The Daydreams

In 2018, up-and-coming attorney Kat is approached to relive her past. In the early 2000s, along with fellow teen actors Noah, Summer, and Liana, Kat starred in The Daydreams – a hit teen drama that made them famous. After thirteen years, producers want to film a reunion show. But the actors haven’t spoken since the show’s dreadful finale. Since then, Summer spiraled into substance abuse, Noah became an even bigger star, and Liana married a big-shot athlete. When they get back together, things are awkward. Also, the ill-fated finale altered Summer’s life, and Kat, Noah, and Liana were seemingly all involved in Summer’s destruction.

The format of The Daydreams was fun, and I really felt like I was getting a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood. Backstage was full of misogyny, pressure to maintain appearances, and some alcohol-fueled mischief. The story itself was a good one, but overall the execution was lacking. The immature dialogue felt silly and left little room for interpretation – it was all laid out plainly. None of the characters were particularly likable, and it seemed that each was trying to self-sabotage. I did like the journal storyline, and although the book was enjoyable, it wasn’t a must-read.