Plot Summary
Broken Beginnings, Shaky Returns
Dylan Donovan, Dalton University's hockey star, returns to campus with a hangover and a failed drug test looming over him. His life is a mess of parties, pressure, and unresolved family trauma. Meanwhile, Sierra Romanova, a once-celebrated figure skater, is haunted by a catastrophic fall that left her physically and emotionally scarred. Both are trying to piece themselves together, but the cracks show. Dylan's bravado masks deep insecurity, while Sierra's determination is shadowed by anxiety and PTSD. Their worlds are set to collide, but neither is ready for the impact. The semester begins with secrets, shame, and the desperate hope that this time, things might be different.
Haunted by the Fall
Sierra's nightmares and panic attacks are constant reminders of her accident. She struggles to reclaim her place on the ice, but every attempt is met with fear and self-doubt. Her best friend Scarlett is her anchor, but even she can't silence the echoes of Sierra's trauma. Dylan, newly named hockey captain, is thrust into responsibility he doesn't want, all while hiding his drug test results and family dysfunction. Both are haunted by the past—Sierra by the ice, Dylan by his parents' broken marriage. Their paths cross at a party, where a spilled drink and a sharp exchange spark something neither expects.
Parties, Paint, and IOUs
At a chaotic neon party, Dylan and Sierra's worlds collide. Dylan, reeling from bad news and unwanted leadership, is drawn to Sierra's fire and vulnerability. Their banter is electric, masking deeper wounds. Sierra, trying to support Scarlett and escape her own head, confronts Dylan over a spilled drink, earning an IOU she doesn't intend to use. The night is a blur of flirtation, frustration, and the first hints of chemistry. Both leave changed—Dylan with a new obsession, Sierra with a sense of possibility she thought she'd lost.
Ghosts of Partners Past
Sierra's ex-partner, Justin, resurfaces, stirring up betrayal and insecurity. His presence at the party and on the ice is a constant reminder of what she's lost. Dylan's failed drug test comes to light, threatening his future and his team. Both are forced to confront the consequences of their actions—Sierra with her inability to move on, Dylan with the reality that his recklessness has real costs. Their separate struggles begin to intertwine, setting the stage for an uneasy alliance.
Consequences and Confessions
Dylan's suspension from hockey is official, and the fallout is immediate. His friends stage an intervention, forcing him to face his self-destructive patterns. Sierra's attempts to find a new skating partner are met with rejection and pity. Both are at their lowest, but a chance encounter at the rink reveals unexpected talent—Dylan's hidden figure skating skills. Their mutual need for redemption and understanding draws them closer, even as they resist.
Collision on the Ice
Circumstances force Dylan and Sierra into an unlikely partnership. For Dylan, it's a shot at reinstatement; for Sierra, a last chance to compete. Neither trusts the other, and their first practices are a disaster of clashing egos and unresolved pain. But beneath the bickering is a growing respect—and an undeniable attraction. As they train, old wounds surface, and new ones threaten to form. The ice becomes both battleground and sanctuary.
Unlikely Alliances
Training intensifies, and so does the tension. Dylan's natural talent and Sierra's drive begin to mesh, but trust is fragile. Both are forced to confront their fears—Sierra's of falling, Dylan's of failing. Small moments of vulnerability—shared sandwiches, late-night talks, and accidental confessions—begin to bridge the gap. Their friends and families watch warily, unsure if this partnership will heal or destroy them.
The Reluctant Partnership
As competitions approach, Dylan and Sierra's partnership deepens. Chemistry on the ice spills into stolen glances and charged touches. A drunken night leads to a kiss that changes everything, but both are terrified of what it means. Their pasts loom large—Sierra's scars, Dylan's family drama—and threaten to unravel their fragile connection. But for the first time, both begin to hope that together, they might be more than the sum of their broken parts.
Chemistry and Catastrophe
Their first competition is a mix of triumph and disaster. Technical brilliance is undermined by nerves and old habits. Sierra's anxiety resurfaces, and Dylan's injury—hidden from everyone—puts them both at risk. The pressure mounts, and secrets threaten to explode. Yet, in the aftermath, their bond only grows stronger. They begin to see each other not as saviors or burdens, but as equals—partners in every sense.
Tangled Hearts, Tangled Skates
As their relationship deepens, so do the stakes. Dylan's family implodes at a public event, forcing him to confront his father and his own anger. Sierra, terrified of being abandoned again, tries to push Dylan away. Both must decide if love is worth the risk of more pain. In a moment of crisis, they choose each other—imperfect, scarred, but together. Their partnership becomes a lifeline, not just for competition, but for healing.
Cracks in the Armor
A devastating injury threatens to end everything. Dylan, desperate to give Sierra her dream, hides his pain and skates through agony. Sierra, realizing what he's done, is furious—and terrified. Their trust is tested as never before. But in the crucible of competition, they find a new strength. They win not just medals, but the right to define themselves on their own terms. The past no longer dictates their future.
Trust, Trauma, and Touch
With victory comes reflection. Dylan and Sierra, now a couple, must learn to live with their scars—visible and invisible. Family wounds begin to heal, friendships deepen, and the future opens up. They build a home together, not just in a house, but in each other. The story ends not with perfection, but with hope—a promise that even the most broken can find wholeness, together.
The First Win, The First Loss
Their first major win is bittersweet, shadowed by the cost of sacrifice and the pain of letting go. Both must reckon with what they've lost—and what they've gained. The journey is far from over, but they face it as a team, stronger for every fall and every lift.
Love in the Aftermath
In the aftermath of competition and chaos, Dylan and Sierra choose each other—again and again. Their love is messy, hard-won, and real. They learn that healing is not a destination, but a daily act of courage. Together, they build a life defined not by what broke them, but by how they put themselves back together.
Family Ties, Family Breaks
Dylan's family finally fractures, but in the wreckage, he and his mother find freedom. Sierra's family, once a source of pressure, becomes a source of support. Both learn that family is not just blood, but the people who choose to stay. Forgiveness, though hard, becomes possible.
Sacrifice and Second Chances
Dylan gives up hockey for figure skating, choosing love and partnership over old dreams. Sierra, once defined by fear, reclaims her power. Together, they face new challenges—injury, competition, and the ever-present threat of relapse. But with each other, they find the strength to keep going.
The Grand Prix Gamble
The Grand Prix is both culmination and commencement. Against all odds, Dylan and Sierra skate not just for medals, but for themselves. Their performance is a testament to resilience, trust, and love. Win or lose, they have already won—each other, and the right to write their own story.
Characters
Dylan Donovan
Dylan is the quintessential campus golden boy—hockey star, party king, and reluctant leader. Beneath the bravado lies a young man haunted by family dysfunction, a failed drug test, and the fear that he's only good at ruining things. His relationship with his parents is fraught—his father's infidelity and his mother's pain shape his worldview. Dylan's journey is one of learning vulnerability, accepting help, and redefining masculinity. His partnership with Sierra reveals his capacity for deep empathy and self-sacrifice. He is both protector and partner, learning that true strength lies in honesty and love, not bravado.
Sierra Romanova
Sierra is a former Olympic figure skater whose career was derailed by a traumatic fall. Her life is a battle between the drive to reclaim her place and the fear that she's irreparably broken. Haunted by PTSD, anxiety, and the scars—literal and metaphorical—of her accident, Sierra is both brittle and brave. Her relationship with Dylan is transformative, teaching her to trust, to accept love, and to see herself as more than her trauma. She is fiercely loyal to her friends, especially Scarlett, and her journey is one of reclaiming agency, redefining success, and learning that vulnerability is not weakness.
Scarlett
Scarlett is Sierra's anchor—a friend who never leaves, no matter how dark things get. Tattooed, creative, and fiercely protective, she provides both comic relief and emotional ballast. Her own struggles are hinted at, but her focus is always on supporting Sierra. Scarlett's loyalty is unwavering, and her presence is a reminder that healing is a communal act.
Kian Ishida
Kian is Dylan's childhood friend and teammate, known for his humor, savior complex, and unexpected wisdom. He is the glue of the friend group, always ready with a joke or a helping hand. Beneath the surface, Kian struggles with his own insecurities and the pressure to be the fixer. His friendship with Dylan is a model of unconditional support, and his antics provide levity in dark moments.
Justin Petrov
Justin is Sierra's ex-skating partner, whose betrayal and abandonment are central to her trauma. Driven by ambition and fear, he chooses self-preservation over loyalty, leaving Sierra to pick up the pieces. He represents the toxic side of competitive sports—the pressure to win at any cost, and the ease with which people discard those who are struggling. His presence is a constant test for Sierra, forcing her to confront her past and choose her own worth.
Leyla Donovan
Dylan's mother is a figure of both strength and sorrow. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she is the emotional heart of Dylan's family. Her eventual decision to leave is a turning point, showing both Dylan and Sierra that it's never too late to choose yourself. Her relationship with Dylan is tender, and her journey mirrors his—learning to let go of old pain and embrace new beginnings.
Ada Donovan
Dylan's younger sister, Ada, is a genius and a grounding force. Her presence is a reminder of innocence and possibility. She is both confidante and motivator, pushing Dylan to reconnect with his passions and his family. Ada's intelligence and warmth provide a counterpoint to the chaos around her.
Coach Kilner
Coach Kilner is the tough-love mentor who sees through Dylan's bravado and Sierra's defenses. He pushes both to be better, not just as athletes but as people. His belief in them is unwavering, and his interventions—though sometimes harsh—are always rooted in care. He represents the possibility of redemption and the importance of second chances.
Summer Preston
Summer is the friend who straddles the line between athlete and outsider. Her background in sports psychology gives her unique insight into Dylan and Sierra's struggles. She is a voice of reason, a source of comfort, and a catalyst for growth. Her relationship with Aiden and her friendship with Dylan provide models of healthy love and support.
Aiden Crawford
Aiden is Dylan's best friend and former captain, embodying the best of team spirit and loyalty. He is a stabilizing presence, offering both tough love and gentle encouragement. His relationship with Summer is aspirational, showing that love can be both passionate and safe. Aiden's belief in Dylan is unwavering, and his support is instrumental in Dylan's journey toward healing.
Plot Devices
Dual POV, Trauma as Narrative Engine
The novel alternates between Dylan and Sierra's points of view, allowing readers to inhabit both the masculine and feminine experience of trauma, healing, and love. This duality creates dramatic irony—each character is privy to the other's vulnerabilities before they are willing to share them. Trauma is not just backstory but the engine of the plot: Sierra's fall and Dylan's family implosion drive every decision, every conflict, and every moment of intimacy. The narrative structure mirrors the push-pull of their relationship—progress, setback, progress—emphasizing that healing is nonlinear. Foreshadowing is used through recurring motifs (the smiley face, the ice, the act of falling and getting up) to signal both danger and hope. The partnership trope is subverted: instead of one saving the other, both must learn to save themselves, together.
Analysis
Revolve is a contemporary romance that transcends the genre's typical boundaries by centering trauma, mental health, and the messy, nonlinear process of healing. Bal Khabra crafts a story where love is not a magical cure, but a context for growth, accountability, and self-acceptance. The novel interrogates the myth of the "fixer"—neither Dylan nor Sierra can save the other, but together they create a space where healing is possible. The book is unflinching in its portrayal of anxiety, PTSD, and the long shadow of family dysfunction, yet it is also deeply hopeful. Through humor, banter, and physical intimacy, the characters learn to trust not just each other, but themselves. The message is clear: wholeness is not the absence of scars, but the willingness to keep moving, to keep loving, even when the pieces don't fit perfectly. In a culture obsessed with perfection and performance, Revolve offers a radical alternative—embrace the mess, honor the pain, and choose love, again and again.
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