I soo enjoyed this latest hockey romance featuring the next generation of Briar U hockey players that stars GG, hockey playing daughter of the great Garret Graham from the very first book.

Fresh off a break-up from her cheating ex, GG ends up making a deal with new transplant to the men's hockey team, Rider. In exchange for some hockey tips from him, she agrees to put in a good word for him with her dad.

This was a steamy, dual POV slow burn with tons of Remember the Titans vibes as the Briar U men's team gets forced to take on players from their rival school after it closes. I loved seeing Rider work to fit in as co-captain with GG's ex and the way he is able to open up to GG like he can't with anyone else.

Full of emotional depth, lots of hockey, a badass FMC aiming for Olympic gold and a f*ckboy with a secret soft side and a dark past. Plus tons of references to the original series for all the die hard OG Briar U lovers!

Highly recommended for fans of authors like Meghan Quinn, Grace Reilly and Hannah Grace and excellent on audio narrated by CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

In my opinion Elle Kennedy is the queen of college hockey romance. The Deal is one of my all time favorite books so I was thrilled to see The Graham Effect was being released. I’m happy to say it lived up to all my expectations. Gigi and Ryder were great together and both so like-able. The steamy scenes were hot and the cameo appearances from so many favorite characters was the cherry on top! If you are a fan of the off campus series this is a must read but even without the context of the series, it would still be a great stand alone.

If you're looking for a cute, quick, and easy read with iconic appearances from your favorite Off Campus / Briar U characters - this is your book!

First, meet Gigi - she's the sassy, sweet, and witty daughter of Garrett Graham & Hannah Wells (Wellsy) who has dreams of following in her famous father's footsteps as a professional hockey player.

Contrary to Gigi's optimism and positivity, there's Luke Ryder - the rough around the edges captain of the newly merged men's hockey team.

When the two find themselves agreeing to help one another (Ryder with her reputation & Gigi with her skills), they find out they have more in common than they thought.

Both of the heroines are incredibly well-written & complex, and there's as much individual character growth as much as romance. Their banter/chemistry/build-up had me giggling - it didn't feel forced or rushed at all. Also, the book introduces and sets up the other side characters nicely that I cannot wait for the rest of the series to unfold!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

A sweet spin off for the book, the Deal. We get snippets of Garrett and Hannah but this book is all about Gigi, their daughter, and Ryder, a recent transfer with childhood ties. A steamy college hockey romance that has athletic competition, hilarious banter, and tugs at your heart. This read can definitely be read as a standalone.

First time reading this author. I enjoyed this hockey romance. Loved it because both the main characters - female and male - played it. There was some seriousness in this light-hearted story. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #The GrahamEffect

Ahhhh, Elle Kennedy has taken us back to Briar U with The Graham Effect, book 1 in the Campus Diaries series, and holy hell I loved being back!

This time we have Gigi Graham, daughter of Garrett Graham and and Hannah Wells from The Deal.
Let me start off by saying that as a recent reader of The Off-Campus series, I LOVED all the glimpses and mentions of characters from that series, while getting stories of the next generation. I adored Gigi and Ryder and that we got their dual POV. Their enemies to lovers, sexy tension and build-up to love was evervthing. Ryder is that sullen, to himself hockey player with an emotional back story, that you can't help but have a soft spot for, and Gigi was so full of life and sass. They complemented each other so well. This was full of all the the hockey, fun, friends, banter, tension and steam that I loved about the Off-Campus series.

I'm already all in with the other characters too - Shane, Beckett, Will and of the course the other kids from the couples we all love. Can't wait to get more from this series!

Every time I read a book by the author I’m reminded just how much I love her writing, she’s so good! If you were a fan of the off campus series you’re gonna like this one just as much. There’s the same top notch banter, plenty of side characters who were wildly entertaining and lots of glimpses into past characters which is always so fun. Gigi was such a badass heroine, her sense of humor was perfection and Ryder had the whole moody and aloof thing going on. His backstory was heartbreaking and made me feel for him and they both showed a lot of growth by the end. I was legitimately bummed when I finished this one and cannot wait for the second in the series.

The writing was engaging and I was pulled into this book. I really enjoyed the story and the characters.

Temporarily pausing this one to finish the last two books in the Off-Campus series. I started this and was absolutely loving it until I realized there’s some spoilers to that series in this book. I didn’t realize it was a spin off series! Will be back to fully review this at a later date, but from the few chapters I did read this was so much fun! I love Elle Kennedy’s writing so much!

Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks Bloom books for this ARC!

Oh Elle Kennedy. No matter what she’s still an autobuy, especially when we’re revisiting Briar University.

That said, this was an odd one for me. I thought it was pretty anticlimactic. What I truly love about the Off Campus series is how hard fought and earned the relationships are. The struggles are legitimate and difficult to overcome, but ultimately worth the sacrifice because the leads are better people together.

The Graham Effect really lacked that for me, sure the characters and their backgrounds were present, but the story of the relationship itself was… bland. Gigi and Ryder are bitter acquaintances, then become FWB pretty suddenly. They struggle with communication issues that then fizzle away and never cause trouble again. They are faced with the judgment of friends, family and exes… and then seemingly without any real confrontation it’s all forgiven. There just wasn’t much tension to hold the story together.

Still, I did enjoy being back in an Elle Kennedy hockey romance, even just for the nostalgia. It felt more like a gratuitous victory lap than anything else, but while it won’t be favorite I couldn’t be mad about it either. It was fun to revisit everything in this fictional world, and I have no regrets about that.

I loved that we get to see how both generations have moved through time.

The fact that she s an athlete, loved it.

The crazy college American life, love it!

A second-generation hockey series from one of my favorite college hockey romance series, count me in!! I only wish I had read The Off-Campus series in recent years because it’s been way too long. It’s not necessary to have read them to enjoy this one.

If you loved The Deal and fell for Garrett Graham (like I did) and want more this one will do just that. I loved ALL the cameos, especially Gigi with her “uncles”, I may have laughed hysterically (I’ll always love Dean).

The first 30% of the book sets up the current Briau U hockey world and introduces the characters. The nostalgia is there from The Off-Campus series, with several cameos of Garrett and mention of his career and what he is doing now. This is a new world and there are quite a few new side characters. These characters form a wonderful found family and bring plenty of witty banter. The pacing starts a little slow, with Gigi and Ryder focusing on their own hockey goals and occasionally running into each other.

This is a hockey romance, Gigi and Ryder are both hockey players. Expect a lot of hockey. Gigi has hopes to qualify for the women’s national team and Ryder hopes to repair the impression he made on Garrett. The two agree to help each other and soon they find themselves in a secret friends-with-benefits relationship around 50%. Their relationship slowly evolves from irritation to teasing and finally undeniable chemistry (even when they try to deny it). All the anticipation is with it when the two get together around the halfway point. This is a lengthy book, so expect a slow simmer.

I personally would have preferred the beginning to be shorter, but Ryder and the adorable bomb at the end is worth it. The second half of the book has all my love. Ryder is broody, dirty-talking, and when he lets Gigi in and slips and calls her baby I swooned. He can flip from sweet to dirty with a snap of a finger. Gigi is strong, independent, and sassy. Their banter was adorable and hilarious and I loved it.

This gave me nostalgia and love for The Off-Campus and Briau U Series that I was looking for, with cameos, and an entirely new group of likable and lovable characters. I can’t wait to see where the series goes. This would have gotten more stars if it was shorter and there was less info-dumping.

This “forbidden” secret friends-with-benefits hockey romance fills the slow burn with fantastic and hilarious side characters and some world-building.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I love Elle Kennedy’s books, especially her books set at Briar University. I was so excited when this got announced and was so excited to read it whenever I could get my hands on it.

What Elle does best is her characters and that is so apparent here as well. Gigi and Ryder were so fleshed out and we’ll rounded along with side characters who I’m sure we will see more of in this series. Elle also did a great job continuing to develop characters we already know and love and had them grow even more.

My biggest critique of this book would be a certain plot point that happens near the end that took me out of the story for a beat, but other than that, it is a great read. I am looking forward to more in this series.

This was such a fun read! I absolutely loved The Deal and was excited when I found out that Garrett and Hannah's daughter would be getting her own book. I love this idea to follow their children and still get to see glimpses of Garrett and Hannah again.

Gigi Graham is the daughter of the best hockey player in the world, but she doesn't let her father's fame give her a leg up in the world. Everything she's ever accomplished in her life and her own hockey career has been because she is just as talented as he is. Since she can't compete for the Stanley Cup, her focus is making Team USA.

Luke Ryder is destined for the NHL, already having Dallas claiming him as their own. When Briar University merges with Eastwood, that means the two hockey teams also become one. This is a big problem, not just for Luke and his team, but for Briar as well. Luke's past has been following him around and overshadowing his talents and who he is as a person.

When Luke and Gigi meet for the second time, they still have that same tension they've had since they first met when they were teens. But the two of them quickly realize that they both need something from each other. Gigi needs help behind the net and Luke needs help getting in her father's good graces. What happens when the two of them actually work together? Do they continue to get on each other's nerves, or will that tension finally snap - for the good?

I loved reading Gigi and Luke's story, especially how the two of them helped each other for the better. I loved how Gigi was able to break down Luke's walls and finally get him to open up to her. These two were clearly destined to be together and I loved that it was the two of them against the world.

Thank you to Get Red PR for the ARC copy of this book. I can't wait to continue this series!

How is this my first Elle Kennedy book??? I’m a silly goose and read this one before I have read any of the books in the Off-Campus series, but it definitely works as a stand-alone because I didn’t feel like I was missing out on too much backstory. I really enjoyed this one, and was surprised at how HOT but cute it was. Like okayyy 👀 . But I really enjoyed that both main characters were hockey players, like it just doubled the sports romance for me. Plus Ryder and Gigi were grumpy/sunshine vibes. Also, what happened in that third arc… totally took me by surprise. I will definitely be reading the other books!!

Thank you Get Red PR for the early copy! I really enjoyed this one.

I hadn't read any of the Off-Campus books before picking this one up, but this was not my first time reading this author. I wasn't a huge fan of the Good Girl Complex but I've had The Deal sitting on my kindle for years. Instead, I started with The Graham Effect. It was a solid read, but I'm not really the target audience for New Adult. When I read a book with twenty and twenty-one year old college-age protagonists I have a hard time not considering them "kids", even though they're legally adults. To me, the relationships always seem superficial or more lust than love and even though I liked both Gigi and Ryder, I didn't feel a true connection between them. It was more like a college romance that would run its course after they got out in the "real world." I enjoyed the hockey setting and I like how the two different teams merged into one and came to respect each other after the rough start. I enjoyed this book and I liked the characters a lot and I enjoyed Briar University and it definitely makes me want to go back and read the original series, and also continue with this one, but I wasn't head over heels for the main couple. Their exhibitionism was a bit much and it just added to the lust over love factor. But still a solid 3 stars. Thanks to Sourcebooks Bloom and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

It still doesn’t feel real that this is a real book! My favourite thing about this story was just how nostalgic the reading experience felt. But that nostalgia was balanced with an original story that all hockey romance fiends are going to love!

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: Gigi Graham and Luke Ryder are the main characters of The Graham Effect. Gigi is the daughter of Hannah and Garrett the main characters from The Deal, the first book in the Off-Campus series. Gigi is just a mini-Garrett Graham, and I loved her for it! She’s got his sass and I loved how she held her own in every situation this book threw at her. Her determination is commendable too, as throughout this book her quest for a spot on the Women’s Olympic Ice hockey team is unmatched! Ryder is her love interest, and you won’t be able to help it he’s so easy to fall for. Another hockey player which I loved as both characters could bond over their shared love. Now I must say the cameos are one of the best parts for the loyal Elle Kennedy readers out there! I loved seeing Hannah and Garrett as parents, along with meeting Gigi’s brother Wyatt and a few of the other characters at Briar U.
Setting: It felt so nostalgic to return to Briar University! I have such a soft spot for the hockey romances with college settings, they are probably some of my favorite college romances to read. There is an additional setting near the end of the book that takes the plot on a sharp left turn, I’d say you got to read it for yourself because Elle sure takes the entire Graham family on a journey.
Pacing: Fans will be delighted that you will have a sizeable Elle Kennedy hockey romance to escape into. For being a slightly larger book, it is paced incredibly well, and the plot never slows so I was hooked into the story at all times. I found the ending a tad rushed, but that did not deter from the fact that I loved the pacing of the buildup just so much.
Romance: Gigi and Ryder hate each other when our story starts, but their undeniable chemistry has them catapulted into a friends-with-benefits arrangement. From that FWB dynamic to them being unable from keeping their feelings to themselves. Fear not this is not a situation where neither of them share their feelings for a while, rather they are so communicative, and I loved that! Now in the past I would not have added Elle Kennedy to a list of best smutty scene writers, I always enjoyed her spice, but she did not write the kind of scenes you go read again and again. In this one though there are so many iconic scenes from the shower to the library that will live on in this fandom for infamy! Needless to say, if you like your college hockey romance with spicy heat but also heartwarming you will love this.

A BIG thank you to Netgalley, Ms. Kennedy, and Sourcebooks/Bloom Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

OK. Here’s the problem with Elle Kennedy. She starts a damn series with a GRAHAM (apparently, any Graham) and BOOM, you’ve peaked, where do you go from there? And I am not trying to say, not at all, that Logan’s and Dean’s and Tucker’s books were any less good, but frankly none of them are Garrett and none of them ever will be. And now, I’m kinda afraid that neither Shane nor Beckett nor Wyatt etc etc etc will be able to top Gigi and Ryder. (Don’t hate me for this, but I was kinda more than a little bummed that Wyatt went music. Hockey >>>>>>>>>> music for me. Sorry not sorry.) Anyways.

So yeah, this book was good. Gigi Graham, named by her father – her mother named Wyatt – has inherited all her father’s hockey skills and is tearing things up as a female hockey player, except for the fact that she isn’t strong behind the net. Ryder, star forward, formerly of Eastwood prior to Briar and Eastwood’s merger, is trying desperately to impress Garrett Graham and get a gig as coach at Garrett’s summer hockey camp. So of course Gigi and Ryder hatch a plan to help each other out and of course they catch feelings and OF COURSE their feelings are every bit as swoonworthy as Garrett and Hannah EXCEPT THAT they both play hockey and it is SOOOO much better this way! (My apologies for the run on sentence. I got excited.) Ryder is a perfect closed-off, emotionally scarred grump and Gigi is the perfect well-adjusted emotionally in-tune match for him. I loved that they grew together. I loved that they communicated and learned from mistakes. I loved that the drama was external and surmountable and not at all related to jealous B’s out to break them up. I loved having Garrett and Hannah back. I loved this book full stop.

On an unrelated note: was I the only one that went and Googled Horizons soundscapes? Because frankly they sound super relaxing and I wish they were real. I would download them all.

I am so, so, so happy that Elle Kennedy has returned to writing hockey romance. She is a superstar at getting the athletic element right, and she writes some of the most realistic male voices I’ve come across. Unlike many authors who write sports romances, Ms. Kennedy is clearly very conversant with her featured sport which is a pleasure for those of us who like it too. EASILY 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
…and let me start camping out *now* for her next one. I am heading straight to Amazon to buy a physical copy of this and its sequel.

PS, the Garrett cameos are… *chefs kiss* Going to go re-read The Deal for the umpteenth time.

BACK AT BRIAR UNIVERSITY ONCE AGAIN!!! When I finished The Off Campus and Briar U series, I, like so many others, wanted more. Elle signed, sealed, and delivered just that.

The Graham Effect follows Gigi Graham (Hannah and Garrett’s daughter from The Deal) and standoffish Luke Ryder. Gigi is following in her fathers footsteps as a successful hockey player, but also trying to prove she’s more than just the female version of him, she wants to set her own records and make a name for herself.

Luke is just trying to lead his team to a Frozen Four win but must deal with a rough past coming back when he least expects it, a previous rival as his co-captain, and teammates butting heads and throwing punches.

When an opportunity arises for Ryder to coach Gigi on a few techniques and for Gigi to put in a good word to her dad for Ryder, the unlikely duo begin to form a friendship which leads to more.

This story featured many of our beloved characters from the other series at Briar U, but gave us a whole new team and friend group to follow. The ending definitely caught me by surprise, but I do hope this isn’t the last time we see Gigi and Ryder! Overall, a cute college sports read and good revisit to one of our favorite teams!

• 496 pages
• Spice: 🌶🌶
• Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and happy release day EK and team!

This was one of my most anticipated books this year. I was so excited to jump back into the Off Campus world. Gigi and Ryder were so fun to read about. The story pulled me in, and I didn’t want to stop until I had finished the book. I loved getting to be back Briar with a new set of characters. Although, the cameos from the original characters made me happy. The Christmas chapters were the best! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!