jordan & Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️
This book was more than just a romance - it was about healing & grief. I do recommend checking the triggers before diving in. I loved how Eve's journey to happiness wasn't all glitter & gold. It was rugged & honest as we break down her hurtful past.
I liked how Jamie falls into her life right when she decides to seclude herself from her life's struggles by staying in Gatlinburg. He's her escape, but it pushes her to realize the bigger steps she must take to really live, love herself & move forward.
Such a beautiful story that is also deep & emotional! Even within that, there were a few laughs & things I wasn't expecting to happen during Eve's journey.
I'm looking forward to reading more from Ashley Jordan being that this is her debut. (Extra points from me because she thanks Beyoncé in her acknowledgements 🐝💅🏾)
Thank you to Ashley Jordan & Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️
August 27, 2025
What a stunner of a contemporary women’s novel.
October 8, 2025
Great book. Eve had so much that she had to process and work through. Very emotional with so much hurt, grief and sadness. Excited for future books from the author.
November 5, 2025
Utterly beautiful and emotional romance with complicated characters who are navigating love, not only with each other but loving themselves as well.
Whats to love…
- emotional depth for days
- heartbreaking and beautiful
- single dad MMC
- small-town vibes
- city girl FMC - a little prickly and hard to love (read: perfect)
- complex characters
- exploration of grief, self-discovery, and love
Whats not to love…
- I have a pretty low threshold for pop culture references and this unfortunately surpassed it.
This covers some pretty heavy topics so read with care and check your content warnings.
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Whats to love…
- emotional depth for days
- heartbreaking and beautiful
- single dad MMC
- small-town vibes
- city girl FMC - a little prickly and hard to love (read: perfect)
- complex characters
- exploration of grief, self-discovery, and love
Whats not to love…
- I have a pretty low threshold for pop culture references and this unfortunately surpassed it.
This covers some pretty heavy topics so read with care and check your content warnings.
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
August 19, 2025
Didn’t like Eve. Didn’t feel the connection between Eve and Jamie. Too long.
Reese steered me wrong.
Reese steered me wrong.
July 20, 2025
4.25 / this is ultimately a story that shows that grief, healing, and finding joy is not linear at all and that even the worst parts of (most of) us deserve love. once again, to be loved is to be seen and Ashley paints such a beautiful portrait of what love can look like in acts of service, perseverance, and patient. i thought this was a beautiful story that really started coming together at around 60% when i began rooting for the main couple. my only question is if this might’ve worked better in first person POV but idk anything about writing so take that with a grain of salt lol
August 3, 2025
This was an emotionally heavy debut interracial romance between a recently divorced single dad and a Black NYC playwright struggling from a recent breakup and a series of miscarriages. The character development in this book was REALLY strong - both MCs have a lot of baggage to work through and kind of lose themselves in a relationship of convenience when they find themselves unexpected neighbors in the remote Tennessee mountains. While I did find this a bit long, I was hoping for a little more levity in the romance but this book trended towards the heavy and serious which wasn't what I was looking for. It was good on audio and a very strong debut but it didn't quite hit the mark for my particular tastes even though I did appreciate the great mental health/therapy rep. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
June 7, 2025
Content Discussed: Infertility, Trauma, Grief
This book was an automatic 5 star read for me not even halfway through the book. Eve and Jamie are two characters who have been through massive amounts of shit in their lives and when they meet, it almost felt like fate. And I never could have guessed Dollywood to be so romantic as it is here.
Jamie is seemingly dealing with unprocessed rage and anger towards his mom for cheating on his dad in his young adult years, leaving him to step up for his younger brother. When Jamie’s own ex Lucy cheats- even though they have a child together- it seemingly amplifies that anger while also creating a soft spot for forgiveness.
Eve- or Evie for those who love her- has religious and familial trauma wrapped up with a nasty bow of infertility and hating the man she was with. When she leaves to escape another miscarriage and leaving her ex-fiance, Jamie magically appears.
I loved that this book delved into some really heavy topics in such a way that felt incredibly real and raw. The characters were immediately loveable and relateable, showed immense growth, and ultimately showed a real-world love story that I am happy to have experienced.
I appreciated Jordan’s attention to the details when it came to the intersections of race, class, religion, and familal makeup with both characters. Setting up Jamie’s character to look like a stereotypical MAGA man at the beginning really threw me for a loop and I thought I was going to dislike the character and his storyline, but the way that Jordan worked through his character’s backstory alongside Evie was absolutely amazing.
Similarly, though I know this book was set in a very specific time frame, I wish we had gotten more of Evie’s story from her college days at Spelman. We know her experiences in the South are a true mixed bag- especially with her grandmother and teen pregnancy- but I wished I would have been able to see some of the joy that Spelman and her found family brought to her after such a dark period in her life. Even if this book wasn’t showcasing that period of time, I do truly appreciate Jordan’s attention to detail and how she frames that period of Evie’s life without delving all the way into it.
The love that Eve & Jamie share is absolutely stunning, and I truthfully never imagined I would fall in love with the characters as much as I did. I truly hope Jordan continues this world of characters and their experiences together. I wholeheartedly believe that Ashley Jordan is going to be a best selling author when this book publishes, and I hope to continue seeing her work in the future.
Thank you Berkley & NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this in advanced for an honest review.
This book was an automatic 5 star read for me not even halfway through the book. Eve and Jamie are two characters who have been through massive amounts of shit in their lives and when they meet, it almost felt like fate. And I never could have guessed Dollywood to be so romantic as it is here.
Jamie is seemingly dealing with unprocessed rage and anger towards his mom for cheating on his dad in his young adult years, leaving him to step up for his younger brother. When Jamie’s own ex Lucy cheats- even though they have a child together- it seemingly amplifies that anger while also creating a soft spot for forgiveness.
Eve- or Evie for those who love her- has religious and familial trauma wrapped up with a nasty bow of infertility and hating the man she was with. When she leaves to escape another miscarriage and leaving her ex-fiance, Jamie magically appears.
I loved that this book delved into some really heavy topics in such a way that felt incredibly real and raw. The characters were immediately loveable and relateable, showed immense growth, and ultimately showed a real-world love story that I am happy to have experienced.
I appreciated Jordan’s attention to the details when it came to the intersections of race, class, religion, and familal makeup with both characters. Setting up Jamie’s character to look like a stereotypical MAGA man at the beginning really threw me for a loop and I thought I was going to dislike the character and his storyline, but the way that Jordan worked through his character’s backstory alongside Evie was absolutely amazing.
Similarly, though I know this book was set in a very specific time frame, I wish we had gotten more of Evie’s story from her college days at Spelman. We know her experiences in the South are a true mixed bag- especially with her grandmother and teen pregnancy- but I wished I would have been able to see some of the joy that Spelman and her found family brought to her after such a dark period in her life. Even if this book wasn’t showcasing that period of time, I do truly appreciate Jordan’s attention to detail and how she frames that period of Evie’s life without delving all the way into it.
The love that Eve & Jamie share is absolutely stunning, and I truthfully never imagined I would fall in love with the characters as much as I did. I truly hope Jordan continues this world of characters and their experiences together. I wholeheartedly believe that Ashley Jordan is going to be a best selling author when this book publishes, and I hope to continue seeing her work in the future.
Thank you Berkley & NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this in advanced for an honest review.
July 27, 2025
This was a deeply emotional story about healing and trauma, following two people trying to rebuild after their own lives fall into disarray. Playwright Eve Ambroise heads to the Tennessee mountains for solitude after breaking up with her fiancé, only to find an unexpected connection with her neighbour, Jamie Gallagher—a single dad dealing with struggles around custody and parenthood.
The story spans many months, which I loved. It gave plenty of space for real growth and introspection. That said, the romance ignites almost immediately and quickly turns physical, which made the rest of the story feel a bit drawn out. There were a lot of “living life” moments that didn’t always feel compelling, especially because the romantic tension was resolved so early on.
Eve’s push and pull with Jamie drove me a little crazy at times, but I also really felt for her trauma and need to protect herself. And she does eventually take accountability. She puts in the work to grow and communicate, which was so nice to see. Jamie, on the other hand, was almost too nice. His tendency to be overly accommodating frustrated me, though I understood how that tied into his character arc and painful family history.
Overall, I really appreciated how the tough topics were handled with care and realism. There’s a content warning at the beginning, but if themes surrounding pregnancy are difficult for you, it might be best to skip this one. In the end, this was a truly heartfelt story with emotional depth, but the pacing and lack of romantic build left me wanting just a bit more.
(heat level: 3 or 4 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story spans many months, which I loved. It gave plenty of space for real growth and introspection. That said, the romance ignites almost immediately and quickly turns physical, which made the rest of the story feel a bit drawn out. There were a lot of “living life” moments that didn’t always feel compelling, especially because the romantic tension was resolved so early on.
Eve’s push and pull with Jamie drove me a little crazy at times, but I also really felt for her trauma and need to protect herself. And she does eventually take accountability. She puts in the work to grow and communicate, which was so nice to see. Jamie, on the other hand, was almost too nice. His tendency to be overly accommodating frustrated me, though I understood how that tied into his character arc and painful family history.
Overall, I really appreciated how the tough topics were handled with care and realism. There’s a content warning at the beginning, but if themes surrounding pregnancy are difficult for you, it might be best to skip this one. In the end, this was a truly heartfelt story with emotional depth, but the pacing and lack of romantic build left me wanting just a bit more.
(heat level: 3 or 4 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 2, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ I actually really liked this one! But…NO EPILOGUE IS CRAZY, I’m sorry 😭. The characters had so much depth, and the story itself was layered in a way that pulled me in right away. I especially loved that the FMC was Haitian; it added such an authentic layer to her relationship with her parents that I could really connect to and understand.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. I wanted these characters to win so badly, and I found myself understanding both sides while desperately rooting for them to fix things. The ending was cute, and I was glad they found their way back to each other, but after everything they’d been through, I needed an epilogue. I needed to know they were okay
This book was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. I wanted these characters to win so badly, and I found myself understanding both sides while desperately rooting for them to fix things. The ending was cute, and I was glad they found their way back to each other, but after everything they’d been through, I needed an epilogue. I needed to know they were okay
August 20, 2025
Well. I finished and I don’t feel anything but thankful that mmc grew a spine & mind of his own & the fmc sought out therapy and healing.
September 28, 2025
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan is a tender, heart-warming story about love, loss, and second chances. Eve’s journey grabbed me from the very first chapter. Still reeling from grief, she escapes to Dollywood hoping for a break from the weight of her life and what she finds is so much more than a getaway.
I loved watching Eve’s gradual growth as she learned to face her pain, embrace joy again, and open her heart to the possibility of love. Her connection with Jamie was beautifully written; patient, steady, and full of quiet moments that built into something real. The way Jamie loved Eve, while giving her the space to heal, made their relationship felt so believable.
This book is about healing as much as it is about romance. Ashley Jordan captures that delicate balance perfectly, reminding us that even in the middle of heartbreak, love can still bloom.
I loved watching Eve’s gradual growth as she learned to face her pain, embrace joy again, and open her heart to the possibility of love. Her connection with Jamie was beautifully written; patient, steady, and full of quiet moments that built into something real. The way Jamie loved Eve, while giving her the space to heal, made their relationship felt so believable.
This book is about healing as much as it is about romance. Ashley Jordan captures that delicate balance perfectly, reminding us that even in the middle of heartbreak, love can still bloom.
August 1, 2025
Eve needs a break from her life. She's runs away from the fiancé she just left and goes to the only place she thinks she can find peace: her grandmother's home in the Tennessee mountains. Eve hopes to write her next play there, but she is soon distracted by her neighbor, Jamie Gallagher. Eve and Jamie find themselves in a romance that neither of them thought they wanted.
WOW! This book was AMAZING! The story gutted me in the best way. It was about the complicated nature of relationships, both familial and romantic. It was about people making choices to change for the better and about forgiveness. It was about two people who went on an unexpected journey of healing while falling in love.
I have to admit, I don't know if I liked Eve at first. I wasn't sure if I believed she deserved love and happiness because of the harm that she did to others, whether intentional or not. Ashley Jordan revealed Eve's character layer by layer, showing us why she was so self-destructive. In the end, I was rooting for her to get her HEA. Jamie was also a complex character and although he had the high emotional intelligence that we all want in a partner, he still had open wounds that needed to heal.
The most beautiful thing about this book was that it was messy. Just like real life, things weren't black and white. There were shades of gray that made Eve, Jamie and their families feel like real people in messy situations. I found myself questioning what I would do in their situation or how I felt about the choices Eve and Jamie made. The dialogue was intense, raw, and at some points shocking because of how it felt like a punch in the gut.
Ashley Jordan is going to be a rising star in romance. I went into this book thinking it was going to be a light and airy romance, but it turned out to be more of an emotional journey than I had hoped for. Jordan's writing is profound and her voice is uniquely captivating. I can't wait to see what she has next in store for us!
I'm having a hard time getting all of my thoughts out coherently for this review, but hopefully I've convinced you to read this book. It's going to be one that you won't want to miss!
Steam level:🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: miscarriage, grief, depression, panic attacks, forced adoption
I received a complimentary eARC from the publisher.
WOW! This book was AMAZING! The story gutted me in the best way. It was about the complicated nature of relationships, both familial and romantic. It was about people making choices to change for the better and about forgiveness. It was about two people who went on an unexpected journey of healing while falling in love.
I have to admit, I don't know if I liked Eve at first. I wasn't sure if I believed she deserved love and happiness because of the harm that she did to others, whether intentional or not. Ashley Jordan revealed Eve's character layer by layer, showing us why she was so self-destructive. In the end, I was rooting for her to get her HEA. Jamie was also a complex character and although he had the high emotional intelligence that we all want in a partner, he still had open wounds that needed to heal.
The most beautiful thing about this book was that it was messy. Just like real life, things weren't black and white. There were shades of gray that made Eve, Jamie and their families feel like real people in messy situations. I found myself questioning what I would do in their situation or how I felt about the choices Eve and Jamie made. The dialogue was intense, raw, and at some points shocking because of how it felt like a punch in the gut.
Ashley Jordan is going to be a rising star in romance. I went into this book thinking it was going to be a light and airy romance, but it turned out to be more of an emotional journey than I had hoped for. Jordan's writing is profound and her voice is uniquely captivating. I can't wait to see what she has next in store for us!
I'm having a hard time getting all of my thoughts out coherently for this review, but hopefully I've convinced you to read this book. It's going to be one that you won't want to miss!
Steam level:🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: miscarriage, grief, depression, panic attacks, forced adoption
I received a complimentary eARC from the publisher.
June 15, 2025
This book! The forward in this book let me know that this wasn't a light happy romance. The characters aren't light happy people. I went into this book expecting heartbreak and redemption. I expected spice and of course, romance. What I didn't expect was how profoundly this book affected me. I was uncomfortable with how I felt with the words on the page.
Eve has anxiety and depression. When we meet this character, she is in a couple's therapy to discuss her recent miscarriage with her fiancé. This being Eve's second miscarriage, she breaks, and leaves. The way Eve leaves stuns her family and severs her engagement. She decides to go to Gatlinburg and stay and write in her grandmother's cabin. Eve represses her feelings, and she is not always sure how to feel about anything- good, bad, or indifferent.
Jamie also is running, but for a different reason, he's co-parenting with a narcissist, and he wants to take a break on a weekend to his cabin in Gatlinburg.
These two characters were the wings of the same flightless bird. Circling the sky and not able to decide where he wants to land, if wants to, or even if flying is worth all the bluster. Clearly, this is an overblown metaphor for people who feel stuck. Stuck in the rigamarole of daily life, resentment toward loved ones who hurt them, and how to process feelings.
It was so clear that they were right for each other, but I wasn't always sure if these two people would get in the way of their own happily ever after.
It was well-written, emotive and insightful. It really made me appreciate therapists. And seeing what growth could look like when things started hard.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Eve has anxiety and depression. When we meet this character, she is in a couple's therapy to discuss her recent miscarriage with her fiancé. This being Eve's second miscarriage, she breaks, and leaves. The way Eve leaves stuns her family and severs her engagement. She decides to go to Gatlinburg and stay and write in her grandmother's cabin. Eve represses her feelings, and she is not always sure how to feel about anything- good, bad, or indifferent.
Jamie also is running, but for a different reason, he's co-parenting with a narcissist, and he wants to take a break on a weekend to his cabin in Gatlinburg.
These two characters were the wings of the same flightless bird. Circling the sky and not able to decide where he wants to land, if wants to, or even if flying is worth all the bluster. Clearly, this is an overblown metaphor for people who feel stuck. Stuck in the rigamarole of daily life, resentment toward loved ones who hurt them, and how to process feelings.
It was so clear that they were right for each other, but I wasn't always sure if these two people would get in the way of their own happily ever after.
It was well-written, emotive and insightful. It really made me appreciate therapists. And seeing what growth could look like when things started hard.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2025
Solid 3.5⭐️ until 70-75% of the way in, then took a sharp turn and while I’m sure the plot resolves, maybe a 2.5⭐️with that. A late in the game DNF sadly…the complete personality change of both main characters for the sake of a third act plot twist just did not make any sense to me. Before this point, the book was pretty good! But I can’t spend more time on a book that back pedals on all that progress. Maybe I’ll finish it later?
August 28, 2025
DNF (uncommon for me)
I was so disappointed in the misrepresentation of the area that I call home. (Some “folks frum ‘round here” ARE formally educated, and even if people have no formal education, it doesn’t make them any less valuable to society.) My hope is that as the book unfolds, Eve will begin to be less judgmental about a place and its people, which she appears to over-stereotype in very annoying fashion. Other than name-dropping restaurants and places that could be jotted down from driving down a main road or a quick Google maps search, a little more research should have been done on the setting. (A weekend in a cabin in Gatlinburg is not quite “research”!)
I honestly think the underlying bones of the story have so much potential, but the presentation misses the mark.
I was so disappointed in the misrepresentation of the area that I call home. (Some “folks frum ‘round here” ARE formally educated, and even if people have no formal education, it doesn’t make them any less valuable to society.) My hope is that as the book unfolds, Eve will begin to be less judgmental about a place and its people, which she appears to over-stereotype in very annoying fashion. Other than name-dropping restaurants and places that could be jotted down from driving down a main road or a quick Google maps search, a little more research should have been done on the setting. (A weekend in a cabin in Gatlinburg is not quite “research”!)
I honestly think the underlying bones of the story have so much potential, but the presentation misses the mark.
August 22, 2025
I really do not enjoy books where they FMC and MMC have a friends with benefits situation right out the gate instead of actually talking through their VERY CLEAR traumas/struggles with romantic relationships. I am 188 pages in and I can't take it anymore. I am sure they will eventually work through their problems together and end up in a healthy relationship but if they were my friends in real life I'd tell them both to go to therapy instead of hiding in the hills.
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