This was my first book by Sarina Bowen but I’ve read multiple books by Elle Kennedy Elle Kennedy and I think this is my new favorite book of her. I loved everything about Blake and Jess. I recognized myself so much in Jess but I’m glad that everything turned out well for her. I was a bit suspicious about Blake at the beginning but after all I really liked him and he is just perfect for Jess. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series! This book made me laugh, cry and giggle at the same time and I highly recommend it to everyone! 🥺

Thank you so much Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this arc 🫶🏻

I was so stoked to revisit Good Boy with this ARC, especially since it’s one of my all-time faves.
Blake Riley, the ultimate cinnamon roll with a golden retriever vibe, is back and ready to win over Jess Canning, the ultimate black cat who’s all sass and resistance.
The chemistry between these two is electric, and their banter? Hilarious.
Blake was a standout side character in the Him/Us/Epic series, and here, he’s all about proving he’s more than just a flirty manchild. Watching him break down Jess’s walls while navigating wedding chaos and proving he's a “good boy” with a complex side is a total delight.
Plus, getting glimpses of Jamie and Wes from the previous series adds an extra layer of fun. This rom-com hits all the right notes for a perfect, laugh-out-loud read.
This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good romantic comedy with heart and humor!
5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books, Elle Kennedy, and Sarina Bowen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The characters were sympathetic and the dialogue and humor kept the story moving along. I know this is a genre that sells well, but frankly the volume and explicitness of the sexual encounters took away from the story. I understand that I am making a minority report, but I would not recommend this book because of the sexual content.

2.5 stars? Good Boy was not for me. I think other readers may think the MMC is goofy and fun with his corny quips but I just found him to be annoying. The relationship development was off for me as well and I didn't really find myself rooting for them to get together. I did like the FMC finding confidence in her new career and standing up to others. Overall, it has some fun/spicy parts but it was lacking in content.

If you like the Off-Campus series, I'd definitely check out the books that Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy co-wrote. There is the WAGs series (two books total) and the characters in these books overlap with the Him series (two books and a novella). I would definitely read Him and Us first as you learn a lot about Jess and Blake, the main characters in Good Boy, in the Him series!

Read this series if you like:
-Hockey romance
-Steamy books
-Short, mindless reads
-LGBTQ+ rep
-Big family vibes
-Canada setting

I adored this book! When I started it, I had no idea it was in the same family of books as Wes & Jamie from Him.
The banter was perfect, the spice was spot on. I will read anything these two write together!

This book was so much fun! It just made me smile. I loved character growth from both Jessica and Blake. Blake came across as a little immature at first but that was just his armour. We saw a lot of adult Blake throughout the story. This book made me laugh. I definitely swooned at what a great hero Blake was. I loved the hockey. The writing was top-notch. This one kept me reading until the end. Huge thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book!

Good Boy by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen is the first book in the WAGs Series. This is Jess and Blake‘s story.
 
Jess is organizing a wedding for her brother and takes it to perfection because she is seen as the family screw-up. Jess is such a good person who is a little lost in life and tries to figure out her path. I really liked seeing this raw and vulnerable characteristic and at the same time she is very loving and strong and that was such a good combination.
 
Blake is a hockey player and on the same team as Jess‘s brother and he is known as a bad boy. Jess has fallen for his charms for one night and while she sees it as a big mistake, Blake actually loved it and wants to win her over now. He is the best man at the wedding and therefore helps out Jess a lot. I really liked seeing what is beyond his facade and he can actually be such a sweet man.
 
The wedding provided a perfect setting for them to cross paths again and Blake provides some much-needed comic relief, and he tries to loosen up the circumstances. Their bickering in the beginning is also top notch because Jess sees him as an annoyance. And Blake must step up his game and he truly does. But at some parts it felt like he was trying too hard. I liked their story, and it definitely made me smile and laugh out loud.
 
Overall, Good Boy is a great romcom that just makes you happy. 4 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Good Boy was a really fast paced and easy read which I pretty much read in a day! The premise is nothing new but I liked the authors writing and how easy it was to become engrossed in the characters world. I resonated with Jess a lot, being someone who also has no clue what to do with their life, and liked her as our FMC. Blake took me a little while to get into, purely because his language was so juvenile it felt like I was reading about a teenager but that aside, he was a great book boyfriend. Would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a quick and easy romcom!

Good Boy was such a fun, easy read that made me ridiculously happy! I was laughing and smiling my way through. I adored Blake and Jess and loved them getting to their happily ever after. It was so entertaining with great scenes and humor and I had a blast reading it.

I wasn’t so sure about Blake in the beginning since he seemed like such a stereotypical jock player but by the end I loved him. He was a good guy who did incredibly sweet, heartfelt things. I loved really getting to know what a fantastic guy he was. I loved Jess and how hard working she was and all she was doing to figure herself out and follow her true path. I adored them together. I loved Blake’s flirting and innuendos. I loved his unwavering perseverance and positive attitude when it came to Jess. It seemed like a definite case of he-falls-first and it was adorable. I loved Jess fighting her feelings and every time she caved to them. The heat these two generated was awesome and I loved the spicey times added to the mix.

This is one hundred percent a romantic comedy. It was light and playful and moved at a fast pace. It's filled with likable characters and humorous scenes. There's some very mild drama involved but I loved what it added to the story. I loved the dual POVs, the build, and all the fun times happening.

This was the best kind of high-energy entertainment and I could not stop reading! I had no idea how much I needed this kind of goodness but I totally did.

definitely what i expected in the best way possible. it is impossible for elle to not write a book you’re immediately transported into, as her writing is so addicting and fast paced. reading a book from her co-written outside of the deal was so interesting to me and i loved it!!

Good Boy is connected to the books, Him and Us by the same authors. I admit, I have not read those books but I can see how it may be advantageous to have read those books to get some background information on both the main and side characters in this book. That being said, I had no issues reading this book and I don't think you need to read those books to enjoy and understand this story. Overall, Good Boy is a fun read. I didn't find it overly humorous but it was entertaining. There were many aspects that I enjoyed, some of the sex scenes were hot, but there were some things that kind of irked me. Blake, the main male character, was appealing in many ways but his juvenile behavior and words were offputting. At times he was an ideal book boyfriend but then he would say something and I would mentally cringe. There are also some potential trigger warnings, this book does mention cancer, terminal illnesses, and miscarriage.

I thought I had read all of Elle Kennedy's hockey romance, and was super excited to see Good Boy with a new cover! I devoured the book in a day, it was such a great light hearted read. First off, Blake Riley might be the definition of golden retriever character, except he is also ADHD and inappropriate. When I read his perspective, it felt like I was on caffeine jitters, and it really embellished his character so well. His nicknames and personality made the book. Jess was a good main character as well, she face adversity and the stress of quarter life crisis. It was nice to read a romance that was not enemies to lovers for once. I look forward to the next in the series! I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book from Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen and I absolutely loved it!! Blake is hilarious, cute like a labrador under steroids, always active, always up to something, and with a dirty mind. I think what surprised me the most about him was his commitment to Jess. Not for one moment he doubted that he wanted her. He was the chaser in the relationship. Also, the angst was definitely low thanks to his attitude towards the whole situation. Jess was a hard nut to crack, but he never gave up and he never saw her rejections or her unwillingness to admit they were together as anything other than a challenge. And this kept the whole book's atmosphere upbeat and light. Jess was a nice surprise too. I wasn't sure I'd like her 100% because I tend not to relate to flighty characters, but in this book we see her both struggling with her indecisive nature and finally taking her life in her own hands and trying to do something with it. The banter between the two of them is priceless and just top-notch fun. Plus, I loved how humbled she was when, after denying her feelings for him, she found out exactly what a wonderful man Blake is. Their feelings grew steadily and not without caution, especially on her side (as I said, Blake is positive about wanting her, and not just in a biblical way. Let's admit it, behind the joker's facade, he's the nicest of nice guys, the type of man you introduce to the family and who hits it off with everyone after two seconds of meeting them).

The plot was quite simple, definitely character driven, but it was just perfect for the couple.
It starts with Jess being supremely annoyed by Blake (and even more at herself for having slept with him and finding him attractive), and with Blake seeing her refusal to admit her desires as a chance to tease her and entice her. Soon their relationship grows, but I wouldn't call it a friends to lovers. More like a friends with benefits to lovers. And I know that lots of you are not fans of this progression, but I can assure you the whole situation reads very little like a friends-with-benefits' one, due to Blake's conviction that they're actually together. Now, I'm not gonna spoiler, but I can tell you that something in his past happened and the way he dealt with it, it truly made the difference between me liking him and me falling in love with him head over heels. It was a revelation that I would had never expected, totally not-cliché, and it showed a mature, selfless, and caring part of him that you need to look beyond the surface to notice. When Jess found out about it, things definitely changed between them, in the best of ways.

Last, but not least, all supporting characters were terrific, from the WAGS, to Wesmie (<3), to Blake's family. Now I can't wait for the next installment in this series to come out, knowing that the Bowen-Kennedy duo is now one of my favorites on the market.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books, Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
-Hockey romance
-Best Friends brother
-“Frenemies” to lovers

If you’re looking for top tier banter, look no further! Also a book that may have kept me up until 3am because it just kept getting better.

Oh Blake the man that you are, the level of delulu, it’s truly hilarious! Man doesn’t give up, I’ll give him that much! This man literally has me cackling with every word that comes out of his mouth! I mean really Blake “recharge on my docking station”

When Jess is struggling to find her career path in life after planning a beautiful wedding for her brother, then only to realize it’s not the right path for her. Jess decides she wants to go to nursing school, well that’s expensive. Her friend (who is absolutely hilarious btw) informs her of a program in Toronto that is far more affordable. Well, guess who lives in Toronto, that’s right Blake.

Blake is no stranger to relationship heartache and is absolutely adamant on not being in another. Until, Jess comes storming into his life after they both care for her sick brother, who also happens to be his teammate. He’s determined, and I mean absolutely determined to make Jess his.

I absolutely loved the character growth, Blake learns to not hide behind his humor and let others in, while Jess gains the confidence she needs in a rewarding career path.

After reading a ton of Elle Kennedy’s book I’ve come to find I truly enjoy her writing style and I will be adding more of Sarina Bowen to my TBR

🐕 puppy dog personality
🏒 hockey players
💒Celebrity wedding
🎉 Party planner
🌶️🌶️🌶️spicy
💘Opposites attract
👩🏻‍⚕️Nursing student
🙅‍♂️ex girlfriends
👯‍♀️ Blake Brigade
🍦lots of ice cream
🧀 cheezus
💁🏻‍♀️WAGS

Thank you Netgalley, Bloom Books, Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen for this copy in exchange for my honest review! This special Bloom Books edition is out today with a new paperback cover! I am loving hockey romance right now and this one didn’t disappoint! I am a Nurse Practitioner and loved Jess and her story so much! Go check this book out today! I can’t wait to read book 2 Stay!

Be warned, this is a reissue of a 2016 romance, though given its dubious consent issues, feels earlier. Romance has changed for the better, even if it’s overly careful and tame at times; to boot, this is not the kind of romance I enjoy, so you’ve been review-warned. If its elements are your dish, or they don’t bother you, it’s written with an ebullient insouciance I couldn’t help but admire…at times. When other stuff wasn’t bothering me. Which wasn’t often.

Told from alternating hero and heroine points of view, what mainly comes across is the hero’s obnoxiousness and heroine’s bitchiness. I was amused by the narrative, but I couldn’t warm much to these two. The publisher’s blurb provides premise and details before I offer a final verdict, though the above should give you a good idea of what it might be:

“We’re way more than friends, Jessie.”

“Blake—”

“But no worries. I’ll just sit tight until you figure that out.”

Hosting her brother’s wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning’s life. Already the family screw-up, she can’t afford to fail at this, too. Especially after the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. Nobody—absolutely nobody—can find out about that, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. No matter how devastatingly sexy his smile, he’s a giant manchild who’s never been serious in his life. And if Jess wants to prove herself to her family, serious is what she has to get.

For Blake Riley, this wedding is a gift from fate itself. The girl he has his eye on is the maid of honor, and he’s the best man? Let the games begin. So what if Jess is giving him a little—fine, a lot—of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he’s really a good boy with a bad rap. Beneath the flirty jokes and goofy smile, he’s got layers—even if Jess doesn’t want to see them.

Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you’ve got to make an effort if you want to score.

And Jess is just the girl he wants to win.

From the moment this romance opens, at Jess’s brother’s wedding, it’s crude. Crude in language, funny at times, but overall, tasteless. I think Kennedy-Bowen thought that, in time, as they show what a good guy Blake is, he would grow to be endearing. And Jessica? As they show, and again, it’s a snippy, well-paced narrative with much showing and nil telling, Jess is supposed to show growth, maturity, commitment…what she lacked coming from a lack of baby-in-the-family confidence than just plain being an immature mess.

I liked the details about Jess’s commitment to nursing, the scenes as she takes those tentative steps in her first few hospital observations. Even Blake grew on me a teeny bit once I saw he could be generous, giving, and warm. Kennedy-Bowen cultivated their qualities with some solid scenes. In other words, Kennedy-Bowen are skillful, possessing writing know-how, but I didn’t find any heart to Good Boy. It was gimmicky and contrived.

What totally didn’t work was Blake and Jess together. Their “togetherness” was made of a string of relentless sex scenes. Blake has been hurt and the romance cliché of the Evil Ex is shown in bright, intense lights. Not a good look for a romance. Jess’s bitchiness comes in handy here, but it’s usually to show up Blake, who grows way nicer than she and he’s not much to begin with. He’s a declarative kind of hero: if I say it is so, then so it is. As for Jess, it’s not a fun she’s a tough-cookie heroine. Jess is a giant-shoulder-chip heroine. Most importantly, because of the excess of beasts sharing backs, there’s not much by way of relationship development: there’s banter and it’s amusing in places, but overall, it’s banter for the laughs and not for showing two people getting to know each other. When the commitment/HEA comes around, it doesn’t feel natural. Maybe I’m calling for an orange when this is an apple. It’s light, fluffy, amusing, and explicit: if this is what you’re looking for, it’ll do just fine. But not for this reader; Miss Austen can barely comment, given how scandalized she is, but for a rating’s sake, we say Good Boy has “a high claim to forbearance,” Emma.

Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen’s Good Boy is published by Sourcebooks Bloom Books and “re”releases today, August 6. I received an e-galley from Sourcebooks Bloom Books via Netgalley. The above is the honest, AI-free expression of my opinion.

I haven’t read an Elle Kennedy book that I didn’t like and this one was no different. It did take me a bit to get into it and Blake was a bit much in the beginning but I ended up loving him. Jess is frustrated over her career choices and feels like she is a failure in her family’s eyes. I loved these two together. Their banter was hilarious and the sexual tension was off the charts! I didn’t realize this was a spin-off of another series but I will for sure be going back and reading it! If you are looking for a quick, sweet and funny read then you are going to want to pick up this book!

My first adventure into Elle Kennedy and this was insanely readable but also the exact perfect nonsense I needed during a busy week.

Was it good? It was fine. Was the male main character absolutely insufferable? You bet! I haven’t heard that much frat lingo since college! But was this fun? Oh heck yes!


Thank you so much to Elle Kennedy and Sabrina Bowen and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Bloom, NetGalley, Elle Kennedy, and Sarina Bowen for giving me an eARC of Good Boy in exchange for my honest review.

Good Boy is a hockey romance that follows Jessie and Blake. Blake is not your average love interest. Sure, he plays in the NHL, and is best friends with Jessie's brother and her brother's husband. What is special about Blake is his charm. At times it can come across as abrupt and immature, but what the authors do such a good job depicting, is what it is like to use humor as a coping mechanism. Blake is hurting and he is trying to keep others from noticing it. So he does what he knows how to do best, and he tries to put smiles on others faces. This is something that many people love, even if they do not see his humor for what it is. Jessie however, is not a fan of his laid back demeanor. They hooked up once in the past, and she is determined to make sure it never happens again (though Blake is determined to prove her wrong.) Jessie is someone who is struggling to figure herself out. She struggles with her confidence and is unsure what she wants to do with herself. She views herself as flighty and as someone is not capable of achieving great things.

What I appreciated in this novel is the development of both Jessie and Blake's character. Throughout the book readers get to see Blake learn what it means to have someone beyond the hockey player. Jessie learns to trust herself and readers get to witness her gain faith in her own abilities. I personally loved watching them both grow. However, I wish there was most. At times, their development felt surface level. I wish I was able to see more walls come down. It would have been nice to see Jessie bond with her family, and have more of a heart to heart about how she was feeling about herself compared to them. I wish we could have seen Blake talk through certain aspects with his family as well. While I enjoyed reading about their relationship, there were just so many times where I was left wanting more. This book discusses some important themes and I feel like readers will really benefit from reading it. Just because it did not have everything I wanted does not mean that there was not also a lot of good in it. Throughout the book I was able to see the importance of trusting yourself and to not be afraid to let someone in. I was reminded that I can do hard things, and that I should always try to have confidence in my abilities, even when that does not feel possible at times. I am eager to read Stay, the companion novel, because I am confident that plot and the takeaway messages will be outstanding.