Stellar has taken an unexpected detour from her medical career, juggling a string of odd jobs, but her best friend, Liz, senses that something is missing in her life. Stellar has a strong sense of fairness; she believes in taking only what she deserves. So, when Liz's family needs Stellar’s medical expertise for a new start-up, she leaps at the opportunity to help out her bestie. Little does she know that Lyle “McHuge” McHugh—the unforgettable one-night stand she can’t shake off—will be spending the summer right there with them.

One of the standout aspects of this story is that the characters are in their 30s—a refreshing twist in the romance genre, which often focuses on fresh college graduates in their early 20s. It’s like finally seeing a group of characters you can relate to!
I absolutely loved how the story intertwined the therapeutic elements of the camp setting with the paths of the various couples navigating their relationships over the summer. The wilderness and activities serve as a backdrop for not just romantic connections but also for exploring family dynamics. It’s a brilliant way to showcase personal growth alongside romance. That said, I found myself wishing for a dual point of view. Experiencing the story through Lyle's eyes would have added depth, especially since his role is pivotal to the therapeutic aspect of the camp. Understanding his motivations could have enhanced the narrative significantly.

While I could relate to bits and pieces of Stellar's character, I struggled to fully connect with her and the others. The story was enjoyable and had a lot of potential, but it didn’t quite captivate me in a way that made me want to shout about it from the rooftops. It was a solid read, just not one that left me completely enthralled.

This had so many elements that are normally my catnip - fake engagement, she's the grumpy one, opposites attract, only one tent. There were parts of the writing that were beautiful and made me feel like I was waterside. Unfortunately I did not connect with it or enjoy it as much as I hoped. Maybe it would have been different if I read Liz and Tobin's book first and got to know the characters more.

I love an angry, closed off FMC because I am an angry and closed off woman. This story is only told from Stellar's POV, and I get why she is the way she is to an extent. I really do, her backstory is sad. I personally just started to get exhausted from her constant bean counting by the halfway point. Her thoughts were also so chaotic that they seemed to contradict each other. For example, she acknowledges that she completely ghosts Lyle after their by all accounts wonderful one night stand, ignores the texts he sent after, and avoids him like the plague when they have to be around each other. Then she turns around and gets hurt when he doesn't seem to want to be around her? (spoiler alert, he does, he's just trying to be respectful of her boundaries). There was a lot of being in her head and not enough talking for me. I think this book would have hugely benefited by having Lyle's POV, I feel like we didn't get to know him much at all.

I also didn't love the conflict and how it was handled. I didn't hate this book at all, and there were some great parts, but I didn't love it either the way I hoped.

This story turned into something more than I was expecting. The characters are great. I adored Lyle and Stellar, and the rest of the characters were just as good. There's a lot of emotions. There's humor as well. Stellar is such a complex character and very well developed. I was invested in the outcome. I think the ending was perfect and I loved how it was done.

I adore a story about a man who has 'no feelings' and the person that shows him that, in fact, he very much does. However, I'm absolutely feral for a story where a woman is fully pretending to herself that she will feel no feelings, only to be upended by a man who is very comfortably deep into his own emotional maturity. Add to that a vivid setting, a MMC nicknamed McHuge, some real and perceived danger, and great queer representation, and you have a novel I couldn't put down.

“The Ripple Effect” by Maggie North was a bit of a slow burn for me at first. It took a while for me to get into it but halfway through I was hooked. Some books come at the perfect time in your life to appreciate them and this was one of those books for me. As a teacher who suffered from burnout this year I identified almost a little too much with Stellar, an ER doctor who struggled with the pandemic and the toxic male environment of the hospital. She has a one night stand with the best friend of her best friend’s partner and then runs scared for a year. They find themselves working awkwardly together at white water couples therapy retreat. While trying to get the business off the ground she is fighting her past personal and family trauma. At the same time, Lyle is fighting his past trauma as well, sometimes in a very literal sense.

The themes of putting things back together after they have broken, of setting boundaries and of forgiveness while building trust really spoke to me. I loved the secondary characters on the retreat and I enjoyed the chemistry between Lyle and Stellar. I struggled a bit with Stellar’s negativity and fear of letting people, and I think that held me back a bit from loving the book in the first half but that could be because I saw to much of myself and my recent journey in her own. Overall it was a book that made me think, but also smile and I think those are the very best kind of books.

This book is for the unlikeable heroes and heroines, the ones who have worked so hard to get where they are, only to be let down by their profession. This has happened to both Psychologist Lyle “McHuge” McHugh and ER medicine physician Stellar J. Byrd, and yet how they each have dealt with the professional blows is two sides of the same coin. Where Stellar is angry to be afraid, mad at the whole world, Lyle is afraid to be angry, choosing instead to accept unfortunate news, even when he shouldn’t have to. The (goofily titled) Love Boat is a whitewater rafting relationship therapy startup where people can heal by learning to trust in each other, partnering themselves through physical and emotional exertion. The loveliest part of all was seeing how the magic of the Love Boat worked on its founders just as much as its participants.

I loved the pilot group of participants and felt like I was camping with them. There are a variety of personalities, some definitely clashing, but I just had faith that many would get their HEA. In order to make the relationship-fixer methodology seem legitimate, Stellar proposes to Lyle with the intent to be a united front against possible negative publicity. This is fake engagement perfection. Having had a one night stand followed by ghosting from Stellar’s end, Lyle makes it very clear she’ll be the one driving the relationship. Of course you can tell they both pine for each other, but it’s not the cutesy firting I feel like I typically see with this trope, but actual adults trying to work together and establishing a really strong bond.

It’s evident that Maggie North is herself a physician as she writes with the eyes of a doctor who has seen the best and worst parts of medicine. I feel like this made Stellar such a beautifully nuanced character whom may seem unlikeable and gruff from the outset, but made me really connect with her vulnerabilities. The last chapter completely delighted me and I promise you that it will give you the best full-circle feeling, almost like a love letter to the book itself. I wanted to shout, “mission accomplished!” as the Love Boat succeeds in helping even the most skeptical patrons discover something about relationships. I received this early copy from St. Martin’s Press, all opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭.5️⃣ (a slowburn that pays off!)

Stellar Byrd is still attempting to recover from a terrible work situation as an ER doctor when an opportunity to to become a camp physician at a local whitewater rafting and therapy startup comes to her. Big problem with this is she has a history with the founder Lyle "McHuge" McHugh. They had a disastrous hookup the year before and Stellar has been avoiding him and his sunshine personality ever since. The camp has been experiencing trouble since a targeted article came out. Stellar is determined to help restore the reputation of The Love Boat. It soon becomes clear a former professor of Lyle's may be behind some of the camps problems. It also becomes clear that the sparks between Stellar and Lyle may be more than either of them had planned for.

This book was so great. I have been looking forward to getting Stellar and McHuge's story since reading Rules for Second Chances. Second chance romances are usually my least favorite books but somehow Maggie North has pulled off two that I have loved in a row. Stellar and Lyle are great characters. Both have enormous hearts and really care for others. Their road may have been bumpy to start but the outcome was lovely. I loved the camp aspect of the book and getting to know the other adults and some of the campers. I look forward to reading what Maggie writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Maggie north read and boy it did not disappoint! We have two characters in the medical world needing a retreat so to speak. What could go wrong?! Maggie does a great job setting the stage for this love story to unfold!

4.5 stars.

LOVED IT!!!!

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North is an absolutely delightful romance set in Canada.

Stellar J Byrd is a fantastic character that undergoes tremendous growth and healing. Her childhood was a nightmare but she makes a new life for herself after becoming a doctor. Unfortunately, Stellar ends up working in a viper’s nest that chews her up and spits her out. Now trying to start a new life close to her best friend, Stellar will have to swallow her pride and ask the man she has been ignoring for job.

Psychologist Lyle “McHuge” McHugh is a gentle giant that sees the good in everyone. He and his best friend are about to open their white-water rafting and couples therapy camp. They just need to hire a doctor and then they are good to go. However, a few added wrinkles lead to Stellar suggesting a fake engagement to satisfy their investor.

The Ripple Effect is a charming romance with a wonderful storyline. Stellar and Lyle are fantastic characters with relatable flaws and endearing qualities. The secondary characters are a bit quirky but mostly likable. The wilderness setting is vividly life-like and easy to visualize. The plot is multi-layered with unexpected obstacles for Stellar and Lyle to overcome. Maggie North brings this heartwarming romance to a swoon worthy conclusion.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read! I absolutely loved this book!!!

I loved loved loved loved this book. The wilderness setting, the fun side characters, the adventure, but most of all the connection between Stellar and McHuge that just gets deeper throughout the book. I loved Maggie North's debut and this brings the same romance and emotion. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book and ate it up. Stellar Byrd is a burned-out ER doctor who's been doing odd jobs since she left her last hospital under circumstances that have traumatized her. She feels adrift and always feels like she has to offer something of value to be worth it to other people. A guy she had a one-night stand with, Lyle McHugh, is starting a company called The Love Boat, and they need a doctor. The Love Boat runs 10-day sessions of whitewater rafting and relationship therapy, based on Lyle's psychology research. Stellar is initially skeptical and wants to stay far away from Lyle (it was a really good one-night stand, of course, but she's not looking for a relationship), but through a classic harebrained turn of events, Stellar and Lyle end up faking an engagement, and hilarity ensues.

This book reminded me a lot of [book:Out of the Woods|209220944] (complimentary), which similarly involves an outdoor adventure program geared towards couples, and also similarly is incredibly warm and uplifting. This book leans into the more absurd aspects of the premise - the characters are so tongue in cheek about whitewater rafting as a metaphor for relationship conflict, which I always enjoy, and our protagonists are good people with complicated feelings about everything - people you want to root for. Lyle and Stellar's chemistry jumps off the page right away, and I really liked Stellar's inner conflict about the ways in which anger had served her or let her down. Stellar working through her previous job trauma is also extremely relatable, and I loved her growth.

The sexual tension is also so good, and the spice is very well-written. This was a lovely summer read with good depth and great vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. It’s a beautiful romance not with your typical fluff. It’s raw, it’s different, but all in a great way. I think the author executed Stellar and Lyle’s unique personalities perfectly.

I did feel like the story moved along a lot slower than I would have wished. It made it really hard for me to be engaged all the way. I also wish there would have been a dual pov. I feel like I could have connected with Lyle’s character a little more easily that way.

All in all, this was a good read with a great premise and a strong mental health representation. I would definitely recommend!

I LOVE a Canadian setting in my reads, and Maggie North absolutely delivered that in her delightful sophomore book. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Stellar and McHugh, they were two characters that had me rooting for them both from the first page and the concept for the Love Boat was SO fun. This cast of characters was so delightful and I loved how interconnected they all became throughout, seeing the love and support not just amongst the couples, but within the group as a whole was so heartwarming.

Stellar and McHuge’s story is expertly crafted to mimic everything they love about rafting the Pendle River, and the way Maggie North weaves this together has left me in a book hangover for days 🫠😍🫶🏻

We meet Stellar and McHuge as they jump headlong into the swift current of a one night stand. Despite their magnetic connection, both quickly scamper back to what feels like solid ground- avoiding each other and romantic relationships as a whole.

Stellar is a whitewater rapid. She’s strong, decisive, and risk of danger is a part of her every day. But she’s hiding depth and need under her quickly-moving exterior.

Lyle McHugh on the other hand is a sunlight eddy. His power is masked by a smooth, easy surface, but he deserves the full force of a current of love as well!

Even the way their romance plays out mirrors this balance - shocking emotional depths are soothed by a soft, tender place to land in each other.

Truly masterful!

Book lovers, I’m not a re reader often, and I’ve re read both of Maggie’s books! But I had to read this one twice to feel like I could adequately put into words how much I love it!

Other things to love:
🏞️ gorgeously enticing scenery descriptions
🙃flipped gender scripts- tell me that McHuge’s struggle with being judged for being literally huge doesn’t ring true for the way society misjudges all of us for our appearance, but particularly women
🧸gentle MMC, but with quiet strength
⁉️suspense subplot

The Ripple Effect was a pleasure to read. It has summer camp vibes making it perfect for escaping into from your hammock. What I loved about this book was how real it was. There is excellent representation. McHuge and Stellar team up to run a white water relationship counseling program. Stellar is battle terrible burnout, self doubt, and sexism in the workplace, as a result she's full of rage. I found the burnout representation so refreshing. McHuge is battling negative press and the dark side of academia. Both are battling their confidence and attraction to each other. They had a one night stand a year ago. There is a little bit of a second chance tone to their romance but they didn't really know each other then. I applaud Maggie North for creating characters that have character and depth.

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for this eARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A grumpy ex-ER doc and a golden-retriever therapist faking an engagement at a relationship retreat? Say less—I’m in. The Ripple Effect is funny, heartfelt, and full of tension in all the right ways. Stellar is sarcastic, guarded, and deeply relatable, and McHuge totally won me over. Some pacing lulls, but the banter and chemistry more than make up for it. A messy, swoony summer romance with heart. Loved it

The Ripple Effect was a nice story, the characters were complex, the stressors realistic. I was interested, invested and curious throughout.

Stellar and McHuge (Lyle McHugh) couldn't be more different. As petite as she is, he's enormous. She tends to the negative and he's positive. There's chemistry from the start though. Their meet-cute revolves around their size. When the crowd gets a little mob-like after a band cancels, Stellar is in physical danger of being crushed. Lyle can get her out safely. Since he's attractive and nice, she decides a one-night stand is in order. Afterward though she pushes him away, rather rudely ghosting him. Fast forward a year, Stellar has been fired from her position as an emergency room physician for standing up against being treated inferior. No matter how righteous the cause, she can't live without an income. She's doing gig work. It's not much and bills are late being paid but she doesn't have much choice. Her poor car is limping along, any moment to die a horrible death.

It's been hard avoiding Lyle this year since his best friend is married to her best friend. Stellar doesn't do friendship well so her closeness with Liz is super important. She'd be lost without Liz. Stellar has some mental issues. For one, she's compulsive about ensuring she gives exactly what she gets and Liz accepts that.

Lyle's been through some real crud with his PhD advisor but he's finished his degree and has a written a best selling relationship self=help book. Ready to open his camp for couples to improve their relationships, he's in a jam with Liz's husband, his business partner, ready to go out on paternity leave. He needs help. He really needs a medic or doctor. Cue Stellar. It's much better money than the gig work obviously and interesting. Stellar loves the outdoors and canoeing. She's even qualified to teach it. She's checks off so many boxes for the business. She's not inclined to work with Lyle but she really can't say no.

When a major supporter pulls out citing Lyle's single status when he's working on relationships it only makes sense to create a fake engagement, right? As Stellar works getting the camp up and running, dealing with the personalities of their clients and pretending to be engaged they, of course, start feeling things for each other. To make things even more difficult, they keep running into Lyle's PhD advisor who's created a similar business. Stellar is convinced the professor is guilty of corporate espionage but Lyle's reluctant to think the worse. The plot is delightfully complex as all these stressors unfold. I'll stop the synopsis here because you really need to read the book to find out what happens.

I found the characters very interesting, their development good and realistic and the circumstances intense. The book was very enjoyable.

The Ripple Effect is a “she’s grumpy he’s sunshine” outdoor adventure story with plenty of emotional moments. If you like your romance with indelible characters, you won’t want to miss Maggie North’s latest book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Everyone has a moment when they work with last year’s one night stand and then pretend to be engaged, right? Dr. Stellar J. Byrd is burned out on the medical field when psychologist Lyle “McHuge” McHugh needs help with his Love Boat whitewater canoeing/relationship development camp. Can she really deal with his take-what-life-hands-you-with-a-smile attitude every single day? His kindness to everyone no matter what? Being up close and personal with his gorgeous ginger beard? Once they are forced to fake their engagement for romance reasons and spend even more time together in Only One Tent, Stellar realizes that she may have underestimated her deeper feelings for Lyle…

I love the way Lyle and Stellar’s relationship develops. Stellar is the rare character who is prickly while also being likable. And, the way golden retriever Lyle loves and accepts her because she’s strong and angry, not in spite of it, sums up his personality perfectly. Oh, and btw, I really need a Michelin star chef like Jasvinder to come cook for me—the food descriptions made me hungry every time!

I really enjoyed The Ripple Effect. If you like emotional stories with distinctive, grumpy sunshine characters along with tons of forced proximity in an outdoors setting, you’ll enjoy this book. This was my first book from Maggie North and I can’t wait to read more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Stellar takes a job working with her old one night stand Lyle. As she gets to know him they become more than their fake relationship, but someone is out to get them, so will they succeed? A fun read.