This book had a fun premise, a white water canoeing, couples counseling camp. I found the story a little slow moving in the beginning, but I did enjoy following the experience of the first "Love Boat" session.

This book grumpy x sunshine and swapped genders with a yoga loving, gentle mountain man and a grumpy petite ER doctor.

I thought the pacing for Stellar and Lyle's relationship was well done and believable. I also always like to point out when a romance does NOT have a third act breakup as I consider that a huge plus.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Stellar and Sloane and how it developed through the course of the book. It felt very authentic.

Thank you to Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This cover immediately grabbed my attention, and it really is a cute premise for a book! The writing style personally was not my favorite. It looked similar to a lot of my “easy to read” favorites, but the prologue itself was around 17 pages long on my kindle, which set the tone for a very drawn out feeling throughout. The start to me didn’t really have enough context to make a lot of sense.. I didn’t feel like there was a lot of “meat” to the back stories, and not a lot of character or world development. I am giving 3 stars for the simple fact that the book is super detailed, and the author did a great job with that which is somewhat rare sometimes!
Thank you to the publisher of this book for giving me an advanced opportunity to read this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own, and have not be influenced in any way.

The Ripple Effect follows Stellar Byrd (don't get me started) - a former ER physician - and Lyle McHugh - a golden retriever wilderness therapist and author. It's the second book after Rules for Second Chances. If you don't want spoilers for that book, I suggest reading it first. But this can be read as a standalone.

The book is a little slow to begin with and, I think, if it wasn't for me reading the previous book in this "series" I likely would've DNF'd this one. It took some time to get into the meat of the story and for a modern romance, it needed to be quicker. Once it got going, the adventure never stopped. I'll admit that many parts of the plot were extremely predictable which is what you get in a modern romance - but this one was so obvious that it felt like a child to get it. This is, by no means, a children's book (there is open door romance).

I think the plot was fine and I would've given more stars if the character development made up for the lack of plot but it just didn't cut it for me. Overall, it was a heartwarming book that was easy to read and escape into. Solid 3 stars for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Maggie North for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I overall liked this book! The premise was really refreshing and original. I had never even heard of wilderness based relationship therapy, so this was a completely new setting and situation I had never read about before.

Stellar J. Byrd, a former ER doctor, becomes a camp doctor for an acquaintance, Lyle "McHuge" McHugh, who is opening up a white water rafting based wilderness relationship therapy camp. However, when it comes out that McHuge isn't in a relationship himself, those looking into the camp try to dig for more information and wonder the credibility of McHuge's methodologies and therapeutic services. There's only one solution - a fake relationship between Stellar and McHuge to help cement the credibility of the camp.

I felt like the plot was very fresh and new. It was an interesting premise. There was an interesting cast of characters from McHuge, Stellar, their friends, and the campers. The MMC, McHuge, is the definition of a cinnamon roll/golden retriever and Stellar is definitely a black cat type FMC. I liked McHuge. I felt like it was a little more difficult to get behind Stellar. The chip on her shoulder, while rightfully there, was almost too big and made her a difficult character to root for.

This book was a little slow starting. I had to give it two attempts to get first the first few chapters, but the plot picked up very quickly. The scenery was beautifully described, but it was difficult at parts to imagine the scenes exactly, which I am wondering how much had to do with technical whitewater terms versus so many characters versus such detailed information that it was difficult to get to the heart of the story. The plot ended up very unique and heartwarming, and is definitely worth the read, especially if you are an outdoor person!

i loved the first book so much and this second one did not disappoint at all. i feel seen. this was beautifully written.

the story stars off where Dr. Stellar Byrd, a guarded ER physician, and Lyle McHugh, an insecure teddy bear who are thrust together in a fake engagement scheme to salvage Lyle's wilderness therapy program. their journey was so funny and emotional at the same time because they were slowly tearing down that wall they built inside their hearts. this was everything that I was looking in a romance novel i was so obsessed with the settings too and there are so many forest shenanigans i was laughing so hard.

this book got your favorite fake dating trope, forced proximity and a cozy camping trip feels. some parts made me cry because Stellar & McHuge are relatable it reminded me of how me and my husband emotionally operates and that was so good.

thank you St. Martin's Press for the arc copy. i cannot wait to get me a paperback of this

4.00 stars
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After reading Rules for Second Chances and falling in love with it, I knew I needed to read it. Let me start by saying I love McHuge (Lyle), I'm so glad we got his love story in this one after playing the role of a side character in North's first novel. In a last-ditch attempt to salvage his latest therapy startup, he agrees to play into a fake engagement with Stellar J. Byrd - who happens to share a bit of a past with Lyle.

This book was hilarious, there's so much banter, sarcastic moments and truly awkward camp activities - I felt myself wanting to be in those situations with our characters. I also loved getting little glimpses of Tobin and Liz (from the first book). When a rival camp who seems to be following a very similar model arrives and threatens Lyle's camp (think of Camp Rock 2 but no singing), I loved seeing everyone band together even though everything that could have gone wrong has - but, no one gives up on Lyle.

I like how both of our MCs were flawed it's refreshing to see complex characters who carry their own baggage; in Stellar's case, she was a former ER doctor whose position was terminated for all of the wrong reasons. We love seeing strong female characters. As the two characters share a past, it was clear to see where the story was going. If you're a fan of outdoor adventures, shared tents, and fake engagements this one is for you.
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I would like to thank St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, Maggie North, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book published on June 17th 2025, pre-order your copy today!

Cumbersome writing style dragged down this read for me. While the author captures the physical attributes of each character, reading experience was frustrating.


This ARC was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

No sé cómo sentirme acerca de este libro. Hay partes que me gustaron y otras no tanto. De repente, había buenos temas a tratar, pero no se desarrollaban por completo. Los personajes, sobre todo Stellar, caen bien; sin embargo, tiene tantas capas que no se profundiza lo suficiente en quién es realmente. Luego está Lyle, que no tiene ningún pov, lo que hace imposible conocerlo, me hubiera gustado poder leer qué pensaba sobre Stellar y por qué estuvo de acuerdo en fingir que no se conocían. La parte del viaje me gustó.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a refreshing read. I loved the complexity of Stellar. It did take me a bit to get into the book as I found it a bit slow at first, but worth sticking it out as the overall story was great.

I LOVED this! I got the opportunity too read it and it was so cute. I will admit it was a little slow to start, but I love the relationships portrayed, and how each character came into their own by the end. A must read!
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martins Press, along with Maggie North for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my review!

Maggie North’s The Ripple Effect is an engaging blend of romance and personal growth, making it an enjoyable read for fans of heartfelt storytelling. This standalone novel brings back characters from North’s previous work, Rules for Second Chances, while offering a fresh, self-contained narrative that explores themes of vulnerability, trust, and the complexities of human connection.

Dr. Stellar Byrd, a guarded ER physician, and Lyle “McHuge” McHugh, a gentle giant with his own insecurities, are thrust together in a fake engagement scheme to salvage McHuge’s wilderness therapy program. Their journey is filled with humor, tension, and genuine emotional depth as they slowly dismantle the walls they’ve each built around their hearts. North’s talent for creating layered characters shines, from Stellar’s guarded independence to McHuge’s quietly vulnerable nature.

The supporting cast adds vibrancy to the story, with Brent’s redemption arc and his interactions with the ensemble providing additional layers of development. North’s witty dialogue and thoughtful exploration of emotional growth elevate the fake-dating trope, giving it a realistic and poignant touch.

While the narrative starts a bit slowly, the pacing eventually finds its stride, allowing readers to savor the characters’ evolving dynamics. The setting—a luxury wilderness retreat—adds charm, with vivid descriptions immersing readers in its unique backdrop.

This book is more than just a romance; it’s a tender exploration of self-discovery and learning to accept both love and oneself. Fans of slow-burn romance and nuanced character arcs will find The Ripple Effect deeply satisfying. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this touching story.

This was everything that I was looking for from a romance novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the opposites attract from this type of book. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall concept being told. Maggie North has a strong writing style and enjoyed getting through this story.

Stellar finds herself working as a camp doctor for McHuge’s unconventional couples counseling course. White water rafting meets improv and couples come to the waters to work out their issues. McHuge’s creditably is on the line when a hit piece comes out about him and his phD. Stellar convinces him they need to fake an engagement in order to improve the credibility of his course. But things between them aren’t just platonic, after the night they shared Stellar can’t seem to shake McHuge.

I really really wanted to love this one. Maggie’s debut novel was one of my absolute favorite books. But this one was just too complicated. I felt like the relationship between the main characters was forced. It was just too philosophical for me. But I did enjoy seeing Tobin and Liz again.

Fake dating
Forced proximity
Canoes
Tents

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm rounding up for Goodreads, but it's probably 3.75 star read for me! It took me awhile to get in to this one. This is a stand alone story, but it has characters from North's first novel that if I had read that first, I would've probably gotten into this story quicker. That being said, I really enjoyed the two main characters and their romance! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!

Loved the book - the characters were unique and realistically flawed! I immediately added the first book to my "to be read" list! So happy to have found this author and her fun style of writing.

Do you come across a book that unexpectedly lifts you up? I just had this wonderful experience with Maggie North's latest work The Ripple Effect. The romantic and professional journeys of the MCs, Stellar and McHuge, resonated with me on a level akin to waking from the best nap. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Great book. I enjoyed reading It as much as the first novel by this author. The plot and characters were believable. I was rooting for them from start to finish.

I'm so glad I got introduced to Maggie North's writing. I'll read anything she writes now.

I loved this story. I loved the characters. I loved Stellar's journey of trusting her gut and living with so much anger. She had every right to be angry, but it's nice to sift through that with someone by your side.

That someone... McHuge. I loved the glimpses of McHuge that we got from the first book and I love him even more now. Stellar and McHuge are perfect opposites with walls built up for different reasons. Their slow burn chemistry and discovery of how to break those walls down was beautiful.
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<i>"I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on,' I whisper... "But I want us to try. If all we have is you and me, then I want us to promise we won't walk away from this. Or from each other."

"I wouldn't walk away. Not ever," he says, a little breathless.</i>

I loved Maggie North's new book, <i>The Ripple Effect</i>. It hits on so many amazing characters and so many feelings. I highly recommend that you read, <i>Rules for Second Changes</i>, Maggie's debut novel, before reading this book, as there are some events that are mentioned in the first book that makes things a bit clearer in the second book. And you get to get more of Liz's story arc in this second book, and I adore Liz.

First off, there is our FMC, Dr. Stellar J. Byrd, an ER doc who has been mistreated by the health care industry. She's smart, plucky, and determined to make her way in the world. There's a deep layer of kindness underneath her tough as nails skin and it was so wonderful to see her grow and develop.

Then, there's our MMC, Lyle "McHuge" McHugh. The gentle giant of a man who just wants to take care of everyone. He's funny and it was just wonderful to get to know him. His kindness and gentleness rubs off on Stellar, but he also goes through is own character arc. And it's really interesting to see how he develops. He also has the most adorable dog, Babe. I love a man who has a dog!

But I also became fascinated with the growth of the side characters, especially Brent, the reporter who basically slanders Lyle's business due to misinformation. Brent and his wife, Willow, join the Love Boat's maiden launch as a PR effort, but it was just so fascinating to see Brent learn from the other characters and grow as a person.

I loved the budding romance between Stellar and Lyle. They connect on such a deep level, and their journey getting there is an interesting one. They really change each other, and I think really needed each other in order to find themselves.

The joke were fantastic in this book as well. There were plenty of times where I literally laughed out loud. Although my favorite is this one: <i>"Lyle," I say sternly. "I've seen you naked before. And do not make me explain the powers of the human vagina, given a considerate partner and a decent amount of foreplay. I am a doctor, you know."</i>

All in all, this was a great book and it was thrilling read.

I really did not know what to expect going into this book. At the start I wasn’t connecting with Stellar or Lyle - neither one if them felt fully fleshed out and I was struggling to see where this was gonna go.

Boy am I glad I stuck around! Just like the curriculum of the Love Boat, chapter by chapter we got to see their insecurities and walls get knocked down layer by layer. Maggie did such a good job of taking two characters that seem like COMPLETE opposites and giving them a change to find where they complement each other.

I do still think there were opportunities to give a little bit more. Stellar seemed reticent to get on board with the whole “oh I’m in love with him” idea but once she did I felt like a switch was flipped more so than a lightbulb went off. I wished I’d seen more yearning from Lyle - the final chapters really do give us a peek at his feelings for Stellar over time, but to be down bad for a year I expected a little bit more throughout the story. That’s a personal preference thing, though.

Overall, this really did surprise me for how much I liked it!!