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Ghosted #3
Fated
She meets the man of her dreams in her dreams.
Fiona Abry excels at keeping busy, running her family’s Swiss watch company, and guarding her heart. She’s so busy she doesn’t have time for a vacation, much less a love life. But then she’s given a family heirloom rumored to let you dream your greatest desire.
Suddenly, Fiona is spending her nights on a tiny tropical island in a completely different life. She’s married. She has two kids. She lives in a colorful cottage on the beach. This dream life is so different from her hectic, busy life in the city that Fiona decides to live her dreams to the fullest. Swimming in the turquoise sea. Picnics under palms. Star-gazing on the beach. It’s a slow, seductive dream life that conveniently stays in her dreams.
But after kisses and confessions and long nights on the beach, Fiona starts to fall hard for her dream husband and her dream life. But what happens when opening yourself to love means falling for a life that isn’t real and a man who doesn’t exist? Because in the end, it’s not fate, it’s just a dream.
Fiona Abry excels at keeping busy, running her family’s Swiss watch company, and guarding her heart. She’s so busy she doesn’t have time for a vacation, much less a love life. But then she’s given a family heirloom rumored to let you dream your greatest desire.
Suddenly, Fiona is spending her nights on a tiny tropical island in a completely different life. She’s married. She has two kids. She lives in a colorful cottage on the beach. This dream life is so different from her hectic, busy life in the city that Fiona decides to live her dreams to the fullest. Swimming in the turquoise sea. Picnics under palms. Star-gazing on the beach. It’s a slow, seductive dream life that conveniently stays in her dreams.
But after kisses and confessions and long nights on the beach, Fiona starts to fall hard for her dream husband and her dream life. But what happens when opening yourself to love means falling for a life that isn’t real and a man who doesn’t exist? Because in the end, it’s not fate, it’s just a dream.
Audible Audio
First published July 11, 2024
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1178 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Ready
23 books1,198 followersAuthor Sarah Ready writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy.
Her books have been described as “euphoric”, “heartwarming” and “laugh out loud”. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She loves to write fast-paced, emotionally compelling romances about quirky, smart women and the men who love them.
Her works include Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, Josh and Gemma the Second Time Around, French Holiday and romcoms in the Soul Mates in Romeo series. Her debut novel The Fall in Love Checklist was hailed as “the unicorn read of 2020”. She lives in the Caribbean with her family and water-loving pup.
Find more books and interesting tidbits at www.sarahready.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 642 reviews
July 11, 2024
4.5 stars
as I delve into each successive novel by Sarah Ready, I am invariably in awe of her brain and her brilliant writing prowess. she always insufflates a breath of fresh air to her crafts. her unorthodox narrative approach and innovative plotting are a true tour de force, defying the tired conventions of the romance genre and instead conjuring up the warm, fuzzy feelings reminiscent of classic 2000s romantic comedies. her penmanship is simply magical; distilling the essence of nostalgia while still infusing her stories with invigorating, original perspectives.
Fiona, the heiress to a long line of Swiss watchmakers, is the personification of the high-powered businesswoman who is perpetually juggling her professional obligations with her personal life. as she strives to balance her responsibilities to her daughter Mila, brother Daniel, and close friend Max, Fiona's hectic schedule leaves little time for self-reflection. however, after a traumatic incident her nomadic mother makes an impromptu visit, gifting Fiona a lost, antique family watch. her mother believes this timepiece holds the key to unlocking Fiona's happiness and realizing her long-dormant dreams.
but Fiona hasn't experienced the thrill of dreaming in a long while. that is, until she falls asleep with the watch on and finds herself transported to a life of marriage with a handsome husband-Aaron McCormick , parenthood with awesome children, and life filled with soap-opera drama. as she indulges by day the life as the CEO of a luxury brand in Geneva, she lives this nocturnal fantasy in an exotic life on a tropical island. but it feels too real to be a dream…
I was completely enthralled by the love story, the heartwarming found family plot, and the masterful narrative trajectory. the chemistry between the characters, the unexpected plot twists, and the expertly orchestrated storytelling all combined to create a reading experience that was nothing short of addictive. I devoured every chapter, thoroughly enamored with every aspect of the novel.
without revealing too much, I can say the narrative was emotionally resonant and intriguing. the surprises were cleverly timed, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly turned each page.
I implore you: do not miss this masterpiece. I won’t spoil any more details, in case I deprive you of the pleasure of experiencing this exceptional story firsthand.
many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review
————-
she meets the man of her dreams in her dreams
this is going to be EPIC !
”I’m in love with a dream, with a man who isn’t real, and there isn’t any coming back from it.”
as I delve into each successive novel by Sarah Ready, I am invariably in awe of her brain and her brilliant writing prowess. she always insufflates a breath of fresh air to her crafts. her unorthodox narrative approach and innovative plotting are a true tour de force, defying the tired conventions of the romance genre and instead conjuring up the warm, fuzzy feelings reminiscent of classic 2000s romantic comedies. her penmanship is simply magical; distilling the essence of nostalgia while still infusing her stories with invigorating, original perspectives.
“McCormick.” “what does it mean?”
“some say it means an almost, a never-was, a dream that didn’t happen, but I say it means an always, a dream that still goes on.”
Fiona, the heiress to a long line of Swiss watchmakers, is the personification of the high-powered businesswoman who is perpetually juggling her professional obligations with her personal life. as she strives to balance her responsibilities to her daughter Mila, brother Daniel, and close friend Max, Fiona's hectic schedule leaves little time for self-reflection. however, after a traumatic incident her nomadic mother makes an impromptu visit, gifting Fiona a lost, antique family watch. her mother believes this timepiece holds the key to unlocking Fiona's happiness and realizing her long-dormant dreams.
”it feels like I’ve lost a love I’ve never had.”
but Fiona hasn't experienced the thrill of dreaming in a long while. that is, until she falls asleep with the watch on and finds herself transported to a life of marriage with a handsome husband-Aaron McCormick , parenthood with awesome children, and life filled with soap-opera drama. as she indulges by day the life as the CEO of a luxury brand in Geneva, she lives this nocturnal fantasy in an exotic life on a tropical island. but it feels too real to be a dream…
”he’s invaded my world. even when he’s not real, not here, I still feel him next to me.”
I was completely enthralled by the love story, the heartwarming found family plot, and the masterful narrative trajectory. the chemistry between the characters, the unexpected plot twists, and the expertly orchestrated storytelling all combined to create a reading experience that was nothing short of addictive. I devoured every chapter, thoroughly enamored with every aspect of the novel.
”sometimes you’ll remember a flash. sometimes you’ll remember a feeling. But mostly, you forget everything. you forget your dreams. you don’t take them with you into real life.”
without revealing too much, I can say the narrative was emotionally resonant and intriguing. the surprises were cleverly timed, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I eagerly turned each page.
I implore you: do not miss this masterpiece. I won’t spoil any more details, in case I deprive you of the pleasure of experiencing this exceptional story firsthand.
”It’s not as if dreams are reality. It’s not as if dreams come true.”
many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review
————-
she meets the man of her dreams in her dreams
this is going to be EPIC !
July 24, 2024
“I’m in love with a dream, with a man who isn’t real, and there isn’t any coming back from it.”
Living a dream life in dreams or dreaming a real life in dreams?
This book in simple words is magical and breathtaking. This is my first Sarah Ready novel and my very first book that has magical realism as one of its main settting, and it is a masterpiece in this genre. The story is a unique combination of dream and real life that left me with feelings like warmth, happiness and nostalgia.
Sarah Ready is an incredible writer, with her unique story-telling and incisive and profound narrative, she weaved a story of a woman learning to dream and then falling in love with the man of her dreams in her dream life. It's incredibly complex yet intriguing with every passing chapter, you will find yourself reading it without stopping because the story has a quiet hypnotic rhythm to it, with its tropical paradise setting in dreams, and cozy and comforting vibes of Geneva, Switzerland, you will get sucked right into the pages of this book.
“You forget everything you experienced, everything you knew in the dream world. Sometimes you’ll remember a flash. Sometimes you’ll remember a feeling. But mostly, you forget everything. You forget your dreams. You don’t take them with you into real life.”
The plot twists are perfectly executed with no plot hole galores. The anticipation of finding the truth behind those dreams Fiona is dreaming and to know what had led her to dream about that tropical island and Aaron left me with thrilling excitement. The story stirred a spectrum of perplexing emotions inside me from nostalgia to adoration to agonising emotions. There is also drama and comedy involve, brought in by nuanced side-characters. The scenery also has all the summery and cozy atmospheric vibes that are brought to life by Sarah's vivid details in her story-telling.
➸ Fiona Abry is a heiress of a Swiss watchmaker. Fiona is an intelligent and confident woman, an incredible single mother. But she forgot what it truly felt like to dream, to trust and to fall in love. This is where a mysterious and magical watch enters, a classic and family heirloom that lets her live her greatest desires of real life in her dreams. But what happens when said dreams feels like reality, when Fiona starts irrevocably falling for the man of her dreams in her dreams, a man who is just a figment of her desires and need but feels real. Fiona has everything she wants in her dream life, kids and a husband, Aaron McCormick who loves her beyond everything, but will she ever stop dreaming about the people she came to love in her dreams?
“I’d like to feel alive,” I admit, and then, “I think I can. With you.”
➸ Aaron McCormick is a man one can so easily fall in love with. He's got the gentleness, a charming persona, an easy-going nature, an incredible man, father and a husband. Aaron loves deeply and wholeheartedly. If he's in you cannot change his mind ever. I am enamored by his character and how he shows his vulnerability to Fiona, his thoughts on life, how he loves his people and how many hardships he had been through yet still he is most compassionate and down to earth man. To simply say, I am in love and you will be too if you just read this book once.
“McCormick.”
“What does it mean?”
“Some say it means an almost, a never-was, a dream that didn’t happen, but I say it means an always, a dream that still goes on.”
: ̗̀➛ Aaron and Fiona
The romance was breathtaking. I fell in love with Aaron and Fiona's beautiful and whimsical love story. Fiona and Aaron are soulmates in truest meaning, finding each other even in dreams because they were fated to be together. The way Fiona fell in love in her dreams, and how she started imagining her dream people in real life, how she cared for the people she met only at night in her own magical world created by her deepest desires, everything was perfect. Every dream, every conversation between Aaron and Fiona, every little date orchestrated their newfound love and trust for each other that later turned to this fated love story. How they truly showed their vulnerable and broken parts only for the other to heal them. The found family arc that is the heart of this story was constructed perfectly and with so much elegance and comfort. It was simply so beautiful, uplifting and endearing.
“I see evidence of him everywhere. He’s invaded my world. Even when he’s not real, not here, I still feel him next to me.”
The ending was perfect and you guys are in a roller coaster ride with how the last chapters were written. I tried my best to write this review without spoiling it for you because it's better if you experience the beauty of this novel by reading it and living it with these lovely characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
———————
They are soulmates for real 🥺❤️🩹 rtc!
———————
the synopsis sounds so good 🤌🏻 i guess it's time to finish all my pending arcs 👀
September 4, 2024
4.5⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ Ghosted #3
Others in the series ~ Ghosted, Switched
Setting ~ Geneva, Switzerland
Publication date ~ July 16, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 437 (p+ 58 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 13 hours 36 minutes
Narrator ~ Shakira Shute
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ magical dreams, time travel, minimal steamage, cheating (maybe?)
My favorite of the series!
Fiona is a single mother and works herself to the bone at the family's watch business. When she's given a family heirloom she never thought it would transport her into another time where things are simple, but the feelings from there are hardly that.
Obviously you need to think outside of the box here since half the story is in her dream state, but I loved the idea of a magic watch that makes dreams feel like a reality. The description of the island was quite lovely. Aaron was quite lovely, too. My heart broke for him a couple of times.
We’ve got Max in the present and Aaron and Robert in the dream, so I'm wondering if it’s considered cheating and a love quadrangle? I don’t know, but probably not.
I really enjoyed Fiona and Daniel's sibling bond. I don't have a sibling myself, but their relationship is one I would like to have if I had one.
Overall, well written and delightful.
Series notes:
Fiona is the sister of Daniel from book 1, but otherwise I'd say perfectly fine as a standalone. No sign of Jillian, Daniel's wife, so I guess this one takes place before that one. No sign of book 2 characters.
Narration notes:
I am very happy with the narration. I thought she did a lovely job of bringing a voice to each character.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ Ghosted #3
Others in the series ~ Ghosted, Switched
Setting ~ Geneva, Switzerland
Publication date ~ July 16, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 437 (p+ 58 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 13 hours 36 minutes
Narrator ~ Shakira Shute
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ magical dreams, time travel, minimal steamage, cheating (maybe?)
My favorite of the series!
Fiona is a single mother and works herself to the bone at the family's watch business. When she's given a family heirloom she never thought it would transport her into another time where things are simple, but the feelings from there are hardly that.
Obviously you need to think outside of the box here since half the story is in her dream state, but I loved the idea of a magic watch that makes dreams feel like a reality. The description of the island was quite lovely. Aaron was quite lovely, too. My heart broke for him a couple of times.
We’ve got Max in the present and Aaron and Robert in the dream, so I'm wondering if it’s considered cheating and a love quadrangle? I don’t know, but probably not.
I really enjoyed Fiona and Daniel's sibling bond. I don't have a sibling myself, but their relationship is one I would like to have if I had one.
Overall, well written and delightful.
Series notes:
Fiona is the sister of Daniel from book 1, but otherwise I'd say perfectly fine as a standalone. No sign of Jillian, Daniel's wife, so I guess this one takes place before that one. No sign of book 2 characters.
Narration notes:
I am very happy with the narration. I thought she did a lovely job of bringing a voice to each character.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
July 12, 2024
*Can be read as a standalone.*
When I first picked up this novel, I was in the midst of a reading slump, and it took me some time to fully immerse myself in the story. However, once I got into it, I found myself captivated! I was so engrossed that I ended up reading the entire second half of the novel in a single sitting! In contrast to its two predecessors, this entry in the series takes on a more serious and introspective tone. It delves deeper into the themes and emotions surrounding time travel romance, making it a compelling read for anyone who enjoys this genre.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
When I first picked up this novel, I was in the midst of a reading slump, and it took me some time to fully immerse myself in the story. However, once I got into it, I found myself captivated! I was so engrossed that I ended up reading the entire second half of the novel in a single sitting! In contrast to its two predecessors, this entry in the series takes on a more serious and introspective tone. It delves deeper into the themes and emotions surrounding time travel romance, making it a compelling read for anyone who enjoys this genre.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
July 20, 2024
To love someone means to see them as God intended them. ~ Dostoevsky
A magic pocket watch transports Fiona Abry to a tropical island. The inhabitants are truly off the grid and one of them is Aaron McCormick - the man of her dreams. Too bad she is inhabiting the body of his wife Becca (Quantum Leap anyone?). The two share an instant soulmate connection, but what a conundrum. Aaron is only in her dreams. In real life, her best friend Max is lobbying for a new role as her Numero Uno. Life is complicated! I loved the family connections in this one with Fiona's having a daughter named Mila and the two kids on the island -- teenager Amy and toddler Sean. Also Aaron's claim to fame was unique and fit him so well! And the watch business is quite fascinating. The special edition watch that Fiona designs sounds like a showstopper! While I felt this one got bogged down a bit in the middle --and for awhile it seems like the dream world will stay there for good. Hang on, though, as there is an epic finish to this one. For me, this was my favorite yet in the "Ghosted" series. Looking forward to Book #4! ⌚
A big thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for both a digital and audio copy in exchange for an honest review. Happy publication week!
A magic pocket watch transports Fiona Abry to a tropical island. The inhabitants are truly off the grid and one of them is Aaron McCormick - the man of her dreams. Too bad she is inhabiting the body of his wife Becca (Quantum Leap anyone?). The two share an instant soulmate connection, but what a conundrum. Aaron is only in her dreams. In real life, her best friend Max is lobbying for a new role as her Numero Uno. Life is complicated! I loved the family connections in this one with Fiona's having a daughter named Mila and the two kids on the island -- teenager Amy and toddler Sean. Also Aaron's claim to fame was unique and fit him so well! And the watch business is quite fascinating. The special edition watch that Fiona designs sounds like a showstopper! While I felt this one got bogged down a bit in the middle --and for awhile it seems like the dream world will stay there for good. Hang on, though, as there is an epic finish to this one. For me, this was my favorite yet in the "Ghosted" series. Looking forward to Book #4! ⌚
A big thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for both a digital and audio copy in exchange for an honest review. Happy publication week!
June 9, 2024
Fiona is a busy woman who runs her family's Swiss watch company. But time is not one thing that she has and wishes she had more of. When her mother stops in for a visit, Fiona (Fi) is given a missing family heirloom that her mother stole to get back. What's more is that the timepiece is rumored to have magical abilities.
When Fi wakes up on a tropical island, beside a man she does not recognize, she is freaks out. Where is she? Why is he calling her by another name? Once she calms, she realizes that she has been transported into her dreams where she is a married woman with two children.
This is a book that screams "believe in the power of your dreams". By day, Fi is a businesswoman running a watch company. She spends time with those in her life while at night, she is transported to the island and the life she has there.
When I started this book, I had my doubts. I love Sarah Ready's books and devoured the first two books in this series, and found that I was not instantly in love with this book as I had been with Ghosted and Switched. My advice is to stick with this book because there is a nice payoff that comes toward the end. I went from enjoying it, to not being able to put it down.
With the other books in this series, this book touches on finding love in unconventional ways. There is that magical/paranormal touch that comes into play. Suspending disbelief is necessary. With romance it is all about the journey and Fi goes on quite the journey in this book.
I enjoyed how Fated touches on family, friendship, romance, time, motherhood, and vulnerability. The characters are likeable, quirky, endearing and well-drawn. I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the tropical island. I felt as if I were swept away and right there with them as a silent observer.
As with Sarah Ready's other books, this book was beautifully written, well thought out, had fun parts, parts that pull on the heartstrings, and great banter.
I had the pleasure of having both the book and audiobook versions of Fated. Fans of this series, will be happy to see Daniel (Fi's brother) from Ghosted.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
When Fi wakes up on a tropical island, beside a man she does not recognize, she is freaks out. Where is she? Why is he calling her by another name? Once she calms, she realizes that she has been transported into her dreams where she is a married woman with two children.
This is a book that screams "believe in the power of your dreams". By day, Fi is a businesswoman running a watch company. She spends time with those in her life while at night, she is transported to the island and the life she has there.
When I started this book, I had my doubts. I love Sarah Ready's books and devoured the first two books in this series, and found that I was not instantly in love with this book as I had been with Ghosted and Switched. My advice is to stick with this book because there is a nice payoff that comes toward the end. I went from enjoying it, to not being able to put it down.
With the other books in this series, this book touches on finding love in unconventional ways. There is that magical/paranormal touch that comes into play. Suspending disbelief is necessary. With romance it is all about the journey and Fi goes on quite the journey in this book.
I enjoyed how Fated touches on family, friendship, romance, time, motherhood, and vulnerability. The characters are likeable, quirky, endearing and well-drawn. I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the tropical island. I felt as if I were swept away and right there with them as a silent observer.
As with Sarah Ready's other books, this book was beautifully written, well thought out, had fun parts, parts that pull on the heartstrings, and great banter.
I had the pleasure of having both the book and audiobook versions of Fated. Fans of this series, will be happy to see Daniel (Fi's brother) from Ghosted.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
September 5, 2024
WHY DIDN'T I HIGHLIGHT?
This book... where do I start? don't even know
I'm bad at reviews 90% of the time but this needs one
It starts confusing, then it's questionable (this past will not work for everyone, I didn't even want to like it), then it's emotional and heartwrenching, and then it's perfect.
Our main girl is Fiona, who's a single mom who runs her family's watch company with her brother and has a sweet best friend. At a party one night, Fiona has a brush with death and her woohoo boohoo mom gives her a family heirloom which changes everything.
The writing? amazing
The audio? incredible
The poetry and book quotes? stunning
The characters? love them all
The concept? mind-blowing
Ri ♡ 's Beautiful Review
SPOILERS/THE STUFF I WAS IFFY ABOUT:
- The in someone else's body while romantically/physically involved
- The she is still trying with another man for a bit
- I need the guys to be happy 🥲
This book... where do I start? don't even know
I'm bad at reviews 90% of the time but this needs one
It starts confusing, then it's questionable (this past will not work for everyone, I didn't even want to like it), then it's emotional and heartwrenching, and then it's perfect.
Our main girl is Fiona, who's a single mom who runs her family's watch company with her brother and has a sweet best friend. At a party one night, Fiona has a brush with death and her woohoo boohoo mom gives her a family heirloom which changes everything.
The writing? amazing
The audio? incredible
The poetry and book quotes? stunning
The characters? love them all
The concept? mind-blowing
Ri ♡ 's Beautiful Review
SPOILERS/THE STUFF I WAS IFFY ABOUT:
- The in someone else's body while romantically/physically involved
- The she is still trying with another man for a bit
- I need the guys to be happy 🥲
August 20, 2024
❝𝑰'𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒊𝒕.❞
5 very well deserved stars ✩
✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯
if you haven’t read this book, READ IT. RIGHT NOW. this is genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read. ‘fated’ is the third book in Sarah Ready’s “Ghosted” series, but like all of the others, this one can be read as a standalone. guys i cannot stress how GOOD this book was. I am quite literally typing this review at 1am in the morning because I couldn’t just go to sleep after finishing this. with all that said, let’s get into the review, shall we?
🕰️🦋💫🌴🌊🥭📖☕
this book follows Fiona Abry, owner of Abry Watch Company. Fiona works long, busy days and spends a lot of time with her younger brother, Daniel, and her daughter, Mila. then one day, Fiona’s estranged mother presents her with a watch - the very first watch that her ancestor, Adolphus Abry, created - convinced that it could make Fiona dream the things she desires most in life. Fiona, skeptical of the watch but curious enough to try, finds that the watch is magical, and she wakes up on an island in the middle of an ocean where no one knows who she really is. Fi learns more and more about her dream world each night, falling in love with the island and the people who inhabit it. but it’s all just a dream, so when she finds herself falling for a man on the island, she’s faced with some conflicts between dreams and reality.
main characters
fiona abry, “fi”
i love fiona SO MUCH. she is such a relatable character.
aaron mccormick
… if I could ever pick a man to pull out of a book and bring into real life, it would be this one.
quotes
“I’m terrified that I love you. That I love you desperately, deeply, and that I can never have you. None of this is real and I can never have you.”
“I’ll dream a dream of you, and you can dream a dream of me, and that’s where we’ll meet.”
“You care.”
“Of course I care.”
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”
“You have to let go of the old to let in the new.”
“You can love someone wholly, completely, and it doesn’t mean that they’re the one for you. You can love someone and they can still be the wrong someone.”
“Mostly, we know loving means losing. But we still do it ‘cause we just can’t help it.”
playlist
「⩇⩇:⩇⩇」
❁ where or when - laufey
𓇼 juna - clairo
ʚɞ while you were sleeping - laufey
♡ blue - beyonce
overall
read this book. idk what else to say. it’s SO GOOD. sarah ready is an amazing author and i can’t wait for her newest book to come out!! (wished (ghosted #4)).
thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all opinions here are my own!!
--------------
pre-read:
i got approved for the arc!! so excited to read another book from this series :)
5 very well deserved stars ✩
✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯
if you haven’t read this book, READ IT. RIGHT NOW. this is genuinely one of the best books I’ve ever read. ‘fated’ is the third book in Sarah Ready’s “Ghosted” series, but like all of the others, this one can be read as a standalone. guys i cannot stress how GOOD this book was. I am quite literally typing this review at 1am in the morning because I couldn’t just go to sleep after finishing this. with all that said, let’s get into the review, shall we?
🕰️🦋💫🌴🌊🥭📖☕
this book follows Fiona Abry, owner of Abry Watch Company. Fiona works long, busy days and spends a lot of time with her younger brother, Daniel, and her daughter, Mila. then one day, Fiona’s estranged mother presents her with a watch - the very first watch that her ancestor, Adolphus Abry, created - convinced that it could make Fiona dream the things she desires most in life. Fiona, skeptical of the watch but curious enough to try, finds that the watch is magical, and she wakes up on an island in the middle of an ocean where no one knows who she really is. Fi learns more and more about her dream world each night, falling in love with the island and the people who inhabit it. but it’s all just a dream, so when she finds herself falling for a man on the island, she’s faced with some conflicts between dreams and reality.
main characters
fiona abry, “fi”
i love fiona SO MUCH. she is such a relatable character.
aaron mccormick
… if I could ever pick a man to pull out of a book and bring into real life, it would be this one.
quotes
“I’m terrified that I love you. That I love you desperately, deeply, and that I can never have you. None of this is real and I can never have you.”
“I’ll dream a dream of you, and you can dream a dream of me, and that’s where we’ll meet.”
“You care.”
“Of course I care.”
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.”
“You have to let go of the old to let in the new.”
“You can love someone wholly, completely, and it doesn’t mean that they’re the one for you. You can love someone and they can still be the wrong someone.”
“Mostly, we know loving means losing. But we still do it ‘cause we just can’t help it.”
playlist
「⩇⩇:⩇⩇」
❁ where or when - laufey
𓇼 juna - clairo
ʚɞ while you were sleeping - laufey
♡ blue - beyonce
overall
read this book. idk what else to say. it’s SO GOOD. sarah ready is an amazing author and i can’t wait for her newest book to come out!! (wished (ghosted #4)).
thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all opinions here are my own!!
--------------
pre-read:
i got approved for the arc!! so excited to read another book from this series :)
August 26, 2024
3 Stars
Fiona Abry is a hardworking single-mother, living in Geneva and co-running the Abry watch company with her brother Daniel (MMC of book one, Ghosted). She has little time for love and even less time for a vacation, despite her brother's prodding and meddling.
But when Fiona's free-spirited mother gifts her an old family heirloom—a supposedly magical timepiece that lets the owner dream their greatest desires—Fiona begins having vivid dreams when she goes to sleep each night, of a very different life to her own, filled with the kind of love she never thought she’d find and sparking joy and purpose in her life anew.
Not much more can be said about this story without spoiling things, but much like the first two stories in the series, the magical realism at play in this romance is weighted in destiny and meant-to-be enchantment. It all takes a bit of suspension of disbelief, but that’s the fun and charm of this series, making the reader believe in the impossible and the wonder of fate.
This story was set before the events of book one and two, so, I guess, it can be easily read as a stand-alone, even though release order would be my preferred recommendation. I loved seeing Daniel pre-Jillian, all charming playboy with a lonely heart, and I enjoyed meeting Max, Fiona’s best friend and fellow socialite, who will be the MMC of the fourth series instalment, Wished.
The love interest was a hunky piece of man and I could see why Fiona fell so quickly, as he was quite literally the man of her dreams. The twists and turns of the plot make it hard to even talk about Fi’s dream-life or her dream-man without ruining the story, but I liked the setting and the characters she interacted with in those scenes, feeling the loss she felt every time she had to wake in the mornings, back to her usual workaholic routine.
This story was probably on par with book two, for me, in terms of enjoyment and readability. I still feel the stories in this series are overly long, and I didn’t feel the same obsession or chemistry here as I felt in book one, but I think that had a lot to do with the circumstances of the story and what was actually happening in Fiona’s dreams—which I can’t even explain properly because, again, spoilers!
Overall, though, this was a sweet, magical, and romantic addition to the series and I look forward to reading what comes next in the Ghosted universe!
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fiona Abry is a hardworking single-mother, living in Geneva and co-running the Abry watch company with her brother Daniel (MMC of book one, Ghosted). She has little time for love and even less time for a vacation, despite her brother's prodding and meddling.
But when Fiona's free-spirited mother gifts her an old family heirloom—a supposedly magical timepiece that lets the owner dream their greatest desires—Fiona begins having vivid dreams when she goes to sleep each night, of a very different life to her own, filled with the kind of love she never thought she’d find and sparking joy and purpose in her life anew.
Not much more can be said about this story without spoiling things, but much like the first two stories in the series, the magical realism at play in this romance is weighted in destiny and meant-to-be enchantment. It all takes a bit of suspension of disbelief, but that’s the fun and charm of this series, making the reader believe in the impossible and the wonder of fate.
This story was set before the events of book one and two, so, I guess, it can be easily read as a stand-alone, even though release order would be my preferred recommendation. I loved seeing Daniel pre-Jillian, all charming playboy with a lonely heart, and I enjoyed meeting Max, Fiona’s best friend and fellow socialite, who will be the MMC of the fourth series instalment, Wished.
The love interest was a hunky piece of man and I could see why Fiona fell so quickly, as he was quite literally the man of her dreams. The twists and turns of the plot make it hard to even talk about Fi’s dream-life or her dream-man without ruining the story, but I liked the setting and the characters she interacted with in those scenes, feeling the loss she felt every time she had to wake in the mornings, back to her usual workaholic routine.
This story was probably on par with book two, for me, in terms of enjoyment and readability. I still feel the stories in this series are overly long, and I didn’t feel the same obsession or chemistry here as I felt in book one, but I think that had a lot to do with the circumstances of the story and what was actually happening in Fiona’s dreams—which I can’t even explain properly because, again, spoilers!
Overall, though, this was a sweet, magical, and romantic addition to the series and I look forward to reading what comes next in the Ghosted universe!
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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May 28, 2024
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't expecting this to make me feel so much?? In the beginning it was alright, I was aiming for 3 stars just like with Switched. But then everything suddenly changed right around the 80% mark and I felt a rollercoaster of emotions while reading. Sarah you'll pay for my tears.
Max deserved better and I'm glad the next book in the series is about him because I need to see him get his happy ending. I cannot wait for Wished.
One of the stars is for Jillian's and my husband Daniel🤭
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc.
I wasn't expecting this to make me feel so much?? In the beginning it was alright, I was aiming for 3 stars just like with Switched. But then everything suddenly changed right around the 80% mark and I felt a rollercoaster of emotions while reading. Sarah you'll pay for my tears.
Max deserved better and I'm glad the next book in the series is about him because I need to see him get his happy ending. I cannot wait for Wished.
One of the stars is for Jillian's and my husband Daniel🤭
Thank you to Netgalley for this arc.
June 11, 2024
3rd instalment in the ghosted series, however they are all complete standalone. This is the best one yet.
Fiona is a watchmaker from Geneva and after a very traumatic incident and having been given her uncles 'very special watch' starts having very vivid dreams of an island paradise where the literal man of her dreams thinks she is his wife.
As Fiona tries to live her real life whilst pining for her dream life can she reconcile the feeling she has for Aaron her dream hunk vs her real life best friend who wants nothing more than to make her happy.
With a bit a time travel and a last ditch effort to save an island from impending doom. This is a romance for magical realism lovers.
This book was just the type of magical realism I've had in my head for a long time, whilst it's not the exact execution I would have chosen it is still a good story having tandem read and listened to this and I can easily recommend either version as an intriguing read or a well narrated audio.
Thanks NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for granting me copies of the book and audio in exchange for an honest review.
Fiona is a watchmaker from Geneva and after a very traumatic incident and having been given her uncles 'very special watch' starts having very vivid dreams of an island paradise where the literal man of her dreams thinks she is his wife.
As Fiona tries to live her real life whilst pining for her dream life can she reconcile the feeling she has for Aaron her dream hunk vs her real life best friend who wants nothing more than to make her happy.
With a bit a time travel and a last ditch effort to save an island from impending doom. This is a romance for magical realism lovers.
This book was just the type of magical realism I've had in my head for a long time, whilst it's not the exact execution I would have chosen it is still a good story having tandem read and listened to this and I can easily recommend either version as an intriguing read or a well narrated audio.
Thanks NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for granting me copies of the book and audio in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Last year, I had the pleasure of reading Josh and Gemma Make A Baby and it delighted me so much that I requested this title from NetGalley. I hadn't read the other two books in the series but I do believe all the stories feature different protagonists.
Sometimes, an avid reader can make a mistake. Not every title written by an author should be pursued.
My instinct to admit defeat and mark this as a "did not finish" was strong in the beginning and yet somehow I persisted in keeping with it.
After all, this was the tale of a woman who escapes into her dreams because of a magical watch and finds herself living an entirely different existence. It also promised to be a feel-good romance type of storyline.
Maybe it was the humidity or I was sitting in an uncomfortable chair. Maybe I was dehydrated? But I just didn't like this book. It felt all over the place. I groaned a lot and I think I screamed at one point.
It just wasn't for me. It was hard to buy into the HEA.
Expected Publication Date 16/07/24
Goodreads Review 11/07/24
#Fated #NetGalley.
Last year, I had the pleasure of reading Josh and Gemma Make A Baby and it delighted me so much that I requested this title from NetGalley. I hadn't read the other two books in the series but I do believe all the stories feature different protagonists.
Sometimes, an avid reader can make a mistake. Not every title written by an author should be pursued.
My instinct to admit defeat and mark this as a "did not finish" was strong in the beginning and yet somehow I persisted in keeping with it.
After all, this was the tale of a woman who escapes into her dreams because of a magical watch and finds herself living an entirely different existence. It also promised to be a feel-good romance type of storyline.
Maybe it was the humidity or I was sitting in an uncomfortable chair. Maybe I was dehydrated? But I just didn't like this book. It felt all over the place. I groaned a lot and I think I screamed at one point.
It just wasn't for me. It was hard to buy into the HEA.
Expected Publication Date 16/07/24
Goodreads Review 11/07/24
#Fated #NetGalley.
September 29, 2024
“I used to want you to be happy. Now I want to be happy with you “
Seriously guys, this series is so under hyped. Go read it!
This book destroyed my heart and then put it together again.
Where do I start? It was poignant, cozy, sensual, heartwarming and so rich with all type of love. And so much yearning. God, the yearning!!!!
I just couldn’t stop reading even though I knew it was going to break my heart. I couldn’t predict it at all and at one point I was thinking how the author is going to explain it and when the twist was revealed… boom! My mind was blown.
I loved each and every character in this book to bits! But Aaron and Fiona? They are special.
My only complaint about this book is I wanted it to be a bit longer as the ending felt a teeny tiny bit rushed and at least one Aaron’s POV chapter in the second half.
Otherwise it was an unforgettable book with love, laughter, family, hopes and dreams.
Seriously can’t wait to read Max’s book. He was such an amazing friend and deserves his own HEA.
Special mention to the fantastic writing style.
“I’m in love with a dream, with a man who isn’t real, and there isn’t any coming back from it.”
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Seriously guys, this series is so under hyped. Go read it!
This book destroyed my heart and then put it together again.
Where do I start? It was poignant, cozy, sensual, heartwarming and so rich with all type of love. And so much yearning. God, the yearning!!!!
I just couldn’t stop reading even though I knew it was going to break my heart. I couldn’t predict it at all and at one point I was thinking how the author is going to explain it and when the twist was revealed… boom! My mind was blown.
I loved each and every character in this book to bits! But Aaron and Fiona? They are special.
My only complaint about this book is I wanted it to be a bit longer as the ending felt a teeny tiny bit rushed and at least one Aaron’s POV chapter in the second half.
Otherwise it was an unforgettable book with love, laughter, family, hopes and dreams.
Seriously can’t wait to read Max’s book. He was such an amazing friend and deserves his own HEA.
Special mention to the fantastic writing style.
“I’m in love with a dream, with a man who isn’t real, and there isn’t any coming back from it.”
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
May 29, 2024
Wow....This book was beautifully written. I requested this as an ARC from Netgalley because I have read and enjoyed Sarah Ready's previous books. This book had a unique premise which really intrigued me. I don't want to say too much in the review because it is very easy to give away things. I will say the main characters were really well written and developed. I typically like banter, but this book had a different feel and I didn't find myself missing the banter. The side characters added to the story and were also well developed. There were certain scenes that were so detailed in description I could easily visualize it, and felt I was there. This book kept me wondering for a good amount of time where we were going, and I LOVE that. I can usually figure it out pretty early on. This was a bit of spice but mild. This book is more for the love story and it was so worth the read for me!
July 10, 2024
Fated by Sarah Ready is the third book in the Ghosted series. I haven’t read the first book, Ghosted, yet (despite owning it), but I’ve read the second, Switched, and while I enjoyed Switched overall I took issue with many elements. Because of that, I was nervous about my opinion post-reading book three.
I. Am. So. Glad. I. Did!
Fated is exciting, thrilling, romantic, and perfect. At the end/climax, I alternated between gasping, crying, and gripping my steering wheel until my hands were white. I listened to the final 70% during a three-hour round-trip drive and struggled to focus on traffic while our FMC dove into the remarkable, titillating, and nerve-wracking ending.
~well-written
~so, so engaging throughout
~excellent narrator
~just read it!
Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the advance listener copy!
Pre-read:
Trying another Sarah Ready. So far, it is better than the second in the Ghosted series.
I. Am. So. Glad. I. Did!
Fated is exciting, thrilling, romantic, and perfect. At the end/climax, I alternated between gasping, crying, and gripping my steering wheel until my hands were white. I listened to the final 70% during a three-hour round-trip drive and struggled to focus on traffic while our FMC dove into the remarkable, titillating, and nerve-wracking ending.
~well-written
~so, so engaging throughout
~excellent narrator
~just read it!
Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the advance listener copy!
Pre-read:
Trying another Sarah Ready. So far, it is better than the second in the Ghosted series.
July 30, 2024
This series has some of the most unique plots. It’s a mix of contemporary romance with a magical/whimsical element to them. I truly had no idea how this one would turn out - and I love that feeling. Just enjoying the ride on the edge of my seat waiting for that moment when it all comes together. My heart went through it 🥹.
July 2, 2024
4 Stars! ✨❤️
Thank you to Swift and Lewis Publishing, and NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I can always count on Sarah Ready for a well-executed whimsical romance and “Fated” was no exception ❤️ This was *chef’s kiss.*
In this story we follow along with the POV of our main character Fiona. She is a very busy, determined woman who runs a Swiss watch company along-side her brother. On top of that she is a single parent who does not believe she has the time or capability to open herself up to love. On one fateful evening her mother gifts her an heirloom, a watch meant to show you your heart's desire. In her dreams, she is on a tropical island with little to no exposure to other parts of the world (and social media.) She is married and has 2 beautiful children. She slowly starts to care for this other family, but this is only in her dreams, right? Why does she feel so strongly for a life that isn’t real?
OH MY LANTA. I think I love Sarah Ready. She has such a beautiful poetic writing style with luscious world building that really captivates me and draws me into her stories. I could feel the push and pull between our main character's 2 worlds. This was phenomenal.
The chemistry between Fiona and Aaron just felt so natural and easy. There was tension, sparks, and loving moments that felt like they had known one another for a lifetime. I just held onto hope that these two were truly meant to be.
The characters who lived on the island were a hoot. I truly loved them! ❤️
I do hope that Max will one day find his happy ending. He deserves happiness, and sparks. Maybe in a future story?
If you love a romance that keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting more - you need to read this. ✨
Thank you to Swift and Lewis Publishing, and NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I can always count on Sarah Ready for a well-executed whimsical romance and “Fated” was no exception ❤️ This was *chef’s kiss.*
In this story we follow along with the POV of our main character Fiona. She is a very busy, determined woman who runs a Swiss watch company along-side her brother. On top of that she is a single parent who does not believe she has the time or capability to open herself up to love. On one fateful evening her mother gifts her an heirloom, a watch meant to show you your heart's desire. In her dreams, she is on a tropical island with little to no exposure to other parts of the world (and social media.) She is married and has 2 beautiful children. She slowly starts to care for this other family, but this is only in her dreams, right? Why does she feel so strongly for a life that isn’t real?
OH MY LANTA. I think I love Sarah Ready. She has such a beautiful poetic writing style with luscious world building that really captivates me and draws me into her stories. I could feel the push and pull between our main character's 2 worlds. This was phenomenal.
The chemistry between Fiona and Aaron just felt so natural and easy. There was tension, sparks, and loving moments that felt like they had known one another for a lifetime. I just held onto hope that these two were truly meant to be.
The characters who lived on the island were a hoot. I truly loved them! ❤️
I do hope that Max will one day find his happy ending. He deserves happiness, and sparks. Maybe in a future story?
If you love a romance that keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting more - you need to read this. ✨
July 12, 2024
This will be one of my FAVORITE READS of the ENTIRE YEAR. 🥳
From the outside, Fiona's got it all...a loving family, an incredible career, all the money and status a person could want, and a best friend who has told her that he wants to turn their friendship into something more. But Fiona is recovering from scars both emotional and physical, working herself to the bone to keep her anxieties at bay. She's ready to coast through life, not changing, until she receives a magic watch. If a person holds it when they fall asleep, they will dream of their heart's desire.
From then on, every night, Fiona dreams of white sand beaches, a quirky community of characters, and the love of her life: Aaron McCormick. Their chemistry is undeniable. And since she's in a dream, she allows herself to live and love freely, embracing her dream life in a way she couldn't in reality. But all dreams end...don't they???
This book. THIS BOOK. The twists and turns. The INSANE levels of slow burn and sexual attraction. The characters, all complex, real, and endearing. The beach, so perfectly written that I felt like maybe I needed to apply sunscreen myself. 😂 I can't tell you what an emotional journey this took me on. Sarah Ready is a BEAUTIFUL writer, and I found myself highlighting line after line of her prose.
I screamed. I cried. I cheered. I swooned. I sighed. I laughed. And then I went out and pre-ordered a copy of this book, because having the eARC just isn't enough. I can't wait to have this book on my shelves and read it again and again.
Trigger warnings: earthquakes, cheating, drowning, abandonment, death
I'd like to thank Swift and Lewis Publishing, Independent Book Publishers Association, Members' Titles, Sarah Ready, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
From the outside, Fiona's got it all...a loving family, an incredible career, all the money and status a person could want, and a best friend who has told her that he wants to turn their friendship into something more. But Fiona is recovering from scars both emotional and physical, working herself to the bone to keep her anxieties at bay. She's ready to coast through life, not changing, until she receives a magic watch. If a person holds it when they fall asleep, they will dream of their heart's desire.
From then on, every night, Fiona dreams of white sand beaches, a quirky community of characters, and the love of her life: Aaron McCormick. Their chemistry is undeniable. And since she's in a dream, she allows herself to live and love freely, embracing her dream life in a way she couldn't in reality. But all dreams end...don't they???
This book. THIS BOOK. The twists and turns. The INSANE levels of slow burn and sexual attraction. The characters, all complex, real, and endearing. The beach, so perfectly written that I felt like maybe I needed to apply sunscreen myself. 😂 I can't tell you what an emotional journey this took me on. Sarah Ready is a BEAUTIFUL writer, and I found myself highlighting line after line of her prose.
I screamed. I cried. I cheered. I swooned. I sighed. I laughed. And then I went out and pre-ordered a copy of this book, because having the eARC just isn't enough. I can't wait to have this book on my shelves and read it again and again.
Trigger warnings: earthquakes, cheating, drowning, abandonment, death
I'd like to thank Swift and Lewis Publishing, Independent Book Publishers Association, Members' Titles, Sarah Ready, and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 25, 2024
*audiobook
Overall, I am thinking the Ghosted series just isn’t for me. This book is the 3rd in the series and while each book can be standalone, they are connected within the same universe.
I adore Sarah Ready, she’s one of my favorite authors but I’ve noticed I’ve had a hard time getting into this series. Especially this most recent book. It’s not bad, in fact the writing is rather lovely…a poetic style to it. I just struggle when there are so many realities, descriptions and characters swapping it’s like I can’t immerse myself into the story. I also thought it was also a bit long. Full disclosure, I also don’t usually enjoy magical realism. This one didn’t really sound like the style of writing she usually does, don’t get me wrong she’s always poetic in her writing, this one just wasn’t the SR I’m used to, to the extent that if I didn’t know she wrote it I would think someone else did (I’m NOT saying that is what happened though, it’s just that big of a change). So she may be making some stylistic changes to how she writes this series but hopefully not her future books.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝...
✅The lucid dreaming aspect
✅The part where she talks about how when you see something through someone else’s eyes and it’s something that they love, you start to love it too
✅When she helps the grandmother at the fish market (reminded me of my relationship with my mommom)
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝗼𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝗼𝐲...
☀️Magical Realism
🕰️Lucid Dreaming
☀️Complex Relationships
🕰️Time Jumps / Alternate Realities
☀️Poetic Writing
🕰️Horology
My favorite books by Sarah are The Space Between and the Josh & Gemma books. I also really enjoyed French Holiday and the Soul Mates in Romeo (Married by Sunday was my very fav in the series)!
Overall, I am thinking the Ghosted series just isn’t for me. This book is the 3rd in the series and while each book can be standalone, they are connected within the same universe.
I adore Sarah Ready, she’s one of my favorite authors but I’ve noticed I’ve had a hard time getting into this series. Especially this most recent book. It’s not bad, in fact the writing is rather lovely…a poetic style to it. I just struggle when there are so many realities, descriptions and characters swapping it’s like I can’t immerse myself into the story. I also thought it was also a bit long. Full disclosure, I also don’t usually enjoy magical realism. This one didn’t really sound like the style of writing she usually does, don’t get me wrong she’s always poetic in her writing, this one just wasn’t the SR I’m used to, to the extent that if I didn’t know she wrote it I would think someone else did (I’m NOT saying that is what happened though, it’s just that big of a change). So she may be making some stylistic changes to how she writes this series but hopefully not her future books.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝...
✅The lucid dreaming aspect
✅The part where she talks about how when you see something through someone else’s eyes and it’s something that they love, you start to love it too
✅When she helps the grandmother at the fish market (reminded me of my relationship with my mommom)
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝗼𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝗼𝐲...
☀️Magical Realism
🕰️Lucid Dreaming
☀️Complex Relationships
🕰️Time Jumps / Alternate Realities
☀️Poetic Writing
🕰️Horology
My favorite books by Sarah are The Space Between and the Josh & Gemma books. I also really enjoyed French Holiday and the Soul Mates in Romeo (Married by Sunday was my very fav in the series)!
June 2, 2024
This book gave me literal chills...I was already loving it from the start, but it had me in a chokehold during the last 15-20%. I cannot recommend this book enough...as well as the other books in the Ghosted series. I also loved the other books, but this one was just simply BETTER! The quotes were *chef's kiss*!!!
You get lots of appearances from Daniel, who is the main character in the first book (Ghosted) and it seems like this book is set in a time before Daniel met his wife, Jillian. I'm so happy to see that Max will get his own story in Wished. I didn't feel the chemistry between Max and Fiona and I'm glad they can remain friends despite Max professing his love for Fiona. I'm actually surprised that Serena and Henry didn't make an appearance in this book, but maybe I missed it? Regardless, this series is un-put-down-able!!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for the opportunity to read and review an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.
You get lots of appearances from Daniel, who is the main character in the first book (Ghosted) and it seems like this book is set in a time before Daniel met his wife, Jillian. I'm so happy to see that Max will get his own story in Wished. I didn't feel the chemistry between Max and Fiona and I'm glad they can remain friends despite Max professing his love for Fiona. I'm actually surprised that Serena and Henry didn't make an appearance in this book, but maybe I missed it? Regardless, this series is un-put-down-able!!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for the opportunity to read and review an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 18, 2024
Another AMAZING, heartbreaking time twist/sliding doors esque story that easily became my favorite in the Ghosted series!! I loved this unique premise that has a Sweedish woman inheriting a magical stopwatch that allows her dreams to become real and her going back and forth between two 'dream' worlds where she has to choose which man she truly loves. Excellent on audio narrated by Shakira Shute and highly recommended for fans of authors like Rebecca Serle. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!
July 11, 2024
Can we stop for a second and talk about how this Sarah Ready series just KEEPS GETTING BETTER?!? I mean, honestly, I liked the other two but this one takes the cake. It was SO GOOD. I loved it so so so much. I can’t hardly review it because I don’t want to spoil a minute of it for you. Just know, the build up is so wonderfully done and then the ending is just *chefs kiss.* I was so mad and so happy all together and just couldn’t stop listening to this one.
September 29, 2024
Sarah Ready tells beautiful love stories, effortlessly blending warmth, angst, and a bit of magic.
📖 Fated
📝 Sarah Ready
🗓️ 07/16/2024
💜 contemporary romance
📱🎧 read on kindle + audio (arc/alc)
🎙️ Shakira Shute
📚 book 3 • Ghosted series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️
💭 overall thoughts:
Not sure how I haven’t learned by now that Sarah will completely rip my heart out before putting it back together 😭 I've added another of her books to my favorites list! I loved this so much.
Fiona is a single mom & CEO of her late father’s watch company. She lives a very busy life, one that she was born into. She’s given a watch that lets you dream what you really want, and it takes her into another life.
Fiona loves parts of both of these lives, and it pushes her to figure out what she truly desires. The dream world gives her a place to safely explore love, and a completely different way to live than she’s used to.
I had so many theories and none were true 😅 I did very much enjoy the ride. I fell hard for Fiona & Aaron, and I was hoping for them to end up together somehow.
While listed as 3rd in the series, you definitely don’t have to read the first two books - this one actually takes place before, so there’s very little connection (except Fiona’s brother Daniel being the mmc in Ghosted).
🤍side characters:
I’m very much looking forward to book 4, Wished - Max deserves his happily ever after! I loved how much he supported & respected Fiona.
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Sarah Ready always has me discovering incredible narrators! Shakira Shute embodied Fiona so well, and added so much to the story.
tropes + topics:
✨ magical realism
💭 dream world
🙃 opposites attract
👩💼 single mom & CEO
👩❤️👨 soulmates/meant to be
🫶🏼 found family
💜 single 1st person pov
✨ books with similar vibes:
♡ The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Thank you to Sarah Ready, Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
____________
💫Ghosted Series Reviews:💫
Ghosted 5/5
Switched 4.75/5
Fated ♾ my fav!
Wished 4.75/5
____________
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog
📖 Fated
📝 Sarah Ready
🗓️ 07/16/2024
💜 contemporary romance
📱🎧 read on kindle + audio (arc/alc)
🎙️ Shakira Shute
📚 book 3 • Ghosted series
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️
💭 overall thoughts:
Not sure how I haven’t learned by now that Sarah will completely rip my heart out before putting it back together 😭 I've added another of her books to my favorites list! I loved this so much.
Fiona is a single mom & CEO of her late father’s watch company. She lives a very busy life, one that she was born into. She’s given a watch that lets you dream what you really want, and it takes her into another life.
Fiona loves parts of both of these lives, and it pushes her to figure out what she truly desires. The dream world gives her a place to safely explore love, and a completely different way to live than she’s used to.
I had so many theories and none were true 😅 I did very much enjoy the ride. I fell hard for Fiona & Aaron, and I was hoping for them to end up together somehow.
While listed as 3rd in the series, you definitely don’t have to read the first two books - this one actually takes place before, so there’s very little connection (except Fiona’s brother Daniel being the mmc in Ghosted).
🤍side characters:
I’m very much looking forward to book 4, Wished - Max deserves his happily ever after! I loved how much he supported & respected Fiona.
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Sarah Ready always has me discovering incredible narrators! Shakira Shute embodied Fiona so well, and added so much to the story.
tropes + topics:
✨ magical realism
💭 dream world
🙃 opposites attract
👩💼 single mom & CEO
👩❤️👨 soulmates/meant to be
🫶🏼 found family
💜 single 1st person pov
✨ books with similar vibes:
♡ The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Thank you to Sarah Ready, Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
____________
💫Ghosted Series Reviews:💫
Ghosted 5/5
Switched 4.75/5
Fated ♾ my fav!
Wished 4.75/5
____________
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog
July 16, 2024
(received an ARC in exchange for a review)
It took me about two days to get through Fated because I couldn’t wait to read more. This book made me so nostalgic and happy because at first, it reminded me of certain romcom movies I watched with my mother when I was little. I am talking about these mid-afternoon movies that are characterised as clichés for old women (I love to watch them). Anyway, I have loved reading Fated so much because of the familiarity that sprung out of it, and yet I never got bored because the plot took a turn I had not expected. I was a bit skeptical at first vis-a-vis the magical realism and how it would fold in the story but Sarah Ready managed to integrate it very nicely. I am definitely adding more of her books to my next reads, so I obviously recommend this one to all the dreamers out there who are looking for a fun, warmhearted and easy to read romance.
It took me about two days to get through Fated because I couldn’t wait to read more. This book made me so nostalgic and happy because at first, it reminded me of certain romcom movies I watched with my mother when I was little. I am talking about these mid-afternoon movies that are characterised as clichés for old women (I love to watch them). Anyway, I have loved reading Fated so much because of the familiarity that sprung out of it, and yet I never got bored because the plot took a turn I had not expected. I was a bit skeptical at first vis-a-vis the magical realism and how it would fold in the story but Sarah Ready managed to integrate it very nicely. I am definitely adding more of her books to my next reads, so I obviously recommend this one to all the dreamers out there who are looking for a fun, warmhearted and easy to read romance.
June 25, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up! ARC Review:
-
Summary:
Fiona Abry is busy and content. She has her family's watch company that she loves, a daughter she adores, a wonderful brother, and an amazing best friend who is always there for her. She refuses to ask for anything more. But then her mother gifts her a magical watch that lets her discover and live out her secret dreams and desires while she sleeps. In her dreams, she finds herself living a completely different life, one of slow days and sunny beaches and a strange, handsome man. A man with a smile and touch that set her alight and leave her craving more. And as the nights pass and she falls deeper into her dream, she also finds herself falling in love - with her dream life and the man at the center of it.
-
This was my first ever Sarah Ready book and I was very pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it a lot! I liked the characters at the center of this novel and the way they interacted with each other, and I enjoyed the romance plotline and the way it bloomed throughout the book, even though there were a few elements (see below) that made me mildly uncomfortable for a chunk of the story. I will admit that there were various parts of this book that put me through the emotional wringer and I might have shed a tear or two, it was a beautiful story and I'm glad I read it!
As a fan of slow burn, I think the overall pacing of the story was good and it worked for me. That said, this book is very wordy. We spend the novel inside Fiona's head, and she has a LOT of inner tangents and monologues that occasionally bogged the book down for me and made it drag, but I also enjoyed getting more insight to the characters and the world, so I don't complain too much, I just wish parts of it had been a little less wordy.
I read the audiobook version of this novel, and I have to say that the narrator did a great job! I really enjoyed listening to Shakira Shute read, and it actually helped make up for how wordy some of the sections were because I was at least enjoying the sound of the book even if I was finding the text itself a bit too wordy or repetitive.
What I liked:
- Good characters! I really liked Max and Aaron, and I adored all the villagers, especially Amy!
- A well done slow-burn romance.
- A good amount of emotional angst and tear-jerking moments that were powerful, but didn't overwhelm the story.
- An amazing narrator for the audiobook version!
What I didn't like:
- Very wordy. This book, especially certain sections could have been way shorter just by saying things or explaining things differently, and it got occasionally tedious.
- There are elements of the romance plotline that feel almost like cheating. Ultimately, none of it really counts as cheating because of pre-arranged understandings and literal obliviousness of the characters involved, but it's something I didn't expect and that readers should be aware of incase that's a sensitive topic!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The love story was so tender, and I really loved the platonic relationships throughout the book as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
-
Summary:
Fiona Abry is busy and content. She has her family's watch company that she loves, a daughter she adores, a wonderful brother, and an amazing best friend who is always there for her. She refuses to ask for anything more. But then her mother gifts her a magical watch that lets her discover and live out her secret dreams and desires while she sleeps. In her dreams, she finds herself living a completely different life, one of slow days and sunny beaches and a strange, handsome man. A man with a smile and touch that set her alight and leave her craving more. And as the nights pass and she falls deeper into her dream, she also finds herself falling in love - with her dream life and the man at the center of it.
-
This was my first ever Sarah Ready book and I was very pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it a lot! I liked the characters at the center of this novel and the way they interacted with each other, and I enjoyed the romance plotline and the way it bloomed throughout the book, even though there were a few elements (see below) that made me mildly uncomfortable for a chunk of the story. I will admit that there were various parts of this book that put me through the emotional wringer and I might have shed a tear or two, it was a beautiful story and I'm glad I read it!
As a fan of slow burn, I think the overall pacing of the story was good and it worked for me. That said, this book is very wordy. We spend the novel inside Fiona's head, and she has a LOT of inner tangents and monologues that occasionally bogged the book down for me and made it drag, but I also enjoyed getting more insight to the characters and the world, so I don't complain too much, I just wish parts of it had been a little less wordy.
I read the audiobook version of this novel, and I have to say that the narrator did a great job! I really enjoyed listening to Shakira Shute read, and it actually helped make up for how wordy some of the sections were because I was at least enjoying the sound of the book even if I was finding the text itself a bit too wordy or repetitive.
What I liked:
- Good characters! I really liked Max and Aaron, and I adored all the villagers, especially Amy!
- A well done slow-burn romance.
- A good amount of emotional angst and tear-jerking moments that were powerful, but didn't overwhelm the story.
- An amazing narrator for the audiobook version!
What I didn't like:
- Very wordy. This book, especially certain sections could have been way shorter just by saying things or explaining things differently, and it got occasionally tedious.
- There are elements of the romance plotline that feel almost like cheating. Ultimately, none of it really counts as cheating because of pre-arranged understandings and literal obliviousness of the characters involved, but it's something I didn't expect and that readers should be aware of incase that's a sensitive topic!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The love story was so tender, and I really loved the platonic relationships throughout the book as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
August 30, 2024
I started off this book thinking I was going to have to force myself to finish it, but boy was I wrong. Once the dreams started, this book pulled me in head first with no warning and wouldn’t let go! I experienced an emotional rollercoaster with this book, but I loved it.
There are a few things that I wish were different (a longer happy ending, fewer choppy sentences in the beginning that almost made me not stop reading), but I love love and the premise of this story. Rating it 5⭐️ because I would reread this book and it made me emotionally invested to the point where I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis for the ARC!
There are a few things that I wish were different (a longer happy ending, fewer choppy sentences in the beginning that almost made me not stop reading), but I love love and the premise of this story. Rating it 5⭐️ because I would reread this book and it made me emotionally invested to the point where I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis for the ARC!
September 2, 2024
LT:Įsimylėjau šitą knygą. Įsimylėjau jos idėja. Man čia viskas buvo tobula. Gale ir verkiau, nes galvojau, kad o dieve, taip negali būti...Rašymo stilius nerealus. Gailiuosi, kad anksčiau nesusipažinau su šita autore, dabar visas jos knygas įsitraukiu į TBR.
EN: I fell in love with this book. I fell in love with her idea. Everything was perfect for me here. In the end, I cried a lot because I thought, oh my god, it can't be like that... The writing style is amazing. I regret not getting to know this author earlier, now I put all her books on my TBR.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC book!
EN: I fell in love with this book. I fell in love with her idea. Everything was perfect for me here. In the end, I cried a lot because I thought, oh my god, it can't be like that... The writing style is amazing. I regret not getting to know this author earlier, now I put all her books on my TBR.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC book!
June 13, 2024
This may be my favorite book of the series!! ❤️❤️
Is it wrong to say I like a book that can emotionally manipulate me? It’s not that I like the tug-of-war. I just enjoy a book that causes me to have an emotional reaction….. not a stress induced reaction.
This is one of the few books where most of the main characters are all so genuinely kind they are impossible not to love. I also really hope that Max gets his own book because I am heartbroken for him. I wasn’t rooting for him in this book, but he deserves his own happy ever after.
Since this story takes place before book one (Ghosted), I love the nod Sarah gives to Daniel’s character when she references Daniel posing in an ad shirtless. It was the perfect touch!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
Is it wrong to say I like a book that can emotionally manipulate me? It’s not that I like the tug-of-war. I just enjoy a book that causes me to have an emotional reaction….. not a stress induced reaction.
This is one of the few books where most of the main characters are all so genuinely kind they are impossible not to love. I also really hope that Max gets his own book because I am heartbroken for him. I wasn’t rooting for him in this book, but he deserves his own happy ever after.
Since this story takes place before book one (Ghosted), I love the nod Sarah gives to Daniel’s character when she references Daniel posing in an ad shirtless. It was the perfect touch!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
May 31, 2024
I loved this book. It is very different from most books I have read but I found that intriguing and I loved that the MCs were a love match that was meant to be. I really rooted for the FMC Fiona to find love. I also really enjoyed being immersed in these locations I’ve never visited. The settings were so well described and the characters were so fond of them that it made me want to visit them someday. I now need to read the two other books in the series (Ghosted & Switched) and I am looking forward to when Wished comes out.
August 9, 2024
Fated (Ghosted Book#3)-Fiona the heroine is Daniel's sister from book 1, but it can be read as a standalone
By Sarah Ready-I've read Ghosted & Switched 4 & 5 ⭐ reads
Setting: Geneva, Switzerland
Publication date: 7/16/24, Read 7/12/24
Format: 437 pgs. & Audio length ~ 13 hours 36 minutes
🗣️Narrator: Shakira Shute
I thought Shute did a great job of bringing a voice to each character. The voices fit the characters with standouts from Fiona, Buttercup, and Daniel. Their voices were the most distinct, but I could easily tell the difference between all characters. The reading style brought the story to life and the pacing flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync. The narrator paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.
POV: 1st person h
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Paranormal
Tropes: Christmas, magical dreams, time travel, cheating, right person/wrong time
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley & Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC for the E-ARC and ALC🩷! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.
💭Summary: Fiona Abry is a single mother who works for the family's Swiss watch business. She's given a pocket watch family heirloom that transports her into a dream world where she's married with two children living on a tropical island.
I loved the idea of a magical watch that makes dreams feel like a reality. The description of the island was an Internet- free utopia. Fiona/Becca's husband Aaron McCormick was a loving father and husband that didn't deserve what Becca and Robert did to him.
I enjoyed Fiona and Daniel's sibling bond. They worked together and helped raise Mila. They also held each other accountable trying to have a life outside of work.
Maximillian "Max" Barone was Fiona's BFF in the present while McCormick and Robert were in her dream. He was in love with Fiona, but was willing to marry her without love. I hope the next book gives him a HEA.
Rating : 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
By Sarah Ready-I've read Ghosted & Switched 4 & 5 ⭐ reads
Setting: Geneva, Switzerland
Publication date: 7/16/24, Read 7/12/24
Format: 437 pgs. & Audio length ~ 13 hours 36 minutes
🗣️Narrator: Shakira Shute
I thought Shute did a great job of bringing a voice to each character. The voices fit the characters with standouts from Fiona, Buttercup, and Daniel. Their voices were the most distinct, but I could easily tell the difference between all characters. The reading style brought the story to life and the pacing flowed easily with the story. The narration and the author were in sync. The narrator paused and announced every time a new chapter came. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.
POV: 1st person h
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Paranormal
Tropes: Christmas, magical dreams, time travel, cheating, right person/wrong time
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley & Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC for the E-ARC and ALC🩷! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.
💭Summary: Fiona Abry is a single mother who works for the family's Swiss watch business. She's given a pocket watch family heirloom that transports her into a dream world where she's married with two children living on a tropical island.
I loved the idea of a magical watch that makes dreams feel like a reality. The description of the island was an Internet- free utopia. Fiona/Becca's husband Aaron McCormick was a loving father and husband that didn't deserve what Becca and Robert did to him.
I enjoyed Fiona and Daniel's sibling bond. They worked together and helped raise Mila. They also held each other accountable trying to have a life outside of work.
Maximillian "Max" Barone was Fiona's BFF in the present while McCormick and Robert were in her dream. He was in love with Fiona, but was willing to marry her without love. I hope the next book gives him a HEA.
Rating : 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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