Maggie North is officially a favorite author for me. This was so so good and I loved every minute of it. I need more!!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of The Ripple Effect by Maggie North.

Stellar, burned out from her last job as an ER physician, has been working short term jobs before taking a physician role with The Love Boat, a relationship therapy startup. The owner of The Love Boat happens to be psychologist, Lyle "McHuge" McHugh, friend of her best friend and Stellar's former hookup. When Lyle’s credibility is questioned, Stellar agrees to a fake engagement during the first group of the startup.

If you read Rules for Second Chances then you likely squealed like I did to see book two would be Lyle "McHuge" McHugh and Stellar Byrd!! Both were standout characters in the first book so it's wonderful to get to see these two again. Stellar and McHuge are so good together; I love the ways that Stellar is able to read him. With the first book and this one, Maggie North does an incredible job building such deep and real stories. There’s so much to enjoy about this story from the going through the first group of the startup, the risk to McHuge’s business secrets, and Stellar’s personal journey throughout the story. The love story these two experience will simply melt your heart. Before and after these two get together, it is all SO GOOD!

It’s lovely to also get to check in again with Liz and Tobin after the end of the first book. If you love a fake dating/fake engagement trope, and a wilderness story, this is one to check out!

Beautiful story. Characters were written well and plot was entertaining! This was my first book by this author and I’m definitely excited to read more! 4 stars recommendation!

This was a nice read, albeit a little bit heavier than I expected - which isn't necessarily a bad thing! It's set in a really fun, unique world, where couples attend a whitewater rafting retreat in order to work on their relationships, under the direction of a perennially happy psychologist. Through some typical machinations, our FMC - a doctor taking a break after some really dark stuff at her last hospital - ends up faking a relationship with the psychologist, who also happens to be her one night stand from a year prior.

The book isn't afraid to step into heavier themes. There's a lot of ground covered, and I think the fact that it's just a surface trope-y romcom allowed the author to give some shades to her MCs. The downside is it takes a little while to get going; I needed to get my bearings during the somewhat slow opening chapters, but once it gets moving it paces along nicely.

There were some unrealistic twists towards the end that annoyed me a bit, but overall I really enjoyed the book! 4 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was my first Maggie North book and I enjoyed it! This is a fake engagement between Stellar, a burnout ER doctor and Lyle, a golden retriever psychologist. The tension between Stellar and Lyle was sooo good. The vivid descriptions made me wish I was outdoors camping. The pacing was a bit slow but the details of their backgrounds made up for it.

Stellar is a former ER physician and McHuge is a psychologist who recently developed a whitewater rafting relationship retreat. Stellar is hired as the doctor for the retreat and due to unforeseen circumstances ends up faking an engagement to McHuge.

This is an interconnected stand alone to Rules for Second Chances. Initially it was hard for me to relate to both Stellar and McHuge. However, as you learn more about both characters, I started to really enjoy them and appreciated their growth. A bonus was getting to see Liz and Tobins HEA continued.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Doctors and psychiatrists banter and romance, yes, please! The Ripple Effect writer did a great job and made it entertaining. I found that the pace and plot were well organized. I always like when I can get lost in a book and forget about the everyday stuff. This did that for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a slow read for me. The first half was a slow go and I honestly didn't like Stellar that much at that point. About midway, the story ramps up and the characters flesh out more and become more likeable. Overall, it's a good story and enjoyable read

10* stars. I loved this book even more than the first one in this series. These two characters deserved a beautiful HEA and I am so happy they got it and how they got it. That ending was perfect. I do hope we get more books from this world.

If Maggie North writes it, I am 100% going to read it. I absolutely loved Maggie's debut book Rules for Second Chances and was thrilled to receive an early copy of her second book the Ripple Effect

I love the journey that we go on with Stellar and McHuge, two people who have built up defensive walls for a variety of reasons, but then they each pursue life very differently. Stellar is closed off, trusting very few people, and sees relationships as transactional. McHuge trusts very easily, literally giving the shirt off his back to someone if they ask for it, but does very little to put himself first. The two are at different ends of a spectrum, which creates tension in their relationship, which they have to navigate if they are going to work together, let alone have a romantic relationship with each other.

The premise of why Stellar and McHuge have been thrown together is a delight, and is largely an extension of Maggie's first book, in which the MCs follow guidance from a relationship book written by McHuge. Ripple is about McHuge taking his skills and knowledge and passion for his relationship psychology work and transferring it to the great outdoors, setting up a business that challenges couples to embark on a camping and white water canoeing adventure that will test them all and help them to grow. Stellar is hired to be the on-site medical doctor and also for her outdoors expertise, and through a series of unfortunate circumstances, Stellar ends up fake proposing to McHuge so they can be fake engaged in order to support the new business venture.

As with the first book, I found myself relating a lot to the characters, Stellar, McHuge and even some of the side characters. The lessons McHuge took his campers on were concepts I found myself reflecting on in my personal life, and, dare I say, wondering if I should embark on some camping adventures of my own (probably not).

Maggie's ability to describe the scenery of the locations really pays off, given the characters spend so much time outside. I felt like I was sitting right beside the characters during evening campfire, or paddling a boat down the river with them, heading towards the next set of rapids. Reading Ripple was like an immersive experience of the imagination and emotions.

I'm so excited for more people to read this book and to read more of what Maggie writes.

Thanks to Maggie north and SMP for the eARC of the book. All opinions are my own, though I acknowledge an inherent bias as I am friends with the author.

This was a good read! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. The story was well written and engaging. I would definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Kejana Ayala from St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Maggie North for the early access copy of The Ripple Effect.

The Ripple Effect tells the story of Stellar, who was an ER doctor, but after burnout and bureaucracy she found herself out of work. Needing financial security, Stellar agrees to be the camp physician at The Love Boat. Stellar believes in you give what you get and is often seen as closed-off. In comes Lyle "McHuge" McHugh, the golden retriever creator of The Love Boat, and the polar opposite of Stellar. McHuge is generous, kind, and trusting. He is also the last person Stellar wants to see after a disastrous hookup the year before. When a fake engagement situation is the only way to save The Love Boat from potential closure, the two need to figure out how to work together. But, what happens when real feelings blur lines?

The Ripple Effect is a fake dating, one tent, grumpy sunshine romance. There is queer representation and mild spice. Please note, there is a scene with a pet in danger.

Another absolute delight from Maggie North! I fell in love with her debut book and this was another solid adventure in relationships! Stellar, an under-employed burned out ER doctor is recovering from a hostile work environment that crept up on her. Lyle (McHuge from Maggie's first book!), a psychologist and relationship guru, is trying to launch his Love Boat relationship therapy whitewater canoe camp. These two have history and it was a joy to watch them navigate their work together as feelings start to grow as well. One person trusts no one and nothing, and the other wants to offer the world to as many people as possible. Fascinating! I adore a golden retriever/black cat dynamic and these two were so well-drawn and complex it was a treat to read. I'm here for whatever subgenre of contemporary romance this is, and I'm eager to read more from this author.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for a copy of this ARC.

Maggie North has the incredible ability to write such descriptive and in depth characters. This book is the second in an interconnected standalone series where we meet Stellar and Lyle "Mchuge." Lyle is a pyschologist who believes in free love and helped Stellar's best friend save her marriage in the first book. Stellar is an ER doctor who quit her job at the hospital a year ago. She has been stuck and is having difficulty figuring out what is next. They end up working together at a relationship camp and many adventures ensue. This book features the grumpy sunshine trop with Lyle giving big golden retriever energy and Stellar while she has grumpy moments is giving more burnt out energy. Lyle is an absolute gem of a book boyfriend and even at times I felt was too emotionally mature like unrealistically so. This book is a fun journey while also giving the reader a beautiful and healing romantic relationship.

This book got off to a very slow start, which made it hard to stay invested in the story. I liked the idea and thought the end was sweet, but the romance felt a bit rushed given the slow beginning. I thought the Love Boat was a cute concept. Overall, this was a fine read, and I think people who like stories involving the wilderness and healing journeys would like it. I just didn’t connect with the characters, so it fell a little flat for me.

This book is a delightful blend of grumpy/sunshine dynamics that had me laughing out loud while also rooting for a romance that feels both inevitable and refreshingly real. I loved how their fake engagement starts as a simple business arrangement but quickly evolves into something deeper, forcing them both to confront their past mistakes and embrace their true feelings. The setting in the wilderness adds a beautiful backdrop to their journey, making me feel like I was right there with them, navigating whitewater rapids and the ups and downs of love. Maggie North’s writing sparkles with wit and warmth, making this a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories about love, growth, and the messiness of relationships.

Fake Dating, Forest Shenanigans, & All the Feels! 🌲💍

What do you get when you throw a grumpy, burnt-out ER doctor and a sunshiny psychologist into a fake engagement at a relationship therapy camp? Pure romantic comedy gold! The Ripple Effect is everything you want in a rom-com: witty banter, forced proximity, and a wilderness setting that’s as healing as it is hilarious.

✨ Meet Stellar & McHuge: Dr. Stellar J Byrd is brilliant but so over it—until she finds herself reluctantly fake-engaged to Lyle "McHuge" McHugh, the human ray of sunshine who also happens to be her boss and the guy she had a very regrettable hookup with last year. Stellar wants out of camp life yesterday, but Lyle’s got her staying for “business” reasons (cue all the swoony tension). And oh, the slow burn between these two? Next. Level.

🤣 Maggie North nails the grump-sunshine dynamic with a touch of sarcasm, laugh-out-loud moments, and the most awkward camp activities—because the last thing a serious doctor needs is a therapy camp filled with sing-alongs and trust falls.

💖 As they struggle to save The Love Boat from a PR disaster, Stellar’s hard edges and McHuge’s big heart start to make the perfect match. Each page brings them closer, and you’re just there dying for them to realize it, too. Their chemistry is that perfect mix of opposites attracting and healing together.

For those who love fake dating, the wilderness, and watching two people rebuild their lives (and fall in love in the process), The Ripple Effect is a must-read!

THE RIPPLE EFFECT is a great romance that somehow makes therapy and psychology talk sexy. The paths of grumpy, closed-off doctor Stellar and the forever-giving, always positive psychologist Lyle cross again after an unforgettable one-night stand a year ago, in which Stellar ghosted Lyle for she didn't not want to open herself up to starting a relationship. After a breakup, seeing her parents' relationships, and all the loss she's already experienced including her beloved career, she will not set her up to lose a relationship or job she loves anymore. With her financial situation in doom, she might even have to leave her beloved town and her best friend Liz. Until she agrees to be the on-site doctor to help Lyle with his relationship therapy retreat program, The Love Boat. As desperate as she is, she can't afford to say no, no matter how much her body wants to run the other way whenever she sees Lyle. But to save Lyle's reputation and prove his credentials to in order to make his therapy programs successful (which will also keep Stellar employed), Stellar proposes the idea of a fake engagement to Lyle. Can they pull it off when so much is depending on it even though they struggle to have a conversation without it getting awkward?

Lyle on the other hand is a bigger, stronger guy that makes it very easy for people to fear him (especially due to his past), so he's very conscious about never letting himself feel any anger for fear of his own strength and Stellar is afraid to feel anything but her anger which protects her. By not forgiving people, it keeps herself distant from people ever hurting her further. I found Stellar's character to be very relatable in how she denies herself nice things and prevents herself from opening up to what life can offer her. What I love most about Stellar and Lyle's relationship is how they have so much they have to learn from each other... Lyle allowing himself to feel into his anger and Stellar allowing herself to look into the positive of things.

4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Great characters and a rich plot keep this romcom moving and gets you into the thick of things from the getgo. Some important subplots on gender discrimination, academia abuse of power and huge ego, even a touch on neurodiversity and early dementia. All woven into a story of finding yourself, learning to trust, and doing the right thing. A fun and engaging read, more than the usual romcom.

I thought I loved Liz and Tobin. I was wrong..... after reading Maggie North's sophmore novel The Ripple Effect, I realized I just had a very strong and lasting crush on them. I LOVE McHuge and Stellar. I could probably swoon forever but I was hooked from the first chapter and with this amazing follow-up to Rules for Second Changes Maggie has solidified herself as one of my all-time favorite writers.

Stellar is a burnt-out fight for what's right former ER doc who has been making ends meet with gig work for the last year. Having always relied on herself, she's the type of person who finds it hard to open up to others, needs to fix her problems and finds ways to make sure she's useful in
other people's lives to earn a spot in their friendship. McHuge is a larger-than-life, gentle earth-mother type of giant whose kumbaya attitude gets under Stellars skin. After a disastrously fantastic hookup the prior year Stellar has been avoiding McHuge as much as possible. But when her best friend goes into labor and begs her to fill the open rescue paddler/field doctor spot in their new white water canoeing business venture she can't say no to the only family she thinks she has.

Stars: 5/5
Steam: 1/5

What to expect: opposites attract, fake engagement, only one tent, a gentle ginger giant, grumpy x sunshine, with lots of water metaphors.

Rep: bi, pan, poly reps (note the book is a MF romance but past queer relationships are discussed).

TW/CW: there's a dog, she's put in danger, she ends up being perfectly fine. corporate espionage, parental abandonment (physical and emotional), estranged family.

Also, can we take a moment to talk about the amazing Chapter 27 that would be the perfect epilogue, if it were an epilogue but it isn't one?! I have yet to confirm this but there seems to be a chance that Maggie North and I feel similarly about the staple epilogue that is at the end of every romance book. Like can we just call it the last chapter already? We can... she did and it's perfection. I now want to leave my life and head out into a tent life in the wilderness helping facilitate Love Boat retreats with Stellar and McHuge (he's poly... I'm sure she can be flexible... we'd make for an awesome thrupple. <wink>).

Thank you to Maggie North, Netgalley and SMP for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

PS: Instagram post will go up about 2 weeks before pub date.