Holden Harlow is 25, perpetually sunny, and in search of beauty wherever he lands. A transplant from Portland, Oregon, hes found a new life in Blue Harbor: a job working with Parker Williams on his blog Tales of Blue Harbor and the chance to care for his ailing grandfather. With a camera always at hand and a ritual of snapping three Polaroid shots each morning, Holden captures life with optimism—even when it’s messy.

On one misty September morning, his lens lands on something unexpected: Wade Forrester, a rugged, grumpy, quietly brooding park ranger emerging from Lake Michigan. Wade is 43, a former firefighter scarred by past trauma and now more at home in nature than in anyone’s arms. When his steely exterior meets Holden’s relentless warmth, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways.

As the autumn leaves turn, Holden’s cheer breaks down Wade’s walls, while Wade’s steady presence anchors Holden through the highs and lows of a new town, a new job, and caring for his family. Together, they find a balance that surprises them both—and maybe, just maybe, opens them up to a love they didn’t see coming.