This was an insta love type romance and whilst Livvy had a crush for some time and there’s some history in their relationship it did all feel like instantly love and moving in.
I couldn’t understand why these women all had to move out, why Bex didn’t trust her friends about her relationship or how Noah keeps such a tragedy completely to himself.
The book had a novella / short story feel about its writing style, and much isn’t something I tend to choose and enjoy.

I received this ebook ARC through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion

Quick Summary: A forbidden love romance

My Review: Make Me Dream of You by Rae Kennedy is book #1 in the Make Me series.

About the Book: Noah has been the object of interest for Olivia since she was a teenager. He is hot. He gives off bad boy vibes. He is everything she has ever wanted. The trouble is that he is also her sister's ex. Even after time away in college, there is something about him that calls to her.

About the Characters:

Noah -> Tattooed good guy, dark past, secret play enthusiast, dirty talker, loyal to family and to those he cares about

Olivia (Liv) -> Innocent "Angel" with devilish inclinations, loyal sister, new graduate, aspiring artist

Macy - > Medical professional, unfulfilled, hiding in plain sight, has not found her voice yet, tempted (perhaps) by another, not yet able to recognize her worth

Bex - > The ex, sweet & sassy protector of her sibling, has a style all her own, unapologetic about what she wants, will not tolerate BS

Wood - > book boyfriend on one side and a player on the other, romantic at heart, caretaker, biding his time until he can get the woman that he wants

Jake - > Related to the butthead, adventurous, willing to take a stand for someone he cares about (even if it goes against expectations)

Spencer - > Butthead surgeon, selfish, arrogant, rigid and controlling, hothead

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

Who Are You?

One Touch

Thoughts and Dreams

Texting So Good

The Rebirth

Caught and Cornered

The Mojito Adventures * (That whole scene that rolled into more...whew!)

New Tats

My Final Say: This was such an interesting story to get lost in. I loved Noah and Liv! From the moment they connected in the bar, there was just something between them both. Even though the sibling situation was present and the age of interest concept (from her perspective) was somewhat weird, what came later seemed to work. In terms of the other characters, sign me up. They each have my attention...except for the butthead. He served his purpose. I can't wait to see the backside of him. (Bye, Felicia!!!)

Other: Please, please, please tell me that Wood and Macy will get a story together. It's obvious that something is brewing. Spencer is livid, isn't he? I cannot wait to see how that all plays out.

* This would be an incredible audiobook listening experience.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Status/Level: 🌶💖🌶
Series: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Rake Publishing), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have submitted are my own. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my views on this highly entertaining work. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with this writer.

What a vibe! What a guy!

I absolutely loved this book and finished it in one sitting. Totally recommend for anyone that's read Helena Hunting or Jay Crownover.

The reunited with a childhood crush who is also the sisters ex and it turns out they're anonymous pen pals who sext (revealed early on), moving into forced proximity, dating the boss and lots of secrets, just tropes that tick all of the boxes.

I don't think I need to say much more than if Noah was real, I would love to marry him. Also hoping we get a follow up book for the others we see in the friendship group!

Thank you Netgalley for my eARC.

This is my first Rae Kennedy book and will not be my last! I LOVED Noah!!! Bad boy with a soft spot for Livvy!! The sister’s ex trope isn’t a common taboo romance but this was well done!! I would consider this a little bit of a slow burn because it was a gradual build but boy was the chemistry there!! Really enjoyed this!

I'm obsessed. This was so good. I'm always up for a siblings ex book, it adds something extra. I loved that they were talking on the other app and didn't notice that it was the same person. They are literally made for each other. I do think that the app talking was a bit of a cop out so that the author didn't have to delve into Noah's trauma that much but it didn't really bother me. They were so in love and I loved it.

I received an arc from grey's promotion.

This book was everything I didn’t know I was looking for. I was in a slump and decided to read some arcs to get out of the slump and hold me accountable. I love everything about this book. Spice is 4 🌶️ and the story and plot line is 5⭐️.
Age gap
Virgin fmc
Sisters ex boyfriend
Secret pining
Hidden identities

sister’s ex boyfriend
childhood crush
forced proximity
roommate to lover
angsty
dual pov

I loved this book - it was so sweet and spicy all at the same time

Very well written and has all the sexy you want to read about in this genre of book. I think the characters were all really well written and makes you want to hear about them as well.

Really enjoyed this one. A sweet and spicy, easy read. Really enjoyed both MC's, I loved the texting app element in the first half of the book and almost wish that could have played out a bit longer. Livvy was so sweet and loved that she also had an edge. Their chemistry was great. All in all a good read :)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for early access to Make Me Dream of You!

This story tells the story of Noah and Livvy. She's loved him since she was 13 when he dated her older sister. Now she's 21 and caught his eye right back. Little do they know, they're also secret pen pals with each other on a steamy connection app. Let the drama ensue. Once the steam starts in this book, it doesn't stop but I really enjoyed Livvy and Noah's story. He's navigating grief and she's trying to find her way in life so there is independent growth happening in this story in addition to the love story. I will definitely explore more of this author's work in the future.

New fan for life! The forbidden love, chemistry, secrets. This book definitely pushes the line between moral and immoral, but thats why we like it! I fell in love with Noah but at the same time just wanted to scream! The slow burn almost killed me! Well done!!

Make Me Dream of You by Rae Kennedy was so damn addicting!
The story, the characters, all the emotion it gave was just so good. I truly honestly loved all the main characters; Livvy and Noah! Their relationship with each other was so intriguing to watch unfold.
The author has a way of making you feel every emotion. I loved it!
I could hardly put it down at times. Rae is excellent at building characters that you can just feel and feel for.
I need book two please!

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I'm unapologetically in love with Rae's books! This reminded me of why I loved her storytelling in the first place. Livvy always crushed on Noah despite him being her sister's ex. I love the forbidden nature of their growing relationship. Livvy was a unique mixture of innocence and sultry that attracted Noah in different ways. Noah definitely fits the broken boy vibe and throughout this book I just wanted to hold him. I found it easier to forgive his missteps due to his traumatic past. This book was a slow burn which I loved because it really pushes the emotional aspect forward compared to just attraction. When the steamy time arrived, it still delivered and made that wait worth it. As an angst lover, this book filled that cup for me. It had me anticipating the moment they could be together and all the secrets were revealed. Overall just another beautiful reminder of why I get excited every time Rae releases a new book

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

I ate this book up! Literally devoured! Noah, the tattooed man of my dreams, and sweet angel Livvy, are perfect for each other. So. Much. Tension. And an insane amount of chemistry. Definitely a slow burn but once things got going, the spice was spicin'. It wasn't anything crazy but they just could not keep their hands off each other! Miscommunication tropes are usually the bane of my existence but I actually didn't mind this one. The way the miscommunication was resolved was HILARIOUS! I literally could not put this book down towards the end.

Wood was the star of the show. He's my all time favorite character (Noah being second) and I NEED him to have his own book (with Macy)!!! He is such a sweet and caring cousin and friend, constantly thinking of everyone else and being happy for them even if it breaks his heart.

Bex, Liv's older sister, INFURIATED me to no end. While I'm happy things were resolved, if she didn't lie, no miscommunication would have happened in the first place!!! But it did make for an entertaining read so it's fine.

Make Me Dream of You is a dual POV, forbidden, older sister's ex, forced proximity, slow burn romance that has delicious spice, a ton of tension, angst, and past trauma. Read it!

*Thank you to Netgalley, Rake Publishing, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ok, I absolutely adored Kennedy’s first novel To Be Your Girl and have read all of her books since. However, I think I’ve just been chasing that original high with her work and nothing has really lived up to it so far. And sadly, Make Me Dream Of You is probably the most disappointing of all. Whilst absolutely not a terrible read, I certainly finished it and I would even consider it good in parts, it lacks any kind of depth in both the characters and plot. I guess the page count may have been an indicator being less than 300.

I did like the characters somewhat however ultimately I didn’t care enough about them for their story to make me feel. In fact nothing in this book made me feel anything really and that’s the main reason it’s a 3 star book rather than a 4 from me. That said, it certainly had potential, I could easily imagine the scenes and it was nice to read a MMC that was alpha but not an asshole. I felt maybe Kennedy was trying too hard to maintain her signature sweetness element and so parts of it felt jarring or awkward or even forced at times.

I was more intrigued by some of the side characters and if Wood’s story is next then I will certainly be picking it up (and continue chasing that feelings high for I know she can deliver).

Thank you NetGalley, Rake Publishing and Rae Kennedy for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Livvy is a recent college graduate who moved back home and is staying with her sister, Bex. She has always been shy but while in college started anonymously texting with men to make money and increase her confidence.

Noah is a broody man who has walls up trying to protect himself after tragedy struck his family years ago. He also happens to be Bex’s high school ex boyfriend, Livvy’s longtime crush and the anonymous man she’s been texting/sexting through the app for months and just can’t seem to cut off.

I wasn’t super into the innocent little sister and bad boy trope but the characters themselves were really enjoyable. It certainly got spicy but it was a gradual progression and Noah was extremely respectful when things got physical.

The multiple misunderstanding/miscommunications was a little frustrating.

I’m interested to learn more about Bex and Jake but honestly from the start was excited at the prospect of Wood and Macy so I can only hope that’s the next book!

Make Me Dream of You is for the forbidden love & angst readers!

I loved how angsty this was. The whole we want to but we shouldn't dilemma provided a lot of mutual pining and tension. I also enjoyed the roommates to lovers and office romance part of the book too. I think the forced proximity just added to the tension. This is also a bit of a bad boy/good girl romance, in addition to sister's ex-boyfriend. There's a lot going on here okay haha.

I found this to be very emotional and heartfelt which I was not expecting. They really brought out the best in each other. The reader really gets to see the relationship and bond develop between Livvy and Noah.

Would definitely recommend if you're in the mood for angst and emotional romance.

Livvy has had a crush on Noah since she was 13 years old when Noah and her sister were dating. Years have gone by, now a college graduate and moving back home she runs into an older Noah at a bar. Initially Noah didn’t recognize her but he knew he wanted her, even when he discovered it was little Livvy.

I felt like this book was set at a good pace, it wasn’t too fast or too slow for me. I couldn’t put this book down because I was so curious with how this love story was going to unfold and it did not disappoint.

Yes she might have fell first but I definitely felt like he fell harder, especially when he discovers she’s his angel.

I loved Wood and I can’t wait to read his book or well I’m hoping he gets a book and we can all assume who it might be with, I’m kind of hoping not considering all she sees is her douchey boyfriend. But I loved how caring Wood was with her, making sure she ate, knew what she liked.

Thank you NetGalley and Rake Publishing for providing me with this ARC for my honest review.

Ahhhh this book. It gave me all the feelings in the world. I could’ve absolutely read this book in a day if I didn’t have to sleep. The characters were amazing, it is sweet and spicy and I loved it so so much I will absolutely be adding this to my favorites

This was great, truly. It was entertaining from the beginning. I laughed, swooned and got emotional- all great things for when reading. I hope this becomes a series!