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Maple Hollow #2
Wild Wicked Mate
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Gilmore, comes a brand new small-town romance set in the quirky town of Maple Hollow!
The closer the proximity, the stronger the spark...
Phoebe and Theo have been best friends for years, never anything more, despite the sparks between them. And after ignoring her desire for so long, Fee has become adept at ignoring their connection.
Until now.
Because when Theo invites her on a road trip, Fee can’t say no. But the only thing separating them on their journey is the heated tension in the cab of his truck...
Acting on their attraction might change everything for Fee and Theo, but is it a risk they’re willing to take?
The closer the proximity, the stronger the spark...
Phoebe and Theo have been best friends for years, never anything more, despite the sparks between them. And after ignoring her desire for so long, Fee has become adept at ignoring their connection.
Until now.
Because when Theo invites her on a road trip, Fee can’t say no. But the only thing separating them on their journey is the heated tension in the cab of his truck...
Acting on their attraction might change everything for Fee and Theo, but is it a risk they’re willing to take?
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Laurie Gilmore
23 books16.6k followersLaurie Gilmore is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, and Globe & Mail bestselling author who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, was featured on Good Morning America and was named the TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024.
She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.
She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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June 11, 2026These covers are absolutely incredible, 10/10 cover design
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
While book 1, Big Bad Wolf is still my favorite I was absolutely enthusiastic over Wild Wicked Mate and finished it in 1 sitting. I had assumed wrongly that Book 2 would be about Lena and whoever her MMC is, but instead we are given the gift of Rafe's younger brother, Theo and his best friend Phoebe who is a tree nymph.
Similar to book one Theo also suffers from his past abuse under his father and runs from his connection to Fee, or Phoebe. However we don't have to read the whole book for them to finally come together. I do hope book 3 goes in a slightly different direction though without the MC running away from his mate.
Theo has known Fee for a decade and they have always been flirty friends, deep down he has always known she is more. But after he looses his pack he pushes her away. They remain strictly in the friend zone as they help Ruby and Lena in Book 1. When Lena disappears they offer to go on a little road trip looking for her. The forced proximity forces them both to face their feelings. This book has some action but most of the angst is driven from watching Theo and Fee's friendship grow through flashbacks. It was more of an emotional peaks and valleys book, then the action filled instalust of book 1.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 round down
3 Spicy
Tropes:
🌘Past trauma
🌘 Hurt and comfort
🌘 Werewolves, nymphs, witches and humans
🌘 Mates
🌘 Betrayal
🌘 Found family/ pack
I can't wait for book 3! It will be Leana's story and we now know who her MMC is. Looks like this will be releasing in early 2027.
Thank you to the author, Harper Collins Publishing, and Harper 360 for the opportunity to ARC Read. #WildWickedMate #NetGalley
Similar to book one Theo also suffers from his past abuse under his father and runs from his connection to Fee, or Phoebe. However we don't have to read the whole book for them to finally come together. I do hope book 3 goes in a slightly different direction though without the MC running away from his mate.
Theo has known Fee for a decade and they have always been flirty friends, deep down he has always known she is more. But after he looses his pack he pushes her away. They remain strictly in the friend zone as they help Ruby and Lena in Book 1. When Lena disappears they offer to go on a little road trip looking for her. The forced proximity forces them both to face their feelings. This book has some action but most of the angst is driven from watching Theo and Fee's friendship grow through flashbacks. It was more of an emotional peaks and valleys book, then the action filled instalust of book 1.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 round down
3 Spicy
Tropes:
🌘Past trauma
🌘 Hurt and comfort
🌘 Werewolves, nymphs, witches and humans
🌘 Mates
🌘 Betrayal
🌘 Found family/ pack
I can't wait for book 3! It will be Leana's story and we now know who her MMC is. Looks like this will be releasing in early 2027.
Thank you to the author, Harper Collins Publishing, and Harper 360 for the opportunity to ARC Read. #WildWickedMate #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the second book in the Maple Hollow series, and I would definitely recommend reading the first one before you read this one. The story pretty much picks up right where that one left off. We also get the story of Theo, a werewolf, and his best friend Phoebe “Fee,” a dryad. They’ve danced around one another for years but have never taken the next step to becoming more than friends, until now.
I unfortunately didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one. Right from the beginning Fee is keeping information from Theo, and lying to him. That goes on throughout the majority of the book, until it all comes out of course and a fight and breakup ensue. For someone who supposedly wanted more with Theo, starting off with a lie was not a good way to go.
Theo was also holding things back from Fee, so a lot of the book was them not telling each other things. I just felt frustrated for the majority of the book, and never really connected with Theo and Fee. There is an overarching story going on though that has kept my interest, and I believe I know who the couple in the third book will be. I want to thank Harper 360/Harper Collins and NetGalley for the copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to leave a review.
4/5 on the Spicy Scale
M/F
I unfortunately didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one. Right from the beginning Fee is keeping information from Theo, and lying to him. That goes on throughout the majority of the book, until it all comes out of course and a fight and breakup ensue. For someone who supposedly wanted more with Theo, starting off with a lie was not a good way to go.
Theo was also holding things back from Fee, so a lot of the book was them not telling each other things. I just felt frustrated for the majority of the book, and never really connected with Theo and Fee. There is an overarching story going on though that has kept my interest, and I believe I know who the couple in the third book will be. I want to thank Harper 360/Harper Collins and NetGalley for the copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to leave a review.
4/5 on the Spicy Scale
M/F
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Harper 360 and Netgalley for the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wild wicked Mate is book two in Maple Hollow series, and focuses on best friends Phoebe (Fee) who is a Dryad, and Theo, who is a Werewolf. It's a slow burn friends to lovers romance with SO. MUCH. mutual yearning. Not only do we get a tangled but sweet love story, but we get a cozy, quirky town full of fun characters and various species, too!
Fee and Theo are helping their family and friends find a missing person, who coincidentally is a seer and twin sister of Ruby (from book one). Two rival packs both want the seer to help provide answers about their pack futures. No one is sure where she is, if she's in danger, and the town pulls together to look for her. During this search there are side plots happening that also help to set up for book three, and I'm so looking forward to it!!
I loved the fun banter, flirting, and smirks from Theo; and how his and Fee's story developed. Friends to Lovers is such a great trope when done right. I'm honestly obsessed with Maple Hollow series and it's unique population! I can't wait for more of this series and anxiously awaiting for more!
Wild wicked Mate is book two in Maple Hollow series, and focuses on best friends Phoebe (Fee) who is a Dryad, and Theo, who is a Werewolf. It's a slow burn friends to lovers romance with SO. MUCH. mutual yearning. Not only do we get a tangled but sweet love story, but we get a cozy, quirky town full of fun characters and various species, too!
Fee and Theo are helping their family and friends find a missing person, who coincidentally is a seer and twin sister of Ruby (from book one). Two rival packs both want the seer to help provide answers about their pack futures. No one is sure where she is, if she's in danger, and the town pulls together to look for her. During this search there are side plots happening that also help to set up for book three, and I'm so looking forward to it!!
I loved the fun banter, flirting, and smirks from Theo; and how his and Fee's story developed. Friends to Lovers is such a great trope when done right. I'm honestly obsessed with Maple Hollow series and it's unique population! I can't wait for more of this series and anxiously awaiting for more!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Definitely in R-rated territory now with this series. I think it's hitting its stride more with this one, or I just enjoyed Fee and Theo more than Ruby and Rafe. Still plenty of angst (unnecessarily at times but it's the genre) but a lot more movement and action here with the continued world-building and the building towards the mystery of what is happening with Lena, Ruby's sister. I think I am most excited to finally get to Lena's story (I assume it's up next) which I think is going to tie together these books so nicely. Also, I adore a found family trope and with this book in the series, Maple Hollow and the found "pack" is really solidifying and I love it so much for the brothers. Looking forward to book 3 (Sad I have to wait now lol)
*eARC from NetGalley
*eARC from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When I got my hands on an arc of book 1 as a bookseller, I couldn’t resist reaching out to HarperCollins and Harper360 and asking (begging?) for an e-arc of book 2.
I received it today, and finished it in a matter of hours.
I adored Rafe and Ruby, but Theo and Phoebe? My goodness, they have my heart. The banter, the tension, the longing, all of it was everything. I loved how this story gave us the background into their friendship and their own individual histories and how they’ve intertwined, as well as seeing how they have fit in with the characters from book one for longer than what we’ve seen of them.
Thank you so much, Laurie and the team at HarperCollins and Harper360 for blessing us with this amazing story! I can’t wait for book 3!
I received it today, and finished it in a matter of hours.
I adored Rafe and Ruby, but Theo and Phoebe? My goodness, they have my heart. The banter, the tension, the longing, all of it was everything. I loved how this story gave us the background into their friendship and their own individual histories and how they’ve intertwined, as well as seeing how they have fit in with the characters from book one for longer than what we’ve seen of them.
Thank you so much, Laurie and the team at HarperCollins and Harper360 for blessing us with this amazing story! I can’t wait for book 3!
August 9, 2026
Phoebe and Theo have been friends for years. They are in a mission to find a missing woman from their small town. They both try to ignore their strong fated mate’s connection but it only grows stronger on their mission. I loved all of the quirky small town characters we meet along the way! Maple Hollow is magical!
I absolutely loved this book! What a fun fast paced read with lots of spice that surprised me! I loved Laurie Gilmore from the Dream Harbor series and this second book in the Maple Hollow series did not disappoint!
Tropes:
-Small Town
-Friends to Lovers
-Fated Mates
-Found Family
I absolutely loved this book! What a fun fast paced read with lots of spice that surprised me! I loved Laurie Gilmore from the Dream Harbor series and this second book in the Maple Hollow series did not disappoint!
Tropes:
-Small Town
-Friends to Lovers
-Fated Mates
-Found Family
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a cute and cozy werewolf book. Theo and Phoebe have been friends for about a decade and they’ve been avoiding their attraction to each other the whole time. Both are reluctant to put their friendship on the line to explore their feelings but when they finally do, they are such a cute couple. I really loved the time jumps to show us their friendship and flirting over the years.
Super cute and easy read, looking forward to the next one!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper360 for the ARC.
Super cute and easy read, looking forward to the next one!
Thank you NetGalley and Harper360 for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews