SIX STARS!!!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This will be one of my FAVORITE READS of the ENTIRE YEAR. 🥳

From the outside, Fiona's got it all...a loving family, an incredible career, all the money and status a person could want, and a best friend who has told her that he wants to turn their friendship into something more. But Fiona is recovering from scars both emotional and physical, working herself to the bone to keep her anxieties at bay. She's ready to coast through life, not changing, until she receives a magic watch. If a person holds it when they fall asleep, they will dream of their heart's desire.

From then on, every night, Fiona dreams of white sand beaches, a quirky community of characters, and the love of her life: Aaron McCormick. Their chemistry is undeniable. And since she's in a dream, she allows herself to live and love freely, embracing her dream life in a way she couldn't in reality. But all dreams end...don't they???

This book. THIS BOOK. The twists and turns. The INSANE levels of slow burn and sexual attraction. The characters, all complex, real, and endearing. The beach, so perfectly written that I felt like maybe I needed to apply sunscreen myself. 😂 I can't tell you what an emotional journey this took me on. Sarah Ready is a BEAUTIFUL writer, and I found myself highlighting line after line of her prose.

I screamed. I cried. I cheered. I swooned. I sighed. I laughed. And then I went out and pre-ordered a copy of this book, because having the eARC just isn't enough. I can't wait to have this book on my shelves and read it again and again.

Trigger warnings: earthquakes, cheating, drowning, abandonment, death

** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. **

I absolutely adored this book! It was reminiscent of some great movies like The Lake House and Your Name, where two people are meeting each other across time and space, and aren't sure why. Fiona Abry is a busy businesswoman who runs her Swiss watch company by day and cares for her young daughter at night. She inherits a watch that is rumored to give you your heart's desire in your dreams. When Fiona goes to sleep each night, she finds herself transported to a beautiful island where she's married to a gorgeous man named Aaron, with two beautiful children.

I fell in love with Aaron, with his dedication to the people living on his small island and love for his family, no matter what. I sympathized with Fiona's difficulty dreaming of a perfect life and fear for taking chances on happiness.

The descriptive storytelling in this book is absolutely beautiful. The author does a wonderful job painting a picture of idyllic Switzerland and breathtaking, dreamlike Saint Elegius Island in the Caribbean. I could visualize them in my head, making me want to visit both places. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering if they'd ever get together in real life. It took some surprising and nailbiting twists and turns.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 ALC Review

What a read! This is book Three of the Ghosted series by Sarah Ready. I haven’t read the first two and it can be read as a standalone. I will admit that I signed up to read this on NetGalley because the book cover is so pretty! Yes, I am one of those readers. Do I regret it? Did the beautiful cover let me down? Of course not, it exceeded expectations!

Here we meet Fiona, heiress of a Swiss watch making company. She is gifted an antique watch that makes her dreams a reality.

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

The love story is so beautiful and unique, our MMC McCormick is a dream boat! The perfect book boyfriend. There was so much chemistry and unexpected plot twists that had me truly enjoying the book. I will not say much more, I am a firm believer in not spoiling the story, the book summary does say the following: She meets the man of her dreams in her dreams.

“he's invaded my world. even when he's not real, not here, I still feel him next to me."

I look forward to reading the first two in the series.

Thank you to the author Sarah Ready and Net Galley for the advanced copy of the audio book!

This is the Third Novel in Sarah Ready’s Ghosted series and unfortunately, it’s also my least favorite.

It revolves around Daniel’s (from the first book) sister, Fiona. She’s gifted a watch that allows her to meet the love of her life in her dreams. So why was it not my favorite? Simply, the plot wasn’t well developed until too late for me. Sarah Ready’s writing style for me is strongest in terms of its lyrical, prose and her ability to deal with complex emotions. That’s still true here but it’s hard to focus on while you’re trying to figure out what the heck’s going on with the plot. In the earlier books in the series the magical realism elements are more straightforward in terms of the ‘rules’ of the magical set up. In this case it was too nebulous for me to really grip onto until way too late in the story.

I did still enjoy the book though. Especially the second half. I found the ending extremely satisfying, it just took way too long to get to that point.

Thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Last year, I had the pleasure of reading Josh and Gemma Make A Baby and it delighted me so much that I requested this title from NetGalley. I hadn't read the other two books in the series but I do believe all the stories feature different protagonists.

Sometimes, an avid reader can make a mistake. Not every title written by an author should be pursued.

My instinct to admit defeat and mark this as a "did not finish" was strong in the beginning and yet somehow I persisted in keeping with it.

After all, this was the tale of a woman who escapes into her dreams because of a magical watch and finds herself living an entirely different existence. It also promised to be a feel-good romance type of storyline.

Maybe it was the humidity or I was sitting in an uncomfortable chair. Maybe I was dehydrated? But I just didn't like this book. It felt all over the place. I groaned a lot and I think I screamed at one point.


It just wasn't for me. It was hard to buy into the HEA.







Expected Publication Date 16/07/24
Goodreads Review 11/07/24
#Fated #NetGalley.

Sarah Ready continues the Ghosted series with another member of the Abry family - Fiona. Though it is the third book in the series the reader does not have to have read the two previous books (in fact it seems to take place before the first book).

As with the other books in the series there is a magical element to the story, as Fiona acquires a watch that allows her to slip into the life of another in her dreams. The story follows Fiona while she lives this dual life - daytime as a career woman in Geneva and at nights a married mother on a laid back tropical island. The story follows Fiona trying to figure out what fate is trying to tell her as she falls further into the life on the island that she believes is a dream.

This book was more serious than the previous book in the series, but still offered an enjoyable and emotional read. While the humor was missing it was made up with the realistic portrayal of the emotions that the main characters felt while working through their personal hardships. The story came together nicely in the end and I look forward to continuing the series.

Sarah Ready tells beautiful love stories, effortlessly blending warmth, angst, and a bit of magic.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️

💭 overall thoughts:
Not sure how I haven’t learned by now that Sarah will completely rip my heart out before putting it back together 😭 I've added another of her books to my favorites list! I loved this so much.

Fiona is a single mom & CEO of her late father’s watch company. She lives a very busy life, one that she was born into. She’s given a watch that lets you dream what you really want, and it takes her into another life.

Fiona loves parts of both of these lives, and it pushes her to figure out what she truly desires. The dream world gives her a place to safely explore love, and a completely different way to live than she’s used to.

I had so many theories and none were true 😅 I did very much enjoy the ride. I fell hard for Fiona & Aaron, and I was hoping for them to end up together somehow.

While listed as 3rd in the series, you definitely don’t have to read the first two books - this one actually takes place before, so there’s very little connection (except Fiona’s brother Daniel being the mmc in Ghosted).

🤍side characters:
I’m very much looking forward to book 4, Wished - Max deserves his happily ever after! I loved how much he supported & respected Fiona.

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Sarah Ready always has me discovering incredible narrators! Shakira Shute embodied Fiona so well, and added so much to the story.

tropes + topics:
✨ magical realism
💭 dream world
🙃 opposites attract
👩‍💼 single mom & CEO
👩‍❤️‍👨 soulmates/meant to be
🫶🏼 found family
💜 single 1st person pov

✨ books with similar vibes:
♡ The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Thank you to Sarah Ready, Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This is one of those reviews where it is very difficult not to spoil anything about it. At the end of the day, I loved this book/story. Sarah has a way of writing characters that you just can't help falling in love with and rooting for. I so desperately wanted to know what was going to happen with Fi, I truly couldn't stop listening/reading.

I don't know if I should say this, but about halfway through this book, I skipped to the end to see how it was going to end before I could go back to finish it. I knew when I was doing it that I should just trust that Sarah was going to get the characters where I wanted them to be, but I didn't trust that. I've read a few books from this author at this point, and she's never let me down, so I should have known this book was going to end exactly as I wanted it to, and it 100 % did. All this to say, trust the process, Fiona will end up exactly where she's meant to be.

This was a great addition to a series I'm really enjoying, and I'm so excited it's not ending with this one. I'm very excited to see how Max's story plays out in Wished. If you enjoy fantasy/paranormal romances, I would definitely suggest reading this one. I know my reviews normally include a listing of tropes, but doing that now would spoil too much. So, just know it's a fantasy/paranormal romance, and there is a HEA guaranteed.

This was such an incredible book, I couldn't put it down. I devoured it. Fiona, the main character, runs her family's Swiss watch business and is mother to a daughter. She has no time in her life for romance. Her mother is concerned about her though and brings her an heirloom watch. The story is that it's magical and will show you your heart's desires.

It shows Fiona a life she never dreamed could be hers and the growth of the character and the romance that develops is mesmerizing. The characters are all interesting and well developed and the plot feels new and fresh, even though in some ways it resembles stories close to our hearts. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to read more from Sarah Ready. A must read for romance lovers in 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read an advance copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC of this book.

This is my third Sarah Ready book and she has now become an auto-buy author for me! I have loved everything of hers that I've read. She is a magical realism master.

Fated has two timelines (of sorts) with one person, Fiona, in both. She moves between her real life and a dream world that she travels to in her dreams via an old pocket watch. The end became a bit confusing during the big reveal, but overall, the two timelines worked well.

Fiona is faced with a difficult life decision - settling for a gem of a man that she knows isn't her one, or keep looking for that love she believes is out there. She actually finds him, but he's in her dream timeline. What's a woman to do when your perfect match is living in your dreams?

This book was just fantastic. I loved Fiona's journey. And I really appreciated her end decision. The two opposite settings (Geneva and a tropical island) gave the best of both worlds. All of the characters were loveable and kind and it made it hard to decide who to root for. This was a solid romance that I highly recommend!

Thank you to the author, #Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy of Fated in exchange for an honest review. I rotated between the ebook and audio formats.

I always start by saying, I leap at the opportunity to read a Sarah Ready book early! Especially one in the Ghosted series! I absolutely loved Ghosted, really enjoyed Switched and now can’t stop thinking about Fated!

I didn’t realize initially that this story begins prior to when the story of Ghosted took place. That was a pleasant surprise! It was SO lovely to see Daniel come to life again on the page and this time as a loving brother and uncle.

Fated is overall incredibly creative. Sarah Ready was able to vividly depict both worlds (real life and dream world) of which the main character, Fiona was living. Every scene on the island felt palpable. Aaron/McCormick was swoon worthy! It was so riveting to see where Fiona would be when she reentered the dream and what occurred in that world while she was awake. My brain tends to be overly analytical (even when reading), so a healthy dose of magical realism is needed from time to time and this delivered!

I loved the complexity of the familial relationships in both worlds. I was happy that Fiona and Max had each other and part of my heart pulled her in his direction. Although Fiona’s mother was not there for her how she needed throughout her life, I could still feel the genuine love she had for her daughter. The story about acquiring the watch was funny! I loved how devoted of a mother and mother figure Fi was. She had such a big heart!

I thought this would follow the format of the first two in the series and have an epilogue from another POV. I think it would’ve been interesting to hear from either Aaron or Max.

The narration was absolutely beautiful!

This was definitely a different sub-genre for me!

The back-and-forth between Fiona’s “waking life” in Geneva and her “dream life” on the island could be a little confusing at times (during the beginning of some chapters, it’s not always made immediately clear whether she’s awake or dreaming), but overall it was good. There were some parts that seemed to drag a little, but it wasn’t enough to prevent me from continuing the story.

Definitely some underlying “The Lake House” vibes

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒.𝙒. 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨, 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙩 & 𝙇𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙇𝙇𝘾 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

This was the third book I have read in this series. I enjoyed all three. It is a a series of romances with magical realism at its forefront. Book 1 - Ghosted - has the main character living with a ghost until she realizes she has to save him in a different timeline. Book 2 - Switched - has the Freaky Friday vibe. The main characters switch souls into each other and the antics that occur. Finally book 3 - a dream romance, which may or may not be real. If I have to pick, I enjoyed the first book the best but I loved how Sarah Ready interwove the characters in book 1 and 2 - best friends. Book 3 frustrated me a bit as I was confused about the timeline. It felt like it should have been book 1. The MC is the first books male MC’s sister. But it felt like it happened before book 1 takes place. There is no mention of her brother or his wife from book 1 as a couple, just the brother. There were some other elements that didn’t work for me but I must say that I couldn’t stop reading any of them as I wanted to see how it would all play out. Definitely some clever plot lines.

Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Ready for the ARC of “Fated”! I thoroughly enjoyed this read, it was unique and thought provoking while also being romantic! I had no idea how it was going to end, couldn’t for the life of me figure out how it was going to go until right before! It was very well written!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is magical realism, romance PERFECTION. I love Sarah's poetic writing style. I loved Fiona and Aaron, I loved Daniel and Max and Amy and little Sean!!!! Every aspect, every chapter, everything was so well carved out and written, this book is an absolute GEM. Sarah writes in a way that is captivating but doesn't dangle carrots. She is an instant read and instant buy for me.

"Fated" is a beautifully crafted novel that uses the symbolism of time to weave a tale of love and self-discovery. Fiona's journey between her real life and dream world highlights her growth from a woman plagued by abandonment issues to one capable of immense love and sacrifice. The dual realities reflect Fiona's internal struggles, making her a relatable protagonist.

The romance between Fiona and McCormick showcases a deep emotional connection that transcends time. McCormick's unwavering support and love make him a standout character. Max is portrayed with empathy, and his unrequited love adds melancholy to the narrative.

The settings are vividly described, immersing the reader in both Fiona's real and dream worlds. The pacing is well-maintained, with each chapter building upon the last to create a cohesive and engaging story.

In conclusion, "Fated" is a mesmerizing read that balances romance, fantasy, and contemporary issues with finesse. The occasional complexity of dual timelines is a minor quibble in an otherwise outstanding novel. Sarah Ready has crafted a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating, deserving of a solid four-star rating.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Fated is a lovely book. I have not read the other 2 books in her series, but the magical elements in this story were done really well. Fiona has a difficult time opening herself up to love after being hurt a decade prior. She fills up her life with work, family, and her best friend Max. She and her brother are heirs to a long standing Swiss watchmaker company, and their lives revolve around the very prestigious and profitable company. One day, Fiona's mother provides her with a pocket watch made by the original inventor and owner of her company. It is said that to hold that watch in your hand while sleeping will allow you to see the dreams for your life. Upon sleeping with the watch, Fiona awakes on a tropical island with a husband and two children. Fiona grapples with the life she is living during her dreams and her real life in Geneva where her best friend Max would like to develop their relationship into something more.
Sarah Ready's writing did bring this book to life. I was able to visualize the settings and characters quite clearly. Her characters were well developed and I appreciated the background stories of Fiona, Max and Aaron (her husband on the island). This was just a fun story that was at times endearing and heart wrenching. It made me wish that the magical elements were something we could have in real life. This was told completely through Fiona's point of view. I liked that aspect of this story, as we learned about Aaron at the same pace as Fiona. I look forward to more books from Sarah, including going back and reading her earlier novels. Thank you to NetGalley and Swift and Lewis Publishing for the advance copy.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and ALC of this book. I have been loving the last few books in this series and this was no exception!

These books are so fascinating to me because they really make me think about the beyond and how entwined our lives really could be.

This book is set in the here and now and then in dreams and I really loved that. I loved Fiona's characters and her love interest(s) as well. It truly made me question everything - I don't want to spoil anything though!

While I received both the ebook and audiobook, however, I unfortunately didn't realize that the audiobook archived 11 days before release, so I wasn't able to listen beyond the sample, so I cannot comment too much on the narration. Other than I was intrigued by the narration in the sample. I will be purchasing the audiobook to listen and review when it comes out!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley!

This is my first book from Sarah Ready and my first in the Ghosted series. I don't know if it was best that I started in the middle of the series, but it didn't personally affect my enjoyment. I definitely enjoyed Ready's poetic feel to her writing. It took me a minute to get into the story, but I really liked the idea of Fiona getting relief from her stressful life running her family’s Swiss watch company in her dreams where she ultimately meets her dream man. I don't want to give anything away, but this book is definitely worth a read. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

4.5, rounding up to 5!

Fated is the 3rd book in the Ghosted series. I've read Switched, but I have yet to read Ghosted (I need to fix that ASAP). Fated features Fiona as our main character. Her brother is Daniel and together they run their family's watch company. I have learned through reading reviews that Daniel is a featured character in the first book, Ghosted (the events of Fated happened prior to Ghosted). All of the books in this series can be read as standalone.

Fiona is given an heirloom and when she sleeps with it she wakes up in a hyper realistic dream.. IN SOMEONE ELSE'S BODY. In her "dream state" she's in Becca's body and married to Aaron McCormick with 2 kids. In her real life she has a daughter, Mila, and she spends a lot of time with her best friend, Max. Max is in love with her. I have so much more I want to say, but I just want YOU as a reader to be just as shocked and surprised as I was when things unfolded.

The book goes back and forth between her real life and her dream state and Sarah Ready has the most amazing gift of writing powerful visualizing stories. The last 20% of Fated had me in a chokehold. OH MY GOSH. I read this as an e-ARC but I already know I need to have a physical copy for my collection because of how much I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for a review!