Give me a “Goode” fall romcom and I’m there! This is a really sweet story that all animal lovers will enjoy.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon A for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Cameron Goode has been trying to keep her life together – studying through two veterinary school and working two part-time jobs to make ends meet. She’s never talked to her neighbors, but when she gets the call that a clinic has an overweight, medically fragile dog that needs a foster, Cameron knows she needs to act. Only she doesn’t have a car or the money to pay for a Uber that far away, so he does the only thing she can think of – asks her neighbor to take her. Will Cameron be able to balance school and work with taking care of the dog or will this decision bring her life crashing down?

Playwright and novelist Jacqueline Firkins’s latest book The Goode Girls of Maple Lane follows the social media rise of a rescue dog and its foster community. With a heavy dose of puppy love (figuratively and metaphorically) and a look at how community support can make the difference in your life. Firkins work as a costume designer shows in her writing with beautifully descriptive scenes. This is a fun, light-hearted read with relatable characters you won’t be able to get enough of.

I give The Goode Girls of Maple Lane 5 out of 5 stars. While sections of this novel verge on a Hallmark-movie plot, the relatable, realness of the interactions between Cameron and the other characters drew me in. I did not want to put this book down! I appreciated the look at what it takes to really help a rescue dog who isn’t healthy. I loved the way Firkins displayed the financial struggles of the characters and the unique way they approach helping each other. I do wish the novel had a disclaimer about the TikTok paid partnerships – not every account or partnership can deliver the type of income Cameron received.

I would recommend this novel to small-town romance and animal lovers alike. I would also recommend this to readers who love books by Ali Hazelwood or Robyn Carr, you’ll love this book. With references to sexual relationships, this book would be best directed to audiences over 16.

I chose this book when I saw it on Netgalley because of the cover – the beautiful autumn image with the leave, the couple, and the dog. Fall is my favorite season and this cover immediately made me think of it. The publisher’s blurb about rescue dogs and finding love made me know I had to read this book and I was not disappointed!

This book was so cute! It had the cutest dog in the book and the romance was so sweet and filled with cute moments.

3.5 stars!! I’m a simple person. I see a book about a golden retriever? I must read it!!!

This was a sweet, cozy romance. The author captured just how wonderful and cuddly golden retrievers are. I own a big fluffy, slightly chubby, yellow labrador who might as well be Aggie’s long lost twin with shorter fur. Cameron was a likeable character with strong morals. She proves to be a hard worker, willing to take on extra jobs if it means helping Aggie. I also appreciated how she was never whiny.

The romance was pretty straight forward with barely any conflicts, misunderstandings, etc. Even the big fight at the end seemed trite, especially when it was something that could be quickly explained and forgiven. If you are looking for a super romantic book, this isn’t for you. The focus was mostly on Aggie, her recovery, and Cameron’s personal growth. I did feel like the ending wasn’t fully resolved, especially with her parents. Cameron spoke of feeling disconnected from her mother’s constant toxic positivity, and sadness at her parents growing apart. Towards the end of the book, her parents weren’t mentioned again. They weren’t even invited to her big celebration party. It was as though they just disappeared. Overall, I liked the book and would recommend it for anyone looking for cozy romance.

This was a very cute and feel good book! I loved how a wonderful dog who got a second chance at life got Cameron to see life differently and push herself to be better, while also connecting with others in her building and finding a love story of her own. I connected with Cameron in the fact that she’s strong and independent and doesn’t ask for help when she needs it. It was wonderful for her to accept help from Everett, the lovely man she meets. He’s absolutely wonderful, such a soft man who takes such good care of Cameron and Aggie and adores them both. The side characters from their building are also absolutely lovely and so incredibly kind. It was heartwarming to see them all connect and form friendships. The thing I really appreciate about Cam and Everett is how they actually acted like adults and talked through issues and made each other a priority. They had a mishap towards the end of the book with Everett’s job and they talked and communicated like mature adults. Cameron had lovely character building and we really got to see her come out of her shell of solitude and loneliness, realizing love and connection is all it takes to turn your whole perspective on life around. I enjoyed this book, but at times I was struggling with pacing and minor boredom.

This was a sweet and cozy book but as a huge animal lover, the animals in this book got me the most! The golden retriever pulled on my heartstrings the most. Wonderfully written book!

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

An excellent fall/winter read. Using TikTok for good, sweet companionship between the main character and her dog, but also found family throughout the book. Overall good communication between the two characters and I really appreciated how they talked issues out.

This book is for romantic comedy readers who also love animals! This is a new adult fiction read that left me heartfelt and happy. It came with lovable characters and animals, short chapters and was well written! I absolutely loved that this was Autumn themed, since it is one of my favorite seasons! This is a cozy and comforting book, where you can sit back, relax and have a nice cup of tea. This book also gave me some laughs, a second chance romance, some drama and a newfound family!

“The Goode Girls of Maple Lane” is a book that centers around a woman named Cameron and her rescue golden retriever dog named Aggie. Cameron starts posting about her rescue dog’s recovery on TikTok, which starts gaining a lot of attention! The account then becomes viral. This dog’s story is very inspirational that even her own neighbors begin watching the videos! A neighbor named Everett ends up dropping off stuff, so Cameron can help Aggie. As the story unravels, a new romance and found family starts to begin! Be sure to read the content warnings. Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jacqueline Firkins and Avon and Harper Voyager for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 16, 2025!

I received this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, where to begin? These characters had me hooked immediately, and adding a rescue pup to the mix sold me. The immediate chemistry without falling into the insta-love trope was refreshing and the sense of found family hit home.

I related to Cameron on a level I can’t quite describe. As someone who nearly went to vet school and chickened out after seeing the final tuition costs, I really can’t blame her for how she feels at times.

And Everett? Green flags everywhere. Top five book boyfriend. Why have one golden retriever when you can have two?

Did I pick this book because a dog (Aggie) was one of the main characters? Absolutely!

Cameron, a recluse and struggling vet school student, has her life trajectory changed when a rescue calls and asks her to take Aggie, a struggling golden retriever who needs a lot of support. With Aggie at her side, Cameron starts to put herself out there more - making friends, getting a boyfriend, and finding ways to succeed in school while making enough money to pay her bills.

Overall it’s a sweet, slow moving story, about Cameron opening up her life to love, friends, and happiness. I loved Aggie (she was always bound to be the star but she also delivered!), Cameron’s overall arc, and all the other characters that help bring the story to life.

This book comes across as more women’s fiction, with romance as a subplot. And while Everette is a great book boyfriend, their relationship drama was both predictable and uninteresting to me. Cameron’s rants against social media or issue with Everette caring about his posts granted on me and I found it strange that she never tried to understand it more given Everette’s job.

Thank you to Jacqueline Firkins, Avon, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I decided this was a five-star read based on chapter 1. I would have been satisfied even if the book ended there, but it didn't and I'm quite thankful it continued.

Cameron Goode is a vet student at Cornell, living alone in her tiny apartment. The most interesting part of her day is the slow elevator ride where she watches and wonders about her neighbors. That is, until the day she receives a call about a shelter dog in trouble.

A snap decision, the kind that may not be smart but your gut screams is right, leads her to adopt and heal a severely overweight and neglected golden retriever. This dog will change her entire life, and this heartwarming story takes us along for the ride.

I adored this story, barely able to tear myself away. A beautiful slice of life told from the mind of the ever relatable Cameron. More than a romance novel, I want to call this a relationship novel and a good reminder to build your personal network more deeply than your professional network.

Cameron Goode es una estudiante de veterinaria que lucha por mantenerse a flote en medio de deudas, trabajos agotadores y el aislamiento emocional. Esta comprometida con su vocación, pero su realidad económica y la falta de apoyo familiar la han dejado al borde del colapso.

Todo cambia cuando una organización de rescate le pide que cuide a una perra golden retriever obesa y gravemente descuidada. Aunque no tiene tiempo ni recursos, Cameron no puede ignorar la mirada de Aggie, y decide salvarla. Este acto de compasión se convierte en el punto de partida de una transformación tanto para la perra como para ella.

La relación entre Cameron y Aggie es el corazón de la novela. Cuidar de Aggie se convierte en una forma de sanar sus propias heridas, de recuperar la esperanza y de reconectar con el mundo. La ternura, el esfuerzo físico y emocional que implica sacar adelante a Aggie nos muestran una versión de Cameron más humana y vulnerable, pero también más fuerte.

En este proceso aparece Everett, su vecino del edificio, que al principio solo le presta su coche para ir por la perra, pero que termina involucrándose de forma genuina en sus vidas. Everett no es solo un interés romántico; es un compañero sensible, presente, que la ayuda sin imponer, y que se convierte en un sostén clave cuando todo parece desmoronarse. Su vínculo crece de manera natural y cálida, sin grandes dramatismos, pero con una conexión real.


___

Aunque tiene romance, la relación de Cam y Everett no es el punto focal del libro, y me encanto esto. Aquí las protagonistas son Cameron Y Aggie (quien se robo el libro).


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

This book was so cute, cozy, and fun.

Cameron Goode, a struggling vet student who gets a call of desperation to help out a Golden Retriever with a load of problems. As Cameron is helping Aggie she starts to finally come out of her shell and meet the people in her building who all help each other in different ways.

While there is romance in the book it is more of a subplot which I felt worked out so much better. I do like the mmc but I felt like there was conflict thrown in just for a little bit of drama that I didn’t necessarily like.

I loved seeing the growth that Cameron and Aggie took in the book and seeing Cam open up and accept the help from others.

Thank you Avon And Harper Voyager and NetGalley for letting me read a free copy of this book in exchange for a review

I adored the premise of this story! The cover is also a gem. Fall-themed books tug at my heart. I get cozy vibes and snuggle up to read as fast as possible! With this title, it was easy to do just that! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I can't say enough good things about Jacqueline Firkins' The Goode Girls of Maple Lane. It's about the love for dogs and people, finding family where you least expect it, and letting yourself be transformed, despite the stories you've always told yourself about your unworthiness.

Cameron Goode is a grad student at Cornell's veterinary school, living in a tiny apartment and scrimping on food and furniture because her student loans are astronomical. Even with two part-time jobs, she can barely pay her rent. But when an animal rescue organization asks her to foster a dog in need, she can't say no. She knows it doesn't make sense, but this 7-year-old golden retriever has been mistreated and overfed to the point where she is immobile, downtrodden, and very sick. Cameron has to ask a fellow 6th-floor dweller she knows only from the elevator to help, because she knows he has a car.

The rest of the book, narrated by Cameron, is her journey to provide a rewarding life for her dog with little to no resources, and without asking for help from her difficult parents. That's where the found family comes in. Suddenly Cameron finds herself interacting with her neighbors--a female couple whose PDAs are somewhat disturbing, a cyclist majoring in engineering with a focus on robotics, a Cornell English professor with a tiny, fearless dog named Pilot, and a young woman who is always on her cell phone. Over time, they all become enamored of Cameron's dog, whom she has named Aggie, as do many people who have seen Cameron outside "walking" Aggie, which requires a sling and a wagon as Aggie slowly tries to reclaim mobility. Cameron's childhood best friend, now in law school in the UK, also provides long-distance support.

At the same time, the guy with the car--his name is Everett--becomes invested in the lives of both Aggie and Cameron in delightful ways. I can only unapologetically say that Everett is my new book boyfriend. A sweet person with a creative marketing career, he helps make Aggie the star of her own social media account, and things start to get easier for Cameron. But she never wanted to monetize Aggie's experience, as it feels like a conflict with her pure and deep love for her dog. Of course, there are bumps in the road, but I was thrilled to watch each of the bumps being conquered.

The supporting characters are beautifully brought to life, with surprising details that make them each distinct and human. It was easy to root for Cameron's and Everett's relationship, as well as Aggie's new life, and despite the few problems the couple faced, I found the story overwhelmingly positive and life-affirming. It made me feel good all the way through and stayed with me after I finished the book, and sometimes that's the best thing you can ask of a book. I've loved two of Firkins' previous books as well, and I'm so glad I found this one. Highly recommended.

My sincere thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

What a heartwarming story about second chances, kindness, and found family. Cameron, a vet student, asks Everett who lives in her apartment building to drive her to save a neglected dog whom she ends up naming Aggie. When Aggie finally comes home, she needs a sling and harness to help her move. Cameron decides to chronicle Aggie’s recovery on TikTok and calls it Goode Girls. In the beginning, the TikToks garner 50,000 views and has 4,000 followers. People everywhere seem to recognize Aggie and are cheering for her. Cameron has a hard making ends meet and, Everett suggests a second TikTok to tag the businesses that have helped Aggie. At first, Aggie doesn’t want to do sponsorship deals, but a friend has an idea. Something happens though and Cameron is blindsided. What happens? Could Cameron and Everett develop a more serious relationship?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

Give me a romance with a golden retriever and I'm automatically going to love it. Highly recommend!