Wildfire by Hannah Grace Book Review
“‘I’m sorry for being so untidy.’ She offers a coy smile. ‘I have a habit of leaving a path of destruction in my wake, both literally and metaphorically.”
‘Like a wildfire.'”
(pg. 191)
About
Author: Hannah Grace
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series: Maple Hills Book 2
Click to read other book reviews
Other Maple Hills Book Reviews
Icebreaker
Daydream
Synopsis
The latest in the Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand.
Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name.
Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home.
Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?
Review
Spoilers Contained Below
To all my hockey obsessors,
“Who cares about basketball players when hockey players exist?”
(pg. 49)
Honestly, I am in my hockey girl era and I am not mad about it 💅🏼.
I mean, where do I find myself a gentle, sweet, kind, and hot hockey player to fall in love with like its a romcom book? Asking for a friend.
In all seriousness, I genuinely think this is the era of hockey romances.
Have you seen all the hockey romances coming out this year? **cough cough Tessa Bailey** You know if Tessa Bailey wrote a hockey romcom, hockey romantic novels are coming into style. I am abso-freaking-lutley here for the hockey content.
I thought that Icebreaker was a fairly solid first book to the Maple Hill series, but when I tell you Wildfire topped that, I tell you Wildfire started a blaze and left an inferno in its wake because Wildfire is how you do a second book 👏🏼. I thought the plot was much stronger and had a greater sense of direction; there wasn’t too much going on that seemed unrelated to the main storylines or subplots. I also loved how we got to know more about the hockey bros after college and/or on their summer vacation. It was also nice to have more depth to the side characters because they didn’t just feel like background people to fill the space of the book—the side characters had more lines and personalities that I learned to love. I also loved the sense of depth in how Wildfire was more than just a romance book. I have read my fair share of romance books (aka a LOT), and I have found that I like romance books that aren’t just about two people falling in love, but the internal challenges they face individually and seeing how they work through their challenges together. I just think sometimes we think fictional characters are infallible, and it can set this unrealistic expectation that we as people have to be perfect to find love. But it is nice to see characters who experience struggles we might face as people.
Obviously one of my favorite aspects of Wildfire was that we got a Russ book 🥺🧡!!!!!
Russ, my darling, gentle-giant sweetheart in big man hockey form. Our muffin to Stas’s fake relationship.
We met Russ in Icebreaker as the guy who was involved in the rink scandal. It said a lot about Russ’s character how much Nate wanted to protect Russ from getting in trouble. We knew that Russ didn’t have a millionaire offspring and had to actually work (shocker) to pay for his school things. I really liked the little details we got of Russ’s persona and life because the details set Russ up as this character you couldn’t help but root for and love. I loved him from the second he stood up for Stas at the bar when those weirdos were making her uncomfortable. So I was more than excited to get to dive deeper into Russ’s backstory, and more so his happiness.
Russ truly does not disappoint in being exactly who he says he is—a gentle-giant muffin with a tender heart. Russ was just this person you wanted to take care or protect because there was something in him so special and worth protecting. All of his hockey friends saw that in him. I understood how uncomfortable Russ felt moving into the hockey place now that JJ had graduated and Nate moved out; he didn’t feel like he belonged there after the drama he caused with the rink. But I loved how everyone reassured Russ how much he was wanted there and was a part of their team—-their friendship team, not just their hockey team.
Because deep down, Russ had this guarded melancholy about him where he felt guilty for taking up space. Or that’s the vibe I felt like Russ gave off to everyone—that he was happy to be there but he didn’t feel like he belonged there. As for Russ’s guarded melancholy, there was definitely this sadness to Russ that you could feel but you couldn’t quite put your finger on because you would probably just think that that was Russ—a chill, quiet, and shy guy.
I relate a lot to Russ a lot. As someone who was labeled quiet and shy my whole life, I felt like people mistook my quietness and gentle kindness when really my quietness came from feeling deeply hurt by things in my childhood that shaped me or made me—thigns I didn’t even fully understand until I was older but knew that I had changed. I don’t think a person is born quiet and shy, but made quiet and shy by their environment because they felt afraid growing up to speak out in fear of being reprimanded physically or verbally. So sometimes people like Russ and I shut down and we put ourselves in boxes and make ourselves as small as can be to not “poke the bear” or be more than what people want of us. We felt reduced to nothing that our lack of speaking out or up is because we learned to fear it. And I can’t speak for Russ or every shy person, but there is a level of sadness there that feels like we are an inconvenience to people so we fade into the background as much as possible.
“I know you’ve got your whole home life baggage going on, or whatever is happening there, and I know you like to keep your head down. But don’t miss an opportunity to have fun and actually be happy because you’re too busy staring at the floor, trying to go unnoticed”
(pg. 190)
Well, that’s partially how I felt. So I wanted to hug Russ because I know what that’s like to feel like you’re this shy and quiet person who has been through a lot that people don’t know about, but you don’t want them to know about your challenges because you feel like they won’t understand it or know how to support you through it. Especially if you grew up not having a support system, talking about things is difficult. I know I kept everything in when I was younger and had to figure out how to heal by myself, and gosh only knows that it is very hard for me to share with others the things I have been through because they feel like burdens—burdens I don’t want to place on anyone.
But I think sometimes we forget—myself included—that people are in your life to lessen the burdens you carry by letting you get those burdens off your chest. They might not know what to say or do, but just having someone to share that heaviness with, helps.
Two of my favorite Maple Hills hockey guys as besties? What a dream 🧡
I loved how Henry understood that Russ had a lot he kept in, but didn’t want to make Russ feel forced to share anything he wasn’t ready to share. I loved the gentle way Henry kept checking in on Russ until Russ finally told him, “No, I’m not okay.” Russ eventually told Henry everything, and doing so deepened Henry’s understanding of Russ and care for all he had been through by himself. I just loved the way Henry never gave up on Russ because even though Henry’s constant asking might have been annoying, it was because Henry cared. I think Russ needed to know someone cared.
If I said it once, I will always say it again, SHIZZY PARENTING 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼!!!
I would just like to spit some facts and say that most of kids traumas come from shizzy parents or parenting. You cannot tell me I’m wrong. No sir.
Russ did have a difficult childhood, one I wish I could give him a hug for.
Russ’s dad was addicted to gambling—horses, mostly (I mean, seriously horses??!?!?!). Russ’s dad would continually gamble, oftentimes losing. When the dad would lose, he would advertently drink, which kind of fed into the dad not so much being addicted to alcohol, but sure becoming a worse person because of the gambling or alcohol. When the father would drink, he would say absolutely nasty things to Russ like Russ wasn’t good enough and that no one woudl ever want him. Or that Russ wasn’t his son and that he’s a screwup. Being called a screw up and then screwing up would feel like a confirmation; if the worst person can think the worst of you and you confirm that fear, Russ thought he was all his father made him to be. I hated that for Russ. He was supposed to screw up as a twenty-year old. Heck, I think being a screwup should be in the definition and terms of being twenty years old because gosh knows we make mistakes in our twenties.
I also didn’t like how the only time the dad would talk to Russ would be to ask for money, only enabling his addiction further. Thankfully Russ never gave his father money, but it’s not fun to be asked for for money from a parent. I mean, I would let my parents borrow money if it was an emergency or certain circumstances and I was able to. But for an unhealthy addiction that turns that person into constantly hurts you? I would not. It broke my heart, near well tore my eyes to pieces with how Russ said that he is so organized out of habit because when he was younger and his dad would get super drunk, the dad would come home furious and ready to rage at anything and everything, so to avoid his dad getting angry at him, he would clean up everything 😭. I could imagine a little boy folding clothes and tidying the house in fear and holding his breath as his dad got home, hoping that the dad wouldn’t get angry enough to take out that anger on him. I could just cry. The fact that Russ would do everything to prevent his father’s wrath? That hurts. Again, sometimes it’s those who are quiet who have the most to fear.
Russ’s mother was kind of oblivious or chose not to see how addicted her husband was to gambling. I didn’t like how the mother enabled the father to gamble or that she didn’t see how bad things were. I also understood what she said later about how she would have never married the husband if he was a bad man. I think about how sometimes people do marry a certain person, and then time and stress changes who that person becomes. But the person married to this other person would probably still see the good in this person because that’s the person they fell in love with and they don’t want to believe that the person they loved would change for the worst. I felt awful for the mom because when she took off her rose-colored glasses she could acknowledge that her husband did change and was hurting the relationships within their family. I don’t think that would be an easy idea to acknowledge if you really love a person.
I also didn’t like the way the brother, Ethan, didn’t fully support Russ through everything, but made Russ feel guilty for not being there enough. I’m sorry, who had to endure more with their father’s situation than Russ did because he decided to move across the country with his so called band?? Oh right, Ethan! Ethan sucked for making Russ feel like a bad son when Ethan wasn’t there either and had to endure what Russ did daily. I didn’t like how when the father was in a car accident later in the book, Ethan called Russ to go visit the dad in the hospital, making Russ believe that the brother would drag his a** to the hospital. I mean, the brother was not even in California to draw his brother’s a**. What a lying loser.
I will be the first to say how proud I am of Russ for voicing his honest feelings about his father when the father was in that hospital room. Gosh, knowing how difficult it was for Russ to voice any emotion, let alone to the very person who wronged him, made me tear up 😭. Okay sob, sobbing is the new tearing up.
“‘You’ve broken our family and I don’t know how we can fix it.'”
(pg. 155)
And
“‘For a really long time I hoped that the dad I loved was in there somewhere, trapped, but there. I don’t think he is anymore. You’re not the man who taught me to skate or ride a bike. I don’t know you. . . ‘I’m scared to have the things I want in case I f*** them up, because you’ve made me believe I’m a fu*** up—and I hate you for that. I hate you for being everywhere and nowhere all at once.”
(pg. 155)
As someone who is going through something right now, these words honestly hit something in me that I never knew could be hit harder than it already was. I think one of the most painful emotions or experiences is to not recognize someone you used to love and respect. It’s painful because you used to care about them, but what happens when this person is no longer? It almost fels like you have to mourn or grieve what was. I also read once that if someone says something to you so much, you start toe believe it. I couldn’t’ help but think of this quote when Russ mentioned he felt like he was scared of being a fu** up because of his father’s words. My heart truly breaks at anyone who ever feels like they are the worst thing the worst person could think about them because that’s not their fear, it’s someone else’s hate making them feel unworthy of good things. And when you’re so used to not good things happening to you or being skeptical that things can change for the better, it’s hard to have hope. I felt for Russ 💔.
“I love my family but I hate what we’ve become.”
(pg. 72)
I never thought as a kid that there could be a day when my parents would be the reason I felt hurt.
The only person who knew Russ’s family situation was Henry, and the girl he chose to open his heart to one summer, Aurora.
Gosh, did I love Aurora.
Hannah Grace out here writing female leads that I wish I could be. I honestly wish I had half the bit of a spine as Aurora because not only was she the most confident person in a room, but also the most thoughtful. You could tell it in her actions and the way she cared about everyone around her so much because it was the way she wished people in her life cared about her.
Which brings me to daddy issue number two 😂.
Not going to lie, I always laughed at the sentiment of “daddy issues” but then I started to relate more and more and then “daddy issues” became a really morbid saying to me to bond a shared experience of fathers who hurt their children verbally emotionally, or physically.
Aurora has a tough relationship with her father—always has. Her mom and dad had Aurora’s sister, Elsa, when they were younger. They had problems in their relationship and then went to Alaska where Aurora was conceived because of the stunning Aurora Borealis. However, who would have thought having another child wouldn’t have fixed the problems in the parents relationship 🙃? The mom and dad split up and the father kept dating women younger than their mother, always giving attention to any woman but the two girls in his life that should have been the most important—his own blood-related daughters. It seemed like the dad gave more love to Elsa because she was the first born daughter. But also because Elsa looked more like him, while Aurora looked more like the mom. Aurora always felt liek the dad secretly hated her because she resembled the mom more and it hurt the dad to look at her because of the relationship he had with his ex-wife (Elsa and Aurora’s mom.
“I stopped striving for the best. I achieved validation and attention through other means and become my own person, but somewhere along the way I’ve found myself in this limbo of happily doing whatever I want because people don’t care, and then being hurt that I can do whatever I want because people don’t care. “
(pg. 58-9)
My heart hurt immensely for Aurora and the young girl who just wanted her father to notice her, to care even one bit about her. Aurora would often act out as a child—constantly getting into trouble—hoping one day that her father might care enough to actually be mad at her actions. Or to you know, give her more than just a passing glare. Aurora even tried getting good grades and hoping her father woudl notice the good she was doing, but nothing made her important to him. Obviously everything Aurora did was to get her father’s attention—attention-seeking behavior as they call it—and nothing work, further making Aurora feel insignificant to her father. And add on the fact that the father couldn’t even stand to look at her? Take a knife and cut out her heart already because gosh darn 😩. Don’t even get me started on how shiny that must have also felt to know that her father was dating another woman and paid much more attention to that woman’s daughter than to her. I would feel absolutely heart-wrenched, honest to gosh self-worth blown to smithereens if I was Aurora. I mean, how could it not if my own father didn’t care, couldn’t look at me, and could blatantly care for someone else’s daughter.
That’s a personal attack at that point.
I wish Aurora’s sister had been there for her more because I think Aurora needed someone to talk to or relate to what she was feeling.
I also felt kind of sad for Aurora’s mom because of the complex relationship Aurora also had with her. I don’t think the mom did anything wrong but be too worried over her daughter—coddling her. I understood that the mom’s overprotectiveness and guilt trips about being too far away because the mom felt abandoned by someone she loved and now all her daughters were gone. She was just lonely. I felt like Aurora could have cut her mom some slack because I did feel like the mom loved her and didn’t want her daughter to feel bad as so much just be there for her daughter however she could.
“The balance between being the perfect daughter and my own person is like walking on a tightrope.
Except there’s a hurricane.
And the rope is on fire.
I’ve fallen down more times than I can count and I’m really f***ing exhausted.”
(pg. 59)
I would be exhausted.
Her father kept choosing his work and his other girlfriend’s family over her. He kept disappointing her with not being the father she thought he should be.
So Aurora hid behind false facades of being this confident woman when really she also felt hurt.
Russ and Aurora hid their darkness well.
I loved when they first met because what an awkward meet cute.
There was something really endearing about Russ being this big, attractive hockey player who was also nervous to talk to a pretty girl. I mean, oh Russ 🥺🧡.
Aurora was looking for cup in the cabinets at the last party the hockey bros were throwing together. Russ happened to find Aurora rifling through the cabinets under the assumption she was trying to steal a nice cup, and it created this whole awkwardly cute conversation where Aurora felt nervous for the first time talking to a guy because Russ was obviously nervous.
I freaking CACKLED with the way Aurora gave Russ a lap dance from this variation of truth or dare. The sole reason I cackled was because Russ was obviously turned on by her giving him a lap dance, as any heterosexual male usually is, and he would say the name of past presidents in his head so that he wouldn’t get too hard 😂. Yea, because there is nothing sexy about thinking about old presidents.
They went from a lap dance to a real dance in the bedroom, and can I just say there ain’t nothin shy about Russ in the bedroom 🙈. Literally choked on Russ’s words when he was like , “we’ll make it fit.” EXCUSE ME 🙈. Sir. Russ. I did not expect that to come from his dirty little mouth, but okay. I thought it was very cute and such a Russ thing that he took the time to fold Aurora’s clothes after they did it together. Tell me someone who is gentler than our Russ 🥺.You know what was so sweet and cute afterward? How Russ went into the bathroom after doing it with Aurora and he literally had to talk to himself in the mirror to hype himself up to ask her out properly. I wanted to scream when Aurora just snuck out of his bedroom because she was used to just hooking up and leaving, so she thought Russ being in the bathroom and talking to someone was an awkward sign that he wanted her to go. So she left. I wished she hadn’t just bounced out of there like that because he wanted her to stay longer. I liked how when she came out of Russ’s room, Henry saw her sneaking down the stairs and he stopped her and was like, “Russ is a good guy.” Yes, defend your dude.
But Aurora was also very used to being the person who left. She had a thing with Ryan, you know our favorite hook-up guy. I love that Ryan. I’m just going to say this on behalf of everyone that we need Ryan’s book so that we know he gets a happy ending 👏🏼.
“I”m just the stop gap. I’m the guy you f*** right before you meet the love of your life.'”
(pg. 13)
That’s just awful 😩. I wish Ryan didn’t feel that way. Hannah Grace, we’re begging you for Ryan’s book!
Anyway, I felt so bad when Russ came out of the bathroom only to find Aurora gone; he probably felt like he blew his chance with such a pretty girl and that he would never see her again. I Or well, that was what Aurora was hoping.
“I know she’s here because the universe loves nothing more than to drag me to [heck] and back for fun.'”
(pg. 74)
Me too, dude, me too.
I liked the fact that we saw Aurora (I might to switch to calling Aurora Rory going forward), and Russ develop their relationship outside of school because it was a nice change of scenery and pace from the last book.
If I must say, I would like a formal invitation to join the Pretty Best Friends group chat 🥺🧡. I LOVE. Honestly, they are all so funny and the way they interact makes me wish I had close friends I could chat nonsensical things to with in a chat. I would be the Russ in a group chat to be honest. I really loved though how they all were connected over the summer and wanted the best for each other.
Aurora had her best friend Emilia with her at camp. The reason Aurora was a camp counselor was because she grew up going to Honey Acres; Honey Acres was the one place that made her feel grounded and peaceful because she had people like Jenna who looked out for her. So Aurora loved going back to Honey Acres to feel connected to herself and reset. Russ was going because he needed a summer job and looking after kids at a fancy camp that paid well wasn’t too shabby a gig. I would have done the same thing.
Both of them didn’t think they would see each other after their one night, but here they were. And gosh was it aka-awkward. The way that Russ wouldn’t look at Rory or interact with her made her feel like he didn’t like her or didn’t want to talk to her—like everyone but her existed in his eyes. But Russ only stayed away from Rory because he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable when he too thought Rory didn’t like him when she was the one who left. So they were both basically giving each other cursory glances that they thought no one would notice, but we all noticed. I just wished they understood each other to know why they were trying to stay away from each other at first. Gosh, but I did like meeting Xander and Molly; I would honesty love to see Xander and JJ in the same room because they have the same sort of humor. Also, the fish-related named dogs, we love 🧡.
I felt the word icebreaker was used more in this book than it was in the previous book 😂. I am not a fan of icebreaker games because nothing says even more awkward than forcing people who don’t know each other to get to know each other with an uncomfortable game. Tell me I’m wrong. I think I have played the wooden plank game or some variation of it. I loved how even if things were weird between Russ and Rory, Russ was nothing but his sweet self with her. He really was just trying to respect her space, but was also really turned on by her. I could not when they were talking about the jumping from plank to plank plan and Rory was like, “What if you fall?” and Russ was like, “Then we’ll fall together.” Mr. Smooth over here 😉.
I loved how JJ was Russ’s wingman. Who would have thought wise-old JJ would actually have some sage wisdom for our sweet, pure, Russ? I just really loved how Russ trusted JJ so much as to call him as the first person for advice, especially women advice.
“‘Aurora. The girl I Hooked up with on Saturday night. She’s here.’
‘Sweet. I love a summer romance,’ he says cheerfully.
‘No. There’s no romance here . . . and also staff isn’t allowed to mess around together, but even if we were, she isn’t interested.'”
(pg. 97)
JJ really helped Russ get out of his own head with assuming that Aurora didn’t like him or that he was making her feel uncomfortable. I can be in my own head a lot too and have to step back to realize that the only person who is telling myself these things are myself.
Once Rory and Russ had a conversation about why they were so awkward around each other, it broke down the weird tension between them.
When Russ took JJ’s advice and finally talked to Rory , but he did so on a night she was drunk. I liked how he made sure she got back to her cabin okay, and that he was hesitant to even enter her cabin. I think it was really interesting how Rory voiced how she felt like Russ hated her when that was exact the opposite from the truth.I do think sometimes guy’s distance can come across as disinterest when they think that it’s coming across as respect. I think you have to read the room or directly ask if you are making someone uncomfortable because I would rather someone ask than for me to actually be uncomfortable around them and to hit on me. I can see how when you pursue someone, there’s always that fear of being a creep.
“‘Will you wait until I fall asleep, please? It won’t take long.’
I’m still stunned she thinks I hate her, even though it’s probably drunk babble. ‘Sure, why?’
Because it’s easier to wake up and you’re not here than it is to watch you leave me.'”
(pg. 113)
One of my most favorite things was how he would always walk Rory back to her cabin at night 🥺🧡! I’m sorry, that’s called intention! That’s called if he wanted to he would. Russ truly said let me show her how much I don’t hate her.
But my favorite part about Russ walking Rory to her cabin was that he would always wait on the bottom of the stairs until Rory was inside so that she didn’t have to see him walk away.
I WAS SCREAMING 😩🧡.
I mean, the thought!!!! I could just swoon and be a happy woman.
I also loved how Russ would spend his day’s off/time off by seeing what Rory was doing. If Rory was teaching soccer, he would help set up the cones and watch her coach the kids. He really was showing up and saying I like you. All Russ needed now was a neon sign that said “Please date me.” 😂
“‘I made something for you,’ I say, chaining the subject quickly. ‘It’s not very good. I was distracted watching you miss the goal every time.’
Her shoulders shake as she laughs. ‘I’m so bad. I’m literally a goalie’s dream.’
‘You are.’ She finally looks up as I put the paper dove down in front of her. ‘Speaking as a goalie, that is.'”
(pg. 143)
So where does Russ get his smooth lines 😏. Mr. SHMOOTH indeed.
I know I used the word favorite a lot already, but when I say this was my favorite part of the book, this was genuinely my favorite moments in the book: any moment where Rory and Russ would go to the secret lake together and have vulnerable conversations.
I loved the first time they went to the lake in how they hiked together and then jumped into the water and just talked. The first time they went to this lake hideaway was the time after Russ left to visit his father in the hospital and Rory was upset that Russ left without telling her. I thought Rory should have cut Russ some slack because he had to go without a moment’s notice. I understand that Rory has negative experiences of people close to her leaving her, but Russ wasn’t her father. I did like how Rory was patient and gentle with Russ to let him open up about his “baggage” or so they call it. I liked how she even told him that she could carry his baggage with him and that he didn’t need to do it alone. Opening up like this with anyone makes that person feel like they voice what they have been going through. And if anyone could be there for Russ who would understand his complicated father relationship, it was Aurora.
“We live in a society that tells us our parents are the greatest thing we will ever have and will ever lose, and I just– I don’t even know. You’re putting yourself first anyway. That’s brave.”
(pg. 174)
We do live in a society that, again, puts parents on this pedestal of being perfect, when they are far from perfect. I think they have their own traumas they are dealing with—their own hurt—but they grew up in a time where it was frowned upon to even feel hurt, let alone get the help to work through their trauma. I recently heard on the Pretty Basic podcast (absolutely go stream and listen—it’s the Growing Up with Asian Parents episode) about how sometimes we have to give our parents grace because this is their first time being parents and their first time at the age they are. When I heard that, it mad me think, again, about how parents are just older kids who will make mistakes and disappoint people because they are human beings. I’m not trying to make parents sound negative, but they are human and they will say or do hurtful things. And yes, most times we should have grace for our parents because they are human, but if a parent really hurts you in a way that is unforgivable—-inhuman—-then no, I don’t think they deserve grace. I don’t think Russ or Rory’s parents have done things completely inhuman, just shizzy, so they deserve grace if Russ or Rory wants to give their parents grace.
“‘Forgiving people who repeatedly let you down is like sticking your hand in a fire over and over and expecting it to not keep burning you.'”
(pg. 174)
If you stick your hand in a fire, of course it’s going to burn. It will keep burning until something changes. Nothing changes if nothing changes.
I also think that if a person continues to hurt you and nothing changes no matter how small that hurt is, one hurt multiplied by a thousand, is a wound too big to heal properly.
A fire too big to tamp down by yourself.
I think sometimes our parents are wildfires that blaze children’s lives by their actions or inactions that can be harmful. They consciously or unconsciously know what they are doing or not doing, but it doesn’t mean that hurt is not there. It makes me sad how a lot of kids have to grow up fast, protecting their peace to not be burned by their parents hurt. I wish that more people recognized the hurt they feel inside to get help so they don’t hurt others the way others hurt them. Sometimes I wonder why people think hurting others will make them feel better when it will only make them worse of a person in a lot of ways?
“‘Do you hate them?’
. . . ‘ I told my dad I hated him yesterday, but I was hurt. I’m not sure I do, though. I think I hate the way he makes me feel.'”
(pg. 176)
DANG.
Can someone tattoo that on my forehead: “I think I hate the way he makes me feel.”
You better preach.
Gosh, did that line sucker punch me in the HEART.
As someone who is having parental challenges myself, I have been asked the same thing recently, “Do I hate him?” I don’t use the word hate lightly because I know hate is a strong emotion and word to throw around. I don’t ever want to say I hate something or someone, maybe absolutely detest or dislike, but you would have had to screw up incredibly bad for me to use the word hate. I don’t think I could say I hate this person. Angry? Yes. Hurt? yes. Hate the way he makes me feel? Yes. Because I don’t hate that person, I hate the feeling. And that feeling is hurt. I hate that that is the feeling that this person gives me now.
This conversation between Rory and Russ was so honest and real, and I loved it. They needed to understand what the other was going through or feeling to understand each other. After they had this conversation, they had more deep conversations later in the book; when you open up to someone, and they don’t judge you for what you have been through, that door gets a lot wider. I appreciated how Rory would always validate Russ’s feelings because he knew his insecurities and vice versa because they were both trying to help each other feel better about who they were and not who their parents claimed them to be. I will never not love a deep conversation in a book 🧡.
But I also like my typical romcom-esque scenes. You know, I’m a balanced reader.
Because you can’t tell me the whole cabin storm scene wasn’t iconic 👏🏼.
I loved the whole Rory being afraid of storms and then the lights going out in the pouring rain. Then she went to Russ’s cabin with a flashlight but Russ had beat her to it and went to check on her in her cabin, and it was this whole I-went-to-your-cabin-thing before they finally kissed. I could not stop laughing with how whenever they seemed to want to do it, they never had condoms, and then not Rory literally saying let’s borrow one of Xander’s 😂. Also, the way Rory and any Maple Hills character talks about a boy’s you know, is honestly a little too much information but in a funny way 😂. Split her in half? UMMMM, okay.
And not Xander actually walking into the cabin the day after the storm and saying he needed to poop 😂. I could only imagine Xander being like 0.00002 phased by them together in his room and then being like I have to take a shiz. I loved how he came back at them that he had a preferred place to do his business. He’s too funny.
We also loved how confident Russ was with how he left no one unsatisfied before he did his thing and read a book in bed while snuggling with Rory. He said, satisfaction guaranteed before I read.
“As someone who’s perpetually single, I think it’s probably more shocking that I like [romance books] to begin with. I’t s bit of a conundrum now that I think about it, how I have such faith in fictional happy endings, but have never considered what my own might look like.
. . . I’ve only been slutty in my head, not in real life, and she can’t read my thoughts.”
(pg. 205)
If that isn’t the most me quote ever, I don’t know what is 😂
I’m only slutty in my head she said. Gosh, tell me that isn’t reader coded 👏🏼
They snuck around quite a lot after they finally crossed the boundary of affable camp counselors who everyone knew they had a crush on each other to whatever they were now. I mean, I loved how all the camp kids would tease either Russ or Rory about how much they could see they liked each other. Or how Emilia and Xander knew how much Rory and Russ liked each other. Gosh, that other dude could not take a hint and I was happy when Rory told him off. Not that other guy’s rd flag pretending that he wasn’t going to kiss Rory when he definitely was.
I loved when they went into town together and they had such a jokey, light-hearted feel to them that was different than being at camp. They were much more open with being lovey-dovey because they didn’t have the rule of not being together or having to hide what they shared. I respected how much Rory wanted to honor not getting Russ in trouble because she knew how much working there meant for him, but also Rory meant something more to him than just some camp rule. I loved how they joked about starting a life in Honey Acres in the small town where Russ would open a bowling ball store to rival the rival bowling ball stores and how Rory would open her own bookstore. I laughed with how they teased the town committee name and how they would one day be a part of that committee. I loved when they walked into the bookstore and had dirty little conversations. I could not when the bookstore owner walked up to them and Rory was like, “I want to open a strip club.” 😂 Gosh, I would have choked if I was the bookstore owner. The whole town scene was just really sweet.
There was also their first date 🧡.
If your partner doesn’t drive you to an abandoned barn in the middle of a idyllic field in the afternoon golden hour to play Ratatouille—the best Pixar movie of all time—on the side of said barn, I don’t want it 👏🏼!
Ge you a partner who loves Ratatouille 😩!
I swear though, Hannah Grace put my entire personality into this book because Shrek references, dogs, deep conversations, camp, and Ratatouille??? Yes ma’am.
Russ was just very clear about his feelings with Rory, albeit actually telling her he loved her. But seriously, get you someone who doesn’t play games because gosh is it so much more beautiful when someone shows you how much they love you rather than string you along to make you feel like they don’t like you when they really do. I mean, Russ really just knew how to treat a woman 🧡. Also, the way Russ willingly told Rory about the situation of the hockey rink, made me tear up. Our Russ who kept his secrets behind the fortress of solitude was opening up about another insecurity or vulnerable experience? We love character growth. I also love character support with Rory validating that the rink was not his fault.
“People have made us feel like we’re less than we are, and those opinions are buried deep in us both like weeds Every drop of self-doubt waters the soil, and once they start to grow it feels impossible to stop. But it isn’t impossible, it just takes someone to rip them out by the root, over and over if needed.”
(pg. 172-3)
I loved that 🧡.
This quote goes back to that idea that if someone says something to you so much, you start to believe what they say. But sometimes you need someone in your life to help you root out the weeds and plant something gentle and beautiful there instead. Rory was that person to help him.
Gosh, I loved when she planned this whole elaborate birthday surprise for him. I loved when all of the hockey bros came because they are like his true family; Russ was so happy to see them even though he said he didn’t want anything on his birthday. I cackled that Aurora got him a book about presidents for his gift 😂. I wonder if she knew the real reason Russ would spout president’s names. HAHAHA. You know why Rory went through loops to make Russ’s birthday meaningful? Because I knew deep down that she wished someone treated her with the same love and attention—that they put thought into her. Rory just had such a wholesome and caring heart that wanted to be loved and showed love so deeply.
Even with all the lovey dovey moments, there were some very real complications they faced.
Like, they were caught by Jenna. I liked that Jenna didn’t fire Rory or Russ despite the strict no fraternization rule. Jenna grew up with Rory, and their relationship is something I really admired because Rory didn’t really have anyone growing up to look out for her. Rory’s sister was barely in the picture because of the age gap, and going to her mom about things was difficult when her mom coddled her. Having Jenna in her life made her feel like there was someone she could turn to. I think because Rory and Jenna were more like sisters than workers, Jenna just wanted Rory to be happy. Seeing Rory happy with Russ was what ultimately mattered to Jenna, and that touched my heart 🧡. I liked how Jenna mentioned she knew that Russ really cared for Rory and vise versa when she saw them go to each other’s cabins in the storm because gosh only knows that is what romcoms are made of and they wouldn’t go to each other if something wasn’t there.
I did laugh with how Jenna made Russ sweat a little with the assumption that he would be fired, but also I loved how Jenna went all mama bear on Rory and warned Russ from breaking her heart.
Another roadblock they faced was that Russ was getting in his head about Rory being a very public figure and he wanted a more private life. Russ didn’t want news about his families faults to come to light in the public and that’s why he worried about being in a real relationship with Rory when her dad was an F1 owner and famous and all. I really liked how Russ had a heart-to-heart with Xander to get Russ out of his head of overthinking a good thing he head.
“‘Wanting her, having her, and feeling like I deserve her are three very different things.'”
(pg. 257)
Xander truly knows how to seed out the root of someone’s thoughts. He should be a therapist 😂. But truly, the way Russ spoke about himself after a while made my heart hurt in a sad way because he said, “But just because I want her doesn’t mean I deserve to have her.” Xander brought up the idea that Russ felt like he didn’t feel like he was good enough, and gosh did that hit not only Russ but me. I mean, sometimes I think people who grow up with all these insecurities and constantly being told they are a screw up or too this or that, we really do internalize these ideas to feel like we aren’t good enough as in no one will ever love us—-that we don’t derisive good things 😕. I liked that Xander called Russ out on not feeling like he was good enough, and Russ being honest that he did feel like a screw up. But Xander was such a good friend for validating Russ and hyping him up, and sometimes those words might feel like they are for show, but they start to shake the weeds of what was rooted.
Then there was family day.
I mean, how disastrous 😅.
Rory’s mother came to visit her on family day. I liked that we gave Rory’s mom a cat because we all knew she was lonely and needed someone. But I also liked how they finally talked about the father after all these years; I mean, better late than never. The dad was getting remarried to that woman, and had called Rory the other day, telling her to come to his wedding for pictures. I wanted to punch his face! Why are you calling your blood-related daughter to invite her to your wedding only because you want her to show face???? I wish Rory went to his wedding and stuck middle finger in his pictures 🤪. What an awful person. I digress. But the mom voiced how she always had problems with her ex-husband, and then they had Rory and it was like everything was fine until it wasn’t. Nothing satisfied the father or made him happy. The mom saw this unhealthy relationship with her ex-husband and their daughters with the way that Rory and Elsa would try to get his attention, and that was when the mom realized that the father was he problem and how he gave up trying. The father’s shizzy attitude wasn’t Rory or Elsa’s fault, just nothing would make their father care because he didn’t. He also did resent Rory for looking like the mother, which I thought was messed up. Hearing all of this—all the answers—had to be overwhelming, but also relieving to know that at the end of the day Rory tried and it wasn’t her.
I liked how the mom left it open for Rory to curate a relationship with her father still, but if she didn’t that was okay. Naturally, most kids want a relationship with their parent. But sometimes, unfortunately, a parent doesn’t want a relationship with their child. When Rory skipped her father’s wedding to be there for Russ, and he called her to reprimand her, I SCREAMED when she stood her ground to her a** hat of a dad. Yes, Rory, that backbone better work 👏🏼😂!!!!
No, but for real. His audacity to yell at her and belittle her when he never was a figure in her life was atrocious. So I loved when she basically told him “I’m not your B****” because she’s not. OOOOh, and when her sister called her later to congratulate her for standing up to her father, LET’S GO. But also, why didn’t Elsa ever tell Rory to stand up to him in the first place—you know sister solidarity?? I had a feeling they all just let Rory keep trying to have a relationship with her father because they thought that was what she wanted, but someone should have been honest with her about how she should have just gave up 😅.
Russ’s family visit was a bit more emotionally taxing. The father came to talk to Russ about how he appreciated Russ being open about how he felt, and how the mom kicked him out. The father finally lost everything—hitting that rock bottom—and wanted to make a real change. You know, I felt for Russ because when someone who repeatedly hurts you says they will change, words mean nothing. Action does. That’s something I had to learn recently. I understood how Russ didn’t believe a word his father said about getting better because of all the times the dad did try to get better and nothing changed, or how the dad continued to make Russ feel insignificant. That’s tough.
“It’s like I have to become a different person to be able to cope being around him.”
(pg. 314)
I don’t personally have anyone in my life who battles an addiction, but I could understand how something makes you feel so addicted that it changes who you are. I think it’s hard because I don’t think people want to be addicted to something, but they want to feel something that they don’t feel—maybe they want to feel relief, peace, exhilaration, success. Maybe Russ’s dad wanted to feel like he could be a better provider for his family by betting on races, but in the end he kept losing and that made him feel like a screw up. Because Russ was the only person around, he projected his insecurities on his son. I know what it’s like to be at the other end of someone’s verbal abuse because they hate themselves. It’s awful and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
I do feel like Rory was in the wrong for answering Russ’s phone when she had no business too. Even if they were in a relationship, I think personal calls are that—personal. I do feel like the way Russ reacted to Rory answering his phone came from a place of hurt because he didn’t want to be a burden to her or have Rory pity him. I could not with how Russ was pushing her away but Rory was so calm and collected with understanding Russ was just hurt.
Russ pushing Rory away was hard to watch.
“It’s harder to watch her walk away than it is to wake up and find that she’s not there.”
(pg. 346)
BUT WHAT A BANGER 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼!!! Full circle walk away moment!
I’ve read many books where at this part the love interest get upset and the main character walks away and then there’s this interlude where the love interest talks to his best bros and realizes he was stupid for pushing away a good thing and then grand gesture. What I loved about the whole grand gesture in Wildfire, was that there was no seemingly grand gesture because Hannah Grace said COMMUNICATION.
I loved how Russ instantly knew he was stupid and Rory went back to him to stand her ground of saying, I will not let you push me away. I just loved loved loved how Rory didn’t let their fight deter her in making her think that their relationship was over. Their fight made her fight for them more, and that is so powerful. They communicated how they both messed up and were able to actually be there for each other rather than have this big break of not knowing what to do or feeling sorry for themselves.
When they left Honey Acres for Maple Hills, their relationship was stronger than ever because they didn’t let one fight break them. I instead loved how there was a homecoming/housecoming for Russ being home now 🧡. I loved when JJ talked to Rory and thanked her because this was the happiest he has ever seen Russ 🥺. They all loved their Muffin so much and wanted his happiness.
“This group is a family more than they’re friends, and they’re so welcoming that it’s impossible not to fall in love with every single one of them.”
(pg. 370)
Can I get an amen 🙏🏼???
For real.
But seeing the family Russ created, now including Rory was beautiful.
Also, not Henry basically setting up his book saying how he didn’t like fake dating 🤔. I see you Hannah Grace.
I loved seeing the full circle moment of Rory looking back into the cabinets 🧡.
The epilogue was very wholesome as well with Rory and Russ having returned to Honey Acres to actually open a bookstore called Happily Ever Afters. I loved how Russ seemed to have a better relationship with his father in the details of the dad helping Rory build the bookstore/get the store ready for its opening. I love knowing that Rory and Russ lived a farm life in that barn they went to on their first date and that they have all these animals together. I thought the ending was perfect for a couple that had a deep connection, and surely a happy ever after.
The only thing I wanted more from the book was camp moments with the kids because I would have liked to see more interactions or games they did as counselors. I know the book wasn’t about them being camp counselors, but still. I did like that one moment where Russ and Rory had a group of kids go back and forth telling them “secrets” about how much hay liked each other. I also wanted to know more about Elsa and Ethan and why they are so distant from their families. I wonder if Ethan is okay or what was wrong with Ethan towards the end that Russ needed to note to himself to check in on him?
Anyway, if you read this book, what was your favorite part? Least favorite part? Did you ever go to camp growing up? Let me know below in the comments as I love hearing from you all 💕
I hope you have a beautiful day whenever and wherever you might be reading this 😊.
And as always, with love,💕
Rating
5 Full Bloom Flowers
Characters: Russ and Rory has a nice ring to it 🧡. I genuinely loved getting to know more about Russ and Rory with all the relatable challenges they faced and learning how to support each other through that. Also, it was a joy to see all the hockey bros again and to meet Xander, Jenna, and Emilia.
Plot: A beautifully wholesome summer romance that makes you think about the meaning of family and love 🧡
Writing: Hannah Grace created a stronger book with depth and comedy.
Romance: Honestly, where’s my hockey summer camp romance 🙈???