Oh my wow. I remembered really enjoying Wished by Sarah Ready (I know, I'm reading out of order) but this one blew me out of the water. I was so intrigued by the premise but the execution of this story was absolutely phenomenal. The yearning I felt and the falling in love I did with not just the MMC but the entire island of characters made me feel something I hadn't felt in a book in a very long time. And a specific part (no spoilers) had me actually bawling like a baby. I've always loved magical realism books for the exact feelings this book gave me: curiosity, whimsy, and a sort of longing for the truth. I will definitely be reading the rest of Sarah Ready's Ghosted series. 5 stars all the way. Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love how original Sarah Ready's books are. This one is pure escapism with a magical watch and two parallel lives, one in Geneva (in real life) and one in dreams activated by the watch, in an island. At times this twisty stroy can feel a bit convoluted, but the writing is engaging and the character's are dimensional, so your want to keep turning the pages and find out how it all resolves.

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Fated by Sarah Ready
adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5

Fated is the third book in the Ghosted series but it's events take place before the first book & it can be read as a standalone.

This was such a comforting & warm read🥺
The setting alternates between Geneva & a tropical island but it's mostly set on the island which makes it perfect to pick up during the summer.

Fi was the perfect fmc. There's so much to admire about her. The relationship between all the characters with each other was equally amazing. Aaron deserves all the happiness in the world & so does Max.

The cover is as beautiful as the story itself & captures the essence of the book.

Sarah always has the most unique plots & going into her books blind would be amazing! There's something about her writing that makes me want to never stop reading. The way she describes places is so vivid, it makes everything feel so realistic.

I'm so excited for Wished because Max deserves his own happy ending.

Thank you to the author, publisher & @netgalley for the eARC!

This series is one I never knew I would love so much!

The third in the Ghosted series, FATED is a contemporary romance featuring time travel, magic, and a single Mom named Fiona who finds herself transported to another time through a family heirloom.

I paired the book with the audio format and enjoyed this immersive read so much! Performed by Shakira Shute, I thought she did a great job at voicing each character.

*many thanks to Swift & Lewis and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

I had already read "Switched" which is in the same series (though these books can be read separately and you don't miss anything) which I really enjoyed and so jumped at the chance to read Fated.

The story had an interesting premise which instantly drew me in and continued to deliver throughout the story. There's a great cast of characters that felt well developed and the ending was pretty much perfect. I'd really recommend just giving it a go! I will definitely be reading more of Sarah Ready's books.

Please note I received an advance review copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a beautiful love story. Their love triumphed over everything and it was well-deserved. I was fortunate to have it both in print and audio forms available to me. The narrator was fantastic and she did a wonderful job of pulling you in. This series has been a fantastic one and it has given me such a different take on the romance genre. This author never disappoints. And now I am on to the next story Wished.

Magical realism meets contemporary romance, this book had me swooning for Fi's dream man!

Fi has always been so focused on being good on her own she didn't know she was missing anything in life until she's given a family heirloom that transports her to a dreamland, that feels so real, and where she meets the man of her dreams. The only problem is, this man isn't real, and neither is the life she lived in her dream world, or is it?

This book had so much heart and passion and many twists and turns that were somewhat predictable but absolutely a delight. I love how Ready wrote this intertwining the dream world and the Fi's real life and what the dreams could be trying to tell Fi. By the end I was just racing to finish to see how it would end.

While the story is almost like reading two separate stories, I did feel like it dragged a bit in the middle and it could have been shortened (12.5 hours/430 pages).

Absolutely loved this book! The writing is brilliant and the characters absolutely loveable. This is my first Sarah Ready read and I'll definitely be going back for more.

I did not find this one to be as good as the first two in the series (Ghosted & Switched) but I enjoyed it nonetheless!

After Fiona Abry is given an old time piece which will help her dream of her greatest desire, she falls heads first into dreams of a tropical island and the arms of a handsome stranger, Aaron. McCormick. Only he isn't a stranger and he thinks she is his wife Rebecca. This is the third book in the Ghosted series by Sarah Ready but can be read as a stand-alone novel.

I honestly found it a little difficult to get into this book because it felt like Groundhog Day (the movie or the musical). Fiona keeps dreaming of this lovely man, but he thinks she is his wife, and she gets stuck in this cycle of trying to work out what is happening and who she is. Rebecca, the woman whose life she is inhabiting, is cheating on her husband, disengaged from her kids and not really a character that I enjoyed reading about. However, once Fiona got over the initial shock of the dream reality and leaned into it, there were some really beautiful moments between her and McCormick. The twist at the end had me staying up late into the night to see what would happen when Fiona returned to her reality and the ending did not disappoint.

The book is very well written and vividly evokes the tiny island and the tranquillity of a small town beach lifestyle. The setting of the island where McCormick lives almost becomes another character in the story and left me wistful for an island holiday myself. If you are looking for an unusual romance, this book might just do the trick.

#Fated #NetGalley I've read a few books by this author & this is definitely one of the best. Absolutely loved Fiona's dream world & the twist at the end I didn't see coming at all. Would recommend to anyone who wants a bit of light romantic reading with a bit of a difference.

This series is really something magical, I think something not many of us could even hope to conjure up in a dream. Fiona is suffering on so many levels, yet her drive to succeed remains. Her mother wants her to regain her spark, her hope, her happiness. With the gift of an heirloom Fiona starts having dreams unlike any she's ever experienced before.

This right here is where the book goes from so good to incredible.
As the reader you just want more of Fiona's new existence. There's nothing to question. Her new reality in her dreams is completely reasonable, because Aaron and her new family make her world bright again. But it gets better but I'm trying to be vague yet interesting because this whole book is an experience you won't want to miss.
I have voluntarily left this review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishing team for allowing me to read and review the ARC.

I typically don’t enjoy the multi POV of Past/Present or One Path vs The Other Path. It’s such an interesting premise for a book. I thought the author pulled it off well.

“I'm in love with a dream, with a man who isn't real, and there isn't any coming back from it.” SCREAMING, CRYING, THROWING UP. Aren’t we all 😭

I was sucked in during Sarah Ready's first book Ghosted. I think that going into this I wasn't sure what exactly to expect from this one. I mean yes, I knew that I was going to see a character who was living two lives, but I didn't expect to be so torn for her. Normally even if a character has a choice to make, I know that I'm firmly on one side or the other. With this one I was somewhere in the middle where I wanted her to have happiness but at what cost for both dreams. However, I did find her figuring out what exactly she wants to be refreshing because grass is always greener right?

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Fated by Sarah Ready!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Fated” has such a unique and dreamy concept—I loved the idea of Fiona living a whole other life in her dreams. The contrast between her structured reality and the idyllic island life was really engaging, and the romance was sweet. However, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and I wished for more depth in Fiona’s emotional journey. The ending also left me wanting more closure. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t fully deliver on its intriguing premise.

Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.

Am I sobbing????? Yes!!!!! Did I kick my feet and giggle multiple times during this book? Yes!!!!! Did I GASP and get a little upset at the author??? Yes! But it’s okay cause she fixed it!!!

This book is absolutely amazing. I loved every single second of it. It’s so funny and sweet and cute and amazing!!! I LOVE FIONA!!!! I LOVE AARON!!!!! I LOVE THE KIDS!! I LOVE MAX(i already read his book and am kind of sad that he wasn’t portrayed as this loving man that he is in this book!) I love Daniel and am really hoping his book is next!!!!! (Hint hint Sarah!!!!!) I love Amy!!! What an angel! Considering naming my child moonbeam? Will have to consult my fiancé first though.

Fiona has lived an interesting life. Her mom left her to travel the world. But she left her with her wealthy father. Who was extremely kind and loving. She has a brother named Daniel. Together they run a watch making business in Switzerland. She’s a hard working single mom with no time for anything else. She believes she has everything she’s ever needed. Until her mom shows up with a watch. A magical watch. A watch that will show you your deepest dreams! Fiona of course thinks it’s a load of bullocks. But decides to try it out one night. She falls asleep with it in her hand and is supposed to dream of her deepest desires. She dreams of Aaron.

And boy do I dream of Aaron. A man who lives on an island with his kids.

I don’t want to say too much and spoil the book.
You’re going to have to read it for yourself. Please do. It’s amazing. I will be reading the rest of Sarah Readys books now.

Thanks to NetGalley, IBPA Loves Indies, Swift and Lewis Publishing, and W W Crown for this copy of "Fated."

I was so excited to read this third book in the "Ghosted" series and to share Fiona Abry's story. We first met Fiona in "Ghosted" where she and her brother Daniel run the Abry family watch company.

Fiona's mother gives her a family heirloom watch that lets the owner dream their heart's desire. At night, she dreams that she's on a small island in a completely different life where they know her as "Becca,"" who is married to Aaron, a marathon swimmer.

"Becca" wants to live in New York and leave Aaron while Fiona finds herself falling deeply in love with him. But it's just a dream, right?

Fated by Sarah Ready is a captivating blend of romance and self-discovery, exploring the fine line between fantasy and reality. Fiona Abry, a workaholic running her family’s Swiss watch company, unexpectedly finds herself living out her greatest desires in her dreams, thanks to a family heirloom. Each night, she experiences an idyllic life on a tropical island with a loving husband and two kids—everything she never knew she needed. As Fiona becomes more enchanted with her dream life, she’s forced to confront the reality that the man she’s falling for might not exist. A beautifully poignant story about love, dreams, and the choices that define us.

"I'm in love with a dream, with a man who isn't real, and there isn't any coming back from it."

OH MY GOODNESS. This gave me the reminiscent feelings that 2000's romcom give; that warm & fuzzy feeling. I really enjoyed Sarah's writing style & the way she moved around the plot. It is a new view on romance books that I hadn't come across yet. The surprises she threw hit perfectly & kept me staying up later to read more! I highly recommend! FAB!!