Have you ever picked up a book and instantly known it would be incredible? That’s how I felt with this one. At first, I was unsure about the premise, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. Receiving this book as an ARC from NetGalley felt like a gift—I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing as I read.

The story follows Eugenie, who discovers her magical lineage a little late. On her 30th birthday, she makes a wish at midnight: that her beloved dog Rory could become a man. The next morning, she wakes to find her loyal golden retriever transformed into a tall, charming blonde man with an incredible heart. With the help of her longtime friend Miles (who lives next door) and a cast of quirky characters, Eugenie works to figure out how to turn Rory back. Rory steals the spotlight as the wise, encouraging presence Eugenie needs in her life. His loyalty and support help her navigate not only her magical mishap but also the deep depression she’s been struggling with after a devastating event.

Set in a charming coastal town in England, the story is infused with British culture, adding a unique flavor to the narrative. It’s funny, heartwarming, and uplifting—a story about healing and rediscovering the magic in life. While there’s some “closed-door” romance, it’s all quite mild and fitting for the tone of the book.

If you love animals, enjoy laughing, and want a reminder of life’s magic, this book is for you. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was a delightful surprise. Human Rory’s insights and observations were particularly endearing. More than once, I caught myself wondering if my own dogs would be as wise if they could talk.

While the story is mostly lighthearted, there are poignant moments that tugged at my heart. Eugenie’s backstory is deeply moving, adding emotional depth to the plot. However, the miscommunication trope—especially the fear of rejection between Eugenie and Miles—did get frustrating at times. I wanted to shake them both and yell, “Just talk to each other already!”

Overall, this book is a sweet, funny, and heartwarming read. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

It was whimsical, silly, and light mostly. She comes from a magical family, makes a wish she doesn't believe in and turns her dog into a human. there is a lot more going on but that's how it starts. I wanted to love this story it sounded so fun, but it felt too silly almost like a middle school read at times. I didn't care for the female lead, she was unlikable and her connection to her "dog" didn't sell the story for me. There were some points where I almost gave up on the book. It didn't make me laugh as I expected and I didn't feel any heartwarming moments in the "romance" area.
Thank you to the publishers for a review copy

This was a funny and entertaining book! I am not a typical romance reader but I liked the premise of this book, a girl wishing her dig was a human, because it would just be easy. She learns that it is not really all that easy once her wish comes true. The typical cheesy romance comes once she partners up with her neighbor who of course loves her, but it was overall a good book

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I was laughing so hard in parts of this book, mostly the dog perspectives, so so funny. I enjoyed the character growth and insight from the dog to help the FMC.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon HarperVoyager for the opportunity to read this eARC

As an animal lover, and someone hoping to soon be a mother, this book got to me in all the right ways. It was beautiful and such a realistic representation of trauma and grief following the death of a child and the abuse poor Rory suffered before finding his way to Genie. I wish the author would have played a little more with the magical aspects of this story, but it was truly a heartwarming experience!

This is an adorable story of what happens when you accidentally wish your dog was human, with a miscommunication heavy romance on the side. The author did a fantastic job with bringing to life what a dog could be thinking and feeling, and I really enjoyed this!

Honestly, I had no clue what I was getting myself into with this book and it shocked me how much I enjoyed reading it.

I loved human Rory and his insight and commentary. On more than one occasion while I was reading I looked at my two dogs caught myself thinking, “if you could talk to me would you be this wise?”
It was mostly lighthearted, but there were some more serious moments that had me a bit emotional. Learning what our fmc, Genie, had gone through definitely pulled at my heart strings.
One thing I definitely did not enjoy was the fear of rejection that was a huge point in the story. I wanted to scream and to shake both Genie and Miles. Like PLEASE just… TALK???
Overall, a heartwarming, sweet, and fun read.

Thank you Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy! Picking this book out reminded me of one of my childhood favorite movies “The Shaggy Dog.” This book takes that concept and puts a rom-com spin on it! This read definitely felt like a contemporary romance with fantasy elements. Rory was a great character! Genie has stuff she needs to work through so please check trigger warnings before reading!

⭐️ Rating: 3.5/5

The Good Boy is a quirky rom-com with a magical twist, blending humor, heart, and a touch of chaos. When Genie wishes her loyal golden retriever Rory were human, she gets more than she bargained for. But what starts as a whimsical concept gradually evolves into a story about self-discovery, forgiveness, and learning to open one’s heart.

What Worked Well:
- Rory’s Characterization: Rory as a human is endearing, with big Golden Retriever Energy that reminded me of Doug from Up. His continued ability to understand and communicate with dogs added a unique charm to the story.
- The Self-Discovery Arc: Genie’s journey of healing from her past trauma and rediscovering herself was moving. Her backstory about the loss of her baby and the impact it had on her relationships added emotional weight and helped ground the otherwise lighthearted premise.
- The Humor: While chaotic at times, there were plenty of funny moments, especially as Rory adjusted to human life (like learning not to sniff people’s butts).
- Miles’ Patience: Miles is the definition of the boy-next-door who never gives up. His unwavering support and quiet affection for Genie brought heart to the story, and his dynamic with Genie kept me rooting for them.

What Could Be Improved:
- Genie’s Personality: While Genie’s quirks were occasionally endearing, her tendency to interrupt, steamroll over others (especially Miles), and cling to misunderstandings became frustrating. It made me question why Miles continued to like her, especially when she dismissed his attempts to express his feelings.
- Rory’s Arc: Rory’s transformation into a human felt underdeveloped. While the premise promised a journey of teaching him how to be a functioning human, the story focused more on side plots and Genie’s relationships than Rory’s adjustment. Aside from a few humorous moments, Rory’s storyline felt like a missed opportunity.
- The Subplots: Some plot threads, like Kelly’s marital problems and the promiscuous grandmother, felt unnecessary or underexplored. These elements distracted from the main storyline rather than adding to it.

Final Thoughts: The Good Boy is a heartwarming, whimsical story with a lot of charm but also some uneven execution. While I enjoyed the humor and emotional depth, the pacing and focus on side plots detracted from Rory’s journey and the central romance. Fans of magical realism and slow-burn love stories will find plenty to enjoy, but a tighter focus would have elevated the narrative.

Perfect for readers who love a mix of quirky humor, heartfelt moments, and a touch of magic in their romances.

Firstly, thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the arc.

As for the book: there is good and bad within this book, so let's get through the bad first. Quick and simple. It took me over a week just to get through chapter one because the constant breaking of the 4th wall kept throwing me off. The narration is written the way a sitcom would play out, but ultimately, it makes the story drag on for no reason. It also took over a chapter and a half (about 24 pages) to finally introduce Rory, who is the catalyst of the whole plot, because of the way the narration spends too much time stewing on irrelevant plot points. That being said, the story isn't bad, but my biggest issue was with Genie, during the beginning of the book. I get that she's supposed to be cynical and abashed for the most part, but her disdain for those around her gets very aggravating at times. She calls Miles and Kelly her best friends, but the amount of name-calling she does to Miles in her inner thoughts is kind of off putting (nerd, Lord Lame of Lamesville,...), and her lack of trust in Kelly really leaves me questioning if their friendships are out of connection or just habit.

Now for the good part. Rory is the absolute bestest boy ever!! I loved his character, his slight innocent way of looking at the world around him, and his pure relationship with Genie. There is a lot of dialogue and inner monologs, so I can honestly see myself listening to the audiobook faster than reading the book on my own. And the ending. The actual ending was pretty predictable, but I like how the means for it was based on the developments Genie made throughout the story.

Overall, I can tell that the book still has some general editing to go through, but the plot is fantastic, and I love that the FMC is already going through her spiraling thirties - where she tries to convince herself that she's okay, and that she's satisfied with her life, but is also very aware of how her life is nowhere near what she originally had planned for herself, so she starts to mentally spiral on the inside. I wish the magical aspects would shine through a little more, as it's meant to play such a huge part in the plot, but I'm still not mad about it. Get through the first few chapters, and the deeper you get to know the characters, the more relatable the book gets! Specially if you're nearing or already in your thirties and still feel like you have nothing figured out either.

I have a lot of feelings about this arc!

First, a brief overview:
Genie's Grandma grants her a "wish" for her 30th birthday, but of course, Genie doesn't believe in magic, so she wastes her wish on a throwaway comment. What follows is a fun tale of magic, love, and friendship.

My thoughts:
To start, there are a lot of typos in this, I am putting faith in the publisher to fix those before the final is released! If I were to rate it as a finished product now, it would be 3 stars solely due to the typos and errors, but we are going to let it slide for now.

The story is adorable, from the dog Rory to the amazing friends Genie has, I loved everyone in this story, except maybe the main character Genie herself. Now, I have no issue with non-likeable characters, but if that's a deal-breaker you may want to skip this one. We do eventually find out why she is the way she is, but it takes a while and a lot of patience.

The love story is a fairly typical friends to lovers with the miscommunication trope, my least favorite, and boy did they ride out that trope a little too far for my taste. When the character is given every opportunity to speak up and chooses to continue lying, it stops being miscommunication and starts being annoying. Once again, I am mostly brushing past this part.

Overall, the story was incredibly cute, if laden with a few mistakes and tropes I don't particularly enjoy. Given that I still rated four stars, I'd dare to say it was a pretty good read!





*********SPOILER WARNING*********
adding this in at the end for a warning: trigger warning for loss of child/miscarriage

I was very excited to read this book. I love when everything in the book is normal (real life) and there is one element that is magical (turning your dog human). When done well, it is a great tool to help the main characters evolve and that is what happens in The Good Boy.

Genie is from a magical family and for her 30th birthday she gets a wish from your Nana. She is in denial about the family's magic and absently wishes that her dog was a man, so everyone would know that she is okay and happy. Rory (the dog) turns into a human with a happy golden retriever's personality. Slowly, Genie stops trying him like a dog. She is not as open and carefree with him. And starts treating him like all the other humans in her life. This shift in their relationship and Rory's ability to talk to Genie are at the crux of Genie's journey. I love this dynamic.

My challenge with the book was there is a lot of discussion about the trials that Genie will go through before they happen, instead of just happening. The book gets a little long in the middle.

Overall, it is a good book, with great friends, a lot of self-reflection, and a few good rules to live your life by.

Thank you to NetGallery for the ARC.

This book took me off-guard in the absolute best way. Reading the description, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. The themes included with Genie’s character development felt much larger, and heavier than I would have expected, and I really feel like that made the story much more serious than I expected– serious in the sense that a book about a 30th Birthday wish turning your dog into a human didn’t only feel “silly”. It was a comfortable, enjoyable read while also representing character growth with a few good sitcom level one-liners. I would definitely recommend this book to others when its released in July.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, Stella Hayward, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Cute Concept, But...

The Good Boy is a fun and quirky idea, but it doesn't quite land as well as it could have. The premise of a dog turning into a hot guy is undeniably intriguing, and the initial humor and sweetness are charming.

However, the plot starts to feel a bit thin as the story progresses. The characters, while likable, lack depth, and the romantic tension is somewhat predictable. The magical elements, while intriguing, aren't fully explored, leaving the story feeling a bit underdeveloped.

While it's a light and enjoyable read, The Good Boy doesn't quite reach its full potential. It's a good choice for those looking for a quick and easy escape, but don't expect a groundbreaking literary experience.

Genie doesn’t believe her grandma when she tells her that all of the women in their family get a wish granted on their 30th birthday. After jokingly wishing her dog, Rory, was human, she quickly realizes her mistake and begins the journey of turning him back into a dog. With the help of her life-long friend/boy Nextdoor, Miles, they take a journey to find themselves, closure, and love.

This was such a funny and heart warming read. Right away, Rory does not like being human and his dog behaviors as a human are hilarious. I loved Genie and Miles’ characters, and how they both helped each other when they needed it most. I really enjoyed the slow burn. I was frustrated with Genie at times for not admitting her true feelings, but she was so relatable that I understood where she was coming from.

This was my first book by Stella Hayward and I absolutely loved it! I would really love to see this as a movie and could totally picture golden retriever/human Rory. This was such a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced reader copy!

Make a wish and it might come true! And it has dogs and cats! It was an enjoyable read! I enjoyed this boook more than I thought and idk, I’m getting freaky Friday vibes.

This was a very silly fun concept. It started out promising and felt tongue-in-cheek and wry and funny - but you can only read so many instances of dog-turned-man sniffing butts before it starts feeling *really* repetitive... This was fun but not an entire book's worth of fun - at least not for me.

I truly enjoyed this one (way more than I thought I would)! There is a fantastical / magical element to tug at your fantasy bone, hilarious dialogue and action to tug at your funny bone, and a friends-to-lovers situation to tug at your ... romance :)

"Here's the thing about me. I want people around, but I am always highly suspicious when they actively WANT to be around. And I don't mean I think they have an ulterior motive... No, I mean that sometimes I think if a person is keen to hang out with me under any circumstances, then maybe there is something wrong with them. This is very broken thinking, I know that. But another thing about me is I prefer not to think too long about the things about me that need fixing. So, I just brush it under the rug with all that other crap I keep there and decide to be grateful for small mercies."

Rory as a human made me laugh and cry, and even though I am a HUGE fan of dogs, I think anyone would love his character, actions and thoughts. Genie is patient, funny, she makes mistakes, and she is REAL. We can all find a little of ourselves in Genie. I hope anyone who takes the time to read this one finds their heart a little fuller at the end, much like I did.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC! #TheGoodBoy

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC. In return, I will give my honest review.

I grabbed this book because it sounded cute. Genie was turning 30, and her grandma granted her one wish and told her to be careful making her wish, as it couldn't be reversed. Genie had been drinking and, at midnight, wished her dog was human.

The story is very silly about her dog becoming human and that he didn't enjoy being a human and missed being a dog. Genie asks for help from her neighbor, Miles, and the story goes from there.

I love a cute, silly book, but this was just too far-fetched for me. It made me laugh, thinking about what my dog would be like as a human, but I wasn't feeling this book.

⭐⭐⭐½ rounded up

Stella Hayward’s The Good Boy is a sweet, subtly funny, and magical romance that tugs at the heartstrings with themes of grief, hope, and overcoming self-imposed obstacles. While it delivers moments of excitement and heartfelt emotion, the journey to get there is a bit uneven.

The story follows Genie, whose journey of self-discovery and love is relatable yet, at times, frustrating. Her mid-20s behavior as a 30 year old and persistent self-doubt often feel like unnecessary roadblocks, especially when her feelings for Miles—and his for her—are blatantly obvious. As a therapist, I can appreciate the nuanced portrayal of someone protecting themselves from potential hurt, but the mental gymnastics Genie goes through to avoid seeing the truth tested my patience. Add in the classic fear-of-rejection trope, and I was practically yelling at the page for someone to say what they really feel.

The supporting cast shines, particularly Rory, who is a delightful and grounding presence throughout the book. Honestly, he was the best part of the story! Genie’s friendship with Kelly is also a standout—a refreshing portrayal of raw honesty and unconditional acceptance that balances the more frustrating aspects of the plot.

On the downside, the pacing can feel touch-and-go. Some parts are genuinely exciting and heartfelt, while others drag or circle around the inevitable far too long. Every time Genie mentions Claudia from work, I wanted to scream, “Shut up already!” And when Genie’s insecurities lead to her making questionable choices about Miles’ love life, I found myself skipping ahead, eager for her to finally realize what’s right in front of her.

Despite these frustrations, The Good Boy ultimately delivers a heartwarming tale with a touch of magic. The family magic subplot adds charm and depth, though readers should note the romance is strictly closed-door with no spice. If you’re looking for a silly, sweet, and light story with a hint of magic, this one might just win you over—if you can stick with Genie through her ups and downs.