Ashley has loved the same boy since high school. She knew Davis Frothingham was special even before he championed her at her senior prom. She also knew he was completely out of her league.
Years later, her attraction for him is still there, but Davis? He doesn’t even remember her.
When Ashley is tasked with being the nurse for Davis’ terminally ill grandmother, she’s thrown back into his world. More than anything, she wants him to remember her, but that recollection could come at a price of its own.
Can Ashley accept that she’s good enough for Davis? And can Davis learn to love a girl from the wrong side of the tracks?
Find out in this delightfully fun romcom about love and life in Creek Water, Missouri!
Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.
She's a USA Today Bestselling & multi-award-winning author of romantic comedies, non-fiction humor, thrillers, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017, 2019
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards and Top Shelf Book Awards, 2017
הספר הרביעי (והאחרון, למרבה הצער) בסדרה על העיירה קריק ווטר ומשפחת פרות'ינגהאם. אשלי הענייה, בת לאמא חד הורית שנפטרה בגיל צעיר מסרטן, היתה מאוהבת בדייוויס פרות'ינגהאם כל התיכון. היא עדיין חיה בשכונת הקראוונים שבה התגוררה בתיכון, אליה נאלצה לחזור כדי לטפל באמה החולה, ועובדת בשתי עבודות כדי לחסוך כסף לקנות לה בית משלה. בתיכון עברה התעללות מצד נער בשם צ'אד וגם מצד חברתו של דייוויס בתקופה ההיא, ג'סיקה. אשלי עובדת בבית האבות הסיעודי שבו נמצאת סבתו של דייוויס, הסובלת מדמנציה, ומשפחת פורת'ינגהאם שוכרת אותה כדי שתכין ותלווה אותה למפגשים משפחתיים ולחתונתה של אמי, כך שיוצא לה לבלות ולהכיר את דייוויס יותר מקרוב. אשלי מנסה להתגבר על רגשי הנחיתות שלה, על בדידותה ועל החוויות הקשות שעברה בתיכון כדי לסלול לעצמה דרך חדשה בחיים. גם הספר הזה חמוד מאוד כמו שאר הסדרה, והחלקים הקשורים לסבתא פרות'ינגהאם ולמצבה מאוד מרגשים. בספר שזורים קטעים מיומן שכתבה אשלי בתקופת התיכון ובתקופה שטיפלה באמה, שגם היו מרגשים. מצד שני, לטעמי אשלי זנחה את הכעסים שלה על אלו שהתעללו בה והתגברה על רגשי הנחיתות שלה בצורה מאוד מהירה ולא ממש ריאלית והגיונית, ולכן הורדתי לספר כוכב. יחד עם זאת, אהבתי ונהניתי מאוד לקרוא את כל הסדרה, ובהחלט ממליצה. הייתי שמחה אם היא הייתה ממשיכה והיו ספרים נוספים על חלק מדמויות המשנה (הייתי שמחה לקרוא מה קרה לשלבי, למשל).
When I look back at it, I don't think I would say The Dream is a good book...but that didn't stop me from having fun reading it! Going into this book I was really excited for the romance because who doesn't love a second chance(ish) romance?! I was let down, though, because the feelings Ashley had for Davis were just *too* much, in my opinion. She put him on such a high pedestal and seemed obsessed. Because of this I wasn't invested in their happily ever after. I do believe they had *some* chemistry but their relationship just wasn't believable for me. Being inside Ashley's head got really confusing and there were a bunch of times that I would think to myself 'Ashley WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!' Looking back at it, though... it does fit with the fact that Ashley was going through a period in her life where she was trying to figure out what she wanted and where she was going, so I can't really say that that was a weakness of the book. With all of this being said I had fun reading the book. There's always something about small towns that pull you in. At times the book went into 'are we back in high school' territory but I did enjoy seeing Ashley come to terms with the fact that whatever anyone else thinks doesn't matter. The relationship she ended up building with Jessica was cute, and her and Buck's friendship just made me so happy that they had each other. My *favourite* part of the book was the Frothinghams! You could see that they loved each other very much- and there were definitely times when I became emotional when any of the kids/grandkids interacted with Gran- so it was heartwarming to see Ashley be accepted into that. I didn't know this book was part of a series but I'll be looking at the others!
Also- another thing I didn't like and would like to call out is how bullying (and don't forget the sexual assault!) was dealt with here. I feel like this book was giving Chad and Jessica a free pass since "they had stuff going on".
Overall, I wouldn't say I recommend the book but I don't regret reading it. I'm also excited to read the others in the series!
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, provided in exchange for an honest review.
Um? I feel like this is a high-two-star or a low-three-star. 2.5, maybe?
I was engrossed by the book while I was reading it, specifically the first part. (I gave my boss a really enthusiastic toddler show-and-tell plot synopsis. She was very patient with me, even though I just now realized how embarrassing my rant was. Sorry, Gail.)
Ashley's backstory was great and I liked how they weaved in so much of her past in the initial chapters. I think having diary entries that were on-theme with the following chapter got a little stale, but overall, her past self was fleshed out pretty well. I didn't care for the situation with her best friend. I like that they manage an opposite sex best friendship. Buck/Alexander isn't secretly gay, just not right for Ashley. It's a low bar but a welcome change.
In any case, Ashley's set-up was great. I don't like how they angled us into forgiveness towards her
I know this review is mostly negative but that's mostly because I have a bad habit of going on and on and on about things I don't like. This book was fine!
“The Dream” serves readers with a tantalizing storyline where the lead characters have to maneuver a tough series of highs and lows to find their level ground.
4.5 I absolutely loved Ashley’s story! I wish it would’ve been a dual point of view but I still enjoyed Ashley and Davis story!
I haven’t read the first 3 books in the series but I want to because I love this charming town and the people in it! I love that there was redemption for all even the bod guy got some time to shine!
Ashely is a sweetheart who believes in hard work and dedication! As she navigates her world to achieve her dreams she finds that the unexpected is always the lost beautiful!
This was an emotional but beautiful read! I loved Ashley’s strength and her beautiful heart! I also loved Davis’s family! I hope Buck gets a book!
No way can I get okay with this ending. I don't care what Chad's reasons were but what he did to Ashley for 3 years was bad. Her terror seeing him at the bar over a decade later shows us how scarred she is. And the apology set up was not done well at all, too easily swept under the rug.
Let me start by saying that I really love this series by Whitney Dineen. These books are great PG/PG-13 stories that I often recommend to other romance readers. This book just wasn't my favorite of the bunch. It's a modern retelling of "Pretty In Pink" and that aspect of it is so fun! I loved the 80's references and music.
I absolutely loved the female lead. Ashley is a great heroine. She is hard-working, a romantic, a caregiver, loving, sweet, feisty, and fun! I adored the scenes in which she cared for elderly patients in a care facility and the moments between her and one particular elderly patient with Alzheimer's had me near tears.
The male best friend/maybe romantic hero in this story is also so absolutely lovable! The scenes with these two together are hilarious. It makes you long for your own fabulous guy friend to help you make it through the horrors of High School.
The other potential romantic hero was harder for me to like. He is a bit wishy-washy for my taste, although he has a sweetness that I really liked. I just wanted him to be a bit more Alpha and less vague about his feelings and in his actions.
There are some great stories of redemption and righting past mistakes in this book. One that I really liked and one that I felt excused a wrong much too lightly. There are certain acts committed that I feel need much more reparation than an "I'm sorry, here's how MY fear made me do that horrible thing I did to you". Maybe I just have a super-awful, unforgiving, black heart (READ: I can't even participate in the Grudge Olympics anymore because I have gone Pro).
If you like a Love Triangle Romance you might like this one!
Trigger Warning: Attempted Sexual Assault Note: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
“...the mood is quickly evaporating to the point I’m not sure we could rekindle it with a dry forest and a blow torch.”
‘The Dream’ contained humor even in the most serious of situations. All of Ashley’s diary entries felt as though she was speaking right to the reader. The entire book felt so relatable which is why it would appeal to a massive audience. The second half of the book picked up the pace. The characters seemed like people one would encounter on a daily basis. Details on the careers of these characters helped develop the story better. Davis’s family were homely and fun. Buck, Ashley’s best friend is such an enigmatic character. His dramatic antics were enjoyable. Ashley becomes a more well-rounded person by the end of the book and that was satisfying. Background characters and their stories added depth to this book, one particular character, and her story, specifically was heart-wrenching.
The reader gets introduced to a love triangle at 50% of the book. That subplot wasn’t thorough because the reader does not know much about Davis. Ashley never openly communicated with him but expected him to comprehend the hints that she passed out. The reveals at the end of the book were typical and predictable. Buck overshadowed Davis throughout the book. Ashley and Davis’s relationship felt incomplete. The ending was rushed, though it will leave the reader thoroughly satisfied and appreciative of the way things turn out.
This book is recommended for readers who are interested in a typical good old rom-com. ‘The Dream’ is a cozy read which hits close to home. ARC provided by 33 Partner Publishing and Netgalley. Thank you.
Ashely moved from Chicago to Creek Water with her mother when she was a kid. But school wasn’t easy and certain incidents have plagued her memory.
Ash is a lovely, independent and hard working thirty year old woman. She juggles multiple jobs – a health care professional by day and a waitstaff by night. Her goal right now in life is to buy a home and move out of the current house – a trailer. Professional life is great while she knows not her personal life. Her mother departed when she was twenty three and she was the only chance family she had. Her mother’s best friend Sammy and her best friend Buck is the only chance family she is left with.
Davis makes his living making lovely furniture and has a great workshop out of which he works out. Not to forget and has an adorable family. Ashley and Davis went to school together and Davis is the only guy Ashley has crushed on all her life. Davis grandmother comes to reside at the facility where Ash works and when Davis and Ash meet, Davis doesn’t seem to recognize her.
Does Davis recall Ashley? What had happened at school that Ash is unable to get over it? Is Buck going to be her happily ever after? Or Davis? What happens when she has to come face to face with that one person from school she never wanted to meet ever? Does she only Dream or does she start Believing in her dreams? Rating – 4/5 Recommendation – High
Conclusion,
This sweet romance takes us through Ashley’s life. With dreams in her head and Davis in her heart, Ash keeps her life going. Gritty and witty, Ashley realizes it’s time she starts living her life and decides she needs to choose either Buck or Davis as her love forever. A sweet and lovely plot, this story warms your heart. The characters have been developed well and the book puts a big smile on your face. Overall a lovely read and I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet and cozy romance.
Trigger Warnings – Touches mildly upon Cancer and Dementia.
Coming back to Creek Water, Missouri is like going back to visit your own fun and crazy family! The Dream is the 4th book in The Creek Water Series, each book is a stand-alone but they work better when you have the back story for each of the characters since they all cross over into each book.
Love the references to Sixteen Candles since I'm a big John Hughes fan!!
Ashley has loved the same boy since high school. She knew Davis Frothingham was special even before he rescued her from being assaulted at her senior prom. She also knew he was completely out of her league.
Years later, she still thinks he's amazing but he doesn’t even remember her. When Ashley is tasked with being the nurse for Davis’ terminally ill grandmother, she’s thrown back into his world.
Overall, this is another great adventure from Creek Water! I love this book. I giggled and smiled a lot while reading it. What an amazing story!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Truly enjoyable from beginning to end. I could relate to how Ashley felt with seeing people who tormented her in high school. Davis is the ultimate book boyfriend. This reads great as a standalone if you haven't read the whole series.
And we're back at Creek Water with the ever loving Frothinghams.
Ashley Monroe had a rough past & grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. Starting from moving cities to being bullied to loving the same guy since high school who doesn't even remember her to her mom dying. And now she's incharge of taking care of Davis' (her high school crush) Granny. Stuck in an overwhelming situation where not only she has to deal with one aspect of her past, but also with all the other skeletons of the past.
Unlike the other books in this series, this one contains more tears than laughter. Watching Ashley grow up in every sense was both commendable & heartbreaking. With no living family member left, she's all alone except for 1 or 2 friends. I loved the journal entries of her since high school till today, it gave so much perspective & emotionally vulnerable.
Inspired from Pretty in Pink, I loved all the 80'a references, the movie nights with the Frothingham ladies. The romance between Ashley & Davis progressed so slowly filled with more confusion, miscommunication than love & confrontation. Where I hoped to see more of Davis & Ashley, the author made up for it by giving us more Buck & Ashley scenes. Buck & Ashley's friendship is so pure & fulfilling that deep down maybe I was rooting for them both.
The Dream is a story filled with hope, love, family, forgiveness, longing, gratitude & compassion. It was amazing to see my favorite characters from previous books coming all together for Emmie's wedding. Not just one, there were so Happily-ever-afters in the end.
With a heavy heart its goodbye time, I'm gonna miss this family so much.
The Dream is still alive! but so are you: hearts break and mend💔💕. Lovely 😌
4.5🌟stars Great writing, a fun range of characters and frequent poignant moments characterize this story for me. I loved the plot and heroine Ashley's attachment to the Molly Ringwald John Hughes movies of the 80's. Ashley has been laid low by embarassment, disappointment and loss so often; she's the heroine you can't not cheer for when she gets a break.
This story is a page turner and included some of the saddest moments in the series thus far. Matriarch Mrs. Frothingham is moving on to her last hurrah and Ashley is there to smooth things out and help the Frothingham clan take full advantage of their last days with her. Ashley's sad loss of her mother so early and her struggles as a teenager and young adult made this a wonderfully moving story.
While I didn't think the reasoning and explanations for the cruelty and indifference Ashley suffered in her teens in any way made up for the bullying and humiliation by Chad and Jessica, I truly enjoyed the story otherwise.
I read a copy of the book provided through Booksprout before publication but purchased the book anyway!😉. This is my voluntary and honest review.
Pull out the tissues and brace for impact. This story has the power to be a full-force ugly-crying-fest. At least that’s where it took me. It was an emotional roller-coaster filled with ups and downs and more than a few tailspins. I think I’ve had a crush on Davis since the very first book in the series. There was just something about this youngest Frothingham son that called to me, so it’s really no surprise that I adored Davis. I didn’t always like Ashley through the course of this book. There were a few times I gave her and my reader a suspicious side-eye. However, I admired her work ethic and drive to make something more out of her life than what she’d previously known. I loved the messages of growing up, moving on, and forgiving in this story. None of those things is easy, but they’re all so very worthwhile. And even though this story absolutely broke my heart, it took the time to put it back together again. I love this offbeat little corner of the world. I don’t ever want to leave. I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
This is a warm and engaging story with a witty protagonist to spice things up. There's a little bit of grit & heartache in there to pull you in and the mix will keep you turning pages.
The star deduction is because there's one major part of the plot that just felt too artificial & pat for me to buy, but even though it made the resolution feel overly contrived & diminished some of the warm fuzziness, it wasn't enough to ruin the story.
*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, innuendo & candid talk about sex, secular attitudes about sex outside of marriage, protagonists have sex but no graphic details are given, a same sex couple gets engaged
*Religion: uses God's Name in vain a couple dozen times, sadly & unnecessarily, though at least not as curses
It’s hard for me to write a review for this book without giving any spoilers so there will be large gaps in what I feel I can say. I did love this story. Ashley’s (let’s call them) life experiences are truly heartbreaking – but she never saw it that way. She just tried to live her life and make it thru each day. I liked Davis as well, however, I’m not sure I agree with Ashley’s thought processes regarding him. Again, I won’t say much more because, spoilers, however I’m not sure I would have been as gracious if I were Ashley. And for me, it applies to the other wonderful characters in her life, too.
Loved the journey Ashley and Davis had. Loved the crazy characters in her life! For me, I just think I would have held a few more grudges, for a lot more years. And I won’t even think about the psychology behind that… Great addition to this wonderful series!
This book brings in so many things you may or may not want to think about. It does talk about high school bullying and its effect on people. It does show us how strong the human spirit can be to rise above all the bad stuff and still be positive about life. And there is much more to contemplate.
Ashley has always been drawn to Davis Frothingham in high school, mostly because he was her hero at the senior prom. They were worlds apart, though, so a future was never thought about. When Ashley is brought back into his life years later, the nurse for Davis' terminally ill grandmother, he doesn’t remember her. But she has endured suffering of her own and is the perfect person to help the family share in their grandmother’s final days. Love, forgiveness, moving on, acceptance – so many things are touched on. But in the end, will Ashley get her chance with Davis, or will she quietly move out of his life once again?
Whitney Dineen is amazing! She welcomes readers into Creek Water with her fantastic characters within the first few sentences she pulls you into the world of these lovable characters. Anyone who struggled to fit in during the high school years will relate with Ashley's memories. I enjoyed the unique manner in which these memories are shared throughout this story and how she confronts the nemeses of her past. The sweet 80's rom com movie references are perfectly woven in. Davis and Ashley's story is perfect and I have to say everyone needs a best friend like Ashley's. I don't know how Dineen can make me laugh out loud one moment and tear up the next, but she does it perfectly. Whenever I pick up one of her stories, I have to read straight through until I finish! This whole series is a must read.
When a book starts out with a mother and daughter watching 16 CANDLES, you know it’s going to be a great read! There are lots of other 80s references to enjoy though out the book as well. Ashley is an extremely hard working woman still living in the same trailer she shared with her mom for 15 years. She also has had the same crush for that long. This book is funny, sweet but also deals with high school bullies and how people change (and sometimes not so much). I loved this book!! I even sat In the bath so long reading the part about the country club spring dance my water turned cold. This is the 4th book in a series about this Missouri town. I have not read any of the other books so this is a great stand alone. I will however be putting the other books and books written by this author on my TBR list.
I received this book from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.
I like the pace and flow of the story; there are lot of chapters, but most of them are short. The structure and interweaving of 80s references was well done. My frustration lies with Davis. To me, he is almost as abstract a character at the end of the book as he is at the beginning. Yes, he and Ashley had moments together, but I felt like I learned little about him in those moments. I felt I learned more about Buck, heck, even more about Chad than I did Davis! I also didn't like that he was clueless enough to think public places and situations were good for having a serious conversation (with a major reveal). How did he not consider Ashley's feelings and that she might feel ambushed? All in all, I liked the overall message of the book. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
4.5***** stars. Ashley has self-esteem and confidence issues from her growing up in a trailer park and her mother’s feistiness. She’s still living there but to save money for a house. She was treated cruelly and invisible during her teenage high school years. Davis has been crushing on her for a long time thinking it was unrequited. As she gets involved with his family through his grandmother, she feels undeserving of the open arms from his family. As usual, lack of and incomplete communication has kept them separate. Perhaps, the distance has allowed them to grow and go towards discovery and acknowledge their feelings. Everyone around them sees it and now it’s their time. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
The Creek Water Series is one of my all-time feel-good series. In each book in the series tackles a current social issue, bullying happens to be prominent in this story. Ashley moved to Creek Water, Missouri from Chicago, Illinois, and started her sophomore year of high school. As an outsider, and the new girl on the block, her high school experience is one that Ashley wishes she could forget. Except that would mean she needs to forget about the man she loves Davis Frothingham. The Frothingham family matriarchy Grand is terminally ill and Ashley has been assisting her with home visits. The Frothingham family adores Ashely and is hoping for a love match for Davis. The past has a way of messing with your future.
I loved this last crowning jewel in the series, it's all I could hope for.
It breaks your heart to delve deep into the so sensitive subjects of bullying with the sometimes long-lasting damage it wrecks on so many kids and teens, and the drama of getting old not so gracefully. We have a saying, which goes like this: "When God wants to wreck someone, He first takes away the mind (sanity)". So true...
Very well written, this book has everything just right - the joy, the sorrow, the love, the hope, the fear... including the end. Very well done, Whitney!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I've enjoyed every book in this series and was wondering when we'd hear Davis' story. This tale kept me smiling as the author combined the history of high school with the reality of 30-year-olds Ashley, her best friend Buck, her high school crush Davis, and one of her nemeses Jessica ~ with the ultimate 'glue' provided by Gran. A story that truly blends the immaturity of youth with the "sage-ness" of adulthood. I'd highly recommend this tale; you won't put it down until the somewhat surprising end!
I have received this for an honest review! First let me tell you this series is so great. I really recommend grabbing it if you like a clean story. Then I will let you know from all the other story Davis has been my favorite. Just a seemingly all around nice guy. Quiet, a giver, a lover not a fighter type. So when I got his book I was over joyed. This story went along at a great pace until the end and boom it was like the author took a break and when they came back they were like let’s just end it here. I wanted it to be a little longer and feel finished. This feel like it was just hinting at the future. But I did love the resolve we got from the past issue and the romance and friendships that came from this book. So I didn’t mark it down any further than four stars.
I have read other stories from this series and enjoyed them but I liked this one the best. I liked that it dealt with a familiar subject, the lasting impact of our origin stories on us as we get older and attempt to make our way in the world. I especially liked that we got to see Ashley grow beyond the things that haunted her in high school and come in to her own as she dealt with the current realities of her life. Good story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A great read with wonderful cast of characters. It will run you through an emotional gamut of warm extended families, snobby socialites, bullies, two job people trying to get ahead, and dreamers…Dementia and cancer don’t discriminate by your social standing…and dreams are one of the common threads of everyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
While it felt like this was just going to be another one of those angst-filled, too long romances when I started it...thank goodness I was wrong! Although the book has 58 chapters plus an epilogue, it reels you in with the diary/journal entries. This is a good book. It touches on so many areas that we’ve all experienced during our high school years...and we’re glad to leave behind. 🙄
The Dream has a heartfelt storyline; characters you love to hate; so much angst; and one absolutely wonderful HEA. This book deserves your read. Grab a copy today. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and was really impressed with it.) ❤️