Just finished "Fated" by Sarah Ready and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I went in expecting it to be similar to her first two books, but I really struggled to get into it. The narrator did a great job, but it didn’t add anything different compared to reading a physical copy. I found it hard to connect with Fiona and the dream world premise, and though I kept listening to see how it would all wrap up, I was never truly hooked until chapter 46. There were also a few plot holes regarding the dream life versus real life for the characters.Overall it was ok, but I enjoyed the first two books in the series more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC for providing me with a copy of this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute story. The premise is cheesy and so far fetched but I liked that Ready didn't make the dream world idyllic which helped ground the story a little more. The twist at the end made it a little too over the top for me so bumped it down from 4 stars to 3. Otherwise a cute story that was an easy, enjoyable read.

📚Fated by Sarah Ready
🎧ALC Review(Copy gifted by Swift & Lewis Publishing via @Netgalley
🚨While reviewed copy is gifted, opinions are always my own.
Status: Available July 16 2024, Not KU

🥰Enjoyment: What a wild freaking ride! I started this one off a little lost, sure I had forgotten some major detail that we learned in Ghosted (book 1 in this series) or that I had misunderstood the blurb. But I rode it out (after some reassurance that it would be okay) and I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this story. I quite literally sobbed, like the kind of sobbing where you sound like a goose? Me. It was the first book in months that had me like “someone anyone talk to me about this book” and when I think about it now (almost a week later oops) I still feel that squishy heart feeling you get when you’ve been through the emotional ringer. And now I’m hearing there will be a book 4?! Sarah, I love you.

Narration for this one was solid as well, no complaints which is great.

P.S. As far as feeling like I had forgotten some major detail, I eventually realized that this book appears to have sequentially occurred prior to the start of Ghosted. Since they are interconnected standalones I don’t think it matters if you start here or Ghosted.

I love everything Sarah Ready writes. I absolutely loved this book and maybe my favorite. Workaholic gets gifted a watch that allows her to dream of her unspoken dreams and for her it’s an easy life on an island happily married with two kids, except her dream isn’t just that…. A dream. After a few nights in her dream she discovered that she is indeed living this life while she sleeps, and starts falling for her dream husband, and while she falling for her dre husband she learns that she needs to live a little in her real life

This story is one of my favorites of the year so far. From the start, I was hooked and wanted to keep going to hear what would happen next. The twists and turns weren't what I was expecting and even when I thought I got something right, there was a bit of a twist to it. I do wish the ending would have been more elaborate but I was happy with the ending. I also wish we could have gotten Becca's viewpoint.

The narrator for this book was perfect. Her accents and tones were pleasing and made it very easy to tell who was speaking. Overall, I had a wonderful experience reading this book.

This is the third book in the Ghosted series and absolutely my favorite. With the help of a magical watch our main character Fiona meets a man, in her dreams. The story is absolutely fascinating and so beautifully written. I've always loved the way this author can make a places come to life. It feels like you're there in Geneva or on a tropical island with these characters. And the characters are all so charming too.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was perfect for this story.

First I want to thank NetGalley, to Sarah Ready and the publisher for offering me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Ghosted series, I knew that I'm going to enjoy this one as well. And I was not wrong as I was fascinated by the storyline and the characters.

While story itself it's quite captivating about Fiona's life and her dreams, the beginning it's quite slow and it took me a while to get more into the book.

Each book in the series can be read separately, there's a special charm in seeing the overarching themes and connections.

This 3rd book in the Ghosted series by Sarah Ready & was a fun listen. She is a fantastic writer that just draws you right into the story. This story is about Fiona who runs her families watch company. She is gifted a watch that unbeknownst to her magical powers and when she’s sleeping it lets her dream of where she wants to be and who she wants to be with. In her dreams she wakes up next to a man she doesn’t know on an island she doesn’t know & she freaks out. Then over the course of time she grows to love it and the people of the island. It’s fantastic and surprising how the story unfolds and even more so how it ends. This book sucked me in and I did not want it to end. The narrator was great too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this great advanced reader copy of Fated.

The third book in the Ghosted series, Fated by Sarah Ready, continues to showcase the author's talent for weaving intricate and emotionally rich narratives. The Ghosted series is a collection of standalone books, each exploring different characters and their unique experiences with the supernatural. This instalment follows Fiona, a complex character who navigates a dual existence between her waking life and a mysterious dream world. The story is a captivating blend of romance, mystery, and supernatural elements, making for a truly engaging read. While this is the third book in the Ghosted series, you do not need to read them in order as each book is a standalone story.

Fiona's journey is a labyrinth of emotions and revelations. In her waking life, she grapples with the aftermath of a past affair that led to the birth of her daughter, and a truth that shattered her and led to years of solitude, along with a shooting that made her take stock of her life and hectic schedule that had her forgetting to live life to its fullest. In the dream world, Fiona is caught in a complex love triangle with her husband of 15 years, Aaron, and his best friend, Robert. The dream world operates under its own enigmatic rules—time halts whenever Fiona exits, only resuming upon her return. This unique narrative structure, where time in the dream world is suspended when Fiona is not present, adds a layer of intrigue and suspense to the story, compelling readers to unravel the truth alongside Fiona.

Sarah Ready deftly balances the emotional weight of Fiona's real-life struggles with the whimsical elements of the dream world. The narrative delves into themes of self-discovery, love, betrayal, and the pursuit of personal happiness. Fiona's character is not just a protagonist but a mirror reflecting our own struggles and desires. As she navigates her dual existence, she is forced to confront her past, her choices, and her desires, making her journey all the more compelling.

Shakira Shute's narration is another highlight of this book. She brings each character to life with distinct voices and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience. Her performance makes it easy to follow the complex relationships and emotional undertones central to the story.

Overall, Fated is a beautifully written tale that delves into the intricacies of love and self-discovery. It's a must-read for fans of the Ghosted series and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, emotionally resonant story. The book's emotional depth and the way it resonates with the reader's own experiences make it a truly compelling read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks, for providing me with the audio ARC of Fated. I am eagerly looking forward to Sarah Ready's next release.

In real life, Fiona Abry is busy running her family’s Swiss watch company and being single mom to her daughter. There’s no time for love. But at night, she dreams of a different life on a tiny tropical island with a husband and two kids. What happens when Fiona starts to fall in love with her dream life?

Fated is the third book in a series of interconnected standalone contemporary romance novels. Each book has a touch of something in the sci-fi/fantasy realm which is enough to make it feel a little magical. I think itmakes the romance even more amazing. Because shouldn’t falling in love be a little magical?

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️s - Fated exceeded my expectations. I felt like Fiona was an exemplary example of what many people go through - too busy for more than what they currently have in life. The sci-fi/fantasy component of the story was beautifully woven into the story. I absolutely loved the characters too and the heart wrenching pain and loss at certain parts was so palpable I felt tears welling up in my eyes and absolutely inhaled this book.

Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️s - One euphemistic open door intimate relationship scene. This is a low spice book but I loved the story so much I didn’t mind the lack of spice.

Fated is available anywhere books are sold on Thursday, July 16 (one week from now!!!) If you prefer audiobook, you can likely find Fated on Audible and Spotify Premium.

Thank you Sarah Ready and NetGalley for the ARC. I cried happy tears listening to this book. I enjoyed listening to Shakira Shute because she made Fiona come alive as the efficient CEO of a Swiss watch company.

3.5 stars rounded up!
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Summary:
Fiona Abry is busy and content. She has her family's watch company that she loves, a daughter she adores, a wonderful brother, and an amazing best friend who is always there for her. She refuses to ask for anything more. But then her mother gifts her a magical watch that lets her discover and live out her secret dreams and desires while she sleeps. In her dreams, she finds herself living a completely different life, one of slow days and sunny beaches and a strange, handsome man. A man with a smile and touch that set her alight and leave her craving more. And as the nights pass and she falls deeper into her dream, she also finds herself falling in love - with her dream life and the man at the center of it.
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This was my first ever Sarah Ready book and I was very pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it a lot! I liked the characters at the center of this novel and the way they interacted with each other, and I enjoyed the romance plotline and the way it bloomed throughout the book, even though there were a few elements (see below) that made me mildly uncomfortable for a chunk of the story. I will admit that there were various parts of this book that put me through the emotional wringer and I might have shed a tear or two, it was a beautiful story and I'm glad I read it!

As a fan of slow burn, I think the overall pacing of the story was good and it worked for me. That said, this book is very wordy. We spend the novel inside Fiona's head, and she has a LOT of inner tangents and monologues that occasionally bogged the book down for me and made it drag, but I also enjoyed getting more insight to the characters and the world, so I don't complain too much, I just wish parts of it had been a little less wordy.

I read the audiobook version of this novel, and I have to say that the narrator did a great job! I really enjoyed listening to Shakira Shute read, and it actually helped make up for how wordy some of the sections were because I was at least enjoying the sound of the book even if I was finding the text itself a bit too wordy or repetitive.

What I liked:
- Good characters! I really liked Max and Aaron, and I adored all the villagers, especially Amy!
- A well done slow-burn romance.
- A good amount of emotional angst and tear-jerking moments that were powerful, but didn't overwhelm the story.
- An amazing narrator for the audiobook version!

What I didn't like:
- Very wordy. This book, especially certain sections could have been way shorter just by saying things or explaining things differently, and it got occasionally tedious.
- There are elements of the romance plotline that feel almost like cheating. Ultimately, none of it really counts as cheating because of pre-arranged understandings and literal obliviousness of the characters involved, but it's something I didn't expect and that readers should be aware of incase that's a sensitive topic!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The love story was so tender, and I really loved the platonic relationships throughout the book as well!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5 🌶️
Netgalley ALC

PROS:
This book had no right being as good as it was. I had absolutely no idea where it was going up until the very end. I loved Fiona as a main character; she is smart, loyal, caring. Her memorizing poems to make her dream daughter happy had me in a chokehold. Prior to this I read Switched, but not the first book in the series, Ghosted. Fiona's brother Daniel is the MMC in Ghosted and now I am super pumped to go back and read it. He was a wonderful brother to Fiona, and funny that this book seems to take place before Ghosted as Daniel was still single in this one.

CONS:
The audiobook made me cry while I was trying to drive my car. RUDE!!

AUDIO:
I've never listened to Shakira Shute before but really enjoyed her narration. As previously stated, I was crying while listening to some of the more emotional scenes. She really had me feeling things with Ms Fiona Abry.

Such an absolutely amazoling book! The twists and turns of this love are gripping. Grab your tissues and hold onto your heart! I love this whole series but this one is my favorite! I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes their heart ripped out and put back together.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced e-copy of Fated, in exchange for an honest review.

In Sarah Ready's novel 'Fated,' you will be transported into the surreal realm of magical realism, where the boundaries between dreams and reality blur. The FMC, Fiona, a watchmaker from Geneva, embarks on an amazing journey that will challenge her perception of time and destiny.

After a traumatic incident, Fiona inherits her uncle's mysterious watch that unlocks the door to vivid dreams of a breathtaking island paradise. In these dreams, she encounters Aaron, a handsome and enigmatic man who believes her to be his long-lost wife. As Fiona navigates her waking life, she finds herself torn between her longing for the dream world and her real-life best friend, who harbors unrequited feelings for her.

The story takes an unexpected turn with the introduction of time travel. In a desperate attempt to save the island of her dreams from impending doom, Fiona must confront her past and uncover the secrets that have been hidden from her. As she races against time, she realizes that the choices she makes not only affect her own destiny but the fate of those around her.

Ready's writing style is both lyrical and evocative, transporting readers into the vibrant tapestry of Fiona's dreams and the complexities of her waking life. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making their emotional struggles and triumphs resonate deeply.

For lovers of magical realism, 'Fated' is a must-read. It is a story that explores the power of dreams, the enduring nature of unrequited love, and the transformative potential of time. Whether you choose to read the physical book or listen to the well-narrated audiobook, this intriguing tale is sure to captivate and transport you to a world where the boundaries between the possible and the impossible dissolve.
This was a solid 4.3 Stars read!

Overall, I am thinking the Ghosted series just isn’t for me. This book is the 3rd in the series and while each book can be standalone, they are connected within the same universe.

I adore Sarah Ready, she’s one of my favorite authors but I’ve noticed I’ve had a hard time getting into this series. Especially this most recent book. It’s not bad, in fact the writing is rather lovely…a poetic style to it. I just struggle when there are so many realities, descriptions and characters swapping it’s like I can’t immerse myself into the story. I also thought it was also a bit long. Full disclosure, I also don’t usually enjoy magical realism. This one didn’t really sound like the style of writing she usually does, don’t get me wrong she’s always poetic in her writing, this one just wasn’t the SR I’m used to, to the extent that if I didn’t know she wrote it I would think someone else did (I’m NOT saying that is what happened though, it’s just that big of a change). So she may be making some stylistic changes to how she writes this series but hopefully not her future books.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝...

✅The lucid dreaming aspect
✅The part where she talks about how when you see something through someone else’s eyes and it’s something that they love, you start to love it too
✅When she helps the grandmother at the fish market (reminded me of my relationship with my mommom)

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝗼𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝗼𝐲...

☀️Magical Realism
🕰️Lucid Dreaming
☀️Complex Relationships
🕰️Time Jumps / Alternate Realities
☀️Poetic Writing
🕰️Horology

My favorite books by Sarah are The Space Between and the Josh & Gemma books. I also really enjoyed French Holiday and the Soul Mates in Romeo (Married by Sunday was my very fav in the series)!

So despite feeling the beginning taking its time to become more interesting I found it pulled me by my shoulders trapping me into the story as further as it got and next thing I knew the story came to an end!

I’m so happy to have been given the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this in order to keep listening while I’m busy! The book and characters have so much description I just didn’t wanna stop. What happened to McCormick and Fee afterwards? What about Daniel and the other characters?

I am absolutely in love with this series. I listened to this entire book in one day because I had to know how it would end. Each book in this series just keeps getting better and better. I can not get enough of Sarah Ready's writing. The descriptions of the island were beautiful. It made me want to go there immediately. The emotion in this book was off the charts. It gave me ALL the feels. Fiona and her brother own a watch company. For her birthday, her mother gives her a watch that was in the family. When she dreams, Fiona travels to an island and meets the man of her dreams. Of course, all that wonderful conflict kept me listening all day long. I thought the narrator did a wonderful job of voicing Fiona. I can't say enough wonderful things about the series. My only question is, will there be more? Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen and review this amazing book. I'm convinced that every romance reader need to read a Sarah Ready book. They will be hooked!

Wow! This book blew me away! I read and enjoyed the first two in the series. They are a little more silly and lighthearted. Fated embraces magical realism and brings the feelings. There are a lot of twists and turns. I can't say much without spoiling. I will say stick with it. It takes a few chapters to get your bearings. The last quarter of the book is an emotional rollercoaster! It has all the feelings!

Of note, this story takes place before Ghosted (the first in the series). It made me want to go back and search for clues in that story. I hear there's going to be a 4th book which is pretty exciting.

I listened to this as an audiobook. The narrator is phenomenal! Her accents were perfect and made listening a joy!

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for this audio ARC!

Great audio book! The narration plot and writing were all great! Definitely worth getting. McCormick was my favourite character and I found the premise very unique and left me wondering how it would all end

3.5 stars

I want to start off by saying I didn’t read the first or second book, but each book in this series can be treated as a standalone. I didn’t have a hard time following along, and I am interested in reading the first two to see whose story I get to follow along with!

It was a very sweet romance with a lot of great themes. We always think about what our dream person, house, car, job would be. But to actually see it play out in our dreams? I was rooting for our main characters!

I listened to the audio of this and found the narrator easy to understand and would recommend her! It wasn’t hard to distinguish between male and female POV’s or between the many characters. I was able to listen at 2.5x speed.

The beginning of this book was a little slow but it picked up in the second half. I wasn’t a fan of all the flowery descriptions and found myself zoning out at time. There were also many plot holes that I couldn’t stop thinking about.

Overall, I liked the story and would recommend! I appreciate the paranormal and mystery aspect and would consider reading the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the advanced listener copy (audiobook) in exchange for my honest review.