L.J. Shen’s Wildest Dreams is not just another brooding, high-heat romance—it’s an emotional demolition site where hearts are rebuilt from the wreckage. As the second book in her Forbidden Love series, it cements Shen’s talent for pairing the provocative with the profound, packaging unspoken longings and volatile chemistry into a story that’s equal parts seductive and sincere.
Set in Manhattan’s emotionally charged high-rises, the novel captures the slow unravelling of Rhyland Coltridge and Dylan Casablancas—two people deeply wrong for each other, yet impossibly drawn together. Shen, true to form, delivers a layered, emotionally rich tale filled with flawed characters, biting humor, and hard-earned healing.
The Forbidden Love Series: A Storytelling Evolution
This series continues Shen’s mastery in exploring love that defies boundaries and expectations:
- Truly Madly Deeply (2024) – A tempestuous romance between a celebrity chef and his best friend.
- Wildest Dreams (2025) – Best friend’s little sister, fake engagement, and a whole lot of heat.
- Handsome Devil (Upcoming) – Promises to deliver the most enigmatic anti-hero in the series yet.
Wildest Dreams works as a standalone but offers richer emotional rewards when read as part of the larger arc Shen is crafting—one where love is messy, complicated, and deeply human.
Plot Summary: When Pretending Becomes All Too Real
Rhyland Coltridge doesn’t believe in relationships—only in control, contracts, and keeping things casual. Dylan Casablancas, on the other hand, has no time for complications. She’s a single mom, fiercely independent, and fresh out of a toxic past.
When she moves into her brother’s apartment—just downstairs from Rhyland—their history and tension are reawakened. A business opportunity leads them to fake an engagement. He needs the image of a stable family man. She needs protection from a stalking ex.
But the act quickly becomes unsustainable as buried feelings surface, the lines blur, and desire gives way to vulnerability. Shen doesn’t just write a love story here; she writes a confession—raw, aching, and ultimately redemptive.
The Heart of the Novel: Rhyland and Dylan
At the core of Wildest Dreams are two emotionally barricaded people learning how to let someone in.
Rhyland Coltridge
- A man used to getting what he wants—but love has always been off-limits.
- Behind the swagger lies a man shaped by abandonment, guilt, and loneliness.
- His protective instincts are both his greatest strength and biggest downfall.
- Watching him wrestle with the concept of emotional intimacy is a highlight of the book.
Dylan Casablancas
- A woman who’s learned to fend for herself—and now her daughter.
- Sarcastic, self-reliant, but deeply scarred by betrayal.
- Her journey from guarded survivor to woman willing to risk again is beautifully rendered.
Their dynamic crackles with tension, but it’s in their quieter moments—when their walls crack and truths emerge—that Shen’s writing truly shines.
Writing Style: Shen at Her Sharpest and Softest
Wildest Dreams reads like a symphony of contradiction—sharp dialogue meets poetic prose, steamy encounters meet emotionally raw revelations. L.J. Shen’s writing here is leaner, more introspective than in Truly Madly Deeply, but it never loses its bite.
- Dialogue: Witty, fiery, and revealing. The banter cuts, but the silences between them are just as loud.
- Prose: Balances sensuality with substance. Shen knows when to linger and when to let the moment speak for itself.
- Tone: Slightly darker than her previous works. There’s a maturity here, especially in how she handles themes of trauma and emotional vulnerability.
Pacing and Structure: Smartly Built and Intensely Felt
Each chapter propels the story forward with tension and tenderness. The fake fiancé setup isn’t just a gimmick—it’s the scaffolding on which deeper emotional truths are built. Shen avoids filler and opts for precision: every scene either moves the plot or deepens character.
Narrative beats that stand out:
- The first explosive meeting after Dylan moves in
- The slow burn of the “pretend” engagement becoming real
- A harrowing confrontation with Dylan’s past that catalyzes their emotional reckoning
- A climax that forces both to choose honesty over habit
- It’s paced like a romance but hits like a psychological drama.
Themes That Resonate Beyond Romance
Shen dives into some hefty emotional terrain with this one. Her themes are not just romantic—they’re deeply personal and socially resonant.
1. Boundaries and Consent
- Explores how both physical and emotional boundaries are established, crossed, and rebuilt.
- Characters are consistently asked to evaluate what they’re willing to give and what they deserve.
2. Healing After Trauma
- Dylan’s arc is especially powerful as a woman reclaiming agency post-abuse.
- Shen doesn’t romanticize trauma but acknowledges its weight and complexity.
3. Masculinity and Vulnerability
- Rhyland’s internal war with vulnerability is a sharp commentary on modern masculinity.
- The book unpacks what strength means when stripped of bravado.
4. Fake vs. Real Love
- Pretending to be in love forces the characters to confront what real connection costs—and what it’s worth.
- The blurred line becomes the crucible in which truth emerges.
Critique: What Holds It Back from Absolute Perfection
While Wildest Dreams is a compelling read, it isn’t without small flaws:
- Dylan’s daughter sometimes feels more like a plot device than a fully integrated character. Her presence is meaningful but underused.
- The pacing, though generally strong, could have benefited from a more gradual emotional climax. Some revelations feel a bit too tidy.
- Readers new to the Forbidden Love universe may feel slightly left out during character callbacks, though it doesn’t disrupt the main plot.
These are nitpicks more than dealbreakers. Shen delivers where it matters most: the emotional core.
Why This Book Matters
L.J. Shen’s appeal lies not just in her spicy scenes or broken billionaires. It’s in how she dares to write about pain without shame, love without neat answers, and people who are beautifully, messily human.
This book belongs on the shelf of readers who enjoy:
- Darker contemporary romances with soul (Elsie Silver, Tessa Bailey, Ana Huang)
- Powerfully vulnerable male leads
- Sharp heroines who refuse to be saved
- Stories where love isn’t just sexy—it’s transformative
Comparisons and Reading Pairings
If Wildest Dreams left a mark, here are a few kindred titles:
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy – for the banter and emotional payoff
- Twisted Games by Ana Huang – for the forced proximity and protective male lead
- Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score – for the small-town charm meets high tension
Final Thoughts: A Dream That Hurts So Good
Wildest Dreams doesn’t just deliver romantic tension—it carves its place in your emotional memory. Shen writes with the wisdom of someone who’s seen love break and rebuild. It’s a love story for grown-ups—where chemistry is easy but commitment is earned, and where characters bleed before they can bloom.
The upcoming Handsome Devil has a high bar to clear, but if Wildest Dreams proves anything, it’s that L.J. Shen knows how to take us where we hurt—and make us grateful for the ride.