Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

My real life job might have affected my enjoyment of this one. Stellar is an ex-emergency room physician who burnt out during COVID…and it’s too accurate? I didn’t even have direct patient care (I could hide in an office) and I still don’t like thinking about that period of my life. Add in an extremely angry, unlikable FMC Stellar and a too-nice doormat MMC, Lyle, and I just am not having fun while reading…thus goodbye.

A prickly burned out emergency doctor and a gentle giant positive psychologist fake an engagement to save his whitewater canoeing/couple’s therapy venture. Oh, and she ghosted him after a one night stand a year ago, scared away by feelings!

North sets her mc’s inner conflicts in perfect opposition—Lyle won’t let himself feel angry; Stellar won’t let herself feel anything else. But she doesn’t vilify anger, acknowledging it as a protective, often righteous emotion. Instead, The Ripple Effect extols the value of trust and balance, give and take. How did a book where everyone is cold all the time make me feel so warm?! TRE is full of adventure, emotion, poetic swoony kisses, and a gorgeous message of forgiveness as a gift you give yourself. 

My therapist once asked me to reflect on how my trauma responses serve me in my job (social worker). Crisis is a crucible that rewards hyper vigilance and compartmentalization. I found myself connecting this to Stellar’s musings about managing “disaster” as an emergency doctor. When she lost her job, she faced not only the gaslighting and pain of that experience, but also the daunting, unmoored prospect of engaging with who she is outside of her profession: family drama, abandonment issues, and all.  

🎶What I love most about rivers is, you can’t step in the same river twice 🎶 When McHuge told the guests, “A river is time,” I definitely took a musical break. I love a river metaphor. There’s a Toni Morrison quote, “all water has a perfect memory.” While she was talking about imagination/writing, putting these metaphors together yields a moral both bittersweet and hopeful, that water (and time) flows relentlessly forward but never forgets where it’s been. I think this sentiment perfectly captures Stellar’s journey, carrying the memories of what she’s been through even as she bravely sheds her shell of protective anger in favor of the vulnerability and possibility of love and hope.  

Tho this review is mainly about Stellar, I simply ADORE Lyle and his McHuge heart, and so will you!!! And of course Babe, his loyal golden retriever with an attitude 😍. Also loved the bi rep, honest communicating, found family and reclaimed family moments, really perfect pacing, the very real stakes of this academic research/luxury therapy retreat world, etc etc. Basically everything, I loved it all.

Quick Summary: A relationship retreat wo-fi romance

My Review: The Ripple Effect by Maggie North is a contemporary standalone that is loosely linked to Rules for Second Chances. It was released on 6/17/25.

About the Book: "A grumpy burnt out physician and a sunshine psychologist must fake an engagement to save his whitewater canoeing/ relationship therapy startup..."

In My Own Words: A ONS is hard to forget for two people who decide to enter into a fake engagement. Dealing with their feelings, deciding whether to be "right" or "kind," facing hard truths, making choices that affect others as well as self - it all proves to be remarkably revealing.

My Final Say: This was a mixed bag read. North's second book did not pull me in as much as the first one did. Still, it had some texture to it, when it came to the lead characters lives, experiences, and choices. Ultimately, this novel was a story about connection and disconnection in relationships, as well as about breaking a trauma cycle.

Note: This book may translate better as an audiobook. Pacing, tone, and expression were challenging for me. I believe the listening experience might offer an improved perspective.

Other: Readers who like stories with wilderness retreats, stories where opposites are in close proximity, stories where healing of hurts happens, and stories where a found family theme occurs may like this book.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this title. I appreciate the opportunity to review this work.

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North is a Grumpy x Sunshine romance set it the great outdoors. Stellar is a black cat doctor and is currently struggling financially. She is doing anything she can to stay in her current town near her best friend Liz. Liz is currently pregnant, and her husband just started a new business. Liz asks Stellar for a favor. Liz needs Stellar to be the acting physician at the Love Boat. It is a couples wilderness retreat with Whitewater. Stellar agrees for Liz. The other founder of the retreat is Lyle McHugh. Stellar and Lyle have had a previous encounter. Stellar is ready do whatever she must make the Love Boat successful. She even agrees to be the fake fiancée of Lyle. She also asks her sister for a favor. Lyle and Stellar are able to use the advice they are giving the other couples to help work on their relationship. I really enjoyed the premise of this book. It was different from the romance novels on every shelf. It covered a few tough topics very well.

Thank you so much to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the earc, all opinions are my own.

We have big ole himbo man McHuge (Lyle) and tiny doctor woman Stellar. After a one night stand, they go their separate ways until they cross paths again. Stellar's best friend Liz had a new baby, and her husband was supposed to be the medical help on Lyle's endeavor called Love Boat, half marriage class, half white water rapids class. Stellar, needing a job, fills in for paternity leave. The cherry on top? They decide in order for Lyle to be believable, he should probably actually be in a relationship... or engaged... to Stellar.

Definitely a different vibe than I normally read, but I really enjoyed this. Forced proximity (in a 6 person tent), high tension dealing with the variety of personalities in the class, Stellar's superstar half-sister Summer, and a dog named Babe. This is a really sweet second-chance, friends to lovers, our fake engagement turned real story! This is technically book 2 in an interconnected standalone universe (book one being about Liz) but I was able to understand everything perfectly without reading book 1!

Overall this was between a 3.5 and 3.75 star read for me., rounded up to 4 for Netgalley I thought Maggie North did an excellent job with setting, her descriptions at points really made me feel like I was out in the wilderness with the characters. I also appreciated that both Stellar and Lyle were in their 30s and they were both working through and handling their problems, for the most part like adults.

I will note that the book is solely in Stellar's (the FMC) point of view, and due to the nature of her relationship with Lyle/McHuge I do think that it would have benefitted from having chapters from Lyle's point of view.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC.

And here I thought she couldn’t beat Rules for Second Chances!
Pshhhhh…. The Ripple Effect by Maggie North is the best grumpy/sunshine romance I’ve probably read all year!
A delightful and heartwarming novel that explores the complexities of love, being burnt out, betrayal and second chances. Maggie North weaves a captivating tale of two individuals who find themselves unexpectedly reunited after their breakup, and the journey they embark on to rediscover their connection amidst the challenges of life and the weight of past regrets.
This is a fun, entertaining read. Stellar and McHuge are intriguing, complex, relatable, complicated, wounded, strong, interesting, entertaining, captivating characters.
I adored it, loved it and I can’t wait to read whatever North creates next!

This book hit me in waves — soft at first, and then all at once. 🌊



The Ripple Effect is one of those stories that slowly wraps around you, exploring how one seemingly small decision can unravel (or unexpectedly bind) multiple lives together. It’s beautifully written — quiet but sharp, introspective but not heavy-handed.



I loved the way the story unfolded through multiple perspectives, each character bringing something unique and heartbreaking to the bigger picture. Maggie North has a way of writing that feels gentle and intimate, even when she’s tackling big emotional truths. It reminded me a bit of Ask Again, Yes or Everything I Never Told You — thoughtful, aching, and human.



It’s not a book of dramatic twists, but of emotional depth and connection. By the end, I had tears in my eyes — not because it was sad, but because it was so real.



📚 A quiet powerhouse. This one lingers long after you close the final page.

📝 Big thanks to @stmartinspress, @maggienorthwrites & @netgalley for the ARC!

the ripple effect by maggie north is a quiet knockout. five stars for sure. it’s the kind of story that sneaks up on you. emotional without being sappy, thoughtful without dragging. the writing has this calm intensity, like you’re holding your breath the whole time and don’t realize it until the end. characters feel real, flawed, and deeply human. if you like books that stick with you after the last page, this one’s got that ripple-you-won’t-forget energy.

At first I wasn't sure about this read and had in mind about 3 stars, basic fun romance, but then it turned into more as we learn about Stellar and McHuge (that was a bit annoying) and the history and experiences that makes them who they are. I figured out the culprit of the little mystery, but it didn't take away from the eventual reveal. Enjoyable read. Interested in reading more from Maggie North.

I was so excited to get the ARC for The Ripple Effect after getting one for Rules for Second Chances and loving it. It did not disappoint and I loved it just as much (maybe even more)! Maggie North is definitely a must read author for me now and I’m excited to watch her success grow. I loved this relationship counseling/camping concept. It was so fun! I loved so many of the characters as well. I love the progression of fake dating/engagement and this one was no different. The banter was good, the pace was good, and it was a good mix of feel good and struggle with the characters. This would be a great beach read!!

I absolutely adored Maggie North's debut, Rules for Second Chances, so I was thrilled to dive into The Ripple Effect. Like with her previous book, North excels at writing complex characters and helping us understand their feelings and motivations. I particularly appreciated how deep the book got with Stellar's childhood and early experiences as a physician. While I liked Lyle's thoughtfulness and how safe he helped Stellar and the participants in the Love Boat feel, I could have done without his hippie language - it just felt a bit weird.

I don't think the premise of The Ripple Effect worked quite as well for me as Rules for Second Changes, but I appreciate the unique storylines that North brings to her books. I'll be reading whatever she writes next.

A quick romcom with a dash of academic espionage and taking down the patriarchy. I loved the adult summer camp vibe, but felt like some of the themes were incredibly heavy handed - the give/take and yhe physical/situational power, in particular - and, the third act conflict didn't feel likely to be an actual issue in the wake of what they'd already overcome. Overall, a good read, but would benefit from some subtlety.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

This is a nice, lighthearted book! I think the story develops in a good way, and I think Stellar's backstory comes out in pieces (which works for this book). I do think there is some glossing over of some background information for both characters, but I don't know how I would have preferred that information to be given to me, if that makes sense? Overall, this is a good book, and it was a quick, breezy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!

Ugh, I wanted to love this angsty romance. I’ve never read anything by this author, so I thought this was the perfect place to start! However, I couldn’t get into this author’s writing style. It just wasn’t for me.

Thanks, St Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Ripple Effect.

Awww! McHuge got a book! The Ripple Effect is the second in a series but can most definitely be read as a standalone. If you haven't read Rules for Second Chances, you're not missing much. It was a sweet story in the end but it took a long time getting to that point. This one was great from start to finish. I didn't feel as much of a lull in the storytelling as I did in Rules for Second Chances. I'm glad I gave Maggie North a second read. She will for sure by one of those authors on my radar.

Stellar needs a job STAT. Enter McHuge. McHuge needs a camp physician at his whitewater relationship therapy camping adventure. She reluctantly agrees. You see, Stellar has been doing her best to avoid McHuge since they hooked up last year. What could go wrong? Absolutely everything. Enjoy the ride. Have a laugh. Pick this one up today!!

Thank you @youhadmeathea for my #gifted ARC of The Ripple Effect! #YouHadMeAtHEA #TheRippleEffect #MaggieNorth

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟒.𝟓★

I loved Maggie North’s debut novel and this book definitely lived up to my expectations! This is not your typical rom-com, and that’s why I love Maggie North. Her characters are so real and flawed with so much baggage and you just become so attached to them. I instantly become absorbed in her books and the characters. There is just so much heart in her writing and her characters have so much soul to them. If you love the fake engagement trope, you are not going to want to miss this one.

🛶Fake Engagement
🛶One Night Stand to Lovers
🛶Found Family
🛶Forced Proximity
🛶Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine

Posted on Goodreads on June 17, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around June 17, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on June 17, 2025
**-will post on designated date

I loved this book so much! It felt like a breath of fresh air after I had a few tough weeks. I loved Stellar and Lyle's love for each other, the community they built through kindness, the beautiful descriptions of their whitewater paddling adventures and the author's depiction of a side character in the early stages of dementia. This story moved me and the cover is gorgeous! Thank you to author Maggie North and St.
Martin's Press for giving me the chance to read it early on NetGalley.

Maggie North is quickly becoming a must-read author, as I again fell in love with the characters, setting, and story in her new novel, The Ripple Effect. I adored Rules for Second Chances when I read it last summer, and was so excited to start my summer romance reading with this one.

Stellar J. Byrd is the kind of character I love to see in a romance; a strong, educated, independent (to a fault) woman. She has met her polar opposite in Lyle Q. McHugh, aka McHuge, and when they fake an engagement in an attempt to save the business venture, it is an opposites attract/sparks fly situation. The romance is completely swoon-worthy, and McHuge was such a sweet, lovable character it seemed impossible that the two would not end up together. The side characters are also interesting, and the concept for the Love Boat relationship camp is a fun way to showcase their personalities.

I loved that the novel is a standalone, yet revisits the characters from Rules for Second Chances, like some of my favorite romance series. It was fun to see where Liz and Tobin were in their relationship, yet they play only a minimal role in this new novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the digital ARC of The Ripple Effect by Maggie North. The opinions in this review are my own.

The Ripple Effect follows Stellar, a grumpy, burned-out ER doctor who ends up taking a job with an old one-night stand to help save his couples therapy outdoors retreat business. The prologue really pulled me in with this book. It sets up the lead-up to Stellar and Lyle’s initial hookup in a compelling way. Then we jump to a year later, with intriguing hints that something significant happened that night.

But one of my biggest frustrations was that we never actually see what went down during that first hookup, especially considering it’s the catalyst for so much of the story. It felt like a missed opportunity. The writing also became pretty repetitive. Lyle’s size and Stellar’s whole “I don’t want to owe anyone anything” mindset were brought up so many times that it started to feel like filler rather than character development.

In the end, I found myself bored and just waiting for it to be over. The premise had potential, but it didn’t quite deliver for me.