Without a doubt Elle Kennedy has me in a chokehold and I'm not even a little mad about it. I was so happy to dive back into the Off Campus hockey world with the Graham Effect, and Elle did not disappoint!

This was one of my favourite Elle books to date, purely because everything was done SO WELL. The characters were funny, sweet, had some great chemistry, and acted like adults. There was no miscommunications, there was healthy interactions and overall just a really healthy relationship between them which I absolutely loved.

The cameos in this book made me SQUEAL of happiness, and really brought me back to the Off Campus series which I absolutely adored. Y'all are going to love who shows up I can't even begin to describe how much fun this was.

Book two is going to be just as good as this one and I cannot wait for more hockey books from Elle. This girl is on cloud nine after reading it!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Earlier this year, I read Off Campus and Briar U series by Elle Kennedy and was extremely excited when I saw this book coming out. While waiting, I started seeing some comments of people being concerned about the way this author deals with female same sex attraction and relationship, as many of her books featured male to male attraction and there were comments by the author that she was not interested in writing about female to female attraction. With that in mind, I was very surprised that the main character, Gigi's close friend, identifies as bisexual and makes mention of relationships with women and men.

I honestly think that this book is one of the best in the Briar U universe. It was really nice for fans like myself who has read the two prior series to have mentions of the characters from the prior books and the fact that Gigi grew up with such a big found family due to her mom and dad. It was so wholesome to see the characters from those series be Gigi's aunts and uncles.
I think the relationship between Ryder and Gigi is really interesting. The banter is so great even from the prologue . I enjoyed the way that Kennedy set up this book in a similar way to The Deal in that the two main characters to help each other out: For Gigi to get better and get into the women's Olympic team and for Ryder to look good in front of Garrett so he can help coach his summer camp. It of course changes very quickly from annoyance to friendship to more and I really enjoyed that process. There was a lot of character development with Ryder and his family issues, and how much he grows as a person and partner with Gigi. There is definitely a twist that I didn't see coming, which I am not spoiling. I don't know how necessary it was in terms of the plot, but it did make the end of the story more interesting.
I will say that even though both Gigi and Ryder are both hockey players, the story describes more of Gigi's practices than her actual games compared to Ryder,
If you liked the two prior series, or didn't even read them, I think this would be a good book to help get your hockey romance fix.

I enjoyed this first book in a newish series by Elle Kennedy. It's a spin-off of her popular Off-Campus hockey series and revolves around Gigi Graham, the daughter of Garrett and Hannah from the aforementioned books. Gigi plays hockey at her parents alma mater, where she starts a quid pro quo relationship with fellow hockey player Ryder. He'll help her with her hockey skills if she talks him up to her famous hockey player father. It's kind of a slow burn, which I love, and Gigi and Ryder had great chemistry. It was also nice to see characters from previous books make an appearance and I'm excited to read more in this series in the future!

The Graham Effect
(Campus Diaries, #1)
Elle Kennedy
5⭐️

Annnnd just like that I am ALL in for another one of Elle Kennedy’s hockey romance series. I have no idea what it is with the Briar universe but I don’t think I will ever get enough of these bingeworthy stories and characters I have come to love with my whole heart! Reading the Graham Effect 💯 felt like coming home.

I devoured Gigi and and Ryder’s story! I was nervous it wouldn’t live up to the hype because… um hello it’s THE Garrett Grahams hockey-playing daughter! But it did! It So did. It was addictive, funny, and the nostalgia just warmed my whole heart. These two had such wonderful open and honest communication, and chemistry was… off the charts! I love Kennedy’s spice and ooh Ryder and Gigi brought the 🥵!

Getting to see our beloved friends from the Off-Campus series was the absolute icing on the cake! One of my favorite scenes with this crew was coffee and pie at Della’s Diner with the Uncles. Or maybe it was Hannah going all mama bear on Fairlee! It’s hard to choose because there was so much to love here. I am already so excited to see where this series goes next. 🥰

What I loved;
🏒 The Return to Briar
🏒 Grumpy/Sunshine
🏒 “Enemies” To Lovers
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Secret Romance
🏒 The Library Scene 🥵
🏒 No Miscommunication
🏒 Found Family

Pub Date: 10/31/23! The Queen of hockey romance has struck again and you won’t want to miss it. I cannot wait to add a physical copy to my Kennedy collection!

Thank you so much Get Red PR and NetGalley for the advanced digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Super cute! I have enjoyed Elle Kennedy's books even though it'ss been awhile since I read any. I'm so glad I request this title. I read it in one sitting and now want to go back and read the Briar U books again. I would definitely purchase this for my library.

I received a free ARC via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review…
I went into this book with high expectations(as many of you will) because I absolutely adore The Deal, and the entire off-campus/Briar U series. And let me tell you… THIS DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! This book blew me out of the water and became my second favorite Elle Kennedy book OF. ALL. TIME😩 it had me kicking, screaming, swooning, and nostalgic from seeing all our past couples all grown up and living their best lives🥹🫶🏼

I absolutely cannot sing Elle Kennedy’s praises enough about this book, and cannot wait for everyone to have it in their hands at the end of October💙 (I am also hounding at any evidence on who the next couples in the series is gunna be oml👀)

Off Campus and Briar U are 2 of my favorite series and this The Graham Effect is just as funny, spicy and touching. Can't wait for the next one in the series!!!

“Because that is all it takes to be soulmates. A shared sport and somewhat equal level of attractiveness”

Book: Graham Effect (Campus Diaries, Book 1)
Author: @ellekenney33
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Gigi Graham and Luke Ryder don’t have a great history. Brief, as it may be, these two clashed from the beginning. Their shared determination for hockey is the only thing they have in common at the start, these two couldn’t be more opposite if they tried. When Ryder’s college hockey team, Eastwood, is forced into a merger with Briar U, it sets off a string of events bringing this pair into each other’s social circles. But Ryder is closed off; he has built up huge walls over time that only Gigi has been able to crack. It is unfortunate that she is also the ex-girlfriend of his new teammate. Ryder juggles his own family history and proving himself in the hockey world, yet Gigi has her own hockey aspirations after college. It isn’t all smooth sailing for them as they find themselves, while also growing stronger together.

For those of you Briar U / Off Campus fans, this book is for you. The nostalgia is real, we are back on Briar’s Campus, visiting Malones, getting glimpses into the lives of the previous characters. It made me want to eat this book up, while also savor it. Gigi is just as lovable as her mom, who we luckily get a good amount of time with; and Garret is just as protective of a father as we assumed he would be. But it’s the hurt boy we see in Ryder that softens our heart, as Gigi breaks down his walls and wiggles her way into his heart. The sarcasm and wit will keep readers on their toes and Gigi’s surprisingly spicy antics will have them coming back for more.

Not a Briar U fan? No problem, this book is stand alone. While some connections between characters might be missed, it certainly doesn’t affect the chemistry between Gigi and Ryder.

If you like:
Briar U / Off Campus Series
Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy - Sunshine
Forbidden Love
Found Family

TW🚫: cheating, death of parent

Elle Kennedy’s The Graham Effect is the perfect introduction to the next generation of the Briar U universe. With callbacks to both the Off-Campus and Briar U series, without overwhelming the new book with these callbacks, she creates a book that feels new, but is interconnected. Gigi has grown up in the hockey world trying to prove that she’s good at the sport, and not just successful because of her dad. When Ryder points out where she is weak, they form a quid-pro-quo relationship, where she gets help with hockey, and she talks him up to her dad. We see so much growth from both Gigi and Ryder in the book, which is always an amazing thing to read. Ryder starts to open up about his past, and Gigi learns how to accept criticism. Their relationship is incredibly healthy from the get go, and it was so nice to read as their relationship developed. Every cameo from original characters in Off-Campus and Briar U didn’t feel forced, but rather felt like exactly what you could expect from each character. I cannot wait for this series to continue, and to learn more about both the new and old generations of the Briar universe

I love being back with these characters and the Briar universe. It’s always a fun time. What I love about Elle Kennedy’s book are the characters and their development throughout the book. I was really hoping to see the old gang interact again but sadly it was not in the book. I am hoping we would get a behind a scene look at the trip to Tahoe or their Boxing Day hokey game. I think that would be fun.

I truly adore Gigi’s story and trying to find her own place in the world. I was hoping to see more of the women’s hockey team in the book though. I am excited to see where this series goes as it seems like a fun cast of characters. I love the friendships aspect the most in these books

4.5/5⭐️🏒
here’s something i never knew i needed: a book called the graham effect where garrett and hannah from ‘the deal’ are parents. this. this is the book i never knew i needed.

this book was so so good! something i loved about the off campus/briar u series was the found family trope and it’s so nice to see that even as parents with kids and busy lives, they still hang out and are an important part of each others lives. i mean. dean and john logan?? as uncles. yes please.

this book felt like home. it was so nice to return to this world and be following a new generation!

gigi graham! hockey player. (read iconic, independent, bad*ss woman) and luke ryder! hockey player. (read iconic, grumpy with everyone but gigi, book boyfriend #237) a super unexpected duo that compliment each other so well. i loved them. i was giggling, blushing, highlighting literally every other page. if i could print out this entire book and use it as wallpaper (remove a few scenes so it’s pg), i would.

sidenote… i don’t know if this will mean anything to anyone but ryder and colson give major lucas and nathan scott (one tree hill) vibes.

loved this book so much and i cannot wait to see what the campus diaries brings us next!! i’m hoping it’s shane’s book because i was cackling over some of his lines!!

if you’re still hmming and hahing about whether or not you should pick up this book… here are just a few more things to peak your interest:
- enemies to lovers
- secret FORBIDDEN romance
- female athletes!!
- found family trope!!
- wellsy and garrett being hella cute parents
- ‘girlfriends mother is my only maternal figure’
- GARRETT GRAHAM BEING OBSESSED WITH REALITY TV!!!

thank you to netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS bloom books for this e-arc and for making me consider spending my next paycheque on a ticket to a hockey game!!!

I have been not so patiently waiting to get my hands on this book since Elle announced it. I DEVOURED it! This one exceeded my expectations and then some (to date this may be my favorite hockey romance from Elle!). I love Gigi and Ryder. Their story had so much depth to it with just the right amount of spice. There were some humorous moments that made me laugh out loud.

Meeting the secondary characters was a lot of fun. I am looking forward to seeing more from them as this series continues.

The visitors of series past were a pleasant addition and served purpose to the storyline.

There were medium to high expectations I had for this book due to the love I have had for all the Briar students prior to this. Elle Kennedy was able to capture the magic of the Briar Universe so perfectly with a blend of old characters and new. The relationship between Gigi Graham and Luke Ryder had me squirming, laughing and crying (and staying up until the wee hours of the morning getting my fix).

The spice was SPICY, I would say 4/5.

I would check the Net Galley website once a week to see if this had been updated and I requested it immediately. Thank you Elle for bringing so many of us into the romance genre through The Deal and giving us such a wonderful addition to the Briar World with The Graham Effect.

This was a fun and spicy read! I finished reading The Deal right before starting this book and it was interesting to see how Kennedy's writing has changed over the years. I loved finding out where characters from the Off-Campus series ended up and learning all about two new mains, Gigi and Ryder. They complemented each other well and had some palpable sexual tension throughout the story. I do think the beginning third of the book could be trimmed down as the expository section was a bit dragged out, but other than that, this was a solid romance read.