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Falling asleep was never the hard part.
Waking up is.

For twelve years, my best friend was the one who couldn’t come back.

I crossed a door to bring her home.
I didn’t stop to ask what it would cost to go in after her.

Now I’m the one who can’t find the way out.

There’s a place underneath dreaming, where the rules don’t bend so much as forget to exist. No floor. No body. No way to count how long I’ve been gone.

The man who’s been waiting in that dark has finally stopped watching my best friend and started watching me.

I drove three thousand miles to reach this town.
I fell for three men I was never supposed to want.
Now they’re on the other side of something they can’t cross, reaching for me anyway.

I came back to pull someone home.
I never thought I’d be the one who needed pulling.


Ex Somnis is a slow burn, instant spark, spicy, hurt/comfort, MFMM, Reverse Harem romance with a paranormal edge.
It’s the second book in the Lucid Longing Duet and is not a standalone.

504 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2026

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Blake Black

27 books825 followers

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5 stars
311 (54%)
4 stars
158 (27%)
3 stars
75 (13%)
2 stars
18 (3%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Wendy (bardsblond).
1,558 reviews27 followers
October 4, 2026
Such a lovely duet. What I enjoy about Blake Black’s duets is that a lot of her FMC’s are normal women. I love reading my romantasy books but literally every single one involves an over-powered FMC who is eventually going to reign over a kingdom. Obviously, I love those books but sometimes I want to read books where the women are just, normal. Lennon is a completely plausible person and her romantic interests also seemed like real people. Granted, the conceit involves a highly speculative element with the lucid dreaming/sharing dreamworlds, but beyond that, the characters all felt authentic to me.
Profile Image for Kali Dempsey.
2,742 reviews77 followers
October 7, 2026
5 ⭐ 3.5 🌶️

Oh. My. Goodness. That was absolutely fantastic in every way. The twists at the end had my jaw on the floor and the spice had me ooey gooey in the best ways. I adored Lennon, Paul, Nevan and Ridge all so much and the supporting cast ess amazing too.

The villain was something else... And the web he wove was intense. There were moments of suspense where I couldn't inhale this story fast enough, I needed to know right then and there.

I can't wait to see what's next for Blake. A big thank you to her for this review copy!
782 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2026
FOMO

I read this duet like I was on cr4ck, so perfect, which makes me think, if this book was this amazing, why did it take me a lot of time to find it, so many DNFed books before I hit with this one, it's unfair that I have to search for good books, I only wish BookTokers stop promoting books they haven't read....
So that's why I have FOMO, because for every book I DNF, there could be one slipping away for scrolling so fast....
Profile Image for Chloe Dyson .
443 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶🌶🌶

I will read anything the Blake writes but this duet was definitely so interesting. Loved the ending and the characters were so in depth which I love about her writing. Now I want to know more about dreaming!
Profile Image for Jenna “Meadow”  | The Book of Meadow.
350 reviews61 followers
September 13, 2026
3-3.5
The first book in this series was much better. I still loved the characters and the depth Blake Black adds to all her characters is great, I’m a fan of basically everything she writes.

But this book was too predictable, I knew everything that was going to be revealed and it was frustrating to have to wait half the book for one “reveal” and 90% to get the other. I just felt like those were dragged out and quite obvious.

The best friend is also terrible. I’m sorry. I know if someone gets hurt their grief and pain can make them do out of character things. But she was manipulative and selfish even when circumstances changed and she should have backed off. She was just trying to help herself. And there is never an actual apology or thank you when Lennon helps her. That bothered me the most.

Overall, still a good series and those things may not bother other readers as much. And I’ll still recommend and read whatever Blake Black writes!
Profile Image for Joelle Lavoie.
10 reviews
November 6, 2026
I loved the Soulful Seas Duet by this author, it's one of my favourites. This one is also very well written, with complex characters that are flawed, but relatable. Both duets are one of the few books that I can stand to read several pages of dialogue and still be interested.

The Lucid Longing Duet is emotional, funny, and thought-provoking. I'm not a believer of crystals, tarot cards, and dream-walking, but I find it entertaining. The only thing I would have changed, especially because I prefered it leaned toward the paranormal a bit more, is that Lucien was a real person. Personally, I would have loved if he was more of a sandman/boogieman type character because it would make their situation more desperate. I mean, I hate to say it, but why did they keep him on life-support that long? Would have saved everyone.

I didn't like this one as much as the first because I found it dragged on a bit. I already guessed since the beginning that Seraphine was the love Lucien spoke of after talking about soul-contracts. Therefore, the reveal took too long to play out. Especially since I don't see why Jasper and Nevan's mom didn't just leave sooner. Seemed like that would have been the best for them, like the trauma Nevan went through. She wasn't very present anyway, and it was Mabel that was around for them.

I also don't understand the ending with the deals. Seemed unnecessary to put everyone through that when no one would have stopped Seraphine doing what she actually wanted, even more so because of her illness. Why even pretend to be Tessa? I'm sure Lucien would have made the deal just with Seraphine. Moreover, are we going to leave out the fact that Simon is Lucien's son or grandson and bakes lemon muffins? I'm uncertain about the timeline there too.

Besides that, I liked the use and variation of health issues and sleep disorders. It helped staying grounded to the very real struggles of the characters, and I liked the thin line between realism and the metaphysical. Jasper is MVP.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vee.
13 reviews
September 21, 2026
Lennon quickly became one of the most compelling characters I have read in a long time. Her emotional depth, selflessness, and the way she constantly considers everyone around her before herself make it impossible not to root for her. She carries such a quiet strength, and her willingness to sacrifice everything for those she loves makes her well-deserved happy ending all the more rewarding and emotionally satisfying. You genuinely want the world for her by the final page. The dynamics between the men around her elevate the story even further:

Paul brings an undeniable warmth, maturity, and grounded presence, constantly prioritizing everyone's comfort and emotional safety.😌
Ridge injects much-needed levity with his sharp sarcasm and humor, effortlessly lightening the tension during the most unexpected and high-stakes moments😂
Nevan, the gentle soul of the group, brings a soft, pure, and innocent love that resonates powerfully throughout the entire narrative.😍

Beyond the character bonds, the overarching journey—from navigating the blurred lines of being a lucid dreamer to becoming fully awakened or to get tesss back—is masterfully paced and written with impressive emotional depth. The lore and world-building never feel overwhelming; instead, key figures like Seraphine and Jasper play crucial, well-timed roles in guiding the steps and illuminating the process behind this awakening.

Compelling, emotionally rich, and deeply engaging, this book has that rare pull that keeps you turning pages in a single sitting. It is an unforgettable read and a phenomenal addition to any bookshelf.📚

Absolutely 5 star / Highly recommended ♥️
Profile Image for Stfnie.
1,162 reviews28 followers
September 20, 2026
Review for both books.

I enjoyed that this was different. The characters were older than i’m used to. There was more plot than just lust and romance. The secondary characters were meaningful and felt real. I liked the humor, the small-town autumn-y, found family feel.

That being said, i had trouble staying focused on the second book and i actually skimmed the sex scenes mostly. I even had a moment where i asked myself if i was even interested in the ending or should i dnf? There were moments where the author took the ‘action’ out of the action to prolong the scene, which made the tension fall flat. I felt least connected with Paul and, aside from their first encounter, i didn’t feel like there was any depth to his character or their relationship. The plot (‘what do they need to fix this’) was a bit obvious imo. I loved Jasper. I had a soft spot for Nevan and Ridge was funny. I admired Lennon’s authenticity. I was rooting for Scruffie and was a bit disappointed how that turned out. Would’ve been lovely if he’d had a bigger, more important, part in the story (maybe for Jasper 👀?).

I honestly think these books could’ve been one bigger one with some more editing and eliminating scenes that aren’t completely necessary. But I enjoyed my time reading nonetheless.
188 reviews
September 21, 2026
infinity stars!

Part 2 of this duet was incredible! I am so in love with these characters and their story, everything about this book was amazing. I didn’t think I could love a duet more than soulful seas but this one is right up there! The romance and banter had me smiling and giggling throughout. I couldn’t get enough of the relationships between each character. The side characters were just as awesome as the main and just as memorable. The plot kept you engaged the entire time and desperate for what came next, the twist was crazy. Like all Blake Black books, this left a lasting impression and definitely isn’t like anything else I’ve read. I can’t recommend this duet enough! Everyone needs to meet Lennon the sweet chief whose heart is huge, Nevan the gentile giant who always stays, Ridge the grumpy black cat who has her back and is fiercely protective and Paul the put together rock that keeps her steady. This RH was so perfectly matched. You always knew who was who because these characters were very distinctive. The ending had me crying happy tears and left me a mess. These characters truly deserved their HEA and they fought so hard to get there. Infinity star read!
Profile Image for Ashlyn.
345 reviews
November 5, 2026
Did I love this? Yes and no. Blake does an amazing job writing imperfect people and people with disabilities. Love the representation of the disabilities, loved most of the main characters however the side characters pissed me off.

Jasper and Nevan mom sucked like literally was terrible and completely selfish. Also was she in a relationship with that man before the dream world? Did I miss that?? Also he had a son and people that sat with him. How was he sooo lonely that he was torturing people in his sleep.

Tessa…. Girl…. Did you ever thank your best friend for driving MILES, learn to lucid dream, and sacrificing herself?!? Cause I don’t think she did. That was kinda a major deal.

I’m sorry back to the mom…. You made up a plan and didn’t tell anyone just so you could get what you want? And walked past your son and didn’t even hit him with a bye??? Lord whatever. The Lucien… why you banish that lady if you were just gonna torture her son and literally everyone else? Just be with her and keep that toxic relationship over there. AND I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE MOM DIDNT KNOW WHY THE SON WAS SLEEPWALKING AND NOT HELPING HIM!

Overall a decent read I just couldn’t get over how everyone go into this situation to begin with. Which was cause two selfish people didn’t communicate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
556 reviews1 follower
September 13, 2026
I love all of Blake Black's books. Some more than others. I love that she writes books about women choosing to be child-free. And she hit the nail on the head in this book. One of my fave quotes now. "Wanting this for yourself while also having these little people depending on you. I'm not saying your mom was right to neglect you. She wasn't. She should never have had kids if she wasn't prepared to show up for them. But even good moms struggle." That right there is why I love Blake's books. She really puts it in perspective.
I did enjoy this book it's just not one of my faves from Blake. It seemed rushed. The love was very fast and seemed almost mate level intense. So much lemon and yellow. Not much talking about birth control or wanting to have kids or not. I think it was only discussed with one of the guys. Everything else I loved. The constant fight for Tessa was wonderful. It made me wish for a friend like that. One who always has your back no matter what. The 3 love interests, gah, as I got to know them I saw why she would need all 3. They balanced her out so well and honestly I don't think she could have chosen between them. They each were so distinct and perfect.
Profile Image for Paige Ridler.
139 reviews5 followers
September 20, 2026
Wow! This was such a unique duet, the concept of lucid dreaming and how Blake was able to link that into such a great story was amazing 😍

I don’t have words, this was such a wonderful story with so many different things happening all at once. Lennon was an absolutely adorable person who has a heart of gold and stubbornness of a bull, I am so glad she found her men (yes plural 😉). I have never read a book with lucid dreaming or dream sharing so that was definitely an experience and I adore how Blake wrote it in such a way that someone (me) who has never heard of it could follow along rather than feel like your drowning in new knowledge.

Can I just say that I know he’s a side character but Jasper, I think he is probably one of my favourite in this duet and I NEED more of him 🤣. The obsession with lemons I found very amusing, particularly Ridge’s lollipops.

This had me holding my breath, swooning, tearing up and checking to see if my fingers are breadsticks or normal. So much fun, I am writing this has a joint review.

Tropes
☁️Dream Sharing
🌙Why Choose (MFMM)
☁️Small Town Vibes
🌙Dream Spice
☁️Disability/Mental Health Rep

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/out of 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/out of 5
6 reviews
September 15, 2026
I am so glad that I stuck with this duet and read the second book. I enjoyed it way more than the first one. This author is an auto one click for me, and will continue to be 😊.

Summery:
Did I like the characters? Yes, loved Lenny & Nevan. Dr and all his adorable eccentricities is a close second and Ridge - although more likeable in this book - i’m still not really a fan. I feel like I need a Jasper in my life.

Did I like the plot? Yes, it came together well in this book. The inter-character relationships were stronger, you cared about what happened and you couldn’t put it down. The reveals will surprise no one but it was a fun ride anyway.

Would I recommend the book? If you could read this without the first book then yes, definitely. But… in reality you have to get through the first 40% of book one before you can sink into this duet. On the whole, give it a go.

This book, 4⭐️. Duet as a whole? 3.5 ⭐️

Happy reading 📚
Profile Image for Destiny.
265 reviews9 followers
September 15, 2026
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

an amazing conclusion to in somnis 😩

as amazing as this duet was, it's also just so unique. i'd recommend it to anyone wanting something different, with four distinct main characters, amazing side characters, and a romance that somehow just works.

lennon is the type of fmc i relate to so much. she's adorable, stubborn af, and she will save her best friend at any cost. i loved how each of her relationships with her men came together completely differently, and then getting to watch the friendships within the harem grow too made it even better.

i felt so much love for paul, especially, for taking nolan in and reassuring him that he has people now. 🥹 ridge had me CACKLING, he was so freaking funny in this whole duet. he had such a dry sense of humor. and seeing ridge and paul finally work through their grievances and become friends again?? i loved it. all for lennon. these men would do absolutely anything for her, AHHHH.

the thriller/suspense surrounding "The Man" surprised the fuck out of me. i guessed pieces of it, but there were still things i did NOT see coming. he was such an excellent villain for this duet and kept me wondering what the hell was actually going on until everything finally came together.

this duet was weird, emotional, suspenseful, romantic, and somehow it all worked. i can't wait to see what blake black comes up with next!
Profile Image for Jeanne Pouw.
632 reviews
September 24, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Took me a minute to read just cause it was a busy weekend when I started, but when I did I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what happens. This author has a way of bringing that out of me, the desperate edge of your seat feeling. There was a couple small lulls in the story, making it feel just a tad long (which is the .5 star docking reason) but overall it was amazing. The characters, the love, the friendship, the family, all of it. Plus that first epilogue, ummmm excuse me!! Such a twist I did not expect! I liked the disability representation as well. A lot. I am grown enough to admit I had no idea how anything would work with someone who’s wheelchair bound, not that it couldn’t work, just the dynamics of it all, and reading this really felt eye opening and it was hot! I’m glad he didn’t just get soft treatment, he was treated like the man he is. I’ve read every duet this author has put out and yet again, another one to add to the favourites.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
258 reviews4 followers
September 28, 2026
I really liked book 1 of this duet, but book 2 kind of lost me. I’m a really fast reader, and normally can read a book in a day, or maybe 2 if I’m busy haha
And after like 2 weeks of me trying to finish this book, I had to admit I just wasn’t going to do it.

I always love the emotional factors in Blake’s books, and I normally feel really connected to her characters. However the only character I felt connected to after 1.5 books was Nevan. And I think it was just there was too much separation between all the characters.

All of the lucid dreaming information also lost me. I was interested, but it was just too much information and terminology and got confusing, and it just lost me & took away from me being able to follow the story.

I really love Blake as an author, this duet just wasn’t for me. 😪
Profile Image for Evangeline.
2 reviews
November 6, 2026
A satisfying conclusion, though I wanted just a bit more! Overall, I loved how Lennon and her guys' story wrapped up. It was an emotional finale, but there were a few elements I wished had been explored more thoroughly. I really wanted more depth regarding the story of "the man" and Nevan’s mom. While the twist of the story was foreshadowed I think it would have been nice if we had a bit more of an understanding of their past. Also after all the drama, I would have loved a few more scenes of Lennon and the guys just enjoying their everyday life together. Even though the epilogue did give a satisfying ending. Furthermore Jasper was an absolute ray of sunshine and i loved every scene he was in. A good wrap-up to the series! Even though I wanted more pages dedicated to the side plots and domestic moments, it still left me very happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Iuliana.
24 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2026
This duet overthroned all previous duets and took its deserved spot as no 1 favourites. I have laughed, giggled, cried my eyes out several times, fell in love with all MMCs (Paul and Nevan are best book boyfriends in existence, but Ridge worked his way slowly to that status also) and wish me and Lenny could be BFFS (paint each others nails, chit chat and bake together?! YES PLEASE). I have loved reading her journey to finding her happy ending, and definitely did not see the twist at the end! Only Blake could get me to feel sympathy for the bad guy! I have thoroughly enjoyed the dream world aspect, it’s such a cool concept and would definitely wish we were all able to lucid dream! How cool would that be? 100/10 for plot, characters and spice ❤️
Profile Image for Deborah.
1,036 reviews16 followers
September 14, 2026
This is Inception levels of mindf***ery
I think it may be the best thing Blake’s ever written.
I’ve laughed, cried, and gasped and got so angry at certain characters.
The tension builds and builds, you can see when Lucien’s attention shifts towards Lennon and know you can do nothing against him. That this is someone you just cannot conquer.
My heart broke for Nevan, he out of everyone lost out on the most. Paul chose to martyr himself and Ridge couldn’t stop himself.
All the tethers and promises didn’t prepare me for the ending. But I agreed wholeheartedly with Mabel’s view of Seraphine.
Superb!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for lulu.
141 reviews
October 12, 2026
Blake Black has become one of my favourite authors and each work just keeps getting better and better!! I love the characters and how with each duet we dive in a kind of niche world but one that’s really well developed. Plot and romance can be hard to balance but I think thus author does it really well!

This latest duet just adds to my enthusiasm. I loved everything about it. The characters. The setting. The lucid dreamscape. The ending that ties it ll together beautifully.

This one will definitely be sitting with me for a while. <3

I can tell how much work goes into these books, so I’ll wait very patiently but VERY excitedly for the next ones
Profile Image for Karen R.
49 reviews
November 3, 2026
​Ex Somnis was a solid follow-up to In Somnis and a satisfying end to The Lucid Longing Duet!

​While the pacing in this second installment slowed down a bit compared to the non-stop momentum of book one, I was still completely invested in these characters and needed to keep reading to find out how everything wrapped up.

​The strength of this book really lies in the character dynamics. Blake Blake did a wonderful job leaning into the reverse harem relationship building, found family elements, and the deep emotional connections formed through trauma bonding. The lucid dreaming concept continued to keep the world feeling unique and distinct.
Profile Image for Ellie.
108 reviews
November 4, 2026
I can't believe I missed a Blake Black release!

Every series gets better and better, you can really see their writing growing with each duology and this is her best yet. I adored the Soulful Seas duet, and this took everything I loved from that duology and increased it tenfold. The found family, the characterizations of the main crew, the disability rep.

Lennon is a strong character, not because she can kick your ass (though she will try if you fuck with anyone around her), but because she is so truly herself in every scene. Kind, funny, empathetic, anxious, talented. And I could go on a long rant describing her guys too.

5/5 stars

Time to re-read soulful seas for the fourth time ;)
Profile Image for Ariana Martin.
462 reviews
September 10, 2026
The conclusion our hearts needed!
Lucid dreaming, dream sharing, longing (which doesn’t feel like a strong enough word), and so much feeling!

I loved this book so much. The first one laid all the ground work. And this one brought it all together in one perfect package.

The suspense, love, drama, and connection that this story builds is amazing. It walks just slightly on the unbelievable side which makes the story just that much better.

I received this as an ARC for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
274 reviews
September 11, 2026
What an amazing duet

Blake's books are always well written, unique, and vastly different from what I ever expect them to be. There is so much depth, love, and passion in this story i couldn't stopnreading once I started. Lennons story is one i will read again and again because it resonated so deeply with me. This story, these characters, and their journey was something unlike any other and i cannot say enough good things about these books.

Duet: 5/5 ⭐️📚✨️
Book: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice: 3/5 🌶
Profile Image for BookishBibliotherapy • AB.
226 reviews31 followers
September 11, 2026
Loved this duet!

These characters are so special, and I loved the ending of this duet. A beautiful, imaginative, and emotional story of imperfect people finding each other. Not only in waking life, but dreams and the spaces in between.
.
.
,

And my favorite quote without context -
“And you’re vulnerable to cults.”

“I am absolutely not vulnerable to cults.”

“You bought a haunted doll on eBay.”

“That was research.”
Profile Image for Kari.
606 reviews6 followers
September 12, 2026
Amazing as always ❤️

First off I want to thank Blake Black for releasing the duet together! So I had 2 solid days of pure reading enjoyment! What can I say this book was out there but I knew it was going to fall in love with the story like I always do. I think the best thing about her storytelling is yes they can be sad or touch on dark topics but the humor that keeps it light.
Profile Image for Nicole.
436 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2026
This conclusion to the duet was just perfection. The characters worked well together and I was invested in their story from start to finish and was cheering on their well earned HEA. The little hints throughout this book helped me deduce the ending slightly and I was proven right with the ending. I enjoyed the close knit found family our characters found themselves in and the extended epilogue was the cherry on top the cake. One of my favorite reads for the year. This author never disappoints.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews