I'll be back for more, but it gets a five because it made me cry twice about two different things. Hilarious, unexpectedly deep, and full of the kind of magical realism we should all whimsy into our lives.

Genie is given a wish from her grandmother on her 30th birthday; despite the fact that she doesn't believe that her family come from a long line of generational magic. Tired and running a bit late, Genie makes a wish that her dog was human so her family would stop worrying about her love life. The next morning her beloved dog Rory is now a very tall, buff, confused man who loves her very much (in an entirely non-romantic way, and it remains familial the whole time.) Genie pulls in her long time friend and neighbor Miles, and her other best friend Kelly, to help her first, process that Rory is now a man, and two, figure out how to turn him back into a dog.

Genie's told by her grandmother that the only real option is for her to go on a quest of fulfilment. The other characters often talk about the Genie she used to be, and more is revealed slowly about what broke a previously colorful, powerful woman. It hurts (check content warnings) and examines the nature of loss, grief, and fury. Everyone around her knows why she's like this and all of them want to save her from the box she's trapped herself in. Genie undertakes the road to getting her sparkle back while ignoring that her love life is part of that. At first.

Rory is so lovable, and is a good reminder that the zen of the canine is legit. Reading this made me love both my dog and my cat even more (like that was possible) and fills you with such hope at the end that it's never too late to find yourself and what you want.

I love anthropomorphism, give an animal a voice and I’m all in. Turn a dog into a human sign me up. Still the beginning of this story was quite silly even for me and the fmc was quite frustrating. Genie had talent and magic that she ignored and through some late night carelessness, Rory, Genies’ dog is made human. The rest of this book deals with Rory’s situation and Genie trying to overcome heartbreak and move on in life and love.
Here’s the thing- Rory (former canine) is a delight. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud. Not chuckled actually guffawed. He’s sweet and funny and a much better human than most. Was I happy I read this book- you bet. Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collin’s publishing for allowing me this much fun.

The Good Boy

This book was adorable - especially Miles and Rory. I think Ms. Hayward did a wonderful job capturing the dog-man personality of Rory.

I just had a hard time understanding why Genie was in denial regarding her feelings for Miles for so long.

This was an overall a great read. I thought the sensitive subject matters of miscarriage and depression were handled very well. Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy to enjoy!

4.5 ⭐ - weird, charming, wonderful!

Adjusting to the idea of a woman's dog coming to life as a sexy man was... well, an adjustment, but this book was SO funny and adorable! I laughed out loud so many times and absolutely fell in love with Genie and Miles and Nanna Maria and Kelly and Dave and Mom and Dad and of COURSE Rory. 🥹 The concept of a dog teaching humans how to be better at being human was simultaneously weird and tender and profound, and I truly enjoyed it. The writing was a bit clunky and corny at times, but I found that a lot of it was because my internal voice is American. Every time I switched to a British internal voice the writing flowed a lot more.

Absolutely would recommend to anyone who needs an endearing book that will give them some good laughs!

🌶️ - slight innuendos, completely closed-door

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the lovely ARC!

Genie’s family is magic and she finally believe is when she unintentionally turns her dog into a human. As she tries to figure out how to turn him back, she uncovers all the hang ups from her own past and insecurities. I went into this expecting a light hearted rom com (don’t worry- she does not fall in love with her dog). But there were definitely some trigger-warning worth emotional moments. I laughed, cried, cringed and had some emotional whiplash. But I LOVED Rory the man-dog and he always brought back a light hearted spirit to the book. Some parts felt out of left field and dragging in while others moved so quickly. But overall I enjoyed it!

Adorably unhinged premise meets cozy, heartfelt romance—like if Ashley Poston and Erin Sterling got drunk on magic and dog memes.

Okay, let’s get real: The Good Boy is pure vibes. You want whimsy? Check. Slow-burn friends-to-lovers? Yup. Literal Golden Retriever Energy turned into a man? Oh, you bet.

Genie’s voice is relatable as heck—she’s turning 30, dodging her family’s so when are you settling down questions like Neo dodging bullets, and living her best introvert life with her dog Rory. Except…well, she accidentally wishes him human. Oops.

Rory as a human? Absolute chaos in sweatpants. Imagine Chris Hemsworth trying to learn how to be polite in society while still wanting to chase squirrels. He’s ridiculously endearing, but also hilariously out of his depth.

Honestly, what slayed for me:

Banter: Chef’s kiss. Light, funny, and not trying too hard.

Miles: The boy next door. The pining. The “I’d help you with anything even if your dog is now a naked Aussie surfer dude.” Miles is peak Book Boyfriend material.

The magical realism: Just the right amount of silly without breaking the emotional stakes. It doesn’t overexplain the “wish” mechanism, which I loved.


What didn’t totally work for me:

Rory is so over-the-top goofy that at times it veers into cartoonish. (Though honestly that might be the point.)

Slightly predictable emotional beats—it’s very “rom-com formula” (but that’s also why I’m here tbh).

Genie’s introspection could have dug even deeper. She’s funny, but sometimes she deflects so much I wanted to shake her and yell “girl, FEEL YOUR FEELINGS.”


But all in all? This is the ultimate comfort read. The vibes are autumn candles and fuzzy socks. It’s about second chances, making peace with the past, and the unspoken “what if” between two people who’ve known each other forever.

If you want a big-hearted, low-angst rom-com with just enough magic to make you grin like an idiot—The Good Boy delivers.

Recommended for fans of: Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics, Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex, Tessa Bailey’s big-cinnamon-roll heroes, and anyone who ever looked at their dog and said “you’re the best man I know."

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Good Boy, by Stella Hayward was a cute goofy read about Genie, who accidentally turns her golden retriever into a human man, is forced to find a way to turn him back, and fast! He is not cut out for the human world, and she must seek the help of her neighbor, Miles. The feelings Genie develops as she and Miles work together surprise her and make her look at him as someone...different. Overall, this was a cute read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was really nervous to read this one but as a new golden retriever owner I felt like I had to! I was nervous because the only magical realism novels I’ve read are by Ashley Poston and I feared none would really live up. This one was honestly so adorable and I’m glad to have read it. I would’ve rated it higher but took off a star for lack of trigger warning regarding unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage. It was triggering for me personally and definitely a surprise as it came pretty late in the book.

Nonetheless, Genie and Miles are perfect for one another and sweet Rory is amazing. Fans of Ashley Poston and dog lovers alike will adore this one. The book paved nicely, chapters were a good length and everything wrapped up nicely.

This was generally a lighthearted, at times silly debut contemporary romance with a magical twist that sees Genie, a depressed young woman receiving a wish from her grandmother (a gift each woman in the family gets once in their lives) only to have her drunkenly wasting it by wishing her loyal dog Rory was a real human.

When she wakes up the next day she's shocked to discover Rory has turned into a man (much to his chagrin and disappointment). Wanting to help Rory return to his natural dog form, Genie enlists her best friend and next door neighbour, Miles for help, discovering along the way that she might just have deeper feelings for him than she realized.

A story about grief, healing and learning to live life to the fullest, Rory helps Genie move on after unimaginable loss (late term miscarriage) and Miles offers her a new chance at love. I thought this was cute with surprising emotional depth. A fun read that's perfect for fans of books like All roads lead to Rome. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a sweet, funny, & whimsical book this was!

When Genie accidentally turns her golden retriever, Rory, into a human on her thirtieth birthday, everything breaks lose. To reverse it back she enlists help from everyone she knows including her best friend/neighbor, Miles.

This is one of the most thoughtful books I've read in a while! Genie & Rory's relationship is so pure & adorable. Rory as a human was downright hilarious & silly. And loved the friends to lovers romance between Genie & Miles.
One could tell how they cared about each other so much but we're too afraid to take the relationship to the next level.

This book is a must read if you're looking for something quick, easy, & whimsical.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Genie’s 30th birthday, her grandma gives her the gift of a midnight wish that will come true. Genie, a skeptic of her family’s magic, laughs it off until at midnight, she drunkenly wishes her dog Rory were human…and wakes up to a now-human Rory in her house. Genie needs to help Rory turn back into a dog before it’s too late, and she recruits her friend and boy next door, Miles, to help. Their efforts bring them closer. Maybe Genie’s errant wish will end up granting her heart’s desires after all.

I lost count of how many times this book made me laugh out loud; I can’t remember the last time a book made me laugh this much! Alongside the funny parts, there is also a story of personal growth that I really liked. This is a perfect summer read; check it out!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Thank you to Avon, Stella Hayward, and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

This book was such a delight - silly, sweet, and so heartwarming it made me cry. Is the plot completely out of left field? Yes. But that also meant it was one of the most original books I’ve read in ages, and each character was perfectly sketched out. Watching everyone - Genie, Miles, Rory, even Matilda - grow and change and teach each other hard lessons was so lovely. While this was a goofy book about a dog turned human, it was also much more than that!

POV: single first person

You can expect: an actual Golden Retriever character, childhood best friends to lovers, secret crush, boy next door, friendship, magic, dogs are a woman’s best friend.

Rep: depression, grief

Spice: off page

CW: miscarriage (past), death of a parent (past), mentions of animal abuse (past), injury to an animal (brief, not caused by MCs)

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Collins pub for the arc! 🤍

📚 Book Review: The Good Boy by Stella Hayward
⭐️/5

I wasn’t sure I was going to like the concept of her dog turning into a human, and honestly, it wasn’t as bad as I expected… but that’s about the only nice thing I can say.

At first, I genuinely thought the dog was going to be the love interest, and I almost DNFed right then and there. The whole premise just felt bizarre and uncomfortable, and while it tried to be quirky and heartfelt, it didn’t land for me at all.

The writing wasn’t my style—clunky in places, overly simplistic in others—and I couldn’t connect with the characters or their relationships. It all just felt a bit off.

Definitely not for me

This book was such a fun read! A little cheesy, super funny but romantic in a quirky way! I found myself laughing, crying and punching my fist in the air rooting for this couple!! Rory was my favorite, literally the best character 🥰

This book is surprisingly sweet and silly and I laughed out loud a lot. Genie gets a gift, a wish from her grandmother, on the eve of her thirtieth birthday. Not really quite believing in the magic until she wakes up to find Rory, her beloved and faithful dog, is now a 6 foot tall, naked human man. I absolutely love that he remembers his life as a dog and is ready to go outside for walkies or have cuddle time on the couch. Instead of trying to keep it a secret she asks her friends, grandmother and Miles, her next door neighbor, for help.

Rory brings his golden retriever energy into the situation. It could have gotten old but he teaches some nice life lessons as he learns to be human. The tension could have been better between Genie and Miles. It is clear early in the story they have feelings for each other but neither wants to make the first move. There are also a couple of darker topics covered. There should be trigger warnings for a past pregnancy loss and animal abuse. The book feels more women’s fiction with a romance. As much of the time is spent on figuring out what to do about Rory.

This seems to be a debut novel from a new author. And the humor alone would have me read her again. (3.5 Stars)

The relentless breaking of the fourth wall to clarify things was quite overwhelming. The author should have woven details naturally into the narrative, rather than abruptly explaining jokes or foreshadowing. Let readers discover it themselves. Maybe a creative writing class could help!

On the eve of her 30th birthday, Genie is granted a single wish by her grandmother. But when she jokingly wishes her beloved golden retriever (Rory) was human, she wakes to find a man with “Golden Retriever Energy” in Rory’s body. Honestly, I was immediately sold on the plot alone because of the magical realism aspect that I am obsessed with.

In my opinion, this book had the witty commentary and accessibility to magical realism that made this a fun read that kept me captivated throughout the story. The heavier and emotional parts were delivered delicately and the funny plot kept it light and heartfelt at the same time. I also enjoyed the overall message of the book about finding magic in your everyday life. It may be a tad cliché in places, but it's a cozy, delightfully feel good escape that leaves a warm glow. As a fan of the magical realism genre, I wanted to see more exploration in to the magic of it all.

If you love a feel-good, friends-to-lovers story with an MMC who has golden retriever energy (in the most literal way) this will be a fun read for you! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager (Avon) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday Genie is given an unexpected gift from her grandmother, a wish at midnight. Being a skeptic Genie does not take this seriously until she learns she has accidentally turned her dog into a human. Rory is extremely unhappy being a person so Genie must find a way to turn him back. She enlists her friends and Miles, her dreamy next door neighbor to help.

This book was such a delightful surprise. I love a magical story that has a light touch when it comes to the actual magic so this one was perfect on that level. It could have been very easy for human Rory to be a cloying character but he was wonderful. I also enjoyed that Genie brought in her friends and family on what was going on instead of keeping it a secret. Genie and Miles were so great. They had excellent chemistry and loved the slow burn of their relationship. The ending of the book was so touching and sweet. This was my first Stella Hayward book but will not be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Silly, sweet, full of love and energy... just like a golden retriever. I went into this one not really knowing what to expect and was charmed beyond all belief. What an absolute delight! Can't wait to share this one with friends.

Was this almost a bit silly? Yes it was. Did I enjoy it? Yes I did. Have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking? What "conversations" they have with other dogs when they play and bark? Look no further. Stella Hayward takes us along on a cute story about a dog who becomes a man and must learn to navigate life from a different perspective. While it may have FELT silly, there were quite a few life lessons to be learned, not only by Eugenie and all of the people in her life but also by us, the reader. I got some amazing insight into my own life and that felt a little eye opening from a book that is considered to be whimsical. Live your best life, be your best self and enjoy all the little things that life has to offer.