In high school, Andi's mother had an opportunity to work overseas for a year. Andi didn't want to disrupt her final years of high school, so she went to live with her father. Her father was an alcoholic and that year left horrible memories for Andi.

Her father dies and she goes back home for the funeral. So much has changed, but the boy she was in love with is still pretty special.

Looks like the original publication date was Oct 2022.

Just stumbled across The Corey Effect on NetGalley and requested Red Adept Publishing to review the "advance read copy" (of the book originally published in 2022 haha) in exchange for an honest review. Approx 283 pages.

A cute romance with a cute title!! loved it :)
The perfect romance that everyone needs to read, the story kept me hooked.
The characters are just perfect and keeps you hooked.
Definitely recommend!

a must read book for me by an author who is very quickly becoming a must read author.
this is another moving and lovely story that held my heart from the moment i stepped into it. i truly felt like i cared for the characters and where the story might head and then end.
this story brings us Andi who is coming home after years away. she vowed not to come back and the only thing that would get her back is this, her dads funeral. at least there is one thing she can breathe a sigh of relief for. the fact she knows her one love Corey wont be there. he like her will be long gone. but when she arrives in town she is shocked to see this isn't not the case. not at all, infact he is now closer in some way to her than ever before. all the old pains come hurtling back. can she handle this?
you truly get into the feelings and mind of Andi for this and i felt for her so much. i could just imagine myself with the same haunting hurt of an event that changed someones whole life and way they saw the world. to have to come back and meet that place and same hurts must be such a task. you then have to see if Andi can learn, grow or heal like she really needs to or if it will be just too much. it felt like we were right alongside her with a window into what she was going through.
via Andi we also get to know more of her father and Corey too. i like how we see into all their passed via Andi and i was totally hooked to being told exactly what it was that happened. and was a little heartbroken for her.
i was then also shocked to see Corey with such a connection to her father. they loved each other once. and then their interactions prove that love meant something then and there is clearly something now too. but can the mountains of the past be too much to get through, is it even wise to go back where so much pain lies.
i was rooting for the pair. and was really starting to care what would happen for them. i ended up feeling very protective of Andi.
there is emotionally deep moments in this book but there is also so much warmth wit and loveliness to it too. and this is the over riding i get from this book. i smiled in both face and heart.

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc. this was a cute second chance romance. a typical feel good rom com that you could read on a saturday night when you just need something fun to distract you :)

"The Corey Effect" dives deep into themes of trauma, grief, and forgiveness wrapped in a compelling romance narrative. What initially appears as a straightforward love story evolves into a poignant exploration of emotional healing. Dembowski's characters are beautifully flawed, grappling with past wounds that resonate authentically. The protagonist's journey to forgiveness is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, offering readers a nuanced perspective on relationships and personal growth. While it delves into heavy themes, the narrative remains engaging and heartfelt throughout. A must-read for those who appreciate romance with emotional depth and substance.

An emotional romance?
Characters who are absolutely precious?
A cute cover that matches the sweet story?
Sign me up!

This was an easy read.

I liked the chemistry and history between Andi and Corey.

The back and forth between the past and present gave a good insight into Andi and what she experienced growing up. I also liked reading how things developed with Andi's dad and the community.

Overall a good book

This is an okay second chance romance. I wasn't very invested in any part of it so I guess it wasn't the book for me.

cute story. Cute leads.
Would recommend if looking for a book for past the time with a cute happy story.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

This book was ok , typical second chance romance . Good writing . Flash backs

A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.
This was such a fun and great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty good second chance romance. I was really into into but then started having a lot of problems and concerns with the flashbacks and contents of the flashbacks. For my own mental health I did stop reading but can say that the writing was really beautiful. I also loved Andi - the way she listens to Les Mis and her love for musicals in general.

I am a suck for those second chance romances as they are always able to get me in my feelings. I loved that this book gave a hopeful look into refining your love for the person even after time goes on!