DREAM ON

High school sweethearts’ dreams take them in different directions.

Ever since an accidental meeting when they were teens, Lexington Hall’s and Stevie St. James’ paths have been intertwined. Lex is a former child actor who’s in Stevie’s hometown for a break from the Hollywood spotlight. Stevie, whose father is a plumber, has big dreams of being a star. Cast as the leads in their school’s production of Moulin Rouge, their friendship grows until Lex abruptly leaves after they’ve grown to trust each other with their secrets. Four years later, they’re back in each other’s orbits, navigating their past and present. Hartmann highlights her complex characters and emotionally driven plot by alternating Lex’s and Stevie’s first-person points of view, which allow them to reveal their detailed backstories and share their experiences and truths with readers. The dramatic moments will keep pages turning even as questions of will-they-won’t-they drive the plot through to the end. The writing requires a high tolerance for overwrought, over-written prose that features awkward word choices (“the thought of stepping back in that city is a tumor in my lungs,” “I watch his light-brown eyebrows bend,” “my heart shrinks, like it’s trying to hide from the impending insult that will cleave it into bits”). Hartmann’s dramatic story, which may hold more appeal for adult readers, explores mature topics, including physical and sexual abuse and SIDS. The leads are cued white.

A heart-wrenching and passionate romance weighed down by clunky writing.