From Frenemies to Forever: In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes by Stephanie Archer Is a Small-Town Romance You’ll Devour

When the man who ruined your teenage years becomes one, you can’t stop thinking about…

Stephanie Archer returns to Queen’s Cove with In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes, a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance that’s snarky, emotional, and swoon-worthy. If you’ve ever dreamed of confronting the person who made your high school years miserable—and then accidentally falling for them as an adult—this is your book.

Packed with whip-smart dialogue, heart-tugging vulnerability, and a second-chance energy that never lets up, this installment in The Queen’s Cove Series delivers a deeply satisfying love story that’s as healing as it is hilarious.

A Hate Story Rewritten in All the Right Ways

At the novel’s heart is June, a sharp, no-nonsense woman who’s returned to her charming (and slightly chaotic) hometown of Queen’s Cove after years away. She’s not back to reconnect. She’s back to work, heal, and avoid the ghosts of her past—namely, the golden boy heartbreaker who made her high school years a humiliating mess.

Holden Rhodes, now a successful and unfairly attractive man, has changed—or so it seems. He’s charming, maddeningly helpful, and in her orbit again, thanks to overlapping work projects, mutual friends, and that ever-nosy small-town magic that loves meddling in other people’s business.

June wants to keep her distance. Holden, meanwhile, seems determined to prove he’s not that guy anymore. What follows is a deliciously tense, slow dance of rebuilding trust, emotional excavation, and maybe—just maybe—finally getting it right.

Tropes, Tension, and Tenderness

A Masterclass in Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

Stephanie Archer leans into the emotional push-pull of this trope with expert precision. The tension between June and Holden is impeccable—spiked with unresolved history, biting banter, and under-the-surface longing that never feels rushed or artificial.

• Enemies-to-lovers: Years of hurt and misunderstandings create real friction, but the payoff is deeply earned.
• Small-town romance: Queen’s Cove once again provides the perfect backdrop of quirky community, meddlesome charm, and heartfelt moments.
• Grumpy meets charming: June is guarded, no-nonsense, and fiercely independent. Holden? A smooth-talking golden retriever with guilt buried under his smile.
• Redemption arc: Holden’s journey isn’t about groveling—it’s about growth, sincerity, and proving he’s become a better man.
• Emotional healing: Both characters are dealing with the weight of who they used to be—and discovering who they might become together.

Characters You’ll Root For—Even When They’re Stubborn

June is the heroine readers crave: smart, self-aware, and unwilling to fall for empty apologies. She doesn’t forgive easily—and she shouldn’t. Her strength isn’t loud, but it’s steady. Watching her slowly let herself feel again is as rewarding as the romance itself.

Holden, meanwhile, is layered in all the best ways. On the surface, he’s confident and charming. Underneath? A man weighed down by regret, searching for a way to make things right for June and himself. His vulnerability is subtle but sincere, making every step of their slow reconciliation sing.

And together? They’re fire and water. Friction, longing, and deep emotional resonance.

For Readers Who Want Romance with a Backbone

If you love:

• Enemies-to-lovers stories where the emotional payoff hurts so good
• Romantic slow burns that take their time (and don’t skip the hard conversations)
• Character-driven arcs with witty dialogue and true growth
• The small-town intimacy of books by Abby Jimenez, Lucy Score, or Meghan Quinn
• Romances where the characters fall not just for each other but into better versions of themselves

Then, Holden Rhodes will deliver on your dreams. It’s charming, emotionally intelligent, and rooted in second-chance tension that keeps you flipping pages long after midnight.

Final Thoughts: Forgive, Flirt, and Fall

In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes is more than just a clever title—it’s a journey through forgiveness, vulnerability, and what it means to let go of the past. Stephanie Archer doesn’t give us an easy love story—she gives us an earned one. Full of flaws, fear, laughter, and hope.

Look no further if you’re in the mood for a heartfelt romance without being heavy, swoony without being sweet for the sake of it, and smart in every sense of the word.

Because sometimes, the guy you thought was all wrong?

Turns out to be exactly who you’ve been dreaming of.