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Meet Cute in Minnesota #1
The Ex Effect
Morgan Rose has always been the girl with the plan. Color-coded calendars, backup plans for her backup plans, and a wedding business that’s her entire world. Only one woman ever managed to derail Morgan’s organized life and shatter her heart in the process. But Morgan doesn’t think about Frankie Lee anymore.
Until Morgan meets the photographer hand-picked by her latest clients and discovers that Frankie is not miles away in New York like she thought. She's back in Spring Harbors, looking infuriatingly good, and Morgan's carefully ordered world descends into chaos.
Morgan has just 87 days to pull off the wedding of her career, and she’s not going to let Frankie derail this opportunity. She will not be distracted by Frankie’s new haircut or the shadowy dips between her shoulders and biceps. And she won’t care about Frankie’s unfairly salty attitude when she left Morgan.
But some sparks never die, and as the wedding approaches and the tension between Morgan and Frankie grows, can they face up to the mistakes that pulled them apart, or risk it happening all over again?
A perfectly spiced romance about learning that the best love stories are worth fighting for… twice. The next unputdownable read for fans of Ashley Herring Blake, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Haley Cass.
Until Morgan meets the photographer hand-picked by her latest clients and discovers that Frankie is not miles away in New York like she thought. She's back in Spring Harbors, looking infuriatingly good, and Morgan's carefully ordered world descends into chaos.
Morgan has just 87 days to pull off the wedding of her career, and she’s not going to let Frankie derail this opportunity. She will not be distracted by Frankie’s new haircut or the shadowy dips between her shoulders and biceps. And she won’t care about Frankie’s unfairly salty attitude when she left Morgan.
But some sparks never die, and as the wedding approaches and the tension between Morgan and Frankie grows, can they face up to the mistakes that pulled them apart, or risk it happening all over again?
A perfectly spiced romance about learning that the best love stories are worth fighting for… twice. The next unputdownable read for fans of Ashley Herring Blake, Alexandria Bellefleur, and Haley Cass.
313 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2025
169 people are currently reading
5331 people want to read
About the author
Dana Hawkins
12 books208 followersDana Hawkins is a contemporary romance author of fun and sparkly stories. When not searching the country for the perfect cup of piping hot Americano, she spends her time chasing her kids and rewatching ’90s movies. After living for twenty years in Seattle, she recently trekked back to her hometown in Minnesota. She is a huge romance-genre book nerd and borderline obsessed with happy-ever-afters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
August 13, 2025
pushed through my soft dnf and ended up enjoying it a bit more! they were very wishy-washy and i wanted to root for them so bad sometimes because when they were good, they were good (insert: ✨lesbians✨) but they could also be so fucking rude to each other i couldn’t decide if i wanted them to work it out 😭😭
thank you to netgalley and storm publishing for the arc
thank you to netgalley and storm publishing for the arc
October 27, 2025
The beginning was very cute made me smile a lot !!! Author overuses certain phrases, especially “what the hell” “what in the hell,” in a way that became distracting to me… overall a pretty convincing and engaging romance that I enjoyed! Frankie is straight up a direct mashup of like multiple exes and friends of mine (masc lesbian with ADHD who’s kind of a shithead but has a heart of gold) and Morgan’s midwestern type-A resolute commitment to getting shit done was also charming. Would recommend! Tropey but in a way that’s like omggggg moreso than ughhh
July 7, 2025
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and author Dana Hawkins for providing me with the eARC of “The Ex Effect”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 19th, 2025
This was a great read!
Romantic, suspenseful and fast-paced. This really held my attention, and I was excited every time I got to pick up the book.
This story is perfect if you are interested in:
- Sapphic romance
- Second chance romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Opposites attract
Morgan is a struggling wedding planner, who is one failure away from having to shut down her business.
Frankie is a photographer, who has recently returned to her hometown after the devastating loss of her grandmother.
The problem? They have met before. Over ten years ago, Frankie broke Morgan’s heart, and Morgan still hasn’t forgiven her.
The last thing Morgan want is to be spending time with her ex-girlfriend, but when things don’t go to plan- she is forced to work with Frankie to make this dream wedding happen, and to hopefully save her career.
They rekindle their old romance, but soon realize sacrifices must be made to keep life from pulling them apart again.
There are a lot of things about this story I found really enjoyable.
I like the discussion of Frankie’s ADHD.
In the story, Frankie is known to be disorganized, forgetful, and non-punctual. All of these traits drive Morgan crazy and are some of the things she hates the most about her.
However, this is because Frankie had undiagnosed ADHD in high school- making her and Morgan’s ways of doing things quite different.
After her diagnosis, she makes an active effort to stay on track and improve her focus on tasks.
I think this is a great addition to the story. It added a lot of depth to Frankie’s character and made her very realistic. I also felt like it brought some awareness to the struggles of ADHD, instead of making into quirky and unique character traits.
I also liked Frankie’s story about finding herself after she moved to New York.
Changing her name and cutting her hair, to separate herself from the girl she was in high school. She had to learn how to be her own person, and not just “Morgan’s girlfriend”. I personally just really love reading things like this, and this was no exception.
The romance here was really cute as well. Mostly sweet, a little steamy, and humorous. I love how well these two women go together, despite how different they are.
Overall, I thought this was great and I am happy I got the chance to review it!
I am really looking forward to reading more of Dana Hawkins sapphic romances in the future.
Publication date: August 19th, 2025
This was a great read!
Romantic, suspenseful and fast-paced. This really held my attention, and I was excited every time I got to pick up the book.
This story is perfect if you are interested in:
- Sapphic romance
- Second chance romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Opposites attract
Morgan is a struggling wedding planner, who is one failure away from having to shut down her business.
Frankie is a photographer, who has recently returned to her hometown after the devastating loss of her grandmother.
The problem? They have met before. Over ten years ago, Frankie broke Morgan’s heart, and Morgan still hasn’t forgiven her.
The last thing Morgan want is to be spending time with her ex-girlfriend, but when things don’t go to plan- she is forced to work with Frankie to make this dream wedding happen, and to hopefully save her career.
They rekindle their old romance, but soon realize sacrifices must be made to keep life from pulling them apart again.
There are a lot of things about this story I found really enjoyable.
I like the discussion of Frankie’s ADHD.
In the story, Frankie is known to be disorganized, forgetful, and non-punctual. All of these traits drive Morgan crazy and are some of the things she hates the most about her.
However, this is because Frankie had undiagnosed ADHD in high school- making her and Morgan’s ways of doing things quite different.
After her diagnosis, she makes an active effort to stay on track and improve her focus on tasks.
I think this is a great addition to the story. It added a lot of depth to Frankie’s character and made her very realistic. I also felt like it brought some awareness to the struggles of ADHD, instead of making into quirky and unique character traits.
I also liked Frankie’s story about finding herself after she moved to New York.
Changing her name and cutting her hair, to separate herself from the girl she was in high school. She had to learn how to be her own person, and not just “Morgan’s girlfriend”. I personally just really love reading things like this, and this was no exception.
The romance here was really cute as well. Mostly sweet, a little steamy, and humorous. I love how well these two women go together, despite how different they are.
Overall, I thought this was great and I am happy I got the chance to review it!
I am really looking forward to reading more of Dana Hawkins sapphic romances in the future.
July 21, 2025
I was really looking forward to the new book by Dana Hawkins as I liked her previous books. However, I had real problems immersing myself in the story because I didn't warm to Morgan in particular. Her way of wanting to control everything really annoyed me. Also the constant repetition that Frankie is late.... Oh man. That was really too much at the beginning. Frankie, on the other hand, I immediately liked. I liked the depth and the many details from her past. Basically, I liked the second chance trope in this book because I could see some nice chemistry between the two of them as time went on. I also liked the “we're converting an old barn into a wedding venue” part. That was great. I just love it when old becomes new!
What did irritate me a little, though, was that certain parts of the conversation were only told in retrospect. I found that strange. Because I was really looking forward to some topics and was so curious about the other person's reaction, but then it was simply mentioned in the next chapter “Frankie told me that...”. That was rather disappointing.
A book that I didn't enjoy until the last third. A shame, because the plot had so much potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
What did irritate me a little, though, was that certain parts of the conversation were only told in retrospect. I found that strange. Because I was really looking forward to some topics and was so curious about the other person's reaction, but then it was simply mentioned in the next chapter “Frankie told me that...”. That was rather disappointing.
A book that I didn't enjoy until the last third. A shame, because the plot had so much potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 20, 2025
3.25 ⭐️
The Ex Effect is a sapphic second chance romance that explores the question: what happens when two women find themselves working on the same project after 15 years apart? Morgan Rose is an enterprising, organized wedding planner who has everything planned to a tee. She prides herself on her punctuality and practicality. Frankie Lee, Morgan’s highschool ex-girlfriend, is a freelance photographer ready for her next big break. She can be impulsive and, much to Morgan’s frustration, is late to… almost everything.
Trying to keep her business afloat, Morgan agrees to a challenging project and I plan a wedding on an extremely tight schedule. Frankie is the wedding photographer, and while sparks are supposedly flying, it felt like these two were stuck in their highschool love story. Both characters struggled to communicate with each other, but eventually learned to be more accommodating to each other.
While I enjoyed most of the banter and butterflies between these two, I struggled to hold my interest in their love story. This was a character driven story, and while I enjoyed Morgan’s characterization, I wish I liked Frankie more. Frankie has (late-diagnosed) ADHD, and while I appreciated the representation there, I found her to be rude and overly judgmental of Morgan’s decisions at times. I think it would have been interesting to see these two characters part ways at the end, in a more realistic, albeit bittersweet, ending.
Dana Hawkins’ prose leaned in well to the romcom atmosphere, however, I found that the two protagonists were often *telling* us about their feeling for each other rather than *showing* it. It was interesting to watch their conversations move from prickly to genuine by the end of the novel.
Katie Beudert narrated the audiobook and did an incredible job at capturing the unique voices of both Morgan and Frankie, as well as the overall tone of the story. I found her pacing to be excellent, both at normal speed and at my usual 1.5x speed. I especially enjoyed the midwestern accent and inflections she used for Morgan and some other characters. I always knew who was speaking, thanks to the great character separation.
If you enjoy second chance romances, high school sweethearts to lovers, forced workplace proximity, and wedding planning mayhem, you may enjoy this late-summer read more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing, for the Advanced Listening Copy of this book. This is my honest, spoiler-free review.
The Ex Effect is a sapphic second chance romance that explores the question: what happens when two women find themselves working on the same project after 15 years apart? Morgan Rose is an enterprising, organized wedding planner who has everything planned to a tee. She prides herself on her punctuality and practicality. Frankie Lee, Morgan’s highschool ex-girlfriend, is a freelance photographer ready for her next big break. She can be impulsive and, much to Morgan’s frustration, is late to… almost everything.
Trying to keep her business afloat, Morgan agrees to a challenging project and I plan a wedding on an extremely tight schedule. Frankie is the wedding photographer, and while sparks are supposedly flying, it felt like these two were stuck in their highschool love story. Both characters struggled to communicate with each other, but eventually learned to be more accommodating to each other.
While I enjoyed most of the banter and butterflies between these two, I struggled to hold my interest in their love story. This was a character driven story, and while I enjoyed Morgan’s characterization, I wish I liked Frankie more. Frankie has (late-diagnosed) ADHD, and while I appreciated the representation there, I found her to be rude and overly judgmental of Morgan’s decisions at times. I think it would have been interesting to see these two characters part ways at the end, in a more realistic, albeit bittersweet, ending.
Dana Hawkins’ prose leaned in well to the romcom atmosphere, however, I found that the two protagonists were often *telling* us about their feeling for each other rather than *showing* it. It was interesting to watch their conversations move from prickly to genuine by the end of the novel.
Katie Beudert narrated the audiobook and did an incredible job at capturing the unique voices of both Morgan and Frankie, as well as the overall tone of the story. I found her pacing to be excellent, both at normal speed and at my usual 1.5x speed. I especially enjoyed the midwestern accent and inflections she used for Morgan and some other characters. I always knew who was speaking, thanks to the great character separation.
If you enjoy second chance romances, high school sweethearts to lovers, forced workplace proximity, and wedding planning mayhem, you may enjoy this late-summer read more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing, for the Advanced Listening Copy of this book. This is my honest, spoiler-free review.
July 29, 2025
Oh my god, this book. I'm not even sure where to start. I had so many problems with it and wanted to DNF so many times. But since I'm trying to keep my NetGalley ratio high, I powered through. But I think this will be my last Dana Hawkins book. Unless someone I really, really trust reads a future release and tells me I have to try it.
Okay, let's get to it. In no real order, because they all drove me crazy, we have an insane level of non-communication, clunky prose, almost solid telling instead of showing, ridiculous choices, and two main characters who sound exactly alike.
The non-communication was awful. So many mentions of something along the lines of "I know I should tell (Morgan or Frankie) this super important thing but... nah." It was seriously maddening. The writing itself was rough. How the hell does someone "fold her eyes"? That's just one example of insanity. Then we have every instance of Frankie and Morgan together erupting in a snarky, mean, nasty fight but after "a few weeks," they're falling in love again. But of course they don't actually talk about any of that. Sometimes we got a few lines of dialogue and then paragraphs of prose that tells us all the things that should be being said.
To be fair, I didn't love Not in the Plan but usually later books are better. I had high hopes. But I've got another book down for my annual goal and get to keep my NetGalley ratio close to where it should be.
So thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for helping me to determine that this author just isn't for me.
Okay, let's get to it. In no real order, because they all drove me crazy, we have an insane level of non-communication, clunky prose, almost solid telling instead of showing, ridiculous choices, and two main characters who sound exactly alike.
The non-communication was awful. So many mentions of something along the lines of "I know I should tell (Morgan or Frankie) this super important thing but... nah." It was seriously maddening. The writing itself was rough. How the hell does someone "fold her eyes"? That's just one example of insanity. Then we have every instance of Frankie and Morgan together erupting in a snarky, mean, nasty fight but after "a few weeks," they're falling in love again. But of course they don't actually talk about any of that. Sometimes we got a few lines of dialogue and then paragraphs of prose that tells us all the things that should be being said.
To be fair, I didn't love Not in the Plan but usually later books are better. I had high hopes. But I've got another book down for my annual goal and get to keep my NetGalley ratio close to where it should be.
So thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for helping me to determine that this author just isn't for me.
August 25, 2025
Ex-girlfriend + small town + forced proximity = peak lesbian drama (and I loved every second)
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
The Ex Effect is a swoony, sapphic, second chance romance that blends smalltown charm with just the right amount of angst and pining. Morgan, a slightly uptight wedding planner is trying to save her struggling business from going under, when she suddenly has to work alongside her ex-girlfriend Frankie, a free spirited photographer who’s just returned to town years after their breakup. Their shared past fuels each interaction, a nice blend of snark, tension, and sparks that refuse to die.
What makes this book stand out for me is how realistically Frankie's ADHD is portrayed. Late-diagnosed ADHD is so common in women, and can be absolutely lifechanging to have a diagnosis & medication. Frankie is a perfect example of that. We learn how her undiagnosed ADHD affected her in the past and how she still struggles with simple things, like remembering to take her meds (too real honestly. feeling kinda attacked about it 😅)
Morgan’s anxiety and need for control clash beautifully with Frankie’s ADHD and chill energy, creating conflicts that feel authentic rather than contrived. The pacing was good, and didn't feel too slow or too fast. The slow burn is satisfying, and while the communication between Morgan and Frankie was a little frustrating at times, the emotional payoff and epilogue make it all worthwhile.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Tropes:
Sapphic romance
Second-chance romance (the ex you never really got over)
Smalltown charm
Wedding drama
Forced proximity/working together
Neurodivergent rep (ADHD + anxiety)
Slow burn
Childhood sweethearts
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Content Warnings:
Strong language
Attempted SA
Divorce
Anxiety/panic attacks
Alcohol use
Death of a loved one (mentioned)
Family tensions
Car accident
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Spice Level:
🌶️🌶️ / 5 Spice
Minimal spice. One open-door scene with spice, but the focus stays on intimacy and emotional connection rather than explicit detail.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
This is not my first Dana Hawkins read, but I think it was one of my favorites. It was cozy, sweet, angtsy, and Morgan and Frankie gave us great banter. This absolutely gets 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 5 stars for me. The perfect summer sapphic read!
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
I received an arc from NetGalley and the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
The Ex Effect is a swoony, sapphic, second chance romance that blends smalltown charm with just the right amount of angst and pining. Morgan, a slightly uptight wedding planner is trying to save her struggling business from going under, when she suddenly has to work alongside her ex-girlfriend Frankie, a free spirited photographer who’s just returned to town years after their breakup. Their shared past fuels each interaction, a nice blend of snark, tension, and sparks that refuse to die.
What makes this book stand out for me is how realistically Frankie's ADHD is portrayed. Late-diagnosed ADHD is so common in women, and can be absolutely lifechanging to have a diagnosis & medication. Frankie is a perfect example of that. We learn how her undiagnosed ADHD affected her in the past and how she still struggles with simple things, like remembering to take her meds (too real honestly. feeling kinda attacked about it 😅)
Morgan’s anxiety and need for control clash beautifully with Frankie’s ADHD and chill energy, creating conflicts that feel authentic rather than contrived. The pacing was good, and didn't feel too slow or too fast. The slow burn is satisfying, and while the communication between Morgan and Frankie was a little frustrating at times, the emotional payoff and epilogue make it all worthwhile.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Tropes:
Sapphic romance
Second-chance romance (the ex you never really got over)
Smalltown charm
Wedding drama
Forced proximity/working together
Neurodivergent rep (ADHD + anxiety)
Slow burn
Childhood sweethearts
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Content Warnings:
Strong language
Attempted SA
Divorce
Anxiety/panic attacks
Alcohol use
Death of a loved one (mentioned)
Family tensions
Car accident
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Spice Level:
🌶️🌶️ / 5 Spice
Minimal spice. One open-door scene with spice, but the focus stays on intimacy and emotional connection rather than explicit detail.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
This is not my first Dana Hawkins read, but I think it was one of my favorites. It was cozy, sweet, angtsy, and Morgan and Frankie gave us great banter. This absolutely gets 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 5 stars for me. The perfect summer sapphic read!
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
I received an arc from NetGalley and the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
September 18, 2025
I’m a huge fan of Dana’s books and her as a person (she’s the sweetest!). This book was no exception. I really enjoyed it! It was so freaking cute and well written but also hit all the right spots! One of the FMC’s has ADHD (which made me feel seen! Always love that in a book). And I think it was done so well!
Also, the struggle at taking off Frankie’s sports bra?? So real 🤣 why do people always make it seem so easy in books? Because it isn’t. Those things are tight 😂😂
Highly recommend, this book and any of Dana’s books for that matter!
This book is written in first person with 2x POV’s. Narrated by Katie Beudert. Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Return to Hometown, Workplace Romance, Masc/Femme. 1x Spicy Scene.
Also, the struggle at taking off Frankie’s sports bra?? So real 🤣 why do people always make it seem so easy in books? Because it isn’t. Those things are tight 😂😂
Highly recommend, this book and any of Dana’s books for that matter!
This book is written in first person with 2x POV’s. Narrated by Katie Beudert. Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Return to Hometown, Workplace Romance, Masc/Femme. 1x Spicy Scene.
August 14, 2025
💐 Bookish Thoughts
The Ex Effect is a second chance sapphic romance that is mostly lighthearted, and perfect for summer reading. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and gave it a solid 4 stars. But I definitely liked Morgan a lot more than Frankie.
Our FMC Morgan is a wedding planner who desperately needs this wedding to go off without a hitch because her business is struggling. She is a perfectionist, overly organized, and thrives on having a plan for everything. Enter Frankie, Morgan’s ex girlfriend and the photographer assigned to this wedding. Forced to work together, the two have to get over themselves and make this wedding happen! They definitely didn't get along for like the first 40% of the book!
Their high school relationship did not end well, and honestly, it is not surprising why. Morgan is a planner who finds comfort in structure, while Frankie had undiagnosed ADHD and lacked the support she needed at the time. As they work together they clashed, held on to old drama, and never worked well together.
As adults, I found Frankie unlikeable, overly judgmental, and critical of Morgan, with very little accountability for her actions. While Morgan could be prickly at times, she showed more self awareness. By the end, I could not shake the feeling that Morgan deserved better 🤷🏽♀️
I read both the ebook ARC and the advanced listening copy, and I have to give major props to narrator Katie Beudert. She did a fantastic job differentiating both FMCs, which I especially appreciate in sapphic romances with solo narration. The audiobook performance was a solid 5 stars and made the story even more engaging.
🩷 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Wedding planner FMC
• Photographer ex FMC
• Second chance romance
• Small town setting
• Forced proximity
_____
📅 Pub Date: August 19, 2025
Thank you to Storm Publishing, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for the advanced copies. All thoughts are my own.
The Ex Effect is a second chance sapphic romance that is mostly lighthearted, and perfect for summer reading. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and gave it a solid 4 stars. But I definitely liked Morgan a lot more than Frankie.
Our FMC Morgan is a wedding planner who desperately needs this wedding to go off without a hitch because her business is struggling. She is a perfectionist, overly organized, and thrives on having a plan for everything. Enter Frankie, Morgan’s ex girlfriend and the photographer assigned to this wedding. Forced to work together, the two have to get over themselves and make this wedding happen! They definitely didn't get along for like the first 40% of the book!
Their high school relationship did not end well, and honestly, it is not surprising why. Morgan is a planner who finds comfort in structure, while Frankie had undiagnosed ADHD and lacked the support she needed at the time. As they work together they clashed, held on to old drama, and never worked well together.
As adults, I found Frankie unlikeable, overly judgmental, and critical of Morgan, with very little accountability for her actions. While Morgan could be prickly at times, she showed more self awareness. By the end, I could not shake the feeling that Morgan deserved better 🤷🏽♀️
I read both the ebook ARC and the advanced listening copy, and I have to give major props to narrator Katie Beudert. She did a fantastic job differentiating both FMCs, which I especially appreciate in sapphic romances with solo narration. The audiobook performance was a solid 5 stars and made the story even more engaging.
🩷 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Wedding planner FMC
• Photographer ex FMC
• Second chance romance
• Small town setting
• Forced proximity
_____
📅 Pub Date: August 19, 2025
Thank you to Storm Publishing, Dreamscape Select, and NetGalley for the advanced copies. All thoughts are my own.
October 18, 2025
Worth all the hype!
Absolutely loved this book!.
It's my favourite trope, Second Chances, and it's a great addition to my collection.
Full of humour, snarky come backs, longing,flirting, heartbeat,will they won't they... Of course they will lol.
Loved the ADHD representation, nice to see myself on the page.
I haven't read any books by this author before but this is all about to change!.
Absolutely loved this book!.
It's my favourite trope, Second Chances, and it's a great addition to my collection.
Full of humour, snarky come backs, longing,flirting, heartbeat,will they won't they... Of course they will lol.
Loved the ADHD representation, nice to see myself on the page.
I haven't read any books by this author before but this is all about to change!.
August 8, 2025
3.75⭐️
The Ex Effect by Dana Hawkins turned out to be an endearing sapphic romance — though it didn’t win me over immediately. I’ll admit, it took me a while to feel truly invested. At first, I struggled with the main characters. The constant bickering and bouts of no-communication were frustrating, and I wasn’t sure I’d connect with them. But somewhere along the way, something shifted. Their flaws and messy interactions started to feel authentic, and that realism ultimately made the story click for me.
By the end, I appreciated how much growth both FMCs experienced. Watching them work through insecurities, confront old wounds, and step into their authentic selves gave the book real heart. It was satisfying to see their relationship evolve from prickly and defensive to something genuine and emotionally grounded.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Katie Beudert, and thought she did a wonderful job. Her narration was warm and engaging, with a natural pacing that worked well both at normal speed and when sped up. The production quality was clean, making for an easy and enjoyable listen.
With its August 19th release, The Ex Effect makes for a solid late-summer read — a romance that starts with sparks and ends with something far deeper. If you’re willing to stick with the characters through their rougher edges, you’ll find a story that pays off in the end.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.
⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as I don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again
The Ex Effect by Dana Hawkins turned out to be an endearing sapphic romance — though it didn’t win me over immediately. I’ll admit, it took me a while to feel truly invested. At first, I struggled with the main characters. The constant bickering and bouts of no-communication were frustrating, and I wasn’t sure I’d connect with them. But somewhere along the way, something shifted. Their flaws and messy interactions started to feel authentic, and that realism ultimately made the story click for me.
By the end, I appreciated how much growth both FMCs experienced. Watching them work through insecurities, confront old wounds, and step into their authentic selves gave the book real heart. It was satisfying to see their relationship evolve from prickly and defensive to something genuine and emotionally grounded.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Katie Beudert, and thought she did a wonderful job. Her narration was warm and engaging, with a natural pacing that worked well both at normal speed and when sped up. The production quality was clean, making for an easy and enjoyable listen.
With its August 19th release, The Ex Effect makes for a solid late-summer read — a romance that starts with sparks and ends with something far deeper. If you’re willing to stick with the characters through their rougher edges, you’ll find a story that pays off in the end.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.
⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as I don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again
July 27, 2025
The Ex Effect had a fun premise, and there were definitely some moments I enjoyed. The banter was witty, and the tension between the main characters had potential. I liked the idea of exes being thrown back together, and the second-chance angle had its sweet spots.
That said, I struggled a bit to fully connect with the characters or feel the depth of their chemistry.
Overall, it was a decent read with some charm, just not one that completely swept me away. I’d still try more from Dana Hawkins!
Would I recommend this book to you? Yes
Expected Release Date: 08/19/2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.
That said, I struggled a bit to fully connect with the characters or feel the depth of their chemistry.
Overall, it was a decent read with some charm, just not one that completely swept me away. I’d still try more from Dana Hawkins!
Would I recommend this book to you? Yes
Expected Release Date: 08/19/2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own.
August 23, 2025
I really wanted to like this but I had a hard time connecting with Morgan and Frankie. Morgan was straight up annoying. I did like Frankie a bit more but in the end they both felt immature. When reading a second chance romance, I need to see their growth and I just didn’t see any character growth with either of them. They both lacked communication and maturity. I’ll definitely check out Dana’s previous and future work as I did like her writing. I just couldn’t deal with these two.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
August 19, 2025
I really liked this book and characters! I noticed some reviews complaining about Frankie being late and Morgan needing control, but I found these traits well explained to us as well as to each other throughout the story and was true to their characters/personalities and growth from teens to adults. I really liked the adhd rep as well as the anxiety and perhaps some ocd rep as well. I loved the connections developed from both familiarity as well as something new as adults. The ending felt true to each character and lovely to me. Recommend this as well as the authors other stories!
October 9, 2025
The Ex Effect by @d.hawkinsauthor
Published by Storm Publishing
If you like a small town, forced proximity, second chance romance then this is the book for you.
This small town sapphic comes heavy rom-com vibes and a twist. Morgan and Frankie were childhood sweethearts who broke each other’s hearts and never truly seemed to get over each other.
When Morgan’s wedding planning business is failing, she books what could be her last ditch attempt at saving her livelihood. When she turns up to meet the photographer she never would have guessed that it would be her ex showing up, having completely rebranded herself with a new life and a new name.
The familiarity the two have with each other and little ins that you only pick up and remember with a partner. Frankie’s jokes about making Morgan listen to Bon Jovi, remembering her favourite scoop of ice cream but also what made each other tick in both the right and wrong ways. It was cute seeing how much they knew about each other, but also sad at the same time for how their younger selves misunderstood each other’s intricacies.
Frankie had a late in life ADHD diagnosis and Morgan needs control, plans and time keeping that the army would hold as gold standard. They truly are the picture perfect for opposites attract. I’d be lying if I said these two didn’t frustrate me at times, as it’s a dual POV story telling you get to be in both their heads and can spot every time they seem to be going wrong.
Thankfully this second chance does come good, this is a sweet, funny and somewhat spicy sapphic love story and having seen this is a number 1 in a series, I can’t wait to see what Dana has in store for number 2 which is her festive instalment ‘Any Girl But You’. Sign me up for all of these lesbian love stories 🧡🤍🩷
Published by Storm Publishing
If you like a small town, forced proximity, second chance romance then this is the book for you.
This small town sapphic comes heavy rom-com vibes and a twist. Morgan and Frankie were childhood sweethearts who broke each other’s hearts and never truly seemed to get over each other.
When Morgan’s wedding planning business is failing, she books what could be her last ditch attempt at saving her livelihood. When she turns up to meet the photographer she never would have guessed that it would be her ex showing up, having completely rebranded herself with a new life and a new name.
The familiarity the two have with each other and little ins that you only pick up and remember with a partner. Frankie’s jokes about making Morgan listen to Bon Jovi, remembering her favourite scoop of ice cream but also what made each other tick in both the right and wrong ways. It was cute seeing how much they knew about each other, but also sad at the same time for how their younger selves misunderstood each other’s intricacies.
Frankie had a late in life ADHD diagnosis and Morgan needs control, plans and time keeping that the army would hold as gold standard. They truly are the picture perfect for opposites attract. I’d be lying if I said these two didn’t frustrate me at times, as it’s a dual POV story telling you get to be in both their heads and can spot every time they seem to be going wrong.
Thankfully this second chance does come good, this is a sweet, funny and somewhat spicy sapphic love story and having seen this is a number 1 in a series, I can’t wait to see what Dana has in store for number 2 which is her festive instalment ‘Any Girl But You’. Sign me up for all of these lesbian love stories 🧡🤍🩷
September 1, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Overall, I felt like this was a solid middle of the road romance book. It did the romance things I was expecting it to. But I wasn’t wowed by it. Honestly, at some points it felt like plot points were being thrown at a wall to see what stuck.
I enjoyed the second-chance romance elements of this book. But I feel like I never got a great sense of the past relationship between Morgan and Frankie. Also, despite this book being a dual POV, I felt like I didn’t get the depth I needed to feel especially connected to either character.
Small town romances are always a lot of fun! But with this one the small town felt very surface level. I wanted to really feel like I belonged there as a reader. I think we got to know too little about too many places instead of really diving in and putting down roots in specific locations.
Before you get into the audiobook, you do need to know that there are times when the narrator employs a particularly strong Minnesota accent. I appreciate how this audiobook got to feature a region-specific narrator. Some times, it did catch me off guard though. I was able to listen at 2.5 speed with ease (I typically hover somewhere around 2-2.5) and the narration was clear and easy to understand.
If you’re interested in easy-reading, small-town, sapphic romances, this may be for you! Not my favorite, but I think that this book has a time and place and it may just work wonderfully for you!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Overall, I felt like this was a solid middle of the road romance book. It did the romance things I was expecting it to. But I wasn’t wowed by it. Honestly, at some points it felt like plot points were being thrown at a wall to see what stuck.
I enjoyed the second-chance romance elements of this book. But I feel like I never got a great sense of the past relationship between Morgan and Frankie. Also, despite this book being a dual POV, I felt like I didn’t get the depth I needed to feel especially connected to either character.
Small town romances are always a lot of fun! But with this one the small town felt very surface level. I wanted to really feel like I belonged there as a reader. I think we got to know too little about too many places instead of really diving in and putting down roots in specific locations.
Before you get into the audiobook, you do need to know that there are times when the narrator employs a particularly strong Minnesota accent. I appreciate how this audiobook got to feature a region-specific narrator. Some times, it did catch me off guard though. I was able to listen at 2.5 speed with ease (I typically hover somewhere around 2-2.5) and the narration was clear and easy to understand.
If you’re interested in easy-reading, small-town, sapphic romances, this may be for you! Not my favorite, but I think that this book has a time and place and it may just work wonderfully for you!
September 7, 2025
I was excited to pick up The Ex Effect after enjoying Dana Hawkins’ previous books, but I struggled to fully immerse myself in this one. Morgan’s need to control everything really grated on me, and the constant reminders that Frankie is always late felt repetitive and a bit heavy-handed. That said, I warmed to Frankie straight away—her backstory and depth were engaging, and I found myself rooting for her more than for Morgan. The second-chance setup had potential, and I enjoyed the sparks of chemistry that did come through as the story progressed.
There were elements I really liked, especially the barn-to-wedding-venue subplot. I love when stories weave in themes of transformation and making something new out of something old, and that part of the book added a cozy, grounded touch. But I found myself frustrated with the romance itself at times. So much of it leaned on miscommunication or avoidance, and too often feelings were “told” rather than “shown.” I wanted more real, open conversations between the two women, and less circling around what they should have been saying to each other.
The audiobook narration by Katie Beudert was excellent, though, and definitely helped me stick with it. Her pacing, delivery, and accents gave each character a distinct voice, and I always knew who was speaking. Overall, this wasn’t a bad read—I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. It had flashes of charm and a few heartfelt moments, but it just didn’t land with me in the way I was hoping.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
There were elements I really liked, especially the barn-to-wedding-venue subplot. I love when stories weave in themes of transformation and making something new out of something old, and that part of the book added a cozy, grounded touch. But I found myself frustrated with the romance itself at times. So much of it leaned on miscommunication or avoidance, and too often feelings were “told” rather than “shown.” I wanted more real, open conversations between the two women, and less circling around what they should have been saying to each other.
The audiobook narration by Katie Beudert was excellent, though, and definitely helped me stick with it. Her pacing, delivery, and accents gave each character a distinct voice, and I always knew who was speaking. Overall, this wasn’t a bad read—I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. It had flashes of charm and a few heartfelt moments, but it just didn’t land with me in the way I was hoping.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Select | Storm Publishing for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 7, 2025The Ex Effect is the second book I’ve read by this author. My first one wasn’t a great experience, I blamed a book hangover. However, my experience with this book was much the same, without a book hangover. It’s possible this author’s style just isn’t for me.
This is a second chance romance, our mains split after high school. They are meeting again in their mid-thirties in their hometown. The reason for their split isn’t revealed until fairly late in the story, for a second chance romance way too late. There seems to be no resolution to their story even though they do end up together. Of course this is a spoiler but what do you expect from a second chance romance? Them not ending up together? There is too much reference to the past and how one character hurt the other, from both sides, and it’s all in their own minds. Which is very annoying. There isn’t a lot of talking and actually “adulting” going on. The characters are very one dimensional, the story rather boring and not developing beyond a surface level.
Not a great read for me, but anyone else might like it.
This is a second chance romance, our mains split after high school. They are meeting again in their mid-thirties in their hometown. The reason for their split isn’t revealed until fairly late in the story, for a second chance romance way too late. There seems to be no resolution to their story even though they do end up together. Of course this is a spoiler but what do you expect from a second chance romance? Them not ending up together? There is too much reference to the past and how one character hurt the other, from both sides, and it’s all in their own minds. Which is very annoying. There isn’t a lot of talking and actually “adulting” going on. The characters are very one dimensional, the story rather boring and not developing beyond a surface level.
Not a great read for me, but anyone else might like it.
July 16, 2025
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the digital ARC!
I loved the second chance exes to lovers plot! The setting of a wedding was beautifully done. Overall a solid feel good queer romance!
I loved the second chance exes to lovers plot! The setting of a wedding was beautifully done. Overall a solid feel good queer romance!
August 17, 2025
Caution contains spoilers: 3.5 stars
This second chance sapphic romance story features Morgan Rose and Frankie Lee as they navigate running into each other for the first time in 14 years and learn to work together on a wedding that could make or break them both.
Morgan Rose has always been the girl with not only a plan, but a plan to her back up plan. She stays organized by color coding things, sticking to the schedule, arriving at least 10 minutes early to any appointment, and most of all, never letting anything or anyone get in the way of her success. Her entire world basically revolves around her wedding business, the town that she was born and raised in, and her brother’s family; there is definitely no room for a relationship. So when the one woman who managed to break down her walls and derail her meticulously planned out life suddenly reappears in her life, Morgan doesn’t know what to do.
Frankie Lee, formerly known as Katey, always wanted to be a photographer. Yeah she was a great athlete in high school, but after getting injured on the soccer field, Frankie knew she was meant to be a photographer. Even if that meant leaving the love of her life and high school girlfriend Morgan behind, to pursue her dreams in New York. Now being back in the town of Spring Harbors where it all started to help her cousin out with photographing his wedding, the last thing she expects is to run into Morgan. Morgan, who looks better than Frankie remembered, standing there with her lips pursed and fuming at her for being late to their joint appointment.
Reluctantly the two agree to work together for the sake of the wedding which is only 87 days away, and will take a miracle to pull off at this point. Having to work together proves even more difficult when Frankie is constantly late, and Morgan refuses to alter her uptight personality. But when Morgan can't stop thinking about Frankie and her new look, complete with strong shoulders and biceps, especially with how hot she looks on the back of her motorcycle, she gets a little more distracted by the day. And when Frankie learns the real reason why Morgan is the way that she is and the kind of life she has built in the place they grew up, she can’t help but fall for her. So when one thing leads to another, they find themselves caught up in breathtaking photoshoots, impromptu dance lessons, a freak accident, and a connection that never seemed to really go away. The real question is though, are Morgan and Frankie finally ready to confront their pasts and own up to their mistakes in order to have a future worth pursuing?
Morgan did seem like ALOT in the beginning. Constantly needing to control the situation, expect everyone to be on her timetable, and judging anyone who didn't meet her standards. But as the story progresses and you begin to realize why she is the way that she is, her prickly exterior was put in place to protect herself, her extreme need for structure and organization to help comfort her, and need to feel in control so that she has autonomy over her life. Frankie definitely played a huge role in these characteristics, especially when she ran off to New York and broke her heart. I can definitely see and understand Morgan’s point of view and how things had shifted so that she could begin to repair her broken heart and not make the same mistakes twice. But I also thought some of these traits were taken to the extreme when she would constantly bring up Frankie being late, not caring about the wedding, or how she always leaves, without just having a normal conversation with Frankie about it. I know they did eventually talk about things, but it took way too long which only prolonged the old drama and made it feel repetitive. What I did really appreciate about Morgan was her overall kindness, work ethic, and tenacity to never give up. I also absolutely loved her relationship with her brother and his family, especially the soccer sidelines scene with the donuts.
Frankie was a bit unlikeable in the beginning too, but again, once you learn about her self discovery journey in New York and how her undiagnosed ADHD affected her, you begin to love her. High School Frankie definitely would have been hard to deal with and I can completely understand how she influenced Morgan to be the way that she is because of how much time they spent together and how much Morgan had to take on. While I still feel like Frankie should have taken more accountability for her actions, she did grow a lot from her time in New York and with spending more time with Morgan in the present. Their bickering was definitely very mean in the beginning, I didn’t like how they both judged each other and made assumptions about each other in the beginning. Once they actually were both able to set aside their pride and their differences, it was amazing how fast everything was able to change. It just took too long for me, for them to finally stop whining and blaming each other and just have a hard conversation about everything they needed to clear the air. I did however, really enjoy their dynamic once they actually started listening to one another and their emotional connection and physical chemistry sparked. I really loved how passionate Frankie was about photography, her bond and connection to her grandma, and how protective she became of Morgan, especially with the chicken mishap. Her ADHD was blended in perfectly with her personality and the story. I especially loved how this provided the depth that her character needed in order for the audience to sympathize with her and understand how hard it is for someone to live with an undiagnosed disability and make the necessary changes in order to support and understand themselves.
As for the actual romance, I wish it didn’t take so long to get too, because I felt like there was so much time spent bickering and avoiding the big conversation they needed to have, that there wasn’t enough time to develop a strong enough chemistry. I would have liked to have seen more sweet and romantic dates and steamy moments, rather than tension building and excessive non communication. Despite their differences I did root for them to be together, mainly because of how their story started, rather than how it ended though. I think their relationship definitely benefitted from time apart so that they could each work on themselves individually before being ready to commit to a serious relationship. Frankie’s journey especially was really beautiful how she changed her name and her look to best represent her and how she needed to learn to be on her own to truly discover what she wanted without just being “Morgan’s girlfriend”. Even though Morgan’s transformation was based more on trying to cover up her feelings and hide behind a strong exterior, I enjoyed seeing her open herself up again for Frankie and learn how to be vulnerable. Overall, I enjoyed how the character’s initial issues were dealt with and explored, leading to beautifully written growth, but I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn’t taken so long to replace the bickering with the romance.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the early digital copy for review.
This second chance sapphic romance story features Morgan Rose and Frankie Lee as they navigate running into each other for the first time in 14 years and learn to work together on a wedding that could make or break them both.
Morgan Rose has always been the girl with not only a plan, but a plan to her back up plan. She stays organized by color coding things, sticking to the schedule, arriving at least 10 minutes early to any appointment, and most of all, never letting anything or anyone get in the way of her success. Her entire world basically revolves around her wedding business, the town that she was born and raised in, and her brother’s family; there is definitely no room for a relationship. So when the one woman who managed to break down her walls and derail her meticulously planned out life suddenly reappears in her life, Morgan doesn’t know what to do.
Frankie Lee, formerly known as Katey, always wanted to be a photographer. Yeah she was a great athlete in high school, but after getting injured on the soccer field, Frankie knew she was meant to be a photographer. Even if that meant leaving the love of her life and high school girlfriend Morgan behind, to pursue her dreams in New York. Now being back in the town of Spring Harbors where it all started to help her cousin out with photographing his wedding, the last thing she expects is to run into Morgan. Morgan, who looks better than Frankie remembered, standing there with her lips pursed and fuming at her for being late to their joint appointment.
Reluctantly the two agree to work together for the sake of the wedding which is only 87 days away, and will take a miracle to pull off at this point. Having to work together proves even more difficult when Frankie is constantly late, and Morgan refuses to alter her uptight personality. But when Morgan can't stop thinking about Frankie and her new look, complete with strong shoulders and biceps, especially with how hot she looks on the back of her motorcycle, she gets a little more distracted by the day. And when Frankie learns the real reason why Morgan is the way that she is and the kind of life she has built in the place they grew up, she can’t help but fall for her. So when one thing leads to another, they find themselves caught up in breathtaking photoshoots, impromptu dance lessons, a freak accident, and a connection that never seemed to really go away. The real question is though, are Morgan and Frankie finally ready to confront their pasts and own up to their mistakes in order to have a future worth pursuing?
Morgan did seem like ALOT in the beginning. Constantly needing to control the situation, expect everyone to be on her timetable, and judging anyone who didn't meet her standards. But as the story progresses and you begin to realize why she is the way that she is, her prickly exterior was put in place to protect herself, her extreme need for structure and organization to help comfort her, and need to feel in control so that she has autonomy over her life. Frankie definitely played a huge role in these characteristics, especially when she ran off to New York and broke her heart. I can definitely see and understand Morgan’s point of view and how things had shifted so that she could begin to repair her broken heart and not make the same mistakes twice. But I also thought some of these traits were taken to the extreme when she would constantly bring up Frankie being late, not caring about the wedding, or how she always leaves, without just having a normal conversation with Frankie about it. I know they did eventually talk about things, but it took way too long which only prolonged the old drama and made it feel repetitive. What I did really appreciate about Morgan was her overall kindness, work ethic, and tenacity to never give up. I also absolutely loved her relationship with her brother and his family, especially the soccer sidelines scene with the donuts.
Frankie was a bit unlikeable in the beginning too, but again, once you learn about her self discovery journey in New York and how her undiagnosed ADHD affected her, you begin to love her. High School Frankie definitely would have been hard to deal with and I can completely understand how she influenced Morgan to be the way that she is because of how much time they spent together and how much Morgan had to take on. While I still feel like Frankie should have taken more accountability for her actions, she did grow a lot from her time in New York and with spending more time with Morgan in the present. Their bickering was definitely very mean in the beginning, I didn’t like how they both judged each other and made assumptions about each other in the beginning. Once they actually were both able to set aside their pride and their differences, it was amazing how fast everything was able to change. It just took too long for me, for them to finally stop whining and blaming each other and just have a hard conversation about everything they needed to clear the air. I did however, really enjoy their dynamic once they actually started listening to one another and their emotional connection and physical chemistry sparked. I really loved how passionate Frankie was about photography, her bond and connection to her grandma, and how protective she became of Morgan, especially with the chicken mishap. Her ADHD was blended in perfectly with her personality and the story. I especially loved how this provided the depth that her character needed in order for the audience to sympathize with her and understand how hard it is for someone to live with an undiagnosed disability and make the necessary changes in order to support and understand themselves.
As for the actual romance, I wish it didn’t take so long to get too, because I felt like there was so much time spent bickering and avoiding the big conversation they needed to have, that there wasn’t enough time to develop a strong enough chemistry. I would have liked to have seen more sweet and romantic dates and steamy moments, rather than tension building and excessive non communication. Despite their differences I did root for them to be together, mainly because of how their story started, rather than how it ended though. I think their relationship definitely benefitted from time apart so that they could each work on themselves individually before being ready to commit to a serious relationship. Frankie’s journey especially was really beautiful how she changed her name and her look to best represent her and how she needed to learn to be on her own to truly discover what she wanted without just being “Morgan’s girlfriend”. Even though Morgan’s transformation was based more on trying to cover up her feelings and hide behind a strong exterior, I enjoyed seeing her open herself up again for Frankie and learn how to be vulnerable. Overall, I enjoyed how the character’s initial issues were dealt with and explored, leading to beautifully written growth, but I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn’t taken so long to replace the bickering with the romance.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the early digital copy for review.
July 24, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Dana Hawkins for an ARC for my honest review.
The Ex Effect was a fun and engaging second chance romance set small town USA. This was my first book by Dana Hawkins and I feel she kept my attention and I will certainly look for more by this author. I love second chance romances where the couple had a real love cut short by life & circumstances, especially if it’s a high school romance. That’s exactly what this was!
Morgan and Frankie had a sweet and intense high school love that was promptly extinguished once life doused them with its complicated waters. Now, 15 years (and practically an entire lifetime) later they are thrust back together but in a professional capacity. Morgan’s wedding planning business is struggling, to say the least. She is a type A perfectionist and despite this she can’t seem to make a successful wedding planning career. Her current wedding project must go off without a hitch if she’s to keep her business. Frankie is a talented photographer who agrees to work the wedding. And thus the drama ensues!
Morgan and Frankie are equal parts shocked, excited, fearful and annoyed at having to work together. Although, their attraction and chemistry bubbles to surface sooner than later! I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. Although most second chance romances have a “will they or won’t they” aspect, it often drags out too long. I felt the two were able to hash it out, so to speak, at a believable point in the story.
It was refreshing to read about people growing into better versions of themselves. While Morgan & Frankie were separated by life they both grew up. But Frankie had the difficult obstacle of being diagnosed with, treating, living and ultimately thriving with a mental health condition. In high school her undiagnosed ADHD was like bulldozer just smashing its way through her life. But she’s done the work & in adulthood, she is a strong, resilient badass!
The feelings and physical attraction are there for both Morgan and Frank. Honestly, after all these years, they never really got over each other. This wedding project is the time for reckoning and they both recognize they are better together. Though… it is quite the journey to get there. I appreciated that their connection was so real and I found myself rooting for them early on.
The Ex Effect was a sweet, slightly spicy, angsty, charming and deeply rewarding second chance wlw story and I definitely enjoyed it. It will thoroughly entertain you and I certainly recommend it. Will definitely keep an eye out for more from Hawkins & Storm publishing!
The Ex Effect was a fun and engaging second chance romance set small town USA. This was my first book by Dana Hawkins and I feel she kept my attention and I will certainly look for more by this author. I love second chance romances where the couple had a real love cut short by life & circumstances, especially if it’s a high school romance. That’s exactly what this was!
Morgan and Frankie had a sweet and intense high school love that was promptly extinguished once life doused them with its complicated waters. Now, 15 years (and practically an entire lifetime) later they are thrust back together but in a professional capacity. Morgan’s wedding planning business is struggling, to say the least. She is a type A perfectionist and despite this she can’t seem to make a successful wedding planning career. Her current wedding project must go off without a hitch if she’s to keep her business. Frankie is a talented photographer who agrees to work the wedding. And thus the drama ensues!
Morgan and Frankie are equal parts shocked, excited, fearful and annoyed at having to work together. Although, their attraction and chemistry bubbles to surface sooner than later! I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. Although most second chance romances have a “will they or won’t they” aspect, it often drags out too long. I felt the two were able to hash it out, so to speak, at a believable point in the story.
It was refreshing to read about people growing into better versions of themselves. While Morgan & Frankie were separated by life they both grew up. But Frankie had the difficult obstacle of being diagnosed with, treating, living and ultimately thriving with a mental health condition. In high school her undiagnosed ADHD was like bulldozer just smashing its way through her life. But she’s done the work & in adulthood, she is a strong, resilient badass!
The feelings and physical attraction are there for both Morgan and Frank. Honestly, after all these years, they never really got over each other. This wedding project is the time for reckoning and they both recognize they are better together. Though… it is quite the journey to get there. I appreciated that their connection was so real and I found myself rooting for them early on.
The Ex Effect was a sweet, slightly spicy, angsty, charming and deeply rewarding second chance wlw story and I definitely enjoyed it. It will thoroughly entertain you and I certainly recommend it. Will definitely keep an eye out for more from Hawkins & Storm publishing!
August 12, 2025
I received an ARC of The Ex Effect in exchange for an honest review. This book, out August 19th, 2025, is a delightful mix of romance, suspense, and genuine emotion that kept me hooked from start to finish.
At its core, The Ex Effect is a compelling sapphic second chance romance filled with enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes. Morgan, a wedding planner on the edge, is racing against time to pull off her biggest event yet when she unexpectedly has to work with Frankie—her ex-girlfriend who once shattered her heart. The story explores themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and the messy reality of love that’s worth fighting for—twice.
What made this story especially stand out for me was how authentic the characters felt, despite their flaws. Frankie’s ADHD and her journey to understanding herself add much depth and awareness to her character, making her even more relatable. Morgan’s organized exterior hides her vulnerability, which she slowly exposes as she confronts her past. Watching these two work through their differences—and their shared history—was both adorable and emotionally satisfying.
The romance develops gradually, blending humor with tender moments, and the tension is perfectly paced. I appreciated how the story tackles complex issues like insecurity, self-discovery, and the importance of communication. It might start with some bickering and uncertainty, but that authenticity makes the characters’ growth feel genuine by the end.
The narration by Katie Beudert was warm and engaging, enhancing the reading experience. Overall, The Ex Effect is a satisfying late-summer read—full of sparks that evolve into something much deeper. If you’re into stories about healing, second chances, and beautifully flawed characters, this one is absolutely worth your time.
I highly recommend giving it a read and look forward to more sapphic romances from Dana Hawkins!
At its core, The Ex Effect is a compelling sapphic second chance romance filled with enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes. Morgan, a wedding planner on the edge, is racing against time to pull off her biggest event yet when she unexpectedly has to work with Frankie—her ex-girlfriend who once shattered her heart. The story explores themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and the messy reality of love that’s worth fighting for—twice.
What made this story especially stand out for me was how authentic the characters felt, despite their flaws. Frankie’s ADHD and her journey to understanding herself add much depth and awareness to her character, making her even more relatable. Morgan’s organized exterior hides her vulnerability, which she slowly exposes as she confronts her past. Watching these two work through their differences—and their shared history—was both adorable and emotionally satisfying.
The romance develops gradually, blending humor with tender moments, and the tension is perfectly paced. I appreciated how the story tackles complex issues like insecurity, self-discovery, and the importance of communication. It might start with some bickering and uncertainty, but that authenticity makes the characters’ growth feel genuine by the end.
The narration by Katie Beudert was warm and engaging, enhancing the reading experience. Overall, The Ex Effect is a satisfying late-summer read—full of sparks that evolve into something much deeper. If you’re into stories about healing, second chances, and beautifully flawed characters, this one is absolutely worth your time.
I highly recommend giving it a read and look forward to more sapphic romances from Dana Hawkins!
July 15, 2025
Conflict of interest warning: I am one of those people who believes arriving on time is arriving late, and I do have quite a bit of anxiety. Keep this in mind when it comes to my feelings about one of the characters.
When I had an opportunity to read the newest Dana Hawkins book, I was looking forward to it. I had enjoyed all three Single in Seattle books, and I didn’t think a scenery change to Minnesota would change anything. And it wasn’t the scenery that changed anything.
Morgan and Frankie dated as teenagers. Then life after graduation and which direction to go in broke them up. That’s understandable. What isn’t really understandable is why they were together in the first place. And Hawkins doesn’t really go into any length as to what drew them together romantically. Nor does she really show anything in the present time–Morgan dislikes Frankie’s devil-may-care approach to something that is sort of her last-change approach as a wedding planner who is slowly being squeezed out by a corporation. And Frankie doesn’t like Morgan’s need to have everything planned and on time (almost as if a wedding planner might need to worry about those things), and we get her view that Morgan was always like that and Frankie never thought much of it, so why were they together in the first place? Again, I don’t know: when it comes to their past or a major event in Frankie’s recent history, we get told way more than shown–and “told” seems generous–more like summarized.
The reason Frankie is like she is has to do with her ADHD, but it’s also an excuse and grace she gives to herself she seems unable to give to others. It’s quite obvious that Morgan has anxiety, but Frankie doesn’t seem to care. Morgan might be one of the most self-centered and judgmental characters I’ve read in a book this year–at least until late in the book, and by then it’s too late for me. This is not to say that Frankie doesn’t do some kind things, but her overall approach to and inner monologues about Morgan negate all that to me.
I enjoyed Morgan, and I enjoyed the setting, and the resolution of the story worked perfectly fine for me (with things working differently than I expected), which would have been enjoyable if it wasn’t for Morgan.
This was not a good read, but Hawkins has written such a good Seattle trilogy that I look forward to the next book in this series and hope that this was but a bump in the road.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dana Hawkins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I had an opportunity to read the newest Dana Hawkins book, I was looking forward to it. I had enjoyed all three Single in Seattle books, and I didn’t think a scenery change to Minnesota would change anything. And it wasn’t the scenery that changed anything.
Morgan and Frankie dated as teenagers. Then life after graduation and which direction to go in broke them up. That’s understandable. What isn’t really understandable is why they were together in the first place. And Hawkins doesn’t really go into any length as to what drew them together romantically. Nor does she really show anything in the present time–Morgan dislikes Frankie’s devil-may-care approach to something that is sort of her last-change approach as a wedding planner who is slowly being squeezed out by a corporation. And Frankie doesn’t like Morgan’s need to have everything planned and on time (almost as if a wedding planner might need to worry about those things), and we get her view that Morgan was always like that and Frankie never thought much of it, so why were they together in the first place? Again, I don’t know: when it comes to their past or a major event in Frankie’s recent history, we get told way more than shown–and “told” seems generous–more like summarized.
The reason Frankie is like she is has to do with her ADHD, but it’s also an excuse and grace she gives to herself she seems unable to give to others. It’s quite obvious that Morgan has anxiety, but Frankie doesn’t seem to care. Morgan might be one of the most self-centered and judgmental characters I’ve read in a book this year–at least until late in the book, and by then it’s too late for me. This is not to say that Frankie doesn’t do some kind things, but her overall approach to and inner monologues about Morgan negate all that to me.
I enjoyed Morgan, and I enjoyed the setting, and the resolution of the story worked perfectly fine for me (with things working differently than I expected), which would have been enjoyable if it wasn’t for Morgan.
This was not a good read, but Hawkins has written such a good Seattle trilogy that I look forward to the next book in this series and hope that this was but a bump in the road.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dana Hawkins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was enjoyable, and I always love Dana Hawkins’ writing. It took me a long time to warm up to Morgan. A LONG time. Thankfully, her character grew and evolved throughout the book, and she became much more likable. Frankie was endearing almost immediately, and her ADHD rep was fantastic.
As nice as this book was, there wasn’t really anything overly exciting about it. The ending nearly pissed me off, but thankfully took a slight turn before it truly could. Still did a little, though— see below.
*SPOILER* I’m still bitter that Frankie had to leave NY. Why is she always the one giving up on her dreams for Morgan. That’s BS. We hear about it throughout the entire novel, and then nothing changes? Idk. I get that she’s “happy,” but still.
Anyway, it is a nice palate cleanser of a book. Ending was a bit rushed. Overall 3.5/4.
This was enjoyable, and I always love Dana Hawkins’ writing. It took me a long time to warm up to Morgan. A LONG time. Thankfully, her character grew and evolved throughout the book, and she became much more likable. Frankie was endearing almost immediately, and her ADHD rep was fantastic.
As nice as this book was, there wasn’t really anything overly exciting about it. The ending nearly pissed me off, but thankfully took a slight turn before it truly could. Still did a little, though— see below.
*SPOILER* I’m still bitter that Frankie had to leave NY. Why is she always the one giving up on her dreams for Morgan. That’s BS. We hear about it throughout the entire novel, and then nothing changes? Idk. I get that she’s “happy,” but still.
Anyway, it is a nice palate cleanser of a book. Ending was a bit rushed. Overall 3.5/4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2025
The Ex Effect is a lesbian romance novel about second chances and healing past wounds. 💫💫💫💫💫
Morgan is a wedding planner, and she is one wedding cake away from losing her business. So, the current wedding that she is hyper focused on must happen without a glitch. Except that she finds out that the photographer chosen for this wedding is one other than Frankie. The woman who broke her heart 10 years ago and who looks good. They must both put aside their past issues and feelings in order to make this wedding happen.
Morgan and Frankie are great FMCs. They both have good, strong stories aside from each other. They have both grown and become better versions of themselves, though sometimes you just want to shake them to make them see what we all need them to see. Cute, cozy romantic read with some sweet and funny moments.
Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.
Morgan is a wedding planner, and she is one wedding cake away from losing her business. So, the current wedding that she is hyper focused on must happen without a glitch. Except that she finds out that the photographer chosen for this wedding is one other than Frankie. The woman who broke her heart 10 years ago and who looks good. They must both put aside their past issues and feelings in order to make this wedding happen.
Morgan and Frankie are great FMCs. They both have good, strong stories aside from each other. They have both grown and become better versions of themselves, though sometimes you just want to shake them to make them see what we all need them to see. Cute, cozy romantic read with some sweet and funny moments.
Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.
August 20, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
The Ex Effect is the first book in Dana Hawkins’ Meet Cute in Minnesota series, and is a story revolving around misunderstandings as past hurts color present conflicts … but handled in a mature and forgiving way. Frankie and Morgan — even with all the years separating them — knew each other so intimately that they still know precisely the ways to hurt one another, but they also love one another enough, as friends then and now, to forgive and to seek forgiveness.
This is a good second chance romance, with pining but no angst. There are hurt feelings, but no great anger or enmity between them, and for all that Morgan and Frankie have spent a decade and a half apart, it’s clear how well they fit together.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
The Ex Effect is the first book in Dana Hawkins’ Meet Cute in Minnesota series, and is a story revolving around misunderstandings as past hurts color present conflicts … but handled in a mature and forgiving way. Frankie and Morgan — even with all the years separating them — knew each other so intimately that they still know precisely the ways to hurt one another, but they also love one another enough, as friends then and now, to forgive and to seek forgiveness.
This is a good second chance romance, with pining but no angst. There are hurt feelings, but no great anger or enmity between them, and for all that Morgan and Frankie have spent a decade and a half apart, it’s clear how well they fit together.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
December 23, 2025
Since I read "Any Girl But You" first, I couldnt help but jump into Frankie and Morgan's story. Second chance romances are a favorite.
This was a treat to see Frankie and Morgan sort through all their feelings. Of course there's hurt and anger from their past...pushing each other's buttons 😁. Then after spending time together, discovering the other person all over again... only to be put in the same situation that split them up in the first place.
I loved the writing - I really felt all the emotions in this one ❤️
This was a treat to see Frankie and Morgan sort through all their feelings. Of course there's hurt and anger from their past...pushing each other's buttons 😁. Then after spending time together, discovering the other person all over again... only to be put in the same situation that split them up in the first place.
I loved the writing - I really felt all the emotions in this one ❤️
September 28, 2025
The next Effect is a second chance romance between two females that was slow and almost a DNF for me because of all the wishy washyness between the two. I chose this book for a NetGalley are and based off the cover and reading the name Frank in the description of the book I didnt realize it was an LGBT book. I have nothing against it just not my forte. I gave the book three stars because of it being slow and the wishy washy moods between the two.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read.
September 29, 2025
DNF @47%
I felt like there was no chemistry between the two FMC's and I didn't really enjoy this one. It mostly felt like a lot was going on but nothing was happeing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
I felt like there was no chemistry between the two FMC's and I didn't really enjoy this one. It mostly felt like a lot was going on but nothing was happeing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review!
August 19, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
I really enjoyed this Sapphic, forced proximity, dual POV, second chance romance that sees two former girlfriends both working on the same wedding after having lost touch since graduation. NYC photographer Frankie still has regrets over their breakup with wedding planner Morgan and having to work closely with her back in their hometown is bringing back all kinds of feelings. The ADHD rep (Frankie) and Anxiety rep (Morgan) was great in this emotionally charged and steamy love story. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Haley Cass or Melissa Marr. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
I really enjoyed this Sapphic, forced proximity, dual POV, second chance romance that sees two former girlfriends both working on the same wedding after having lost touch since graduation. NYC photographer Frankie still has regrets over their breakup with wedding planner Morgan and having to work closely with her back in their hometown is bringing back all kinds of feelings. The ADHD rep (Frankie) and Anxiety rep (Morgan) was great in this emotionally charged and steamy love story. Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Haley Cass or Melissa Marr. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
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