Daydream by Hannah Grace
- Alisha Eadle
- 6 hours ago
- 13 min read
Daydream
by Hannah Grace
Published by Atria
Book 3 in the Maple Hills Series
When his procrastination lands him in a difficult class with his least favorite professor, Henry Turner knows he’s going to have to work extra hard to survive his junior year of college.
And now with his new title of captain for the hockey team—which he didn’t even want—Henry absolutely cannot fail. Enter Halle Jacobs, a fellow junior who finds herself befriended by Henry when he accidentally crashes her book club.
Halle may not have the romantic pursuits of her favorite fictional leads, but she’s an academic superstar, and as soon as she hears about Henry’s problems with his class reading material, she offers to help. Too bad being a private tutor isn’t exactly ideal given her own studies, job, book club, and the novel she’s trying to write. But new experiences are the key to beating her writer’s block, and Henry’s promising to be the one to give them to her.
They just need to stick to their rule book.
Oh, and not fall in love.
Genre
Triggers
Learning difficulties, Undiagnosed AuDHD
I loved Daydream
Which is a little funny, because it also didn't have the conflict that Icebreaker had, which I held against Wildfire in my rating.
The difference was the characters, and how I related to them both.
While I'm not blunt like Henry, I felt like I could relate to his inner turmoil. Despite the fact that he isn't diagnosed with anything (and that is an intentional choice by Hannah Grace, as she goes through her own journey of diagnosis), I was able to connect the dots on what is most likely going on, and it made him instantly relatable.
My ADHD gets worse every year, and being able to connect with him on that level, and understand why he felt and reacted the way he did, was calming for me. Pretty early on in the book, he wondered how he could explain to someone that even if they physically carried him to the office or glued a laptop down in front of him, he still would have found a way to avoid the task.
Damn. What a call out.
Because that is exactly what it's like.
As for me thinking he is on the spectrum ... well, I'm well versed in the 'tism as they say. All three of my children are on the spectrum. As I have gotten older and broaden my knowledge, I suspect I may be as well. Especially my husband.
So again ... despite not being diagnosed, I clocked in on Henry and immediately fell in love.
Then there is Halle. How can I not connect with a plus-size gal with a deep love of books. She is just so sweet! And patient.
Which you would have to be with a guy like Henry.
Their friendship is what made this book so much fun to read. Their chemistry, and the tension of these two friends coming together was so great to read. And while lacking a certain level of conflict, the connection I made with the characters, and my understanding of Henry's issues was enough to give this book the umph! that Wildfire was missing.
Daydream may not be for everyone. Not everyone may connect with Henry, or Halle for that matter, but Hannah's grace writing a difficult character made this book a dream for me to read. I highly recommend Daydream.
Rory: "Are you okay, Henry?"
Aurora asks as I drop into the recliner opposite her.
Rory: "You look extra pensive today. Brooding, like the tortured artist you are."
Aurora immediately gets more flustered, her voice pitching up.
Rory: "We literally drove past it two days ago and I said look how busy Enchanted is!"
Henry: "You say a lot, Aurora. I don't always listen to you. I find it hard to concentrate when you're driving. Fearing for my life takes up a lot of mental space."
Poppy: "This is why I don't date men."
Kaia: "And this is why I hate them."
Kaia adds, sighing dramatically.
Kaia: "But I do date them ... unfortunately. It's my main character flaw, but nobody is perfect."
Halle: "You don't need to sneak in here and steal them."
Henry: "I don't have your number, otherwise I would have,"
he says through a mouthful of chocolate chip cookie.
Henry: "Why don't I have your number?"
Halle: "I don't know why you don't have my number. Why don't I have your number?"
Henry: "Because you haven't asked for it. Why haven't you asked for it?"
There's something extra cheerful about him today, playful really.
I cross my arms as he smirks up at me from his seat.
Halle: "Why haven't you gone out of your way to give it to me?"
Henry: "Excellent question."
Henry: "I didn't know what you like. Anastasia said sunflowers and Aurora said peonies, but I remembered you have a pink dress with tiny daisies on it so I thought they might be your favorite."
I might start crying. He senses it.
Henry: "You're giving me the look. Please don't start crying. I deal with crying women so much more than I ever expected to and I'm still never sure how to react."
Henry: "You can't fall in love with me. You're going to want to. Anastasia tells me I'm very lovable, and the more time you spend with me the harder it'll be."
Now she's really laughing, and I feel so relieved that I've managed to improve the sour mood she was in when I arrived.
Halle: "I couldn't fall in love with my actual boyfriend so I'm pretty sure I'm incapable of it anyway."
Henry: "Yes, but he's a dick. I'm not."
She pins me with a look that I can't decipher. She looks both annoyed and amused. As bas as Will Ellington is, I bet it's hard for him to know she never loved him.
Henry: "Like I said, very lovable."
Henry: Halle is going with her friends and is going to use Emilia's ID
Lola: Uh how?
Russ: Aurora said they look similar enough and "no one will care if Halle's boobs are on show"
Bobby: No one say anything. Muffin is setting up a trap.
Mattie: I didn't even know she had any, Hen. Promise
Anastasia: WHY are you guys like this?
Lola: Let's hope they don't pay too much attention to height lol
Kris: It'll be fine. What's 7 inches between friends
Jaiden: That's what Henry said to her last night
Jaiden: Boom
Anastasia: Of course they can be friends and not hook up JJ
Kris: Are you really the person to champion that as a possibility?
Lola: She's so gorgeous I sort of want to bow at her feet
Robbie: I'd like to see how she'd react if you did that
Mattie: No I get what you mean in a very platonic and not at all triggering to Henry way
Russ: I think she's a nice person
Bobby: That's the spirit, muffin
Henry: Please don't be weird to her. She's my friend.
Halle: "I would have shaved my legs if I'd known you were about to pay extra attention to them."
His eyebrows pinch together a little.
Henry: "It isn't surprising for me to find hair in a place where hair grows, Halle. You haven't shattered any illusions for me that women are smooth and hairless."
Henry: "Why are you so red?"
That's an excellent question. Why am I so red? I lie down flat on the bed and stare at the sky so I don't have to look at him.
Halle: "Just a little embarrassed."
Henry: "Why? Because now I know you like to listen to people having sex to get off?"
he says calmly.
Halle: "I'd rather you kill me than try to have this conversation with me."
Henry laughs, and even the sound doesn't soothe me. He lies on the spot next to me on his side, propped up by his hand.
Henry: "I've seen you naked and now I know your sexual preferences. We're getting super close."
My jaw drops as I turn to look at him.
Halle: "You broke a rule!"
Henry: "So did you by being embarrassed."
Halle: "And it isn't a sexual preference as such. I just like audios - of lots of things, not just people having sex. Jesus Christ, can we revisit the killing me idea?"
Henry: "Virginity is a social construct. It's good I didn't let you leave with Mason. Would have been the worst forty-five seconds of your life. I'm a good friend."
I can always rely on Henry to surprise me.
Halle: "How did you manage to make my sexual inexperience about you?"
Henry's mouth tugs up at the corners in that way that makes my insides go weird.
Henry: "I can make everything about me if you give me enough time. Including your sex life."
Henry: "We're not dating. We're friends."
It's annoying how smug she looks right now.
Anastasia: "I'm your friend and you've never kissed my forehead or held my hand."
Fucking Mattie.
Henry: "That's your own fault. Grow six inches and then we can talk about it. I'm not bending over to be nice to you."
Lola: "Only you could get away with inviting us all to an event then leaving us. It's like you don't want me and Halle to be friends."
Henry: "I don't. Halle is the nicest person I know, and you are the most terrifying. I don't want to mix those two personalities."
Henry: "Can we go again, please?"
I ask the guy.
Halle: "But I'm so bad,"
Halle groans.
Henry: "You're fucking terrible. You're in carnival time-out - stand to the side."
Halle: "Do you need anything? I'm helping Gigi with her homework soon."
The last thing I need is for him to walk shirtless behind my laptop.
Henry: "Attention. Sympathy. A cure,"
he says, his deep voice monotone as he lists his requirements.
Henry: "A do-over where I didn't eat a suspicious-smelling hamburger."
Halle: "Feeling real good about the chicken burger you called boring right about now. I can offer you freezer homemade chicken soup and at best a half-sympathetic pat on the back."
Rory: "Earth to Henry,"
Aurora says, waving her hand in front of my face.
Rory: "My God, those bunny ears are really doing a number on you. When are you going to accept that you have feelings for her and ask her out?"
Who did I piss off to end up with two interfering women in my life?
Henry: "You know rats can't speak, right?"
Rory: "Squeak squeak, bestie. Someone's going to beat you to it."
Henry: "I don't understand women,"
I shout to Robbie over the music as I drop myself into the seat beside him out of everyone's line of sight.
Robbie: "I'd be more worried for you if you thought you did,"
he responds, rolling himself to the edge of the table, making his drink then pouring me a soda before maneuvering back to the spot beside me.
Halle: "You're going to make me come,"
I whimper through fire sparking across my skin.
And, in the most Henry Turner way, he says four words.
Henry: "I know. Do it."
He repositions my panties and pulls me in to his chest, kissing my forehead tenderly.
Henry: "Was that charming enough for you?"
I nod.
Halle: "Yeah, think you got the charm thing covered."
Halle: "You had a date day with your hockey friend? That's so cute!"
I'm definitely smiling, but he isn't. He rolls his eyes.
Henry: "It wasn't a date. It was two guys with the same barber going to get their hair trimmed at the same time. Then hanging out in the same place afterward."
Halle: "So you got all your date experience from Joe, and now you're passing it on to me? I love this. How wholesome."
Henry moves forward to take my hands and pull me onto his knee. With our faces level he leans in, his lips practically brushing mine.
Henry: "There's nothing wholesome about the things I think about when I'm with you. Or when we're apart."
I rub my nose against his slightly and his breathing slows. I lower my voice.
Halle: "Did you say the same thing to Joe?"
Henry: I need advice.
Jaiden: So you came to the expert
Jaiden: Great choice
Henry: You're my last resort.
Jaiden: I'm your only hope
Jaiden: Hit me. I'm ready to wow you with my wisdom
Henry: So I'm overthinking it?
Jaiden: Seems like it. But you know what I always say
Henry: Aunts are hotter than moms?
Jaiden: No
Jaiden: Well yes
Jaiden: But no
Henry: "Your family makes me happy I'm an only child. I don't have it in me to look after so many people."
Halle: "Surely being the captain of a sports team is like having tons of brothers? And they're not bad. I just only ever complain about them. I should talk about them when they're nice to me more."
Henry: "It's more like having a farm next to a highway and all the animals keep escaping."
Kris: "We want to call it The Frozen Three."
Bobby nods.
Bobby: "It'll be about hockey."
JJ rubs his fingers against his temple.
JJ: "Gentlemen, ask yourself this: are three more straight men with microphones what the world needs?"
Halle: "but my point is, you and your brain that you say you're fighting are so special. You say it doesn't work properly and I don't know anything about that, but I know that that things you see as differences to everyone else make you who we all care so much about."
Halle: "I'll find a way to move my shift around or leave early or something. I want to be there when you get off the ice. I'm going to wear your jersey and scream your name."
Henry: "Can you not make me hard before I go into this meeting, please?"
I choke slightly.
Henry: "We won't lose. You'll be there and you're my lucky charm. It's a scientific fact."
Halle: "Henry, that isn't how science works. I feel like I don't tell you how annoying you are enough,"
I grumble, walking under his arm as he holds the door open for me.
Halle: "How poetic of you. I'll put it in my bio. Halle Jacobs: Aspiring author. Professional people pleaser. Calm like a well-fed panda."
Henry: "Halle Jacobs: Actual author. Excellent baker. Calm like a well-fed panda. Best ass in LA."
I'm thankful that Henry told me to put my headphones on, saying if he wanted to listen to children complain about homework, he'd spend time with his teammates. I pointed out he's complained for the past three months, and he told me it didn't count because I think he's hot.
I'm still not sure how the two things are linked, but I do think he's hot.
Cami: "I'm clearly Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas."
She folds her arms across her chest.
Cami: "What are you supposed to be?"
Henry: "First of all, that's a Halloween movie."
I point to the same hat I've been wearing for three Christmases.
Henry: "And I'm obviously Santa."
The five of them stare at me with the same expression, but I can't place what it is. Respect, maybe? Awe and wonder? Halle's arms leave my neck and travel down my body until she reaches the hem of my shirt and pulls it out.
Halle: "You're not even wearing a costume."
I shrug.
Henry: "I'm an undercover Santa. I'm checking if the information I have on my list is correct - or something."
Rory: "You're Santa's auditor."
Aurora's head shakes slowly.
Rory: "Unbelievable and yet so on brand. Props to you for you consistent dedication to the bare minimum."
Henry: "I go above and beyond where it matters."
Rory: "So I've heard, lover boy,"
she says, and Halle slowly turns to look at her.
Henry: "We should have a rule about listening to JJ about anything."
She looks down at her dress then back up at me innocently.
Halle: "I guess you're right. It definitely didn't make you fall to your knees."
Henry: "I've wanted to get on my knees for you from the second you walked in, but it wasn't because of your dress. It's because of how much I like making you come."
Rory: "You're one to talk. You're constantly showing up late!"
Henry: "I'm late because I don't want to go, not because I can't be ready on time."
Halle: "What do you want to do?"
I ask, taking off his sweatshirt that I stole. Henry stands from the floor, pushing his sweatpants down until he's only in his boxers.
Henry: "I want to take off all your clothes, cover you in paint, and fuck you right here on the floor,"
he says, pointing to the center of the canvas.
Henry: "Respectfully, of course."
Halle: I'm wearing Henry's Titans T-shirt and Will is just STARING at me.
Halle: It literally says HENRY right on my breast
Poppy: Bark at him
Aurora: bark at him
Emilia: Bark at him!
Halle: He's asking what I'm laughing at
Cami: woof woof woof woof woof
Emilia: Have you told Henry?
Halle: No. I literally just took my phone out to text you guys
Aurora: yeahhhhh. maybe like, don't? unless you want him to turn up
Cami: agreed. i mean as a spectator, i would like to see it ...
Cami: but as your friend, i would not
Halle: I have paint in my hair and my mom wants to know what it's from
Halle: She does not want to know what it's from
Aurora: tell her you're letting an arty guy rail you and see what she says
Halle: Would rather die
Halle: Putting my phone down
Halle: Pray for me
Halle: We kind of almost met last year. We were at the same party, and I saw you were talking to Henry, but we didn't really know each other then, so I thought you were his girlfriend."
Anastasia laughs in a way that would be better described as a cackle.
Anastasia: "Girlfriend? He'd rather be celibate for the rest of his life. Henry only likes tall girl like, well, you. You're Henry's perfect type. He once told me I didn't have enough ass to be able to justify my attitude, and that he was going to invoice me for physiotherapy since he was getting a bad neck from always looking at the ground when he's forced to talk to me. So, definitely not girlfriend material."
I keep myself stuck to Henry's side so I can run interference when it gets a bit too much for him. He said he has a face that parents like to talk to, and he needs me to make that stop.
Halle: "What are you thinking about?"
I ask Henry, kissing the back of his hand.
Henry: "That we should get Joy a harness so she can come to places with us."
Halle: "I love you,"
I say, meaning every single syllable with my entire heart.
Halle: "And how much you love my cat makes me love you even more."
Henry: "I love you, too, Cap."
Halle: "More than you love Joy?"
He grins wickedly, wrapping his arm around me to pull me in for a kiss. His hand travels down my back until it reaches my wait. He uses his grip on me to maneuver me onto his knee.
Henry: "I was raised not to tell lies."
