5 stars!

Getting to read another book by Maggie North is a privilege, I swear! I was lucky enough to also be a part of receiving this book as a traveling arc, and I couldn’t help but annotate the hell out of my copy.

Stellar and McHuge were PERFECT! (Also loved the cameos we got from Liz and Tobin). I really appreciate romance stories that feel real. That I can look at and say “yeah, that is absolutely believable” and Maggie north delivers that feeling spectacularly in her writing. She gives us deliciously flawed characters that you can’t help but be endeared to. And I have to talk about the side characters that felt like leads in their own rights! I loved all the moments we got with the other members of the retreat so much - particularly the Lori storyline! Now I just need a bonus scene with Lyle being the best uncle to Jess at a backyard bbq with Tobin and Liz and Sloan!!

Maggie will never stop being an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.

I thought the premise of this novel was unique. Fake-dating is a common trope, but the way it was presented in terms of this whitewater-relationship camp was incredibly exciting. I had personally never heard of a wilderness relationship course structured like this before.

However, the novelty of the premise did not salvage the lack of depth with the characters. I didn't care for or connect with any of the characters. I thought the romance between them progressed at a not-ideal pace, and I just didn't think there was enough exploration of who they were to warrant the rapid progression into love. They both had single personality traits, and the way they handled the main conflict at the end wasn't my favorite.

Ultimately, I didn't find myself very invested in the novel, but it was definitely something different from romance novels I've read before.

And I'm out.

Maggie North’s The Ripple Effect is a poignant and beautifully crafted story about how even the smallest actions can create profound change. Through rich, evocative prose and multidimensional characters, North explores themes of connection, redemption, and the far-reaching consequences of our choices. A thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that lingers long after the final page—perfect for readers who love deeply reflective and uplifting fiction

This is such a good book and to be honest I wasn't sure about it to begin with, now that i've finished it I have to say i'm so glad i got the opportunity to read it, This is not your average silly romance and is quite tender and deep, I love the characters, how they have real world problems. I also appreciated the great representations in this story and felt I learned a little bit more from it

Highly recommend

The Ripple Effect is the second novel of Maggie North's that I've had the opportunity to read. It's a stand-alone book, but do yourself a favor & read Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North first to get more of the back story casually mentioned in The Ripple Effect.
This cute story carries a lot of emotions as you can't help but root for a happy ending in the romance between Stellar & McHuge. With the neurodivergent characters written into this story & their sexual preferences, I can understand this novel might not be enjoyed by everyone, but overall, it does have a good storyline & wraps up nicely for a sweet ending.
Thank you, #NetGalley & St. Martin's Press, for allowing me to read The Ripple Effect by Maggie North. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book on #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but if you're a romantic at heart with a progressive way of thinking, please add this sweet romance story to your TBR list.

I love a grumpy sunshine when it’s the FMC that’s grumpy. McHuge and Stellar were so fun. McHuge was, you guessed it, a huge tree of a man that you just know gives the best cuddles in the world and Stellar is skittish and slow to give her trust. When they are thrust together on a joint mission to make sure their new venture, an adult summer camp to rehab relationships, their relationship is the one that takes the most surprising turn.

I spent the first part of January in a major reading slump - I couldnt get a single book to hold my attention for about two weeks until I picked up The Ripple Effect. I adored Maggie North’s first novel, and I was hoping this book would be just what I needed to reconnect with reading, and it was.
Stellar is a former ER doctor who left her career on some pretty dismal terms. She’s financially struggling and will do just about anything to stay in the town she has come to love, so she takes a job as a camp doctor at a new wilderness/relationship therapy start up. The problem? The founder of The Love Boat is psychologist Lyle McHugh, who she has avoided after a disaster of a one night stand the year prior. As they have to work together to make the camp a success, the more they can’t deny the attraction between them.
I love Maggie’s writing style, and it has only improved since her debut. This book was so heart-warming and was just the sweet romance I needed in my life with the perfect amount of spice. Stellar and Lyle’s relationship was complex and their connection was so deep. I love how they complimented each other and pushed each other to become better versions of themselves. I loved the camp setting and the psychology behind the experience for the campers. The side characters added so much fun and depth, especially Stellar’s sister. This book stole my heart.

I loved the premise of this book - a marriage whitewater rafting camp, where couples go to improve their marriage, while camping out for a couple of weeks, and learning to white water raft. The camp is lead by our main characters/love interests - former doctor and a psychiatrist.

I really wanted to love this, but I couldn’t get into it. Right from the beginning, there were so many little things that made it hard.

From the first chapter, a fundamental plot point was that she’s tiny, and he’s huge. This was repeated multiple times in nearly every chapter, and I found it difficult to get past it. Also, the FMC is very fuck girl vibes - I love a FMC that relies against the stereotypes, but it was a lot. She’s tough, she’s angry, she’s always fighting, and she calls all her friends Babe (and there’s a dog named Babe too).

I was excited to read a book which featured a heroine in her 30s. This is a great option for someone who loves a sunshine/black cat dynamic (Lyle isn't quite a golden retriever trope). There are times that the plot makes some odd jumps that were mildly jarring as a reader, but I enjoyed the overall flow and amount of plot that ends up happening in this story.

This was my first read by Maggie and I can certainly see myself reading more of her work. The premise of this story was interesting. I will admit it took me a bit to get into it but once I did, I throughly enjoyed it. Maggie did a good job writing an ideal setting at Love Boat. I enjoyed reading how Stellar navigated and worked through her past. And it’s worth mentioning that McHuge is book boyfriend goals.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read and review Ripple Effect.

I’m not always a lover of second chance romances, but I adore grumpy-sunshine stories, especially if the male lead is the sunshine. So even though this was a second chance romance, I adored Stellar and Lyle together. I loved Lyle’s sweetness, Stellar’s growth, and the overall messiness of The Ripple Effect.

I can’t wait to read more by Maggie North!

Maggie North’s *The Ripple Effect* is a heartwarming and humorous grumpy-sunshine romance set in a unique whitewater canoeing and relationship therapy camp. At its core is Dr. Stellar J Byrd, a burnt-out former ER doctor who takes a job as the camp physician at The Love Boat, where couples paddle through rapids to address their relationship issues.

Stellar's pragmatic nature clashes with the camp’s philosophy of vulnerability, especially when she teams up with the charming, optimistic Dr. Will Sloan. When a PR mishap threatens funding, they concoct a plan to fake an engagement to attract investors, but their staged romance begins to feel all too real.

North weaves sharp, witty dialogue with tender moments, capturing Stellar’s journey from isolation to self-acceptance. The novel vividly portrays the wilderness, enhancing the story’s adventurous spirit. With its blend of humor, heart, and relatable themes of healing and rediscovering joy, *The Ripple Effect* will appeal to fans of grumpy-sunshine romances and feel-good narratives., this book delivers in spades.

a LOT of inner monologue and not enough of MMC for my liking. Setting is beautiful

A grumpy burnt out physician and a sunshine psychologist must fake an engagement to save his whitewater canoeing/ relationship therapy startup in Maggie North's sparkling second novel about starting over.

Burned-out former ER doc Stellar J Byrd can solve any crisis except her own life. But with her financial prospects dwindling, she’d do anything to stay in her beloved, pricey wilderness town—even take a job as a camp physician at The Love Boat, an unspeakably touchy-feely whitewater canoeing/ relationship therapy startup. If there are sing-alongs, she’s calling in sick.

What’s worse? The founder is Lyle “McHuge” McHugh, the sunshiny psychologist she’s masterfully avoided since their disastrous hookup last year. Hardheaded relationship bean-counter Stellar plans to dodge his pathological generosity from now until September, but after a scathing article puts McHuge's credibility into question, the two are forced into a fake engagement to salvage the camp’s crumbling public image. It’s strictly business . . . but the more closely they work together, the more Stellar realizes her feelings for Lyle are anything but professional.

This summer is nothing like Stellar expected, but could it be exactly what she needed? With a colorful cast of camp-goers, including a journalist intent on bringing The Love Boat down and an estranged celebrity sibling, plus a dash of corporate espionage, Maggie North’s signature heart and heat shine in The Ripple Effect.

This was so good! Basically it's a second chance romance set in a white-water canoeing relationship therapy experience.
The two main characters, Lyle and Stellar were both relatable and I spent a lot of time thinking about Stellar's way of dealing with everyone so there is balance in the relationship. As someone who doesn't like to owe anyone anything, this really resonated.
There are obstacles aplenty along the way but much like whitewater canoeing, I'd imagine, you learn a lot and pick it up quick or you're swimming nose up toes up.
By the end, I was rooting for these two and the love boat crew.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group for the chance to read this gem.

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. This was a pretty good book that I enjoyed reading on holiday!

A fake engagement with a former one night stand to save a fledgling business that is part couples counseling and part outdoor adventure? Sure, why not. Somehow it even works. The story ended up being as messy and fun as I had hoped with different couple who sign up for the course and some nefarious moves by a competitor. The romance was a bit less successful. McHuge was a sweetheart, if a bit one-note. Stellar and her internal thoughts got to be exhausting and so repetitive that I had a hard time buying her sudden turnaround. I was more interested in the business than the romance. I had a good time with this book and look forward to what North writes next.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review..

Thank you net galley!
4.5 / 5 stars!
I LOVED this. McHuge was such a fun character in Book 1 and Stellar was such a great best friend, I knew I was going to like seeing them together. I didn't realize I'd like it THAT much.
1) I think the setting here is pivotal, and again, and outdoors setting with whitewater canoeing/kayaking serving as the backdrop to solving relationship problems? Just brilliant. It's its own character, rightfully so, and its described beautifully
2) There is a whole passage and section around the misogyny in medicine and the lack of professionalism around PhDs and as someone who sits squarely between both, I could FEEL this
3) There was a good amount of spice but the language was really well done and never felt over the top. This second chance romance just WORKED between the two, and their tension was palpable and believable
I just plain enjoyed this cover to cover. I think Maggie North excels at writing body language and expression...I just want to take this trip!

[Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Maggie North & NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.]

Stellar J. Byrd, a former ER doctor, is desperate to stay near her best friend. She begrudgingly accepts a job as the camp physician at The Love Boat, a whitewater canoeing/therapy. The only issue is that Stellar has been avoiding one of the co-founders, Lyle "McHuge" McHugh since they hooked up a year ago.

When The Love Boat loses their celebrity endorsement and reservations after a scathing review - all before the camp even has its first session - Stellar proposes a fake engagement. Strictly professional, of course.

Thoughts:
One of my favorite things about North's books is that they take their time to let the story breathe. The characters (main and secondary) are so well developed that it's easy to notice their growth and root for them.

Stellar is always angry and sees relationships as transactional, trying to keep everything balanced. McHuge is a gentle giant, quick to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Despite their glaring differences, they share a lot in common. Both carry scars from their pasts and have built walls to protect themselves.

It's such a tender, vulnerable story about stepping out of your comfort zone and realizing that deep down, everyone is just looking for a connection (whether it's romantic, platonic, or familial). And sometimes you need to stop fighting the current and let go.

The diversity in this book shines (neurodivergence, sexual identities, ethnic background, etc) and the secondary characters add so much heart and humor. Oh, and did I mention that there's possible espionage involving The Love Boat? It'll keep you hooked!

My kindle is packed with highlighted passages (sometimes it felt like I was highlighting more than I left unhighlighted) because every word felt so intentional and meaningful.

This book works as a standalone but I highly recommend reading 'The Rules for Second Chances' first to get more background on the characters.

okay WAIT dare i say i enjoyed more than her debut?! kiss north you are KILLING it honey!!!! this was so deeply steeped in angsty romance and chemistry that’ll knock your socks off son. i devoured it in one sitting, and i thank the stars everyday i listened to miss jessica joyce’s book recs!!

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. From the start I felt like I was missing major details. The way we jump right into the story made me feel like I had skipped entire pages. All along the way I just kept feeling like I needed more information. I had a difficult time feeling the connection, it seemed forced & baseless. The main characters were both strong, interesting characters & the plot was interesting enough. I just never got into the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.