Dream On

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the ‘opposites attract’ setup—until *Dream On* flipped the script. This isn’t about a small-town girl tamed by fame or a bad boy reformed by love; it’s about two kids who *both* have something to prove, and the audiobook’s dual narration makes their clash of perspectives visceral. Rocca’s performance as the heroine is a standout—she nails the balance between sarcasm and sincerity, especially in the scenes where her character’s insecurity peeks through the bravery. Samuels, meanwhile, gives Lexington a voice that’s smooth but not slick, with a hint of exhaustion beneath the charm. (Pro tip: Listen to their duet scenes at 1.25x speed—their chemistry is electric even when they’re sniping at each other.) That said, the middle act drags slightly with repetitive rehearsal scenes, and I wished Hartmann had leaned harder into the power imbalance between the leads—it’s there, but the story occasionally softens its edges. The production, though, is flawless: the audio levels are consistent, and the ambient sounds (like the hum of a theater’s backstage) add texture without gimmickry. The ending? Divisive. It’s bittersweet in a way that’ll satisfy readers who want realism over fairy tales, but if you’re craving a neat bow, you might leave frustrated. Still, for fans of *Daisy Jones*-style dual POVs with heart and a side of showbiz grit, this is a must-listen.