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The Daydreams
A deliciously entertaining novel about the stars of a popular teen show from the early 2000s-and the reunion special, thirteen years after their scandalous flameout, that will either be their last chance at redemption, or destroy them all for good.
Back in 2004, The Daydreams had it all: a cast of innocent-seeming teenagers acting and singing their hearts out, amazing ratings, and a will-they-or-won't-they romance that steamed up fan fiction forums. Then, during the live season two finale, it all imploded, leaving everyone scrambling to understand why.
Afterward, the four stars went down very different paths. Kat is now a lawyer in DC. Liana is the bored wife of a famous athlete. Noah, the show's golden boy, emerged unscathed and is poised to become a household name. And Summer, the object of Noah's fictional (and maybe real-life) affections, is the cautionary tale. But then the fans demand a reunion special. The stars all have private reasons to come back: forgiveness, revenge, a second chance with a first love. But as they tentatively rediscover the magic of the original show, old secrets threaten to resurface-including the real reason behind their downfall.
Will this reunion be a chance to make things right? Or will it be the biggest mess the world has ever seen? No matter what, the ratings will be wild.
Back in 2004, The Daydreams had it all: a cast of innocent-seeming teenagers acting and singing their hearts out, amazing ratings, and a will-they-or-won't-they romance that steamed up fan fiction forums. Then, during the live season two finale, it all imploded, leaving everyone scrambling to understand why.
Afterward, the four stars went down very different paths. Kat is now a lawyer in DC. Liana is the bored wife of a famous athlete. Noah, the show's golden boy, emerged unscathed and is poised to become a household name. And Summer, the object of Noah's fictional (and maybe real-life) affections, is the cautionary tale. But then the fans demand a reunion special. The stars all have private reasons to come back: forgiveness, revenge, a second chance with a first love. But as they tentatively rediscover the magic of the original show, old secrets threaten to resurface-including the real reason behind their downfall.
Will this reunion be a chance to make things right? Or will it be the biggest mess the world has ever seen? No matter what, the ratings will be wild.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2023
About the author
Laura Hankin
6 books1,009 followersLaura Hankin is the author of HAPPY & YOU KNOW IT, A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WOMEN, and the upcoming THE DAYDREAMS. She's written for outlets like McSweeney's and HuffPost, while her musical comedy has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. She lives in Washington, DC, where she once fell off a treadmill twice in one day. Contact her on Instagram/Twitter: @LauraHankin or Tiktok: @laura_hankin
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July 10, 2023I went into this with low expectations tbh because I had seen a few negative reviews, but I actually really loved this. I listened to the audiobook and it was really enjoyable and immersive. I grew up watching this kind of show and loving it and this was a good mix of exposing all of those things (which have been coming out in reality in recent years) and being serious, but also a really sweet story in the end. Honestly this was unexpectedly a ton of fun!!
May 16, 2023
Daydreams might be one of the best reunion readings I’ve lately had. It was realistic, thought provoking, emotional, brave with its criticism to mansplaining at work and unfairly exploiting of young adults at the work place, excruciating price they pay for fame at young age!
Four young kids around 18 years old are chosen to be the stars of Atlas Production’s most anticipated teenage musical drama “Daydreams” on 2004. An innocent girl next door Summer, her sweetheart, handsome love interest Noah are leading stars as Kat is the villanelle- mean girl of the show who stands between lovers. Lillian is the best friend of trio. They sing their hearts out, dancing with full of energy and turning into best friends of each other in real life as they use their real names at the show.
But when season two starts things get derailed. The betrayal, jealousy, love triangles, competition, the extra stress of stardom, nosying paparazzi, increasing fan numbers who want pieces of them change the entire balance of their bonding.
An unfortunate meltdown at the end of live season finale results with cancellation and heartbreak. Four of them go their separate ways and they barely contact for 14 years!
Kat insists to be called as Katherine who is also the main narrator of the book, pursuing her career as an aspiring hotshot D. C. lawyer, getting so close to be managing partner of the firm. Noah becomes A-list movie star, getting an Oscar nomination from his first screenplay. Liana turns into trophy wife/ Instagram influencer, married with famous athlete and finally Summer who was the rising star of their show turns into trainwreck- spending her years between more unfortunate career choices, more meltdowns in front of the cameras, checking in and out rehab for several times.
Kat has a secret and she has no intention to tell even to her long time boyfriend who is about to propose sooner.
When Noah mentions he might accept for reunion if the rest of the others are also in, Kat rejects the offer. Then Summer pays her a visit to change her mind. She reluctantly says yes because she owes her big. She is the one who ruined Summer’s life ( that’s her big secret) and she needs to make amends in expanse losing her career and her longtime relationship by getting committed to the reunion.
As four friends reunite, they feel like so many things changed with their lives. All of them hold grudges, keeping secrets, suffering from unfinished businesses. When their reunion turns into a confrontation, they realize nothing as it seems and each of them might have had different lives if they made different choices.
This book is hooking me up from the beginning. I loved Kat and the other gang members. All of them are flawed, a little broken inside, suffering from past mistakes. Each of them is honest, genuine and likable. I loved how their characters evolved as I read their past and present. I also enjoyed how things brilliantly wrapped up at the end!
I’m giving highly deserved five stars! It was exquisite, vivid, addictive reading!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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Four young kids around 18 years old are chosen to be the stars of Atlas Production’s most anticipated teenage musical drama “Daydreams” on 2004. An innocent girl next door Summer, her sweetheart, handsome love interest Noah are leading stars as Kat is the villanelle- mean girl of the show who stands between lovers. Lillian is the best friend of trio. They sing their hearts out, dancing with full of energy and turning into best friends of each other in real life as they use their real names at the show.
But when season two starts things get derailed. The betrayal, jealousy, love triangles, competition, the extra stress of stardom, nosying paparazzi, increasing fan numbers who want pieces of them change the entire balance of their bonding.
An unfortunate meltdown at the end of live season finale results with cancellation and heartbreak. Four of them go their separate ways and they barely contact for 14 years!
Kat insists to be called as Katherine who is also the main narrator of the book, pursuing her career as an aspiring hotshot D. C. lawyer, getting so close to be managing partner of the firm. Noah becomes A-list movie star, getting an Oscar nomination from his first screenplay. Liana turns into trophy wife/ Instagram influencer, married with famous athlete and finally Summer who was the rising star of their show turns into trainwreck- spending her years between more unfortunate career choices, more meltdowns in front of the cameras, checking in and out rehab for several times.
Kat has a secret and she has no intention to tell even to her long time boyfriend who is about to propose sooner.
When Noah mentions he might accept for reunion if the rest of the others are also in, Kat rejects the offer. Then Summer pays her a visit to change her mind. She reluctantly says yes because she owes her big. She is the one who ruined Summer’s life ( that’s her big secret) and she needs to make amends in expanse losing her career and her longtime relationship by getting committed to the reunion.
As four friends reunite, they feel like so many things changed with their lives. All of them hold grudges, keeping secrets, suffering from unfinished businesses. When their reunion turns into a confrontation, they realize nothing as it seems and each of them might have had different lives if they made different choices.
This book is hooking me up from the beginning. I loved Kat and the other gang members. All of them are flawed, a little broken inside, suffering from past mistakes. Each of them is honest, genuine and likable. I loved how their characters evolved as I read their past and present. I also enjoyed how things brilliantly wrapped up at the end!
I’m giving highly deserved five stars! It was exquisite, vivid, addictive reading!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
blog
April 2, 2023
I had hoped that The Daydreams would have the same spark of Daisy Jones and the Six; a look back at a group that blew up. I found the first half pretty average, but there was a big twist in the second half I didn’t see coming. I alternated between really enjoying bits of the story and then getting upset at the predictability of the plot.
The premise is that the cast from a popular teen show has reunited for a reunion thirteen years later. The show had gone down in flames after an incident during the live finale of the second season. Since then, the male lead remained an actor, the narrator has become a lawyer, one female member has married a well known sports figure and the female star has never recovered. The narrator, who had played the “bad girl”, regretted something she did all those years ago and agreed to the reunion to make sure what she did doesn’t come out.
Hankin uses a mixed media approach. While most of the story is told from Kat’s POV, we also get snippets from Summer’s journal back in the day along with blog posts and “soliloquies" from the other main characters.
I thought the premise of the book was good but I wanted more. The characters were never fully developed. I guess I wanted the author to go deeper and instead, it comes across more as a beach read. Depending on what you’re looking for will determine how much you enjoy it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Books for an advance copy of this book.
The premise is that the cast from a popular teen show has reunited for a reunion thirteen years later. The show had gone down in flames after an incident during the live finale of the second season. Since then, the male lead remained an actor, the narrator has become a lawyer, one female member has married a well known sports figure and the female star has never recovered. The narrator, who had played the “bad girl”, regretted something she did all those years ago and agreed to the reunion to make sure what she did doesn’t come out.
Hankin uses a mixed media approach. While most of the story is told from Kat’s POV, we also get snippets from Summer’s journal back in the day along with blog posts and “soliloquies" from the other main characters.
I thought the premise of the book was good but I wanted more. The characters were never fully developed. I guess I wanted the author to go deeper and instead, it comes across more as a beach read. Depending on what you’re looking for will determine how much you enjoy it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Books for an advance copy of this book.
January 25, 2023
Hi, I wrote this! I hope you love it as much as I do. If you have questions, want me to pop into your book club, etc... I try to respond to as many messages as I can over on Instagram or through the contact form on my website. Thank you so much for reading. You all are the reason I get to listen to early 2000s pop on repeat while calling it "research," and I'm very grateful.
May 16, 2023
DAISY JONES AND THE SIX WALKED SO THE DAYDREAMS COULD RUN!!!! 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
❤️ Dual timeline (2004, 2018)
❤️ The O.C. vibes (I mean, the main character is named Summer) meets High School Musical/Hannah Montana leaked nudes scandal meets Daisy Jones and the Six format (but better)
❤️ Witty, satirical, dark writing
❤️ Unlikable, unreliable narrator
❤️ Redemption arc
Get ready to embark on an epic journey through fame, jealousy, betrayal, love and self-discovery with Daydreams by Laura Hankin - guaranteed to keep you hooked till the very last page.
The Daydreams by Laura Hankin is a stellar read for anyone who is a fan of Daisy Jones and The Six, The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes or fans of Deuxmoi. It was a perfect cross over between the High School Musical/Hannah Montana child stars and the TMZ coverage we had of it.
Noah is the golden boy of the group and he has emerged unscathed from the show. He is poised to become a household name and he seems to have it all together. However, as the story progresses, you start to see cracks in his perfect facade. Liana is the bored wife of a famous athlete. She has everything that she could ever want, but she is desperately searching for something more in her life. Kat is a lawyer in Washington, DC and she has worked hard to build a successful career. However, she still feels like something is missing. And Summer is the cautionary tale of the group. After the implosion of season two finale, she spiraled out of control. She was arrested, went to rehab, and lost everything that she had worked for.
The Daydreams is about the exorbitant exploitation of child stars and how easy it is (was) to discard teenage talent at their first mistake, yes, but it's also about the high cost of ambition, guilt, jealousy, love, personal and professional growth—and the rich rewards of all of the above.
Told in dual perspectives in 2004 at the inception of the Daydreams band and in 2018 when they reconnect, with snippets of articles, Summer's journal entries, and blog postings in between. This narrative about the four members of the band dealing with success and glory in their own distinct ways is so warm, hilarious, upsetting, and uplifting that I kept picking it up again and again. This is a new favourite.
Thank you to Berkley for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
❤️ Dual timeline (2004, 2018)
❤️ The O.C. vibes (I mean, the main character is named Summer) meets High School Musical/Hannah Montana leaked nudes scandal meets Daisy Jones and the Six format (but better)
❤️ Witty, satirical, dark writing
❤️ Unlikable, unreliable narrator
❤️ Redemption arc
Get ready to embark on an epic journey through fame, jealousy, betrayal, love and self-discovery with Daydreams by Laura Hankin - guaranteed to keep you hooked till the very last page.
The Daydreams by Laura Hankin is a stellar read for anyone who is a fan of Daisy Jones and The Six, The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes or fans of Deuxmoi. It was a perfect cross over between the High School Musical/Hannah Montana child stars and the TMZ coverage we had of it.
Noah is the golden boy of the group and he has emerged unscathed from the show. He is poised to become a household name and he seems to have it all together. However, as the story progresses, you start to see cracks in his perfect facade. Liana is the bored wife of a famous athlete. She has everything that she could ever want, but she is desperately searching for something more in her life. Kat is a lawyer in Washington, DC and she has worked hard to build a successful career. However, she still feels like something is missing. And Summer is the cautionary tale of the group. After the implosion of season two finale, she spiraled out of control. She was arrested, went to rehab, and lost everything that she had worked for.
The Daydreams is about the exorbitant exploitation of child stars and how easy it is (was) to discard teenage talent at their first mistake, yes, but it's also about the high cost of ambition, guilt, jealousy, love, personal and professional growth—and the rich rewards of all of the above.
Told in dual perspectives in 2004 at the inception of the Daydreams band and in 2018 when they reconnect, with snippets of articles, Summer's journal entries, and blog postings in between. This narrative about the four members of the band dealing with success and glory in their own distinct ways is so warm, hilarious, upsetting, and uplifting that I kept picking it up again and again. This is a new favourite.
Thank you to Berkley for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 6, 2023
Teen/Adult Drama
This book had tremendous potential, and the story was truly engaging. It delved into the realm of a fictional television show centered around a teen band reuniting after several years for a final, grand episode. The past and present timelines provided significant depth, but I found myself eagerly awaiting a major revelation that unfortunately never happened. The minor twists that did occur left me disappointed. I had anticipated scandal and juicy secrets, although there were indeed some scandals, they were insufficient to carry the story to its full potential.
The development of Kat's character had been built up significantly, but it fizzled out without the impact I had hoped for. The large cast of characters made it easy to keep track of their individual stories. In my opinion, Nick's character turned out to be quite hot-headed, although the girls still seemed to harbor affection for him.
All in all, it wasn't a bad story and the characters were likable enough, but I had anticipated a lot more to maintain the momentum and focus of this type of book.
This book had tremendous potential, and the story was truly engaging. It delved into the realm of a fictional television show centered around a teen band reuniting after several years for a final, grand episode. The past and present timelines provided significant depth, but I found myself eagerly awaiting a major revelation that unfortunately never happened. The minor twists that did occur left me disappointed. I had anticipated scandal and juicy secrets, although there were indeed some scandals, they were insufficient to carry the story to its full potential.
The development of Kat's character had been built up significantly, but it fizzled out without the impact I had hoped for. The large cast of characters made it easy to keep track of their individual stories. In my opinion, Nick's character turned out to be quite hot-headed, although the girls still seemed to harbor affection for him.
All in all, it wasn't a bad story and the characters were likable enough, but I had anticipated a lot more to maintain the momentum and focus of this type of book.
May 1, 2023
What in the Wattpad did I just read? I was really looking forward to this, but oh my word talk about some seriously undeveloped characters, plot, and everything else. This literally read like a teenager’s fanfiction. Do yourself a favor and just re-read Daisy Jones or watch the show.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2023
..What do I even say here...
If anyone was going to see the appeal of this book it would be me. I just finished giving another book about a the life of a late nineties/early aughts TV starlet and the struggles the media put them through five stars [ the review of said book can be found here for those interested. ] I talked at length there about how this ever growing sub category of book is by far my favorite, that I search them out and pick them up because I am just a fan of them to that degree...
Here at least it's really easy for me to talk about what didn't work, and that was the choice for the narrative to be told from Katherine's perspective. Going into the narrative we don't know much other than the fact that Katherine is a lawyer, and if you bothered to read the synopsis you might know that she used to be on a TV show that had a live finale that went down in infamy and the cast of said show is about to reunite for the first time since that fateful performance. The narrative switches back and forth from the reunion coming together in 2018 and the events that led up to that 2004 incident.
The issue with having Katherine as the person the narrative is explored through for me was the fact that the book always feels like Summer's book. It's her story and she is the character that we get the least amount of time with. Even when the second and third acts start to flush out the readers understanding of the events that led to that fateful performance and Summer being the in universe punching bag for a decade of comedians the choice for Katherine as the main narrator only feels stranger? At no point did that choice ever come together and the longer the book went on the more convoluted the book felt.
Aside from Katherine being an odd narrator in my opinion the writing was just downright clunky. I'm sure that there is nothing wrong on a technical level, and there's nothing I can really point to in the text that I can call bad... it just didn't work for me. Again, I think that likely has something to do witht he way the narrative started to feel convoluted or the way that the show being this massive thing never quite made sense to me or the way that there just seemed to be one too many allegories tethered to a single entity for my brain to make sense of the landscape that the novel was set against.
If this had been a paperback release first I might have at least been able to see this as something you could read by the pool with summer right around the corner as the twists and turns are definitely worthy of the most pulpy fiction that often dominates those kinds of lists. In hardback though it's har to see anyone tearing through this book in a single sitting, nor do I think that the way the book goes on the journey sitting down to read it all in one go would provide any level of satisfaction.
If anyone was going to see the appeal of this book it would be me. I just finished giving another book about a the life of a late nineties/early aughts TV starlet and the struggles the media put them through five stars [ the review of said book can be found here for those interested. ] I talked at length there about how this ever growing sub category of book is by far my favorite, that I search them out and pick them up because I am just a fan of them to that degree...
Here at least it's really easy for me to talk about what didn't work, and that was the choice for the narrative to be told from Katherine's perspective. Going into the narrative we don't know much other than the fact that Katherine is a lawyer, and if you bothered to read the synopsis you might know that she used to be on a TV show that had a live finale that went down in infamy and the cast of said show is about to reunite for the first time since that fateful performance. The narrative switches back and forth from the reunion coming together in 2018 and the events that led up to that 2004 incident.
The issue with having Katherine as the person the narrative is explored through for me was the fact that the book always feels like Summer's book. It's her story and she is the character that we get the least amount of time with. Even when the second and third acts start to flush out the readers understanding of the events that led to that fateful performance and Summer being the in universe punching bag for a decade of comedians the choice for Katherine as the main narrator only feels stranger? At no point did that choice ever come together and the longer the book went on the more convoluted the book felt.
Aside from Katherine being an odd narrator in my opinion the writing was just downright clunky. I'm sure that there is nothing wrong on a technical level, and there's nothing I can really point to in the text that I can call bad... it just didn't work for me. Again, I think that likely has something to do witht he way the narrative started to feel convoluted or the way that the show being this massive thing never quite made sense to me or the way that there just seemed to be one too many allegories tethered to a single entity for my brain to make sense of the landscape that the novel was set against.
If this had been a paperback release first I might have at least been able to see this as something you could read by the pool with summer right around the corner as the twists and turns are definitely worthy of the most pulpy fiction that often dominates those kinds of lists. In hardback though it's har to see anyone tearing through this book in a single sitting, nor do I think that the way the book goes on the journey sitting down to read it all in one go would provide any level of satisfaction.
May 18, 2023
I had really high hopes for this book. I love reading about fictionalized pop groups and etc but this one fell really flat for me. I didn't love the writing style and I also didn't love any of the characters. We follow Kat throughout this book but honestly I think we all can agree it should have been told from Summer's point of view.
I truly wanted to love this and sad I didn't but that happens.
I truly wanted to love this and sad I didn't but that happens.
December 17, 2022
I’ve been a fan of Laura Hankin since her debut and THE DAYDREAMS absolutely bopped its way into my heart. It hit all my nostalgic feels for early 2000’s TV and also had a gloriously twisting rollercoaster of a plot. I was stunned with each reveal. Loved it!
April 27, 2023
This was very middle of the road for me and I’m not exactly sure why because the setup had so much potential for me but there was something missing in the execution. I think I wanted more depth in the characters, things jump back and forth between 2004 and 2018 so I had assumed the characters would show some growth but sadly they didn’t for me. Kat narrates the majority of this with snippets from the other cast members and I didn’t connect with her at all either. The conflict was also lacking in my opinion, I expected something more juicy so overall this one was just ok for me.
June 10, 2023
2.5, verrrry cw network but fun nonetheless!
May 1, 2023
Loooved it!💕
June 13, 2023
One of the most entertaining reads I've had in forever. If you're into early 2000s teen star vibes, with flashbacks from the past, along with present chapters when they reunite, you will love this book. It's as if Ashley Tisdale told the story of the HSM days and all the behind the scenes drama from back then. Loved it!
May 1, 2023
Laura Hankin can write in any genre, and I’ll enjoy the book. She’s proven this to me with her last 3 releases and each one still stays vividly in my mind. Admittedly, I was on the fence about reading this one because I’m really not a fan of the “famous” trope whether it be in a romance, thriller, or literary fiction like this one. But I was pleasantly surprised by THE DAYDREAMS because I enjoyed it a lot! With lots of juicy drama and characters you love to hate I ate this one up. In fact, I finished it in one sitting because I was so invested in the lives of these individuals that I needed to see what would happen when they were finally reunited for a comeback special – it was soapy DRAMA, and I was RIVETED. Another great book by the author! Highly recommended.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 stars)
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Soapy Drama
❥ Washed Up Actors looking for a comeback
❥ Literary Fiction
❥ Redemption Stories
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 stars)
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙
❥ Soapy Drama
❥ Washed Up Actors looking for a comeback
❥ Literary Fiction
❥ Redemption Stories
April 27, 2023
Y'all are not ready for how good this book is!!!!
My blurb: This firecracker of a novel had me riveted from the first page. If you remember the aughts fondly, you'll fall head over heels for this nostalgic read by Hankin. I absolutely loved it.
My blurb: This firecracker of a novel had me riveted from the first page. If you remember the aughts fondly, you'll fall head over heels for this nostalgic read by Hankin. I absolutely loved it.
August 4, 2024
Such a fun read. Delightfully trashy AND well written. Similar vibes to Daisy Jones…more superficial and reality show based.
May 29, 2023
When I read
I’m Glad My Mom Died
by Jennette McCrudy, I got a birdseye view of the life of a former child star. That was not fiction. On the other hand, this book,
The Daydreams,
is fiction and it is just as informative.
In the year 2004, there were four teenagers, all on the brink of adulthood, who had a successful television show. Now it is 13 years later and they have a chance for a reunion show. While as teens they may have started off as innocent, but that changed the more they were popular. In fact, despite their popularity, the show only lasted two seasons, and everybody’s lives just went in different directions.
Now that Kat, Noah, Summer, and Liana are all adults with very, very different lives, the chance for a reunion special might be the redemption they need for the travesties that occurred when they were on the show. However, secrets abound even now, and the reunion special seems like it will completely burn any connection that might’ve existed between the former child stars. The drama is off the charts, but it is a look at what no doubt really happens in the lives of many young people who live on the other side of a camera. Expectations, stardom, paparazzi, secrets and more all play into the experiences these four young people have.
I was fully drawn into their stories, whether when they were younger, or what they are going through right now and I wished above all else that they did not have to experience some of the trauma and exploitation that occurred as a result of being famous. I love how things came out in the end, and those last scenes in this book were done quite well.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
In the year 2004, there were four teenagers, all on the brink of adulthood, who had a successful television show. Now it is 13 years later and they have a chance for a reunion show. While as teens they may have started off as innocent, but that changed the more they were popular. In fact, despite their popularity, the show only lasted two seasons, and everybody’s lives just went in different directions.
Now that Kat, Noah, Summer, and Liana are all adults with very, very different lives, the chance for a reunion special might be the redemption they need for the travesties that occurred when they were on the show. However, secrets abound even now, and the reunion special seems like it will completely burn any connection that might’ve existed between the former child stars. The drama is off the charts, but it is a look at what no doubt really happens in the lives of many young people who live on the other side of a camera. Expectations, stardom, paparazzi, secrets and more all play into the experiences these four young people have.
I was fully drawn into their stories, whether when they were younger, or what they are going through right now and I wished above all else that they did not have to experience some of the trauma and exploitation that occurred as a result of being famous. I love how things came out in the end, and those last scenes in this book were done quite well.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 29, 2023
Thanks so much to Berkley and Let's Talk Books Promo for the copy of this book.
I am LOVING the reunion-show trope and 90s/00s references in a few books I've read lately, and The Daydreams has both of these.
The messy, off-the-wall cast from The Daydreams comes back together for a live reunion show years after their first live show totally imploded. I absolutely loved watching this drama play out in the past and present timelines, and then having each character give a soliloquy thoughout the story to explain their POV. This story is so engrossing I finished it in a day - all the scandal and secrets made it move so fast I didn't want to stop! I love where the characters ended up and thought that while this was a messy drama, it was also a great narrative on the expectations of teen stars and women in the TV/film industry.
Read if you:
- watched the Disney Channel
- ever imagined yourself in the TRL audience
- had a teen magazine with celebrity stickers in it
- love lots of drama
I am LOVING the reunion-show trope and 90s/00s references in a few books I've read lately, and The Daydreams has both of these.
The messy, off-the-wall cast from The Daydreams comes back together for a live reunion show years after their first live show totally imploded. I absolutely loved watching this drama play out in the past and present timelines, and then having each character give a soliloquy thoughout the story to explain their POV. This story is so engrossing I finished it in a day - all the scandal and secrets made it move so fast I didn't want to stop! I love where the characters ended up and thought that while this was a messy drama, it was also a great narrative on the expectations of teen stars and women in the TV/film industry.
Read if you:
- watched the Disney Channel
- ever imagined yourself in the TRL audience
- had a teen magazine with celebrity stickers in it
- love lots of drama
May 5, 2023
This is a really interesting look inside a hit television show and the relationship dynamics and personal drama that can occur off set. While there is a good amount of plot, this one felt much more character driven. I really liked the way the author developed each of the characters, particularly Kat and Summer, and the very realistic and nuanced elements of their complicated relationship.
July 7, 2023
When I think of a “messy reunion” from a TV show..this is not what I was expecting. I was expecting some Bravo type sh*t and this was not it. It was more of a redemption/revenge type reunion for the characters. Which is fine… if it wasn’t so boring. The plot and the characters were very dull and quite honestly annoying. I had high hopes for this because I’ve never really read a book with this type of plot. Another ones bites the dust.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
May 24, 2023
This read like fanfic written by a 14 year old. Thought the premise was interesting but writing style was incredibly immature.
May’s book club or else I would not have read this
May’s book club or else I would not have read this
July 25, 2023
I loved this one!!! I was apprehensive based on the GoodReads ratings, but was pleasantly surprised. This is one of the better reunion books that I have read.
A group of teens around age 18 get thrown in the limelight making a show aimed for preteen girls. Season 1 went amazing! Season 2…..not so much. Partying, boys, and lies start to derail the cast. Not to mention, the live season 2 finale was catastrophic.
13 years later, they are back for a reunion special! Secrets come to light, all of them hold grudges, and it isn’t the pleasant “Hey I missed you!” type of get together.
Summer has been off the deep rail and to rehab twice after that horrific finale. Noah turned into a movie star, Kat became a lawyer, and Liana married a celeb athlete and is instagram famous.
It was told through Kat’s POV, and in alternating years (the past during The Daydreams show and 2018 for the reunion.) I enjoyed both timelines and seeing what their life was like as famous teens versus what it is like in their 30’s.
Read this if:
💕You like reunion shows.
💕You watched tween girl shows as a kid and wonder what life was like for the cast behind the scenes.
💕Like a Hollywood setting
A group of teens around age 18 get thrown in the limelight making a show aimed for preteen girls. Season 1 went amazing! Season 2…..not so much. Partying, boys, and lies start to derail the cast. Not to mention, the live season 2 finale was catastrophic.
13 years later, they are back for a reunion special! Secrets come to light, all of them hold grudges, and it isn’t the pleasant “Hey I missed you!” type of get together.
Summer has been off the deep rail and to rehab twice after that horrific finale. Noah turned into a movie star, Kat became a lawyer, and Liana married a celeb athlete and is instagram famous.
It was told through Kat’s POV, and in alternating years (the past during The Daydreams show and 2018 for the reunion.) I enjoyed both timelines and seeing what their life was like as famous teens versus what it is like in their 30’s.
Read this if:
💕You like reunion shows.
💕You watched tween girl shows as a kid and wonder what life was like for the cast behind the scenes.
💕Like a Hollywood setting
April 21, 2023
I enjoyed this ALC thanks to @prhaudio with a full cast narration. Though not my favorite by Laura Hankin (that still goes to A special place for women) - it was a solidly entertaining book about a cast of young tv stars who reunite ten years after their show ended dramatically.
Told in alternating timelines with flashbacks to the disastrous finale, we get to see how each character's life has changed in positive and negative ways. Secrets get revealed, old lovers get a second chance, the manipulative men get what's coming to them. It was delicious fictional pop culture fun!
My only true complaint (and it's a minor one) was that I really, REALLY wish Brittany Pressley had been one of the narrators - she would have killed this one! Recommended for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six or books like The reunion by Kayla Olson or Built to last by Erin Hahn.
TW: drug and alcohol use/abuse/addiction, rape
Told in alternating timelines with flashbacks to the disastrous finale, we get to see how each character's life has changed in positive and negative ways. Secrets get revealed, old lovers get a second chance, the manipulative men get what's coming to them. It was delicious fictional pop culture fun!
My only true complaint (and it's a minor one) was that I really, REALLY wish Brittany Pressley had been one of the narrators - she would have killed this one! Recommended for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six or books like The reunion by Kayla Olson or Built to last by Erin Hahn.
TW: drug and alcohol use/abuse/addiction, rape
February 24, 2024
Classic example of a bop not a banger
May 2, 2023
Spectacular! I was hooked right from the first page (what an opening line!) and completely enthralled the whole time. Laura Hankin is an auto-read author for me and she delivers yet another whip-smart, razor-sharp bingeable novel that you won't want to put down.
The writing is superb, the characters are vibrant, the commentary is fantastic and there's some suspense, all of which will keep you turning the pages. There were so many things that I didn't see coming and I even cried.... that's how invested I was.
I also loved the deep dive into showbiz – the sexualization of teen stars, the double standards that male and female celebs are held to, how women are pitted against women, how you can become disposable at a moment's notice, everything! The author really did such a incredible job examining the unforgiving world of it all.
What a dazzling read. I adored both Happy & You Know It and A Special Place for Women, but truly think The Daydreams is Laura Hankin's best work yet.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.
Favorite quotes:
✨ "We belonged with each other. We didn't realize it, but soon we would belong to everyone else.”
✨ "This is the terrifying thing about being famous, isn't it? You occupy people's minds even when you don't want to. You never really know all the people who are thinking about you at any given moment, wanting to possess you or ruin you.”
✨ "Nobody cared about me beyond what I could do for them.”
The writing is superb, the characters are vibrant, the commentary is fantastic and there's some suspense, all of which will keep you turning the pages. There were so many things that I didn't see coming and I even cried.... that's how invested I was.
I also loved the deep dive into showbiz – the sexualization of teen stars, the double standards that male and female celebs are held to, how women are pitted against women, how you can become disposable at a moment's notice, everything! The author really did such a incredible job examining the unforgiving world of it all.
What a dazzling read. I adored both Happy & You Know It and A Special Place for Women, but truly think The Daydreams is Laura Hankin's best work yet.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the Netgalley ARC.
Favorite quotes:
✨ "We belonged with each other. We didn't realize it, but soon we would belong to everyone else.”
✨ "This is the terrifying thing about being famous, isn't it? You occupy people's minds even when you don't want to. You never really know all the people who are thinking about you at any given moment, wanting to possess you or ruin you.”
✨ "Nobody cared about me beyond what I could do for them.”
Read
October 30, 2022Loved this! Was fortunate to read an ARC from Netgalley. I happened to read Jeannette McCurdy’s memoir shortly before this, and the similarities between reality and fiction are eerie. Like the memoir, it shows the ugly side of the lighthearted “teen/tween” programs and the actors who are frequently as destroyed by fame as they are “made” by it.
May 18, 2023
Daisy Jones and the Six but if it were about a Disney channel tv show band. Honestly, much more fun than I was expecting and full of enough twists that made for a quick listen. Great on audio with a full cast, including the author herself.
May 14, 2023
her best book yet. finished in less than 48 hours. loved every minute of it.
October 12, 2022
For everyone who followed Justin and Britney with baited breath, who loved all things 90's and early aughts, who obsessed over the drama of High School Musical both on and offscreen, who grew up in that golden era of Teen Beat Magazine - this is for you! The Daydreams tells the tale of the 30-something former stars of the most popular teen / tween TV show of the 2000's as they create a reunion special designed to give fans the ending they wanted instead of the spectacular crash and burn they got in the live finale 10+ years ago. Sounds pretty straightforward. Except, in Laura Hankin's very capable hands, nothing is what it seems, old secrets that were buried find a way of resurfacing, and every cast member has their own agenda for heading back into the public eye (not all of them honorable). It's funny! It's moving! It has as much heart as an after school special and as much snark as TMZ. So dust off your old inflatable furniture, paint your nails with crackle polish, and cozy up for an unbelievably fun ride!
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