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A review by bribreez
The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5⭐️/ 4🌶️
OMG WE’RE BACK BABY! BACK AT BRIAR U! This was a special moment, not only getting to meet and read about Garrett and Hannah’s daughter, Gigi and meeting new characters like, Luke Ryder, but just being back in the world of Off-Campus and seeing other familiar faces from the Briar U series as well. This time around, Gigi Graham’s story was being told! No longer reading about my favorite characters, but instead the second generation! Gigi shared an affinity for hockey just like her daddy, and excelled in playing the game. With her sights set on joining the Olympics USA team, Gigi had been training and working so hard since she was little. Like Ryder also loved hockey and had high hopes to be drafted into the NHL. Both, Ryder and Gigi lived and breathed hockey and this show highlighted that as well as a certain romance that grew between them too. Elle Kennedy brought back my beloved characters and introduced a whole group of new ones, I cannot stress how much this book brought both nostalgia while also bringing me so much joy to this new story!
OMG WE’RE BACK BABY! BACK AT BRIAR U! This was a special moment, not only getting to meet and read about Garrett and Hannah’s daughter, Gigi and meeting new characters like, Luke Ryder, but just being back in the world of Off-Campus and seeing other familiar faces from the Briar U series as well. This time around, Gigi Graham’s story was being told! No longer reading about my favorite characters, but instead the second generation! Gigi shared an affinity for hockey just like her daddy, and excelled in playing the game. With her sights set on joining the Olympics USA team, Gigi had been training and working so hard since she was little. Like Ryder also loved hockey and had high hopes to be drafted into the NHL. Both, Ryder and Gigi lived and breathed hockey and this show highlighted that as well as a certain romance that grew between them too. Elle Kennedy brought back my beloved characters and introduced a whole group of new ones, I cannot stress how much this book brought both nostalgia while also bringing me so much joy to this new story!
Reading this story made me think back to before Gigi Graham was even born, but seeing her actually alive and thriving as a hockey player was exiting! Gigi was a dedicated, passionate hockey player, it was all she’d focused on from a young age. Just like Garrett, Gigi had inherited some of her father’s talent and drive which you could see through all the various practices and drills she put herself through. I haven’t read many female hockey storylines (aside from one that Hannah Cowan wrote, which was great!) so, when I saw that Gigi was a hockey player I was so stoked! I immediately liked Gigi a lot, I loved how she was feisty, sassy, and just for the fun of it sometimes petty…mainly towards Ryder haha. It was clear from the beginning that Gigi was use to living in her dad’s shadow and she was set on making sure her achievements were her own, not a carbon copy of her dads, or even the clear distinction that just because she was a woman didn’t take away from her hockey capabilities. Gigi was amazing and the more I read, the more I loved her.
Luke Ryder was also a great hockey player, but couldn’t help the animosity towards Gigi. From a one time meeting when Ryder attended Garrett’s hockey training camp, Ryder made a not so nice first impression on Gigi which even years later translated as they didn’t necessarily like one another. When Ryder finds out there’s a spot to join Garrett’s training camp, he’s hoping to change Garrett’s impression of him and get that spot. I thought Ryder was a bit cold at first especially with the way he himself said that he wasn’t very open with his own friends, he liked being alone. If anything, the one thing that brought joy to Ryder’s life was playing hockey, he wanted a career out of it, and hopefully become a legend of his own one day.
Being a college student athlete juggling lots of responsibilities must be a lot so, OBVIOUSLY the most logical choice to de-stress and scratch that certain itch is to have a FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS SITUATION! OMG! Gigi and Ryder started off on the wrong foot with each other, but with all the time they spent training and helping each other out, the sexual tension between them became even more! Gigi needed to have that close intimacy and attraction in order to sleep with someone so with Ryder offering himself to her she was initially reluctant, but after sharing an unforgettable kiss, she couldn’t deny she was DEFINITELY feeling the fireworks with him! I thought the spice was good, definitely added to Gigi and Ryder’s romance. Also, the spice wasn’t just for the sake of being a “wow” factor, it gave Ryder the opportunity to be fun, flirty, and open with Gigi especially after their steamy moments. Similar to Gigi, Ryder found himself wanting more with Gigi and breaking down his icy/grumpy exterior. Intimacy played an important role in Gigi and Ryder’s relationship, and I loved how Elle Kennedy went about illustrating that. Also, shout out to Shane for consistently taking one for the team, a.k.a. for Ryder in order to keep his hookups with Gigi a secret haha.
THE COMMUNICATION IN THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! Nothing like getting everything out and in the open which was how Gigi and Ryder were. Ryder was the kind of guy who was blunt and albeit brutally honest, but he never lied so that’s nice. I also liked seeing Gigi getting Ryder to gradually open up to her, and as I said before dissolve his grumpy attitude. I had heard that people loved the communication between Gigi and Ryder in this book, and I can wholeheartedly agree with that. Even for college students, the way Gigi and Ryder went about their relationship had a sense of maturity to them which spoke to how honest and genuine their feelings were for one another. Even in the midst of all the hot, steamy hookups, there was a deeper sense to the romance. All in all, I can happily say the more I saw Gigi and Ryder together, the more I loved them together as a couple!
YESSSSSSS! THIS BOOK WAS PURE GOLD AND MAGIC! A long awaited story, and it was just so much fun being back at Briar University! Gigi was such an amazing female lead, and her work ethic, determination, and going above and beyond in hockey was utterly inspiring. Initially, Ryder was a total grump and I wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about him, but as his cold exterior started to melt away, and learned more about his backstory, I ADORED HIM! The romance was steamy, spicy, passionate, and fun. I really loved seeing the maturity in Gigi and Ryder’s relationship which I found to be unique and promising. Even when there were some issues in Gigi and Ryder’s relationship, they always communicated clearly and resolved their problems in a healthy way. Getting glimpses of old characters from the original series was heartwarming, and of course, getting to see Garrett and Hannah again was truly nostalgic as it was their story that truly started my path in reading hockey romances! Plus, Garrett and Hannah have always held a special space in my heart! This story even went beyond what I was expecting, and added some unexpected twists to the story that shocked me and more! I couldn’t put this book down! It was SO MUCH FUN! I truly am excited to see what else is in store for future books! From the amazingly loving found family, to the humor, romance, and all around atmosphere of this story, Gigi and Ryder stole my heart and made me loved them wholeheartedly! YAY IM SO HAPPY I FINALLY GOT TO READ THIS BOOK! WOO!