There will never be a day when I don't get excited for a Elle Kennedy book. When a new one pops up its a no brainer to dive straight in and "the Graham Effect" didn't disappoint!

I'm not usually into next generation stories but the way Elle has written the book gives Gigi the front and center position and she has HER story, it's not just a continuation of the Legacy book.

I fell head over heels for Gigi, she is the perfect FMC, independent, tenacious and determined - she is such a decent person!
And Ryder woowee he is the perfect MMC, I LOVED that he fell first - although he was a little delayed in realising. His back story covered some really tough situations that you couldn't help but get behind him and root for him.

From start to finish this has everything you'll ever need in a Hockey romance, enemies to lovers - and I was so relieved there wasn't a third act breakup!!

My favourite quote was when Ryder called Gigi and simply said "Use me" - swooooon!

4 stars!

Elle Kennedy bought out the big guns in this book, we had cameos from the legendary off campus series which left me wanting more! It was so delightful to be back in this world after soooo many years! Elle Kennedy was an OG romance author for me in my teens and it felt so nostalgic to be back.

Gigi and Ryder first met at an ice hockey summer camp, where Ryder mistakes Gigi for a figure skater, but then she schools him when he realises she’s a hockey player herself and the daughter of none other than The Garrett Graham.

They meet again in college, where Gigi and Ryder team up to help eachother. Ryder wants to make a good impression on Garrett and Gigi wants to train for hockey/her women’s team.

But they didn’t realise their friendly frenemy like banter would evolve into so much more.
I loved how obsessed Ryder was, and once he was all in, he was all in!

Gigi was hurt by her cheating ex, so she was a little bit less forthcoming on comittmenr, however Ryder broke down her walls and for them as a couple? It was smooth sailing until the end.

I adored how drama free this was. Instead EK introduced us to a whole host of characters, from our beloved old characters to new ones, I am so excited for this next gen/spin off series! This is just the beginning of new things to come🤭

Thanks to Little Brown Book group and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Little disclaimer; this is my first Elle Kennedy book and only second hockey romance (after Icebreaker) and I'm generally not a romance girlie so wasn't sure what to expect from this, but since this author had been all over my fyp on TikTok I thought why not give this a go.

Initially I completely understood what the whole hockey romance hype was about, I loved the first ~35% of this book. This felt like a hockey romance done right and I was raving and enjoying this immensly. There was some lovely slow-burn/enemies to lover vibes which I ate up. I was completely hooked in this story and was proper feeling it. From halfway, however, this sort of tapered off for me.

Not sure why a romance book as to have almost 500 pages - it was just too much for me, especially with barely any actual plot development. Still I was on track for 4 star with this because I loved the FMC/MMC relationship and even some of the side characters, the whole family dynamic and such - but then the last 10% happened and it almost ruined it all for me. This is supposed to be a contemporary romance rather fantasy, so why the ending was so ultimately unbelieveable and far-fetched is beyond me. I found it almost satirical, comical and I just couldn't get over how silly and juvenile this ended up being, which is a damn shame really.

In any case, quite liked the writing, the dialogue was ok as well and I thought the characters had banter and chemistry.
Maybe if I had read some of her previous works I would have been already familiar with some of the characters and setting, but even without that I felt like I was able to enjoy this fast-paced palette cleanser.
I won't be rushing to pick up more Elle Kennedy right away, but I might give some of her other series a go at some point in the future.

I have to admit I requested this on a whim because while I adored the Off Campus series when I first read it in 2015/2016, I also really disliked most of the books Elle Kennedy published since that series was over, especially the spin off.

When »The Graham Effect« was announced I initially didn’t plan to pick it up but when I saw it on NetGalley I just couldn’t help myself and requested the eArc and I’m so happy I did because I am actually pleasantly surprised by Elle Kennedys newest release!

This book was so much fun and you feel a bit of nostalgia when you read about the couples from the Off Campus series all grown up and about their kids, that was really nice. And I also just really liked Gigi and Ryder individually and as a couple. Elle Kennedy did a great job developing their relationship, it wasn’t rushed and both were just really well rounded and fleshed out characters. Though I have to say, Ryder was sometimes a bit misogynistic with how he thought about women which is so weird because he was such a good love interest apart from that. I don’t know, it’s just always a weird choice I think if the male main characters thinks not highly about women or in a »all women are like this or that« way until he meets the female main character and - gasp - she’s different.

But as I said, I really liked Gigi and Ryder so I decided to not think about it too hard and just enjoy the rest of the book because it was just such a good romance and totally made me want to reread the Off Campus series now.

When I read that Gigi was going to be a hockey player like her Dad, I wasn't sure. The closest I've gotten to this was Stassi in Icebreakers, but honestly, this worked. I loved that a daughter would want to follow in her fathers footsteps.

This has the same vibes as off-campus and briar u so if you loved them, this will be exactly what you've needed since those series wrapped up. Gigi and Ryder stand on their own as a couple and as characters, but if I had to compare the vibes of the book and the relationship to any of the others, it would definitely be Jake and Brenna, and I absolutely loved them.

I loved the campus setting, I loved the little nods to the characters of old and meeting the new generation. I was so worried this wouldn't live up to the hype and the feels of the old books but I'm so happy we have this new series.

I was excited about The Graham effect because I was a huge fan of Off Campus and the next generation felt exiting and promising. I found this book fun, easy to read and with a solid romance. The only thing Is that I didn't find it or the characters very memorable.

3.5 ⭐️ There's a new Graham in town...

First and foremost, I want to say that if anyone would've told 2020 me -the one who fell in love with the Off-Campus series and read about Hannah and Garrett for the first time- that she would be getting an ARC for their daughter's book in 2023... Not only would she have probably cried, let's be honest with ourselves here, but she would've asked me to make it happen faster! So I want to thank Net Galley and Elle Kennedy's publishing team for letting me get my hands on this book sooner than expected!

That being said, the following review and opinions are 100% my own.

Now, where to start with this book? Gigi Graham is an absolute pro and loved her at the beginning of the book. Ryder not so much. He came off as rude and unapologetically assholic. The story started off pretty great and it felt like it was taking a while to really get going, but I wasn't really complaining because I can get behind a good slow burn as much as the next person. The thing is, this wasn't really that good.

As the story and the romance aspect of it progresses, there are so many side characters, info-dumping and weird narrative choices/time-jumps that it makes the story feel half-cooked. The further I got into the book, the least I liked it which is not great. I started to dislike Gigi's character more and more as the story went on, and I was feeling Ryder a lot more, but not to the point where I loved either character.

There are many choices in Gigi and Ryder's relationship that feel forced and rushed... entirely too much. And I know that this is supposed to be NA, but it felt completely YA to me. College kids making unapologetically stupid mistakes but leaving it all on the line while doing it = YA to me.

Without leaving any spoilers, I will say that the beginning and the set-up were pretty great, but I was disappointed by the ending -both by what happens in the story and by the way the author chooses to portray it (aka telling instead of showing with the weird time-jumps). This book is great for the memories, the Briar U vibes, and the insight into the Grahams family some 20 years after The Deal. But it's transparently just that, a blast from the past trying to make itself something that doesn't fully work. I wish more than anything that I could say I loved this book, but I didn't. It also didn't need to be over 400 pages. It just didn't.

I recommend this book if you're in the mood to take a trip down memory lane and to see Garret Graham being Daddy, but this time for real. Otherwise, I'd probably skip this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
🌶🌶🌶.5/ 5

PS. I'll say that I have missed the pure slutt!ness that Elle Kennedy brings into her college romances. I'm kind of hoping that there's a Beckett+Will book!

This review has already been uploaded to Goodreads :)

If there’s something Elle Kennedy can do is hockey romance.
This took me back to start and now all I wanna do is reread it all.
This was simple masterpiece I couldn’t put down and that’s saying something. Loved Ryder so much. Such a solid guy in absolutely everything.
Gigi wasn’t character that annoyed me for change simply because she knew what she wanted and went for it all the way. I need more female characters like this please.
But obviously I so loved return of Garret and Hannah and everyone else. I can’t simply with this. There’s going to be more books. And I will (un) patiently wait for them and then love them unconditionally.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

when I tell you I squealed when I saw I got approved for this ARC. thank you so much! one of my most anticipated reads this year!
This book has 500 pages.I read it in one sitting.I have no words to explain how much I enjoyed this.Thought It would be a good idea to refresh my memory so I reread The Deal and the Legacy before diving into this one and I had the most blissful last few days enjoying this talented authors work. I loved every single thing about this book.I could literally no put it down. the characters ,the plot,the side characters, the signature Elle Kennedy
humou!!
12/10! would definitely recommend! And I cannot wait for the rest of the characters to get their own book!

Elle Kennedy is definitely holding her title as the queen of hockey romance.

Following the next generation at briar was so fun (Beckett better appear again) BUT the cameos of the OG’s made it 10 x better. I’m also so glad this book had actual hockey gameplay and training while most other hockey romance skim over it.

Absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to find out who we’re going to follow next!!

This was such a fun read and has all the banter I’ve come to expect from Elle Kennedy. I loved the fact that the characters from the Off- Campus and Briar U series are mentioned/featured as we dive into the next generation of characters. Elle Kennedy continues to educate readers on the game of ice hockey itself and the introduction of women’s ice hockey in this series is brilliant and so refreshing as we put the spotlight on women athletes.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book ahead of the release date.

I loved this so much, Elle Kennedy can do no wrong in my eyes and this book was no exception.

The Graham Effect follows Gigi and Ryder, both college hockey stars at Briar University. This is the same world as the Off-Campus and Briar U series and Gigi’s dad is Graham Garrett from the first Off-Campus book, The Deal.

The spice is sooo good and the characters are really loveable. I did find the ending a bit rushed/strange as it definitely wasn’t where I thought the book was going.

4.5 ⭐
My new personal favourite from Elle Kennedy.
I've always stated that Elle wrote her characters older than they were supposed to be, however this isn't the case for this book which is a great improvement!
Gigi and Ryder are adorable and have such a pure love, it's beautiful to see and the scene at her game had me giggling with joy 🥹
So excited to read more from this series!
Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for the ARC

The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy is the first book in the Campus Diaries Series, which is a second-generation series to the Off Campus and Briar U Series. This is Gigi and Ryder‘s story.
 
Gigi is Garrett Graham‘s daughter and I loved seeing the OG characters. She grew up surrounded by ice hockey and is aspiring a career in it as well. But she not only faces being in the shadow of her famous father, but also being a female in this rather male dominated sport. Gigi goes her own way and that’s what I liked about her. She is kind, loving and determined.
 
The only person she doesn’t like is Ryder. He comes from the rival school who shuts down and the two hockey teams merge, which brings forth a bunch of tension and problems. Ryder becomes the co-captain and learns what leading a team is like. His development in the story is great and I absolutely love him.
 
Gigi and Ryder have a connection from the beginning, and I loved following that shift from hate to love. They connect over their sport and on a personal level and I loved that. There were so many amazing scenes from them training together to the shower scene. Gigi and Ryder are a stunning couple, and the spice was immaculate. The story was such a comfort read and I already can’t wait to reread it soon. With this book Elle Kennedy showed yet again why she’s the queen of ice hockey romance.
 
Overall, The Graham Effect is just phenomenal and my new favorite Elle Kennedy book. 5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

This book is a captivating journey through the depths of imagination. Its rich storytelling and well-developed characters kept me engaged from start to finish. With its thought-provoking themes, it transcends genres and offers something for every reader. A must-read for anyone seeking a literary adventure.

I have read all in the Off Campus series and The Deal is my favourite. I have reread that book multiple times. Sooo I was so excited to hear that a new book was going to be released of the next generation.

Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one at all. I just didn’t care enough about the characters or the story and, honestly, I didn’t believe the romance. I also felt like the character personalities were nothing new; they felt like recycled personalities of previous characters!

On a sidenote, I did like some of the side characters. I am extremely intrigued by Becket and Will’s bromance! I don’t know if I’ll have to use my imagination on their friendship or if a future book will be in the works.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC. I really do appreciate it!

I read The Deal and fell in love with it 8 years ago at the start of my romance journey so being here that many years later reading about Hannah and Garrett’s daughter feels like a full circle moment for me!

Gigi and Ryder’s story is such a fun ride that had me laughing out loud at so many moments. They start off not really liking each other but start hanging out after they initiate a beneficial agreement for both of them which ends up with them hooking up. Don’t be fooled by the cartoon cover, there is spice in this book! Ryder and Gigi aren’t shy when it comes to spicy time.

I loved everything about this book, their chemistry was great and I really loved them together and seeing Gigi get Ryder to open up. I loved seeing all the old characters that I loved years ago and witness them be parents and uncles, it was so fun to read.. (the one scene at lunch had me cracking up IYKYK)

All the side characters are great, I loved Ryder’s friends and would love to hear their stories… I need more info on Beckett and Will, Elle.. 👀

All in all, before I give any spoilers, this was such a fun book to read and I think you’ll love it so much if you love the Off Campus series and even if you haven’t read that series, it’s still enjoyable!

I am a huge fan of the off campus series so I was so excited to be dipping back into their universe. I am so happy to say that this book did not disappoint and may even be one of my favourites this year!

I absolutely loved both characters of Gigi and Ryder and the development of their relationship. There are some great side characters as well which I hope we will get more off in future spin offs.

I genuinely couldn’t put this book down and although it’s nearly 500 pages long I loved every second. Definitely has that OG Elle Kennedy hockey romance vibe and fans of the original series will love this one!

It's a tough act to write a second generation when the first was one of the best New Adult university romances, but Elle Kennedy doesn't disappoint with 'The Graham Effect', featuring Gigi, the daughter of 'The Deal's' Hannah and Garrett.

I adored Gigi and Ryder. Gigi is the blend of her parents - sarcastic and spunky like her mum Hannah with the confidence of her father, 'I am Garrett Graham'. Luke Ryder is taciturn but kind and supportive and it was delightful to watch Gigi bring him out of his shell.

Both struggle living in the shadow of their fathers. Just like her father before her, Gigi also lives in the shadow of a legend, albeit Gigi has a close and loving relationship with her father. Kennedy highlights how the options for female hockey players are limited; she can't win the Stanley Cup nor be paid equitably so she aims to make it to Team USA and win an Olympic gold. While Ryder's relationship to his father resembles Garrett's, having experienced major childhood trauma.

Kennedy also delivers in giving us hints of what the first generation is up to, with a hilarious cameo featuring Uncle Dean and Uncle Logan, along with references to the children of her 'aunts and uncles'. I do hope one day we have a book set in the music industry featuring Wyatt, Gigi's twin brother to see more of the close relationship between Hannah and her son in the same way this book does with Garrett and Gigi.

I couldn't put this book down. In fact, straight after finishing I re-read all my favourite parts. 'The Graham Effect' is a worthy complement to 'The Deal'. Its touching and poignant at times, while being all out swoony with characters who leapt off the page. One of this books strength's is the strong, supportive partnership they have, just like her parents, and also having the female main character be a hockey player herself, I wish we had more of these pairings.

I really hope the audiobook has a better cast than the originals because I really can't wait to get this ebook and audiobook. I also can't wait to hear more stories from the second generation.

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus and NetGalley for the ARC.

Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the queen of college hockey Romance, and The Graham Effect is literally the confirmation!!
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I loved Gigi and Ryder so much! Their first meeting wasn’t really good, since that day they’ve never been really friends (not even real enemies) But when Ryder finds out he needs Gigi’s help and Gigi needs Ryder’s help to achieve their dreams things will start to warm up!!
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I was afraid that this new book would be a copy of The Deal but I was very surprised because The Graham Effect is a really original and funny book, and with two very cute and well-characterized MCs!
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I loved the dual POV and of course I loved Ryder, the 6’3” messy-haired grumpy hockey player and Gigi Graham too, how can you not love Garret and Hannah’s daughter?
The romance is perfect from start to finish and there are some scenes really *sneaky eyes (the shower scene made me scream)
And there are also a lot of cameos too!!
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I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Thanks to Elle Kennedy Netgalley and LittleBrownUK Piatkus for providing me with this ARC!
The Graham Effect comes out everywhere on October 31 2023!!