Ashley Herring Blake’s Dream On, Ramona Riley marks a graceful entry into her brand-new Clover Lake series—a small-town queer romance that weaves emotional depth, creative ambition, and quiet self-discovery into a charming slow-burn narrative. Known for titles like Delilah Green Doesn’t Care and Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date, Blake continues her legacy of writing sapphic stories that matter—not just for their representation, but for the emotional truth they carry.
Set against the picturesque lakeside charm of rural New Hampshire, this is a story about what happens when the person you once kissed under a cherry tree shows up twelve years later—famous, radiant, and completely unaware of who you are.
Plot Overview: Second Chances in the Spotlight
Ramona Riley was once a student on the brink of becoming a Hollywood costume designer. But life had other plans. After her father’s accident, Ramona dropped everything—her school, her dreams—and returned to Clover Lake to raise her younger sister. Now, over a decade later, she’s still there, managing life at the local café and quietly shelving her ambitions.
Enter Dylan Monroe—an A-list actress with a tabloid reputation and a personal agenda to rewrite her public image. When a romantic comedy begins filming in Clover Lake, Dylan volunteers for a deep dive into small-town life. She ends up working alongside Ramona at the café, shadowing her to learn how to “be normal.”
There’s just one catch: Ramona remembers Dylan. Their kiss as teenagers shaped Ramona’s coming-of-age. Dylan, however, doesn’t seem to recall that moment at all.
As the two women grow closer—through museum trips, chaotic play rehearsals, and late-night confessions—they must reckon with the difference between the lives they planned and the ones they’re actually living.
Main Characters: Familiar, Fresh, and Full of Feeling
Ashley Herring Blake’s characters are always the soul of her novels, and this book is no exception. Every character—main or side—feels like someone you could meet in real life.
Ramona Riley
- Quietly fierce and lovingly self-effacing, Ramona is the kind of character whose softness hides incredible strength.
- Her fat, queer body is never treated as something to fix or overcome—it is part of her, fully and joyfully.
- She embodies the ache of growing older in a town that’s too small for your dreams and the courage it takes to believe in those dreams again.
Dylan Monroe
- The quintessential celebrity trying to break away from her curated image.
- Blake writes Dylan with nuance—she’s not just a Hollywood cliché but a woman craving truth, connection, and real emotion.
- Her dynamic with Ramona is filled with flirtation, vulnerability, and a growing awareness that her best role might not be on screen.
Supporting Cast
- Olive (Ramona’s sister) represents the reason Ramona stayed, and her maturity and warmth show how much Ramona’s sacrifices mattered.
- April, Ramona’s best friend, is a scene-stealer—hilarious, brash, and utterly devoted.
- Even minor characters like Penny, the eccentric café owner, add vibrant local color and humanity.
Themes: Art, Ambition, and Authenticity
Blake’s storytelling is emotionally rich, and Dream On, Ramona Riley handles several complex themes with subtlety and skill:
1. The Cost of Sacrifice
Ramona’s character arc isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about reclaiming herself after years of putting others first. The novel doesn’t vilify duty but asks: When do you get to choose yourself?
2. Fame vs. Identity
Dylan is caught between performance and personhood. Her desire to escape being “Killin’ Dylan” parallels Ramona’s yearning to be more than someone’s sister, someone’s waitress.
3. Memory and Meaning
The kiss they shared at thirteen becomes a metaphor for how we carry emotional truths—even when others forget. Memory here isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a blueprint for healing.
4. Queer Love as Radical Joy
The romance is affirming and sensual, layered with emotional honesty. It’s not about hiding—it’s about celebrating desire, connection, and the beauty of living openly.
Prose & Pacing: A Slow Burn with Subtle Heat
Blake’s prose is accessible, rhythmic, and laced with gentle humor. She never rushes moments of introspection, allowing emotions to simmer before they surface. While the pacing in the first quarter may feel leisurely, it mirrors the characters’ hesitance—both romantically and personally.
Dialogue is one of Blake’s strongest tools, and in Dream On, Ramona Riley, it does double duty—building chemistry and peeling back layers of emotional armor. There’s no rushed heat here; the relationship grows with each shared memory, each exchanged glance, until it blossoms into something profoundly satisfying.
Moments Worth Remembering
Here are a few standout moments that linger:
- The costume room scene where Ramona shows Dylan her long-forgotten sketches—a tender collision of shame, vulnerability, and hope.
- The lakeside confession that mirrors their childhood kiss, now layered with adult complexity and yearning.
- The play night, where Dylan watches Ramona shine backstage, finally seeing her not as a waitress, but an artist.
- Dylan’s PR bombshell and the fallout that leads to an honest reckoning about love, ambition, and trust.
These scenes deliver the kind of emotional payoff that makes romance novels memorable and re-readable.
Where the Novel Stumbles (Slightly)
As engaging as the story is, it isn’t without its imperfections:
- The memory-loss tension—while it fuels early intrigue—feels underexplored later. Dylan’s lack of recollection could have carried deeper emotional implications.
- The conflict resolution—particularly around the PR mishap—feels a bit too clean. A longer emotional fallout might have allowed for greater realism.
- Ramona’s career arc, though inspiring, wraps up a bit abruptly compared to the romance arc.
Still, these are small speed bumps in an otherwise smooth journey.
How It Compares to Blake’s Other Novels
Readers familiar with Blake’s Bright Falls trilogy will recognize her signature themes—messy families, creative women, found communities—but Dream On, Ramona Riley feels more introspective. While Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date leaned into firecracker banter and steamy tension, this novel is quieter, more contemplative.
It’s also a bit more emotionally mature. The central romance is not just about falling in love, but about believing that love is still possible—even after years of self-denial.
Books You’ll Also Love
If you enjoyed this book, consider picking up:
- The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun — for messy media stories and behind-the-scenes longing.
- Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers — for themes of burnout, identity, and queer self-discovery.
- Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn — for romance steeped in creative careers and introspective heroines.
- The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles — a historical queer romance with emotional resonance and political nuance.
Representation, Content, and Inclusivity
Blake continues her commitment to writing stories that reflect the diversity of lived experiences. The book features:
- Fat representation without tokenism
- Bisexual and lesbian characters whose queerness is part of their joy, not their struggle
- Found family and strong female friendships
- Mental health awareness, especially in relation to caregiving, grief, and personal reinvention
Sex scenes are tender and emotionally significant, with clear communication and enthusiastic consent. Blake treats intimacy as a continuation of emotional growth, not just a romantic reward.
Final Thoughts: An Emotionally Honest Story That Lingers
Dream On, Ramona Riley is a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to chase your passion, make peace with the past, and fall—fully and courageously—in love. With its emotional honesty, magnetic leads, and grounding in real-life stakes, it’s a romance that resonates long after the final page.
Ashley Herring Blake has once again proven that she can craft stories where queerness is joyful, art is healing, and love is anything but ordinary. Romantic, reflective, and richly written—this is a story for anyone who’s ever had to put a dream on pause.
About the Author
Ashley Herring Blake is the author of:
- Delilah Green Doesn’t Care
- Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail
- Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date
- How to Make a Wish
- Girl Made of Stars
She is acclaimed for her queer romances featuring realistic characters, sharp dialogue, and emotionally honest plots. With Dream On, Ramona Riley, she begins her Clover Lake series with a heartfelt bang.