This book was super cute and well written with interesting characters and a great premise! You think you know the exact path the book is taking but Stella Hayward has a remarkable way of leading you to the HEA on a much more interesting journey than you can predict. She does an excellent job of bringing both fun and levity to situations while not shying away from difficult life experiences that are at the core of the story. It was a joy to read and would make for an absolutely delightful audiobook.

Thank you to the publisher for granting access to an advanced copy.

4/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️ One closed door scene and some kissing

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Stella Hayward for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Good Boy is an interesting mix of romantic comedy and fantasy elements. At times, it felt like two stories had been fused together. The magical elements have a lot of whimsy and there isn’t a lot of backstory to weigh them down. Like Genie, our FMC, we’re meant to just believe.

That’s what gets her into the mess she’s in. She doesn’t believe in the lore of her family’s magic…and ends up turning her dog human. Now, imagine a sweet golden retriever trying to process complex human emotions. It goes about how you’d expect. Genie is a good dog mom though, and continues to take care of Rory, showing him how to be human. Her longtime best friend, Miles, is there to help them on their quest and things grow between them.

This book has many laugh out loud moments and I really enjoyed the blend of mysticism/fantasy elements with the seemingly very normal types of everyday types of settings. I usually get upset when people dogpile on FMCs with complaints because 1) they’re imaginary and 2) GIRL POWER, but there were so many times where I too wanted to shake Genie and just tell her to get on with it. I’m just a fairly direct person, so I can never understand books where someone doesn’t just tell someone what they want.

Content warnings: animal abuse (mentioned), death of a parent (mentioned), depression, dog fighting (mentioned), pregnancy loss (mentioned)

This was one of the more interesting concepts that I have read lately. When I was first reading the synopsis, I was very scared because I thought the dog was going to be the love interest. Fortunately for everyone involved, he is not. Overall, I did not enjoy the writing style chosen for this book as it felt forced. There is interaction with the reader which was fine until it started feeling unnatural. There were plenty of funny moments throughout the book and the overarching message was lovely. Unfortunately, I felt that the writing and plot details were unpolished, detracting from the positive aspects of the book.

I'm not mad that I read it, but I don't think I would recommend it anytime soon.

Decided to DNF at 52%. The premise of the story was intruging but the execusion just wasn't there. The main characters were quite dull and the chemistry that was supposedly going to happen at some point in the story seemed like it would never come to fruition.

How did no one notice that the FMC's dog was no longer around after he'd been her faithful (and only) companion for many years? This was not explained well at all in the writing and had me uninterested in finding out how things ended. All of the sudden a human man with the same name as her dog is coming around constantly, the dog is suspiciously no where to be found and no one asks a question or raises an eyebrow except the reader?

The Good Boy lacked depth and honestly, action of any kind. Literally nothing happened in the first half of the book, aside from the dog turning into a man. Absolutely nothing. The author's writing was fine, nothing extraordinary. Everything in the story was bland, far fetched and pretty goofy.

This book was such a fun and unexpected surprise. On her 30th birthday, Genie makes a drunken wish that her golden retriever, Rory, could be human. The next morning, she wakes up to find her sweet dog has turned into a tall, blonde man—still very much a dog at heart. He’s sniffing things, barking at cats, and somehow managing to be the most loyal, lovable, and hilarious part of her very messy life.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure about the premise at first—it sounded kind of ridiculous. And yeah, some parts were over-the-top, and Rory’s dog-turned-human behavior made me cringe a few times. But I ended up really loving him. He’s funny, warm, and exactly the kind of support Genie needs as she faces her past, reconnects with herself, and sorts out her feelings for her best friend, Miles.

While there’s a touch of romance, this story is more about Genie figuring out her own life. The relationships—especially between Genie and Rory—felt so heartfelt, and the humor helped balance out some of the heavier emotional moments. It’s silly, sweet, and surprisingly touching.

If you’re a dog lover or just want something light but full of heart, give this one a try. It’s messy, magical, and exactly the kind of story that leaves you smiling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager.

This book is SO MUCH FUN!! This idea is so original I love love loved it, I felt like the culture of the characters stood out a lot too (I’m not from the UK so I had to google a lot lol) overall I had a great time

But what would you do if your dog turned into a human?
What a fun concept to think about.
This book was definitely very wholesome and had a lot of really great humor and banter. Rory was literally a golden retriever character, literally. His joy and the perspective of voicing dogs thoughts and feelings was so much fun to read as a dog person. I also really enjoyed the cat vibes we got in the book as well.

This book is all about rediscovery, healing from grief, overcoming depression, and learning how to navigate life’s many obstacles while holding onto hope and positivity. Genie’s story really touched me deeply and I found myself truly relating to her and her struggles often as I read.

A wonderful book to pick up if you are in the mood for something that might inspire you, make you laugh, or remind you why dogs are truly the best creatures !

This was such a cute rom com. After making a wish on her birthday, her dog becomes human. As she helps Rory navigate being human with the help of her lifelong neighbor Genie finally accepts her family's magic and finds her true feelings of love for Miles. I loved the bits of magic sprinkled in and Nana Maria was hilarious. I will definitely read more of Stella's books in the future.

I'll admit I was a bit skeptical about this one given the premise of a magical wish that turns the heroine's beloved dog into a human, but it won me over in the end! While it's a bit shallow in spots, overall I found this to be a sweet, cute read--perfect for the beach I was on--with endearing characters and several laugh out loud moments. I appreciated that the two main characters were a little older (early 30s) and had their own emotional journeys and complexities to overcome. The feminist in me was especially happy that the author seemed to go out of her way to have her main character insist that finding a man wouldn't be what fixes her life like how so many romcoms end. I could see this one being snatched up by Netflix for their next fun romcom.

Thanks to Net Galley and Avon for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was such a cute book. This book was like that new Netflix movie Hot Frosty, except instead of a snowman turning into a human it’s a golden retriever and they don’t fall in love, but there is a love story in the book. I found this book to be very cute and a good quick read. Definitely a good book if you love those hallmark movies that have that little touch of one of the characters being magic and magic things happen to them and those around them. I found the world building in this book to be wonderful and very thought out and I loved that we get the happily ever after with the childhood best friend.

I absolutely adored *The Good Boy*! The premise is pure magic—it’s the kind of story that captures that golden-retriever-loving energy in the most heartwarming way. I can’t even count how many times I’ve daydreamed about what it would be like if my dog could turn into a human, even just for a day. So this story, with its delightful blend of whimsy and warmth, spoke directly to my puppy-loving soul.

If you’re a fan of books with a touch of magical realism and a lot of heart—think Ashley Poston or similarly enchanting authors—then this one is a must-read. It’s fun, sweet, and filled with moments that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even hug your dog a little tighter. The characters are lovable, the magic is just the right amount of quirky, and the emotional depth really sneaks up on you in the best possible way. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an uplifting, feel-good read that’s as charming and lovable as a golden retriever.

The Good Boy by Sasha Hayward was a very cute and very fun read. I thought the premise was entertaining, and it reminded me of an Ashley Poston novel with the magical realism elements.
Honestly, I really struggled to like Genie as a character, up until about 60-70%. Once we found out what happened to her, I did find myself opening up to her character more. However I absolutely adored Rory as a character, he was so goofy and so charming, I just wanted to protect him at all costs. The other side characters were fun to see, and they drove the plot in a way that helped it to progress. I give this a 3.5 out of 5.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

It was a fun book! I love the premise, and I also love all of the characters! Genie is so fun!! I'm glad the HEA is exactly what I wanted! A warm boom to read during Christmas!

I loved this book. It was adorable. I gave it 4 stars because as much as I absolutely adored the story, I felt like something was missing. This story had all of the good feels and a little bit of emotional triggers as well, just the right amount of both. I would read it again.

This was such a cute, fun book! I didn’t know what to expect when staring this book but I loved it and read it very quickly. It was so cute seeing the dog traits in Rory and thinking of my own dog while reading it. Definitely recommend reading this book!

As a lover of The Dead Romantics and dogs, I had very high hopes for this book. The premise had such good potential to be one of my favorites. Unfortunately, the book fell a little flat.
What I liked: Rory (of course). Such a great character. He was funny, wise, loving, and said everything I’d hope my dog would say if he could. Miles was an amazing friend even though there were many time Genie didn’t deserve it. The support Genie received from those around was something special.
What I didn’t like: Honestly, my least favorite part of the book was Genie herself. Listen, I know she went through something unimaginable, but she was just downright terrible to those around her trying to give her support. Her internal monologue was rude and her external behavior wasn’t any better. This is one of the first books where I didn’t know if I wanted the character to get a happily ever after. I was hoping she grow a little more by the end of the book. There were a few times I was questioning if I was going to make it through, but it was a quick read.

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