Genie's family is magic, and while she didn't believe her nana that her wish would come true, her dog, Rory, really does become a human. The problem is, he's miserable, and the only potential way to turn him back is to find her true self.

This was a cute and quirky book that I would label more as women's fiction with a side of romance. I loved getting to hear Rory's thoughts and viewpoints on things, but I didn't particularly love Genie as a character or quite feel the chemistry with Miles. I also would have appreciated a trigger warning for preterm birth/loss of a child.

This book would be great for those who love a hint of magic, friends to lovers, and of course, dog lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper for this ARC. All views and opinions are my own.

Review of The Good Boy by Stella Hayward

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

The Good Boy is a heartfelt and whimsical novel that blends magical realism with themes of healing, grief, and unexpected second chances. The story follows Genie, who, on her 30th birthday, accidentally turns her loyal golden retriever, Rory, into a human. What unfolds is a quirky, emotional, and sometimes hilarious journey of self-discovery and love.

One of the highlights of this book is Rory himself. Even in human form, he embodies everything we love about dogs—unwavering loyalty, boundless enthusiasm, and an innocent curiosity about the world. His adjustment to being human provides some of the book’s most charming and funny moments, but it also serves as a reflection of Genie’s own struggles.

Genie’s journey is deeply emotional, as she works through past trauma and the pain of loss while learning to open herself up to new possibilities. While her character can be frustrating at times—especially in how she handles relationships—her growth throughout the novel feels authentic.

If I had to critique anything, it would be that some subplots, especially those involving side characters, could have been explored more deeply. There were moments where I wanted more resolution or depth, but overall, the heart of the story remains strong.

The Good Boy is a unique and touching read, perfect for those who enjoy books with a little bit of magic, a lot of heart, and, of course, a love for dogs. It’s a story that reminds us how healing can come from the most unexpected places—even from a golden retriever-turned-human.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF - I am the wrong reader for this book.

You can tell by the description that its quirky, but it passed my event horizon of quirk and I wasn't strong enough to continue.

I loved the premise of this book, but the writing just missed the mark for me. I was excited when I read the synopsis, but wanted the book to be deeper than it was. I dnfed at about 30% because the pacing was just not enough to keep me going, combined with a lack of interest in the FMC, Genie. The writing style felt more childish for me than something most adults reading lighthearted romance would read. The dog character felt like a caricature compared to the other characters in the book and the difference was stark. I appreciated what the author was going for, but this book just wasn’t for me.

There were some funny moments in this rom-com with a bit of magical realism. The premise of changing the best friend, a golden retriever, into a human is what drew me to this book. The lessons the main female character (Genie), the dog (Rory), and the next door neighbor/friend (Miles) taught each other were heartfelt. Some fun side characters, such as her grandmother and best friend, added to the story. And although the middle dragged a bit for me, overall I enjoyed the book.

Quick notes: contemporary, slow burn, closed door romance, literal golden retriever, magical ability.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

I received an ARC copy from Net Galley.

I enjoyed this story. We do not deserve dogs, especially Rory. There were so many times in the story that I wish we got Rory POV. Genie is so many of us that has been beaten down and lost our shine due to trauma or life experiences. She is given the opportunity to heal by accidently turning her dog human. This story is a close door, slow burn romance with miscommunication. Miles is the sweet nerd that I wish was my endgame. The best character in the book was Rory, I spent the whole book crying and cheering for him. Even Rory grew and got a happy ending. I might have to listen to the audiobook once this comes out because I think this will be a better listen.

I enjoyed this book, it was cute a bit whimsical. I look forward to listening to this when it’s released.

Let me start by saying this book has an absolute ridiculous premise, the storyline is silly, and the will they/won't they gets a little frustrating.. and I LOVED it! How many of us haven't wished that our dog was a human at some point?

I find a bit of a kindred spirit in Genie. Her running inner diatribe sounds like many a conversation I've had in my head. Her dog-man friend Rory is amazing and insightful, and makes me wonder how my own dogs would have sounded if able to talk. Would they be philosophical and profound, or would they be simple and silly? I found myself tearing up at several moments, including some of Rory's observations and comments, and again when finding out more about Genie's past. There were some serious topics discussed, which I didn't expect to find in a book like this, but it endeared it to me all the more for it.

I think any pet owner that enjoys fiction would have fun reading this, and it might give them a different perspective of their day-to-day interactions with their pet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager/HarperCollins for an e-arc of this book!

I really enjoyed this book a lot! I loved that it mixed mental health struggles with growth and magical realism. Getting to watch Rory’s human journey unfold was a real treat. I found myself not wanting to finish it because I didn’t want the story to end. Thank you Nergalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I’d say it was a cute, mindless read. A woman accidentally turns her dog into a human and then finds out what she has to do to get it reversed. Some parts were pretty funny and others made me cringe. I wasn’t a fan of the author talking to the readers randomly throughout the book. It felt misplaced. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rory, the good boy, was the best part of this book. Giving a voice to a dog's inner thoughts was HILARIOUS and this book gave me exactly what I imagine goes on inside a dog's head. Miles is such a genuinely sweet soul, and I loved his sense of humor. But I found Genie kind of annoying and didn't love the romantic relationship between the two of them; the chemistry was severely lacking and the move from friends to more than friends felt underdeveloped. I'm so sad I didn't enjoy this more because I think it had the potential to be a really great read. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

A fun little read. Magic elements in the book. At first I wasn’t so sure about it, but it was a cute story. Definitely gives life to the “man’s best friend” title.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Good Boy by Stella Hayward is a debut novel about how Eugenie "Genie," a 30-year-old woman who has lost her purpose after a few of life's setbacks, accidentally turns her dog Rory into a human man. With the help of childhood friend Miles, Genie embarks on a mission to get Rory back into his dog form and learns to find herself again along the way, along with discovering her magical family history.

I enjoyed this book. It was mostly a light read with a few threads of heart and soul woven in. This wasn't just a romance read, but a story of a woman falling back in love with her life again (and a cute side of romance). What I REALLY loved was the take on a dog in human form, because as a dog lover, it was on the nose. And how hilariously Miles' cat was portrayed (also coming from someone who isn't the number one fan of cats, but who also doesn't hate them!). Rory's character shone brightly as the ultimate golden retriever who loves his humans (and his toys) and hates the mail man and cats. I want someone to love me the way that Rory loves cheddar :)

There was a lot of lead up to Genie and her love interest, as well as the outcome of Rory's fate, but I did feel like the ending was rushed a bit. I also wish we had more of Nanna Maria and the magical realism more.

When I first saw it I was like no way!! It is for sure a dog is a girl's best friend type of vibe though. The main couple was so cute. Def recommend!! Especially if you like rom coms.

As a lover of magical realism in a romcom, this book was perfect!! I thought the concept was a bit silly at first but if I’m being honest, I would also want my bff in dog form to help me pick a man… this story felt like a breath of fresh air while also giving the reader a sweet and thoughtful love story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Stella Hayward, Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC!

If you are looking for a light-hearted romance with a dash of magic - this book is for you! Be warned that this is a dog-turned-human story BUT the dog is not the love interest. Trust me, that would have been really weird. Instead, the book follows the budding romance of Genie and Miles and trust me - they are adorable together!

**Book Review: *The Good Boy* by Stella Hayward (4 stars)**

A huge thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read *The Good Boy* early in exchange for my honest review!

This book was such a fun, charming rom-com! The characters are absolutely hilarious and downright adorable, with a premise that's refreshing and unique. While there were moments where the pacing felt a little slow, it didn’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the story. I have to admit, there was a moment where I was worried the dog might be the main love interest (spoiler alert: he's not 😂), so if you're worried about that too, rest assured!

Overall, *The Good Boy* is perfect for fans of rom-coms and dog lovers alike. It's one of those feel-good stories that certain readers will really enjoy. Highly recommend it for anyone who loves a good laugh and a heartwarming romance! Plus a dog best friend!

This book was an okay book. I struggled with wanting to continue reading because the pacing was a little too slow for my liking. I was nervous initially that the dog was going to be the romantic interest but thank god, he is not. Overall, I thought the concept was interesting, but I really struggled to connect with the characters, and I don't think this is a book for me.

Thank you Avon and netgalley for this earc in exchange for an honest review!

This is my new favorite book of all time ever. A dog becoming a human and still getting the zoomies? Yes. Please.

A silly, goofy time where everyone will be so glad that the dog turned human is not the romantic interest. That would certainly feel icky to be the least. Instead we have an adorkable next door neighbor who is incredibly supportive and generally lovely. All the characters were a bit whimsical, and I loved the connections they had with one another. Also, getting a dog's perspective on being human was a blast! I would certainly recommend this to just about anyone! Side note: there is essentially no spice, a positive or negative depending on preferences. I am certainly going to be making some videos to recommend this to my friends and followers!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review