This was pretty cute. I just don’t like friends to lovers that much and I spent a LOT of time at the beginning worrying she would fall for the dog-man.

This would probably make a pretty entertaining movie.

I was intrigued by the plot of this book, but unfortunately I had to DNF. I’ve only DNF’d one other book ever so this was disappointing. The FMC was, for lack of a better word, really annoying and self sabotaging constantly. She also is constantly referring to this tragedy that turned her into this bitter person, but there’s not even clues or allusions to what it is and I’ve seen that even halfway through you still don’t know what happened. Also, I felt really weird about the dog becoming a hot, naked guy in his 30s who acted like a child. Miles is cute and nice but bland. And the FMC just half ignores him and bullies him about being a nerd most of the time?? The humor was a bit overdone for me as well.
Overall, it sounded like a fun new plot I hadn’t seen before, but I was disappointed. I did not want to rate it because and I don’t feel that is fair when I did not finish it, but it will not let me submit without a rating.

Adorable and fun book. Genie and Miles are cute. I liked Rory. I enjoyed the premise of the story. I can't wait to read more. Stella Hayward

I didn’t know what I was getting into, but the Goodreads description said it was for fans of Ashley Poston and that sold me. This was a fun, silly romcom with lots of charm and lighthearted moments.

Good Boy was super original. A cute, fun romcom where the love of the main character's life turns into an actual man. It was a little odd but in a silly way. I enjoyed this quick read.

Absolutely not , this book was just Wierd ! Her dog turning into a human ‘ not for me ! Thank you net galley for this chance to read

Even though I knew where this was going part of me still had to question if she was going to fall in love with sweet handsome Rory. Perhaps that’s just because I’ve been reading some… questionable books. I mean, it was entirely obvious this was a friends to lovers but still. I mean, Rory was soooo cute!

I have to admit this was a bit of a struggle for me to read, feeling a bit like the FMC myself as a woman in my 30s without a ton of motivation to be great and just content to be.. content. I did find her to be frustrating in a lot of ways but ultimately happy with where she ended up in this story.

To be honest Miles probably deserved a lot better. I know Genie had a lot of trauma she needed to work through but she was a bit oblivious towards him even before her “mysterious reason for fading”. Also, that poor cat did not deserve her accident and it felt thrown in as a plot forwarding devise to push them together because neither one could be an adult and be honest with their supposed best friend.

There were parts I did really enjoy and parts I could have done without. Rory and Miles definitely saved this story. I’m glad this was a standalone, I feel like we don’t get enough short and sweet now a days. It was nice to have immediate closure.

This was a goofy good time of a book! I love magical realism injected into a contemporary story, and this one is too funny to me. Based on the cover I wasn't sure where it was going but I liked the premise once I read the synopsis.

There is a mix of silliness and heavier topics, but it doesn't really delve into those heavy topics in a meaningful way, which made them feel kind of out of place. I think it can be really difficult to balance a fun lighthearted book with deep and potentially heavier subject matter, and it didn't really work for me. The plot was a bit repetitive as it went on.

Overall, it's good for a fun unserious read!

This is a cozy and fun tale of growth.
She lives in a small town, next door to her best friend.
She turns her dog into a human and goes on a quest to turn him back into a dog. Rory is exactly what I could picture a dog be in a human form.

I enjoyed the slow burn, the personal growth and how her family and friends come together to help her.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!

First off I want to thank NetGalley and the author for giving me an ARC. I loved the story. I've seen a lot of reviews of people not liking it because a dog turns to a human...But I loved every second of it. It was such a beautiful quick read, funny especially the butt rubbing lol. I would of finished it the same day but work got it the way. But I loved it. It was a cute book definetly worth checking out. I will definetly be checking more books by this author in the future. So thanks you so much for the opportunity to read this beautiful book.

So, I thought this was a cute little story. It had me laughing throughout the book especially during the chapters with the dog's perspective. I didn't really care for the FMC but I normally never do so that's more a me thing. Overall it was a cute story.

Genie is granted a wish for her birthday and she ends up accidentally turning her golden retriever into a human. Her family and friends help her figure out what she needs to do to turn him back into a dog.

This was a cute story and I’m glad Genie was able to heal from her past trauma. I’ve always wanted to be able to talk to my dog and have him talk back so I loved that aspect. It’s definitely a cheesy, sweet romance. It’s also a closed door romance.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

This is a 3.5 for me.

This book had some great moments and tackled some tough subjects (bullying, miscarriage, etc.).

I had an issue with the FMC, Genie. She felt childish at the beginning. She didn't seem to take the situation seriously. She really didn't help Rory with his feelings and understand him until the man group. It seemed to take almost the whole book for her to sort herself out too.

At the very beginning of her birthday dinner, she had far too many drinks and was able to get home perfectly fine. once she started talking to Miles, that was when she started feeling the drinks. that part didn't make sense to me.

She finally started growing on me, but it took more than half the book to feel that way.

Miles and Rory were the best parts of the book. Miles was so down to earth, and his loyalty was top notch. Rory was awesome with the way he handled the whole situation.

I received this ARC through Netgally, and I read it in exchange for an honest review.

First off, huge thank thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

I went into this under the mindset of, “It’s been a minute since I’ve read a good Magical Realism!” and this one just gave me the absolute giggles. Upon reading the premise, I knew it would keep my interest, but paired together with the delightfulness that is British Rom-Com humor? Oh, chef’s kiss. I highlighted waaaay too many quotes that were just me straight up giggling about the mind of a dog being voiced out as a human.

This book was totally unserious (while still actually touching upon some serious topics!) and gave me such a genuine laugh, while also having some truly heartwarming & impactful moments. When you first envision a book where a golden retriever is going to turn into a human, you’re maybe a little hesitant… but Rory’s character was a treat. I kept looking at my own golden retriever during Rory’s dialogue, and wondering if this must be what it’s truly like inside the brain of a dog! (The "eating vomit" comment, or the "Is this kennel cough?" seriously, if you have a dog, you will be laughing!)

I also just loved the way that we are eased into this book — Genie is breaking that “fourth wall” and speaking directly to us to tell us this ridiculous tale that she doesn’t think we’ll believe. (I mean, seriously, I highlighted the first line because I was enthralled that this was the tone we’d be taking — “I’m going to tell you a story that you are not going to believe.”) Starting us off like this not only prepares you for what’s going to happen to Rory, but also sets the stage for the magic within her family.

I love a sweet friends to lovers, even if Genie had me wanting to bang my head against a wall sometimes, haha. Stella Hayward, girl, you know how to write a chapter where we get all swoon, only to run straight into a brick wall, and then be forcing us to think, “Can I squeeze in one more chapter to finally see if this is the one where she’ll finally tell Miles?” Hahaha.

The underlying theme too of Genie needing to find herself again (while also trying to find how to change Rory back into a dog) was heartwarming. I also love the family dynamics here too.

Overall, this was an adorably silly & comedic read that also tugged hard at my heartstrings. I am glad I got the chance to read it, and fill my soul with a very entertaining Magical Realism :) “Maybe it’s only when something truly impossible happens to you that you will really start to believe that anything is possible.”

I really enjoyed this book! I'm not a big romance reader, but this was the perfect type of read for a cozy, self-love self-care weekend where you cozy up with a good book and a nice cup of tea or a latte. This is such a cute story, with great characters, and I LOVED the dog theme. I will be reading more of Hayward's books ASAP!

Overall a cute story, but I think I'm realizing more and more that contemporary is not really my favorite genre. But if you are a contemporary person I think you will find this a delight 😊

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

There was so much to love in this book: the sweet romance, the whimsical tone, Rory and Nanna Maria (absolute scene-stealers!), and the rich tapestry of subplots that added depth and heart to the main storyline. I genuinely enjoyed how the narrative wove multiple arcs together; it made the story feel full and dynamic, and I found myself eager to see how everything would unfold.

The slow-burn, closed-door romance between Genie and Miles was beautifully done, the yearning was palpable, and left me feeling giddy. Their chemistry was tender and well-paced, and I appreciated that their relationship was built on more than just attraction.

Humor, warmth, and moments of genuine personal growth were packed into this story, making it a fun and heartfelt read. I was wholeheartedly rooting for the characters, each one distinct and endearing in their own way.

Reading The Good Boy was an enjoyable experience, definitely worth a read if you're in the mood for something cozy, romantic, friends to lovers, and full of heart

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
#TheGoodBoy #NetGalley.

What a magical book! A single girl accidentally wishes that her dog was a human and then spends the rest of the book trying to turn him back with the help of the handsome boy next door.

Yes, you have a good idea how it’s going to turn out (or do you?) but it’s still very charming. Stella Hayward manages to capture the voice of a golden retriever turned human, perfectly. Rory the human is perfect and so was this book.

The FMC accidentally turns her dog, Rory, into a human, but he doesn’t enjoy being human at all. So Genie starts looking for ways to turn him back before it’s too late.

The first part of the book is more lighthearted, with plenty of funny moments, while the second half becomes more serious—focusing on the heroine’s search for meaning and direction in life.

Overall, I liked the book and appreciated how it explored important themes, but the romantic subplot really annoyed me, especially toward the end. The characters are already thirty, yet they couldn’t confess their feelings for almost the entire story! And the situation with Claudia-from-work felt really inappropriate to me. I get that both of them were hesitant because of past experiences, but dragging a third person into it out of insecurity was just too much, in my opinion.

And I would gladly watch a movie based on the book!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓friends to lovers
✓magical realism
✓slow burn
✓closed door

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a very cute, if not a bit silly, quick pick me up of a read. I would definitely recommend this for anyone needing a good silly romcom moment. The idea was very unique, not exactly my favorite style but that's personal preference, and over all it was really well done!