Daydream

Henry Turner regrets telling his hockey coach Neil Faulkner that he’d be team captain. He loves Coach, hockey, and his teammates, but doesn’t want to let anyone down. At practice one day, Coach calls Henry into his office and scolds him for getting a failing grade on his paper for Professor Thornton’s class. Henry is doing well in his other classes but doesn’t like Thornton’s style. He fears if he fails the class he’ll ruin his GPA and disappoint Coach. Henry’s acquaintances Nate Hawkins and Robbie, his friend Anastasia Allen, and his moms all told him he’d be a good captain, but now Henry isn’t sure.

After practice, one of Henry’s friends and roommates, Russ Callaghan, gives Henry a ride. Henry is glad to see Russ’s girlfriend Aurora Roberts back at the house because she never talks about hockey. She then convinces him to accompany her to the bookstore Enchanted, where her acquaintance Halle is running a romance book club.

At Enchanted, Halle notices Henry eating the cookies she made for book club. She feels nervous starting a conversation with him because he’s so attractive. Then Henry tells her he isn’t there for the club and just came with his friend to find a book on leadership for hockey. Halle remarks that her ex, Will, is a hockey player and Henry reveals that he knows and doesn’t like Will. Halle is surprised, as she’s never heard anyone besides her brother Grayson Jacobs criticize Will. When Aurora rejoins Henry, he invites Halle to join them at Blaise’s Diner. She wants to go because no one usually invites her anywhere, but can’t because of book club.

After book club, the shop owner, Inayah, tells Halle about a writing competition. Contestants must submit a novel manuscript for a chance to win a summer writing course in New York City. Halle is thrilled, as she’s always wanted to be an author and has more time now that she’s single.

Halle interviews for a job at The Huntington Hotel. Her interviewer Campbell Walker, or Cami, is also a Maple Hills student. When Halle opens up about her breakup, Cami insists they’re going to be friends and hires Halle.

Halle helps her stepsister Gigi Scott with her homework over the phone. Gigi has ADHD and Halle has been her tutor for years. Halle considers telling Gigi about her breakup but knows Gigi can’t keep a secret. After they hang up, Halle texts Cami about a party she invited her to. Cami invites her over to get ready with the other girls. On her way, Halle considers calling Will but reminds herself she’s starting over.

Halle is excited to get ready for the party with her new friends, as she’s never had girlfriends or gone to parties. At the house party, the girls agree to all ask for a guy’s number. While Halle is asking someone named Mason, she notices Henry talking to an attractive girl and feels disappointed. She rejoins her friends and they tell her Mason isn’t a good guy. Then they all gossip about Henry’s looks and sexual history.

Henry lets Aurora and her friends host their book club at the hockey house. Henry retreats to his room and listens to everyone talking downstairs. He’s lying in bed thinking about Halle when she knocks on his door. She looks surprised when Henry compliments her new haircut. She then gives him cookies as a thank you for using the house and they spend a while talking.

Halle tells Henry she loves to write and bake and lives in her late grandmother’s house in town. She also alludes to her relationship with Will. Henry reveals that he’s a visual artist and admits that he’s having trouble getting through his leadership book as doesn’t enjoy reading. Before Halle leaves, she and Henry agree to be friends and Halle borrows Henry’s book.

Halle and Cami look online for a birthday gift for Halle’s mom. Meanwhile, Halle tells Cami about her difficult family situation. As the eldest sister, everyone expects her to be “the family manager” which exhausts and overwhelms her (60). It’s been even harder since she left for school. They also commiserate about their recent breakups.

Halle attends another party at the hockey house with Cami. Halle feels more confident once she has a drink. Then she starts dancing with Mason. She feels uncomfortable but doesn’t know how to get out of the situation until Henry appears and rescues her. They join Henry’s other friends, including Robbie, Mattie, Kris, Bobby, Aurora Roberts, Emilia Benett, and Poppy Grant. Eventually, Henry convinces Halle to join their game of beer pong.

At the end of the party, Halle comes into Henry’s room and returns his book. She ends up falling asleep in his bed. In the morning, Henry reads through the passages Halle highlighted in his book while Halle sleeps. When she wakes up, she’s horrified that she’s naked in Henry’s bed. Henry explains that they didn’t sleep together but that he did see her naked when she took off her party clothes. She’s embarrassed but Henry insists it’s no big deal.

After Halle showers, she and Henry chat. Henry is grateful for her help with the book and she explains that she uses the highlighting technique to tutor Gigi. Then Henry complains about his difficulties with Thornton, whom Halle loves. She offers to help him with his upcoming paper.

The conversation shifts to Halle’s novel competition. She alludes to her outlining process and her attempts to conceptualize the story. They chat for a while longer before working on Henry’s paper together.

Henry shows up at Enchanted before Halle’s book club. He gives her flowers as a thank you for helping him pass his essay. They make arrangements to meet up to work on Henry’s next paper.

After Henry’s hockey game, he visits Halle’s house to help her make some cookies. While baking, Halle tells Henry more about her relationship with Will, her former plans to move to New York, her relationship with her grandmother, and her grandmother’s death. The cookie recipe was her grandmother’s. Henry listens intently and helps Halle bake.

Coach calls Henry into his office to check in about his grades. Coach seems skeptical when he hears Henry is getting help from Halle, and warns him not to take advantage of Halle’s kindness. Afterward, Henry worries that he hasn’t been considering Halle’s feelings and goes to his friend Russ for advice. Russ listens and encourages him.

Henry brings dinner to Halle’s house. Halle seems upset and reveals that she’s having issues with her family. She explains the difficulties of being the eldest daughter and having no time to do the things she wants to do. She’s also struggling with her novel because she hasn’t had the experiences she needs to write the story she wants to write. She then confesses that she was never in love with Will and that they never went on dates.

Henry offers to take her on a date and then suggests that he help her get the experiences she needs for her novel in exchange for her continued help with Thornton’s class. Halle agrees to the arrangement and they set up some ground rules.

Halle is nervous before her date with Henry. She considers asking Aurora or Cami for advice but feels too embarrassed and googles what to expect instead. Just before she meets Henry, Will texts her. Halle silences her phone so she isn’t distracted.

Halle and Henry go out for dinner. They talk about Halle’s story and romance novels. The conversation shifts to love and friendship. Halle then asks Henry questions about himself. He tells her about his mom and mama, his childhood in Maple Hills, and his close relationships with Nate and Robbie. Afterward, Henry drives Halle home, kisses her on the cheek, and says goodbye. Inside, Halle writes a new chapter of her novel.