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Daredevil: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 13 Nov 26Macy Reardon has everything she ever wanted...
…a handsome husband, two beautiful children, and a picture-perfect home in a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles. Then comes a creeping sense of dissatisfaction - and a revelation that her marriage isn’t all that she believed.
Macy’s best friend, Juliette, introduces her to the charismatic and mysterious Melia who leads a women’s social club in which members assign each other dares designed to inject excitement into their lives. Macy’s journey with the group begins with the simple and harmless dare of getting a tattoo, but quickly progresses to more intense risks that lead to her involvement with a struggling young musician. As her idyllic life as a wife and mother begins to unravel and collide with her new role as a “daredevil,” Macy becomes unrecognizable to even herself. She’s now a woman willing to risk the things she values most, and dive off the edge, just to feel alive again.
About the Author
Lori Simone Hultin’s short stories have appeared in The Baltimore Review, and her non-fiction work in Thrive Global, as well as sports sites and technology publications. Lori spent 30+ years developing Communications programs for some of the world’s biggest tech companies including Hewlett Packard and Cisco. She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English and studied with The UCLA Writer’s Program. She resides in Westlake Village, California with her husband, and within close proximity of her adult daughters.
Praise for Daredevil
“Lori Simone Hultin’s deep dive into a classic theme—the wronged wife driven to rediscover herself—comes imbued with sharp authenticity. Macy shocks even herself with one uncharacteristic act after another, all leading to unexpected twists and emotional consequences. Daredevil is a powerful read from a compelling storyteller.
—Lorraine Devon Wilke, award-winning author of Chick Singer and The Alchemy of Noise
“. ... a tale told with passion, sensitivity, and humor … and with great respect and understanding of the characters involved.”
—Romalyn Tilghman, author of The Obit Habit
…a handsome husband, two beautiful children, and a picture-perfect home in a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles. Then comes a creeping sense of dissatisfaction - and a revelation that her marriage isn’t all that she believed.
Macy’s best friend, Juliette, introduces her to the charismatic and mysterious Melia who leads a women’s social club in which members assign each other dares designed to inject excitement into their lives. Macy’s journey with the group begins with the simple and harmless dare of getting a tattoo, but quickly progresses to more intense risks that lead to her involvement with a struggling young musician. As her idyllic life as a wife and mother begins to unravel and collide with her new role as a “daredevil,” Macy becomes unrecognizable to even herself. She’s now a woman willing to risk the things she values most, and dive off the edge, just to feel alive again.
About the Author
Lori Simone Hultin’s short stories have appeared in The Baltimore Review, and her non-fiction work in Thrive Global, as well as sports sites and technology publications. Lori spent 30+ years developing Communications programs for some of the world’s biggest tech companies including Hewlett Packard and Cisco. She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in English and studied with The UCLA Writer’s Program. She resides in Westlake Village, California with her husband, and within close proximity of her adult daughters.
Praise for Daredevil
“Lori Simone Hultin’s deep dive into a classic theme—the wronged wife driven to rediscover herself—comes imbued with sharp authenticity. Macy shocks even herself with one uncharacteristic act after another, all leading to unexpected twists and emotional consequences. Daredevil is a powerful read from a compelling storyteller.
—Lorraine Devon Wilke, award-winning author of Chick Singer and The Alchemy of Noise
“. ... a tale told with passion, sensitivity, and humor … and with great respect and understanding of the characters involved.”
—Romalyn Tilghman, author of The Obit Habit
413 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 13, 2026
About the author
Lori Simone Hultin
1 book2 followersLori Simone Hultin has been writing since she can remember, beginning with the somewhat obsessive diary entries and fantasy stories of her childhood.
Lori’s work is diverse and eclectic; she has written articles on parenting, suburbia, and aging for sites like Thrive Global and Patch, written about the sport of hockey for The Pink Puck, and penned numerous technical articles for a variety of trade publications.
For more than 25 years, Lori created and implemented Communications and Marketing programs for some of the world’s biggest tech companies including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, and IBM, as well as a multitude of start-ups. When her creative writing side hustle led to the publication of her short story “Catch a Falling Star” in The Baltimore Review, it sparked Lori’s desire to devote more time to fiction, and resulted in her debut novel, “Daredevil”.
A proud UCLA Bruin, Lori graduated with a B.A. in English and later studied with The UCLA Writer’s Program. When Lori isn’t writing, she can be found reading a great novel, rage-watching her Los Angeles sports teams – especially the L.A. Kings, and going to as many concerts and sporting events as her budget will allow. She is also a former fitness instructor but now feeds her exercise fix with long walks, short Peloton rides, and Pilates.
Lori resides in Westlake Village, California with her husband Per, a native of Sweden, and their faithful Labrador retriever, and spends as much time as possible with her adult daughters, Shannyn and Claire.
Lori’s work is diverse and eclectic; she has written articles on parenting, suburbia, and aging for sites like Thrive Global and Patch, written about the sport of hockey for The Pink Puck, and penned numerous technical articles for a variety of trade publications.
For more than 25 years, Lori created and implemented Communications and Marketing programs for some of the world’s biggest tech companies including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, and IBM, as well as a multitude of start-ups. When her creative writing side hustle led to the publication of her short story “Catch a Falling Star” in The Baltimore Review, it sparked Lori’s desire to devote more time to fiction, and resulted in her debut novel, “Daredevil”.
A proud UCLA Bruin, Lori graduated with a B.A. in English and later studied with The UCLA Writer’s Program. When Lori isn’t writing, she can be found reading a great novel, rage-watching her Los Angeles sports teams – especially the L.A. Kings, and going to as many concerts and sporting events as her budget will allow. She is also a former fitness instructor but now feeds her exercise fix with long walks, short Peloton rides, and Pilates.
Lori resides in Westlake Village, California with her husband Per, a native of Sweden, and their faithful Labrador retriever, and spends as much time as possible with her adult daughters, Shannyn and Claire.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 5, 2024
This book explores the ever-present question of identity: who do you want to be, and are the paths you’ve chosen where you want to end up? Macy is a nuanced character who is constantly questioning whether the choices she made a little over a decade ago are still right for her. The book was full of twists and turns that kept me wanting to turn the page to find out what would happen next. It was unexpected and there was some pure drama in the last 100 pages!
June 25, 2024
😈 Book Review😈
The Daredevils by Lori Simone Hultin
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reading Format: 📖
Genre: Fiction
In three words, this story was surprising, entertaining, and unexpected.
Thoughts on the story: From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The main character, Macy, intrigued me as she navigated the trials and tribulations of suspecting her husband is to cheating to confirming it to being suspicious even if he is no longer doing the deed(that we know of). I could not relate to Macy as I don’t have kids, am not a stay at home mom, or dealt with infidelity. To be clear, I am not a fan of reading about cheating, but I went into this with an open mind. The flow of the story was good and I found myself wanting to know what would happen next. The ending took me by surprise. I felt like it came out of nowhere(I’m not talking about what we learn about Jem, but how he responds at the end.) It felt very jarring. I also wished there was more of a resolution. It felt like the story ended abruptly and I really wanted Macy and Rick to finally communicate. So I found that frustrating. Lori Simone Hultin had great description when setting the scene. I could smell, hear, and feel what she was describing. I also found myself rooting for Macy to find her own happiness. Overall, I read something out of my comfort zone and I found it entertaining and enjoyable.
⚠️ Spoiler Alert ⚠️
Warnings: nudity, infidelity, drugs
Spice: 🌶️ Not explicit
Favorite quote:
Favorite parts:
-Strip club scene (super entertaining!)
-going to the club that first night
-getting a tattoo on her butt 🌼 and Rick finding out about it was hilarious! 😂
Worst parts
-Macy meeting Elinor and confirming Rick is cheating
-family dinner with Macy’s parents (her parents and Rick annoyed me)
-Macy deciding to cheat
-Macy ending up in the hospital and her family upset with her when they don’t know the full story!
Favorite Quote: “How do I explain the sudden desire to be something more than what I am, my longing to go back and reset my life, explore things I left behind like my short-lived career? How do I explain the way everything I’ve done recently has made me feel vibrant and alive again, while simultaneously knowing how insane it is?”
The Daredevils by Lori Simone Hultin
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reading Format: 📖
Genre: Fiction
In three words, this story was surprising, entertaining, and unexpected.
Thoughts on the story: From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The main character, Macy, intrigued me as she navigated the trials and tribulations of suspecting her husband is to cheating to confirming it to being suspicious even if he is no longer doing the deed(that we know of). I could not relate to Macy as I don’t have kids, am not a stay at home mom, or dealt with infidelity. To be clear, I am not a fan of reading about cheating, but I went into this with an open mind. The flow of the story was good and I found myself wanting to know what would happen next. The ending took me by surprise. I felt like it came out of nowhere(I’m not talking about what we learn about Jem, but how he responds at the end.) It felt very jarring. I also wished there was more of a resolution. It felt like the story ended abruptly and I really wanted Macy and Rick to finally communicate. So I found that frustrating. Lori Simone Hultin had great description when setting the scene. I could smell, hear, and feel what she was describing. I also found myself rooting for Macy to find her own happiness. Overall, I read something out of my comfort zone and I found it entertaining and enjoyable.
⚠️ Spoiler Alert ⚠️
Warnings: nudity, infidelity, drugs
Spice: 🌶️ Not explicit
Favorite quote:
Favorite parts:
-Strip club scene (super entertaining!)
-going to the club that first night
-getting a tattoo on her butt 🌼 and Rick finding out about it was hilarious! 😂
Worst parts
-Macy meeting Elinor and confirming Rick is cheating
-family dinner with Macy’s parents (her parents and Rick annoyed me)
-Macy deciding to cheat
-Macy ending up in the hospital and her family upset with her when they don’t know the full story!
Favorite Quote: “How do I explain the sudden desire to be something more than what I am, my longing to go back and reset my life, explore things I left behind like my short-lived career? How do I explain the way everything I’ve done recently has made me feel vibrant and alive again, while simultaneously knowing how insane it is?”
July 8, 2024
A Los Angeles suburb filled with quaint, picturesque homes and bustling with active homemakers. The air is filled with the sounds of soccer practice, dance recitals, and exclusive clubs. But behind the facade of contentment lies a question – are the people you see truly satisfied with their lives, or do they secretly yearn for something different? Macy Reardon appears to have it all. However, everything changes when she meets Juliette, Melia, and Jem, a charming musician. Macy's seemingly perfect life unravels when she discovers her long-time husband's infidelity, leaving her torn between forgiveness and seeking her brand of enjoyment. Enter the Daredevils, a girl group introducing Macy to a world of tattoos, strip clubs, Mexican beaches, and nightclubs filled with thrilling adventures. But as Macy delves deeper into this chaotic world, she questions whether the thrill is worth jeopardizing her family. Is this newfound lifestyle the happiness she has always longed for – carefree and joyful?
Macy is an exceptional individual committed to being a supportive wife and loving mother, prioritizing her family above all else. She left her professional aspirations behind to focus on raising her two children, exemplifying the traditional and often romanticized role of a homemaker, deeply embedded in the American culture.
In this riveting portion of the book, Macy bravely opens herself up to the possibility of love once more as she becomes involved with Jem, a talented young musician. Her time with him fills her with a sense of freedom and affection that she hasn't felt in a long time. However, as she and Jem both seek a fresh start, it's natural to wonder if she truly understands who he is. Will he be a source of protection and support for Macy, or is she unknowingly stepping into a dangerous situation? I was completely caught off guard by the twist at the end, and it left me with a mix of heartache and jubilation as I turned the final page.
Lori Simone Hultin, wow, what a fantastic book! Hultin's writing is brilliant, and the way she explores the themes of taking chances, love, and heartbreak is genuinely captivating. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotional read. I can't wait to explore more of Hultin's work in the future!
I received an ARC from Reedsy, and I gave an honest review.
https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/dar...
Macy is an exceptional individual committed to being a supportive wife and loving mother, prioritizing her family above all else. She left her professional aspirations behind to focus on raising her two children, exemplifying the traditional and often romanticized role of a homemaker, deeply embedded in the American culture.
In this riveting portion of the book, Macy bravely opens herself up to the possibility of love once more as she becomes involved with Jem, a talented young musician. Her time with him fills her with a sense of freedom and affection that she hasn't felt in a long time. However, as she and Jem both seek a fresh start, it's natural to wonder if she truly understands who he is. Will he be a source of protection and support for Macy, or is she unknowingly stepping into a dangerous situation? I was completely caught off guard by the twist at the end, and it left me with a mix of heartache and jubilation as I turned the final page.
Lori Simone Hultin, wow, what a fantastic book! Hultin's writing is brilliant, and the way she explores the themes of taking chances, love, and heartbreak is genuinely captivating. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotional read. I can't wait to explore more of Hultin's work in the future!
I received an ARC from Reedsy, and I gave an honest review.
https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/dar...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Daredevil takes a woman who seemingly has everything and lets her slowly blow holes through the life she thought she wanted. Macy has the husband, children, beautiful home, and comfortable Los Angeles life, but dissatisfaction starts creeping in before a women’s social club introduces her to a series of escalating dares. What begins with a tattoo eventually becomes something much harder to walk back.
As a wife and mom, I found Macy’s restlessness uncomfortable in an interesting way. She is not simply bored and looking for excitement. There is a growing sense that she has spent so long living inside the version of adulthood she was supposed to want that she no longer knows where she ends and that version begins.
The dares give the story momentum, especially once a struggling musician enters the picture, but I was more interested in watching Macy rationalize each step. The scariest part is not that she suddenly becomes reckless. It is how gradually she gets there.
My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
As a wife and mom, I found Macy’s restlessness uncomfortable in an interesting way. She is not simply bored and looking for excitement. There is a growing sense that she has spent so long living inside the version of adulthood she was supposed to want that she no longer knows where she ends and that version begins.
The dares give the story momentum, especially once a struggling musician enters the picture, but I was more interested in watching Macy rationalize each step. The scariest part is not that she suddenly becomes reckless. It is how gradually she gets there.
My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
Read
March 12, 2026Daredevil is an engaging exploration of identity, desire, and the tension between stability and personal freedom. Lori Simone Hultin crafts a compelling narrative around Macy Reardon, a woman who seemingly has everything yet finds herself questioning the life she carefully built.
As Macy is drawn into the daring escapades of the mysterious “daredevils,” the story unfolds as a thoughtful reflection on marriage, self-discovery, and the risks people take in search of authenticity. The novel balances moments of emotional introspection with the thrill of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, creating a character-driven story about what it means to truly feel alive.
As Macy is drawn into the daring escapades of the mysterious “daredevils,” the story unfolds as a thoughtful reflection on marriage, self-discovery, and the risks people take in search of authenticity. The novel balances moments of emotional introspection with the thrill of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, creating a character-driven story about what it means to truly feel alive.
July 4, 2024
Where to begin with this book. This book is real life feelings!! Macy has my whole heart. I love that the author wrote this book about Macy. What Macy feels - is something that I think a lot of women feel when they have kids (whether they have a career or not). Following Macy on her journey you can't help but root for her and just want to wrap her up in a big hug. I don't like to leave any spoilers - just know this story is real life feelings, it is messy, confusing, heart breaking. You will find yourself enthralled in the story. Do yourself a favor and read this!
June 10, 2024
A well-paced story with interesting, dimensional characters. The main character, Macy, is a likable, conflicted woman who has only identified as a “mother” after so many years of raising her kids. It’s hard not to root for Macy as she tries to navigate the choices ahead of her.
If you are looking for a well-written summer read with lots of twists, this is the book for you!
If you are looking for a well-written summer read with lots of twists, this is the book for you!
December 9, 2024
Growing up in the suburbs of LA, I’ve met tons of women like Macy. This is a riveting story about how women are raised to always put everyone else first, ignoring their own happiness. Really enjoyed the book and story, hope we see more of Macy in the next one!
August 5, 2024
I absolutely loved this one. I couldn't put it down wanting to see what choices Macy would make.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF @ 28%
I'm sorry, but this was just so slow & boring. And Juliette was a terrible friend.
I'm sorry, but this was just so slow & boring. And Juliette was a terrible friend.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews