Leisure Reading

Romance on Ice

The Graham Effect

by Elle Kennedy

Gigi Graham has exactly three goals: qualify for the women's national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father's shadow. So far, so good, except for two little things. Fine–a little thing and a big, grumpy thing. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder.

Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude…and sexy as hell. But he's still the enemy.

Briar's new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men's team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster where everyone hates one another's guts. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he's angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst possible first impression on his hero. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word with her dad.

The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they're trying to ignore. It's a dangerous game they're playing, but the risks just might be worth it.*

Reviewed by Olivia Chin - Scholarly Communications Librarian

Newcomers to the hockey romance world of Elle Kennedy may be wondering: “Just what is the Graham effect, anyway?” Without giving too much away, the Grahams are beloved recurring characters in Kennedy’s interconnected Off-Campus and Briar U series. The Graham Effect begins a new Campus Diaries series and follows Gigi Graham, the daughter of Garrett Graham from Kennedy’s first hockey romance novel, The Deal.

I have now read around 13 or so books by Elle Kennedy, so picking up The Graham Effect was a no-brainer for me. However, even if you are not as familiar with her characters, you may still enjoy the antics, humor, and heart that her books are known for.  

Gigi and Ryder are two college hockey players who have been frenemies for some time. Gigi’s father is an esteemed hockey player, so Ryder assumes that Gigi has it all in the sports world; Gigi begs to differ. Meanwhile, Ryder’s university has closed, leaving him and his teammates to awkwardly join the rival hockey team at Gigi’s university. When both characters set their hearts on professional goals, they reluctantly team up to achieve them . . . and realize they have chemistry both on and off the ice. 

If you enjoy lighthearted rom-coms with some competitive flair, then this book is for you! 

You can find this book in the Hodges Library Leisure Reading Collection found in the Miles Reading Room on the first floor. Check it out and let us know what you think of the book! Make sure to tag your responses on social media with #utksharedshelf so we can see what you think! 

* Book Description and image provided by Goodreads