A review by sarahthenerd
The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy

lighthearted relaxing medium-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

4.5

I love it. But what I don't love is there wasn't much hockey scene with Gigi and her teammates like Ryder and his teammates. Despite her being a hockey player as well. And what's more annoying and sad is that she always refer Ryder as hockey player when she is always even tho there aren't any chances for women to play pro, she still a hockey player despite being a college hockey player. She always says Ryder is a 6’5” hockey player, “hockey player with their superstitions” or smth like that. Even when she mentioned abt Team USA, it wasn't enough. It felt as if her frustration with not being selected for Team USA is being watered down by Eastwood-Briar combine hockey team issues. Now that I remember, even there was a hockey match between women's hockey team, it's always from Ryder's POV and once from Gigi’s. AND NOT ONLY THAT she always refers herself as girlie. Like I get it that not all sportsman and sportswoman need to be gruff and barbarian, but ISTG the way the author trying to describe Gigi as not a barbarian despite her being a hockey player (sportsmen and sportswomen ARE barbarian) is so…internal misogyny… The author is trying to so hard to make Gigi as this girlie and not barbarian person despite her being a hockey player. Ryder would say she is 5’4” at least and then makes Ryder a 6’5” guy bcs ppl this days love small girl and tall guy trope bcs it's cute. To me this is internal misogyny and IDK how to tell you. LIKE GIRL SHES A HOCKEY PLAYER. YOU WROTE HER AS A HOCKEY PLAYER. STOP TRYING TO WATERED DOWN HER CHARACTER. ACCEPT FOR WHAT SHE IS. YOUR HER CREATOR OMFG

Another reason why I gave this a 4.5⭐ instead of 5⭐ (at first) was their relationship doesn't feel any chemistry. But I love their dynamic. The last reason is bcs felt like this book was more focus on Ryder and a little bit of Garrett. I understand that this book is also abt Gigi struggling w/ being a Graham but IDK felt like the issue in this book is more focus on Ryder than Gigi…

But overall, I like there was parallel stuff between Campus Diaries world and Off-Campus world.
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