Dreamology

Since she was a child, sixteen-year-old Alice has been dreaming about Max. He only exists in her dreams, where they are together every night. When she starts at Bennett Academy in Brooklyn, she finds the boy from her dreams, Max Wolfe, in her class. When Alice realizes that Max is real, she goes on a mission to learn why she has been dreaming about him.

Alice must work to accept the differences between her dreams and reality and the fact that Max may not be the same boy she knows from her dreams. To make matters worse, Max has a girlfriend, Celeste. When Alice becomes friends with Celeste, she must decide whether to pursue her feelings for Max and risk hurting her new friend. Alice is consumed with guilt because of her feelings for Max and the realization that his girlfriend is a nice person and a good friend.

Alice’s new friend, Oliver, is a quirky troublemaker, but she finds comfort in this friendship because of their very similar personalities. The two boys clash, as Oliver is louder and bolder, while Max is quieter and tends to keep to himself more. As Alice grows closer to both boys, Oliver and Max’s animosity toward each other grows, but Alice is determined to keep both in her life. There are many moments between Alice and Max that will have the readers rooting for their relationship to succeed.

Alice isn’t only dealing with friendship drama. She is a bit of an outsider who is struggling to understand why her mother abandoned her. Additionally, she must prioritize her academics to ensure she gains admission to a reputable college. These conflicts make Alice a relatable character. Overall, Alice faces numerous decisions that she must approach with caution. She reminds herself that her decisions have an impact on the people around her. As the story progresses, Alice learns to make decisions that will benefit her friends, even if they might come at a personal cost.

Dreamology’s plot is easy to follow, but the writing feels a bit silly at times; however, this works to develop Alice’s personality and provide humor. The mystery of why Alice and Max dream of each other hooks the reader, and the relationships between the characters help to develop the narrative. The story highlights the importance of friendship and how boys can get in the way of these friendships. Alice learns valuable lessons about expressing her emotions and navigating friendships. Readers will enjoy seeing Alice’s growth as she learns to deal with her feelings. Dreamology has the perfect blend of teenage drama, romance, friendships, and mystery. Overall, it is a charming story that concludes with a happy ending, leaving readers satisfied.

Sexual Content

• Alice witnesses a student getting drunk and running naked through a college campus. The student “chugged a wine cooler, ripped off all his clothing, and went running through campus naked.”
• Celeste dated a college guy when she was fifteen.
• At sixteen, Celeste “started dating some architecture major from the local college.”

Violence

• None

Drugs and Alcohol

• Alice and her friends attend a college party where they get drunk drinking “raspberry wine coolers.”
• A sixteen-year-old girl mentions making out with another sixteen-year-old while drunk.
• While with the school guidance counselor, the counselor “exhales some hookah smoke into the middle of her office.” Later, Alice smokes with the counselor in her office.

Language

• None

Supernatural

• None

Spiritual Content

• None

by Gabie Rivas