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In Her Dreams #1
In Her Dreams
What if you could experience another person’s memory? Good or bad? Would you want to? What if you didn’t have a choice?
Sixteen-year old Emily Chandler would love to be normal. But every night, instead of fantasizing about her own life, she dreams the memories of dead people, reliving their happiest moments… and their most painful experiences.
But when Emily begins to have consecutive dreams of Victorian era Lucy, she finally finds an escape from her own friendless waking life. And the dreams get even better when Lucy meets her fiancé’s cousin—a handsome bachelor Emily doesn’t mind seeing every night.
But when Emily accidently changes the outcome of one of her dreams, thereby shifting reality, she has to make important decisions about choices and control. And what she believes is right.
Sixteen-year old Emily Chandler would love to be normal. But every night, instead of fantasizing about her own life, she dreams the memories of dead people, reliving their happiest moments… and their most painful experiences.
But when Emily begins to have consecutive dreams of Victorian era Lucy, she finally finds an escape from her own friendless waking life. And the dreams get even better when Lucy meets her fiancé’s cousin—a handsome bachelor Emily doesn’t mind seeing every night.
But when Emily accidently changes the outcome of one of her dreams, thereby shifting reality, she has to make important decisions about choices and control. And what she believes is right.
333 pages, ebook
Published March 22, 2018
112 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Reeder
34 books447 followersJoanna Reeder is a USA Today Bestselling author who takes her readers time traveling to the past and through the portals to Faerie (and ALWAYS have a dash of romance!).
She lives with her husband, three littles, a dog, and a cat. When she isn’t writing or reading, Joanna enjoys bike rides with her family, vacationing at the beach, and cuddling on the couch with a good movie.
She’s a believer in the paranormal (seriously, she has stories!) and her motto is, "A Dr. Pepper a day keeps insanity away!"
If you love time travel and fantasy, sign up for Joanna’s weekly newsletter. https://joannareeder.com/getmyfreebies
You can also chat with her on Instagram @joanna_reeder
Or on Facebook @joannareederauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 24, 2018
"In Her Dreams" was definitely not what I expected and kept me hooked until the very end. A fiction novel that took me just under two days to read when I was planning on just reading a couple chapters a day. It was a refreshing read because it was a unique idea and storyline which I have a hard time finding with the amount of books out there. And I am an avid reader.
I normally dont like novels written in the first person as much since I feel it can become very one dimensional to the story. However, the author did an amazing job keeping the emotion and drama tangible throughout the book. I did feel that in the excitement and complexity of events near the end that there were parts that were a little confusing or muddled. However, without giving anything away the specific situation is kind of a paradox and the author did a great job not letting it get out of control.
I loved the romantic part of the story because it didnt take over the story, it wasnt predictable, and it stayed tasteful. This is a book I will gladly recommend to family and friends and if you are considering reading it I suggest you do, you will not be disappointed.
I normally dont like novels written in the first person as much since I feel it can become very one dimensional to the story. However, the author did an amazing job keeping the emotion and drama tangible throughout the book. I did feel that in the excitement and complexity of events near the end that there were parts that were a little confusing or muddled. However, without giving anything away the specific situation is kind of a paradox and the author did a great job not letting it get out of control.
I loved the romantic part of the story because it didnt take over the story, it wasnt predictable, and it stayed tasteful. This is a book I will gladly recommend to family and friends and if you are considering reading it I suggest you do, you will not be disappointed.
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January 3, 2023Did you know this series has a next-gen series? Dream Walker Academy is about Emily’s daughter Tessa and her dream-walking friends as they navigate their teenage years while experiencing the memories of the dead in their sleep.
February 24, 2018
**GREAT READ!** There is romance, suspense, drama and a story line that will keep you guessing ‘till the end. The writer’s words just flow. She describes the scenes and events with artistry, just enough detail to make the book beautiful and descriptive, but not so much that it is cumbersome to read. The whole point of reading a book is to be taken to a far away place, and this book definitely does that. This is the first novel in a trilogy and I am so excited for the author to release book #2! This is the perfect, clean YA book for when you just want to curl up and read something fun. Despite it being a fun read, the writer is not afraid to touch on some heavier topics: mental health issues, including suicide and depression.
February 24, 2018
This book was really compelling! I read the whole thing in about two days, mostly because I was dying to know what happened next. There were a few small issues that I assume came from the independent publishing (fewer editors) but none distracting enough to keep it from being a really fun, surprising story. The premise was creative, the writing was excellent. I would definitely read a sequel.
March 1, 2018
I loved this book and I am very impressed that this is a debut novel for Ms. Reeder. I can hardly wait for her next work to be available.
This is a beautiful blend of drama, mystery, teenage angst, and romance. Not over the top in any single genre but woven together so skillfully.
I started reading this book at work (it is permissible at my job), I didn't finish the first day. I could hardly wait to get to work the next morning to finish reading about Emily's adventures. I would highly recommend this book to anyone for an enjoyable reading opportunity.
This is a beautiful blend of drama, mystery, teenage angst, and romance. Not over the top in any single genre but woven together so skillfully.
I started reading this book at work (it is permissible at my job), I didn't finish the first day. I could hardly wait to get to work the next morning to finish reading about Emily's adventures. I would highly recommend this book to anyone for an enjoyable reading opportunity.
December 3, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I read it in one sitting. It is such a captivating and unique story. The plot is engaging and the characters are so lovable. There are so many things I didn’t expect to happen and oh my gosh it was all amazing! I can’t wait to see what happens next with Emily and Andrew!
March 22, 2020
I liked the idea in this book. It was pretty unique. It was well written and easy to read.
February 9, 2022
I had a hard time differentiating between where Emily was in her life which ended up making me more confused than anything while reading this. However, that cliffhanger ending had me wanting to continue with book 2 to see what happens between her and Andrew.
July 2, 2025
Ok. Wow. This book was hard to put down. It was haunting and intriguing. I felt like there were a few unanswered questions, but it didn’t take away from the entire experience.
Will definitely read the next book in the series!
Will definitely read the next book in the series!
February 28, 2018
I had planned on reading this book over the course of a few days. Bwahahaha! The only thing that kept me from reading it all in one go was that I didn't start it until 1am, and had to get up early the next morning.
I found the concept delightfully novel, and the dialogue easily digestible and engaging.
The book had a few plot inconsistencies, and the ending felt abrupt, which is why I knocked off a star. Seeing that this is "Book 1" makes me feel better about the ending not being as tidy as I prefer.
I enjoyed the book and look forward to more from this emerging author.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of the book at no charge in exchange for my unbiased review.
I found the concept delightfully novel, and the dialogue easily digestible and engaging.
The book had a few plot inconsistencies, and the ending felt abrupt, which is why I knocked off a star. Seeing that this is "Book 1" makes me feel better about the ending not being as tidy as I prefer.
I enjoyed the book and look forward to more from this emerging author.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of the book at no charge in exchange for my unbiased review.
February 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. When I started reading I had no idea what the book was about but instantly became captivated by the unique storyline. I read the book in just one day because I couldn't put it down. The author did a wonderful job pulling me into the story and then keeping me engrossed by her interesting twists throughout the entire book. It was the perfect mix of adventure, suspense, and of course romance. It was a fun, clean read that kept me guessing at the end of every chapter. I would definitely recommend this book and can't wait for the sequel to come out!
January 16, 2021
I quite enjoyed this book. It kind of reminded me of a romanticised version of 'If I Wake'. It had the same past and present format. I listened to the audiobook and the narration fit the story.
December 29, 2020
Emily suffers from night terrors. At least that's what her family believes. In reality, she walks through the lives of those nearing death, able only to bring comfort. Or is she?
Time travel novels are notoriously difficult to achieve, but Reeder has embedded a generational romance and unfolding paradox within a different take on the genre. The narrative, like most for time travel, requires concentration, but drives us through, experiencing the pain of Emily's 'curse'.
The romance element is clever and the characters nicely rounded, particularly the Harker generations.
As the opening to a series, I wasn't expecting full resolution, but I could have done with more of a sense of conclusion to this part of the story.
All in all, an entertaining and intriguing read. Four stars.
Time travel novels are notoriously difficult to achieve, but Reeder has embedded a generational romance and unfolding paradox within a different take on the genre. The narrative, like most for time travel, requires concentration, but drives us through, experiencing the pain of Emily's 'curse'.
The romance element is clever and the characters nicely rounded, particularly the Harker generations.
As the opening to a series, I wasn't expecting full resolution, but I could have done with more of a sense of conclusion to this part of the story.
All in all, an entertaining and intriguing read. Four stars.
March 13, 2019
LOVE!!!
Emily dreams of other people's lives. She dreams of their fears, their triumphs, their disappointments... and their deaths. Those are the worst.
But when she begins dreaming of a young Victorian woman named Lucy, Emily is intrigued. She dreams of Lucy night after night, falling more and more in love with her life, her world. Plus, there's a handsome young man that Lucy is spending time with--her fiance's cousin--and Emily is swooning.
Then suddenly there's this new guy at school, except everyone already knows him. A friendship blossoms, and maybe something more, but where can that even go when she can't get Dream Guy out of her head?
When Emily realizes Lucy is fated to die just months before her wedding, Emily decides to change her dreams.
Except these aren't just dreams. These are real lives, real people that lived and died in the past, their bodies buried in her family's graveyard. Emily has no idea what will happen if she saves Lucy, but she's not yet ready to let go of Dream Guy.
I raced through book one, tried to put it aside to read another, and decided I couldn't concentrate on anything else until I had finished this series. Holy crow! The characters were relatable, the drama heart-wrenching, and the entire plot was mind-blowing. This series felt so fresh, so believable, and it stuck with me for days afterward. I think I may have just gotten my first book hangover.
READ THIS! If you read nothing else this year, this series is outstanding. And I have it on good authority that the author has created a book bundle, so you can totally binge read to your heart's content.
Emily dreams of other people's lives. She dreams of their fears, their triumphs, their disappointments... and their deaths. Those are the worst.
But when she begins dreaming of a young Victorian woman named Lucy, Emily is intrigued. She dreams of Lucy night after night, falling more and more in love with her life, her world. Plus, there's a handsome young man that Lucy is spending time with--her fiance's cousin--and Emily is swooning.
Then suddenly there's this new guy at school, except everyone already knows him. A friendship blossoms, and maybe something more, but where can that even go when she can't get Dream Guy out of her head?
When Emily realizes Lucy is fated to die just months before her wedding, Emily decides to change her dreams.
Except these aren't just dreams. These are real lives, real people that lived and died in the past, their bodies buried in her family's graveyard. Emily has no idea what will happen if she saves Lucy, but she's not yet ready to let go of Dream Guy.
I raced through book one, tried to put it aside to read another, and decided I couldn't concentrate on anything else until I had finished this series. Holy crow! The characters were relatable, the drama heart-wrenching, and the entire plot was mind-blowing. This series felt so fresh, so believable, and it stuck with me for days afterward. I think I may have just gotten my first book hangover.
READ THIS! If you read nothing else this year, this series is outstanding. And I have it on good authority that the author has created a book bundle, so you can totally binge read to your heart's content.
June 7, 2020
Really well-written time travel series
Time travel is always hard to handle, but Joanna reeder does this really well! It's clearly just the start of the series, but there aren't ANY of my peeves (cliffhanger endings, love triangles, badly researched culture...) and it's REALLY WELL WRITTEN. The story is really good too, whether you end here or make it to the end of the series. And the highlight here is really the plot. Full of great twists and interesting ideas...it's great.
Time travel is always hard to handle, but Joanna reeder does this really well! It's clearly just the start of the series, but there aren't ANY of my peeves (cliffhanger endings, love triangles, badly researched culture...) and it's REALLY WELL WRITTEN. The story is really good too, whether you end here or make it to the end of the series. And the highlight here is really the plot. Full of great twists and interesting ideas...it's great.
September 11, 2020
Meeting Lucy
I was a bit confused at the beginning. I read so many books that I lose track of a series. Once I realized it was a death dream I was hooked. Meeting Lucy and eventually saving her was exciting. Was it wrong to save her, I will let you decide. Is it wrong to save anyone in a death dream. I still don't know. What happens if you save a bad person? But falling in love in a dream is confusing but wonderful.
I was a bit confused at the beginning. I read so many books that I lose track of a series. Once I realized it was a death dream I was hooked. Meeting Lucy and eventually saving her was exciting. Was it wrong to save her, I will let you decide. Is it wrong to save anyone in a death dream. I still don't know. What happens if you save a bad person? But falling in love in a dream is confusing but wonderful.
December 29, 2022
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
May 13, 2019
Haunting and thought-provoking.
March 21, 2020
Good escapism reading
Thought this would be the usual time travel and found it to be a delicious break from the norm. Thoroughly recommend.
Thought this would be the usual time travel and found it to be a delicious break from the norm. Thoroughly recommend.
June 30, 2020
This is time travel romance at its finest. An enticing turn of the century culture is paired brilliantly with relatable contemporary issues. Perfect for anyone looking to escape reality.
March 8, 2019
I admire the author for finishing her first novel and for handling the logistics of time travel with multiple versions of reality in three different time periods (at least). However, I didn't really enjoy the book.
If you look at other reviews for _In Her Dreams_, most of the readers were very engaged in the novel and finished at a faster pace than anticipated. So maybe go read their reviews.
My grumpy review: I do not enjoy reading about new love (infatuation), and there was a lot of explanation about the logistics of time travel. And there was a lot of yelling and crying.
I'm reading all the debut authors for the 2018 Whitney Awards, and I am probably not the ideal reader because I do not like romance novels, and many of the books in the debut category include a strong romance element (even if they are nominated in YA speculative fiction, as this one is, or YA General, as Girl at the Grave is--which has a love triangle central to the plot). I also used to enjoy speculative more when I was in my teens and twenties.
Now I like realistic fiction such as Marianne Robinson, Elizabeth Strout, and Kent Haruf.
If you look at other reviews for _In Her Dreams_, most of the readers were very engaged in the novel and finished at a faster pace than anticipated. So maybe go read their reviews.
My grumpy review: I do not enjoy reading about new love (infatuation), and there was a lot of explanation about the logistics of time travel. And there was a lot of yelling and crying.
I'm reading all the debut authors for the 2018 Whitney Awards, and I am probably not the ideal reader because I do not like romance novels, and many of the books in the debut category include a strong romance element (even if they are nominated in YA speculative fiction, as this one is, or YA General, as Girl at the Grave is--which has a love triangle central to the plot). I also used to enjoy speculative more when I was in my teens and twenties.
Now I like realistic fiction such as Marianne Robinson, Elizabeth Strout, and Kent Haruf.
February 6, 2022
I received a free code from the author, I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
This is the first book in the series, I haven't read anything by this author before this. This book is not my usual type, but I can honestly say it impressed me. The storyline is mind blowing, and it's so emotional in places I choked up. Emily is a 16 year old girl with a unique ability, although at times it feels more like a curse. The people who's lives she enters, the connection to them and the way she handles each one is both achingly painful yet also heartwarming. Her compassion towards others and wanting to help them, is both heroic and tragic. The things she discovers about her ability, and those of others she meets. Her feelings for 2 very different, but somewhat similar young men. The people she can't save weighing her down, and all the problems she has to deal with due to her gift. The narrator does such an incredible job presenting Emily, she captures her emotions beautifully. I so desperately want to listen to book 2 and 3 now, this is an interesting story with such an amazing youngish female character. A must read, and I'm so grateful I got a chance to listen to this book.
This is the first book in the series, I haven't read anything by this author before this. This book is not my usual type, but I can honestly say it impressed me. The storyline is mind blowing, and it's so emotional in places I choked up. Emily is a 16 year old girl with a unique ability, although at times it feels more like a curse. The people who's lives she enters, the connection to them and the way she handles each one is both achingly painful yet also heartwarming. Her compassion towards others and wanting to help them, is both heroic and tragic. The things she discovers about her ability, and those of others she meets. Her feelings for 2 very different, but somewhat similar young men. The people she can't save weighing her down, and all the problems she has to deal with due to her gift. The narrator does such an incredible job presenting Emily, she captures her emotions beautifully. I so desperately want to listen to book 2 and 3 now, this is an interesting story with such an amazing youngish female character. A must read, and I'm so grateful I got a chance to listen to this book.
January 3, 2023
The first chapter of this book is absolutely stunning. It sucked me in and was so beautifully written that I got chills. Truly magical.
After that bombshell of an opening, I will admit that it took me several chapters to get re-invested into the story, simply because it has been a while since I have read a YA Urban Fantasy. HOWEVER, I got snatched right back in by Reeder's masterful ability to pull all of her plot strings perfectly back together.
Everything plot detail was interwoven beautifully together, and once some of those pieces started to fall into place, I couldn't put the book down. For how short the book is, I am thoroughly impressed by all the layers presented in it.
All in all, I loved this book, and will promptly be cracking open the second one as soon as I am done writing this review. I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves time-travel, clean romance, well-layered intrigue, and stories that come full circle in beautiful ways.
After that bombshell of an opening, I will admit that it took me several chapters to get re-invested into the story, simply because it has been a while since I have read a YA Urban Fantasy. HOWEVER, I got snatched right back in by Reeder's masterful ability to pull all of her plot strings perfectly back together.
Everything plot detail was interwoven beautifully together, and once some of those pieces started to fall into place, I couldn't put the book down. For how short the book is, I am thoroughly impressed by all the layers presented in it.
All in all, I loved this book, and will promptly be cracking open the second one as soon as I am done writing this review. I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves time-travel, clean romance, well-layered intrigue, and stories that come full circle in beautiful ways.
November 16, 2024
I actually thought this was a cute book. I read it because a friend of mine knew the author and recommended it to me, so I decided to give it a try.
As fair warning for my review, I'm not a fan of romance, and I do realize this is technically considered a romance (I probably would have just rated it a 3, but figured I'd rate it one higher since I know I'm not really the intended audience for the book). The only thing, really, that I didn't like about it was all the references to kissing, although they were usually brief and not "steamy" in any way, so it wasn't a big deal, but I still would have rather done without.
Other than that, though, I thought the story was fun and the whole concept was intriguing. I found myself wanting to find out what would happen next and how things would unfold and how things really worked. I'll admit I'm curious to read the next book if I can find it (my library didn't carry it).
As fair warning for my review, I'm not a fan of romance, and I do realize this is technically considered a romance (I probably would have just rated it a 3, but figured I'd rate it one higher since I know I'm not really the intended audience for the book). The only thing, really, that I didn't like about it was all the references to kissing, although they were usually brief and not "steamy" in any way, so it wasn't a big deal, but I still would have rather done without.
Other than that, though, I thought the story was fun and the whole concept was intriguing. I found myself wanting to find out what would happen next and how things would unfold and how things really worked. I'll admit I'm curious to read the next book if I can find it (my library didn't carry it).
July 10, 2022
I couldn't put it down
This was definitely a different sort of story, but I really loved it! Time travel books are not always my favorite--there are some I really like but I don't usually seek them out because they can be hard for me to get into. But the premise for this one intrigued me so I gave it a shot and I'm so glad I did! It's been awhile since a story grabbed me like this one. Trying to figure out the mysteries and picking apart nuances... It was fun. And basically I'm off to start the next book after this review because there's more to the story and I'm HERE FOR IT.
So anyway, I recommend this book. It's intriguing, sweet romance, semi-complicated plot, and not too angsty for a YA.
This was definitely a different sort of story, but I really loved it! Time travel books are not always my favorite--there are some I really like but I don't usually seek them out because they can be hard for me to get into. But the premise for this one intrigued me so I gave it a shot and I'm so glad I did! It's been awhile since a story grabbed me like this one. Trying to figure out the mysteries and picking apart nuances... It was fun. And basically I'm off to start the next book after this review because there's more to the story and I'm HERE FOR IT.
So anyway, I recommend this book. It's intriguing, sweet romance, semi-complicated plot, and not too angsty for a YA.
March 1, 2019
Wow! An excellent book. The premise is so interesting and the writing is very descriptive - the world building is detailed, yet it all flows together so well. This is not a book to speed read your way through. Concentration is needed to keep up with the various spirits with whom Emily "spirit walks" and to connect the various clues left in each encounter. This is a book one could read again and again and still see new connections. On the teen side of the story, the various "sides" of high school interaction so very well described -- some scenes my body cringed in memory and others sang with remembered joy! This is a must read!
February 17, 2022
This was my first experience with Joanna Reeder's work, and I enjoyed the story. I thought the cover was gorgeous. I found the storyline to be unique. I was intrigued by the tale; however, this was the first time that I wish that I had read the novel rather than listened to the audiobook. Aastha Gupta's narration was a detraction to the story in that she read with little to no expression with extended and distracting pauses between each line. There were times when she seemed bored with the material. If I could have left no stars for the performance category, I would have. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily posted this review.
June 13, 2023
fantastic time travel novel
This is a fantastic time travel novel. I love how the main character dream walks and inhabits other people’s bodies at a pivotal moment. It’s described as being a guardian angel which really fits how the time traveler is there to help the person through that moment. I loved how changes made in the past rippled into the present. It was really cool to discover what was happening and how actions taken by time travelers changed the present for them. The characters are all well drawn and layered. There isn’t a character you don’t feel for in this story. So happy it’s a trilogy! This one hooked me completely and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
This is a fantastic time travel novel. I love how the main character dream walks and inhabits other people’s bodies at a pivotal moment. It’s described as being a guardian angel which really fits how the time traveler is there to help the person through that moment. I loved how changes made in the past rippled into the present. It was really cool to discover what was happening and how actions taken by time travelers changed the present for them. The characters are all well drawn and layered. There isn’t a character you don’t feel for in this story. So happy it’s a trilogy! This one hooked me completely and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
April 22, 2019
Wow, this setting was so realistic that when I finished reading, I was confused for a bit about what was real and if I get a 'do-over' in another reality... it's been awhile since I've been pulled that far into a story world. I'm not usually into time-travel, especially alternate-realities/changing time, but I enjoyed this book. I really liked the characters, and the story twists keep your attention. I did wish, when I got to the end, that more of the rules were established, as far as how the dreams work-- but that's a personal preference. If you like time travel, I highly recommend this one.
July 24, 2018
What a great story! Joanna Reeder excellently intermingled past , present and future timelines..Definately a book that will keep you up at night to see who is who and what event can be changed or not in a dream state...Definately makes one wonder about time..! Will definately read the sequel! I won thid book in a rafflecopter contest..and I am very pleased I did to be able to be introduced to this talented writer!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews