This book was an interesting up-close glimpse of the wealthy, and the working class in early 1900 New York. 

The main character Peggy Battenberg is 20-year old heiress to a fortune, but that money comes with tight family ties. When she is forced to summer near the "depraved" Coney Island, she becomes embroiled in a multiple-murder mystery and a forbidden love affair.

Peggy was equally brazen and strong, but at the same time naive and foolish. Some of her decisions had me absolutely cringing! But I appreciated her willingness to forgo the status quo, even if her illicit adventures did seem far-fetched.

I really liked the author's descriptive style of story-telling, it made the settings come to life in a way that I could really envision them and feel I was there.  Yes, it slowed the pace somewhat, but it remained steady, and I felt compelled to keep turning the pages, reading way past midnight.

The murder/mystery piece felt not fully-developed, and the cumulation of the entire book's build up felt very rushed and implausible. Also, the insta-love, while charming, also did not end in a satisfying way.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read, which I devoured in 2 sittings!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Great book. I loved reading it. Very interesting and covers alot of information

Dreamland has many significant themes and wonderfully portrays class distinctions of the Gilded Age.  When Nancy Bilyeau shifted gears in the historical fiction genre, at first, I had my doubts. I am rather fond of her Joanna Stafford Trilogy and love the period in which it is set in. She hasn’t disappointed in switching periods in history one bit. Dreamland has made it to the top of my list of favorite stories Bilyeau has written.  

Peggy Batternberg’s invitation to spend the summer on Coney Island isn’t exactly an invitation. More like an unwelcome demand from her Uncles. When they arrive to the Island, she is greeted by her family and trying to make the best of it, she gets caught up in a murder investigation. The author presents a group of likely suspects and Peggy must race to find out who did it to protect the ones she loves. She isn’t your typical heiress we all read so much about. Peggy would make one heck of a sleuth.

I am remiss in admitting that I haven’t heard of Dreamland on Coney Island until I read this story. I absolutely enjoyed reading about the amusement park in this book and since, I have delved further about its history. Bilyeau did a marvelous undertaking with describing the park, and weavs the history of the park’s attractions befitting to the plot.

I wonder if we will read more about Peggy’s adventures? Wouldn’t that be fun? A delightful read and a wonderful diversion to immerse yourself in. Highly recommended.

Stephanie Hopkins

It’s time to visit the world of the New York elite. Our guide: Peggy Battenburg, who is swept away from the bookshop where she’s trying to make a life for herself, in order to spend the summer holidaying at the coast with her rich family.

But danger is on the horizon and Coney Island might not be as safe as it seems.

This book definitely qualifies as a fun romp: we have rich families trying to marry off their children, an edge of mystery, and the fun, beguiling world of Dreamland: the Edwardian fairground home to a group of eccentrics that are rejected by polite society.

Bilyeau is an engaging writer, and the plot romps along, but the ending feels a bit thin to me- and the story goes on for that little bit too long to keep it interesting. Still, it’s a pleasant trip into the past- with a flavour of The Night Circus.

"Dreamland" has a really interesting setting and I really liked how the novel started off, but it just went downhill from there. 

The insta-romance felt rather out of place and the more interesting family dynamics were pushed to the side towards the end in favour of an almost cartoonishly evil villain. 

The ending felt also rather rushed and too over-the-top for the first half of the novel. The last two pages of the novel somehow managed to feel even more rushed than the climax of the story and left me rather disappointed.

This book reminded me of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, in that I loved the world building and the characters but the actual culmination was a little lacking for me. That said, I know several people --staff, patrons, and friends alike-- who would be certainly much more into this book than I and I look forward to recommending it to them.

i really enjoyed reading this book, I found the mystery part of the setting and I loved Peggy as a character. I really look forward to more from the author.

HOW MAGICAL! This book reminded me a lot of The Night Circus. I felt like I escaped my ordinary life while reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley.

I wanted to like this book since it was set in the early 1900s and then on Coney Island when they went on vacation. I only got to 15% (no idea how many pages that would be in a print book). It got boring very fast. I know I didn't give it a chance.

Set in the early 1900’s and centring on Peggy Battenberg who just wants to work for a living and experience real life. Her beloved sister has been invited to spend the summer in a hotel on the beach in Brooklyn with her controlling fiancé, right across from Coney Island, and the whole family has to go along with them.

Peggy is drawn into trying to solve a mystery when the body of a young washes ashore, while meeting the people of Coney Island and getting to know the difference between her pampered upbringing and real life.
The book is beautifully written and I really enjoyed it.


#Dreamland #NetGalley

Exploration of privilege, a mystery and romance with the setting of Coney Island. I enjoyed this atmospheric tale, however it was written a little young for me and lacked depth. The ending was also a bit rushed. Overall it was worth reading for the setting alone!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.

I'm hovering on the 2.5 stars side of 3 stars for this book. It was fine, buuuuuut I picked it up in January and it's only because I bought the audiobook for it this month that I actually finished it. I just wasn't particularly interested in the characters and the story, so nothing drove me to pick it up again when I put it down, even though there was nothing actively wrong with it. 

Peggy Battenberg was a woman ahead of her times, coming from a rich family that think of nothing but their own interests. Peggy, however, works, falls in love with a poor man and wears a "short" bathing suit - scandalous. She was fine, interesting, and felt quite like Evie from The Diviners. In fact, this all felt like The Diviners, but less fantastical. Stefan was sort of an interesting character, but also felt like he was just there to show a different side to Peggy.
A stifling hot summer was the perfect setting for this (also a little close to home at the time of writing this). It all felt very close and claustrophobic, undoubtedly how Evie felt in her position. I also liked the intrigue of Dreamland, but felt like we only really got a glimpse of it given its prominence in the title.
And the mystery? Eh. I didn't really care for it. I think, because we (or at least I) didn't care for the victims, there was no drive to find out who did it. Plus, I guessed who it was from the start and my guess didn't really change, so the end was a little underwhelming.

I haven't been reading a lot of ya lately but i loved the idea of this one. I liked the way the lives of the wealthy were explored, and the descriptions of Coney Island, but it just read a little bit young for me and lacked the depth that would have made it an outstanding story

This was overall an okay book. It delivered what it promised. 
Although it was flawed I enjoyed the story nevertheless. In my opinion, the ending was a bit rushed. 
The characters were enjoyable and fun to read about. Unfortunately, the story didn’t leave me speechless, therefore the  three stars. 
But I loved the setting of this book!

Interesting story but you have to buy into the concept of privileged women having more freedom than we routinely imagine.  Book is worth reading for a well researched peek into the Coney Island of the early 20th Century. If reading with a teen, could be a great conversation starter to discuss the rights of women then, compared to now.

Set in the early 1900’s and centring  on an extremely affluent family in New York, this book is a beautiful blend of history and mystery. Peggy Battenberg just wants to be a modern woman, work for a living and experience real life. But she finds she can never escape the constraints of being a wealthy heiress.  Her beloved sister has been invited to spend the Summer in a hotel on the beach in Brooklyn with her controlling fiancé, right across from Coney Island, and the whole family has to go along with them.
It doesn’t start off well as Peggy and her sister’s fiancé have an uncomfortable history and her family treat her like the black sheep but it gets even worse when the body of a young woman washes up on the beach.
Peggy is drawn into trying to solve the mystery while meeting the people of Coney Island and getting to know the difference between her pampered upbringing and real life.
The book is beautifully written and very atmospheric.  I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to hear more from this author.

Dreamland is just a perfect title for a perfect book. The main character is a rich heiress and Coney Island is the backdrop. Interested? You should be! Come on and read this beautifully written book. You won’t regret it. A strong 5/5.

This book moved much slower than I expected, but it was still a great read. I will definitely be reading more from Nancy Bilyeau as her books have been highly recommended to me.

“Highly recommend-- kept me on the edge of my seat and I had a hard time putting it down-- Great characters and storyline--  I do want more!”

This was my first Nancy Bilyeau novel. Dreamland will pull you in. Mystery, murder, romance and early 20th century ambiance.
You’re not quite sure what’s going to happen and I loved that about this novel. Knowing Coney Island, Dreamland and HellGate are real, it makes the story more interesting. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for an honest review.