REVIEW: Meltdown by Jillian D Wray (Ricochet Ridge #1)

MELTDOWN

Ricochet Ridge - Book One

by Jillian D Wray

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Review

My first by Jillian, and it won’t be the last.

These two are slightly co-dependent best friends. Relying on each other emotionally in all things, but Damon is hiding his sexuality, and Liam is in many ways hiding from his own emotions.

Two weeks at a sky lodge is the perfect time for secrets to come out and some hard truths to be faced.

I enjoyed the characters and the writing. There was some wonderful tension and a lot of love, which made their story hard-earned, while also feeling like the easiest thing there is.

Definitely looking forward to the next in this series.

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Synopsis

WE WERE INEVITABLE.

In the thin air of Ricochet Ridge, the truth isn't just a revelation—it’s an epic meltdown thirteen years in the making.

LIAM I’m at my breaking point. After losing my mom and being deceived by my dad, I’m heading to Ricochet Ridge for my annual ski trip feeling untethered and carrying a heavy burden of pain and anger. My only anchor is Damon, my "ride or die," who famously chose me over his own twin brother when forced with an impossible decision, thanks to my father. Damon is the only person in my life who has never lied to me, a fact that makes our upcoming two-week trip the only thing keeping me grounded.

DAMON I’m living a lie that has lasted thirteen years. I’ve protected Liam by staying silent, carrying a crushing weight of secrets to shield him. I preferred causing myself pain rather than risk losing the friendship that means everything to me. But I can no longer hide the truth about what really happened between Liam’s father and my twin brother…and worse, I’m not sure I can hide my feelings any longer either.

THE RETREAT The romantic tension is amplified by the sheer history between them. For thirteen years, their bond has been defined by a loyalty so fierce it bypassed blood relations. As the truth about their families comes to light, the boundaries of their friendship incinerate. Liam must decide if he can forgive Damon’s deception, while Damon must learn to trust Liam with his own vulnerabilities instead of just acting as his shield.

Best Friends to Lovers

Grumpy x Sunshine

Forced Proximity

Bi-Awakening

High Heat, Slow Burn, & HEA

Meltdown is an interconnected standalone with a guaranteed HEA. You can start here or read it out of order without spoilers for the rest of the Ricochet Ridge series.

About Jillian D Wray

Jillian lives in North Carolina with her incredibly supportive husband and three awesome stepkids. After over ten years in the healthcare industry, it was time to pursue a new passion. An avid reader her whole life, she sat down one night and let the words begin to flow. Four hours and ten thousand words later, a love of writing was discovered.

She writes spicy, bingeable reads that encourage self-discovery and come with all the angst and excitement of a new relationship.

When she isn’t reading or writing, you can either find her in her vegetable garden, at CrossFit™, or on a plane headed toward her next adventure.

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