Honestly, I had no clue what I was getting myself into with this book and it shocked me how much I enjoyed reading it.

I loved human Rory and his insight and commentary. On more than one occasion while I was reading I looked at my two dogs caught myself thinking, “if you could talk to me would you be this wise?”
It was mostly lighthearted, but there were some more serious moments that had me a bit emotional. Learning what our fmc, Genie, had gone through definitely pulled at my heart strings.
One thing I definitely did not enjoy was the fear of rejection that was a huge point in the story. I wanted to scream and to shake both Genie and Miles. Like PLEASE just… TALK???
Overall, a heartwarming, sweet, and fun read.

Thank you Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy! Picking this book out reminded me of one of my childhood favorite movies “The Shaggy Dog.” This book takes that concept and puts a rom-com spin on it! This read definitely felt like a contemporary romance with fantasy elements. Rory was a great character! Genie has stuff she needs to work through so please check trigger warnings before reading!

⭐️ Rating: 3.5/5

The Good Boy is a quirky rom-com with a magical twist, blending humor, heart, and a touch of chaos. When Genie wishes her loyal golden retriever Rory were human, she gets more than she bargained for. But what starts as a whimsical concept gradually evolves into a story about self-discovery, forgiveness, and learning to open one’s heart.

What Worked Well:
- Rory’s Characterization: Rory as a human is endearing, with big Golden Retriever Energy that reminded me of Doug from Up. His continued ability to understand and communicate with dogs added a unique charm to the story.
- The Self-Discovery Arc: Genie’s journey of healing from her past trauma and rediscovering herself was moving. Her backstory about the loss of her baby and the impact it had on her relationships added emotional weight and helped ground the otherwise lighthearted premise.
- The Humor: While chaotic at times, there were plenty of funny moments, especially as Rory adjusted to human life (like learning not to sniff people’s butts).
- Miles’ Patience: Miles is the definition of the boy-next-door who never gives up. His unwavering support and quiet affection for Genie brought heart to the story, and his dynamic with Genie kept me rooting for them.

What Could Be Improved:
- Genie’s Personality: While Genie’s quirks were occasionally endearing, her tendency to interrupt, steamroll over others (especially Miles), and cling to misunderstandings became frustrating. It made me question why Miles continued to like her, especially when she dismissed his attempts to express his feelings.
- Rory’s Arc: Rory’s transformation into a human felt underdeveloped. While the premise promised a journey of teaching him how to be a functioning human, the story focused more on side plots and Genie’s relationships than Rory’s adjustment. Aside from a few humorous moments, Rory’s storyline felt like a missed opportunity.
- The Subplots: Some plot threads, like Kelly’s marital problems and the promiscuous grandmother, felt unnecessary or underexplored. These elements distracted from the main storyline rather than adding to it.

Final Thoughts: The Good Boy is a heartwarming, whimsical story with a lot of charm but also some uneven execution. While I enjoyed the humor and emotional depth, the pacing and focus on side plots detracted from Rory’s journey and the central romance. Fans of magical realism and slow-burn love stories will find plenty to enjoy, but a tighter focus would have elevated the narrative.

Perfect for readers who love a mix of quirky humor, heartfelt moments, and a touch of magic in their romances.

Firstly, thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the arc.

As for the book: there is good and bad within this book, so let's get through the bad first. Quick and simple. It took me over a week just to get through chapter one because the constant breaking of the 4th wall kept throwing me off. The narration is written the way a sitcom would play out, but ultimately, it makes the story drag on for no reason. It also took over a chapter and a half (about 24 pages) to finally introduce Rory, who is the catalyst of the whole plot, because of the way the narration spends too much time stewing on irrelevant plot points. That being said, the story isn't bad, but my biggest issue was with Genie, during the beginning of the book. I get that she's supposed to be cynical and abashed for the most part, but her disdain for those around her gets very aggravating at times. She calls Miles and Kelly her best friends, but the amount of name-calling she does to Miles in her inner thoughts is kind of off putting (nerd, Lord Lame of Lamesville,...), and her lack of trust in Kelly really leaves me questioning if their friendships are out of connection or just habit.

Now for the good part. Rory is the absolute bestest boy ever!! I loved his character, his slight innocent way of looking at the world around him, and his pure relationship with Genie. There is a lot of dialogue and inner monologs, so I can honestly see myself listening to the audiobook faster than reading the book on my own. And the ending. The actual ending was pretty predictable, but I like how the means for it was based on the developments Genie made throughout the story.

Overall, I can tell that the book still has some general editing to go through, but the plot is fantastic, and I love that the FMC is already going through her spiraling thirties - where she tries to convince herself that she's okay, and that she's satisfied with her life, but is also very aware of how her life is nowhere near what she originally had planned for herself, so she starts to mentally spiral on the inside. I wish the magical aspects would shine through a little more, as it's meant to play such a huge part in the plot, but I'm still not mad about it. Get through the first few chapters, and the deeper you get to know the characters, the more relatable the book gets! Specially if you're nearing or already in your thirties and still feel like you have nothing figured out either.

I have a lot of feelings about this arc!

First, a brief overview:
Genie's Grandma grants her a "wish" for her 30th birthday, but of course, Genie doesn't believe in magic, so she wastes her wish on a throwaway comment. What follows is a fun tale of magic, love, and friendship.

My thoughts:
To start, there are a lot of typos in this, I am putting faith in the publisher to fix those before the final is released! If I were to rate it as a finished product now, it would be 3 stars solely due to the typos and errors, but we are going to let it slide for now.

The story is adorable, from the dog Rory to the amazing friends Genie has, I loved everyone in this story, except maybe the main character Genie herself. Now, I have no issue with non-likeable characters, but if that's a deal-breaker you may want to skip this one. We do eventually find out why she is the way she is, but it takes a while and a lot of patience.

The love story is a fairly typical friends to lovers with the miscommunication trope, my least favorite, and boy did they ride out that trope a little too far for my taste. When the character is given every opportunity to speak up and chooses to continue lying, it stops being miscommunication and starts being annoying. Once again, I am mostly brushing past this part.

Overall, the story was incredibly cute, if laden with a few mistakes and tropes I don't particularly enjoy. Given that I still rated four stars, I'd dare to say it was a pretty good read!





*********SPOILER WARNING*********
adding this in at the end for a warning: trigger warning for loss of child/miscarriage

I was very excited to read this book. I love when everything in the book is normal (real life) and there is one element that is magical (turning your dog human). When done well, it is a great tool to help the main characters evolve and that is what happens in The Good Boy.

Genie is from a magical family and for her 30th birthday she gets a wish from your Nana. She is in denial about the family's magic and absently wishes that her dog was a man, so everyone would know that she is okay and happy. Rory (the dog) turns into a human with a happy golden retriever's personality. Slowly, Genie stops trying him like a dog. She is not as open and carefree with him. And starts treating him like all the other humans in her life. This shift in their relationship and Rory's ability to talk to Genie are at the crux of Genie's journey. I love this dynamic.

My challenge with the book was there is a lot of discussion about the trials that Genie will go through before they happen, instead of just happening. The book gets a little long in the middle.

Overall, it is a good book, with great friends, a lot of self-reflection, and a few good rules to live your life by.

Thank you to NetGallery for the ARC.

This book took me off-guard in the absolute best way. Reading the description, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. The themes included with Genie’s character development felt much larger, and heavier than I would have expected, and I really feel like that made the story much more serious than I expected– serious in the sense that a book about a 30th Birthday wish turning your dog into a human didn’t only feel “silly”. It was a comfortable, enjoyable read while also representing character growth with a few good sitcom level one-liners. I would definitely recommend this book to others when its released in July.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, Stella Hayward, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Cute Concept, But...

The Good Boy is a fun and quirky idea, but it doesn't quite land as well as it could have. The premise of a dog turning into a hot guy is undeniably intriguing, and the initial humor and sweetness are charming.

However, the plot starts to feel a bit thin as the story progresses. The characters, while likable, lack depth, and the romantic tension is somewhat predictable. The magical elements, while intriguing, aren't fully explored, leaving the story feeling a bit underdeveloped.

While it's a light and enjoyable read, The Good Boy doesn't quite reach its full potential. It's a good choice for those looking for a quick and easy escape, but don't expect a groundbreaking literary experience.

Genie doesn’t believe her grandma when she tells her that all of the women in their family get a wish granted on their 30th birthday. After jokingly wishing her dog, Rory, was human, she quickly realizes her mistake and begins the journey of turning him back into a dog. With the help of her life-long friend/boy Nextdoor, Miles, they take a journey to find themselves, closure, and love.

This was such a funny and heart warming read. Right away, Rory does not like being human and his dog behaviors as a human are hilarious. I loved Genie and Miles’ characters, and how they both helped each other when they needed it most. I really enjoyed the slow burn. I was frustrated with Genie at times for not admitting her true feelings, but she was so relatable that I understood where she was coming from.

This was my first book by Stella Hayward and I absolutely loved it! I would really love to see this as a movie and could totally picture golden retriever/human Rory. This was such a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced reader copy!

Make a wish and it might come true! And it has dogs and cats! It was an enjoyable read! I enjoyed this boook more than I thought and idk, I’m getting freaky Friday vibes.

This was a very silly fun concept. It started out promising and felt tongue-in-cheek and wry and funny - but you can only read so many instances of dog-turned-man sniffing butts before it starts feeling *really* repetitive... This was fun but not an entire book's worth of fun - at least not for me.

I truly enjoyed this one (way more than I thought I would)! There is a fantastical / magical element to tug at your fantasy bone, hilarious dialogue and action to tug at your funny bone, and a friends-to-lovers situation to tug at your ... romance :)

"Here's the thing about me. I want people around, but I am always highly suspicious when they actively WANT to be around. And I don't mean I think they have an ulterior motive... No, I mean that sometimes I think if a person is keen to hang out with me under any circumstances, then maybe there is something wrong with them. This is very broken thinking, I know that. But another thing about me is I prefer not to think too long about the things about me that need fixing. So, I just brush it under the rug with all that other crap I keep there and decide to be grateful for small mercies."

Rory as a human made me laugh and cry, and even though I am a HUGE fan of dogs, I think anyone would love his character, actions and thoughts. Genie is patient, funny, she makes mistakes, and she is REAL. We can all find a little of ourselves in Genie. I hope anyone who takes the time to read this one finds their heart a little fuller at the end, much like I did.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC! #TheGoodBoy

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC. In return, I will give my honest review.

I grabbed this book because it sounded cute. Genie was turning 30, and her grandma granted her one wish and told her to be careful making her wish, as it couldn't be reversed. Genie had been drinking and, at midnight, wished her dog was human.

The story is very silly about her dog becoming human and that he didn't enjoy being a human and missed being a dog. Genie asks for help from her neighbor, Miles, and the story goes from there.

I love a cute, silly book, but this was just too far-fetched for me. It made me laugh, thinking about what my dog would be like as a human, but I wasn't feeling this book.

⭐⭐⭐½ rounded up

Stella Hayward’s The Good Boy is a sweet, subtly funny, and magical romance that tugs at the heartstrings with themes of grief, hope, and overcoming self-imposed obstacles. While it delivers moments of excitement and heartfelt emotion, the journey to get there is a bit uneven.

The story follows Genie, whose journey of self-discovery and love is relatable yet, at times, frustrating. Her mid-20s behavior as a 30 year old and persistent self-doubt often feel like unnecessary roadblocks, especially when her feelings for Miles—and his for her—are blatantly obvious. As a therapist, I can appreciate the nuanced portrayal of someone protecting themselves from potential hurt, but the mental gymnastics Genie goes through to avoid seeing the truth tested my patience. Add in the classic fear-of-rejection trope, and I was practically yelling at the page for someone to say what they really feel.

The supporting cast shines, particularly Rory, who is a delightful and grounding presence throughout the book. Honestly, he was the best part of the story! Genie’s friendship with Kelly is also a standout—a refreshing portrayal of raw honesty and unconditional acceptance that balances the more frustrating aspects of the plot.

On the downside, the pacing can feel touch-and-go. Some parts are genuinely exciting and heartfelt, while others drag or circle around the inevitable far too long. Every time Genie mentions Claudia from work, I wanted to scream, “Shut up already!” And when Genie’s insecurities lead to her making questionable choices about Miles’ love life, I found myself skipping ahead, eager for her to finally realize what’s right in front of her.

Despite these frustrations, The Good Boy ultimately delivers a heartwarming tale with a touch of magic. The family magic subplot adds charm and depth, though readers should note the romance is strictly closed-door with no spice. If you’re looking for a silly, sweet, and light story with a hint of magic, this one might just win you over—if you can stick with Genie through her ups and downs.

I didn’t think I needed a book about a dog-turned-human in my life, but The Good Boy completely charmed me! It’s equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and heartwarming, with a magical twist that makes it unlike any other romance I’ve read.

Genie is such a relatable protagonist, navigating life and love with a mix of humor and uncertainty. But let’s be real—Rory steals the show. As a human, he’s all Golden Retriever energy: loyal, goofy, and completely clueless about human norms. Watching Genie try to manage him while untangling her own feelings was pure joy.

The book balances its hilarity with genuine emotional moments, especially as Genie enlists Miles, her childhood friend, to help. Their dynamic adds another layer to the story that kept me hooked from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a feel-good romance with quirky characters, magical mishaps, and a surprising amount of heart, this one is a must-read. It’s a delightful reminder that love often comes in the most unexpected forms.

This story focuses around Genie, who's Grandmother has magical powers. She ends up accidentally making a wish and turns her Golden Retriever dog Rory into a human. This was such a unique book, it was so fun reading things from Rory's perspective's because he still acted and talked like a dog even though he was a human. Even for a dog, Rory still had some super good advice to give Genie throughout the book. Easily my favorite character, he is just such a silly good boy.

The other main focus is her relationship with her neighbor Miles. They have known each other for quite a long time and have both secretly had feelings for one another since then. The only thing that I didn't like about Genie, is that she struggles so much with talking about how she feels in general about everything. She struggles a lot getting over her traumatic past relationship, which is understandable considering the circumstances.

Overall, this was a super fun read and very different from other stuff that I have read. Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Stella Hayward for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

3.5 stars— The Good Boy is your basic romcom, but with a twist. Genie and Miles, the boy next door literally, are life long friends. The women in Genie’s family are special and on her 30th birthday, her Nanna gifts her a wish. Genie doesn’t take it seriously and accidentally turns her dog, Rory, into a man. Follow along as Rory navigates manhood, Genie discovers her old self, and Miles and Genie follow their feelings.
Honestly, there were some slow parts, but if the entire book was like the last 1/2, I would have given it more stars. I found parts to drag on. The plot was interesting though, don’t get me wrong. From the beginning I was waiting for Miles and Genie to discover their feelings.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was definitely a cute story like I've never read before. I loved the concept of this book. You could tell where the book was going from the start so felt kind of dragged out but loved the relationship between the animals and their humans

Thanks NetGallery for e-Arc of this book

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and give feedback on this book. The Good Boy is not something I would have just chosen to read if I was browsing for my next book but OH MY GOSH I freaking loved this book! I loved everything in this book all of the characters are so likable and Rory's character is especially fantastic. I giggled so much through out this book whenever Rory was talking so much so even my family was like uh what's wrong with you! The only thing I wasn't too into was when the main character kept breaking the 4th wall if you will or would pause the conversation to do so but other than that I will be giving this book 5 stars! I will post reviews on Goodreads and Instagram although I was not able to find the author on Instagram for tagging.

A magical romance. For readers who enjoy Katherine Center and Abby Jimenez. This story centers around a woman who inadvertently turns her dog into a man when a 30th birthday wish goes awry . I was skeptical about the plot but the author does a great job dealing with many challenges facing the journey to “turn” her dog back to his canine state. Although the book has its laugh out loud parts the core of the story deals with past trauma. Sensitive readers may want to check for trigger warnings. Thank you Harper Collins for early access!