Scan barcode
A review by drops_everything_and_reads
The Ripple Effect by Maggie North
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
If Maggie North writes it, I am 100% going to read it. I absolutely loved Maggie's debut book Rules for Second Chances and was thrilled to receive an early copy of her second book the Ripple Effect
I love the journey that we go on with Stellar and McHuge, two people who have built up defensive walls for a variety of reasons, but then they each pursue life very differently. Stellar is closed off, trusting very few people, and sees relationships as transactional. McHuge trusts very easily, literally giving the shirt off his back to someone if they ask for it, but does very little to put himself first. The two are at different ends of a spectrum, which creates tension in their relationship, which they have to navigate if they are going to work together, let alone have a romantic relationship with each other.
The premise of why Stellar and McHuge have been thrown together is a delight, and is largely an extension of Maggie's first book, in which the MCs follow guidance from a relationship book written by McHuge. Ripple is about McHuge taking his skills and knowledge and passion for his relationship psychology work and transferring it to the great outdoors, setting up a business that challenges couples to embark on a camping and white water canoeing adventure that will test them all and help them to grow. Stellar is hired to be the on-site medical doctor and also for her outdoors expertise, and through a series of unfortunate circumstances, Stellar ends up fake proposing to McHuge so they can be fake engaged in order to support the new business venture.
As with the first book, I found myself relating a lot to the characters, Stellar, McHuge and even some of the side characters. The lessons McHuge took his campers on were concepts I found myself reflecting on in my personal life, and, dare I say, wondering if I should embark on some camping adventures of my own (probably not).
Maggie's ability to describe the scenery of the locations really pays off, given the characters spend so much time outside. I felt like I was sitting right beside the characters during evening campfire, or paddling a boat down the river with them, heading towards the next set of rapids. Reading Ripple was like an immersive experience of the imagination and emotions.
I'm so excited for more people to read this book and to read more of what Maggie writes.
Thanks to Maggie north and SMP for the eARC of the book. All opinions are my own, though I acknowledge an inherent bias as I am friends with the author.
I love the journey that we go on with Stellar and McHuge, two people who have built up defensive walls for a variety of reasons, but then they each pursue life very differently. Stellar is closed off, trusting very few people, and sees relationships as transactional. McHuge trusts very easily, literally giving the shirt off his back to someone if they ask for it, but does very little to put himself first. The two are at different ends of a spectrum, which creates tension in their relationship, which they have to navigate if they are going to work together, let alone have a romantic relationship with each other.
The premise of why Stellar and McHuge have been thrown together is a delight, and is largely an extension of Maggie's first book, in which the MCs follow guidance from a relationship book written by McHuge. Ripple is about McHuge taking his skills and knowledge and passion for his relationship psychology work and transferring it to the great outdoors, setting up a business that challenges couples to embark on a camping and white water canoeing adventure that will test them all and help them to grow. Stellar is hired to be the on-site medical doctor and also for her outdoors expertise, and through a series of unfortunate circumstances, Stellar ends up fake proposing to McHuge so they can be fake engaged in order to support the new business venture.
As with the first book, I found myself relating a lot to the characters, Stellar, McHuge and even some of the side characters. The lessons McHuge took his campers on were concepts I found myself reflecting on in my personal life, and, dare I say, wondering if I should embark on some camping adventures of my own (probably not).
Maggie's ability to describe the scenery of the locations really pays off, given the characters spend so much time outside. I felt like I was sitting right beside the characters during evening campfire, or paddling a boat down the river with them, heading towards the next set of rapids. Reading Ripple was like an immersive experience of the imagination and emotions.
I'm so excited for more people to read this book and to read more of what Maggie writes.
Thanks to Maggie north and SMP for the eARC of the book. All opinions are my own, though I acknowledge an inherent bias as I am friends with the author.