What do you think?
Rate this book
Most Likely To #2
Dreaming About the Boy Next Door
Is being voted Most Likely To: Never Have Their First Kiss by the popular crowd at school the end of the world? Probably not, but I’m still not convinced.
Does it mean that I have to find someone to kiss to ditch myself of the label? No, but I do it anyway.
Is choosing my best friend’s twin brother as my first kiss the best choice? Ha, not in the slightest. But when he walks into his kitchen after midnight shirtless, inspiration strikes.
Even though it’s a bad, bad idea.
Because what is supposed to be a quick, three-second peck of awkwardness turns into however many seconds of pure bliss. I’m talking the kind of kiss in a rom-com that totally would’ve made me blush. The kind that makes your toes curl.
For my first kiss ever, Reed Manning isn’t holding back.
But now he makes it crystal clear: the kiss that was life-changing to me means nothing to him. He’s already got his next girl lined up on his own list of Brentwood High’s most eligible, and it’s not his little sister’s best friend.
Except that kiss totally messed with my brain chemistry, and I find myself thinking about Reed in ways I never have before. In ways my best friend would hate me for.
Even when I shouldn’t, I find myself dreaming about the boy next door.
Does it mean that I have to find someone to kiss to ditch myself of the label? No, but I do it anyway.
Is choosing my best friend’s twin brother as my first kiss the best choice? Ha, not in the slightest. But when he walks into his kitchen after midnight shirtless, inspiration strikes.
Even though it’s a bad, bad idea.
Because what is supposed to be a quick, three-second peck of awkwardness turns into however many seconds of pure bliss. I’m talking the kind of kiss in a rom-com that totally would’ve made me blush. The kind that makes your toes curl.
For my first kiss ever, Reed Manning isn’t holding back.
But now he makes it crystal clear: the kiss that was life-changing to me means nothing to him. He’s already got his next girl lined up on his own list of Brentwood High’s most eligible, and it’s not his little sister’s best friend.
Except that kiss totally messed with my brain chemistry, and I find myself thinking about Reed in ways I never have before. In ways my best friend would hate me for.
Even when I shouldn’t, I find myself dreaming about the boy next door.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2022
About the author
Sarah Sutton
15 books1,003 followersSarah Sutton writes sweet YA romance full of slow burns, swoony first loves, and happily-ever-afters. When she's not dreaming up fictional crushes, she's watching K-Dramas with a cup of coffee and her Maltipoo, Boemie. She lives in a tiny Michigan town, where she's always working on her next sweet romance.
To follow her on social media and learn more about her books, visit her website: sarah-sutton.com
Facebook: @sarahsuttonbooks
Instagram: @sarahsuttonbooks
TikTok: @AuthorSarahSutton
To follow her on social media and learn more about her books, visit her website: sarah-sutton.com
Facebook: @sarahsuttonbooks
Instagram: @sarahsuttonbooks
TikTok: @AuthorSarahSutton
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
December 17, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This wasn't just a romance. Don't get me wrong, the romance was there and it was mighty swoon worthy. However this book touched on more serious topics than just romance. It discussed change and accepting it. Along with a few other topics like family issues and dealing with things in a mature way.
The banter. I found myself laughing so hard that I'm pretty sure my neighbors could hear me. Overall the dialogue was its own gem.
The characters are incredibly realistic and the plot was engaging. The structure or flow of the story was smooth. It didn't feel like you were reading anything unnecessary or mundane, even when they were doing mundane things.
Romance usually has less plot and more drama. I mean, there was drama but it was believable. Ava and Reed's interactions were so delightful, except the car scene. I'll never forgive Reed for that but even then, it was realistic.
There was a wonderful balance between romance, family, social, and school life.
I'm not saying it was perfect. We don't see certain parts that I would've enjoyed seeing like picking colleges.
I was expecting another good three star read from Sarah Sutton but I was stunned by this book. The writing was near perfection, the characters were well developed, and I related to the theme of it more than I ever had with any other book.
Even if romance isn't typically your thing, try giving Ava and Reed a chance anyway because the swoon is there and this book is more than your typical romance. It was well worth stepping out of my comfort zone for.
○ This was an ARC given by the author○
This wasn't just a romance. Don't get me wrong, the romance was there and it was mighty swoon worthy. However this book touched on more serious topics than just romance. It discussed change and accepting it. Along with a few other topics like family issues and dealing with things in a mature way.
The banter. I found myself laughing so hard that I'm pretty sure my neighbors could hear me. Overall the dialogue was its own gem.
The characters are incredibly realistic and the plot was engaging. The structure or flow of the story was smooth. It didn't feel like you were reading anything unnecessary or mundane, even when they were doing mundane things.
Romance usually has less plot and more drama. I mean, there was drama but it was believable. Ava and Reed's interactions were so delightful, except the car scene. I'll never forgive Reed for that but even then, it was realistic.
There was a wonderful balance between romance, family, social, and school life.
I'm not saying it was perfect. We don't see certain parts that I would've enjoyed seeing like picking colleges.
I was expecting another good three star read from Sarah Sutton but I was stunned by this book. The writing was near perfection, the characters were well developed, and I related to the theme of it more than I ever had with any other book.
Even if romance isn't typically your thing, try giving Ava and Reed a chance anyway because the swoon is there and this book is more than your typical romance. It was well worth stepping out of my comfort zone for.
○ This was an ARC given by the author○
January 20, 2025
3.25 ☆
⭢ age rec: 13+
so this is one of those books that i consider the beautiful blissful thing that is
✨kindle romance✨
you know? the indie romance authors that you won’t find on booktok or in a barnes and noble.
i first discovered this a couple months ago and thought it was time for a reread!
and it was a roller coaster…to say the least….
🌸 my thoughts :
• the fmc’s best friend (i believe her name was rachel?) was lowkey a jerk
• WE WERE ROBBED OF A FULLY DUAL POV BOOK (yes the 1 scene from reed’s pov was phenomenal, but i needed ✨MORE✨)
• ava’s people pleaser mindset was a lil too relatable
• the hoco scene at the end was ADORBS🥹🦋
• the taylor swift references gave me lifeeeee omg <3
tropes/selling points :
• best friend’s brother
• slow burn
• she falls first, he falls harder
• no spice
• available on kindle unlimited
🌸 series ranking
1. rebelling with the bad boy (book 3)
2. tutoring the teachers pet (book 1)
3. fake dating the football player (book 4)
4. dreaming about the boy next door (book 2)
thanks for reading my review babes <3
⭢ age rec: 13+
so this is one of those books that i consider the beautiful blissful thing that is
✨kindle romance✨
you know? the indie romance authors that you won’t find on booktok or in a barnes and noble.
i first discovered this a couple months ago and thought it was time for a reread!
and it was a roller coaster…to say the least….
🌸 my thoughts :
• the fmc’s best friend (i believe her name was rachel?) was lowkey a jerk
• WE WERE ROBBED OF A FULLY DUAL POV BOOK (yes the 1 scene from reed’s pov was phenomenal, but i needed ✨MORE✨)
• ava’s people pleaser mindset was a lil too relatable
• the hoco scene at the end was ADORBS🥹🦋
• the taylor swift references gave me lifeeeee omg <3
tropes/selling points :
• best friend’s brother
• slow burn
• she falls first, he falls harder
• no spice
• available on kindle unlimited
🌸 series ranking
1. rebelling with the bad boy (book 3)
2. tutoring the teachers pet (book 1)
3. fake dating the football player (book 4)
4. dreaming about the boy next door (book 2)
thanks for reading my review babes <3
May 30, 2026
Another solid hit from this author coming from someone who doesn’t read a lot of contemporary romance anymore! She really drew me into Ava’s life and struggles, so much so I had to be careful not to let her emotions transfer to and effect me when I was away from the book, which can happen to me at times when characters are really well written and I’m emotionally invested in them, which shows just how much time, effort, and care the author put into writing this story!
The romance was definitely less than in Teaching the Teacher’s Pet since Ava and Reed were actively trying to avoid each other for a good chunk of the book, but the moments we did get were super sweet and I enjoyed their dynamic and seeing how great they were for each other yet also understanding the whys of why they were so hesitant to act on their feelings. And even though Reed kinda-sorta has a girlfriend after kissing Ava there’s no cheating on his end which I appreciated.
I will say though that due to life at the time of reading and therefore not clicking with it right away I didn’t get fully invested until around the halfway mark even though I was enjoying it up until that point, but like I said it was probably more of a “life is weird” situation than the book itself.
I really enjoyed this one and am very excited to read more from this author in the future!
‼️Content‼️
Language: dear God (2); teens flip each other off a few times; hell; dang it; sucked; jeez; dang; crap; heck; God (8); oh my gosh; crappy; sucks; freaking; God-awful (1); ass; thank God (3); darn; what the heck; screw; oh my God (1); screwed up; hellfire
Sexual: once a character is mentioned to be designing a website for two moms and their new baby; a girl’s called hot; a man cheated on his wife; kissing (not detailed); a mention of a girl having nice boobs; a girl notices a guy’s bare chest; a character says they feel like they’re looking at another’s lips “like a pervert”; a vague suggestive hint; characters sleep together (not sexually); a mom sees a girl come out of her son’s room and assumes things were going on even though nothing did; a character asks their dad if they have a woman or a man at their house (he has neither)
Other: three different teens struggle with their respective parents’ divorces
The romance was definitely less than in Teaching the Teacher’s Pet since Ava and Reed were actively trying to avoid each other for a good chunk of the book, but the moments we did get were super sweet and I enjoyed their dynamic and seeing how great they were for each other yet also understanding the whys of why they were so hesitant to act on their feelings. And even though Reed kinda-sorta has a girlfriend after kissing Ava there’s no cheating on his end which I appreciated.
I will say though that due to life at the time of reading and therefore not clicking with it right away I didn’t get fully invested until around the halfway mark even though I was enjoying it up until that point, but like I said it was probably more of a “life is weird” situation than the book itself.
I really enjoyed this one and am very excited to read more from this author in the future!
‼️Content‼️
Language: dear God (2); teens flip each other off a few times; hell; dang it; sucked; jeez; dang; crap; heck; God (8); oh my gosh; crappy; sucks; freaking; God-awful (1); ass; thank God (3); darn; what the heck; screw; oh my God (1); screwed up; hellfire
Sexual: once a character is mentioned to be designing a website for two moms and their new baby; a girl’s called hot; a man cheated on his wife; kissing (not detailed); a mention of a girl having nice boobs; a girl notices a guy’s bare chest; a character says they feel like they’re looking at another’s lips “like a pervert”; a vague suggestive hint; characters sleep together (not sexually); a mom sees a girl come out of her son’s room and assumes things were going on even though nothing did; a character asks their dad if they have a woman or a man at their house (he has neither)
Other: three different teens struggle with their respective parents’ divorces
July 3, 2026
4.5 stars! Okay, I was so so pleasantly surprised by this book! I’m always a little hesitant about highschool romances because they seem so unrealistic and cringe. The characters are either annoyingly immature and dramatic… or they’re too mature? It seems like a hard balance and can be hard to take seriously given that they’re a bunch of hormonal teenagers…. But Sarah Sutton did the whole YA romance thing so right.
These characters were so raw and so REAL. Oh my sweet Ava. This was about so much more than her falling in love, but about a girl who navigates change, is trying to do right by everyone she loves and yet feels so alone.
My heart ached for her the entire book and I just wanted to give her a hug.
Reed was pretty hot and cold with Ava throughout the book… I wanted to be mad at Reed …. I couldn’t really be mad at him because like I said, these characters felt so real and I wouldn’t expect a teenage boy with his kind of trauma to be any different. It wasn’t out of ill intent or lack of caring, but fear of caring too much! I took off a .5 star because I would have liked to understand more about his feelings developing for Ava (eg. before or after the kiss)! The bonus chapter of his POV helped with that a bit but I would’ve liked to see some kind of exchange between him and Ava purely for Ava’s sake🥹
As I read, I could sit there and reflect on my highschool days and relate to every single character. It really tugged on my heart strings!! I said it before and I’ll say it again… this is highschool romance done right!!
These characters were so raw and so REAL. Oh my sweet Ava. This was about so much more than her falling in love, but about a girl who navigates change, is trying to do right by everyone she loves and yet feels so alone.
My heart ached for her the entire book and I just wanted to give her a hug.
Reed was pretty hot and cold with Ava throughout the book… I wanted to be mad at Reed …. I couldn’t really be mad at him because like I said, these characters felt so real and I wouldn’t expect a teenage boy with his kind of trauma to be any different. It wasn’t out of ill intent or lack of caring, but fear of caring too much! I took off a .5 star because I would have liked to understand more about his feelings developing for Ava (eg. before or after the kiss)! The bonus chapter of his POV helped with that a bit but I would’ve liked to see some kind of exchange between him and Ava purely for Ava’s sake🥹
As I read, I could sit there and reflect on my highschool days and relate to every single character. It really tugged on my heart strings!! I said it before and I’ll say it again… this is highschool romance done right!!
January 19, 2025
3.5 ⭐️!
“you look stunning, you know. i thought i was imagining you when i saw you.”
this book was really cute 💕 i liked it but not as much as the first one. connor was just so sweet! reed was cute though and i really liked him and ava! @ally said that rachel, ava’s best friend, was lowkey a jerk and i agree she kinda was 😭 she got better in the end tho. the end was so cute and it was just a quick, fun, easy read!! (except it took me 5 days to read… it was mainly because of school, the book itself was fast-paced and interesting the whole time!!)
BUT THE SCENE WHERE AVA BROKE DOWN AND REED COMFORTED HER?! that was so sweet 🥹🤍
“reed held me as if I were about to shatter into one million pieces, as if holding me tightly was the only way to keep me whole.”
“you look stunning, you know. i thought i was imagining you when i saw you.”
this book was really cute 💕 i liked it but not as much as the first one. connor was just so sweet! reed was cute though and i really liked him and ava! @ally said that rachel, ava’s best friend, was lowkey a jerk and i agree she kinda was 😭 she got better in the end tho. the end was so cute and it was just a quick, fun, easy read!! (except it took me 5 days to read… it was mainly because of school, the book itself was fast-paced and interesting the whole time!!)
BUT THE SCENE WHERE AVA BROKE DOWN AND REED COMFORTED HER?! that was so sweet 🥹🤍
“reed held me as if I were about to shatter into one million pieces, as if holding me tightly was the only way to keep me whole.”
February 3, 2023
I couldn’t wait for this book and it’s tropes—and I very much enjoyed it!! I absolutely loved Ava and her pink hair, and the different conflicts and character growth she faced. She and Reed were so hot and cold together as expected from the promise of “slow burn for days”—so even though I got a little frustrated with their cold moments at times, the sweet moments were totally swoony and worth it! With plenty of laugh out loud moments and side characters to love and hate as well, this was a really fun read. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves YA contemporary romance.
January 8, 2026
Me encantó cómo este libro aborda el impacto negativo de las decisiones de los adultos en la juventud: el temor a enamorarse, el miedo a que te rompan el corazón y la reticencia a compartir lo que sentimos. También amé ver la amistad, con sus propios matices y altibajos, pero siempre con esa dosis de dulzura que te hace suspirar. 🩷
October 28, 2022
Just have to warn you guys, this will basically just be me gushing ;) I absolutely loved this book! I was honestly a little nervous because I really liked Falling for the Teacher’s Pet, but this was just amazing.
I loved getting to see more of Ava, and it was interesting to see her perspective. Dreaming About the Boy Next Door and Falling for the Teacher’s Pet are simultaneously occurring. I’ve read books like this before, and I’ve always found them fascinating. It really shows how we have no idea what someone is going through in a given day even if we’re close to them. I think Sutton does an amazing job with balancing this, so you still get to see some scenes from Ava’s perspective but there’s also a lot of new things going on.
I loved Ava! She was trying so hard to keep herself together, and she was falling apart. I loved her wittiness, but also her goofiness and drama. She’s definitely different than Maisie, and it was fun to see those differences. Her journey was beautifully done even though it hurt my heart a little bit.
Reed was so cute! He comes off as a bit of a jerk at first, but there’s so much going on underneath his playboy act. I like watching him and Ava open up to each other. They were both scared, yet they protected themselves in different ways. It was cute seeing them learn to trust each other even though they were trying not to trust each other.
The family aspect of this book was heartbreaking. It was so sad. Ava’s parents are going through a divorce, and Reed’s dad cheated. But I loved how Ava learned the importance of talking and being vulnerable. She had to see that she was allowed to be sad. And Reed learned how to open up his heart again and trust someone. It was totally adorable!
I loved this book! It can be read standalone, and I believe the order in which you read the books doesn’t really matter. It was fun though knowing all that was going on with Maisie while Ava was having her drama. I would recommend it to any clean, YA, romance lovers especially if you love the drama but don’t want the explicit stuff .
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
I loved getting to see more of Ava, and it was interesting to see her perspective. Dreaming About the Boy Next Door and Falling for the Teacher’s Pet are simultaneously occurring. I’ve read books like this before, and I’ve always found them fascinating. It really shows how we have no idea what someone is going through in a given day even if we’re close to them. I think Sutton does an amazing job with balancing this, so you still get to see some scenes from Ava’s perspective but there’s also a lot of new things going on.
I loved Ava! She was trying so hard to keep herself together, and she was falling apart. I loved her wittiness, but also her goofiness and drama. She’s definitely different than Maisie, and it was fun to see those differences. Her journey was beautifully done even though it hurt my heart a little bit.
Reed was so cute! He comes off as a bit of a jerk at first, but there’s so much going on underneath his playboy act. I like watching him and Ava open up to each other. They were both scared, yet they protected themselves in different ways. It was cute seeing them learn to trust each other even though they were trying not to trust each other.
The family aspect of this book was heartbreaking. It was so sad. Ava’s parents are going through a divorce, and Reed’s dad cheated. But I loved how Ava learned the importance of talking and being vulnerable. She had to see that she was allowed to be sad. And Reed learned how to open up his heart again and trust someone. It was totally adorable!
I loved this book! It can be read standalone, and I believe the order in which you read the books doesn’t really matter. It was fun though knowing all that was going on with Maisie while Ava was having her drama. I would recommend it to any clean, YA, romance lovers especially if you love the drama but don’t want the explicit stuff .
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
October 13, 2022
I'm going to be dreaming about this book for a while. I have loved everything Sarah Sutton has written and I feel like each new book she comes out with is my new favorite.
After being deemed "Most Likely to Never Have Their First Kiss," Ava takes matters into her own hands by getting that first one out of the way with her best friend's twin brother Reed. What was supposed to be a meaningless kiss ends up turning Ava's perception of Reed on its head. He, however, seems unaffected by their moment. Ouch.
Things I loved about this book:
-The slow burn. The tension between the two of them was built so well and the payout at the end felt so earned. I loved watching Reed slowly fall for Ava and her fighting her growing feelings for him.
-Ava's pink hair
-Reed being just too darn sweet. He is a serial dater, which I normally dislike in a mmc, but Reed didn't really seem like a player. His bonus POV at the end was just so swoony.
-Seeing the parallel times play out from Teaching the Teacher's Pet, but from an outside perspective. I love it when interconnected series do this! It's also fun to play detective to see who the next couple will be.
I read this book entirely in one sitting because it was that good.
I received a ARC from the author
After being deemed "Most Likely to Never Have Their First Kiss," Ava takes matters into her own hands by getting that first one out of the way with her best friend's twin brother Reed. What was supposed to be a meaningless kiss ends up turning Ava's perception of Reed on its head. He, however, seems unaffected by their moment. Ouch.
Things I loved about this book:
-The slow burn. The tension between the two of them was built so well and the payout at the end felt so earned. I loved watching Reed slowly fall for Ava and her fighting her growing feelings for him.
-Ava's pink hair
-Reed being just too darn sweet. He is a serial dater, which I normally dislike in a mmc, but Reed didn't really seem like a player. His bonus POV at the end was just so swoony.
-Seeing the parallel times play out from Teaching the Teacher's Pet, but from an outside perspective. I love it when interconnected series do this! It's also fun to play detective to see who the next couple will be.
I read this book entirely in one sitting because it was that good.
I received a ARC from the author
October 16, 2022
First & foremost, I want to thank Sarah for the chance to read an ARC of DATBND—I felt so honored for this chance!
Anyone who knows me, knows that I ADORE sarah sutton’s writing & rave over every single one of her books.
I loved getting to dig into the realness of what Ava was dealing with with her parents & seeing the parallels between this book & the first book (although both could be read as standalones easily!!)
I feel this book was well written, was heart warming & overall, would recommend.
However, this book did not give me any of the swoony, butterfly inducing, giggling feelings that any of the other books gave me.
I thought Reed said some cute things & had some cute moments, but I really didn’t buy him & Ava’s relationship😬
I think i bought their friendship more than anything & i WANTED to buy their love story, but I just couldn’t become sold on it. It was cute, it was sweet, but it didn’t make me swoon.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I ADORE sarah sutton’s writing & rave over every single one of her books.
I loved getting to dig into the realness of what Ava was dealing with with her parents & seeing the parallels between this book & the first book (although both could be read as standalones easily!!)
I feel this book was well written, was heart warming & overall, would recommend.
However, this book did not give me any of the swoony, butterfly inducing, giggling feelings that any of the other books gave me.
I thought Reed said some cute things & had some cute moments, but I really didn’t buy him & Ava’s relationship😬
I think i bought their friendship more than anything & i WANTED to buy their love story, but I just couldn’t become sold on it. It was cute, it was sweet, but it didn’t make me swoon.
June 8, 2023
Contains: kisses, couple uses of mild language, mentions of infidelity. I liked this book. It takes place at the same time as book 1 so there is a bit of overlap/redundancy in conversations but the books can be stand alone. Ava definitely has a lot going on emotionally and her parents seem quite checked out which is upsetting. I like how all ends well but Reed put her through quite the roller coaster ride either being supportive or being rude.
October 25, 2022
I was lucky enough to be chosen as an ARC reader for Dreaming About the Boy Next Door in exchange for an honest review (thank you, Sarah!). And it did not disappoint!
It had all the cuteness of Teaching the Teacher’s Pet (Most Likely To Book 1) and then some. I loved getting to know Ava Jenson on a whole new level, as more than just Maisie’s friend from TTTP. You definitely don’t need to read these books in order, but I feel like it just makes it all the more special if you do.
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from this interconnected series - how would the books work? Would they take place at different times with the same characters? I was pleasantly surprised to find out that DATBND takes place at the same time as TTTP, but from Ava’s perspective and deals with what is happening in her life just before and after the Most Likely To list is released. It pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading, all while rooting for Ava and Reed to finally figure everything out. Learning more about the friendships that were first introduced in TTTP was really nice, too, especially Ava and Rachel’s relationship. There were a few surprises throughout the book that I definitely didn’t see coming either, and that made me want to keep reading even more.
Honestly, I have never read a series like this, where the books take place at the same time yet from a different character perspective in each book, and I thought that was super unique and interesting. I loved diving into Ava’s world and seeing how everything was affecting her. I can’t wait to see which characters we get to meet next - it makes me even more excited to read the upcoming books in this series! Until then, I may just have to reread this one and TTTP. (And don’t forget to read the bonus chapter after the epilogue!)
I am positive that anyone who loves YA romance books will completely fall for this book too! It’s well written, keeps you engaged (I could have easily finished it in a single day, if life wasn’t getting in the way), and makes you root for these characters, as if you’re right there going through all of the ups and downs of high school life with them.
If you’ve read all of Sarah’s books or this is your first one, I can tell you that Dreaming About the Boy Next Door is one you don’t want to miss! 💕
It had all the cuteness of Teaching the Teacher’s Pet (Most Likely To Book 1) and then some. I loved getting to know Ava Jenson on a whole new level, as more than just Maisie’s friend from TTTP. You definitely don’t need to read these books in order, but I feel like it just makes it all the more special if you do.
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from this interconnected series - how would the books work? Would they take place at different times with the same characters? I was pleasantly surprised to find out that DATBND takes place at the same time as TTTP, but from Ava’s perspective and deals with what is happening in her life just before and after the Most Likely To list is released. It pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading, all while rooting for Ava and Reed to finally figure everything out. Learning more about the friendships that were first introduced in TTTP was really nice, too, especially Ava and Rachel’s relationship. There were a few surprises throughout the book that I definitely didn’t see coming either, and that made me want to keep reading even more.
Honestly, I have never read a series like this, where the books take place at the same time yet from a different character perspective in each book, and I thought that was super unique and interesting. I loved diving into Ava’s world and seeing how everything was affecting her. I can’t wait to see which characters we get to meet next - it makes me even more excited to read the upcoming books in this series! Until then, I may just have to reread this one and TTTP. (And don’t forget to read the bonus chapter after the epilogue!)
I am positive that anyone who loves YA romance books will completely fall for this book too! It’s well written, keeps you engaged (I could have easily finished it in a single day, if life wasn’t getting in the way), and makes you root for these characters, as if you’re right there going through all of the ups and downs of high school life with them.
If you’ve read all of Sarah’s books or this is your first one, I can tell you that Dreaming About the Boy Next Door is one you don’t want to miss! 💕
January 21, 2023
5/5 stars
I love all of Sarah Sutton's books, but Dreaming About the Boy Next Door has officially joined my favorite books of hers! (It's right up there with Out of My League and Can't Catch My Breath!) This book checked off all the boxes for me, and I could easily see myself re-reading it sometime in the future.
Ava made for an amazing protagonist. She didn't show up too much in Teaching the Teacher's Pet, so it was nice to see a different side of her in this book. It really fleshed out her personality, and I was rooting for her so much! There were so many times I wished I could just give her a hug since she had so much going on in this book.
And I loved Reed! He's definitely one of my favorite love interests that Sarah's written, possibly my favorite of them all! I normally dislike characters that are serial daters, but Reed won me over anyway.
This book was an addictive read. It was incredibly hard to put down, and the longing between Ava and Reed was killing me! Their chemistry was great, and I adored their interactions. (In particular, I loved the Taylor Swift reference. Is it really a "boy next door" romance if it doesn't make that reference?) I kept telling myself I'd only read one more chapter, but I rarely managed to stick to that!
One thing I always love to point out about Sarah's writing is that she's a master of writing about all kinds of relationships, not just romantic ones. She's great at writing platonic relationships, friendships, familial relationships, etc. DATBND is an excellent example of this. I also thought Sarah did a great covering some darker topics that aren't always handled well in the YA genre.
This book is the second in the Most Likely To series, though each book can be read as a stand-alone. I thought it was cool that this book actually takes place at the same time as the first book in the series!
Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend it to YA romance fans! I'd also suggest reading Sarah's other books if you haven't already. I've read everything she's written so far, and every one of them has been incredibly enjoyable!
I love all of Sarah Sutton's books, but Dreaming About the Boy Next Door has officially joined my favorite books of hers! (It's right up there with Out of My League and Can't Catch My Breath!) This book checked off all the boxes for me, and I could easily see myself re-reading it sometime in the future.
Ava made for an amazing protagonist. She didn't show up too much in Teaching the Teacher's Pet, so it was nice to see a different side of her in this book. It really fleshed out her personality, and I was rooting for her so much! There were so many times I wished I could just give her a hug since she had so much going on in this book.
And I loved Reed! He's definitely one of my favorite love interests that Sarah's written, possibly my favorite of them all! I normally dislike characters that are serial daters, but Reed won me over anyway.
This book was an addictive read. It was incredibly hard to put down, and the longing between Ava and Reed was killing me! Their chemistry was great, and I adored their interactions. (In particular, I loved the Taylor Swift reference. Is it really a "boy next door" romance if it doesn't make that reference?) I kept telling myself I'd only read one more chapter, but I rarely managed to stick to that!
One thing I always love to point out about Sarah's writing is that she's a master of writing about all kinds of relationships, not just romantic ones. She's great at writing platonic relationships, friendships, familial relationships, etc. DATBND is an excellent example of this. I also thought Sarah did a great covering some darker topics that aren't always handled well in the YA genre.
This book is the second in the Most Likely To series, though each book can be read as a stand-alone. I thought it was cool that this book actually takes place at the same time as the first book in the series!
Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend it to YA romance fans! I'd also suggest reading Sarah's other books if you haven't already. I've read everything she's written so far, and every one of them has been incredibly enjoyable!
November 14, 2022
it was alright
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2022...
***spoilers little here and there***
What in the heck is a “waterline?
Besides that I liked the first book than this one. Plus Rachel and Ava seem to hang out with each other more than. Rachel, Maisie and Ava.. they didn’t hang out the way it seem as they did in Maisie book.
Plus Ava was going through so much and didn’t express herself much. Only time she did was when she gotten upset. But nobody still cared about her feelings.
But later on her mom finally had a conversation with her that was needed . Not only that Rachel and her finally hashed it out because I didn’t like how she thought that her parents relationship- marriage was different and not the same as Ava. But it was but in a different way. Ava was hurt the same way Rachel was and was glad when Ava told her off.
Plus them having that talk after homecoming was good because they both had secrets to tell. N at the end of the book Reed finally admitted his feelings. It took him until the last chapter to do that smh. N her dad finally let her see his apartment. I now understood his reason for not showing her but it still sucked. But glad they worked it out….
I also want to know who the next book about because I forgot who the Prude was that was in the mostly to… it wasn’t Rachel!!!
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2022...
***spoilers little here and there***
What in the heck is a “waterline?
Besides that I liked the first book than this one. Plus Rachel and Ava seem to hang out with each other more than. Rachel, Maisie and Ava.. they didn’t hang out the way it seem as they did in Maisie book.
Plus Ava was going through so much and didn’t express herself much. Only time she did was when she gotten upset. But nobody still cared about her feelings.
But later on her mom finally had a conversation with her that was needed . Not only that Rachel and her finally hashed it out because I didn’t like how she thought that her parents relationship- marriage was different and not the same as Ava. But it was but in a different way. Ava was hurt the same way Rachel was and was glad when Ava told her off.
Plus them having that talk after homecoming was good because they both had secrets to tell. N at the end of the book Reed finally admitted his feelings. It took him until the last chapter to do that smh. N her dad finally let her see his apartment. I now understood his reason for not showing her but it still sucked. But glad they worked it out….
I also want to know who the next book about because I forgot who the Prude was that was in the mostly to… it wasn’t Rachel!!!
March 7, 2024
Another Killer Romance
Once again Sarah Sutton makes my heart swoon and daydream about the excitement of falling in love. Ava is a relatable and easily understandable character while Reed and Rachel provide the catalyst that every good story needs. A for sure recommendation for anyone looking for a sweet and cozy romance.
Once again Sarah Sutton makes my heart swoon and daydream about the excitement of falling in love. Ava is a relatable and easily understandable character while Reed and Rachel provide the catalyst that every good story needs. A for sure recommendation for anyone looking for a sweet and cozy romance.
July 8, 2023
so so so cute, Reed is the best
December 10, 2024
3.5 stars
January 29, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
i love Reed so much arghh. He is so caring and sweet! Hot boys cry. such a lovely read 💞
i love Reed so much arghh. He is so caring and sweet! Hot boys cry. such a lovely read 💞
May 11, 2026
one thing about me is that i’m going to eat up a book with the best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend trope
—•—
complicated by avril lavigne
best friends by 5sos
best friend’s brother by the victorious cast
—•—
complicated by avril lavigne
best friends by 5sos
best friend’s brother by the victorious cast
October 16, 2022
I wish I could give this book 6 stars. I enjoyed Every. Single. Page. Which was a bit inconvenient because I had a bunch of homework I didn’t do in order to finish this book. This book literally is the definition of a slow burn and it’s painfully good. I love Ava and her entire personality and the pink hair is iconic. All of the drama in this book kept me on the edge of my seat as she wrestled with trying to stay strong about her parents divorce and whether she actually liked Rachel’s brother. Once I hit chapter 3 it was pretty much game over and I couldn’t put it down. The characters were well developed and it was so cool to see Ava’s perspective after meeting her in Teaching the Teacher’s Pet (the first book). While you don’t have to read book 1 to enjoy this, it was so cool to see the little moments of overlap between the two.
I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2024
This was the cutest little book ever! I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy it as much as I did and I’m so happy I read it!! The romance was so cute and wholesome ❤️
October 19, 2023
I finished this book in a couple of hours. I am OBSESSED. This book might’ve replaced Out of My League as my top favorite?! 🫣 I don’t know yet, but WOW this book was awesome. First off, THE TROPES. Guys, I don’t have a brother, but I WISH I DID. I am living vicariously through Ava. I enjoyed the idea of Ava being voted “most likely not to have her first kiss” and seeing how she reacted. I loved Ava as a character. I liked seeing how she handled some of the more serious topics in the book and her overall personality. She was so relatable. The overthinking was too relatable. 🤣 I also loved the fact she ran the Brentwood Babble and designed websites. I loved Reed. EVERYTHING about him is swoon-worthy. The descriptions of him were BEAUTIFUL. The fact that he can fix things around the house. HAND IN MARRIAGE?! 🤣🤦🏻♀️ His extra chapter was everything. THE WAY HE SPOKE ABOUT AVA WAS SO CUTE. “I will always be right here.” 😭😭 I enjoyed seeing his reaction to his struggles and how he dealt with it all. Sarah writes the most swoon-worthy couples. Reed and Ava are no different. They make me so giddy. 🥹 I loved how they found comfort in each other. I’m obsessed with the best friend's brother trope. I loved seeing parallels between TTTP and DATBND. I also love Rachel. Her friendship with Ava was to die for. I hope she gets her own story too! I enjoyed seeing how the book revolves around the most likely to list while still having side conflicts. It adds a lot to the book, which is amazing. I always say it, but I love that about Sarah’s books. I can’t wait to see how the other books play out. I wish we saw some closure with Reed and Rachel’s dad, but I’m very happy with how everything wrapped up.
There were a couple of passionate kissing and touches. Two characters literally sleep together. I don’t remember any language.
There were a couple of passionate kissing and touches. Two characters literally sleep together. I don’t remember any language.
March 14, 2023
This one is a bit harder to review. 3.75 rounding up to 4.
It’s the last of the 3 MLT books out right now that I read, but it was my least favourite of the three. I think it’s because I was really looking forward to it as the boy next door trope is one of my favs and the whole first kiss thing is cute.
What I really liked in this one was Ava and Rachel’s friendship. Whereas in the other two (RBB and TTP) the MCs don’t really have much interactions with their bffs and it’s very centred on the love interest, this one had a lot more friend related scenes and themes explored (which was central to the conflict, but I appreciated it).
Ava is a great character. She’s fiesta and loyal. Her home life is falling apart and her problems are entirely relatable.
Where it lost points for me was Reed. He didn’t seem to like Ava at all. I know Ava is meant to be confused but as the reader I was also confused. He was really (presumably) into Cindy even though there was a quick fix there with Ashton. I did enjoy the pov bonus chapter from Reed and almost think I’d prefer the book from his pov maybe? Unsure.
It’s suck a slow burn that for the whole book until like 88% he’s ignoring her and she’s all in her own head. The pacing for this one felt slower and I was less emotionally invested.
I also think Josh was a good character but dropped entirely without much resolution. It would’ve made sense to hook him up with Rachel in the end as it seemed he was more interested in her anyway but he just disappeared.
It’s the last of the 3 MLT books out right now that I read, but it was my least favourite of the three. I think it’s because I was really looking forward to it as the boy next door trope is one of my favs and the whole first kiss thing is cute.
What I really liked in this one was Ava and Rachel’s friendship. Whereas in the other two (RBB and TTP) the MCs don’t really have much interactions with their bffs and it’s very centred on the love interest, this one had a lot more friend related scenes and themes explored (which was central to the conflict, but I appreciated it).
Ava is a great character. She’s fiesta and loyal. Her home life is falling apart and her problems are entirely relatable.
Where it lost points for me was Reed. He didn’t seem to like Ava at all. I know Ava is meant to be confused but as the reader I was also confused. He was really (presumably) into Cindy even though there was a quick fix there with Ashton. I did enjoy the pov bonus chapter from Reed and almost think I’d prefer the book from his pov maybe? Unsure.
It’s suck a slow burn that for the whole book until like 88% he’s ignoring her and she’s all in her own head. The pacing for this one felt slower and I was less emotionally invested.
I also think Josh was a good character but dropped entirely without much resolution. It would’ve made sense to hook him up with Rachel in the end as it seemed he was more interested in her anyway but he just disappeared.
June 27, 2024
I received an arc copy of this book.
“Why are you looking at me like
that?”
“I should kiss you.” -Dreaming About the Boy Next Door
In this book: After Ava is put on the Most Likely T: Never Have Their First Kiss’ but after she get’s her first kiss she begins to fixate on the person who gave it to her.
Can Ava get over the world-blowing kiss and can she keep the secret from her best friend? The secret that her first mind-blowing kiss was with her best friend's twin brother?
What could go wrong?
Yet again Sarah has stolen my heart with a wonderful read and brilliant characters.
I fell in love with Ava from the start. I wasn’t sure about her when I read TTTP but I love that she’s the mc of this book.
Her friendship with Maisie and Rachel is wonderful and I loved exploring her and Rachel’s relationship.
From the moment he was introduced I hoped Reed would be endgame. Their first kiss was absolutely magical!
The plot of this book was really well planned out. You were surprised once or twice was an incredible turn of events.
The characters are lovable. Just like in the first book the character's chemistry was off the charts.
I loved that it took place over the same timeline as book one. It was interesting hearing about things Maisie was up to and knowing what they meant.
It was nice getting to know Ava more in this book. She is an interesting character.
“Why are you looking at me like
that?”
“I should kiss you.” -Dreaming About the Boy Next Door
In this book: After Ava is put on the Most Likely T: Never Have Their First Kiss’ but after she get’s her first kiss she begins to fixate on the person who gave it to her.
Can Ava get over the world-blowing kiss and can she keep the secret from her best friend? The secret that her first mind-blowing kiss was with her best friend's twin brother?
What could go wrong?
Yet again Sarah has stolen my heart with a wonderful read and brilliant characters.
I fell in love with Ava from the start. I wasn’t sure about her when I read TTTP but I love that she’s the mc of this book.
Her friendship with Maisie and Rachel is wonderful and I loved exploring her and Rachel’s relationship.
From the moment he was introduced I hoped Reed would be endgame. Their first kiss was absolutely magical!
The plot of this book was really well planned out. You were surprised once or twice was an incredible turn of events.
The characters are lovable. Just like in the first book the character's chemistry was off the charts.
I loved that it took place over the same timeline as book one. It was interesting hearing about things Maisie was up to and knowing what they meant.
It was nice getting to know Ava more in this book. She is an interesting character.
May 29, 2023
2.5 stars
while the book did have an overall cutesy vibe, I don't like these kind of stories where it all starts with a kiss .. and one that doesn't make sense at that
This book takes place at the same timeline as the first book (which I really like) and we will follow Ava, she is the school's gossip because if her site babel, but when her name comes in the Most Likely list as the one most likely never been kissed she is hurt and want to have her first kiss over with, and the only one that she see's Infront of her is Reed, her friend's Rachel twin brother, they kiss and it was really nice that she can't stop thinking about it .. but does Reed feel the same ?
I liked Ava more than I liked Reed, she was honest with herself and was going through hell but she managed to keep a strong face, but Reed was just a drama queen through out the book, I didn't' appreciate his mixed signals to Ava .. I kinda feel she deserved better, and I'm sure as heck Josh deserved waaaayy better than to be stuck in this weird relationship
going to the next book
while the book did have an overall cutesy vibe, I don't like these kind of stories where it all starts with a kiss .. and one that doesn't make sense at that
This book takes place at the same timeline as the first book (which I really like) and we will follow Ava, she is the school's gossip because if her site babel, but when her name comes in the Most Likely list as the one most likely never been kissed she is hurt and want to have her first kiss over with, and the only one that she see's Infront of her is Reed, her friend's Rachel twin brother, they kiss and it was really nice that she can't stop thinking about it .. but does Reed feel the same ?
I liked Ava more than I liked Reed, she was honest with herself and was going through hell but she managed to keep a strong face, but Reed was just a drama queen through out the book, I didn't' appreciate his mixed signals to Ava .. I kinda feel she deserved better, and I'm sure as heck Josh deserved waaaayy better than to be stuck in this weird relationship
going to the next book
January 10, 2023
No idea why it took me so long to post this. It’s been on my Instagram for awhile. 😅 Sorry guys!
Good: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨This book was really good!
Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Some kisses of course, but it was very slow burn so pretty clean! A little bit of language.
Fun: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Okay, I’ve already established that I really liked this book, but now I’m going mention some… things.
So first off, I hold the same views as Ava when it comes to her parents problems. I appreciate how her relationship with her parents ended, but the things they did were awful. Their character arcs just didn’t seem very realistic.
Normally I would say that I don’t like when a character doesn’t stand up for herself, but Sarah did a really great job with Ava’s arc.
Even though this book made me really angry at some points, I’m not upset about that because it made me feel things and that’s what a book is supposed to do.
The slow burn was brutal but perfect. I loved it. I love Ava and Reed.
Good: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨This book was really good!
Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Some kisses of course, but it was very slow burn so pretty clean! A little bit of language.
Fun: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Okay, I’ve already established that I really liked this book, but now I’m going mention some… things.
So first off, I hold the same views as Ava when it comes to her parents problems. I appreciate how her relationship with her parents ended, but the things they did were awful. Their character arcs just didn’t seem very realistic.
Normally I would say that I don’t like when a character doesn’t stand up for herself, but Sarah did a really great job with Ava’s arc.
Even though this book made me really angry at some points, I’m not upset about that because it made me feel things and that’s what a book is supposed to do.
The slow burn was brutal but perfect. I loved it. I love Ava and Reed.
July 7, 2026
This book was captivating.
It really shook me with all that Ava went through and I just felt for for her! The plot was great and the ending really had me:)
I am so grateful I could read the ARC and read this amazing book!!
It really shook me with all that Ava went through and I just felt for for her! The plot was great and the ending really had me:)
I am so grateful I could read the ARC and read this amazing book!!
October 25, 2023
Literally adorable 3.8 🌟
edit: re-read 10/24- so cute i love reed and ava
edit: re-read 10/24- so cute i love reed and ava
July 1, 2023
Emotional and angsty high-school romance between a player and his sister's best friend.
This is the second book I've read by Sarah Sutton. I read the first book in this Most Likely To series, The Teacher's Pet, and I absolutely loved it! I admit, when I started this book, Dreaming About the Boy Next Door, I knew it had a lot to live up to in order to compare to the first book. At first it didn't seem like it was going to hold my interest as much, but boy was I wrong! This book was just as good if not better than the first, in it's own special way! This book was definitely deeper, especially emotionally, than the first book. So prepare to hang on! You will go for an emotional ride! I loved the character development, the strong chemistry, the tension, the angst - Wow, the angst in this one is high and frequent! There are even a few minor love triangles going on. Despite all the juicy goodness, this book is still clean! So no worries in that department. You get all the swoony feels without the garbage!
Triggers: This book heavily talks about parental divorce and the effects on children. I am a product of parental divorce and have been for the past 30 some years of my life. I can assure you, this book very accurately portrays what children of divorce may likely experience. I realize every divorce situation is different, some better or worse than others. No matter which end of the spectrum, divorce will effect and pull apart a family. It's inevitable. The way the characters experienced the devastating effects from divorce from the children's perspective, was a fairly accurate retelling of what I experienced in real life, too. I'd say it is likely the author has personal experience going through this, too, based on how accurate and deep the feelings go. This may trigger some people, but for me it was actually cathartic to read through, finding comfort in knowing that other people have experienced these hardships, too. As children of divorce, it is a very lonely road and one that often many others cannot seem to relate to what exactly you're going through at the time (this includes parents). Parents are often trying to make the best of the situation, so tend to avoid talking about it altogether, not realizing the children are often left to fend for themselves, especially emotionally. Also, it's often a taboo subject that even if you did try speaking about it to anyone, many get uncomfortable talking about it. And for the children, there is a lot of shame and embarrassment surrounding it, so it's almost easier to suppress those feelings. I was around the same age as these characters when my parents separated and then they eventually divorced while I was in college. Let's say these are very difficult times for children or young adults to experience a divorce. Although divorce will of course effect any age, this age range it often effects negatively and often pushes children/young adults to rebel or to seek solace in other places (sadly, not always good ones). I'm still trying to recover from the downward spiral I went through, hitting rock bottom about 20 years ago. So prepare yourselves, whether you personally experienced this situation or not, this story will make you feel it!
Despite the deep emotional issues, I highly recommend reading this book! I truly enjoyed it. Sarah is skilled at really pulling you into the story and making you feel like you're experiencing it in person. Yes it was deep, but the way it was written and the way the characters are, make you fall in love with them and the story. There were also many lighthearted and funny moments in this book, too. I wouldn't classify this as a dark book by any means. Expect lighthearted with deep subject matter. Enjoy!
This is the second book I've read by Sarah Sutton. I read the first book in this Most Likely To series, The Teacher's Pet, and I absolutely loved it! I admit, when I started this book, Dreaming About the Boy Next Door, I knew it had a lot to live up to in order to compare to the first book. At first it didn't seem like it was going to hold my interest as much, but boy was I wrong! This book was just as good if not better than the first, in it's own special way! This book was definitely deeper, especially emotionally, than the first book. So prepare to hang on! You will go for an emotional ride! I loved the character development, the strong chemistry, the tension, the angst - Wow, the angst in this one is high and frequent! There are even a few minor love triangles going on. Despite all the juicy goodness, this book is still clean! So no worries in that department. You get all the swoony feels without the garbage!
Triggers: This book heavily talks about parental divorce and the effects on children. I am a product of parental divorce and have been for the past 30 some years of my life. I can assure you, this book very accurately portrays what children of divorce may likely experience. I realize every divorce situation is different, some better or worse than others. No matter which end of the spectrum, divorce will effect and pull apart a family. It's inevitable. The way the characters experienced the devastating effects from divorce from the children's perspective, was a fairly accurate retelling of what I experienced in real life, too. I'd say it is likely the author has personal experience going through this, too, based on how accurate and deep the feelings go. This may trigger some people, but for me it was actually cathartic to read through, finding comfort in knowing that other people have experienced these hardships, too. As children of divorce, it is a very lonely road and one that often many others cannot seem to relate to what exactly you're going through at the time (this includes parents). Parents are often trying to make the best of the situation, so tend to avoid talking about it altogether, not realizing the children are often left to fend for themselves, especially emotionally. Also, it's often a taboo subject that even if you did try speaking about it to anyone, many get uncomfortable talking about it. And for the children, there is a lot of shame and embarrassment surrounding it, so it's almost easier to suppress those feelings. I was around the same age as these characters when my parents separated and then they eventually divorced while I was in college. Let's say these are very difficult times for children or young adults to experience a divorce. Although divorce will of course effect any age, this age range it often effects negatively and often pushes children/young adults to rebel or to seek solace in other places (sadly, not always good ones). I'm still trying to recover from the downward spiral I went through, hitting rock bottom about 20 years ago. So prepare yourselves, whether you personally experienced this situation or not, this story will make you feel it!
Despite the deep emotional issues, I highly recommend reading this book! I truly enjoyed it. Sarah is skilled at really pulling you into the story and making you feel like you're experiencing it in person. Yes it was deep, but the way it was written and the way the characters are, make you fall in love with them and the story. There were also many lighthearted and funny moments in this book, too. I wouldn't classify this as a dark book by any means. Expect lighthearted with deep subject matter. Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews