The Daydreams: A Novel by Laura Hankin

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A deliciously entertaining novel about the stars of a popular teen show from the early 2000s—and the reunion special, thirteen years after their scandalous flameout, that will either be their last chance at redemption, or destroy them all for good.

Back in 2004, The Daydreams had it all: a cast of innocent-seeming teenagers acting and singing their hearts out, amazing ratings, and a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that steamed up fan fiction forums. Then, during the live season two finale, it all imploded, leaving everyone scrambling to understand why.

Afterward, the four stars went down very different paths. Kat is now a lawyer in Washington, DC. Liana is the bored wife of a famous athlete. Noah, the show’s golden boy, emerged unscathed and is poised to become a household name. And Summer, the object of Noah’s fictional (and maybe real-life) affections, is the cautionary tale.

But now the fans are demanding a reunion special. The stars all have private reasons to come back: forgiveness, revenge, a second chance with a first love. But as they tentatively rediscover the magic of the original show, old secrets threaten to resurface—including the real reason behind their downfall.

Will this reunion be a chance to make things right? Or will it be the biggest mess the world has ever seen? No matter what, the ratings will be wild.

my thoughts:

Whoa! The Daydreams by Laura Hankin is this summer's must-read! It's chock full of drama, fractured relationships, a teen show that imploded, a reunion special that spells TROUBLE, secrets - big and small, and a romance that may or may be dead...and did I mention it's all for a televised reunion special - oh, my! Hankin has written an unputdownable story that will have you craving all the details over what happened then and what will happen now with this foursome of exes. 

A musical teen show hit the scene in the early 2000s and it was HUGE HIT. The stars of the show became famous, their friendships grew, and their lives changed in so many ways. And then, at the live taping of the season 2 finale, everything fell apart. The show ended and the foursome went their separate ways. Fast forward and they have all wound up in very different places: Kat is a successful attorney, Noah is a famous actor, Liana is a housewife, and Summer's been in and out of rehab. Yep, their lives are about to change once again thanks to the reunion special that fans have been clamoring for. Of course, time heals wounds, so maybe it will all work out for the best. Or, maybe this foursome will wish they had never agreed to meet up again? All I know, is that this story is one you won't want to miss out on - it's so damn good! 

Hankin's new novel is a delicious treat to read - so entertaining and engaging. I loved every second I spent with this book. The characters were unlikable, but so interesting - I couldn't help but get caught up in their dramas. And, the idea of a reunion special bringing them back together after being apart for so long was the best - definitely made getting to know them so much fun. I really enjoyed The Daydreams and would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you are going to love it to bits! Make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!