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kat7794's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, Murder, and Infidelity
lover97's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Graham Effect
Let's start by saying this book got me out of a 2 month long reading slump. Coming back to characters you know and love but it not being a reread will do that for you. It gets 5 stars because why not.
Gigi and Ryder make a great couple to start this legacy series off. Gigi is the female hockey player who wants to get out of her dad's shadow, and Ryder has a traumatic past he's running from. I think that as the book goes on, you get some brilliant displays of how mature adults talk about their issues and feelings even if they are college-aged. There's a lot of callbacks to the deal, too, in terms of some plot points, but I loved it.
The backdrop of drama caused by the joining of the men's team with their rivals gives a great found family aspect, too. I'm greatly looking forward to the next book in the series now that I know who it's about. There's many different pairings going on here. From the hockey players of this series to the other kids of the off-campus team.
Spice wise, there are a lot of public activities. A shower, a sauna... oh, and the opera. I don't really rate spice, but this didn't make me cringe or feel embarrassed for them. The phrase "use me" is thrown around a lot, and honestly, I would agree that Ryder has that "sl*tty bad-boy dick magic."
But let's talk cameos. Garrett Graham is there from pretty much the first page. We get Dean giving Gigi a value pack of protection. Logan and Jake are around. Plus, numerous counts of her referring to other old faces as uncle/ aunt. Hannah shows up more towards the end, and I wish we had more of her, but what we did get was beautiful and some great emotional moments. You don't have to read off- campus and briar u to get this book, but I think you'll appreciate it more if you do
I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Elle Kennedy, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Let's start by saying this book got me out of a 2 month long reading slump. Coming back to characters you know and love but it not being a reread will do that for you. It gets 5 stars because why not.
Gigi and Ryder make a great couple to start this legacy series off. Gigi is the female hockey player who wants to get out of her dad's shadow, and Ryder has a traumatic past he's running from. I think that as the book goes on, you get some brilliant displays of how mature adults talk about their issues and feelings even if they are college-aged. There's a lot of callbacks to the deal, too, in terms of some plot points, but I loved it.
The backdrop of drama caused by the joining of the men's team with their rivals gives a great found family aspect, too. I'm greatly looking forward to the next book in the series now that I know who it's about. There's many different pairings going on here. From the hockey players of this series to the other kids of the off-campus team.
Spice wise, there are a lot of public activities. A shower, a sauna... oh, and the opera. I don't really rate spice, but this didn't make me cringe or feel embarrassed for them. The phrase "use me" is thrown around a lot, and honestly, I would agree that Ryder has that "sl*tty bad-boy dick magic."
But let's talk cameos. Garrett Graham is there from pretty much the first page. We get Dean giving Gigi a value pack of protection. Logan and Jake are around. Plus, numerous counts of her referring to other old faces as uncle/ aunt. Hannah shows up more towards the end, and I wish we had more of her, but what we did get was beautiful and some great emotional moments. You don't have to read off- campus and briar u to get this book, but I think you'll appreciate it more if you do
I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Elle Kennedy, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Gun violence
mar_reads7's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tldr: very fun, sweet and entertaining book with some infuriating things near the end that dragged the rating down a bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book for giving me an ARC.
The Graham Effect is incredibly entertaining. I had so much fun reading it, which I was absolutely expecting because that's been my general experience with Elle Kennedy's writing. Queen of getting me out of a reading slump. Queen of writing hockey romances with actual hockey in them. Queen of writing a book that I do not, under any circumstances, want to put down.
I love the relationship between Gigi and Luke. The nicknames, the banter, the flowers. The way they managed to find this connection that turns them both into better people. It was just so nice to read and get to experience with the characters. I loved having Garrett back. I loved that coach Jensen was still at Briar being coach Jensen. I loved the unexpected presence of Jake Connelly!! I wish there has been more Hannah though, and definitely more Garrett and Hannah because I am first and foremost a The Deal girlie.
That being said, I do also think that this book needed some editing, it's too long. I understand that a week after this book's release it will be pulled from most retailers because it will be put on Kindle Unlimited, and that since KU pays by page turned the book is on the longer side. And while I can't criticise Elle Kennedy for wanting to get her bag, I can criticise the ways in which she chose to make the book longer.
One thing I have an issue with, that I know is up to personal taste and isn't something a lot of people will take issue with, are the sex scenes in this book. There was too much exhibitionism going on, and that might be a lot of people's cup of tea but it's not mine. So that affected my enjoyment of the book somewhat.
As far as specific plot points that I think are genuinely bad and wish hadn't been in the book at all: the wedding. It exists to create conflict between Gigi and her father. I was waiting for the conflict with Garrett and I don't like that the thing we ended up with was a wedding (off page wedding, btw, which also irks me). I don't think it makes sense for Gigi and Luke, it came out of nowhere and it's just off putting for me to read about people that young getting married.
But my main issue here is that it was completely unnecessary.
There was already something in the book which could have served as conflict instigator between Gigi and Garrett. He grew up in a house with an abuser. He watched his mother be abused by his father and he was a victim of that abuse himself. The conflict could have been as simple as Garrett not wanting his daughter to be with a man who beat up someone so badly he had to get his jaw wired shut. For a large part of the book we don't know why Luke did it. And for an even larger part of the book Garrett doesn't know why Luke did it. Which is why I think in a world where this book is the best version of itself it can be and is shorter, there is no wedding just to make Gigi and Garrett fight. Because there was no need for it.
My last issue is that for all the lengthening that absolutely took place in this book there are so many things that happen off page that should have been shown. Off the top of my head the christmas hockey game between all the off campus families, literally any and all interactions with Wyatt, and most importantly, Hannah's interactions with Luke. We're told they're friends and talk often but we never see it. And I think it would have made Luke a better character if we got to see how having someone who is or is becoming a maternal figure to him would affect him.
These things largely happen in, I think, the last 70 or 80% of the book and while yes they did taint part of the experience of reading it, my overall impression of this book is that it was incredibly fun and sweet.
This isn't necessarily a criticism of the book, but I would also like to add that the set up for the rest of the Campus Diaries series seems to be for it to focus on Gigi's friends and Luke's friends, and I would much much much rather have a duet where one book is about Gigi and one is about Wyatt (even if he hates hockey! That's okay! Maybe we'd get more Hannah on his book).
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book for giving me an ARC.
I love the relationship between Gigi and Luke. The nicknames, the banter, the flowers. The way they managed to find this connection that turns them both into better people. It was just so nice to read and get to experience with the characters. I loved having Garrett back. I loved that coach Jensen was still at Briar being coach Jensen. I loved the unexpected presence of Jake Connelly!! I wish there has been more Hannah though, and definitely more Garrett and Hannah because I am first and foremost a The Deal girlie.
That being said, I do also think that this book needed some editing, it's too long. I understand that a week after this book's release it will be pulled from most retailers because it will be put on Kindle Unlimited, and that since KU pays by page turned the book is on the longer side. And while I can't criticise Elle Kennedy for wanting to get her bag, I can criticise the ways in which she chose to make the book longer.
One thing I have an issue with, that I know is up to personal taste and isn't something a lot of people will take issue with, are the sex scenes in this book. There was too much exhibitionism going on, and that might be a lot of people's cup of tea but it's not mine. So that affected my enjoyment of the book somewhat.
As far as specific plot points that I think are genuinely bad and wish hadn't been in the book at all: the wedding. It exists to create conflict between Gigi and her father. I was waiting for the conflict with Garrett and I don't like that the thing we ended up with was a wedding (off page wedding, btw, which also irks me). I don't think it makes sense for Gigi and Luke, it came out of nowhere and it's just off putting for me to read about people that young getting married.
But my main issue here is that it was completely unnecessary.
There was already something in the book which could have served as conflict instigator between Gigi and Garrett. He grew up in a house with an abuser. He watched his mother be abused by his father and he was a victim of that abuse himself. The conflict could have been as simple as Garrett not wanting his daughter to be with a man who beat up someone so badly he had to get his jaw wired shut. For a large part of the book we don't know why Luke did it. And for an even larger part of the book Garrett doesn't know why Luke did it. Which is why I think in a world where this book is the best version of itself it can be and is shorter, there is no wedding just to make Gigi and Garrett fight. Because there was no need for it.
My last issue is that for all the lengthening that absolutely took place in this book there are so many things that happen off page that should have been shown. Off the top of my head the christmas hockey game between all the off campus families, literally any and all interactions with Wyatt, and most importantly, Hannah's interactions with Luke. We're told they're friends and talk often but we never see it. And I think it would have made Luke a better character if we got to see how having someone who is or is becoming a maternal figure to him would affect him.
These things largely happen in, I think, the last 70 or 80% of the book and while yes they did taint part of the experience of reading it, my overall impression of this book is that it was incredibly fun and sweet.
This isn't necessarily a criticism of the book, but I would also like to add that the set up for the rest of the Campus Diaries series seems to be for it to focus on Gigi's friends and Luke's friends, and I would much much much rather have a duet where one book is about Gigi and one is about Wyatt (even if he hates hockey! That's okay! Maybe we'd get more Hannah on his book).
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
rainbowsandbookshelves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
This book! This was book was everything I needed from the Briar world and yet I can't wait for more!
I love Off-Campus and reread the series often, particularly The Deal. It's the book I compare all hockey romances to and nothing ever really meets that expectation. I was so excited when I found out about The Graham Effect because I love Graham & Hannah and loved the idea of their children's stories - and this did not disappoint!
I was swept away by Gigi and Ryder, loving their dynamic of dislike to friends to more - they had great chemistry and banter, something that Elle Kennedy is particularly good at! I also loved all the side characters, particularly the hockey players and can already see where some more of the stories may be going and I can't wait!
This book felt like coming home for me, especially as I'm such a big fan of Off Campus - the cameos were just perfect.
As always, Kennedy added the spice (love how it was kind of stepped up a level from Off Campus), banter, friendships and laughs into The Graham Effect and I absolutely loved it! I can definitely see myself reading it again!
Thank you netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love Off-Campus and reread the series often, particularly The Deal. It's the book I compare all hockey romances to and nothing ever really meets that expectation. I was so excited when I found out about The Graham Effect because I love Graham & Hannah and loved the idea of their children's stories - and this did not disappoint!
I was swept away by Gigi and Ryder, loving their dynamic of dislike to friends to more - they had great chemistry and banter, something that Elle Kennedy is particularly good at! I also loved all the side characters, particularly the hockey players and can already see where some more of the stories may be going and I can't wait!
This book felt like coming home for me, especially as I'm such a big fan of Off Campus - the cameos were just perfect.
As always, Kennedy added the spice (love how it was kind of stepped up a level from Off Campus), banter, friendships and laughs into The Graham Effect and I absolutely loved it! I can definitely see myself reading it again!
Thank you netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Murder, Gun violence, and Death of parent
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