L.J. Shen returns to her signature blend of raw emotion and searing chemistry with Wildest Dreams, the second novel in the Forbidden Love series. Following the intense success of Truly Madly Deeply (2024), Shen ups the stakes, exploring themes of identity, protection, vulnerability, and forbidden passion with razor-sharp precision. This time, the story centers on Rhyland Coltridge and Dylan Casablancas—two characters who burn too brightly to remain just friends, yet teeter on the edge of destruction if they act on their desires.
From her earlier works like The Kiss Thief and Midnight Blue to her more recent, angst-laced bestsellers, Shen has established herself as a master of contemporary dark romance. Wildest Dreams is another strong addition to her repertoire, perfect for fans of Penelope Douglas, Mariana Zapata, and Lauren Asher.
The Forbidden Love Series So Far
L.J. Shen’s Forbidden Love series is a slow-unfurling storm of emotionally charged romance, each installment focusing on a different couple entangled in high-stakes intimacy:
- Truly Madly Deeply (2024) – Ambrose and Calla’s friends-to-lovers, chef’s kitchen heat romance
- Wildest Dreams (2025) – Rhyland and Dylan’s best-friend’s-little-sister turned fake-fiancé tension
- Handsome Devil – Set for release in 2026, teased with brooding mystery and emotional upheaval
While Truly Madly Deeply introduced us to the combustible passion in professional kitchens, Wildest Dreams scales the narrative toward more personal stakes, focusing on found family, redemption, and learning to heal.
Overview: Fake Engagements and Dangerous Temptations
The premise is deliciously soapy, yet grounded in very real emotions. Rhyland Coltridge, a notorious playboy and business mogul-in-the-making, finds himself needing a “family man” image to land a life-changing deal. Enter Dylan Casablancas—his best friend’s baby sister, a single mother freshly recovering from emotional trauma, now house-sitting the apartment directly beneath his.
What starts as a mutually beneficial ruse—a fake engagement to boost his public image and protect her from her aggressive ex—soon blurs as reality outpaces the lie. The fire between them is undeniable, and Shen crafts their collision course with slow-burning tension, witty repartee, and aching vulnerability.
Rhyland and Dylan: Character Study of Two Damaged Souls
L.J. Shen excels at writing characters who should know better but can’t help themselves. In Wildest Dreams, both Rhyland and Dylan are fully realized individuals—flawed, complex, and wholly human.
Rhyland Coltridge
- Exudes effortless charm, but masks emotional scars with bravado
- Hardened by past betrayals and a self-imposed armor of detachment
- Despite his swagger, he’s deeply loyal to those he considers “his”
- His arc is a masterclass in the slow unraveling of ego into vulnerability
Dylan Casablancas
- Single mother with the world on her shoulders
- Wields sarcasm like armor but aches with quiet strength
- Refuses to play the damsel-in-distress, even when her world is crumbling
- Her journey is a testament to resilience, maternal courage, and rediscovering self-worth
Together, they become a firestorm—mutually destructive, but possibly redemptive. Shen doesn’t shy away from their contradictions: Rhyland is both protector and danger; Dylan is both needful and fiercely independent. Watching them try to navigate fake rings, real desire, and deep emotional baggage is equal parts gripping and gutting.
Plot & Pacing: Tropes Done Right
Wildest Dreams draws heavily from beloved romance tropes—fake dating, forced proximity, best friend’s sibling, and forbidden love—but it executes them with fresh tension and depth. There’s nothing cliché about how these tropes unfold under Shen’s pen.
Key plot highlights include:
- The initial spark when Dylan moves in downstairs
- The chaotic first encounter where the fake engagement is born
- The unraveling of the ruse as intimacy bleeds into reality
- A heartbreaking confrontation with Dylan’s past and Rhyland’s recklessness
- A cathartic finale that earns its HEA without sugarcoating pain
Shen’s pacing is tight yet immersive. Each chapter ends with a hook, a tease, or a punch in the gut. There’s just enough introspection to make you feel every character choice without stalling the plot.
Shen’s Writing Style: Electric, Smart, and Brutally Honest
Adapting the tone from Shen’s prose, Wildest Dreams is filled with lyrical angst, biting wit, and poetic fury. Her sentences alternate between sharp banter and disarming vulnerability, never letting the reader forget that beneath the lust is a love story forged in pain and possibility.
- Dialogue is sharp and character-driven; not a single exchange feels wasted.
- Inner monologues reveal wounds and desires with raw honesty.
- The New York setting is alive—gritty, glamorous, and emotionally symbolic.
One of the most powerful tools Shen wields is restraint. The sex scenes, while intense, never feel gratuitous. Instead, they are loaded with emotional consequence and narrative tension, driving the characters deeper into their own chaos.
Themes Explored with Maturity and Nuance
Wildest Dreams is more than a romance; it’s a reflection on healing, self-sabotage, and the courage to choose love even when it’s terrifying.
1. Redemption
- Both protagonists are running from versions of themselves they no longer want to be.
- The story asks whether love can redeem, or if it simply reveals who we were all along.
2. Power Dynamics and Protection
- Rhyland initially assumes the role of protector, but Shen deconstructs this trope.
- Dylan doesn’t want to be saved; she wants to be seen, chosen, and respected.
3. Family and Found Family
- Whether it’s biological ties, friendships, or makeshift alliances, the idea of belonging runs deep.
- Ambrose and Calla from Truly Madly Deeply make appearances that highlight the interconnectedness of this world.
4. Consent and Emotional Labor
- Shen thoughtfully portrays how emotional availability (or the lack of it) shapes adult relationships.
- The novel doesn’t just romanticize passion—it interrogates it.
Critiques: A Near-Flawless Romance with Small Imperfections
Despite the many strengths of Wildest Dreams, a few elements may fall short for some readers:
- Dylan’s ex subplot, while integral to the plot, feels underdeveloped in emotional payoff. The resolution comes swiftly compared to the slow-burn of the main romance.
- Some emotional reversals happen a bit too quickly, particularly near the third act climax. A bit more breathing space could have deepened impact.
- Readers unfamiliar with the Forbidden Love universe might miss some subtleties or callbacks to Truly Madly Deeply.
Still, these are minor concerns in what is otherwise a tautly written and deeply felt story.
Who Should Read Wildest Dreams?
If you enjoy:
- Contemporary dark romance with edge and soul
- Intense chemistry between enemies-turned-lovers
- Characters with emotional baggage and sharp wit
- Fiction that explores trauma, resilience, and healing
Then Wildest Dreams will not just satisfy—it will stay with you.
Comparable reads include:
- Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
- The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
- Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino
Final Verdict: Wild, Wounded, and Worth It
Wildest Dreams is a bold and bruising romance that doesn’t flinch from the messy corners of love. It’s about pretending to be something you’re not, only to discover you were capable of real love all along. Shen delivers another hit—full of yearning, grit, and emotional intensity—that solidifies the Forbidden Love series as a standout in the genre.
Handsome Devil has big shoes to fill, but Shen’s fans can rest assured: she’s never been one to play it safe.
Are you ready to surrender to your wildest dreams? Because this book dares you to.
