The Daydreams

Hankin’s (Happy & You Know It; A Special Place for Women) third novel transports readers back to 2004, when a Disney-like television show starring teens breaking into the music business rose to popularity until a disastrous live finale ended their pop group and show, The Daydreams. Noah continued to increase his popularity by acting, while his gorgeous costar (and crush) Summer became a social media disaster. The show’s mean girl, Kat, became a lawyer, and talented Liana married a famous athlete. Ten years after the finale, the cast reunites (some reluctantly) for a live reunion special, and the drama resumes on and off the set. Shining a spotlight on the challenges of being a child star, Hankin professionally narrates portions of the novel herself, along with a talented cast of narrators (Tyla Collier, Elena Rey, Briggon Snow, James Fouhey, Stephanie Sheh). Each narrator accurately portrays their character’s personality throughout the various writing techniques Hankin deploys, including soliloquies, news articles, and social media posts.