March 24, 2021 - Staff Reviews

The Boyfriend Effect 

By Kendall Ryan

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5618361

3.5 Stars - Start to a light, fun new series from Kendall Ryan. Childhood friends Maren and Hayes start out commiserating over their lives and relationships but begin to recognize their feelings for each other quickly. The humor in this one is over the top sometimes here but it's an enjoyable brother's best friend romance. Shout-out to Hayes' grandmother who is a lovely addition.

This series is centered around a "F.R.I.E.N.D.S"-esque group who happen to co-own an erotic toy company. This business isn't front and center but made a contribution to the hot-ness level overall. Fortunately for me, some of the kinkiness that Ryan's used in the past was relatively quiet here. I just don't need all the '50 Shades' games mixed in all my romances. Maren is likable nursing home worker and advocat with a medium confidence level that makes her very relatable. Hayes is an adorable hero, who has a strange commitment problem. He's just not able to really throw his heart into his relationships.

Hayes won me over with his chivalry and sweet bond with his grandmother. I applaud Ryan included seniors in her cast of characters here. Although Rosie and Don's budding romance on the side was a bit much for me personally. But I never like when a short book has side couples also going through their dating life, just a preference. Holly was one character that was a week point for the story, introduced for some potential other-woman controversy and a bit ridiculous. The sexiness level is on-par with most of Ryan's other novels and not for the readers who prefer a clean romance. By the time the book was ending, it did wish it wasn't over just yet, like we could have gotten more chapters out of this couple. That said, the rest of the series can be looked forward to, probably Maren's curious and quiet brother Wolfe is a worthy next hero.

(NS)