I was really hoping I would enjoy this book but I sadly just did not connect with the characters. The chapters at times were incredibly long and it felt like there was just additional fluff that did not need to be there. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While this has all the usual tropes I would've gone for in the past like grumpy/sunshine, this book fell short for me. I found myself not being able to fully get myself into this romance like I would others which is disappointing because I really wanted to like it. However, I'm sure there are going to be people who absolutely adore this book and I encourage any romance lover who may read this review to not get discouraged by my words and instead pick this book up because you never know!

Thank you St. Martin's Publishing Group and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

What to expect:
- black cat emergency medicine FMC
- crunchy granola psychologist MMC
- queer main characters
- fake dating/engagement of convenience
- forced proximity
- only one tent
- a quirky cast of supporting characters
- unique “love camp” setting centered around white water rafting

To be honest, the first 45% of this book was very hard for me to get through. I strongly contemplated dnf-ing, which is something that I very rarely do. Part of this was because I felt like nothing really significant happened in that time period and I found myself having to force myself to pick it up and keep reading, but mostly because I felt like the two main characters had absolutely no chemistry. As a result, I found it so hard to care about what was coming next because as a romance reader, I need to be at least a little bit invested in their love story to keep turning the page.

The main reason I didn’t end up dnf-ing is because despite the qualms I listed above, I actually really like the author’s voice. I felt like a lot of passages were almost lyrical and so poignant. Certain relationship concepts and the struggles the FMC was going through felt so much deeper than what I typically see in a romance novel like this.

I also relate deeply to so many of Stellar’s struggles as I too, am a healthcare provider in emergency medicine who worked through the pandemic and is still processing a lot of what happened in those dark years. The added layer of malignant misogyny in medicine was also something I am familiar with.

I loved the representation of Stellar being bisexual and Lyle being pansexual. It was honestly a pleasant surprise to learn this as I was reading the book, and I love that queer characters are worked into a story line where their queer-ness is so normalized that their sexuality is not the main focus.

While the first half of the book was rough, the 2nd half totally redeemed the book for me. The previously non-existent chemistry finally developed and revealed itself and I became very invested in their story after that. I love that we got to see Stellar evolve to feel emotions other than anger, while Lyle evolved to allow himself to feel anger and stand up for himself in a way that he couldn’t before. They were both flawed, but complemented each other in the perfect way that felt so balanced. With that being said, I did think the love confession was a bit abrupt and too early for me, which is why this was wasn’t quite a 4 ⭐️ read IMO.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and the author for the advanced readers copy of The Ripple Effect!

I liked this! After reading Maggie’s debut, Rules for Second Chances, I was interested to see what was in store for Stellar and McHuge. This is a unique premise with a lot of content about healing and forgiveness amid the backdrop of a wilderness adventure.

Stellar has a lot of trauma around both her upbringing and a toxic work environment that led her to leaving her career as an ER doctor. She’s always lived her life feeling like she had to make things even for fear people would think she was like her con-artist father. Lyle is the opposite, willingly giving without expectation. He’s so kind and gentle, that it’s disarming to Stellar. I enjoyed seeing them work through their issues together and separately. There is a lot of great character development and healing across the board. While the Love Boat course is designed for the couples in attendance, it ends up working on Stellar and McHuge in unexpected ways.

The stress of getting the business venture off the ground is compounded by Lyle’s former professor running a copycat course at the same time. Lyle and Stellar’s approaches to handling the situation are different and things come to a head towards the end.

I’m learning that I’m not big into books set in the wilderness, hence the lower rating, but I’m still glad I read it!

Read if you like:
🔃 Opposites attract
🥮Cinnamon roll MMC
💪🏻 Strong female characters
🌲 Canadian wilderness setting
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA reps (both main and side characters)
🧠 Mental health rep

Coming off North's writing style in Rules for Second Chances last summer I was excited to dive back in and see what else she could bring. And let me tell you there was no second book/sequel syndrome with this one.

North brings complex, flawed characters in both Stellar and Lyle (McHuge). And I loved the reverse grumpy x sunshine. Stellar coming from a complicated childhood, into a toxic work environment, finds it hard to trust others and seeks a balance in every interaction. And Lyle who has fought against the stigma of his large size all his life, who tries to counteract that with a calm, affable outward demeanor. She brings him some fight, while he provides her some calm and emotion.

I really enjoyed all the awkward moments and hilarity that ensued during the camp activities. With a robust cast of side characters, who's individual personalities brought something interesting to the table. And it was nice to see a "villian" get a bit of a redemption arc. Everyone was so relatable and it made for an easy read.

This story is full of emotions, laughter, and a little bit of intrigue. And it is one of growth. And not just between our MC's. And it has a dog. So what's not to love! A definite must have for your summer reading list. Especially for those adventurers at heart.

As always thanks for Netgalley, St. Martins Griffin, and the author for my ARC in return for an honest review!

🩵💙 The Ripple Effect ARC Review 💙🩵

Thank you so much to Maggie North and St Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Ripple Effect is a standalone contemporary romance. Stellar is a burnt out doctor trying to stay afloat in the small town that she loves. When she agrees to be the resident physician of a local therapy camp, she suddenly finds herself in the midst of controversy and a fake relationship. But what happens when her feelings aren’t so fake after all?

This was an interesting read. Stellar was an interesting character who had potential. However, I struggled a little bit with her balance between grumpy and rude in this book. There were some points where I felt like she was a jerk and not just grumpy, which made it hard to stay engaged with her character

Lyle was such a soft character who deserved all the love. I did feel like there was such an emphasis on the “gentle giant” persona that he felt flat and I wanted to know more. I would have really enjoyed seeing some of his PoV in this book

Overall this was a solid three star read. I enjoyed the story overall but felt like the characters were a bit too far into their tropes. This book did have some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book did have a few spicy scenes that weren’t super detailed, so overall two flames for spice

If you’re a fan of contemporary romance with grumpy sunshine vibes, outdoorsy adventures and good mental health rep, then absolutely pick this one up.

Another great book by Maggie North. I love the way she writes her characters - they have so much depth to them. And the romance between Stellar and McHuge was fantastic - watching their relationship grow and develop over the book made me very happy. I definitely hope Maggie keeps writing more books!

Maggie North returns to the wilderness of Canada for her second book. This is a direct sequel to 'Rules for Second Chances’ (June 2024) and begins almost where that one leaves off. The MCs in this were big side characters in the first novel. But you can read this as a stand alone as there is no overall story arc between the two books. Stellar J Byrd has been floundering for the last year after burning out and leaving her position as an ER doctor. To stay in the area near her best friend she has been doing gig work and surviving on savings.

Lyle (McHuge) McHugh is starting up a couple's wilderness experience that is a follow up to his doctoral thesis and best selling self help book. He hires Steller to be his medical aide for the camp and to assist in the wilderness experiences. Neither has forgotten they hooked up for an incredible night a year ago and have never discussed it. A lot is riding on the success of the adventure and it doesn’t help that his old professor is claiming credit for Lyle’s work. On the first adventure Stellar is also dealing with her half sister, a tv celebrity, who wants to connect with her.

The book is pitched as he is sunshine to her grumpy, but as with the previous novel there is a much more serious tone. Stellar’s upbringing makes her feel she can’t be loved and she is transactional even with her best friend who she loves dearly. I was hoping this book was going to be Stellar’s story but in the previous book she has broken up with her girl friend. I was actually looking forward to a f/f story. Of course now I know she is Bi and I can see her fitting with Lyle.

Lyly is incredibly sweet and lovable. But trying to get his business launched is taking all his energy.

I really like the writing style and how the author addresses serious issues. I wanted a little more closure with the sister story because those always hit my feelings. This is a great book but not as light as the beautiful cover looks. It is correctly being marketed as women’s fiction with a romance.

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North is a current romantic novel with some twists and turns. This is a second book following Rules for Second Chances, but can be read without the knowledge of the prior novel. The novel introduces us to Lyle ‘McHuge’ McHugh and Stellar J Byrd, two opposites.

Lyle ‘McHuge’ McHugh is the part owner of a new venture called The Love Boat. The venture is a cross between relationship therapy and White water canoeing. The “campers” spend time in the morning setting goals, then time on the river with kayaks and then dinner and more time together. Lyle has poured his heart into this. The camp desperately needs a Doctor onboard. They hire ER Physician (who is burnt out) Stellar J Byrd. She of course thinks she can avoid Lyle while working there (LOL) since there was a moment between them.

Meanwhile, someone is working behind the scenes giving out information to others who keep “showing up” and ruining the day. Lyle and Stellar end up pretending to be fiances, but they are not, which adds an awkward twist to their relationship. Information is sparingly given out which begins to make the reader curious about what is really going on. There are many twists and turns, even an attempt at dog kidnapping.

The novel is a quick read with interesting situations and fun characters. The Ripple Effect by Maggie North is a good read.

This book comes out on the 17th of June.

I fully believe in “right book, wrong time” and “right book, wrong person”, and for me, this book feels like both.

I really enjoyed the camping setting, the medical terminology, and learned about whitewater canoeing. I also liked some of the side characters. The writing style was unique, but took me a little while to get used to. This is grumpyXsunshine where Stellar is the grump and Lyle is the sunshine.

Stellar is a character that isn't for me, but relatable to many people because she's burnt out and struggling with her personal life. We're in her head the entire time, and her thoughts were fairly depressing. It made me disconnect from any relationship development she and Lyle had, and I was not rooting for them.

I liked Stellar’s character development - I felt like she learned from her history to put a positive step toward the future.

Thank you Maggie North, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this ARC.

🌶️🌶️ - Mildly-descriptive scenes that rarely happen; Moderate tension.

My thoughts:
I loved the characters in The Ripple Effect. Especially McHuge(McHugh). Along with Stellar, they had just the perfect amount of chemistry to keep me intrigued. Both have their own personal demons they are trying to overcome.
The banter throughout the story was on point….I laughed out loud a few times.
💚Grumpy/Sunshine
🩷Shared tent
💜Outdoor adventure
💛Fake engagement
🤎Burnt out doctor
💙Slow burn
🧡Forced proximity
🩵Light spice
♥️Opposites attract
The Ripple Effect takes you on a fun outdoor adventure with just the right amount of romance, spice and humor.
Author Maggie North shares a beautiful story that will have you feeling relaxed and smiling. Perfect summer/beach reading!

Thank you to all for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am a huge Maggie North fan! I adore that she writes about flawed characters and gives them lots of grace in their complexity. I also love that she continues to write about M/F relationships where one or both characters are not straight. Lyle "McHuge" McHugh is a cinnamon roll and it was so sweet watching Stellar find someone who was sincerely kind after all of her past hurtful experiences. The only one tent and fake engagement aspects of the book were so fun to read about especially given their past connection and current attraction to each other. I struggled with the emotional development however. I loved both Stellar and Lyle but they both had some serious thinking errors and needed therapy to combat them. I didn't feel like the story had enough time to fully show us their character growth since we only have 2 weeks in story time to see that growth happen. The Ripple Effect touched on some topics that made it difficult for me to read about personally. I'm sure that other readers who are looking for complex messy characters will feel seen in this raw story.

wow I think I might have enjoyed this book even more than the first!

We got hints of Stellar's and McHugh's relationship in book one, and I loved getting the background information & seeing how they both grow in this book. They were tender, and I especially loved that the man was the more tender of the two. There was some great relationship development not only between our love interests but also between the other couples and between Stellar and her sister. I really enjoyed watching her walls break down and both of our main characters learn that the things they thought were negative about themselves were actually things that could be used for good.

Consider me a Maggie North fan -- I will be picking up all her future books!

4/5☆
2/5🌶

I loved the description of this book so I was tickled to recieve not only an eARC copy, but also a physical ARC from the publisher. I think this story had a great premise and, for the most part, was successful in telling the story. I would recommend it to my friends who like grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and hurt/Comfort. The "twist" of what was happening behind the scenes was fairly obvious, to me, but it didnt detract from my enjoyment of the story.

I think my only real issue with this was I didn't realize it was part of a series of interconnected standalones, so I felt like I was missing some background of the characters and their friends. It wasn't until I looked it up on goodreads that I realized the other book by this author is the same group of friends. I think it should be listed this way so that readers go into it knowing there may be more information available to them before reading it.

Here's my note for the publisher: This book is clearly part of a series. These two characters play heavily into the story of Maggie North's first book. However, because there's no indication that a previous books should be read before this one...I didn't read the first book. I went into this even more blind because I feel like I won't be the only reader to be tricked like that. It greatly impacted my understanding of these characters and I believe needs to be adjusted.


I was ready to give this a low rating until 80% of the way through this book when my feelings got pulled in and I realized I was rooting hard for Stellar and Lyle. I mean, I teared up when the resolution happened. But that first 80% wasn't a fun ride for me.

Stellar is an unpleasant character for me to be in the head of for an entire book. She is a broken down person. Her childhood was terrible, her professional life combusted a year ago, she's barely holding it together. She keeps score in every relationship and is terrified she won't be able to "give enough" to keep the people she loves invested in her. I don't view the world that way, and to watch her bean count every interaction is exhausting. I think I would've had a better time if I got any chapters in Lyle's POV. I needed a break from her. I read three other books while reading this ARC because I couldn't stay in her head that long.

Lyle....I love him. I will always give bonus points for a burly ginger man with a beard and a belly. I can't help it. That might be my physical kryptonite. Add in that he's a compassionate therapist/outdoors man who is overly generous...I swooned. He goes through so much professional upheaval in this book, and has to balance that with his love for Stellar. He pins. I love pinning. Why couldn't I be in his head for some pining???

The book opens with Stellar and Lyle running into each other at a concert and then having a one night stand. (Which fades to black!!!!) The time jumps a year later and Lyle convinces Stellar to be to doctor for the couples whitewater therapy retreat he's starting with (and this is where I got annoyed) Stellar's best friend's husband. Why that connection? Because book one is about Stellar's best friend and her husband working through their marriage in crisis with the help of their therapist who is Lyle. (So there's a lot of story you miss if you only read this book, as I did.)

The business is already off to a rocky start as a critical article of Lyle and this program was published. One of the criticisms is that Lyle has no business counseling married couples as he is single. In a fit of frustration, Stellar proposes to Lyle and "volun-tells" him that they will pretend to be engaged. This also means they had to share a tent, and act engaged in front of the guests of the retreat. It has the right amount of yearning and awkward. At one point there's a "we should make out where we could get caught" moment, and that make out session unlocks many repressed feelings.

If you thought this was only a story about Stellar and Lyle, you're wrong. The retreat is plagued by drama, espionage, and betrayal. It's tough to watch, but beautiful to see. There's so much greatness happening in this book...it's just coming from the lens of a paranoid, almost rabid person who is determined not to need anyone yet desperate for human connection.

By the time we got to the 80% mark, feelings between Lyle and Stellar are reaching a boiling point, we got a little bit of spice, sh*t has hit the fan with the retreat, and I was on the edge of my seat looking for how this was gonna end happily. I actually felt really satisfied with the ending, and had far more positive feelings than I expected to. But I don't think this would be an honest review if I didn't emphasize how long it took me to be truly invested and enjoy my time reading.

4.75 rounded up. I really enjoyed the growth of both characters and how they have to work through the uncomfortable in order to save the business, but also for the FMC, Stellar, to save herself from becoming her own island. In addition to the character growth and tension, this book was also a refreshing break from so many other romance books I've read.
The FMC views everything as transactional based her past, so she has very little network to rely on, taking on everything herself. Stepping into the role of camp doctor puts her in a position that she must put her trust in someone else - her one night stand from a year ago, and the last person she slept with because of how it impacted her - giving her more than the singular transaction she expected.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the electronic advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a second chance romance and a solid follow up to the first novel by this author. The writing, plot, and setting are fantastic, and it has lots of heart and a great cast of secondary characters. I struggled some with the main couple though (which was a problem given that it's their story). I just never really connected with the characters or felt their chemistry build naturally. McHugh's character sometimes felt inauthentic to me (lots of slang and over-the-top positive/chummy). There's a lot commentary on his size and plays on his name (McHuge) that felt repetitive at times. I enjoyed the first book by this author more but this was an enjoyable read.

The Ripple Effect is a fun, quick, and easy read. There is a small cast of interesting characters. It’s so much more than a romance. Stellar is on a journey of personal discovery. She’s spent much of her life being left behind and feeling unsupported. She thought that if you do this for me, I have to do that for you. She likes having a balanced sheet. The only exception to this was when she was working in the hospital. For Stellar, keeping her feelings to herself and pushing people away is easier.

As for McHuge, he’s a giant teddy bear. He’s afraid to allow himself to feel angry because of his size. He’s been big for his age all his life, and as an adult, he easily towers over people. As such, he has worked on being one with compassion and compromise. So, it is easy to say that he has his own character growth throughout the book.

The descriptions of the setting will make you want to join the cast of The Love Boat. Cool mountain water. Beautiful mountains all around you. What more could a person want? Okay, I’ll be honest. I wouldn’t want to sleep in a tent, but the rest of the setting sounds like perfection to me!

As for the romance, there’s plenty of push-and-pull between Stellar and McHuge. They have a history, which plays into the tension. The intimate moments are there, and they tend to fade to gray. Yes, we know they’re about to have some intimate times, but there’s nothing graphic or detailed. Occasionally, there may be mention of past times, but again, nothing graphic or overly detailed. Who should read The Ripple Effect? Everyone, of course! If you enjoy reading small-town romances with fake dating and grumpy sunshine elements, you will enjoy this book.

I love the way Maggie North writes. Her books are funny, tender, emotionally smart, and just the right amount of spicy. She somehow makes big feelings and bigger messes feel comforting—and The Ripple Effect is no exception.

Stellar J. Byrd is a burnt-out former ER doctor who had one wildly unforgettable night with sunshiney psychologist Lyle “McHuge” McHugh a year ago. It was explosive. Vulnerable. The kind of night that makes you feel too much, and Stellar? She panicked. She ghosted. I respect the chaos.

Fast forward a year: Stellar’s broke, exhausted, and in need of a job. And who offers her one? Yep. Him. She ends up as the reluctant physician at Lyle’s very woo-woo whitewater canoeing couples therapy camp (aka The Love Boat), and when some bad press threatens to sink the whole operation, the only solution? Fake an engagement. Obviously.

Also—once you find out why Stellar is in need of a job post pandemic… let’s just say I was fired up. No spoilers, but I was ready to throw hands.

The setting was everything. An adult couples camp in the wilderness? Yes please. It gave just the right blend of cozy, chaotic, and emotionally charged. Watching Stellar and Lyle slowly open up to each other again, peel back their defenses, and finally talk about that night? So, so satisfying.

And the chemistry. The one bed scene. The lingering glances. Maggie North writes longing and tension so well I was practically pacing my living room. Lyle is a cinnamon roll with biceps and big softie energy, and Stellar is a grumpy queen who is deeply relatable in her “feelings are terrifying” energy.

If you’re into:

- fake engagement
- grumpy/sunshine
- second chance (ish)
- forced proximity
- camp/workplace romance
- emotional healing (with canoe metaphors)
- found family
- heroes who fall hard

Then go ahead and add The Ripple Effect to your cart. Maggie North is now firmly on my must-read list.

This book just isn’t for me. I found the characters’ motivations, histories, and conflicts to be needlessly convoluted, and the protagonist was straight-up annoying.

The queer and neurodivergent representation was nice to see, but I just didn’t care about the story or characters overall.