"You're not broken. You're just... dented."
I don't remember the exact timestamp, but somewhere around hour seven, that line hit me like a truck. I was in the middle of designing a wedding invitation suite (the irony, given this book's premise) and I had to put my stylus down. Just... sat there with my cats staring at me like I'd lost my mind.
Look, I picked up In Your Dreams because I needed something warm after a string of books that left me emotionally wrung out. And Kristan Higgins delivered exactly what I needed - but also way more than I expected.
The Fake Date Trope Done Right
Okay, so the setup is classic. Emmaline needs a date to her ex's wedding (been there, emotionally speaking). Jack Holland is the town golden boy who needs an escape from his own mess. Convenient arrangement, proximity, feelings happen. You know the drill.
But here's the thing - Higgins doesn't just phone it in. Emmaline isn't your typical romance heroine. She's a cop. She's awkward in a way that feels painfully real, not quirky-cute. She's got walls up that make sense because her backstory actually earns them. And Jack? He's dealing with PTSD after rescuing teenagers from a car wreck, and the whole town treating him like a hero is making him spiral.
The way Higgins handles his trauma... it's not perfect, honestly. Some moments felt a little too neatly resolved for something that messy. But she tries. She gives it weight. And when Jack and Emmaline finally stop dancing around each other? The chemistry is chef's kiss. I believed in them. Fully.
Abuela would have loved this one. She was a sucker for the "good man who doesn't know he's good" type.
Amy Rubinate Is Doing the Lord's Work
I'd never listened to Amy Rubinate before this, and I'll be honest - her voice took me maybe twenty minutes to settle into. There's this distinctive quality to her delivery, almost like she's telling you a secret over coffee. It's not the velvet-and-honey I usually gravitate toward, but once I adjusted? She nailed it.
Her Emmaline is perfect. Dry, a little self-deprecating, vulnerable underneath the tough exterior. And her Jack has this warmth that made my heart do stupid things. The way she handles the humor - and there's a LOT of humor here - is so good. Timing is everything in comedy, and Rubinate gets it.
The only moment that pulled me out was the epilogue. Something about the voice there felt slightly off, like she recorded it on a different day or something. Minor complaint. Barely worth mentioning except I'm thorough like that.
Where I Ugly-Cried (Twice)
The first time was during a scene where Emmaline finally lets herself be vulnerable about her past. I was on my couch, Diego curled up on my lap, and I just... lost it. The second time was near the end - I won't spoil it, but there's a moment where Jack says something so simple and so real that it broke me in the best way.
This is a rainy Sunday book. It's a "curl up with tea and let yourself feel things" book. It's funny - like, genuinely laugh-out-loud funny in places - but it's also got this emotional depth that sneaks up on you.
The pacing is solid for a 12-hour listen. There's a middle section that drags slightly when we're dealing with some small-town drama subplots, but Higgins keeps enough threads interesting that I never zoned out. I listened at my usual 1.0x because I was savoring, and it felt right.
Your Heart Ready for Manningsport?
If you love contemporary romance with actual character development? Yes. If you want a fake-dating trope that doesn't feel lazy? Absolutely. If you need something warm but not saccharine? This is your book.
Skip it if you're sensitive to sexual content (it's there, and it's good, but it's definitely there) or if you need your trauma rep to be perfectly handled. Higgins tries, but it's not Own Voices and it shows in places.
Diego Approved, Tear-Stained, Highly Recommended
My heart. MY HEART. I finished this at 2 AM and immediately added three more Kristan Higgins books to my library. The vibes are immaculate, the romance is earned, and Amy Rubinate made me believe in love in a small New York town. If you want something with similar heart but a darker academic edge, Gabriel's Inferno might scratch that itch—just be ready for more angst and less small-town charm.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a spreadsheet to update. Crying session count: two. Worth every tear.
