Everything about this was incredibly satisfying!

I lost my dog recently and I thought this book might be too much, but it was absolutely perfect. Rory is everything.

If you're going into this for a romance, that bit is nice too. Miles and Genie have a lovely friends to lovers story line. But what's really the center of the story is Rory, his golden retriever energy, and constant truth bombs about the human condition.

All of this is wrapped into a cozy British package with heart and great characters

The audiobook is fantastic. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Such a fun book! Who hasn't given their dog a human voice? Imagine if your dog actually became a human companion! That's the premise of this story and it's as hilarious as it is cute. There are some more serious components as this is a story about grief, but it's also one of healing. The romance in here is light and not the primary focus. It was a really nice change of pace and something I had not read before. Loved the narration, definitely will recommend the audio version.

Special thanks to HarperAudio Adult and Netgalley for the ARC!

When a midnight wish turns your dog into a hot man, you know you’re in for a strange premise — but somehow, this book oddly works! The Good Boy is a sweet, quirky, and surprisingly charming read that blends humor and heart in a fun way. The story felt light and enjoyable, perfect if you’re looking for something a little different and feel-good.

If you like romantic comedies with a twist of the unexpected, this one’s worth a try!

I was very skeptical going into The Good Boy by Stella Hayward, but I ended up absolutely loving it. I’m so grateful to HarperAudio (@harpercollins) for the free audiobook which I suspect will end up being one of my favorite romcoms of the year.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, Genie’s grandmother—who has always claimed to be magic—gives her a wish and rules for how to use it when the clock strikes midnight, one being that the wish is irreversible. Genie doesn’t really believe in magic and runs into her neighbor and best friend Miles (boy next door trope alert!) outside her apartment, and by the time she gets home, she’s forgotten all about the wish. Which is when she accidentally wishes that her loyal golden retriever Rory was human. When she wakes up, her wish has come true. Rory is a 6 foot (ish) goofy, adoring man who desperately wants his life as a dog back.

I was worried when I read the description that there was going to be a dog/human romance that I really wasn’t comfortable with, but, fear not similarly inclined worried readers, that is never on the table. Rory is like a very wise child Genie needs to figure out how to take care of and she enlists Miles’ help to try to figure out what to do. This story was laugh-out-loud hysterical and also incredibly tender. Rory helps Genie remember how to find joy in her life, and she finally confronts a terrible event from her past that has stripped her of her metaphorical and literal magic.

This story was chock full of lovely moments and reminders of why it’s important to be brave and live life to the fullest. I adored Miles and how careful he was Genie. In another author’s hands, I’m not sure a human dog character would have worked for me, but I also adored Rory and the compassionate lens with which he viewed the world.

Mary Jane Wells does a phenomenal job with the narration. Her timing was perfect and made the listening experience a complete joy. As far as I know, she’s a new-to-me narrator, but I will absolutely be seeking her out now and I 100% recommend this audiobook.
What’s the last book you unexpectedly loved?

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperAudio for an advance listening copy of #TheGoodBoy. Funny and sweet. A midnight wish turns a dog into a person. 3 stars.

(Advance Listening Copy courtesy of NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult.)

5 *very good* ⭐️!

A delightfully funny and surprisingly emotional story with a premise unlike anything I’ve ever read.

This one gets five stars for its incredible exploration of grief and acceptance—handled in a backdoor kind of way that sneaks up on you. No spoilers, but the reveal of the grief element is what truly earns this book its rating. It was smooth, poignant, and beautifully executed.

Yes, it’s a romance, and yes, the romance is great, but the plot is JUST as strong, if not even a bit stronger.

My favorite part, without a doubt, is the titular Good Boy. He is exactly what you expect of a very, very good boy(™). And he absolutely steals the show.

🎧 AUDIO-SPECIFIC
Mary Jane Wells is phenomenal. Her accent is perfection, and she brings incredible nuance to every character. The emotional beats land exactly as they should, and her pacing is great. I didn’t need to adjust my preferred listening speed. One of the best narrators I’ve heard in a while, and I’ve been going through a lot of audiobooks lately. I’d love to hear more of her work.

TL;DR - A creative romance with a unique and compelling plot, stunning emotional depth, and one of the best “good boys” in fiction. What more could you want?

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.