The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy (Review by Shay Tibbs)

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

 I find it hard to imagine Elle Kennedy could write anything I didn’t love, and while I had avoided it so far, this book officially put me in my booktok hockey era – I will be devouring anything hockey romance I can get my hands on in the near future, with equal parts worry that it can’t possibly be as wonderful as this one & excited for discovering similar titles that will make me just as happy. I LOVED the idea of a spinoff series in the New Adult age group, and after reading Kenney’s Avalon Bay series, when I was given the chance to read and review this title, I jumped on it immediately! When it arrived, I was surprised by its chunkiness and worried that the book would seem too long, but instead, I was happily wanting more with each page I turned, I could not get enough of these characters!

This wasn’t the first book I’d ever read with one of the main characters being a hockey player, but I was pleasantly into every detail of the game included regarding the sport, especially with Gigi being a player too. From their initial meet-cute, she and Ryder have such great enemies-to-lovers banter, the perfect angsty hate you just know will result in them being together chemistry. Both of our MCs attend Briar University and play hockey, but they couldn’t be more different. For Gigi, the Graham name means she feels plenty of pressure to be incredible, the expectation of being her father’s daughter mixed with the desire to make a name on her own. Luke Ryder has a reputation for fighting on the ice that has stayed with him, and he just can’t seem to get past it. The two make a deal to get each of them what they want — Ryder will help Gigi with her skills on the ice, while she puts in a good word for him with her dad. Simple enough, until exes, family drama, school, and teammates all get in the way. I loved this group of friends and teammates, each character that was introduced added something new and different to the story, and getting to know each of them had me laughing and swooning in equal measure. I felt seen, and simultaneously nostalgic reading this title and couldn’t get over how open and honest they were in their wants in life and love. Plus, who doesn’t love grumpy/sunshine steamy scenes? YES, please! I can’t wait to see where Kennedy takes the series next, I’m excited to go back and pick up The Deal to read Hannah and Garrett’s love story while I wait!