The Ripple Effect by Maggie North has such an authentic feel to it especially the toil on the doctors during Covid’s early and deadly debut. Dr. Stellar J Byrd is in recovery even though she doesn’t admit to it, which for her is an angry and wary stage. McHuge is still a mystery at times. I liked him in the first book, and in this book. McHuge and Stellar have some serious struggles but find they can help each other. The forced proximity trope works for them, including the fake engagement which the reader sees before they do that this is good for them both.

Stellar in another author’s hands may not have been a character that is understood or liked. It takes a great writer to help the reader see the strength, weaknesses, vulnerability and growth. Not the usual character that I want to learn more about but this author just has such a lovely compassionate style of getting into their heads so you can’t help but want to know more hoping that they find the light.

Stellar is a former ER doctor, and McHuge is a psychologist, her best friend is his best friend’s wife. I really enjoyed this book. The characters have amazing chemistry, even though the spice level is pretty tame, there is so much heat that you feel while reading scenes where they are interacting, Stellar’s thoughts racing make your heart race while she describes the impact of McHugh’s slightest touch. The exploitation she suffered while working as a doctor during the pandemic also draws you into caring for Stellar’s character more because of what she went through as a child with her dad. I felt that her transition from resistance to the Love-Boat and to her feelings of ownership and loving the Love-Boat was rushed, I feel like it was too sudden the change in mindset towards the project. Compared to the chemistry that jumped off the pages when McHuge and Stellar kissed in a few different chapters, their first and only love scene feels very lack-luster and attempts to be too poetic, almost. I really do love the book, I couldn’t stop reading. I just have those qualms. The ending also feels a bit lackluster for me as well.
It’s not a long read so this is still worth the read, I feel.

This second chance romance was fun. I liked the writing and how we experienced the MC’s thoughts and feelings. I enjoyed the camp setting, the pacing of the book, and the secondary characters/overall cast. I think this will be a solid summer read for anyone looking for something unique and entertaining to breeze through.

This was a unique take on a romance story and it was refreshing and really made me want to go for a walk (if only it hasn’t been pouring nonstop here). This was a fun romp at a summer camp for adults that tackles mental issues in regards to relationships with significant others as well as oneself, and Maggie takes us on a beautiful journey with Stellar, and with Lyle, too. And my goodness, if by the end I didn’t just want to squeeze Lori, Mitch, and Sloane and never let go. The twist was actually unexpected, and I didn’t see it coming, which I especially appreciate in a romance because usually they’re an afterthought, so that was fun! And you know what I really loved? At the end, our characters aren’t perfect. They aren’t perfect at all but they’re still acknowledging that they’re worthy of love and still choosing each other and happiness, and I loved it. This will be a fun summer read that you should definitely pick up come June!

I loved this book. Stellar is such a badass. Lyle is such a kind guy. And the way they are both imperfect but still absolutely amazing. They went through a lot to get to where they ended up. My heart broke for both of them. But I love how they heal each other.
I feel like even as Stellar was realizing what she wanted with Lyle but continuing to not change was so realistic. Their struggles felt more relatable than many romance books I’ve read.

I really enjoyed this book! The relationship between Stellar and Lyle “McHugh” was so organic and real. Their internal battles/demons made a lot of sense and the world was very full and engaging. I’m not an outdoorsy type but I’d go on the Love Boat just to glimpse these #couplegoals!

Unfortunately i just could not get into this one.
but i do know many people who would love this kind of read, which is why i kept trying to push through it but i could not get past 35%

I loved this story! The characters, especially Babe, were wonderful. It is always good to see characters develop in ways that make the individuals richer people. I enjoyed the premise and the adventure and will be looking for more from North!

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

Sweet and spicy with an element of suspense, this was a great read! I loved the chemistry between the two leads as well as their emotional growth in this story. Definitely another entry in the "hot romances you feel good about reading" category!

For sensitive readers, this book contains depictions of betrayal, emotional burnout, manipulation, physical danger, misogyny, abuse, and graphic sexuality.

It's a close call, but I'm going to say it..I loved this book even more than the first!! Maggie North is putting poetry on these pages. Her language is so vivid that I could SMELL the scenery. The way Stellar describes herself and her experiences in medical terms, but switches to nature with how she thinks and feels about Lyle creates such a deep understanding of and connection to these MCs.

Stellar's character growth throughout this book is STUNNING. Her mental tally of never taking more than she gives, the hurt she's carrying from being shunned from the community she loves..our girl just needs a hug. And she gets a hug in human form in Lyle, the most gentle human, the shiniest sunshine man. Watching her begin to open her heart because it's what he deserves, but continuing with it because it's what SHE deserves is so SO special.

Fast paced, fun, fake relationships!

A romance book with stakes that were done with humor and tension. This was a fun read. Plain and simple. I didn’t read the first book in the series and did I wish a little because I was lost at the beginning. It was a supposed to be a stand alone but it was clear there was some history between characters I should have known.

That aside, the characters in this book were by far my favorite part. Our FMC is an ER doctor that doesn’t love it anymore and our MMC has a struggling business he’s trying to help. Without giving too much away, the two enter into a relationship to help each other out!

I loved the fun, outdoorsy setting and fun romance the two share.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press!

This book follows Steller and Lyle “McHuge” as they have to work together at a retreat known as the love boat. They know each other after a disastrous hookup and dread being around each other. But something happens that kinda forces them to have to pretend to be engaged.
This had a lot of promise, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I didn’t care about the romance and hated the nickname “mchuge”. I get why it was the nickname, but I just didn’t like it.
Not a bad book, but not memorable.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book was beautifully written! The story centers around a bisexual FMC and hulky MMC who connect through a whitewater canoeing therapy business. Tropes include second chance romance, grumpy/sunshine, one tent (bed), and fake engagement. Definitely a unique plot for once and had fun characters.

DNF at 10% - I really wanted to like this book, but the FMC was just too unlikeable. After a metaphor of her comparing the squeeze of her heart to a mammogram machine and then just a couple of paragraphs later comparing her best friend's relationship to Mulder & Scully cause they just want to believe - I couldn't take it anymore. Not for me unfortunately. Thanks for the ARC & opportunity to read and review

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5

This book snuck up on me in the best way. What I expected was a formulaic rom-com. What I got was something with depth and richness. I love reading a book by a favorite author, or finally sitting down to one that’s gotten well-deserved hype. But books like this—the ones that absolutely blindside you with their loveliness—might be the best.

Maggie North has such a way with words—wonderfully evocative descriptions of nature like that evoke L.M. Montgomery, all contrasted with a very modern, tough female protagonist.

Stellar J. and Lyle “McHuge” are the quintessential black cat/golden retriever couple. Stellar is jaded with a capital ‘J’ (just like her middle name, ha) and views relationships like balance sheets, a series of tally marks to ensure that no one takes more than they can give. She doesn’t have much faith in romantic love or, honestly, people in general, and wears her anger like armor. Lyle, on the other hand, is a hippie-like gentle giant and a literal relationship expert—he received his PhD in psychology and wrote a successful marriage counseling manual. To say I loved this couple would be an understatement. They had great chemistry and their personalities complimented each other so well.

The supporting characters are all well-developed and enjoyable. There’s a little mystery built into the central conflict that played out in a way I didn’t see coming but found very satisfying. I must also praise this book for excellent representation that didn’t feel trite or preachy. Both Lyle and Stellar are LGBTQ, as are some of the supporting characters, and there is an autistic character (Liz) who felt very accurate to my own experiences. I can’t wait to go back and read Liz and Tobin’s book.

If you’re someone who appreciates well-developed characters, even if they’re a bit prickly at times, I think you’ll love this book.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book, provided in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was my first romance by Maggie North.

I really loved how Maggie North writes. I loved how she portrays the characters and how they feel. This was definitely a light and fun romance. Loved the forced proximity and fake engagement tropes!

Overall, it was a fun and light romance!!

4/5 stars

I obviously expected to like this book (otherwise I wouldn't have read it), but I didn't expect to like it quite as much as I did. I mean, Stellar is a seething mass of rage in the beginning and I could COMPLETELY understand where her anger and lack of trust came from (being betrayed by the people who should have protected her most can have a profound effect on a person, as it turns out). She was a mess and maybe she made some of the choices she made for the wrong reasons, but she figured things out.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Stellar and Lyle had a mutually enjoyable hookup and Stellar got scared. Like, big scared. She ran, basically ghosting the guy because he was a decent human. Then her life spiraled and all her months of avoiding the best mistake she ever made don't matter because she's going to be working with him at the only job she can get. It's just a job. She can get through it. She's not going to open herself up enough to care about it.

Except she does. Lyle and his vision for what he wants crack her right open and suddenly she's tying fancy knots and finding herself again.

On Lyle's end, he has almost as much baggage as Stellar. His baggage is just purposely less rage-filled. In fact, he actively works on shoving down any bad feelings he might have toward things. Which is a little bit of the problem, I think. Between his size and an unfortunate incident that happened when he was younger, he's learned to minimize himself. He's also a genuinely nice individual who tries to find goodness in the world. Compared to Stellar, he's a foreign language she has to learn how to speak.

Professional betrayal, family connections, friendship in all its shapes and forms, the seedy underbelly of academia, a man who tries his hardest to find the positive in everything around him, and a lady who's lost sight of herself and needs to find her center before her rage burns her out completely. GOOD STUFF all around!

This was such an enjoyable read! Reading about paddling reminded me of my own experiences, and now I want to take it up again.

I particularly appreciated the slow build-up of the story. It was well-crafted and relatable, not superficial but rather layered with depth and curiosity for us as readers.

Stellar and Lyle were perfect for each other. After being let down by so many people, Stellar closed herself off, making her journey to open up to Lyle and explore their relationship so rewarding to witness. She truly deserves this happiness, and so does he.

I also loved that Lyle was completely in tune with his emotions and is not afraid to express that side of himself.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley! :D

I wasn't sure what to expect from this as it's my first Maggie North- but I had a good time!
The premise was interesting, I liked how it was a white-water rafting meets couple therapy! Our FMC & MMC were so cute and engaging- definitely had a grumpy/sunshine thing going on. They both were so dynamic and complicated, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I ran into Stellar or Lyle on the street! One of my favourite things about this book was watching how Lyle's therapy worked for all the couples around them at the retreat, obviously the author put in a lot of time into making this feel authentic and valuable :)
If you are a fan of Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez I would recommend giving this book a try!

Stellar Byrd is a burned-out ER doctor who has been surviving in the gig economy for the last year when her best friend Liz (protagonist in North's previous novel RULES FOR SECOND CHANCES) asks for her help. Liz and her husband Tobin are expecting their first child and the white-water canoe company/relationship therapy they run, with Tobin's best friend and partner Lyle McHugh, needs an extra pair of hands while Liz and Tobin adjust to the newest family member. McHugh (also known as McHuge due to his size) has a doctorate in psychology and a heart as big as the world.
This is in contrast to Stellar, the survivor of a traumatic childhood, whose go-to emotion is suspicion and anger. How Lyle and Stellar learn to work together, and deal with the sparks that flare between them makes for a very satisfying story, especially as they learn from each other new ways to deal with problem people who cause much of the conflict in the book. Very nicely done.