Member Reviews

“You can't close a chapter before it's over. You can't stop a dream before it's finished.”

A magical romance that transcends time, "Fated" by Sarah Ready is the enchanting tale of Fiona a watchmaker who comes from a line of Swiss watchmakers, an heir to her family's legacy. Nestled in Fiona's busy life are her daughter Mila, her brother Daniel and her best friend Max.
In a twist of fate, Fiona's world is shaken by a traumatic event. Unable to dream, an impromptu visit from her free spirited mother who comes bearing a long-lost heirloom, a treasured family watch, causes a shift in her life.
This mysterious watch transports her into a vivid dream world, Fiona finds herself falling for Aaron, the captivating man of her dreams.
Fiona is torn between two worlds, two loves, and the elusive allure of her dreams. 💭🕰️

Will Fiona's heart choose the dream or the reality?

Brimming with magic, mystery, and a captivating love story, Sarah Ready's "Fated" proves to be a diamond in the rough, dazzling its readers with each turn of the page. 💎✨ The characters are crafted with depth and empathy, drawing you into their lives and hearts. From the main protagonists to the charming side characters, each plays a vital role in this enchanting tale.

Ready's writing is akin to a spellbinding symphony, with descriptive passages that transport you to the very heart of the story, enchanting you with her imaginative storytelling and evocative penmanship. It blends nostalgia and modernity into a refreshingly original cocktail that leaves a delicious, lingering aftertaste.

A heartfelt thanks to @NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the opportunity to dive into the enchanting depths of "Fated" by Sarah Ready, an immersive journey through time, dreams, and the heart's secret yearnings. 💖📚 I am honored to be able to share my honest review in exchange for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and deeply grateful for the chance to experience this captivating story firsthand.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc, I am horribly late on reviewing. I really enjoyed this. It’s my favourite of the series so far, Fiona and Aaron had a beautiful story and I loved the dreaming element. I love how grounded in reality these magic scenarios are. I do wish we’d gotten more time with them once they were together, it was a long road to happy and I wanted to see more of that. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was incredible. Definitely recommend experiencing it in audio.

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So I actually read this one after listening to the audiobook and I really enjoyed it yet again. It kind of let me read it in a different way without having a narrator dictate how I heard certain things.

I can’t wait to listen and read other books from this author x

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Fated by Sarah Ready is an intriguing blend of romance and magical realism. The story follows Fiona Abry, a busy woman running her family's Swiss watch company, who inherits a magical watch that allows her to dream of her greatest desires. In her dreams, she finds herself living a serene life on a tropical island, married to a charming man named McCormick, and raising two children.

The premise is unique and provides a welcome break from reality. Ready's writing is intriguing, and she seamlessly mixes lighthearted moments with more serious topics like abandonment and the complexity of love. The dream sequences are wonderfully detailed, making it simple to become immersed in Fiona's imaginary world.

For me, there are a few little nicks like this. At times, the pacing might be slow, and some of the plot twists come across as forced. Though most of the characters are well-developed, some, like Robert, McCormick's best buddy, seem like caricatures. Furthermore, I felt that I was not content with how Fiona's romantic quandary between her ideal husband McCormick and her real-life friend Max was resolved.

Fated was a decent read with a captivating concept, but it slightly falls short in the execution for me.

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I just love this series! The mysticism, the characters, the storylines....it's all just perfect!

Fiona's story is a clever twisty one that requires you to suspend reality in your mind a bit which is no problem for me. I love a good mystical read. It's the way the author wove all the different pieces of this story together and made them connect and ultimately make sense that was truly impressive.

All along Fiona is falling in love in her dreams with a man that she doesn't believe is real. But is she right? Is he simply a dream man? Or is he the man she is fated to be with?

This story is just so good and I loved everything about it. This series just keeps getting better and better.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narrator for the audiobook did a stellar job and really made you feel immersed in the storyline. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

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Fated is a sweet story that plays with dreams and reality while offering up a lovely romance. Sarah Ready has provided yet another romance with more substance than your average beach read.

Shakira Shute did a lovely job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Sarah Ready, Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

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This was a be ey interesting and different storyline. I felt like I saw the point of showing the two separate lives but to be honest I didn't love either of them. Not my favorite in this series from Sarah Ready.

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Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
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When I requested this book I didn’t realize it was part of a series, which was a nice discovery! Fated is a stand alone within the series so I didn’t feel too lost or anything! First impressions, I love the premise. Having this world you escape to in your dreams but facing reality when you wake up is *chef’s kiss* I enjoyed Fionas character as well as Aaron, their dynamic, the families, ugh I wish I could read this again without knowing what happens!! Its heartfelt, endearing and such a nice read!
Without going into much detail, I enjoyed reading this very much and will likely pick up more books by Sarah Ready.
GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6839198231

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of the e-ARC.

I had high hopes from reading the description and seeing the high reviews on the author's other books. When I started it, it just wasn't what I expected. The beginning was slow and the timeline confused me. The main character getting physically hurt barely played a role in the story. When I was 40% through the book, I still couldn't figure out the plot. It had mostly been many different things that happened in succession with no conflict or tension. I couldn't determine what Fiona's drive was. Sure, there were shocking things like her relationship with McCormick and Robert but it was resolved in the next chapter.

The author writes very nicely, the text is easy to understand. It was mostly the story and characters that did not click with me.

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There are a few plots that was brushed through but if you're in Fi's position, I don't think you would know everything either. I love the plot, characters, and the writing. I love how it was so simple to understand and yet vivid for the imagination. This is a book that I don't mind to keep on re-reading

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This was the second Sarah Ready book I’ve read and have every intention of reading more! I absolutely loved this book and the characters in it. Fi and Daniel make bets at the beginning of the book that lead Fi into giving her best friend a chance. However her mom thinks the universe has other plans. I don’t want to say much more without giving away what happens in the story but trust me, read it yourself!

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Fiona is a woman who has had a series of people who abandon her through her life which has hardened her to the point of not believing she is capable of loving. We take a journey in reality and through dreams of what is and could be. It is a beautiful story of a family and a whole island of characters. It will make you laugh, cry, and love. If you like a happily ever after with a twist you will enjoy this book and prepare to fall for the whole group. Thank you Netgallery, Swift and Lewis Publishing, W.W. Crown, and Sarah Ready for choosing me to be an arc reader for this book.

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I wanted to read this book because I was a big fan of the author's previous book, Switched. I was a little disappointed because Switched was a romance novel that had supernatural elements, and was infused with humor and fun. This book, while a romance and supernatural, was lacking that lighthearted humor and fun that made me enjoy the other book so much. The book felt long and drawn out, and what saved it from a lower rating was that I enjoyed the last 20% of the book.

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"Fated" by Sarah Ready is a contemporary romance novel that combines elements of destiny and personal growth. The story revolves around a character who believes in the concept of soulmates and the idea that certain people are meant to be together. The novel explores themes of love, fate, and personal transformation, often weaving emotional depth into its romantic plot.

The book has been praised for its engaging storytelling, well-developed characters, and its blend of heartfelt moments with lighthearted romance. Sarah Ready's writing style is noted for its charm and relatability, which helps create a compelling and immersive reading experience. If you enjoy romance novels that explore deeper connections and the idea of destined relationships, "Fated" might be a great choice for you.

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Due to her past, Fiona is just going through life, focusing on work and her daughter, Mila. One day, Fiona’s mum passes her an heirloom which is said to make your greatest desire come true in your dreams. Fiona gives it a try and is soon hooked to it.

In her dreams, she is Becca; married to Aaron and with two kids – Amy and Sean. At the same time in reality, she decides to give Max, one of her closest friends, a chance to progress beyond friendship. Between these two identities/realities, it may not seem like cheating but it feels a bit strange honestly.

I was also intrigued and kept wondering about the purpose behind the shooting on Christmas Eve and oh boy, I loved how it turned out in the end. I am so glad I decided to continue reading despite being uncomfortable with the other woman /other man trope initially.

Throughout the book, I could easily imagine myself exploring Geneva and the island through their eyes. The writing was brilliant and I can’t wait to read Max’s book for the sparks to finally reach him!

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What an absolute delight! The lush prose, the way both the real life and the dream life are presented beautifully, the slow burn of romance between Aaron and Fiona. Can't say I didn't cry (I definitely did). It started really slow, with the whole act of gun violence, but never fear: once it gets going, it is STUNNING. The ending is a bit confusing, what with the time travel, but what matters most is the characters and the relationship built.

My brain is a bit scattered, so sorry.

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Fated by Sarah Ready was a well written story featuring Fiona, a woman working in her family's clock business. When she receives a special family heirloom watch, she is transported to a tropical island where she falls in love with Aaron. Now she is stuck between real life and her dreams.

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Fated is about the story of Fiona, a woman who runs her family’s watch company in Switzerland. One night, she receives a gift from her mother a watch that is a family heirloom that allows her to dream her hearts desires, and there, she meets the man of her dreams.

This is my second time reading Sarah Ready and the Ghosted series. Sadly, I started backwards, with Max’s story, but this book was a delight either way, complementing a lot his character for me. It is not better than Wished in my opinion, but a very very good book just the same. At first, I was confused as to why the main character dreamed as someone else (but no spoilers), and it took me a while to fully connect to the story… but as it went on, I felt like everything was explained and I loved the plot and the twists and that small town feeling of founding family.

For fans of Seven Year Slip… you’ll love this one! It’s a book with that special touch of magic, soulmates, fate kinda romance.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Sarah Ready for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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For me, plot was somewhat confusing - but a good read. The problem may be me tbh. I was just struggling somewhat to follow what was happening
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley!

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Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. I have read all of the Ghosted series thanks to NetGalley and I really enjoy each story. They are standalones but have a little overlap and are a bit more fun if you read them all.

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