Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Graphic, erotic sex in breezy summer camp romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In WILDFIRE, everyone's survived the academic year at UC Maple Hills, so Russ and his housemates throw a big party to celebrate and say goodbye to graduating seniors. Aurora arrives at the party with low expectations since she prefers basketball players over hockey players. But her attraction to Russ is immediate, and mutual. They have a passionate evening together, but after a misunderstanding Aurora goes home thinking it was just a one-time fling. So when they meet again a few days later at the camp where they'll both be counselors all summer, it's pretty awkward. But even though there's a no fraternizing rule, they can't fight their attraction, carrying on their romance in secret. But can they keep the secret all summer long?
Is It Any Good?
This is a breezy, fun, often funny, summer-camp romance that picks up where Icebreaker left off but follows different members of the hockey team. Wildfire still has graphic, erotic sex described in detail as well as very strong language, but not as much as there was in the first book. This allows the story to focus more on Russ and Aurora as they struggle with problematic families, low self esteem, and learn to believe that they're worthy of being happy. Fans of the first book will be glad to see familiar old friends as well as meeting colorful new ones. Romance fans will cheer the ending and enjoy the sweet epilogue.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the graphic sex in Wildfire. Is it over the top? Realistic? Is reading about it different from seeing it in movies, videos, and other media?
What are some concerns about reading or watching explicit sex? Do you compare yourself or your body to the characters? Does it make you afraid, creepy, or unsure about what sex is like for real people?
What about all the strong language? Is it realistic? Is it a big deal? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atria
- Publication date : October 3, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate