REVIEW: Daydream by Hannah Grace
Daydream by Hannah Grace
Daydream, written by Hannah Grace is a friends-to-lovers, faking dating romance genre, the third book of the Maple Hill series, the other two being the Icebreaker and Wildfire.
The story begins with Halle’s high school sweetheart breaking up with her—a moment she surprisingly meets with no real emotional reaction. Meanwhile, Henry, the captain of his hockey team, is struggling with his performance in Professor Thornton’s class and faces pressure from Coach Faulkner.
With Halle’s ex out of the picture, she suddenly has more time on her hands. She fills it by taking up a part-time job, running a book club, and aspiring to write a novel writing competition, all while juggling the expectations placed on her as the eldest daughter in a family that depends on her. On the other hand, Henry is trying to balance his academics and his responsibilities as team captain.
When Henry offers to help Halle gain the life experiences she needs to write her novel in exchange for tutoring him in Professor Thornton's class, they strike a deal. What starts as a strictly business arrangement slowly grows into something more. But will they stick to the plan, or will they find themselves falling for each other?
Beyond the romantic storyline, Daydream also touches on some deeper themes, especially around mental health. One of the standout elements of the book is its portrayal of ADHD through Henry’s character. From earlier books in the series, readers know Henry has ADHD, but Daydream dives deeper into how this affects him, particularly the pressure he feels as a leader. Henry’s emotional outburst, when he feels overwhelmed by his responsibilities, makes him even more relatable, giving readers a glimpse into the challenges of living with ADHD.
Halle, on the other hand, grapples with loneliness and the pressure to take on responsibilities that don’t always feel like her own hits close to home for many readers who’ve been in similar situations. After her breakup, she felt lonely, as her social circle was largely tied to her ex. This leaves her questioning her friendships, including her budding one with Henry, his friends, and her own friends who are mutuals with Henry. Being the eldest daughter, Halle also takes on a “second mom” role, caring for her younger sisters because her older brother is mostly uninvolved. Her inability to say no, even when it exhausts her, is another reflection of her people-pleasing nature. These emotional burdens might seem minor on the surface, but the way they weigh down on Halle gives readers insight into her inner turmoil.
Both characters are well-developed, and their growth throughout the story feels organic. One of my favorite moments is a grand gesture Henry makes for Halle towards the end, but I won’t spoil it—you’ll have to read it yourself!
Coming to the best parts of the book. Hannah Grace’s men and their need to seek consent before laying a finger on a girl is peak intimacy. I know consent is the basic and the bare minimum but, it’s these small things that matter, and the fact that her books always ALWAYS have a scene where the male protagonist seeks consent before getting close to her has my heart and soul. Though Henry’s straightforwardness comes because of his ADHD, I’m a huge fan of his unfazed replies in certain places of the book.
In a way, I found both Henry and Halle’s characters relatable during certain scenes in the book. Especially in Henry’s POV, he talks about how he has a plan on his mind but when he executes it, it’s never the same as he planned. Just like me, I was supposed to finish this review by last week in my mind, but here we are! And speaking of Halle, her inability to say no to others even when she’s sick is something I would do too.
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| Calm like a well-fed Panda |
Rating⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Because why not? Daydream is one of my favorite reads that kept me on the hook after a really long time. It deserves all the love!
Happy Reading!
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Check out the review of Wildfire by Hannah Grace (Maple Hills #2) here!
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