Dream, Barbara OConnor
Dream, Barbara OConnor
List: $17.99 | Sale: $12.59
Club: $8.99

Dream

Author: Barbara O'Connor

Narrator: Suzy Jackson

Unabridged: 4 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/26/2025


Synopsis

The highly anticipated follow up to Wish, which has spent six years on the New York Times bestseller list and is beloved by over two million readers. Dream follows a small town girl with big aspirations who discovers that anything is possible with your best friends and an adorable pup by your side!

The sky is the limit.

Idalee Lovett is content with her life in small-town Colby, North Carolina, living in her family’s huge house with rooms for rent. But she has big dreams, just like her mama. While Mama is on tour for the summer with her cover band, Lovey Lovett and the Junkyard Dogs, Idalee decides to hone her craft as a songwriter—since her truest wish is to hear her country songs on the radio one day.

When the local radio station announces a songwriting contest with the winning song being recorded by an up-and-coming singer, Idalee is determined to win. It would definitely be possible if only she could buy the shiny blue guitar in Asheville’s music shop. Idalee doesn’t have much money, but she knows exactly how to get it—the long-lost treasure her late granddaddy hid somewhere in their house. With the help of her friends Odell, Howard, Charlie, and an adorable little dog named Wishbone, Idalee is going to search in every nook and cranny until she finds it. But little does she know, the biggest treasure of all is only discovered when you believe in yourself with your whole heart.

In this standalone companion to the #1 New York Times bestseller Wish, nothing is impossible as Idalee learns the power of chasing her dreams one guitar strum at a time.

"Narrator Suzy Jackson provides unique and recognizable voices for Charlie and the supporting characters, making this audio production a truly enjoyable experience" —School Library Journal on Wish

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

About Barbara O'Connor

Barbara O’Connor was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She has written many beloved and award-winning books for children, including Dream, Halfway to Harmony, How to Steal a Dog, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Wish.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Melanie on May 19, 2025

Welcome back to Barbara O’Connor’s Colby, North Carolina where she first placed Charlie, a girl with a father in jail and a mom whose depression made it impossible for her to properly care for her daughter, and Wishbone, the dog that helped make Charlie finally feel like she had found a new home. In......more

Goodreads review by Dylan on May 25, 2025

Whether you've read Wish or not makes no difference- O'Connor weaves together a warm tale which leaves readers rooting for Idalee. This unique read has readers invested in Idalee, her mother, and her friends and housemates. Throughout the book, readers are given a glimpse into various lives and circ......more

Goodreads review by Mildly Mad Hatter on May 13, 2025

This book was so sweet! There were great themes of friendship in here. I loved seeing Charlie, Howard, and Wishbone from the previous book; it gave them a fresh look. I really liked how Idalee actually had a good relationship with her mother, which just made it so much better. And the music! I loved......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on May 12, 2025

The following review was written by my 12-year-old daughter. We'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the advance book! “Dream” had a slow beginning but after you get past that it had me by the edge of my chair. (Don't fall.) And for that I would give it a 3.5 star review. It's so cool how......more

Goodreads review by Nikki on June 19, 2025

Dream by Barbara O'Connor is a heartfelt and engaging story that highlights the power of friendship, perseverance, and teamwork. Idalee and her friends are relatable characters that children can easily connect with. Their journey to uncover a long-lost treasure is filled with moments of courage, coo......more


Quotes

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"O’Connor’s affection for small towns, slightly eccentric people, and low-key humor shines through, her surehanded narrative and appealing characters reliably engaging, as always... Warm-hearted and wonderfully likable." —Kirkus

"
Idalee narrates the story with a distinctive voice... The Southern, small-town atmosphere feels plucked out of time, and readers will find themselves transported to Idalee’s big house, getting to know the people staying in it and joining her friends on the adventure of finding the treasure." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"
Readers who enjoyed Charlie’s story in Barbara O’Connor’s Wish will enjoy this return to her small town in North Carolina, narrated by Charlie’s classmate Idalee... [Dream's] strongest asset is O’Connor’s ability to let Idalee tell her story in her own, distinctive voice, while creating secondary characters who are interesting and equally true to life." —Booklist