Homecomings and Hard Goodbyes

Dylan Casablancas, a single mother, is stuck in her small hometown, living with her mother and feeling the weight of her unfulfilled dreams. Her life is a cycle of dead-end diner shifts, raising her daughter Gravity, and watching others—like her best friend Cal and brother Row—live out their own happy endings. When Row and Cal offer her a chance to house-sit their Manhattan apartment, Dylan is forced to confront her fear of change and her longing for more. The decision to leave is triggered by a moment of self-realization: she wants a life that's vibrant, not beige. With a mix of hope and terror, she accepts, determined to give Gravity—and herself—a shot at something better.

Manhattan Meltdowns

Dylan's move to New York is anything but smooth. Her car breaks down in the middle of Fifth Avenue, causing chaos and humiliation. Gravity nearly gets hurt, but is saved by Rhyland Coltridge—her brother's best friend and notorious womanizer. Their antagonistic history flares up immediately, but circumstances force them together. Rhyland helps her out of the jam, and their banter is sharp, laced with old wounds and unresolved attraction. Dylan's vulnerability is exposed, and Rhyland's reluctant sense of responsibility kicks in. The city feels overwhelming, but the encounter with Rhyland sets the stage for a collision of past grievances and new possibilities.

The Rescue and the Rival

Rhyland's business ambitions collide with Dylan's need for stability when a potential investor, Bruce Marshall, mistakes them for a couple. Rhyland, desperate to appear like a "family man" to secure funding for his dating app, proposes a fake engagement to Dylan. She's initially resistant, but the promise of financial help and practical support for Gravity is too tempting to refuse. Their deal is transactional—he gets his investor, she gets money and help—but the boundaries are blurry. Old resentments simmer, but so does a dangerous chemistry. Both are determined not to let feelings get in the way, but the pretense is already starting to feel real.

A Deal with the Devil

Dylan and Rhyland hammer out the details of their fake engagement, each setting boundaries and "hard limits." The arrangement is supposed to be strictly business, but the sexual tension is undeniable. Dylan, starved for affection and adventure, boldly suggests that sex be part of the deal—no strings attached. Rhyland, shocked but intrigued, agrees, but both are wary of the emotional risks. Their mutual need for control and fear of vulnerability create a push-pull dynamic. As they navigate the logistics of their new roles—babysitting, social media appearances, and public displays—the line between acting and authenticity begins to blur.

Fake Fiancés, Real Sparks

The charade intensifies as Rhyland and Dylan are forced to play the perfect couple for Bruce and his wife. Their staged affection—hand-holding, kisses, and social media posts—starts to awaken genuine feelings. Rhyland, who prides himself on emotional detachment, finds himself drawn to Dylan's resilience and wit. Dylan, meanwhile, is surprised by Rhyland's unexpected tenderness with Gravity and his willingness to help. Their banter shifts from antagonistic to flirtatious, and their physical connection deepens. But both are haunted by past betrayals and the fear that this happiness is temporary—a performance that will end in heartbreak.

Past Mistakes, Present Tensions

Flashbacks reveal the tangled history between Dylan and Rhyland, including a near-miss romantic encounter years ago and the pain of being overlooked or rejected. Dylan's ex, Tucker, reappears in New York, stirring up old trauma and jealousy. Rhyland's own family issues—neglectful parents and a career built on transactional relationships—fuel his reluctance to trust or commit. As Dylan struggles to find work and self-worth in the city, she faces humiliation and setbacks, while Rhyland's financial pressures mount. Their growing intimacy is threatened by insecurities, misunderstandings, and the ever-present specter of their pasts.

The Art of Pretending

Dylan's job search leads to a humiliating interview, and she takes a bartending gig at the Alchemist, where she's forced to work alongside Tucker. Rhyland, meanwhile, juggles investor meetings and the demands of their fake relationship. Their public personas—loving, stable, enviable—contrast sharply with their private doubts and fears. The act becomes harder to maintain as real emotions seep in. Rhyland's protectiveness over Dylan and Gravity grows, culminating in a violent confrontation with Tucker when he crosses a line. The stakes of their arrangement become painfully clear: pretending is easy, but being vulnerable is terrifying.

Lines Blurred, Hearts Exposed

The sexual aspect of Dylan and Rhyland's arrangement explodes into reality, and their chemistry is undeniable. But with intimacy comes exposure—of wounds, desires, and fears. Rhyland's past as a sex worker and his experience with assault surface, deepening his complexity and his need for control. Dylan's struggle to trust, shaped by her father's abuse and Tucker's abandonment, makes her wary of happiness. When Tucker tries to reinsert himself into Gravity's life, the threat becomes physical and emotional. Rhyland's willingness to fight for Dylan and Gravity—literally and figuratively—forces both to confront what they truly want.

Family Ties and Fights

Row's overprotectiveness and Dylan's determination to assert her independence come to a head. Found family dynamics—loyalty, resentment, and the need for validation—play out in explosive arguments and tender reconciliations. Rhyland's friendship with Row is tested by his growing feelings for Dylan, and Dylan's relationship with her mother and best friend Cal provides both comfort and conflict. The found family that forms around Dylan, Gravity, and Rhyland is messy but fiercely loyal. When Tucker's actions escalate, everyone is forced to choose sides and fight for what matters most.

Falling for the Forbidden

Despite their best efforts to keep things casual, Dylan and Rhyland fall deeply in love. Their relationship is passionate, playful, and healing, but also fraught with fear. Both are terrified of repeating the mistakes of their parents—neglect, abandonment, betrayal. The fake engagement becomes real in everything but name, and the prospect of a future together is both exhilarating and terrifying. As Rhyland's business takes off and Dylan contemplates her own dreams, they must decide if they're willing to risk everything for a chance at happiness.

Secrets, Setbacks, and Sabotage

Rhyland's business deal with Bruce is jeopardized by the revelation that their engagement was a ruse. Tate, a ruthless friend and business rival, manipulates the situation for his own gain, forcing Rhyland to make painful sacrifices. Dylan's insecurities flare when she sees Rhyland in a compromising photo with a celebrity, and her old fears of abandonment resurface. Meanwhile, Tucker's instability reaches a breaking point, culminating in a dangerous act that puts Gravity at risk. The couple's trust is tested as they face betrayal, loss, and the consequences of their choices.

The Price of Protection

When Tucker kidnaps Gravity, the entire found family mobilizes to save her. Rhyland's resourcefulness and willingness to break the law for Dylan and Gravity prove his devotion, but the trauma leaves scars. Dylan is forced to confront her deepest fears—of losing her child, of trusting the wrong person, of not being enough. Rhyland's own wounds—his parents' neglect, his fear of being unlovable—are laid bare. The aftermath is messy, with legal battles, emotional fallout, and the need to rebuild trust. But through it all, the bonds between Dylan, Rhyland, and Gravity grow stronger.

When the Past Returns

Dylan's return to Maine is a retreat, but it quickly becomes clear that running away won't heal her wounds. Conversations with her mother and the realization that she's repeating old patterns push her to reconsider what she truly wants. Rhyland, devastated by her absence, is forced to confront his own capacity for love and forgiveness. Both must decide if they're willing to break the cycle of fear and choose each other, despite the risks. The journey back to each other is fraught with doubt, but also with hope.

Breaking Points and Breakthroughs

Dylan and Rhyland's reunion is raw and honest. They acknowledge their mistakes, fears, and the ways they've hurt each other. The proposal—at a mall fountain, with a coin and a wish—symbolizes their willingness to start anew, imperfect but committed. They promise to build a life together that's defined not by the traumas of their pasts, but by the dreams they dare to chase. The engagement is no longer a performance, but a declaration of real, messy, hard-won love.

Tornadoes and Torn Hearts

The couple faces one final test when a literal tornado and a series of misunderstandings threaten to tear them apart. Rhyland's desperate journey to keep his promise to Dylan—risking his business, his safety, and his pride—proves the depth of his love. Dylan, meanwhile, must decide if she can let go of her fear and trust in a future with Rhyland. The storm is both a metaphor and a catalyst, forcing them to confront what truly matters.

Losing and Finding Home

Home is no longer a place, but the people Dylan and Rhyland choose. Together, they build a new family with Gravity, Fluffy and Mittens, embracing the chaos and joy of their unconventional life. Dylan pursues her dream of becoming a doctor, and Rhyland finds purpose beyond money and sex. Their wedding is a celebration of everything they've survived and the future they're creating. The past still lingers, but it no longer defines them.

Second Chances, Wildest Dreams

The epilogue finds Dylan and Rhyland navigating the challenges of parenthood, ambition, and love. Gravity starts preschool, Dylan prepares for med school, and Rhyland's business thrives. Their relationship is far from perfect—full of laughter, fights, and make-up sex—but it's real. They've learned that love isn't about avoiding pain, but about choosing each other, again and again, even when it's hard. Their wildest dreams aren't about fairy tales, but about building a life that's honest, brave, and full of second chances.

Happily Ever After, Redefined

Dylan and Rhyland's wedding is a joyful, chaotic, and deeply personal celebration. Surrounded by their found family, they commit to a future that's messy, unpredictable, and entirely their own. The story ends not with a perfect resolution, but with the promise of more adventures, more mistakes, and more love. Their happily ever after isn't about perfection, but about the courage to keep dreaming—and to keep choosing each other, no matter what.

Characters

Dylan Casablancas

Dylan is the heart of the story—a single mom who's survived small-town judgment, heartbreak, and the suffocating weight of other people's expectations. Her relationship with her daughter Gravity is her anchor, but it's also a source of vulnerability. Dylan's wit and sarcasm mask deep insecurities, especially around trust and self-worth, shaped by an abusive father and a faithless ex. Her journey is one of reclaiming agency: daring to want more, to chase her wildest dreams, and to risk her heart again. Her dynamic with Rhyland is electric—equal parts banter, battle, and balm. She's both the damsel and her own savior, learning that true strength is found in asking for help and choosing love, even when it's terrifying.

Rhyland Coltridge

Rhyland is a study in contradictions: a notorious playboy with a hidden capacity for loyalty and tenderness. Scarred by parental neglect and a career built on transactional relationships, he's mastered the art of detachment. His initial approach to Dylan is pragmatic—she's a means to an end—but her resilience and vulnerability crack his armor. Rhyland's journey is about learning to trust, to care, and to let himself be needed. His protectiveness over Dylan and Gravity is both redemptive and fraught with fear—he's terrified of failing them as he was failed. His humor and bravado mask a deep longing for connection, and his eventual willingness to risk everything for love is both his greatest strength and his most profound vulnerability.

Gravity Casablancas

Gravity is more than just Dylan's daughter—she's the embodiment of possibility and the force that anchors both main characters. Her presence brings out the best in Rhyland, challenging his aversion to responsibility and opening his heart. Gravity's innocence and trust are both a source of joy and a reminder of what's at stake. She represents the future Dylan and Rhyland are fighting for—a life defined not by fear, but by love and hope.

Row Casablancas

Row is Dylan's older brother and Rhyland's best friend, a chef whose gruff exterior hides deep devotion. His overprotectiveness is both a comfort and a source of conflict, especially as Dylan asserts her independence. Row's own history of trauma shapes his need to shield his sister, but he ultimately learns to let go and trust her choices. His friendship with Rhyland is tested but ultimately endures, grounded in mutual respect and shared history.

Cal (Calla)

Cal is Dylan's confidante and Row's wife, a source of warmth, humor, and tough love. She's the bridge between Dylan's past and present, always ready with advice, comfort, or a reality check. Cal's own journey—from outsider to family—mirrors Dylan's, and her unwavering support is a lifeline during the story's darkest moments.

Tucker

Tucker is the antagonist whose actions catalyze much of the story's conflict. His abandonment, manipulation, and eventual violence force Dylan to confront her deepest fears and insecurities. Tucker's presence is a constant reminder of what Dylan stands to lose—and what she refuses to accept for herself or Gravity. His ultimate downfall is both a reckoning and a release.

Bruce Marshall

Bruce is the investor whose approval Rhyland needs, but he's also a catalyst for the couple's growth. His insistence on family values and authenticity forces Rhyland and Dylan to confront their own truths. Bruce's own history of betrayal and loss adds depth to his role as both obstacle and ally.

Tate Blackthorn

Tate is a complex figure—part friend, part rival, part devil's advocate. His willingness to exploit others for his own gain is both a warning and a challenge to Rhyland. Tate's presence raises the stakes, forcing Rhyland to make hard choices and confront the cost of ambition. He's a reminder that not all relationships are redemptive, and that some wounds are self-inflicted.

Zeta Casablancas

Dylan's mother is a survivor of abuse who finds new love and happiness later in life. Her journey parallels Dylan's, offering both caution and hope. Zeta's support is unwavering, and her wisdom helps Dylan see that healing is possible—even after profound hurt.

Fluffy and Mittens

The two dogs left behind by Rhyland's parents become unlikely symbols of responsibility, loyalty, and the messy, joyful chaos of found family. Their presence softens Rhyland and brings levity to the story, reminding everyone that love often arrives in unexpected forms.

Plot Devices

Enemies-to-Lovers, Fake Engagement

The central device is the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, supercharged by a fake engagement that forces Dylan and Rhyland into close quarters and public displays of affection. The pretense is both a shield and a crucible, exposing vulnerabilities and desires they'd rather keep hidden. The arrangement is transactional—each has something to gain—but the act of pretending becomes a catalyst for genuine connection. The device is used to explore themes of authenticity, trust, and the blurry line between performance and reality.

Past Trauma and Cycles of Abuse

Both protagonists are haunted by their pasts—Dylan by her father's abuse and Tucker's betrayal, Rhyland by parental neglect and emotional detachment. These wounds inform their reluctance to trust, their need for control, and their fear of happiness. The story uses flashbacks, confessions, and confrontations to reveal how trauma is inherited and how breaking the cycle requires courage and vulnerability.

Found Family and Redemption

The narrative structure emphasizes the importance of chosen family—friends, lovers, and even pets—over blood ties. Rhyland's journey from isolation to belonging is mirrored in his relationships with Dylan, Gravity, and the wider circle of friends. Redemption is a recurring motif: characters are given second chances, but only if they're willing to do the hard work of change.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

Recurring symbols—like the engagement ring, Mr. Mushroom, and the wishing well—serve as touchstones for the characters' hopes, fears, and growth. The tornado is both a literal and metaphorical storm, forcing the characters to confront what matters most. The use of social media, public perception, and staged events highlights the tension between appearance and reality.

Dual POV and Internal Monologue

The story alternates between Dylan and Rhyland's perspectives, allowing readers to see the same events through different lenses. Internal monologues reveal hidden fears, desires, and rationalizations, deepening the emotional impact and creating dramatic irony. The dual POV also underscores the theme that love is a leap of faith—one that requires both partners to risk being seen, flaws and all.

Analysis

Wildest Dreams is a modern, subversive take on the enemies-to-lovers and fake engagement romance, using sharp wit, emotional honesty, and a cast of deeply flawed but lovable characters to explore the messy realities of love, trauma, and healing. At its core, the novel is about breaking cycles—of abuse, self-sabotage, and fear—and daring to want more, even when the world (and your own history) tells you to settle. Dylan and Rhyland's journey is both a critique and celebration of romance tropes: their love is hard-won, full of setbacks, and never simple, but it's also transformative. The book challenges the idea that happily ever after is about perfection; instead, it's about choosing each other, again and again, in the face of uncertainty. The story's humor, sexual frankness, and emotional depth make it both entertaining and resonant, offering readers not just escapism, but a blueprint for hope, resilience, and the wild, necessary act of dreaming.

Last updated: September 20, 2025