A Book A Week

Ivy Harcourt is riding high on the success of her debut romance novel. A reimagining of Wuthering Heights with a much happier ending, the book has become an unexpected bestseller. Her agent and publisher are eager for a follow-up, but Ivy is struggling to write it. After discovering her most recent boyfriend was unfaithful, she's convinced that "Maybe I just need to accept that the only happily ever after in my future is fictional." The only thing she truly likes about her work in progress is the leading man. If only someone like him actually existed.

Then she rescues a dog that escaped in the park and meets Liam. He's handsome, British, an architect...and uncannily similar to the fictional love interest she's been writing. Even his name is the same. Is it an impossible coincidence, or has Ivy somehow written the man of her dreams into existence?

The couple quickly becomes swept up in a whirlwind romance, but Ivy can't shake the feeling that something isn't quite right. There's nothing obviously wrong with Liam. In fact, he might be a little too perfect. After all, happily-ever-afters belong in books. If life suddenly starts following the script, it's only a matter of time before the story takes an unexpected turn.

Olivia Worley surprised me with her campy, twisty tale of obsession, So Happy Together, so when I saw Man of My Dreams was coming out, I couldn't wait to dive in. At first, it seemed like a very different kind of story. I was completely engrossed by the mystery of Liam—how he could possibly exist and what his true intentions might be. It felt like a clever blend of romance, magical realism, and suspense, and I was hooked.

Then the novel took a sharp turn into more familiar thriller territory, and that's where it began to lose me. The twists are entertaining, and the flashbacks add meaningful context to Ivy's character, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was reading a different book than the one I'd fallen in love with during those opening chapters. By the time a few overly convenient revelations arrived near the end, I found myself wishing Worley had trusted the original premise. The mystery of Liam was compelling enough on its own.

That said, Worley still has a knack for writing clever, over-the-top, popcorn thrillers that are easy to devour in just a few sittings. Man of My Dreams is undeniably a fun page-turner. I just couldn't help imagining an alternate version of this story that leaned further into its wonderfully strange premise.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2026, 51)