I absolutely loved this. Kept thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, and found the writing really easy to escape in. What a unique idea for a love story. Were there some gaps? Sure. But overall it’s a new fav.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Once you get into this book, you will not put it down!

It took a bit, especially because you need more background on Fi's real life to understand her dream life. Once you get there, hold on because you will go on a trip and it will be so good! I kept thinking I knew what and why she was doing things in her dream life, and I was pleasantly surprised during each of those chapters.

I loved Sarah’s book “The Space Between” so I was excited when I received this one as an ARC.
I really loved the concept of this book but the execution fell short for me. There were so many pointless details and descriptions that I started to skim until I saw dialogue. Also the FMC kind of annoyed me when she didn’t question anything. I got confused by the end but again I enjoyed the idea of the book and wanted to know what would happen in the end.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this title.

I had SUCH a hard time reading this book, but after everyone said keep reading, I had to finish it. I'm SO glad I did but also, it was hard to start and I think that's worth remembering. The book starts with Fi, a single mom who receives a family watch that holds some magic. Overnight she dreams of being on a beautiful island with a different family. This is a romance and the man she "dreams" about is.... dreamy. He is such a sweet and fun character. I think all of the characters were so easy to love and be interested in AND there is so much to each of their stories that makes you want to keep reading about them.

The main reason I didn't want to finish this, was because I loved Aarons character so much and I was initially avoiding the idea of any "cheating" that could be occurring in the dream state. I also didn't see how this could have an ending that gave me what I wanted for Fiona and Aaron.

Normally I don't enjoy children much in books but all of the kids were interesting to read about, and as you figure out some of the paranormal things happening it's definitely worth the involvement.

I loved the elements of watch making, and that this book used such a unique side element that will be something I remember ANY time I read a book with watches ahah.

The writing was also pretty phenomenal and I didn't catch any plot holes that are going to keep me up at night. Maybe I'm jaded about plot holes from a more recent read....

AND FINALLY MAX. Ugh, to love him. UGH. Makes me feel so torn, well, not for Fi and Aaron but just in general. He was so lovable and just writing about him breaks my heart and I hope he gets a happy ending. Or I'll just never read another book.

I know this was a stand alone - in a series - and that didn't matter. There were small moments that I had less context for, but nothing I couldn't vaguely piece together.

This review is left in partnership with NetGalley and the author providing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review!
Thank you!

I have loved these series by Sarah Ready from the very beginning.... Can't get enough. Just want to read more. Love Her books. Just read it.

If you’ve ever wanted to escape your real life for a dreamy, sun-soaked fantasy that feels more real than reality, Fated is exactly the read you need. It’s sweet, wistful, and absolutely brimming with that magical “what if?” energy.

Fiona’s the definition of a driven woman — she’s got a family watch empire to run, a city life that’s more about hustle than happiness, and zero time for romance. But when she’s gifted a family heirloom with the promise of “dream your greatest desire,” she’s transported to a life that feels too good to be true.

Night after night, Fiona finds herself living in a sun-drenched dream life: married, two adorable kids, a colourful beach cottage that’s straight out of an influencer’s mood board. It’s the ultimate vacation from her busy, pressure-filled life, and she starts falling for her dream husband (swoon) — even as she knows she’s falling for a life that’s not real.

This book is like a warm hug. It’s all about those sweet, tender moments: moonlit beach picnics, swimming in turquoise seas, kisses under the stars. Fiona’s dream world is so vivid and lush, you’ll want to crawl right in and never leave.

Rating: 3.5
Mode of Reading: NetGalley Digital ARC Courtesy of Sarah Ready & Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC in exchange for my honest review...
It's an ARC... When does it Release? It’s out now—grab your copy today! (Released July 16, 2024)
How did I pick this up: I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Ready’s books—they’re always such fun reads. When I saw several were available under "Read Now," I couldn’t resist and grabbed them all!
Short Yet Sweet Review: Fiona is running her family’s Swiss watch company and barely has time to breathe—until she receives a magical family heirloom that transports her into a different life: one where she’s married, has kids, and lives on the beach. But what happens when the dream starts to feel more real than her actual life? Who is Aaron—and is he only a figment of her dreams? And let’s not forget Max (her best friend) and Mila (her daughter) in the real world still exist.

I adore Sarah Ready’s ability to fully transport readers into unexpected, heartfelt stories. This one had some surprising turns I wasn’t prepared for (the party?!), but I loved how it all wove together in the end. You do have to suspend a bit of belief, since the story feels so grounded in the present but leans into magical realism. It also took me a moment to get into it, mainly because I assumed these characters were connected to Books 1 & 2—turns out, they’re not. Once I let go of that expectation, I was all in and fully enjoyed the ride!

Fated by Sarah Ready is the third magical realism book in the Ghosted series.

This premise was intriguing and the plot was heartfelt and whimsical; a slow burn with SO. MUCH. YEARNING.
I don't want to say too much because I feel like it gives it away, but it was really a beautiful story done so well.

This book really took me on a journey and honestly I didn't know how it was going to end - I didn't expect the plot twists but was pleasantly surprised!
It was also more emotional than I anticipated and even though I didn't expect it to be, it is my favorite of the series!!

4.5 stars
**Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC and chance to read and review. All opinions are my own**

Fated is the third book in the Ghosted series, but it can be read as a standalone.

I’ve been enjoying this series since the beginning, and this was no exception.

Fiona’s dreams led her to the man of her dreams (literally and figuratively). He was everything to her. But only in her (not-so-fake) dreams.

The “dream life” Fiona had was full of so much love, angst, and emotions. It wasn’t only her connection to her husband, but also her children and the people of the town as well.

It took me a while to get into this. Not because it’s bad, but because I thought she was kind of cheating on the man in her waking life. And then there was another man…but I won’t get into that.

I stuck it out and ended up enjoying it. The twists, the angst, the drama, and the love made for a great story.

Fated reminded me of Ghosted and had me having all of the feelings. I discovered Sarah and this series on a whim and have been obsessed ever since. And this one was no different while also taking on a more series tone compared to the first two. It was definitely a change of pace to the books I’d been reading currently and definitely a needed change. Absolutely adored.

An emotional read that will leave the reader believing in the magic of love and destiny. The characters are complex and relatable and their journey is one of fate.
Many thanks to Swift & Lewis Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

There was way too much going on in this book. I love this series but this was hard to follow. So many different characters, two lives, different time periods. Hard to follow and get invested.

Sarah Ready is an auto read author for me. She could write a freaking instruction manual for a blender and I’d still pick it up. I love the Ghosted series and this one brings just as much intrigue and puzzling to figure everything out.

A magical family heirloom leading Fiona to dream night after night about love, connection, and building strong family ties. It’s messy, emotional, and full of discovering and fighting for what you want in life.

I have read and enjoyed several Sarah Ready books but sadly DNF this one at 30% . There were too many characters and it was hard to keep track of them all.

I think this book just wasn't for me but others may really enjoy it.

I really wanted to like this book. I really enjoyed the first two in this series. This book just fell so completely flat for me. I thought the concept was interesting, a dream place that shows all your heart's desires. It just left a bad taste in my mouth that our main character contemplated actually leaving her real life behind, including her daughter, for an almost instant love. It just left me with an icky feeling. While parts of the book were certainly entertaining and lent itself to be a quick read, it just wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

An incredible read that immediately hooked me with a powerful, unexpected twist, and that sense of surprise continued throughout the book—twist after twist after twist. It’s been the first book in a long time that kept me guessing the entire way through and left me eager to keep reading. I fell in love with the characters and the way they fought for one another. Seriously, someone please turn this into a film!

Oh my wow. I remembered really enjoying Wished by Sarah Ready (I know, I'm reading out of order) but this one blew me out of the water. I was so intrigued by the premise but the execution of this story was absolutely phenomenal. The yearning I felt and the falling in love I did with not just the MMC but the entire island of characters made me feel something I hadn't felt in a book in a very long time. And a specific part (no spoilers) had me actually bawling like a baby. I've always loved magical realism books for the exact feelings this book gave me: curiosity, whimsy, and a sort of longing for the truth. I will definitely be reading the rest of Sarah Ready's Ghosted series. 5 stars all the way. Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love how original Sarah Ready's books are. This one is pure escapism with a magical watch and two parallel lives, one in Geneva (in real life) and one in dreams activated by the watch, in an island. At times this twisty stroy can feel a bit convoluted, but the writing is engaging and the character's are dimensional, so your want to keep turning the pages and find out how it all resolves.

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A review by you!
Fated by Sarah Ready
adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5

Fated is the third book in the Ghosted series but it's events take place before the first book & it can be read as a standalone.

This was such a comforting & warm read🥺
The setting alternates between Geneva & a tropical island but it's mostly set on the island which makes it perfect to pick up during the summer.

Fi was the perfect fmc. There's so much to admire about her. The relationship between all the characters with each other was equally amazing. Aaron deserves all the happiness in the world & so does Max.

The cover is as beautiful as the story itself & captures the essence of the book.

Sarah always has the most unique plots & going into her books blind would be amazing! There's something about her writing that makes me want to never stop reading. The way she describes places is so vivid, it makes everything feel so realistic.

I'm so excited for Wished because Max deserves his own happy ending.

Thank you to the author, publisher & @netgalley for the eARC!

This series is one I never knew I would love so much!

The third in the Ghosted series, FATED is a contemporary romance featuring time travel, magic, and a single Mom named Fiona who finds herself transported to another time through a family heirloom.

I paired the book with the audio format and enjoyed this immersive read so much! Performed by Shakira Shute, I thought she did a great job at voicing each character.

*many thanks to Swift & Lewis and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review