I loved this story y'all. Fiona finds her dream husband in her dreams. She's a busy single mom running a watch company and has little time for a vacation let alone a love life. When she's gifted a family heirloom that's supposed to let you dream your greatest desire, she finds what she never knew she needed but was hoping for all along.

I loved the jumps between Fiona's real life and her dream world and was on the edge of my seat every time she made the switch needing to know what would happen next. This felt like a very unique story and timeline.

The characters were all unique and well written being likeable, loveable and/or hateable accordingly.

The worlds the characters lived in felt real, whether it was the dream world or reality. I saw both the beaches and the snow.

I loved the audiobook narration.

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Ready, and Swift & Lewis Publishing for letting me listen to an audio ARC of this beautiful romance. I can't wait to read more from the author.

This book was lovely in concept. I listened to the audio. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood (as I'm very much a mood reader) but it just didn't hold my interest. The narrator was good. She did well by Ready in her narration of the book.
This is the third book in her Ghosted series. They can all be read as independent books. There's no crossover characters, it's just the idea of the book that's similar. The characters in Fated were likeable and I found myself rooting for them. I will try reading the actual book.

Shakira Shute’s narration is beautifully performed. She uses strong voice differentiation for each character. I felt her male voice performances were strong & solid. Her pacing for each chapter and character was just right. I never felt like she moving too quickly or that she was narrating too slowly. Overall, Shute is an excellent narrator choice for Ready’s book. I look forward to discovering her narrations of other books.

It has been almost a month since I finished the advanced listener copy of Fated by Sarah Ready. I don’t think I can accept that Fiona and Aaron’s story is over - it was absolutely magical and breathtaking!

Fiona is a single mom living in Geneva while running the family business, a watch making company. On the surface, it appears that she has it all - a good job, a nice home, a loving family, and a budding romantic relationship with her best friend Max. But underneath, Fiona always felt like something was missing, and this was only amplified after she underwent a traumatic experience. I really appreciated hearing Fiona’s inner narrative, as she did not give me the best impression of her in Ghosted. She really was a perfect representation of “it’s not always as it seems on the surface”.

After receiving a gift from her spiritual mother, Fiona starts to experience these vivid dreams where she is married to Aaron, a dark, grumpy and handsome father and they live on a remote tropical island coparenting their two children. Each time she falls asleep, she revisits Aaron on this island, and their connection continues to grow and deepen. And what is she to do, when she falls in love with the man of her dreams?

I have been a fan of this series since first reading Switched, then Ghosted, and now Fated. And I can say with absolute confidence that Aaron McCormick is 100% my new favourite MMC from this series. Absolute. Book. HUSBAND. Perfection. How could I not swoon for the dark haired, sexy man who adores his children and takes care of everyone in the village? And then there’s the sexual tension between him and Fiona? I am not usually a fan of insta-love but sparks certainly flew immediately.

I don’t know how she does it, but Sarah Ready has the ability to weave together a narrative that seems so impossible, to the point where the reader feels like there is no hope, and then suddenly twisting it all together into a beautiful bouquet of the most pure and achingly beautiful kind of love. That cliff scene was just EPIC and the ending was something else ♥️

Thanks so much to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of Fated in exchange for an honest review. I am SO EXCITED for Max’s story in Wished 💕

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Fated
Sarah Ready

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the third book in the Ghosted series and the third that I've read over the past year.
You may remember, from my previous reviews, that I've had them all on audio book and that my son (who doesn't read!) has also become obsessed with listening to them with me.
Obviously he's around for some bits of most of my audios - but this series is the only one he's insisted that we listen together - which is amazing!!
The only downside - it takes me so much longer to get through them than if I was listening in my own time!!

So, this one actually took me a little while to fully get into - but I'm pretty certain that this is because we started listening at exam time and so had very small slots at the start with.
Now we've had bigger chunks, we, as ever, were completely immersed in both Fiona's real life and her dream life.

This book was set before Ghosted and so we get to revisit Daniel's character - but we see his life before, in Geneva, with his sister Fiona.
It was great to have a bit more background on him and it introduced Fiona and the business nicely.

Fiona's story centres around horology and the family heirloom that comes into her life.
Having read the blurb - this is pretty much all I'm willing to say about the storyline because there's, as ever, so much going on here that I couldn't do it justice without major spoilers being spilled.
This was another crazy ride though and one that you really need to read to fully appreciate!

We are in agreement though that there was a little less humour in this book than the other 2. This was much more a beautiful love story and emotional rollercoaster and the ending was just perfection!
Fiona was completely dedicated to her work at Abry and as such was a much more serious and thoughtful character.
This married up the writing style with Fiona's personality perfectly.


We follow Fiona's life at work, with her daughter and her friendship with Max and this storyline runs alongside the dream storyline, both woven together perfectly to enhance and progress the plot as a whole, until close to the end when the two start to pull together.
Such a clever plot overall - brilliantly executed and beautifully written.

We were, once again, blown away and I'm so excited to have spotted that there's going to be a fourth book in the series - we cannot wait to get hold of this and listen together again!




💕Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

I just wanted more from this one. It didn’t quite work for me. I feel like I’ve read similar stories lately that worked a little better for me. The second half was much better than the first. It took quite awhile for me to get into it.

The narration of this book was wonderful and I really did love how they brought the characters to life.

I ended up DNFing this one at 70% and may come back to it and start over. I felt like I just could not keep up with the story and when we were asleep or awake. This book left me so confused. The plot line was spicy and intriguing I just found I was struggling to follow. I will probably give this book a shot as a physical copy and see if it’s easier for me.

Thank you for the copy of this book! I just want to make sure I really understand what is going on moving forward.

FATED ✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@goodreads: 4.28
Author: @sarahready
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Shakira Shute
Length: 436 pages / 13.5 hours audio
Pub Date: 07/16/24
🌶️: ch. 58

Fiona excels at keeping busy, running her family’s company, and guarding her heart. She’s so busy she doesn’t have time for a vacation much less a love life. But then she’s given a family heirloom rumored to let you dream your greatest desire. Suddenly, she’s spending her nights on a tiny tropical island in a completely different life.

After kisses, confessions, and long nights on the beach, Fiona starts to fall hard for her dream husband and her dream life. But what happens when opening yourself to love means falling for a life that isn’t real and a man who doesn’t exist? Because in the end, it’s not fate, it’s just a dream.

💭 happy pub day to this gem of a magical realism romance!! ✨ sarah is quickly becoming one of my fave authors, and i was so excited to get this as an ALC! her writing is absolutely beautiful + you can’t help but fall in love with the characters and the world she creates! 💕 this story is layered with both love + magic and it truly packs the best punch 🥲 it will absolutely tug on your heartstrings as our sweet MC learns to love again after tragedy and heartbreak! it is part three in her “ghosted” series - but it can totally be read as a standalone! 🫶🏻

Fave quote: “I can handle grief. I can handle anger. But regret? It’s a weight I wouldn’t wish on anyone. The tears of regret are worse than the tears of sorrow.”

Read if you enjoy: THE GOOD PART, THIS TIME TOMORROW

a huge thank you to @netgalley + @swift for the early copy. 🥰

Fiona Abry is the CEO of a successful company that she runs with her brother. She has a wonderful life with her daughter and an incredibly supportive best friend. There is only one thing that she is missing —love. She finds herself living another life in her dreams with two children, a husband and lives on a tropical island. She finds herself back on the island night after night and begins to fall in love with this dream husband. She has opened herself up in ways that she never thought were possible. How can she find love like the love in her dreams but in her real life? Is she willing to take a chance on someone else?

Sarah Ready has established herself as an author that creates works of “Magical Realism.” Her books lead the characters on emotional journeys that at times feel hopeless and yet they march on. The characters are relatable, and quickly find a place in your heart. This one was my favorite so far. There were a lot of moving parts, a lot of magical interference but it was written well. I had no idea where the story was headed but I loved the journey.

The audiobook was narrated very well and helped create an unforgettable story of love.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Sarah Ready book. After starting it I realized it’s part of a greater series, but it read just fine as a stand alone! I really enjoyed this book and will likely pick up the others.

I went in expecting a fluffy romcom (which I love) and was pleasantly surprised with extra substance, layers and even a little mystery. I was attracted to the premise of this book because I have incredibly vivid (albeit usually bad) dreams and my partner is quite into watches. In the story the main character (Fiona) runs her family watch company and starts having hyper realistic dreams in which she’s in an alternate reality, on a beautiful island living a totally different life.

This book was satisfying, comforting, and heartbreaking at times. Pretty much everything you want in a romance story. What I thought was going to be a cutesy predictable romcom (which again, I have no problem with) turned out to be a heartfelt story with a few unexpected twists and turns.

I loved the character building and the relationships between the characters felt very real. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job.

This book relies on magical realism to carry the story. You must suspend reality to let the magic happen in the book, and if you do, it’s delightful. As someone who’s constantly searching for magic in my own everyday life, I loved this.

The only real criticism I have is the font on the cover, at a glance I definitely thought this book was called “Farted.” I know it matches the other books in the series…but…I’m a designer by trade and I couldn’t unsee it.

*Thank you to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Fated is Ghosted Series book 3 by Sarah Ready. Sharing some characters with the first book in the series, Ghosted, this novel has taken the threads and ideas of the storyline to new heights.

Fiona Abry, one of the two heirs to the Abry Watch Company in Geneva, Switzerland, is a single mother to young Mila, devoted sister to Daniel, and solitary soul keeping to herself. Literally dropped off at the family chateau by her mother Buttercup to stay with the father she didn’t know as a 6 year old, she has spent a lifetime protecting her heart except for when she willingly gave it away to an unworthy bigamist resulting in her treasured daughter. Now Fiona handled the business side of the watch company while Daniel is the face of the company and involved in marketing.

After a harrowing Christmas Eve incident, Fiona is visited by Buttercup, who gives her an antique pocket watch with an outrageous mythology stating that you would dream your heart’s desire when holding the watch. As a lark Fiona does this, albeit she may have simply fallen asleep with it in her hand. After the first night Fiona is drawn into a dreamworld that captures her imagination as well as her heart. For night after night she is in the form of Becca on a small Caribbean island, wife of record holding long distance swimmer Aaron McCormick, and mother of teenaged Amy and toddler Sean. But it doesn’t seem like a happy marriage. That is until Fiona makes the effort to turn it around. But the biggest turn around is when Fiona takes what she learns to turn around tragedy.

This is truly one of the best stories I’ve ever been immersed in. Fantasy spun with reality to create a story that sticks with the reader. Great characters, perfectly described settings, and a plot spun out of hope and love makes this a book to recommend, and I wholeheartedly do recommend it!

A magic pocket watch transports Fiona Abry to a tropical island. The inhabitants are truly off the grid and one of them is Aaron McCormick - the man of her dreams. Too bad she is inhabiting the body of his wife Becca (Quantum Leap anyone?). The two share an instant soulmate connection, but what a conundrum. Aaron is only in her dreams. In real life, her best friend Max is lobbying for a new role as her Numero Uno. Life is complicated! I loved the family connections in this one with Fiona's having a daughter named Mila and the two kids on the island -- teenager Amy and toddler Sean. Also Aaron's claim to fame was unique and fit him so well! And the watch business is quite fascinating. The special edition watch that Fiona designs sounds like a showstopper! While I felt this one got bogged down a bit in the middle --and for awhile it seems like the dream world will stay there for good. Hang on, though, as there is an epic finish to this one. For me, this was my favorite yet in the "Ghosted" series. Looking forward to Book #4! ⌚

A big thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for both a digital and audio copy in exchange for an honest review. Happy publication week!

Amazing third installation in the series. Fiona (Daniel's sister from Ghosted- Book 1) is gifted a family heirloom. A watch that will show you what your heart desires via dreams. Her dream land is the total opposite of her reality and she begins to love it and also fall for the man in her dreams. But the only problem is, it's a dream.

I really liked this book so much, it definitely tugged at my heart. While part of a series it can definitely be read as a standalone.

Enjoyed the narration of this book.

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC.

This is a magical and romantic read from Sarah Ready and once again, a total hit. I'm loving her paranormal series that blends the slightly magical with romance in modern-day settings. Fiona has been burned in the past and is afraid of love, so when her mother gives her a watch that gives you dreams of what you need, the man in them makes her question herself, and gives her the courage to try to find love again outside of her dreams. I enjoyed experiencing Fiona's two worlds - her real life with her family and friends, and her dream life with another woman's family, home, and job. It's easy to empathise with Fiona, her reluctance to open herself up to love stemming from past hurt, and to see her feelings change as she unexpectedly finds herself with a husband she's never met but wants to know better, is sweet and heartwarming. I fell a little bit in love with island life but I know I wouldn't be able to live without a steady supply of books and working phones and internet, so I think I'll leave that life to Fiona's dreams, even if I am lusting after ocean waves and sandy beaches. This was really well narrated, and I loved (almost) all of the characters in the book. I think it would have been nice to see more of Fiona's relationship with Amy and Sean, her dream-self's kids, developing through the story and I did find overall, we don't get a feel for many side characters in the story as the focus was mostly on Fiona and Arron. All in all a great read and I look forward to Sarah Ready's next book!

I loved this book! I loved the magical realism elements! And I loved the slight twist at the end, making it not as predictable as I thought. This is my favourite book in this series and I will definitely be picking up book 4!

5 stars
0 spice

4⭐, 1.75 🌶️

I love this series by Sarah! Book one as just sooo amazingly different, that when I wasn’t super invested in book two, I was still interested enough to read this book! And thank goodness I did because WOW! The first 50% of the book was a tad boring to me, but once we got to the more romantic storyline and ALLL of the answers are answered in the end of the book, I was just blinking into the abyss because there was so much to process. Sarah’s inventive mind is just so impressive to me, and I’m just amazed with the rollercoaster we had for the last 15% of this book. I laughed, cried, and screamed at time.

❤️ Single Mom
💜 Opposites Attract
💙Magical Realism
❤️Marriage in Crisis? Dream World? Soulmates?

Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for an eARC & ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Life is incredibly messy. Sarah Ready write an adorable and quirky fairy take like romance that blends real life and dream life. She reminds us to dream big, but be careful because your dreams may come true.

4.5 ⭐️ | 1🌶️

Tropes:
• Magical Realism
• Dream World
• Time Travel
• Opposites Attract
• Meant To Be
• Found Family
• Sobs & Swoon

Review:
WHAT A STUNNING READ!

‘Fated’ by Sarah Ready is an emotional rollercoaster. I’m grateful that I was approved for both the ARC and ALC because it made the reading experience so worthwhile.

The audiobook had me laughing, crying, and screaming! It's a sweet romance with a deeper message about love, trust, and self-acceptance. The characters are beautifully crafted, even the ones you love to hate, making you feel a mix of emotions towards them.

The love story is unique and beautiful, with unexpected plot twists and a dreamy MMC- McCormick. The FMC-Fiona, is a strong, independent single mom who meets the man of her dreams in her dreams! I loved how she got to know herself better in both the real and dream worlds.

The plot is creatively unique, drawing you in and making you fall in love with the story. I've enjoyed the entire series so far, with each book featuring a unique type of magical realism. This one, however, hit me in the heart and made me feel like I was living the story—like I was Fiona!

The narration by Shakira Shute was excellent, bringing the characters to life and enhancing the story. I loved the appearances from Daniel, the main character from the first book, ‘Ghosted’, and I’m excited to see Max get his own story in ‘Wished’.

This book exceeded my expectations and left me wanting more. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to read a sweet and emotional romance!

This series is always so surprising! I will admit, I was confused a lot of the time trying to figure out how everything was going to tie together at the end. I had no idea how the two timelines were related and it was hard to keep track sometimes especially as an audiobook. I was definitively entranced by the story and excited to learn more about the two main characters' relationship. Sarah Ready always does a great job with the books in this series and this one is no exception. The story ended up being just as wonderful as the others and I can't wait to see what else she has in store!

Did i read the arc and then listen to the audio.....yes, yes i did...and i thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. The audio narration really added something to the story and i found that some parts i read that i had missed the tone and so I really enjoyed the narration and how id added an extra level to the story.

Great audio, great characters, just a great story all round!