3.5 stars

I read this far quicker than I was expecting and it did manage to suck me in but ultimately think it will be one of those books that I forget the plot of very quickly. The story following Gigi as a female hockey player was something I really enjoyed and gave the book a new spin compared to the previous books from this universe.
The communication and lack of a 3rd act break up was great but at times it felt like plot points were thrown in with no build-up or obvious reason, especially the one near the end!

It was great to be able to see all the characters from the original series mentioned throughout the book as well, especially seeing Garrett and Hannah and their relationship all these years later, but again at times it felt like characters were just being name dropped for the sake of it, with no benefit to the plot.

I enjoyed the book, but I think it was mainly due to the love for the off campus series, but I'm interested to see who else will star in the upcoming books in the series.

5 stars.
Firstly I consider myself so lucky to have received an ARC of this book. When I found it on Netgalley I clicked without hesitation and prayed!
The Deal is one of my all-time favourite novels and it was so amazing to be back in the Briar-U world with old protagonists and their progenies.
One thing is for sure, Kennedy has lots of characters to write sequels about here!
I adored Gigi Graham who seemed to have inherited her father’s snarky wit and her mother’s sensitivity.
Ryder was complicated, but loyal and steadfast, and their romance together was both scorching hot and incredibly sweet. There was also some heartbreaking backstory here that gave the whole thing weight. Once again an incredible, well-rounded and well-written story from Elle Kennedy.
I had the added pleasure of reading this while visiting my daughter at UConn and Boston. It was a freaky experience to be in some of the places talked about in the book.
Wyatt next please EK!

The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Thank you so much to @ellekennedy33, @yourswithlovex, @littlebrownbookgroup_uk and @netgalley for my e-arc of this book 💕

YES YES YES! If you didn’t know, I adored the Off-Campus series so 👏🏻 damn 👏🏻 much 👏🏻 that I couldn’t wait to read about Gigi - Garrett and Hannah’s daughter.

This book, if I’m being completely honest, did feel like a replica of The Deal at points but it also wasn’t. It had elements you could clear see similarities but it didn’t put me off. This book totally hooked me and I fell for Gigi and Ryder straight from the prologue. Who doesn’t love a grumpy x sunshine vibe in a romance novel?

Ryder has soared up in the list of book boyfriends 🥵. The witty banter between him and Gigi was perfection and the additional characters added so much to the story.

Gigi was a very developed character, and I love watching her grow through this. I also loved that she didn’t feel hindered being THEE Garett Graham’s daughter, and knew her self-worth and how awesome she is!

Kennedy once again has created a new set of characters, in an old-ish setting and I cannot wait to see more from this story line. Kennedy’s writing never fails to draw me in and capture my whole attention and I cannot wait to go back to Briar U with further characters hopefully! 💕

Read if you like:

💜 grumpy x sunshine
🤍 ice hockey
❤️ secret relationship

If NetGalley allowed half stars I think I would have liked to more accurately rate this book 3.5 stars.
tldr: very fun, sweet and entertaining book with some infuriating things near the end that dragged the rating down a bit.

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.

If you are a fan of sports romance...if you are a fan of second generation series' you are going to love this one! Both the mmc and the fmc are at the top of their college ice hockey games, oh and Gigi is the daughter of the one and only Garrett Graham.

Meeting after a number of male students are transferred to Briar University, Gigi and Ryder become reluctant acquaintances but before long that changes.

As they navigate their way through training and practice and college life in general, they both have lofty goals and maybe some secrets.

Hold on to your hats for the intense chemistry and spectacular intimate scenes that will thaw even the coldest of hearts and give them a new lease of life.

Ryder, and his story, will absolutely tear your heart in two with the heavy weight he carries but Gigi guides him superbly through emotional conversations that could fell a tree!

Meanwhile he becomes Gigi's biggest supporter, maybe even bigger than those closest to her.

As this is the first novel in this new Campus Diaries series, we've also met other highly successful college athletes. Athletes that have piqued my interest and whetted my appetite for a further return to Briar U...and it's amazing og stars!

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!

The Graham Effect follows the OG couple form The Off-Campus series, Garrett and Hannah's daughter, Gigi. It did take me a while to wrap my head around reading about their daughter, it felt slightly odd at the beginning but once I did, I flew through the book.

With Elle Kennedy novels you always know what you are signing up for - something sexy, fun and sometimes silly. It is pure escapism and I do seek her novels out for exactly that reason.

This particular book follows Gigi's romance with fellow ice-hockey player, Ryder. The two start off rocky but pretty quickly start up a fwb situation that ends in them both catching feelings. I liked both characters and they had great chemistry together. One thing I aways like about Elle Kennedy books is that the characters are usually pretty standard and there is often no third-act breakup (thank god). There was some good character development from Ryder in particular which was nice to see. However, I did feel like the ending was slightly rushed.

Despite this, it was a very easy and fun book to read!

4.5
-friends with benefits
-forbidden
-grumpy x sunshine
-female hockey player
I went into this book with high expectations because elle kennedy wrote it. Let me tell you this DID NOT DISAPPOINT! This book was so fun it had me kicking, screaming and swooning and I really enjoyed it. I loved Gigi and Ryder. They had such a healthy relationship, it was refreshing.I love how they were always there for each other through their ups and downs. There were some great storylines and side characters. This is one of the first books I've read where she's a hockey player let alone they both were and i WILL be reading more. I really enjoyed Ryder's character development and the mouth on Ryder was TOP TIER! Thank you netgalley and little brown for this arc!

📚 Book 36 of 2023 ✅️

The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy
5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After reading The Deal in Elle Kenndy's Briar U Off Campus series just 2 weeks ago, I knew I had to get my hands on this next gen story featuring the grown up daughter of The Deal's very own Garrett and Hannah (not with an M!) Thank you to #NetGalley #Piatkus #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and #ElleKennedy for the ARC.

Sassy Gigi (aptly named if you've read Garrett's story in The Deal) and the silent assassin Ryder bring new life to Briar and it was hilarious to see the enemies to lovers trope actually being focused around the two rival hockey teams instead of the main characters for once. Those boys will hold their grudges!

The humour between these two is brilliantly written and I absolutely love thier developing relationship.

*Trigger warning* this story touches on a traumatic parental loss.

Excuse me while I put my life on hold to go back and read the rest of the Briar U series to find out all about Garrett and Hannah's friends ready for what I hope will lead to more next gen stories please Elle 🙏

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


First of all I want to start by saying how much of a sucker I am for legacy series/ next generation series, so this was right up my alley!!

I was soooo happy to be able to go back to this world and see how some of my favorite characters were doing, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

I know he’s not the focus of this book but let’s start off by this, beekeeping age Garrett Graham is SOMETHING 😮‍💨.
I loved how much we got to see of him in this book and most his scenes were hilarious.

We also got a really funny scene with Dean and Logan 👀

Now onto our main characters: Gigi and Ryder.
I loved them.
Their relationship started off rocky but I love how it progressed with time. their chemistry was so good!! (And very hot)

Gigi was a really refreshing character, she is a hockey player with a lot of ambitions and i love how relatable she was. She’s way too nice for her own good though 😭
I also loved the father-daughter relationship she had with Garrett, it was adorable 🥹

Ryder is a (really) quiet/closed-off, no-bullshit, confident hockey player and we get to really see him progress in the book and warm up to Gigi, as well as his new teammates.

Dare I say, Ryder is my favorite Elle Kennedy MMC so far (okay maybe tied with Fitzy)

I also wanna say this book surprised me a lot in the sense that there were some things I did not expect at all 👀

I’m really excited to see more of the other kids, especiallyyyy Wyatt (Gigi’s twin) in the next couple of books.

Overall I think this has become my favorite Elle Kennedy book! I am already craving to read it again.

If you liked the Off-Campus and Briar U series, you’re going to love this!

Thank you so much to Elle Kennedy and Little Brown Book Group UK for the ARC!

This book started off a little slow for me but towards the 25/30% mark I started to really enjoy it and loved the relationship between the two main characters.

If you have read the off campus series I highly recommend reading this as this is a carry on story from that series.

Thank you Netgalley for a chance to read this. I don't want to give too much away because Kennedy's books do not deserve to be spoiled. All I can say is, that when I heard this book was coming out and who it was based on, I SCREAMED. If you are a true Kennedy fan you will ADORE this second gen Off Campus/Briar U book. It just gave everything you wanted the next generation of Garrett and Hannah. The cameos that appeared in the story too... it was the warm, full circle moment you crave so much after reading a good book.
ALLLLLLL THE STARS.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥🔥🔥.5

I love Elle Kennedy and I haven’t actually read the Off Campus series, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is a tad long for the first 30% but it is the first in a new series and I don’t that that negates from the fact that it’s a solid hockey romance!
I loved the female hockey player dynamic and quite frankly adored Ryder! They have so much chemistry and there is so many funny lines throughout.
I like that’s it’s not full of stupid relationship drama and miscommunications. The spice is hawt and the relationship develops naturally.
The main side characters are brilliant and I can’t wait to see whose story comes next.
I’ll be reading the Briar U and Off Campus series stat!

-Hockey
-College
-Second gen
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Frenemies to friends with benefits to lovers

*Hugeee thank you to the Little Brown Book Group UK for this ARC*

This book was like going back to your hometown after being away for a while. Revisiting Briar U was even better than I expected. As a lover of Elle Kennedy, the Briar U series, and the Off Campus Series, I have been eagerly waiting for this release and it exceeded all of my expectations. With my unhealthy obsession with Garrett Graham, I was always going to prioritise reading this.

This is one of my favourite love stories that I’ve read in a while and I don’t say that lightly. Gigi and Ryder were so lovely together, I found them so comforting to read. They had incredible chemistry, banter, understanding and support for each other. Another thing to note is that there were quite a few reveals and plot twists in the book that actually caught me off guard and were SO GOOD!

I need everyone to read this and fall in love like I did! I read it in a day it was that addicting - 5 stars ⭐️

I looooooooooved this book!! Just what I needed to get me out of a slump.
And if I dare add - I think I preferred this to Off Campus/Briar U and I adored those books too!
I loved how fierce and determined Gigi was and the book had the perfect timeline for me - no insta-love and he falls first eee
Cannot wait for the rest of this series and to see who else we get a story for!

Thank you so much to Elle Kennedy, Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Back to BriarU
Was für eine Freude, dass Elle Kennedy ihre Leser wieder an die Briar Universität einlädt. Ich konnte das neue Buch kaum erwarten und habe mich wahnsinnig gefreut, dass netgalley mir ein Leseexemplar überlassen hat.
Dabei habe ich mit sogenannten „next generation“- Geschichten schon schlechte Erfahrungen gemacht und selbst die Autorin bemerkt in ihrem Nachwort, dass sie eigentlich ebenfalls kein Fan davon ist.
Trotzdem hat sie mit „The Graham Effect“ ein wunderbares Buch über die Tochter von Garret Graham und Hannah Wells geschrieben, die wie ihr Vater eine erfolgreiche Hockeyspielerin ist und wie ihre Eltern auf die BriarU geht.
Luke Ryder spielt ebenfalls Hockey, doch ansonsten haben die beiden auf den ersten Blick nichts gemein. Ganz im Gegenteil: bei ihrem ersten Aufeinandertreffen können sie sich gar nicht wirklich leiden. Ob ein paar gemeinsame Trainingseinheiten auf dem Eis daran was ändern können?

Das Buch war ein richtiger Pageturner und wenn ich könnte, würde ich 6 Sterne geben.
Es war einfach so schön wieder zu den „alten“ Bekannten der BriarU zurückzukommen. Gigis „Onkel und Tanten“ wieder zu begegnen war ein bisschen wie nach Hause kommen.
Und die eigentliche Lovestory war - typisch Elle Kennendy - einfach nur großartig. Gigi und Ryder sind ein Traumpaar. Ich freu mich schon auf die weiteren Geschichten der Reihe.
Thank you Elle for bringing us back to Briar!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved the Off Campus Series and was so excited to hear Elle was releasing a book about Garrett and Hannah’s daughter 😍 Elle is a Queen when it comes to writing college hockey romance! I love a funny chapter name and there are so many in this book ❤️

A sassy female hockey player who takes no rubbish from anyone and a 6ft 5” grumpy male hockey player with a bad reputation - what else could you want 😍 They are total opposites and only really have one thing in common. Hockey. But then they both realise they can help each other out. Gigi need help with her game and Ryder needs to win over her Dad, the one and only Garrett Graham so he can help coach at Garrett’s hockey camp . I loved Gigi and Ryder’s relationship so much. There was banter, sass, tension and so much chemistry. Some of the things Ryder said were so swoon worthy. I literally kicked my legs with giddiness at times.

There are so many good side characters in this book too! Beckett being a personal favourite 🫶🏼 I’m excited to see who we will get in the next book 💕

The cameos 😩🥰 I loved seeing the characters from the others books intertwined in the story. It made me smile so much seeing certain names again 💕

5 stars

The Graham Effect is a spicy and heartwarming journey back into the world of Briar University, where Gigi Graham and Luke Ryder's love story takes center stage. Gigi is a fiercely determined female hockey player with Olympic dreams and a famous father's legacy to contend with. Ryder, the brooding and aloof co-captain, hides a compelling past.
Their story kicks off with a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic, which keeps you engaged throughout. Gigi's relatable and down-to-earth character makes her easy to root for, and Ryder's transformation and the revelation of his past add depth to his character.
What sets this book apart is its exploration of the differences between men's and women's hockey, offering an engaging backdrop for their romance. It's not just a love story; it's a story of empowerment and breaking through stereotypes.

The book features a charming cast of side characters and the drama surrounding the merger of rival hockey teams adds to the excitement. Fans of the previous series will relish the return of familiar faces like Garrett, Hannah and Dean.

The Graham Effect is not just sweet; it's spicy, and the ending is a delightful surprise. If Garrett was your favorite, be prepared to switch allegiances to Ryder as his character shines brightly in this installment.

With cameo’s from Garret and Hannah, it was lovely to see a familiar pair again. Whilst Gigi and Ryder had amusing chemistry that made me laugh again and again, I couldn’t help but feel that I missed a part of the book. Towards the end of the story, the couple took a new unexpected direction that felt random and with no real explanation behind it. Overall, I enjoyed the book but felt it lacked development for certain characters. I enjoyed meeting new side characters and I look forward to hopefully seeing their stories in the future.

2 Stars

'The Graham Effect' follows the daughter of Garrett Graham, former 'Briar U' series hero. Garrett's daugher, Gigi, is following him in his footsteps in a college career in Hockey. Gigi is the most enjoyable thing about this book. I found her POV enjoyable and fun- something I cannot say about Ryder's POV.

I found that this book info-dumped way too much, and at some points it got very annoying. There were many choices in the plots that made it feel rushed, but also made the relationship at the centre of the book feel rushed. I think that for the people that enjoy the Briar U series, this will be a three star read at most- it feels like Kennedy is trying to replicate the Briar U feeling, but failed at doing so.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Elle Kennedy's publishing team for allowing me to read 'The Graham Effect' early!