Review: Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher

Penguin, 18th June 2015

Dream a Little Dream is the third novel from Giovanna Fletcher. It’s released today (18th June) by Penguin and is available in paperback and as an e-book.

I have to say, I absolutely ADORE this cover. It reminds me very much of Lisa Jewell’s earlier covers – beautiful and romantic. Love, love, love!

Here’s the blurb for Dream a Little Dream:

Sarah is doing just fine. Sure she’s been single for the last five years, and has to spend an uncomfortable amount of time around her ex-boyfriend and their mutual friends, and the rest at her tediously mundane job, but it’s fine. She’s happy(ish).

But it’s not surprising that when Sarah starts dreaming about a handsome stranger, she begins looking forward to falling asleep at night. Reality isn’t nearly as exciting. That is until her dream-stranger makes an unexpected real-life appearance, leaving Sarah questioning everything she thought she wanted.

Because people never really find the person of their dreams… do they?

I was a big fan of Billy & Me and I recently read You’re The One That I Want and loved that too so I was really excited when the review copy of Dream a Little Dream got delivered.

I wasn’t sure where it was going to go at first but I was intrigued from the first few pages and therefore, I couldn’t put it down. I could relate to how real dreams can feel and therefore, this novel really appealed to me. Sarah’s dreams are woven in well with her real life and I got just as invested in wanting to know what happened in those as much as Sarah’s reality. I once had a huge argument with my Mum in a dream. The phone conversation with her the next day was interesting, especially as she had nothing to do with the argument in my dream and therefore had no idea she’d upset me. I am fascinated with the power dreams can hold as was certainly the case for Sarah.

I love the little reference in there to Billy Buskin ( I love it when stories effortlessly tie in to others,) and I smiled when there was a little nod to Tom Fletcher too. I thought it was a lovely touch.

Sarah is a very likeable character and I wanted to be her friend and be able to go over to her flat and watch TV and hang out with her and Carly. She is also a very patient character as I am not sure I could spend that much time around my Ex and his girlfriend without making a huge scene. She is a better girl than I am.

Brett also sounded lovely and there was a nice and realistic difference between dream Brett and real Brett. I did prefer real Brett though. All the supporting characters in this novel were great and I very much liked the scenes where they were all together.

The story was well plotted, funny and in some places heartbreaking. Some details in the plot were handled very well (I did have to put the book down though at one point and have a break to make sure I didn’t cry.)

Giovanna writes with great humour and warmth and I have fast become a fan of her novels. I very much look forward to book four.

(Thank you to Penguin for the review copy. Dream a Little Dream is available to buy now and is available from most major UK bookshops, RRP £7.99.)

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by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.