A deliciously entertaining novel about the stars of a popular teen show from the early 2000s—and the reunion special, thirteen years after their scandalous flameout, that will either be their last chance at redemption, or destroy them all for good.
Back in 2004, The Daydreams had it all: a cast of innocent-seeming teenagers acting and singing their hearts out, amazing ratings, and a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that steamed up fan fiction forums. Then, during the live season two finale, it all imploded, leaving everyone scrambling to understand why.
Afterward, the four stars went down very different paths. Kat is now a lawyer in Washington, DC. Liana is the bored wife of a famous athlete. Noah, the show’s golden boy, emerged unscathed and is poised to become a household name. And Summer, the object of Noah’s fictional (and maybe real-life) affections, is the cautionary tale.
But now the fans are demanding a reunion special. The stars all have private reasons to come back: forgiveness, revenge, a second chance with a first love. But as they tentatively rediscover the magic of the original show, old secrets threaten to resurface—including the real reason behind their downfall.
Will this reunion be a chance to make things right? Or will it be the biggest mess the world has ever seen? No matter what, the ratings will be wild.
Genre: General Fiction
Back in 2004, The Daydreams had it all: a cast of innocent-seeming teenagers acting and singing their hearts out, amazing ratings, and a will-they-or-won’t-they romance that steamed up fan fiction forums. Then, during the live season two finale, it all imploded, leaving everyone scrambling to understand why.
Afterward, the four stars went down very different paths. Kat is now a lawyer in Washington, DC. Liana is the bored wife of a famous athlete. Noah, the show’s golden boy, emerged unscathed and is poised to become a household name. And Summer, the object of Noah’s fictional (and maybe real-life) affections, is the cautionary tale.
But now the fans are demanding a reunion special. The stars all have private reasons to come back: forgiveness, revenge, a second chance with a first love. But as they tentatively rediscover the magic of the original show, old secrets threaten to resurface—including the real reason behind their downfall.
Will this reunion be a chance to make things right? Or will it be the biggest mess the world has ever seen? No matter what, the ratings will be wild.
Genre: General Fiction
Praise for this book
"Once again, Laura Hankin has blessed us with a book so riveting that I emerged on the other side sweaty, exhilarated, and fully needing this to be real life." - Samantha Bee
"Addictive, twisty and so much fun, The Daydreams had me hooked from the opening number. This big-hearted book sharply examines the true cost of fame through the eyes of four former teen stars embarking on a reunion special. The early-noughties nostalgia is truly delicious but, as always with Hankin's writing, it's the beautifully rendered relationships that are the real heart of the story." - Ella Berman
"With all of Laura Hankin's razor-sharp wit and incisive social commentary, The Daydreams exposes the many ways in which the media uses and discards its female stars, and manages to be both undeniably timely and steeped in perfectly rendered early 2000s nostalgia...Darkly humorous, big-hearted, and totally impossible to put down." - Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
"I tore through The Daydreams with the breathless excitement of a preteen at a pop concert (and with a touch of nostalgia for the early 2000s!). Smart, incisive, and addictively fun. This is truly the book we need right now." - Katharine McGee
"The Daydreams sucked me in so thoroughly, I forgot I was reading a novel instead of a juicy stack of 2000s tabloids. Hankin pulls back the curtain on Hollywood's darkest secrets with plot twists that made me race toward the deeply satisfying ending. This perfect beach read is a nostalgic delight!" - Hannah Orenstein
"This firecracker of a novel had me riveted from the first page. If you remember the aughts fondly, you'll fall head over heels for this nostalgic read by Hankin. I absolutely loved it." - Elissa R Sloan
"Catnip for anyone who feels deeply about the private lives of popstars. If you wanted Britney free, read this book. If you wanted Justin Timberlake to pay for his crimes, read this book. Juicy and heartfelt. I couldn't put it down." - Emma Straub
"A delicious behind-the-scenes look at stardom and the scars it leaves behind. Part mystery, part soap opera, all fun - this delightful book will give you a jolt of nostalgia while dispensing insightful commentary about being a young woman in the spotlight." - Elissa Sussman
"Addictive, twisty and so much fun, The Daydreams had me hooked from the opening number. This big-hearted book sharply examines the true cost of fame through the eyes of four former teen stars embarking on a reunion special. The early-noughties nostalgia is truly delicious but, as always with Hankin's writing, it's the beautifully rendered relationships that are the real heart of the story." - Ella Berman
"With all of Laura Hankin's razor-sharp wit and incisive social commentary, The Daydreams exposes the many ways in which the media uses and discards its female stars, and manages to be both undeniably timely and steeped in perfectly rendered early 2000s nostalgia...Darkly humorous, big-hearted, and totally impossible to put down." - Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
"I tore through The Daydreams with the breathless excitement of a preteen at a pop concert (and with a touch of nostalgia for the early 2000s!). Smart, incisive, and addictively fun. This is truly the book we need right now." - Katharine McGee
"The Daydreams sucked me in so thoroughly, I forgot I was reading a novel instead of a juicy stack of 2000s tabloids. Hankin pulls back the curtain on Hollywood's darkest secrets with plot twists that made me race toward the deeply satisfying ending. This perfect beach read is a nostalgic delight!" - Hannah Orenstein
"This firecracker of a novel had me riveted from the first page. If you remember the aughts fondly, you'll fall head over heels for this nostalgic read by Hankin. I absolutely loved it." - Elissa R Sloan
"Catnip for anyone who feels deeply about the private lives of popstars. If you wanted Britney free, read this book. If you wanted Justin Timberlake to pay for his crimes, read this book. Juicy and heartfelt. I couldn't put it down." - Emma Straub
"A delicious behind-the-scenes look at stardom and the scars it leaves behind. Part mystery, part soap opera, all fun - this delightful book will give you a jolt of nostalgia while dispensing insightful commentary about being a young woman in the spotlight." - Elissa Sussman
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