Book Title: Lucid Dreams
Author: Ladii Nesha
Genre: Urban Fiction & Romance
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Just between us, here's what I really thought.
“Oh you trickin… BIG TRICKIN…” 😂
I LOVEDDDDDD THIS BOOK DOWN!!! I genuinely don't know what took me so long to read Lucid Dreams, but Ladii Nesha wrote her butt off with this story! When I tell you this book had me in my feelings from beginning to end, I mean it. Nite, Dai, Hunter, Harvey, and Junie were EVERYTHING! The characters, the relationships, the drama, the emotions. ALL OF IT!
At the heart of this story are two tortured souls who find love while carrying the weight of painful pasts. Both Nite and Hunter have experienced childhood trauma that continues to affect how they see themselves, navigate relationships, and deal with the people around them. What really got me was seeing how their past experiences shaped their decisions, fears, and reactions. Sometimes you don't even realize how much of your childhood you're carrying into adulthood until something or someone forces you to confront it. And that's exactly what made their story so emotional for me.
One thing about Ladii Nesha, she was not afraid to put these characters THROUGH IT! This book touches on so many real-life issues, including abuse, complicated family relationships, grief, health issues, deadbeat baby daddies, bitter coworkers, and unresolved trauma. And somehow, she managed to bring all of these experiences into one story without losing the emotional connection between the characters. There were moments when I wanted to hug them, moments when I wanted to shake some sense into them, and moments when I just had to sit with what I had read.
And can we talk about the emotional rollercoaster?! I laughed, I got ANGRY, and I definitely cried. One minute I was smiling at something funny, and the next I was sitting there trying to process something heartbreaking. That's how invested I became in these characters. Their pain felt real, their struggles were frustrating, and their moments of happiness felt so deserved.
What I appreciated most was that this wasn't just a love story. It was also about what happens when people have spent years surviving things they never properly healed from. Trauma doesn't just disappear because you grow up, fall in love, or try to move forward with your life. Sometimes it shows up in the way you communicate, the people you trust, the love you accept, and even the way you view yourself. Nite and Hunter's experiences really made me think about that.
And the supporting characters?! Listen, Dai, Harvey, and Junie brought so much personality to this story. I loved how the different relationships and family dynamics added humor, tension, and even more emotion. There was never a dull moment for me.
By the time I finished this book, I knew it was going to stay with me. Some books are entertaining while you're reading them, and then you move on to the next one. But every now and then, you come across a story that makes you laugh, cry, reflect on life, and genuinely care about what happens to the characters. Lucid Dreams was that book for me.
FIVE STARS! HANDS DOWN! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ladii Nesha absolutely did her thing with this one. The storytelling, the emotional depth, the characters, and the way she addressed some difficult realities of life made this such a memorable reading experience. I loved this book from beginning to end, and I already know I'll be thinking about Nite and Hunter for a long time.
This is one of those books I wish I could experience again for the first time. And if you've been putting it off like I was, PLEASE go read it!
Just between us, this one has a permanent place in my heart. ❤️
