Main Character Energy

by Kendall Ryan

Andi Callahan prefers the quiet company of the dead.

As a morgue tech in a sleepy coastal town outside Boston, she lives for silence, predictability, and zero small talk.
Living people? Too loud. Too messy. Too nosy.

The dead don’t interrupt her, meddle in her life, or flirt with her.

Cole Hartley does.

He’s everything Andi avoids—charming, persistent, and entirely too good-looking for his own good.
The town’s beloved firefighter-paramedic has a hero complex the size of Massachusetts and a dangerous talent for cracking Andi’s ice-cold composure.

What starts as a harmless bet to make her smile turns into something neither of them saw coming.
Now Cole’s determined to prove that life is worth the mess—and that love might be the riskiest, most rewarding thing of all.

Funny, heartfelt, and impossible to put down, this opposites-attract romance asks what happens when a woman who’s made peace with solitude finally lets herself feel everything.

Perfect for fans of quirky slow-burns, grumpy-sunshine, spicy banter, enemies to lovers, and one very determined golden retriever in human form.

What to Expect in Main Character
Golden Retriever Hero x Black Cat Heroine
Grumpy/Sunshine
Opposites Attract
Small Town Romance
Workplace Romance
Slow Burn
Found Family
Meddling Friends & Coworkers
Past Trauma/Emotional Wounds
Banter-Heavy Romance

Genres: Romance, Slow Burn, Workplace Romance, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Found Family

402 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2026

About the author

Kendall Ryan is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of flirty, feel-good romance filled with heart, heat, and plenty of banter. An American author who has lived all over the world, her books have sold millions of copies and been translated into multiple languages. She writes swoony heroes, bold heroines, and stories that make you laugh, blush, and fall in love. When she’s not dreaming up new plotlines, she is a proud mom to two amazing sons and the wife of her real-life hero.


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Reviews

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s been years since I’ve read a Kendall Ryan book but I was not expecting four POVs and two love stories in this one. It made it hard to connect and settle in to the MCs story. Fairly ironic given the title. There was def no Main Character Energy here….a whole lotta side character energy.

Overall: 2.5

[Marina Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable but also quite a different story. Especially when a morgue technician and a firefighter meet.
I wholeheartedly loved Andi, her quirkiness and just her vibe, made me want to be her friend.
Cole is nothing if not persistent and what starts as a bet, turns out to be something that no one expects. Something rather unexpected.
I felt so much while reading this book and I also shed some tears….
Cole and Andi forever? You’ll just have to read it for yourself to find out. Such an interesting and also heartbreaking story!
Great writing Ms Ryan!

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andi Callahan loves her job in the town’s morgue as it’s quiet and mostly no one bothers her there. That is except the town’s firefighter/EMT, Cole Hartley. He is determined to get AndI to open up to others and just live. When her work makes her participate in a date auction for charity she is not happy but doesn’t have a choice either. She may think she wants to be alone but can Cole show her there is more to life than just her lonely job? What a fun romance with a reverse grumpy/sunshine situation. There is also an underlying emotional reason for the way she is. I really enjoyed watching these two together and Cole getting her to open up. Definitely an emotional, feel good romance with a side of romcom. Told in first person and multiple POV.

[Dana Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but that's how I read. I never read a synopis and always just go into a story blind. Starting Main Character Energy, I totally went into this thinking it was going to be some cutesy romance where a wild and free girl with her colorful hair is breaking down the walls of the handsome broody, tatted guys. That is not this book.
Reverse the sunshine vs grumpy roles and add in some depth and grief and heartbreak and you have the beautiful story that is Main Character Energy. Loved it!

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is quintessential KRy -- warm, witty, charming, and full of heart. It's the kind of romance I need more of. Determined Golden Retriever hero and a heroine with mile-high walls who prefers the dead to the complicated, emotionally messy living. Andi Callahan is my new favorite shero, and Cole Harltey gets major bonus points for his persistence.

She works as a morgue tech, and he's a firefighter/paramedic. She's the grump to his sunshine, but her wounds run deep, giving her far greater wisdom about loss than a woman her age should have. But he's an indefatigable, all-around good guy who won’t take no for an answer and keeps showing up.

This one is pure perfection! From the small-town setting to the big emotions, this romance had me reading late into the night and devouring it in one sitting. Charming, quirk, and heartwarming, this one feels like coming home.

[Neat Sparkles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t bad. It could be great with some help. It just reads like it doesn’t quite know what it wants to be.

This is a solid 2 star read because it is all over the place. The third star is for the vibes and I did genuinely enjoy Andi and Cole’s story! But as a whole.. it all needs help.

There are FOUR points of view in this book. Two of which are completely unnecessary. And the author does not label the chapters (which with solid writing that sometimes isn’t necessary but.. we needed the labels) Jack and Kate’s story easily could have been told through Cole and Andi and it still would have still served its purpose.

Andi and Cole are cute. I am a sucker for black cat/golden retriever and this does that well. Their story is sweet and the book could have stood on that alone.

Kate and Jack are 45 and 43 years old and the author talks about them like they are literally ready to be shipped off to the old folks home. Like she has never met a middle aged person before. The way they were written it made more sense for them to be 60. It was bizarre.

The ending of the book reads weird. None of the last few chapters flow. There’s a time jump but the only indication of that we get is that she mentions it’s almost been a YEAR since the accident.. and you’re like wait what what is happening how has a year passed. THEN the next chapter actually gives you a “one year later” it’s just.. it needed an editor. Or something. It needed help.

Oh! Oooo! They both tell each other they love each other. He tells her randomly at 71% it’s NEVER mentioned again.. then she tells him at the funeral. And then.. poof. It’s like those have never been written into existence. No one proofed or reread this book. Not a soul.

Also the random ex girlfriend chapter at the end?? What even was that?? Because he very clearly talks about not dating. Or wanting to date. Hookups only. It is mentioned more than once. And then at the VERY END OF THE BOOK she throws in a jealous ex girlfriend scene. HELP. WHAT?

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main Character Energy by Kendall Ryan
3 stars
Spice: 🔥/5

I found having the main character, Andi Callahan (Andrea), kind of neat LOL reading about a main character with my first name doesn’t happen very often. Although, I have never been called Andi long in my life. Drea took over Andi for me.

I found the start of the book to be cute and kept me wanting more. Andi and Cole’s separate stories and occupations kept me intrigued. I had high hopes for how these two would start to interact, and their story would unfold. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite go the way I thought it would, and I didn’t feel the chemistry that I wanted to feel between them.

It was cute, but just slightly missed the mark for me. It had Hallmark type feelings to it - didn’t give me that physical ache nor was there any ‘surprise’ for me since it was all predictable. Plus, how many times was “You love it” and/or “you’re ridiculous” was said…

I wish I loved my first book of 2026 but can only go up from here, right?! 

#avidreaderbookblog #readingislife #bookblogger #bookbloggersofinstagram #romance #romancebookstagram #romancebookstagrammer #romancebookaddiction #kendallryan #kendallryanauthor #romancebook

[Kristyn McEwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best and most surprising 5 stars to start my year of books. My heart almost wasn't ready but it was so very good.

[JewelsyGoolsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gets all 4 stars as it was first book in a while that had me finishing it within a night. I did wish we got a bit more details and more intimacy.

[Marika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andi and Cole's story was so emotional. I went in expecting a lighthearted romance com but I got so much more. Absolutely love Cole and Andi, I just wanted to hug her. I see so much of myself in her it is kinda scary lol. Beautiful story and the way it was told, with more than these two characters' story, was great. Genuinely loved it and couldn't put it down.

[Sara Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kendall Ryan vibes while also being a tad different!

I really enjoyed the banter in this novel. Totally Ryan’s energy, but with a somewhat different plot. I don’t know why but this felt like a fresh style for her.

This book was cute, and I enjoyed the subplot of Kate and Jack. It was definitely a case of the reader knowing more than the characters, which I love.

I only took off a point because Cole and Andi still seemed a bit too surface level, but I don’t feel it takes away from the story too much. Just my overall connection to them.

*An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Luisa Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off kind of meh—I wasn’t sure if I’d stick with it—but it turns cute pretty fast. The characters are all connected in the most roundabout way, which makes the whole thing hilarious once you realize who knows who. Midway through, the pace slows down and gets a little boring, but even then the characters are lovely and the story intriguing enough to keep me turning pages.

Andi is a morgue technician, sharp-tongued, acerbic, queen of one-liners. Cole is an EMT/firefighter, golden retriever energy, cocky but kind. They cross paths constantly at the hospital. He falls first (of course), and he’s determined to win her over. She’s a hard case, though—her walls are skyscraper-high thanks to losing her parents in a car accident at 18.


Cole’s teammates make a bet with a checklist: make her smile, hold a five-minute conversation, get a kiss, and finally, score a date. Instead of hiding it, Cole shows Andi the bracket—points for integrity! His persistence is adorable: cherry pie deliveries, pink-frosted cupcakes, quiet dinners instead of flashy outings. He’s relentless but sweet, and she’s attracted against her will.

Meanwhile, there are plot twists that are hilarious: Jack is Andi’s father best friend, he has been present in her life since her parents died, acting as a father figure. He starts dating Kate (Cole’s mom) who downloaded a dating app thanks to her meddling book club besties.

Jack and Cole already know each other from Search & Rescue work—and they don’t like each other. Cue awkward dinners and tense rescues.

A tragedy occurs that makes shock waves for both Andi and Cole. And Andi, true to form, retreated back within her walls. I found her selfish and coward, abandoning Cole, just when he needed her the most. In the midst of her turmoil, Jack delivers the wisdom bomb: better to be afraid with the person you love than to live alone with the same pain.

I struggled with Andi, she’s witty and her zingers are fun, but she’s negative, self-sabotaging, and downright Eeyore-ish. On the other hand, I loved Cole. He’s cocky, funny, kind, devoted to his mom, respectful of Jack even when he didn’t like him, but just because he made his mom laugh. He’s the definition of a golden retriever hero—loyal, goofy, and impossible not to root for.

I loved the mixture of humor, heart, and a bit of drama. I loved the romance part, sweet persistence against stubborn resistance. The side characters add layers of comedy and warmth, making the story feel like a sitcom family tree gone wild. Cute read!

[Natasha's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andi is a morgue technician. She's hard, unapproachable, and only likes a few people, including her dog named Beef.
Cole is a firefighter/EMT and decides to woo Andi. She doesn't want to fall for it but soon realizes that Cole is sweet. Her icy demeanor starts to melt as they spend more and more time together. I enjoyed the characters and supporting characters.

[Jennifer Kirshman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐. This was a fun, easy romcom that delivered exactly what I expected: flirty banter, light angst, and a breezy pace. Nothing groundbreaking, but definitely enjoyable. It felt familiar in a comforting way, like slipping into a tried-and-true romance formula that just works. Perfect for when you want something cute, low-stakes, and entertaining without needing to emotionally recover afterward.

[Jacelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I didn’t expect it to be so emotional throughout. The title doesn’t make much sense to me and I wasn’t a fan of the mom/boyfriend povs being in there. Everything else was great!

[Ofra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an emotional roller-coaster and I laughed and cried and laughed again ☺️

[Anna Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this

This was the first book I read by this author. I really enjoyed it. I love the sass of the FMC Andi.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something quietly delightful about a romance that knows exactly who its heroine is—and refuses to sand her down to make her “likable.” This story leans all the way into that strength. Andi Callahan is a woman who prefers the certainty of the dead to the chaos of the living, and honestly? It works. As a morgue tech in a foggy coastal town outside Boston, she’s built a life around solitude, structure, and emotional distance. The silence suits her. People, not so much.
Enter Cole Hartley—loud in all the ways Andi isn’t. A firefighter-paramedic with charm to spare and a hero complex that could power the whole state, Cole is the exact disruption Andi never asked for. What makes their dynamic sing isn’t just the opposites-attract setup, but the way their banter crackles with intention. Cole doesn’t try to “fix” Andi; instead, he challenges her, pokes at her carefully guarded edges, and—most importantly—waits her out.
The premise of a bet to make her smile could have veered into cliché, but instead it becomes a surprisingly tender catalyst for growth on both sides. As their connection deepens, the story explores vulnerability with nuance, showing how love doesn’t erase who you are—it expands you. Andi’s emotional journey feels earned, never rushed, while Cole’s persistence is balanced by genuine respect and patience.
At its heart, this is a romance about choosing life in all its messiness, about letting someone in even when solitude feels safer. Witty, warm, and emotionally grounded, this book is perfect for readers who love grumpy heroines, golden-retriever heroes, and slow-burn chemistry that sneaks up on you—quietly, and then all at once.

[Kim Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for another Kendall Ryan book to pique my interest and this one was it. I’ll probably start the hockey one too at a later time. Out of the few Kendall Ryan books I’ve read, this one grabbed me. Maybe it was Andi’s career choice or the fact that you have a morgue technician getting together with a firefighter because in a weird way those two careers can end up crossing paths as this one captured nicely. While it was that, it was also the description and plot that spoke to me. However, the first half of the story just seemed to go by really slowly and it felt like it wasn’t going anywhere because Andi kept rejecting Cole’s advances. In the moment I thought to myself, give it a rest! She’s not interested. It was hard reading about Cole constantly being rejected. I would think after several attempts he would have given up, but he didn’t. He was determined to break down Andi’s walls and in the real world, you get someone trying to date you like he was doing with her and you would have probably found yourself in court. Of course, that’s if the person isn’t interested and it felt that way with Andi but yet she was intrigued by him so I guess if it was a real big issue and there wasn’t anything there it would have been a different story but for the first half, it felt that way. It took the statement slow burn to heart because this is what it really was even though at the end of it all they do end up getting together around the 55% mark of the story. For Andi’s character, she needed this slow burn, especially with how untrusting she was and afraid to need anybody or let anyone in based on her past so I’ll let it slide for this story, but it doesn’t mean I liked this direction. In fact, it’s because the story went by so slowly in the first half that I’m even giving this book a 4. Other than that, which I couldn’t get behind, the book would be a 5. It had heart, emotion and this family bond that I felt has been missing here and there in the last few books, minus the very last one I read. There was a bond between Jack and Andi, a bond between Kate and Cole and spoiler alert! A bond between Kate and Jack. This book did something different. It combines two stories in one. You get Kate and Jack as well as Cole and Andi. At first, I was confused. I didn’t know who Kate was, nor did I pick up she was Cole’s mom. I thought she was a side character around Andi’s age that we were oddly focusing on. I didn’t know what she was to the story or what adding her on meant. So when the point of view switches to Jack after I’ve been reading about Andi, Cole, and Kate randomly, I was intrigued, and a little confused. When we first come across Jack, it’s already been several chapters in with Andi and Cole with a small one introducing Kate, I felt like nothing was coming from Cole and Andi but Kate may have something. It was a nice reprieve because it seemed like at this point, Andi was a lost cause and Cole trying to date her was getting exhausting. When we get introduced to Jack, his story felt more interesting to me. I wanted to stay in his point of view because there was something deeper there that I wanted to dive into. I also wanted to focus on Kate because she was more open to dating and starting a relationship than Andi was. To read about someone who was willing to put herself out there, unlike Andi, was a great change from what I’ve been reading about Andi so far. As the book goes on we get interspersed stories between all of them until it ultimately comes down to everyone meeting each other. The book became more interesting at this point and Andi and Cole were getting more serious and she’s already let him in, or at least as much as she was willing to. From there the bonds form and we get more emotion and feelings from both sides. Andi already has seen Cole when he was at his most vulnerable and he sees her when she needs help and just needs to be taken care of. After this, a tragedy strikes and emotions and mental health is tested from Kate, but especially with Andi. From there, Andi has to make a choice and she doesn’t take those choices well so we see her retreat into herself and close up again. What follows is grief, questions about what to do now and if everything is worth it. This was when the real meat of the story happens and what had me furiously trying to finish the book. When you combine all that, plus what’s happened so far in the story, you’ll get a 4. I wish I could give it a 5 but the way the story went by so slowly in the beginning I couldn’t give it a 5. The slowness I just couldn’t get past which is why it took me an extra day than my normal length to read it. I do hope we get more stories from this world, I have a few men and women in mind that I came across in this story who could use a happily ever after. Who knows, maybe it’s in the cards?

[Claudia |✨Cushin Violeta's Bookish Realm✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart, Heat and Emotions... This ride will melt you 😍

💕🅵🅰🆅🅾🆄🆁🅸🆃🅴 🆀🆄🅾🆃🅴🆂💕

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕?” 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒔, 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒊𝒑. “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒔𝒚?” 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌. “𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰’𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅.” 𝑰 𝒔𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅. “𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆.” “𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆.”

“𝑰 𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒕. 𝑰’𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒆.” “𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰’𝒎 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎.” 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒘. “𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐?” 𝑰 𝒏𝒐𝒅, 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔. “𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒚. 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒂.” 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒔— 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒔— 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕.

🅼🆈 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂:

This book came at the perfect for me because it was the perfect warmth filled book full of messy emotions but full of fun and BANTER that made me smile and instantly get along with Andi and Cole and root for them.
So after reading a heavy Dark romance, this one actually soothed me and made me have some much needed fun.

The first thing I loved about this book is that we have reverse Grumpy Sunshine. So our heroine is the cold, grumpy, doesn't like to talk to anyone character and our hero is full of sunshine, charm and that swagger that he serves with his charming lopsided smirk which I loved oh so much.

The second thing I absolutely loved is having four POVs, yes four. And all of them were written so solid and had me immersed into each of their lives and it was so fascinating to see them being so closely connected to each other.

Andi's work literally involves the unalived and she prefers no interactions because she likes the way her life is minus unnecessary connections and no drama.
But there's her co-worker, Mikey who would check in on her by annoying her and giving her tidbits about what's happening outside her four walls where she works in the basement.
And her friend Shay, who's her bestie and the one who's always there for her.

Cole, our charming firefighter is smitten with Andi but knows that she's famously known as the Ice Queen for a reason.
Somehow he gets roped into a bet of wooing Andi and soon the lines blur and gives way to swoon filled times.

Ahhh.. This book made my heart melt so many times because I actually felt like Cole was bantering with me and wooing me not because I relate to Andi but because the characters felt so real to me that I was oh so immersed into every moment that we spent with them.

I have smiled so hard, felt the heart racing moments, gasped, laughed and also was emotionally wrecked at certain times because this book sure made me feel a spectrum of emotions that I so didn't expect.

I ADORE MR. COLE.. OH SO MUCH... HE'S SO FREAKING CHARMING AND SWOONY. 😍😍😍😍

I also loved Kate and Jack and their unusual dive into something new at a time where you don't expect much yet sometimes you have this yearning of having someone and their sweet and slow start, their connection was just so beautiful.

I have to say I didn't expect a certain turn that comes that actually, like I said emotionally wrecked me and honestly I was so scared about what would happen next.
Thank Goodness, our author did mend my heart back by the later chapters.

What a sweet, swoony and heart warming ride. Absolutely loved loved this one.

[Jela Heneghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is opposites attract, reverse grumpy/sunshine done right. They're from a small town outside of Boston, but besides that don't seemingly have much in common. Andi's a morgue tech who loves orderly and quiet, and Cole is the affable paramedic hottie firefighter that everyone adores. Well, almost everyone, because Andi is not so easily charmed. Cole's persistent, though, and a little bet at work has him going to her and explaining his plans to win her over as he explains that she's part of their "fun" little bet. She's game to play along and prove to him that he's not going to get his way, but what happens when he starts to chip away at her frosty exterior?

Then, there's also the secondary love story that we get between Cole's mom and Andi's parental figure that sort of takes the place of her deceased parents. We get to see how these two begin to navigate love as two individuals who have already experience love and loss and are now looking for a connection for their next chapters in life. Their parts of the larger story are well placed, and I love that we get this mini love story told from their own perspectives while seeing what's going on with Andi and Cole, too.

But Andi and Cole? I adored them both. Andi is definitely one to hold almost everyone at arm's length, but the more we discover about her life before and all she's lost, I completely empathized with her and wanted the best for her and for her to finally find real happiness. And Cole is an absolute golden retriever and perfectly written for Andi. He's so sweet and charming but not in a saccharine way; rather, he's this authentically good person who has been through plenty himself, and I adored him from the start. Together, they might not seem like they'd be a pair that could really be great together, but their relationship evolves and it becomes less about the silly bet and more a true connection. Their chemistry is palpable and seeing it all play out gave me all the feels. I laughed, cried, swooned, and everything in between.

So, if you like opposites attract romances, you're going to want to read Main Character Energy. It's a fun, emotional, and entertaining romance and a must read, and I highly recommend it.

[Mia Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main Character Energy is the kind of book that starts quietly, pulls you in with humor and charm, and then suddenly has you feeling everything. It’s quirky, heartfelt, emotional, and so very Kendall Ryan in the best way.

Andi Callahan is not your typical heroine. She’s a morgue technician in a small coastal town outside Boston who prefers the company of the dead—because they’re quiet, predictable, and don’t ask questions. Living people? Too loud. Too messy. Too much. Andi has built walls so high they feel permanent, and honestly, I adored her sharp wit, dry humor, and unapologetic introversion.

Cole Hartley is charming, persistent, warm, and completely determined to crack Andi’s icy exterior—starting with a harmless workplace bet that turns into something far deeper than either of them expects. What I loved most about Cole is that his persistence never feels pushy. He shows up. He listens. He chooses quiet dinners over flashy gestures. He respects Andi while still challenging her to actually live.

Their dynamic is reverse grumpy/sunshine perfection. The banter is sharp and funny, the chemistry builds slowly, and watching Cole chip away at Andi’s defenses felt incredibly satisfying. Beneath Andi’s sarcasm and reluctance is a woman shaped by deep loss, and as her past unfolds, it becomes impossible not to empathize with her fear of loving—and losing—again.

This story also shines with its side characters. The secondary romance between Cole’s mom and Andi’s parental figure was such a beautiful, unexpected layer—proof that love doesn’t have an expiration date. The interconnected small-town relationships added humor, warmth, and that comforting found-family feeling I always crave in romances.

Fair warning: this book will tug at your heart. There are moments of joy, laughter, swooning… and yes, a few tears. Andi’s tendency to retreat when things get hard may be frustrating at times, but it’s also painfully human. Watching her grow—and choose love despite fear—made the emotional payoff completely worth it.

Main Character Energy is a feel-good romance with depth—funny, emotional, and full of characters who feel real and lovable. With its reverse grumpy/sunshine dynamic, slow-burn chemistry, small-town charm, and one very determined golden retriever hero, this one is an easy recommendation and a story that stays with you long after the last page.

Happy reading!

Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later
Would I read future books by this author: Yes

[Anita Byars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main Character Energy was a well written, entertaining, fun, opposites attract, reverse grumpy sunshine, romance that I couldn’t get enough of.

The characters were perfectly matched, their banter was witty and full of charm, their chemistry full of sizzle and heat. But it was Cole’s warmth and sincerity that helped Andi open up about her past and finally let him in.

This emotional and heartwarming story captured my heart, from their first encounter, and held my attention long into the night until the last word was read.

This is Cole Hartley and Andi Callahan’s journey to a happily-ever-after and I didn’t want it to end!

Cole is the town’s hunky firefighter/ EMT, and he has a problem you see because he has a raging crush on a certain morgue tech…

Andi Callahan loves her job in the town morgue. It’s quiet, she likes it that way, she does her job and mostly everyone leaves her alone except for Cole and his…bet that started at the firehouse.

“THE ANDI BRACKET.“
“Will Cole get Andi to go out with him?”
He even has given her all eight stages of the bet written on a sheet of paper. How’s that for honesty?

And one by one he lets her know when they have reached each stage. Swoon! I giggled, I cried and I swooned hard for Cole as I cheered these two on! Can Cole get Andi to see that there is more to life with him by her side?

“Fear is a survival instinct. But love isn’t something you survive—it’s something you show up for. Over and over. Even when it’s terrifying. Because it’s worth it.”

But there is so much more about this story that I haven’t even told you about that makes it my best read this year. The Gala Auction. The explosion. As well as an added bonus to this story as well, in the form of another romance! My lips are sealed about this one. So hurry and click to get this book because it’s two romances for the price of one!!

Loved starting out the new year with this entertaining, fun, heartwarming five star romance!

[Amour.Rebelle.Reads (Bran.d) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main Character Energy was such a fun, warm, messy-in-a-good-way read. I picked it up for the grumpy/sunshine vibes, but honestly it’s so much more.

Andi is peak black-cat energy — happiest in the morgue, where nobody talks, nobody judges, and certainly nobody flirts. She’s got her walls, and she’s keeping them. Enter Cole, the town firefighter-paramedic with golden retriever warmth turned up to a thousand. This man takes one look at her and basically decides she is his new life mission. He even makes a bet that he can get her to smile. A bet! With a ridiculous bracket 😜And watching Andi slowly crack despite her best efforts is freaking adorable.

Their chemistry seriously jumps off the page — slow burn, sarcastic banter, soft little moments that sneak up on you, plus enough emotional depth to give their story weight without making it heavy.

We also get a bonus romance… Kate & Jack are chef’s kiss! Kate is Cole’s mom, and Jack is the closest thing Andi has to a father since she lost her parents 🥺— and these two end up meeting on a dating app and having their own sweet little “second chance at love”. It added so much charm and heart. Their connection is softer, steadier, this kind of unexpected later-in-life sweetness that balances out Andi and Cole’s fire. I loved seeing all four of them tangled together in this found-family.

Between the meddling coworkers, the nosy besties, the workplace crossovers, and the emotional healing both Andi and Cole have to work through… MCE hits all the vibes: swoony, funny, tender, a little sad, and totally satisfying.

If you love opposites-attract, slow-burn banter, sunshine heroes chasing their grumpy girls, and a bonus romance with two older characters finding love when they least expect it, this book gives you all of that and more.

[Brittany Steminist Booknerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

STEM FMC: morgue technician; STEM MMC: paramedic and firefighter
This is a unique set up in a book, it’s actually quadruple POV since this is a double romance spanning two generations. I liked the first ⅔ of the book a lot more than the last ⅓.
Stop reading here if you don’t want spoilers.
I’m a little flummoxed by the reveal that all of these characters know each other. It’s a small town, Jack has seen Cole’s photo at Kate’s house, Jack has mentioned Kate to Andi twice, Andi mentioned Cole to Jack, Cole mentioned his mom Kate a couple times to Andi, Kate mentioned Jack to Cole a couple of times, and Kate already met Andi at the career day at the high school and warned Cole to try not to drool over her… so how is everyone acting like they had no idea who anyone was or that everyone was dating each other? It makes no sense. I also never grasped why there was beef between Cole and Jack.
Cole says I love you in the middle of bantering with Andi and neither of them reacts but one second later he calls her his girlfriend and everyone freezes up? What?
So she breaks it off with him for reasons that I fully comprehend. I have no issue with the third act breakup in this book, which is a rarity for me, but it makes total sense from an emotional standpoint. My issue is with the resolution. She just shows up one day and without more than a one sentence discussion, everything is totally cool and they are back together without even really talking about it. then there’s a declaration of love like she’s never said it before, but she did say it when she was breaking up with him previously. I think this book needed one more round of editing to clear some of this up.
If you’re looking for spice, there are spicy scenes but they are light on detail.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was confused by so much of this… mainly the title, but also it was just kind of odd. Good, but also odd. At the heart of the story, it was unique and had great banter and fun relationship “moments” if you know what I mean. The characters connected and had meaningful and sweet interactions. Cole was gone for Andi, which I loved. Cole being a paramedic/firefighter and her being a morgue technician was unique and added interesting layers to the story. There was trauma, healing and hope in this story. I really liked it, BUT some of the choices were so weird. The first half was definitely better than the second half. The whole “situation” talk (IYKYK) took up way too many pages and it just seemed so silly and ridiculous alongside the more serious themes in the book. I also thought some things were thrown in and didn’t seem flushed out or necessary including the unexplained issues between Jack and Cole, the super quick third act resolution (and I am usually a big fan of a good third act) and even the secondary storyline between Kate and Jack… it just felt like it was trying to do too much. Also, Andi’s personality did a full 180 after she started dating Cole and it didn’t make a ton of sense. She was super closed off and nicknamed “the ice queen” and then suddenly she is super outgoing and social with everyone. I guess if you can let one person in, you can let everyone in??? Some things just didn’t make sense or were resolved in a weird way, but overall I still enjoyed Cole and Andi’s relationship and was rooting for them.

Some of my favorite parts were the burrito/pie/cupcake, Andi’s dog “interrupting,”Cole’s coworkers/friends, their time spent together after the auction and the fire station “wall.” 😂

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andi finds a sense of peace in the morgue that she cannot find anywhere else. As weird as it sounds it is her happy place, the place where she doesn't really have to interact anyone, the place where she can take comfort in the stillness around her. But this solitary life of hers is keeping her from fully living...and unbeknownst to her someone is about to come crashing into her quiet life and help her see what she has been missing all this time.

Main Character Energy is a story of healing, finding love, taking chances, and loss. As we meet our heroine Andi we learn that she experienced a loss that no child should ever have to go through, the loss of her parents. That loss shaped her life in ways she never noticed, until a determined firefighter came barging into her world and opened her eyes to it. As she was healing from her loss she began to build walls around herself, keeping others out, with the thinking that she wouldn't lose them if they weren't there. But living this way kept her from experiencing true happiness and from living a well balanced healthy life.

At first she despises Cole coming into her life and disrupting the quiet life she's built, but after his pestering and ever persistent existence she starts to see that maybe she is missing something by keeping herself tucked away safely at the morgue. Maybe he's right, maybe she was meant to have more?

This wonderfully penned story really snuck on me, it stirred up raw feelings and also reminded me of the importance of truly living. Having recently lost two very special people in my life unexpectedly in a car accident, I understood where Andi was coming from on many levels, it's so easy to shut others out when grieving. But I was happy to see Cole come into her life and push her out of her safe little world and find some well deserved peace...and love too! I think this just might be my favorite from Ms. Ryan to date, so much of the story resonated with me, and really touched my heart! Highly recommend this one, it's words will their mark!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

[I❤Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andi Callahan is the town’s morgue tech. She enjoys the solitude of her job. Except for Cole Hartley, the firefighter/EMT who always takes the time to stop by and see her. He's social and always has a ready smile. And a serious crush on the purple haired morgue tech.

He's determined to break through her tough shell and isn't shy about openly admitting that to her or to his friends. Between the betting pool that starts and the company auction for charity, Andi and Cole start spending a lot of time together and get to know each other beyond the surface level.

This is a slow-burn romance with all the feels and fun you expect from a romcom. BUT there are also highly emotional moments and a healthy dose of angst I did not expect. The banter was great and their interaction was organic, flowing beautifully from one scene to the next. I especially liked that Cole didn't hide the bet situation from Andi. They had their highs and boy, did they have their lows. But in the end, they never gave up.

This is a two for one romance. Sort of. In addition to Cole and Andi, you've got Kate and Jack taking over a few chapters. I would have preferred a separate story for them. Time was spent on their circle of friends, their meet cute and first date. After that, little attention was spent on them other than a few lines here and there to show they were still together. After the build-up and initial jitters, I was all in and wanted to see more. So I battled with whether the detail on their budding relationship was necessary to be a part of this book.

Overall, this was a romance but it's also a multi-layered story about family and friends.

[Danielle Spellbound Stories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Main Character Energy reminded me (again) why Kendall Ryan is such a reliable comfort-read author for me. Her stories always hit that sweet spot of warmth, charm, and emotional honesty—and this one absolutely delivered.

Andi is wonderfully prickly, self-contained, and quietly layered, and watching her character unfold was one of my favorite parts of the book. Her journey isn’t rushed or overly dramatic—it’s subtle, meaningful growth rooted in grief, healing, and learning how to let someone truly see her. Cole, meanwhile, is peak golden-retriever energy done right: persistent without being pushy, charming without being flashy, and genuinely grounded beneath the sunshine. Their dynamic is classic opposites-attract, but Kendall gives it depth by letting the emotional beats breathe.

The story strikes a nice balance between character growth and plot, with small-town moments, workplace overlap, and just enough external nudges to keep things moving without overwhelming the romance. The slow burn works beautifully here; the story tends to be more emotional than spicy, which made their connection feel earned and deeply satisfying.

Warm, witty, and quietly swoony, Main Character Energy is one of those romances that sneaks up on you and leaves you smiling long after you turn the last page.

Story: 4⭐
Spice: 2.5🌶️

Genre:
🖤Contemporary Romance

Tropes:
🖤 Golden Retriever Hero x Black Cat Heroine
🖤 Grumpy/Sunshine
🖤 Opposites Attract
🖤 Small Town Romance
🖤 Workplace Romance
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Meddling Friends & Coworkers
🖤 Past Trauma/Emotional Wounds
🖤 Banter-Heavy Romance

[Jodi - JodiReadsnListens · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Audio Review **
All the feels! Main Character Energy by Kendall Ryan was a sweet and swoony small-town romance that led my heart on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I couldn’t get enough of Andi and Cole’s grumpy sunshine energy and witty banter that had me wishing and willing for them to give in to temptation and be together. Kendall also spoils us with two love stories in one, so I adored that we also got Kate and Jack’s love story in this book! So dreamy!

Erin Mallon, Gregory Salinas, Lucy Rivers, and Connor Crais perform this audiobook in multicast duet narration. Erin’s passionate voice portrays Andi and all her guarded ice queen tendencies, while Gregory’s performance of golden retriever, Cole, is charismatic and damn endearing. Lucy’s soft, soothing tone perfectly envelops Kate’s motherly warmth, and Connor’s deep, rich baritone embodies Jack’s courage and strength. All the narrators in duet make this an immersive, memorable, and entertaining listen that made me feel all the things!

Overall, I loved this book. If you are a fan of a small-town romance with a broody, feisty morgue tech, a lovable, persistent firefighter paramedic, burrito meet cute mishaps, harmless bets worth smiling over, trying dating apps later in life, swoony coffee first dates, enticing cherry pie, intimate conversations about the past, bachelor/ bachelorette charity auctions, scary accidents, new truths revealed, love declarations, and a HEA that will squeeze your heart, then you will love Andi, Cole, Kate, and Jack’s story. I always look forward to more from Kendall Ryan.