Early Reader Review: Your Dream For Me by Alison Schaffir

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Your Dream For Me by Alison Schaffir 

Publisher: Level Best Books - Level Elevate
Publication Date:  March 7, 2023

 

Format: Paperback ARC

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Seventeen-year-old Scarlett, unlike her theatrically gifted parents, is not one to spend time near a spotlight. Scarlett dreams of becoming a renowned fashion designer, where she can flex her creative talents away from a crowd. So it's no surprise when she sneaks into her school's costume shop to explore the racks. Unexpected, however, is coming face-to-face with Nathaniel Wilder, a talented theater student who piques a new interest.

With fashion still as her main priority, Scarlett vows to learn how to make a 50s-inspired dress for her best friend, Macie. After all, she needs a strong portfolio of work to help her get into her dream school, the Fashion Institute of Technology. The one problem? She has no idea how to operate a sewing machine. Thanks to Nathaniel's encouragement, Scarlett decides to shadow the school's drama teacher to practice her skills, hoping to fuse her passion for fashion with theater...and be closer to him for the spring play.

Scarlett's designs are unfolding, but a distressing event involving Macie shakes everyone in Scarlett's world—causing their friendship to falter and Nathaniel to unexpectedly pull away. With building stressors threatening the rest of the year, including a rival who wants to tarnish Scarlett's reputation, Scarlett must rely on her determined spirit and newfound sewing skills to keep her fashion dreams—and her most important relationships—from unraveling.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Attempted sexual assault and threatened violence. 

Review: 

This Young Adult novel follows Scarlett, a 17-year-old junior in high school who is an aspiring designer. She is an only child and pretty much perfect. Her parents trust her and support her, and she has everything she could want or need. In this story she is living through some of her first teenage turmoil, her best friend Macie isn't talking to her as much as she used to and there is a boy, she likes that is giving her mixed messages. 

While all of this seems like I might give the book a meh review, it really was a cute book about romance and love in high school. I just found Scarlett to read a little younger than her stated 17-year-old age. It is possible that I read her as younger because of how naive she is. She is somewhat sheltered by her parents, and it shows in her language and inner monologue. 

Scarlett is just going about her life when she meets Nathaniel and then she is swooning. He is wonderful and he likes her and pays attention to her. While navigating this new relationship her bestie, is being a typical teen and getting herself into not ideal situations, some not her fault, and now she is frustrated with Scarlett too. All the while, Scarlett is trying to be a supportive and protective friend and also live her dream of trying to be a fashion designer someday.  

While her passion is fashion, I felt like those were second note to the romance in this story, and the friendship, while important to the story, also fell a little short because of the love interest. Overall though it was charming and light and a very quick read.  

If you are looking for a young adult romance, that is fairly light, and don't mind some insta-love, you should be good to go, but I would put a trigger warning on this book for attempted sexual assault and threatening violence.