
Member Reviews

The Ex Effect is the second book I’ve read by this author. My first one wasn’t a great experience, I blamed a book hangover. However, my experience with this book was much the same, without a book hangover. It’s possible this author’s style just isn’t for me.
This is a second chance romance, our mains split after high school. They are meeting again in their mid-thirties in their hometown. The reason for their split isn’t revealed until fairly late in the story, for a second chance romance way too late. There seems to be no resolution to their story even though they do end up together. Of course this is a spoiler but what do you expect from a second chance romance? Them not ending up together? There is too much reference to the past and how one character hurt the other, from both sides, and it’s all in their own minds. Which is very annoying. There isn’t a lot of talking and actually “adulting” going on. The characters are very one dimensional, the story rather boring and not developing beyond a surface level.
Not a great read for me, but anyone else might like it.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc! This was my first Dana Hawkins book and I couldn't put it down.
It felt like there was so much more in this book than just a second chance. Their past wasn't just brushed over or ignored which I loved and I really liked reading about Morgan's journey understanding her ADHD and how it affected her life. There was so much emotional growth between these two and their chemistry was incredible. I loved every moment of it!

I am woefully behind on Hawkins’ Single in Seattle series, but I loved Not in the Plan. When I saw that her next series is Meet Cute in Minnesota, I screamed. A series of sapphic novels set in my beloved home state?!
TAKE MY MONEY!!
Though the premise is interesting and the story is well written, I really struggled with liking both of the FMCs in The Ex Effect. Frankie and Morgan dated as teenagers, then broke up abruptly at their high school graduation, both feeling like the other abandoned them as they moved on to their post-high school dreams. Now they’re stuck working together to pull off a client/friend’s wedding in 90 days.
Given that Frankie and Morgan are total opposites, it wasn’t clear what drew them together in the first place. They were both so intolerant of each other... I couldn’t picture them actually happy together as (even more) emotionally-charged teenagers, and didn’t find much to like about them together as adults either. I enjoyed the plot overall, but these two characters just don’t make a strong couple as far as I can see.
I’m looking forward to reading the next books in this series with some different, hopefully better-suited FMCs.

Giving this 3.5 stars. It's a pretty standard sapphic romance that reads like the plot of a Hallmark movie. That's not a bad thing, necessarily - I actually enjoy a good Hallmark movie - but it's not going to be something that appeals to everyone. If you're looking for the comfort of a predictable plot and a happy ending (and with lesbians), this could be for you.
I do appreciate that the miscommunication trope isn't overused here. It pops up occasionally - particularly when discussing the main characters' teenage break-up - but the miscommunication is usually resolved quickly. Which, thank god, because I can't stand that trope.
I also really like the ADHD rep. As an autistic ADHDer myself, it's always great to see adult women with experiences I can relate to.
Overall, if you're like me and enjoy a light sapphic romance now and then, give this book a try.

4.25 stars ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Dana Hawkins for the opportunity to read this ARC!
The Ex Effect is written from the POVs of Morgan and Frankie. They were together in high school, but broke up after it become clear that they had very different visions for their futures. Years later they are brought back together to work on a wedding. Morgan is a wedding planner and has no idea that the photographer that got chosen for a last minute wedding is indeed Frankie. The wedding turns out to be an all hands on deck event as Morgan has to put it together in 90 days. Frankie gets roped in and as they spend more & more time together, will sparks start to fly again?
This is my second ARC I’ve read by Dana Hawkins, and yet again, it did not disappoint! It claims to be a “completely addictive lesbian romance”, and man are they right! I’ve been slower reading books recently, but I read this one in two days! This book is so well written. The plot and characters had me hooked. 💕 I definitely recommend checking this one out!
The Ex Effect will be available to read on August 19th! 💜

First, I want to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read The Ex Effect by Dana Hawkins. This review is solely of my own opinion.
When I saw that Dana Hawkins was coming out with a new series, I was so excited. I loved her Single in Seattle series, so I was excited to see she had a new one coming out.
This book takes place in Minnesota and follows Morgan, a homegrown wedding planner and Frankie who fled their hometown as soon as she could. Morgan runs a wedding planning business and is feeling the struggle since a big box wedding company moved in. She agrees to take accept a wedding and produce an outcome in just 90 days. Frankie is hired directly by the couple to be their photographer. She wants nothing more than never to return to her hometown but goes back because she feels obligated to the couple.
Morgan is surprised to find out that Frankie has been hired as the photographer. Frankie and Morgan were best friends growing up and then started dating in high school. They broke up on graduation night, and neither had seen or spoken to each other until this wedding. Sparks and tempers fly throughout the story.
I gave this story 4.75 and definitely recommend giving it a read. It was fantastic. I can't wait until it's released next month!

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️/5
This was my first book by Dana Hawkins and I enjoyed this small town, second chance romance. The Ex Effect is sweet, with plenty of tension, and will have you feeling a gamut of emotions as you learn about the main characters’ past and how deep their love runs for one another.
✨Second Chance Romance
❤️🔥Enemies to Lovers
🏠Return to Hometown
✨ADHD & Anxiety Rep
💕Forced Proximity
🔥Slow Burn Tension
✨Sweet & 🌶️Steamy
🥂Step 1: Plan the Perfect Wedding
📸Step 2: Ignore the Perfect Ex
Morgan Rose has always had her life planned out – she’s on time if she’s 10 minutes early, she has color-coded and tabbed binders with backup plans for backup plans, and a wedding business that’s her entire world. Morgan has never let anything derail her organized life…except her. She’s the only person who has ever been able to alter her plans and shatter her heart, and Morgan doesn’t think about her anymore.
Now? Morgan is trying to make the impossible happen in just 90 days – she’s pulling out all the stops for this client’s wedding to save her business. And when she thinks the photographer, Frankie, she’s meeting is a ‘he’ and it turns out it’s her ex instead? Well, Frankie is most definitely sending Morgan’s life into a spiral with her infuriatingly good looks, new haircut and that muscular body hidden underneath her motorcycle gear.
Being forced to work together, it’s evident that Frankie and Morgan don’t know one another like they used to – a lot can happen in 15 years. But, some sparks never die, and as the wedding approaches? The tension between Morgan and Frankie grows and they’re forced to confront their past. Will the mistakes in their youth that pulled them apart be dealt with, or is history going to repeat itself?
I enjoyed the mental health representation, as both Morgan and Frankie had their own, different struggles. When each of the MCs shared those struggles, it helped each woman understand one another and their actions. Frankie and Morgan’s love story was one that was worth fighting for, as neither woman was ever able to let the other go – even when life and finding their paths took them in two different directions. It was clear that their feelings and hurt ran deep, and their road to a HEA was messy, flawed, and relatable, as life can be that way too.
If you enjoy a second chance romance with a messy path toward a hard-won HEA, then this is the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and author Dana Hawkins for providing me with the eARC of “The Ex Effect”, in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own!

3.5 stars - The Ex Effect was an enjoyable read, from the three dimensional characters to homely small-town setting.
While the connection between Morgan and Frankie was convincing and palpable by the end of the story, I felt that throughout most of the book, it was difficult to see where their connection was moving from enemies (bitter exes) to lovers.
That being said, I loved the overall plot and the way the characters were written and developed provided the feeling of familiarity for the reader.

This is a sweet and slightly spicy second-chance romance packed with some of my favorite tropes—forced proximity, childhood sweethearts, and a dash of enemies-to-lovers. Morgan and Frankie were each other’s first big love, but life (and some tough choices) pulled them apart. Now, years later, they’re thrown back together planning a wedding, and the sparks start flying all over again. The dual POV really works here, letting us see both the lingering feelings and the pain from the past, and Frankie’s journey with ADHD adds some real depth and heart to the story.
Loved the chemistry between them and the banter was great, but I do wish a few scenes had gone a bit deeper instead of being skipped over or told in hindsight. And while the ending didn’t totally hit the mark for me—especially after all the growth Frankie went through—I still really enjoyed the ride. This is a fun, heartfelt read about learning from your past, figuring out who you are, and maybe getting a second shot at the one who got away. Definitely worth picking up if you’re into WLW romances with a mix of angst, sweetness, and emotional payoff.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Dana Hawkins for an ARC for my honest review.
The Ex Effect was a fun and engaging second chance romance set small town USA. This was my first book by Dana Hawkins and I feel she kept my attention and I will certainly look for more by this author. I love second chance romances where the couple had a real love cut short by life & circumstances, especially if it’s a high school romance. That’s exactly what this was!
Morgan and Frankie had a sweet and intense high school love that was promptly extinguished once life doused them with its complicated waters. Now, 15 years (and practically an entire lifetime) later they are thrust back together but in a professional capacity. Morgan’s wedding planning business is struggling, to say the least. She is a type A perfectionist and despite this she can’t seem to make a successful wedding planning career. Her current wedding project must go off without a hitch if she’s to keep her business. Frankie is a talented photographer who agrees to work the wedding. And thus the drama ensues!
Morgan and Frankie are equal parts shocked, excited, fearful and annoyed at having to work together. Although, their attraction and chemistry bubbles to surface sooner than later! I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. Although most second chance romances have a “will they or won’t they” aspect, it often drags out too long. I felt the two were able to hash it out, so to speak, at a believable point in the story.
It was refreshing to read about people growing into better versions of themselves. While Morgan & Frankie were separated by life they both grew up. But Frankie had the difficult obstacle of being diagnosed with, treating, living and ultimately thriving with a mental health condition. In high school her undiagnosed ADHD was like bulldozer just smashing its way through her life. But she’s done the work & in adulthood, she is a strong, resilient badass!
The feelings and physical attraction are there for both Morgan and Frank. Honestly, after all these years, they never really got over each other. This wedding project is the time for reckoning and they both recognize they are better together. Though… it is quite the journey to get there. I appreciated that their connection was so real and I found myself rooting for them early on.
The Ex Effect was a sweet, slightly spicy, angsty, charming and deeply rewarding second chance wlw story and I definitely enjoyed it. It will thoroughly entertain you and I certainly recommend it. Will definitely keep an eye out for more from Hawkins & Storm publishing!

I really loved both Frankie and Morgan, and I'm always a fan of the forced proximity trope in romance. I feel like they both had their own distinct personalities, which sometimes can be missing in romance novels, and they had their own passions and goals. Watching them work together and learn to communicate was a fun part of the book.
However, I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. While I like a happily ever after ending, this just didn't quite feel believable as a happily ever after for both Morgan and Frankie.
Rating: 3.75/5, rounded to 4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book had some of my favourite tropes, second chance, forced proximity and enemies to lovers. I enjoyed the storyline of two childhood sweethearts who broke each other hearts being forced to reunite for a wedding. The first person POVs enhanced the longing between Morgan and Frankie and offered insight into the pinch points in their past relationship. I also loved the representation of Frankie’s ADHD and her journey of self discovery.
I enjoyed the banter between the main characters and liked the pacing of the story. However, sometimes I wish the book went into more detail, as sometimes the book would jump forward and relay important interactions in retrospect.
I also have to say I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending, I was really rooting for Frankie and I felt the ending didn’t do justice to all her growth.

I had such a good time reading this book.
I loved that it felt like a slow-burn, loved the history behind Morgan and Frankie, loved that the both of them had very strong and passionate personalities. It's a great romance!
The main reason why it wasn't a 5-star read for me is that the end left me a bit of a bittersweet taste. I wish there had been a better solution, idk... Also, at the beginning I had a hard time relating TO Frankie, she withheld info from Morgan and always used her ADHD as an excuse. I loved learning about her experiences with ADHD, but it pissed me off a couple of times how she wanted to use it as a shield.
Overall a really good book, easy to read, Morgan was painfully relatable, and the plot was very entertaining!

This book didn’t do it for me.
I could not understand what drew Frankie and Morgan together in high school, and I certainly don’t understand it now. “Opposites attract” can definitely be a thing, but the differences were too big to overcome for me.
I also wasn’t able to get invested in either character. Morgan was very annoying and Frankie didn’t really have a lot of substance behind her.
Thank you for providing me with a copy of the ARC for an honest review.

Konnte ich leider nicht lesen, da unser system die LCP dateien nicht verarbeitet, was schade ist, leider aber bei etwa 20% der titel der fall ist

Sometimes, we need to grow up independently before we can make things work. Morgan and Frankie were best friends turn high school sweethearts before a mismanaged breakup turned them into enemies. Though neither seems to have really gotten over each other.
In The Ex Effect, we meet them 15 years after their breakup when Frankie returns to her hometown, as a pro photographer, looking hot on a motorbike, while coping with the grief of losing her grandmother. And Morgan struggling to keep her wedding planning business afloat.
The Ex Effect was full of angst, slow burn, and a well-timed payoff. We are taken on a journey of rediscovery and forgiveness while our leads meet a brand new version of their exes. It was a little weird that Morgan and Frankie were supposed to know so much about each other, and yet the reasons behind their grudge suggest they really didn't. Would also be nice to have flashed out Frankie's history instead of summarizing it as an impulsive haircut and name change. The use of a podcast as a plot device was nice, though it would be better if it were shorter.
I had read 'Not In The Plan' previously. I love how Hawkins always seems to nail small details - the scoffing of outrageous coffee orders in Not In The Plan, Morgan's constant worry of running a one-man events company and the need for Frankie to ice her knee (very real especially after a day of physical labor, or when after an impromptu 300m dash and failing to get onto the public bus)
Thank you, NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Dana Hawkins for the ARC!

I was really looking forward to the new book by Dana Hawkins as I liked her previous books. However, I had real problems immersing myself in the story because I didn't warm to Morgan in particular. Her way of wanting to control everything really annoyed me. Also the constant repetition that Frankie is late.... Oh man. That was really too much at the beginning. Frankie, on the other hand, I immediately liked. I liked the depth and the many details from her past. Basically, I liked the second chance trope in this book because I could see some nice chemistry between the two of them as time went on. I also liked the “we're converting an old barn into a wedding venue” part. That was great. I just love it when old becomes new!
What did irritate me a little, though, was that certain parts of the conversation were only told in retrospect. I found that strange. Because I was really looking forward to some topics and was so curious about the other person's reaction, but then it was simply mentioned in the next chapter “Frankie told me that...”. That was rather disappointing.
A book that I didn't enjoy until the last third. A shame, because the plot had so much potential.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Dana Hawkins for the copy of The Ex Effect in exchange for my honest review!
First off, I adored both main characters and empathized with their struggles. Whether it was Morgan’s anxiety or Frankie’s ADHD, these issues were portrayed with care and felt like meaningful and respectful representation of these topics.
The story itself was very engaging. I was curious to see how they would pull off the wedding, how the breakup would be explored from both perspectives, and how everything would come together in the end.
That said, I did have two main critiques: the pacing and the lack of “show, don’t tell.”
The ending felt rushed and could have benefited from a more developed conclusion. Additionally, many of the emotional moments were explained through internal monologue of the characters rather than shown through dialogue or actions. I would’ve loved to see those feelings play out more naturally instead of just being told what the characters were experiencing.
Overall, I enjoyed The Ex Effect. It was a sweet and heartfelt romance. I’ll definitely be checking out more from Dana Hawkins. This story in particular just would have benefited from a more fleshed-out ending and more emotional development.

The Ex Effect is a heartfelt, emotional second-chance romance that feels really honest and real. The chemistry between the main characters is great, but what stood out most was how well the author handled the messy, complicated feelings that come with revisiting a past love.
It’s well-written, engaging, and the emotional moments actually hit. I just wish a couple of the side characters had been a bit more developed.
Overall, a strong story—I’ll definitely be watching for more from Dana Hawkins.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The place you needed to grow and develop into a better version of yourself is not always the place you have to stay. It's okay to reevaluate your wants and needs periodically during your life. It's okay to pluck your current feathers and fly elsewhere.
This books is for the people who have anxious perfectionism and/or late recognized ADHD. I love the depth that the characters took to understand themselves and converse like maturity while also seeing realistic examples of imperfection. The inner thoughts in this book were so realistic, it was almost as if they were pulled out of my own head. There's beauty in 2 characters struggling with the exact same feelings in different ways. You need to take every moment with a loved one that you can. No time is wasted if it's with someone you care about. To love someone is to understand when to hold on and when to let go. And sometimes, with enough patience and effort, you ensure both of your dreams come true.