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Soundtracks of Love #2
The Corey Effect
A second chance ten years in the making.
When Andi Scott left her hometown ten years ago, she swore she'd never go back. But news of her estranged father's death has her driving the all-too-familiar roads. Each turn brings another memory—of the girl she became there and the boy she loved and lost. The only saving grace is that there's no way the former love of her life, Corey Johnson, is still in town. They both got out, even though it cost them everything.
Andi’s barely in town for a day before she discovers that not only is Corey still in Fairford, but he's the cofounder of a successful local business—one he built with her father. The news shatters the walls Andi built around her past and forces her to reexamine everything she thought she knew.
When Corey asks Andi to stay in town, she can’t refuse his boyish grin or the way he still looks at her as if she’s the only person in the room—and finds she doesn’t want to. Corey’s still the same person that made the worst day of her life better with one crooked smile, but there’s more that he’s not telling her. Andi has to know what it is, even if it means opening her heart to the person who broke it in the first place.
When Andi Scott left her hometown ten years ago, she swore she'd never go back. But news of her estranged father's death has her driving the all-too-familiar roads. Each turn brings another memory—of the girl she became there and the boy she loved and lost. The only saving grace is that there's no way the former love of her life, Corey Johnson, is still in town. They both got out, even though it cost them everything.
Andi’s barely in town for a day before she discovers that not only is Corey still in Fairford, but he's the cofounder of a successful local business—one he built with her father. The news shatters the walls Andi built around her past and forces her to reexamine everything she thought she knew.
When Corey asks Andi to stay in town, she can’t refuse his boyish grin or the way he still looks at her as if she’s the only person in the room—and finds she doesn’t want to. Corey’s still the same person that made the worst day of her life better with one crooked smile, but there’s more that he’s not telling her. Andi has to know what it is, even if it means opening her heart to the person who broke it in the first place.
283 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2022
34 people are currently reading
3765 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
October 3, 2022
I was really excited to read The Corey Effect after reading Casey Dembowski’s debut novel. A second chance contemporary romance, the story follows Andi as she returns to her hometown after ten years away to attend her estranged father’s funeral. Andi assumes that her old flame Corey would have been long gone by now, but when she arrives, she realizes that Corey is inextricably connected to her family. As Andi faces abuse from the past and relives a year that has haunted her, she also gains a new perspective on what happened since she left.
This is a realistic and interesting story about family, love, healing, and more. Andi is a well-developed and relatable protagonist, and I found it easy to understand and connect with her. The story is told from her point of view, and you see how much she grows as she learns more about what happened after that fateful year that changed her life forever.
One of my favorite things about Andi is that she listens to the Les Misérables soundtrack, much to my Les Mis loving delight!! Andi talks of her love of the musical and how she listens to the song One Day More, which was my inspiration for my blog’s name. I adore that song, so to have my feelings shared by the protagonist is pretty special and makes me a little biased. lol
We learn more about Andi’s story through flashbacks, which added depth and dimension not only to her character but to her father’s and Corey’s. It was interesting to see what led to her estrangement. However, I would suggest checking out the content warnings, as there are some aspects of her story that could prove upsetting to readers. Andi’s story includes parental alcoholism, abuse, anxiety, and more.
The flashbacks also delve into her romance with Corey, who was her first love. They had such a lovely high school romance, and though they haven’t seen each other in years, the feelings (and chemistry) are still there. A lot stands in their way, including feelings of betrayal, misunderstandings, and more, but I so hoped that the pair would resolve their conflicts and find happiness together.
This is another great read by Casey Dembowski, though it’s a bit heavier than her first book as topics like alcoholism, family dysfunction, failed relationships, death, and more are addressed. However, the romance, friendships, and personal growth of the protagonist provide levity, humor, and hope and balance the story nicely.
Thanks to Casey Dembowski for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
This is a realistic and interesting story about family, love, healing, and more. Andi is a well-developed and relatable protagonist, and I found it easy to understand and connect with her. The story is told from her point of view, and you see how much she grows as she learns more about what happened after that fateful year that changed her life forever.
One of my favorite things about Andi is that she listens to the Les Misérables soundtrack, much to my Les Mis loving delight!! Andi talks of her love of the musical and how she listens to the song One Day More, which was my inspiration for my blog’s name. I adore that song, so to have my feelings shared by the protagonist is pretty special and makes me a little biased. lol
We learn more about Andi’s story through flashbacks, which added depth and dimension not only to her character but to her father’s and Corey’s. It was interesting to see what led to her estrangement. However, I would suggest checking out the content warnings, as there are some aspects of her story that could prove upsetting to readers. Andi’s story includes parental alcoholism, abuse, anxiety, and more.
The flashbacks also delve into her romance with Corey, who was her first love. They had such a lovely high school romance, and though they haven’t seen each other in years, the feelings (and chemistry) are still there. A lot stands in their way, including feelings of betrayal, misunderstandings, and more, but I so hoped that the pair would resolve their conflicts and find happiness together.
This is another great read by Casey Dembowski, though it’s a bit heavier than her first book as topics like alcoholism, family dysfunction, failed relationships, death, and more are addressed. However, the romance, friendships, and personal growth of the protagonist provide levity, humor, and hope and balance the story nicely.
Thanks to Casey Dembowski for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
September 17, 2022
A moving story about friends and family, first loves and second chances, The Corey Effect is about all of these things.
Amazing writing made it simple to relate to Andi and everything she went through. I adored the chapters that took us back in time and gradually explained events that occurred years before the current plot. And in this case, I never felt lost or overpowered since the chapters easily switched between the past and the present.
Andi and Corey's characters both had incredible growth, and the narrative twists had me in tears. It was honest and natural.
I really like how Andi's character really grew into her own and faced some difficult truths during the decade that had passed. Andi's character had already had a tremendous amount of personal and spiritual growth. It was encouraging to see her make different decisions and develop her own identity.
Even though Corey had changed significantly as an adult, he retained his endearing charm and laid-back demeanor. He is really understanding and doesn't put any pressure on the situation.
All of my expectations were fulfilled by the outcome. Although Corey's point of view is only revealed to us briefly, I do wish there had been more of Corey's point of view in this book.
If you're a fan of second chances and would be interested in this book, I highly recommend that you pick it up when it comes out on October 4th, 2022.
Warning: some serious subjects are covered here, including alcohol abuse and its effects.
I thank the opportunity to receive an ARC from Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for a honest review..
Amazing writing made it simple to relate to Andi and everything she went through. I adored the chapters that took us back in time and gradually explained events that occurred years before the current plot. And in this case, I never felt lost or overpowered since the chapters easily switched between the past and the present.
Andi and Corey's characters both had incredible growth, and the narrative twists had me in tears. It was honest and natural.
I really like how Andi's character really grew into her own and faced some difficult truths during the decade that had passed. Andi's character had already had a tremendous amount of personal and spiritual growth. It was encouraging to see her make different decisions and develop her own identity.
Even though Corey had changed significantly as an adult, he retained his endearing charm and laid-back demeanor. He is really understanding and doesn't put any pressure on the situation.
All of my expectations were fulfilled by the outcome. Although Corey's point of view is only revealed to us briefly, I do wish there had been more of Corey's point of view in this book.
If you're a fan of second chances and would be interested in this book, I highly recommend that you pick it up when it comes out on October 4th, 2022.
Warning: some serious subjects are covered here, including alcohol abuse and its effects.
I thank the opportunity to receive an ARC from Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for a honest review..
October 21, 2022
TITLE: THE COREY EFFECT
AUTHOR: Casey Dembowski
PUB DATE: 08.05.2022 Now Available
SYNOPSIS: Swipe Above
Second Chance
Swoon Worthy
Secrets
I really love Casey Dembowski’s writing. Dembowski’s debut When We’re Thirty was such a joy to read that I had to be in this tour. The stories just keeps getting better and better.
Dembowski’s knack is in capturing the essence of her characters, making them so relatable and believable, that I actually loved spending time with both Andi and Corey. As the story is told in Andi’s POV in both the present and the past, we soon learn why Andi never came back after college. And then there’s Corey - Corey did have an effect on me, and I absolutely fell in love with him too.
This romance book really packed a punch - examining familial relationships, first loves, forgiveness, and moving forward. It’s a fantastic book I had to give a hug after I read. Highly recommend!
AUTHOR: Casey Dembowski
PUB DATE: 08.05.2022 Now Available
SYNOPSIS: Swipe Above
Second Chance
Swoon Worthy
Secrets
I really love Casey Dembowski’s writing. Dembowski’s debut When We’re Thirty was such a joy to read that I had to be in this tour. The stories just keeps getting better and better.
Dembowski’s knack is in capturing the essence of her characters, making them so relatable and believable, that I actually loved spending time with both Andi and Corey. As the story is told in Andi’s POV in both the present and the past, we soon learn why Andi never came back after college. And then there’s Corey - Corey did have an effect on me, and I absolutely fell in love with him too.
This romance book really packed a punch - examining familial relationships, first loves, forgiveness, and moving forward. It’s a fantastic book I had to give a hug after I read. Highly recommend!
May 25, 2024
A book with great ideas that for me absolutely bellyflopped on execution. When it started, I thought… “ooh complex characters with messy history. I like it.”
Then I thought “oh wow, the other cast had really fucked up, there’d better be a hell of a lot of grovelling to turn this ship around. Andi doesn’t deserve this.”
And then I realised, “oh no, this book wants me to think Andi was somehow to blame for these other people’s shitty behaviour. No one’s going to apologise here are they?…. Oh no… they’re going to make Andi apologise, to them for shitty situations that were either other people’s fault or out with her control.”
Let’s get into it.
Because I wanted to DNF this book, but I was too mad to put it down.
Andi’s father was an emotionally and physically abusive alcoholic.
She spends a year living with the man in fear. This is the background of the story and makes up a large number of flashback scenes.
The experience is so traumatic that it leads to years of nightmares, & panic attacks, and therapy.
When she leaves, she cuts her father out of her life.
In the intervening decade the dad becomes sober, turns his life around, and writes an annual letter trying to make amends. She only ever gets one of these letters. The rest are kept from her (which is framed as a terrible thing)
The story’s framing wants you to think that Andi was wrong for not readily offering her father forgiveness after he’d turned his life around. All of the characters in her life who were there, who witnessed what happened. They all feel that Andi made the wrong call.
I say no. They call his actions unforgivable in the text of the story. They are. That means they do not deserve to be forgiven.
He was toxic. She never has to forgive him. Forgiveness is not the only route to moving on with your life. It’s objectively shitty of literally every character in this book gives her a hard time because her dad turned into a good guy and turned his life around. And every character acts like she’s the bad guy.
Her step mother, abandoned her with him. She never apologises. This woman should be on her hands and knees begging forgiveness for the situation she left Andi in.
That never happens. No, she judges Andi for never coming back. She judges Andi for not having a relationship with her step sister, an action which was 100% based on the step mother’s actions.
Her best friend doesn’t give her a hard time but she gladly took a job working for Andi’s dad after he cleaned up.
But they all pale in comparison to Corey. Fucking Corey our love interest. The fact that he became the dad’s business partner. I thought that would be the most unforgivable thing. The reasoning actually makes a certain degree of sense. I’ll buy that one. Fair, we can look past it.
But he’s the one to hand send out those letters from her father. How dare he? I can’t think of a greater betrayal. And then he has the nerve to be angry that she never responded. Fuck him.
Also no apology on his behalf is ever forthcoming. Andi apologises. She shouldn’t but she does. Hell it’s not even her fault, since she didn’t get the letters. Not that it should matter. The man emotionally and physically abused her for a year. And Corey knew about ALL of it. The only person who should have any valid opinion on any relationship Andi chose to have with her father is Andi. How fucking dare he give Andi a hard time about not responding to her shitty dad’s letters just because the dad is now a changed man.
But we’re just getting started with this fucking guy. Corey was an asshole.
He was immature in college. They broke up, because he wanted to go to a college 2 hours away to pursue a football career, and Andi got into Brown, an Ivy League school. So she followed her dreams, and he could never forgive her for it. Andi had every right to choose her own career. He was unreasonable, and while that can be forgiven when he was a college student. By the time the story starts. He’s an adult, with a grudge. Grow the fuck up dude. She made a life for herself. Andi actually went on to get a masters because she kept with her career. Corey is literally only accomplished at the start of the story because he took handouts from Andi’s abusive formerly alcoholic dad.
And yet… somehow he’s the one with the grudge? He should’ve seen that he was a selfish asshole. He holds on to this anger and never apologises. No, it’s Andi who ends up apologising.
And then there’s the cherry on top.
So for years Corey has been posting Andi’s abusive formerly alcoholic dad’s letters, one every year. Each year, resenting Andi more and more for continuing not to respond to a letter from a man who abused her for a year. Whatever, Corey is an asshole, we’ve established this. There was one break in the routine.
Corey knocked up his new girlfriend. His big football dreams, the very reason he was an unreasonable douche to Andi about colleges, are now down the toilet. His girlfriend doesn’t want to get married. So Corey writes to Andi, begging for her to come back to him.
Corey and the girlfriend haven’t broken up, she just doesn’t want to marry him. She’s pregnant with their baby. They’re keeping this baby. And Corey, the guy who was an asshole about college choice because he wanted to keep his football dreams alive (dreams which he’s just tanked), Corey the guy who’s taking hand outs from Andi’s abusive formerly alcoholic father… this Corey writes Andi to try to get back together with him.
And somehow Andi’s mom is the bad guy for hiding this letter from Andi because she would’ve taken him back (tanking her own life in the process).
I’m all for redemption. There absolutely was the potential for a story here that I would’ve loved and cherished. If the supporting cast had taken the time to pull their heads out of their collective asses for 5 seconds to apologise for being unreasonable… then it could’ve been Amazing, thoughtful, emotionally resonant.
Give me a fuck up, and I’m here for it. But the fuck up needs to make the amends. Not this victim blaming bullshit.
Also the plot was annoyingly reliant on tired high school tropes that were tired in the 80s… so that’s a thing.
Then I thought “oh wow, the other cast had really fucked up, there’d better be a hell of a lot of grovelling to turn this ship around. Andi doesn’t deserve this.”
And then I realised, “oh no, this book wants me to think Andi was somehow to blame for these other people’s shitty behaviour. No one’s going to apologise here are they?…. Oh no… they’re going to make Andi apologise, to them for shitty situations that were either other people’s fault or out with her control.”
Let’s get into it.
Because I wanted to DNF this book, but I was too mad to put it down.
Andi’s father was an emotionally and physically abusive alcoholic.
She spends a year living with the man in fear. This is the background of the story and makes up a large number of flashback scenes.
The experience is so traumatic that it leads to years of nightmares, & panic attacks, and therapy.
When she leaves, she cuts her father out of her life.
In the intervening decade the dad becomes sober, turns his life around, and writes an annual letter trying to make amends. She only ever gets one of these letters. The rest are kept from her (which is framed as a terrible thing)
The story’s framing wants you to think that Andi was wrong for not readily offering her father forgiveness after he’d turned his life around. All of the characters in her life who were there, who witnessed what happened. They all feel that Andi made the wrong call.
I say no. They call his actions unforgivable in the text of the story. They are. That means they do not deserve to be forgiven.
He was toxic. She never has to forgive him. Forgiveness is not the only route to moving on with your life. It’s objectively shitty of literally every character in this book gives her a hard time because her dad turned into a good guy and turned his life around. And every character acts like she’s the bad guy.
Her step mother, abandoned her with him. She never apologises. This woman should be on her hands and knees begging forgiveness for the situation she left Andi in.
That never happens. No, she judges Andi for never coming back. She judges Andi for not having a relationship with her step sister, an action which was 100% based on the step mother’s actions.
Her best friend doesn’t give her a hard time but she gladly took a job working for Andi’s dad after he cleaned up.
But they all pale in comparison to Corey. Fucking Corey our love interest. The fact that he became the dad’s business partner. I thought that would be the most unforgivable thing. The reasoning actually makes a certain degree of sense. I’ll buy that one. Fair, we can look past it.
But he’s the one to hand send out those letters from her father. How dare he? I can’t think of a greater betrayal. And then he has the nerve to be angry that she never responded. Fuck him.
Also no apology on his behalf is ever forthcoming. Andi apologises. She shouldn’t but she does. Hell it’s not even her fault, since she didn’t get the letters. Not that it should matter. The man emotionally and physically abused her for a year. And Corey knew about ALL of it. The only person who should have any valid opinion on any relationship Andi chose to have with her father is Andi. How fucking dare he give Andi a hard time about not responding to her shitty dad’s letters just because the dad is now a changed man.
But we’re just getting started with this fucking guy. Corey was an asshole.
He was immature in college. They broke up, because he wanted to go to a college 2 hours away to pursue a football career, and Andi got into Brown, an Ivy League school. So she followed her dreams, and he could never forgive her for it. Andi had every right to choose her own career. He was unreasonable, and while that can be forgiven when he was a college student. By the time the story starts. He’s an adult, with a grudge. Grow the fuck up dude. She made a life for herself. Andi actually went on to get a masters because she kept with her career. Corey is literally only accomplished at the start of the story because he took handouts from Andi’s abusive formerly alcoholic dad.
And yet… somehow he’s the one with the grudge? He should’ve seen that he was a selfish asshole. He holds on to this anger and never apologises. No, it’s Andi who ends up apologising.
And then there’s the cherry on top.
So for years Corey has been posting Andi’s abusive formerly alcoholic dad’s letters, one every year. Each year, resenting Andi more and more for continuing not to respond to a letter from a man who abused her for a year. Whatever, Corey is an asshole, we’ve established this. There was one break in the routine.
Corey knocked up his new girlfriend. His big football dreams, the very reason he was an unreasonable douche to Andi about colleges, are now down the toilet. His girlfriend doesn’t want to get married. So Corey writes to Andi, begging for her to come back to him.
Corey and the girlfriend haven’t broken up, she just doesn’t want to marry him. She’s pregnant with their baby. They’re keeping this baby. And Corey, the guy who was an asshole about college choice because he wanted to keep his football dreams alive (dreams which he’s just tanked), Corey the guy who’s taking hand outs from Andi’s abusive formerly alcoholic father… this Corey writes Andi to try to get back together with him.
And somehow Andi’s mom is the bad guy for hiding this letter from Andi because she would’ve taken him back (tanking her own life in the process).
I’m all for redemption. There absolutely was the potential for a story here that I would’ve loved and cherished. If the supporting cast had taken the time to pull their heads out of their collective asses for 5 seconds to apologise for being unreasonable… then it could’ve been Amazing, thoughtful, emotionally resonant.
Give me a fuck up, and I’m here for it. But the fuck up needs to make the amends. Not this victim blaming bullshit.
Also the plot was annoyingly reliant on tired high school tropes that were tired in the 80s… so that’s a thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2022
my GOD this book was everything
starting it i thought it would be your typical romance book i’d just read for the sake of entertainment but it ended up being so much more than that
this book is about forgiveness and family friendships, about maturing and learning and BOY have i cried
andi went through so much and she still managed to overcome it all, i genuinely was rooting for her. the whole time i just wanted to give her the biggest hug in history
i’m typing this and getting emotional again this book was so GOOD i really really hope it gets big, i see lame books get hyped up on tiktok and instagram and this books deserves that kind of hype
thank you so much for the eARC this book was wonderful
starting it i thought it would be your typical romance book i’d just read for the sake of entertainment but it ended up being so much more than that
this book is about forgiveness and family friendships, about maturing and learning and BOY have i cried
andi went through so much and she still managed to overcome it all, i genuinely was rooting for her. the whole time i just wanted to give her the biggest hug in history
i’m typing this and getting emotional again this book was so GOOD i really really hope it gets big, i see lame books get hyped up on tiktok and instagram and this books deserves that kind of hype
thank you so much for the eARC this book was wonderful
November 26, 2022
This is my second book written by Dembowski and she has become a must read author for me. This second chance romance deals with a very heavy topic, but this only magnifies the beauty of this couple.
𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘜𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨!
𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘜𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨!
October 4, 2022
The Corey Effect is a heart-stirring novel of second chances, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Andi and Corey were high school sweethearts, but a long time has passed since they’ve been in contact. When Andi reluctantly returns to town for the funeral of her estranged father, she is shocked to discover how life has changed for Corey, and also for her family. Andi’s heart is sorely bruised, and as years of secrets and revelations are exposed, can she find it in her to forgive and move on? I could personally relate to Andi’s story—my own experiences as a high schooler were very similar, so I understood the walls she’d built to protect herself. I read long into the night to finish this book, desperately needing to know how things worked out for Andi, Corey, and the other endearing characters.
July 19, 2024
Genuinely was going to be a 4-5 ⭐️ rating but the side characters (including the MMC) were horrible to Andi. They all expected her to just get over abuse? wmd SHE ends up apologizing…unhinged and unfortunate decisions made by the author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Red Adept Publishing for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say about this book? It was a realistic story about family, love and friendships. This book is well written and it stucks to you, at least I couldn't put this book down, even through the most intense scenes. It describes how the lead female character feels about her surroundings, her relationship with her dad, mother, sister, closer friends. Her relationship with her dad is really hard, what they go through together and on their own, how she deals with it and where she finds support and comfort. That's where the lead male characters shows up. Andi and Corey start dating and Andi shares everything with him. I loved how we were able to see a before and after perspective, how they met, started dating, what they used to do, how they felt, their plans, everything. I specially loved how Corey was careful when Andi came back, even with all the drama that was happening. It was real and raw, I didn't thought it was over dramatized, if it was happening in real life, people would have the same reaction or even worse than it and, to be honest, it made this book feel so real! To be honest, I loved all the characters, unless Ryan but, once I saw that he was getting sober and helping people who were close to her daughter? I started liking him, just a bit tho, since we didn't get to see that much about him too! About a few tropes that we can see through out this book: single-parent trope, second chance romance and (kind of) cheating. The last trope isn't my cup of tea which made me a bit unsure about this whole book but I think it was well managed and everything went fine after it. As a whole, I really enjoyed this book and how we got Corey's pov at the end, I think it made it extra special!!
For anyone who might be interested in this book, I would say to be aware of the TW and I will share it in this review since, in the eARC, I didn't see any mention but there is: domestic violence, mention of panic attacks.
What can I say about this book? It was a realistic story about family, love and friendships. This book is well written and it stucks to you, at least I couldn't put this book down, even through the most intense scenes. It describes how the lead female character feels about her surroundings, her relationship with her dad, mother, sister, closer friends. Her relationship with her dad is really hard, what they go through together and on their own, how she deals with it and where she finds support and comfort. That's where the lead male characters shows up. Andi and Corey start dating and Andi shares everything with him. I loved how we were able to see a before and after perspective, how they met, started dating, what they used to do, how they felt, their plans, everything. I specially loved how Corey was careful when Andi came back, even with all the drama that was happening. It was real and raw, I didn't thought it was over dramatized, if it was happening in real life, people would have the same reaction or even worse than it and, to be honest, it made this book feel so real! To be honest, I loved all the characters, unless Ryan but, once I saw that he was getting sober and helping people who were close to her daughter? I started liking him, just a bit tho, since we didn't get to see that much about him too! About a few tropes that we can see through out this book: single-parent trope, second chance romance and (kind of) cheating. The last trope isn't my cup of tea which made me a bit unsure about this whole book but I think it was well managed and everything went fine after it. As a whole, I really enjoyed this book and how we got Corey's pov at the end, I think it made it extra special!!
For anyone who might be interested in this book, I would say to be aware of the TW and I will share it in this review since, in the eARC, I didn't see any mention but there is: domestic violence, mention of panic attacks.
October 9, 2022
Casey Dembowski, the author of “The Corey Effect,” has written an entertaining and heart-warming novel. The genres are Contemporary Women’s Fiction and Contemporary Romance. The story takes place in the present and goes to the past regarding the characters and events. The author describes her colorful characters as flawed, complex, and complicated.
Andi Scott has not been to her hometown for ten years and gets a call that her estranged father has passed away. Andi has traumatic memories of living one year with her father and often has had panic attacks. Corey Johnson, her first love and boyfriend, also lives there. Although Andi has convinced herself that she has moved on, the heart wants what the heart wants. When Andi returns to her hometown and goes to the funeral, she also sees old friends and her sister and stepmother.
In the time that Andi has been away, it seems that her father has pulled his life together and has a successful business. Corey is the business partner. The father seems to be respected, and many of the townspeople come to pay their respects. This was certainly not the way Andi remembered how their life was. Andi is asked to stay until the will is read. It looks like Andi will have to learn to deal with the past so that she can accept the present and future.
I appreciate that the author discusses important topics such as alcoholism and rehabilitation and the effects on family and friends. The author also mentions the importance of family, friends, communication, honesty, forgiveness, second chances, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this entertaining and poignant read.
Andi Scott has not been to her hometown for ten years and gets a call that her estranged father has passed away. Andi has traumatic memories of living one year with her father and often has had panic attacks. Corey Johnson, her first love and boyfriend, also lives there. Although Andi has convinced herself that she has moved on, the heart wants what the heart wants. When Andi returns to her hometown and goes to the funeral, she also sees old friends and her sister and stepmother.
In the time that Andi has been away, it seems that her father has pulled his life together and has a successful business. Corey is the business partner. The father seems to be respected, and many of the townspeople come to pay their respects. This was certainly not the way Andi remembered how their life was. Andi is asked to stay until the will is read. It looks like Andi will have to learn to deal with the past so that she can accept the present and future.
I appreciate that the author discusses important topics such as alcoholism and rehabilitation and the effects on family and friends. The author also mentions the importance of family, friends, communication, honesty, forgiveness, second chances, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this entertaining and poignant read.
October 17, 2022
I was so excited to read this book because I fell in love with Casey Dembowski’s writing after reading her 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲. I wasn’t sure she could wow me again, but she did it!
The opening scene finds Andi in her New York office in a compromising position with her boss when her mother calls with news that her estranged father has passed away.
Andi travels back to her hometown, never expecting to see Corey. Corey, the boy who helped her through all the times when Andi’s father was drunk and out of control. Corey, her first love. But when she left for college, mistakes were made, and she never looked back, or at least she pretended not to.
But Corey is still in town. In fact, Corey had started a business with Andi’s father. If this doesn’t crush Andi, there’s more, a lot more she’s missed in the ten years she’s been gone. Yet, this is Corey, her Corey, and he still has the same effect on her.
It gets a little more serious in this one, as it delves into alcoholism and parental abuse, but ugh, I loved Andi and Corey. As the timelines toggle between then and now, you learn more about their lives, together and apart. I really felt for Andi. I also wanted to be mad at Corey, but the characters are written in such a way you just need them to be together. A great second-chance romance exploring trauma and forgiveness.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @casey_dembowski for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.
The opening scene finds Andi in her New York office in a compromising position with her boss when her mother calls with news that her estranged father has passed away.
Andi travels back to her hometown, never expecting to see Corey. Corey, the boy who helped her through all the times when Andi’s father was drunk and out of control. Corey, her first love. But when she left for college, mistakes were made, and she never looked back, or at least she pretended not to.
But Corey is still in town. In fact, Corey had started a business with Andi’s father. If this doesn’t crush Andi, there’s more, a lot more she’s missed in the ten years she’s been gone. Yet, this is Corey, her Corey, and he still has the same effect on her.
It gets a little more serious in this one, as it delves into alcoholism and parental abuse, but ugh, I loved Andi and Corey. As the timelines toggle between then and now, you learn more about their lives, together and apart. I really felt for Andi. I also wanted to be mad at Corey, but the characters are written in such a way you just need them to be together. A great second-chance romance exploring trauma and forgiveness.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @casey_dembowski for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.
July 11, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to BookSirens and Casey Dembowski for early access to The Corey Effect! 🧡 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Corey Effect is a book about second chances and forgiveness - focusing on the story of a woman who returns to the small town she lived in for her father's funeral. While there, she sees her ex-boyfriend (the love of her life) and continues to understand her complicated relationship with her father, who was an alcoholic. She struggles reconcile the life she knew with the sober version of her father - and the ripple effect it had on those she loves.
The story is told in present day and flashbacks to her high school/college days, to provide insight to her experiences. I don't always love flashbacks but I think it works well to tell Andi and Corey's story. Dembowski writes a novel that's full of love, hope, and so much of the truth of what addiction can do to a family. I really enjoyed watching Andi and Corey reconnect and explore what life could be for them, many years later. The romance was 😍😍😍 and Corey was just... perfect! I mean, he wasn't - and that's the point of this - but pretty darn close.
There's just something really special about first loves and second chances to me. 🧡
I definitely had a good time reading this one!
Thank you to BookSirens and Casey Dembowski for early access to The Corey Effect! 🧡 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Corey Effect is a book about second chances and forgiveness - focusing on the story of a woman who returns to the small town she lived in for her father's funeral. While there, she sees her ex-boyfriend (the love of her life) and continues to understand her complicated relationship with her father, who was an alcoholic. She struggles reconcile the life she knew with the sober version of her father - and the ripple effect it had on those she loves.
The story is told in present day and flashbacks to her high school/college days, to provide insight to her experiences. I don't always love flashbacks but I think it works well to tell Andi and Corey's story. Dembowski writes a novel that's full of love, hope, and so much of the truth of what addiction can do to a family. I really enjoyed watching Andi and Corey reconnect and explore what life could be for them, many years later. The romance was 😍😍😍 and Corey was just... perfect! I mean, he wasn't - and that's the point of this - but pretty darn close.
There's just something really special about first loves and second chances to me. 🧡
I definitely had a good time reading this one!
October 6, 2022
Ten years ago Andi Scott was determined to leave her past behind which includes her high school sweetheart Corey. After the death of her estranged father Ryan. Andi returns to her home to attend the funeral, she’s overwhelmed with past memories. She’s soon shocked to discover that Corey is still in her hometown and to make matters even harder he is the cofounder of a local business with her father before he passed. We soon learn of Andis past with her father, who was an alcoholic and what led to her building walls around her heart and difficulty trusting people. Throughout her stay and as she begins to spend more time with Corey she learns more about her father and the changes he made. It’s hard for Andi to understand her father changing because Corey witnessed Andi and what she went through in the past with her father. We watch Andi as she faces her past and other family members and deciding if she can move forward and maybe get a second chance with Corey. This book was so much deeper than I expected and it wasn’t always a light hearted read, I do want to add a trigger warning of emotional abuse and alcoholism.
December 31, 2022
I really love the second chance romance storyline. I have to say this one caught be by surprise with how deep the story was. It is a beautiful story about forgiveness, trauma, abuse and second chances. I also enjoyed the duel time-line, it was important to understand the back story.
This book brought out a lot of emotions. I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley and Red Adept Publishing for this ARC.
This book brought out a lot of emotions. I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley and Red Adept Publishing for this ARC.
February 6, 2025
Initially I liked the book, it took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. But after mulling it over I’m really displeased with how many people expected the FMC to just get over their actions. most of them didn’t even acknowledge their wrongdoings and almost no one apologized!
by the end, I wasn’t as happy with the ending, as I assumed I would be.
by the end, I wasn’t as happy with the ending, as I assumed I would be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2022
The Corey Effect is a poignant story about family and friendship, first love and second chances. With an endearing heroine to tell it, and a sweet romance at its heart, this is a book to sink into and savor!
Longer review to come!
Longer review to come!
September 6, 2022
I started this book at around 9pm ish and refused to go to sleep until I had finished It at 2 Am. So to say I enjoyed It would be a understatement.
Andi- our female lead with a very broken and fragile relationship with her past. This ends up bleeding into her current personal relationships.
Ryan- Andis estranged father. I need to mention him in some way shape or form because I related so much to his story line with him and Andi. His battle and struggle with alcoholism was almost like reading parts of my childhood and hs experience. Thankfully, I was able to repair those relationships. And Andi was able to as well, to a degree.
Corey- our male lead and Andis first love.
So without giving too much away, Andi , now 28 works in the city and is pretty successful. She has a rather messed up relationship going on. She gets word that her estranged, alcoholic father had passed away and she is asked to go to his funeral. There are many reasons why Andi does not want to. First of which, she had a lot of bad memories in the house she spent one year in with her father due to his alcoholism. Second- It doesn’t dawn on her that her first love , the one that got away might still live there. Either way she decides to go.
Throughout her stay in her fathers home town she discovers a lot. That her father ended up getting sober, made or attempt to amend his relationships with people and even created a very successful business, with Corey by his side. This aspect is so difficult for Andi to understand since Corey was there to witness what Ryan had put her though.
Again- I don’t want to spoil too much but this book was so well written. I literally could not put my kindle down to go to sleep until I knew how everything ended with Andi and Corey. And Andi and her father. Casey did such a fantastic job going back and forth with the storyline - highlighting important past moments between them and tying them into the current time.
The ending was everything I was hoping It would be. Although I don’t have any complaints on this book, the one thing I wish It did have more of was some POV on Corey’s end. We do get to see Corey’s POV once but I would have loved dual pov or even maybe just a few more pov chapters. I really felt like Corey had so much going on during those 10 years when Andi wasn’t there that really would have contributed to the story line but Atleast we got a little snip It of his pov.
I will give an advisory or trigger warning - if you personal dealt with a parent that was struggling with alcoholism and either verbal or physical abuse , this book might not be for you. There is no actual physical physical abuse in this book, mainly verbal but I just wanted to put It out there for people who still might be struggling (past or present) with any of the above.
Thanks you NetGalley and Red Adept publishing for the ACR of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 26, 2023
Andi Scott never thought there would a reason to return to her hometown, a place full of muddled memories and broken promises. But then her estranged father passes away. Suddenly, Andi finds herself reluctantly taking the journey back, hoping to put some much needed closure on that chapter of her life.
Once there, however, Andi is overcome with bittersweet feelings from her past. Walking through her childhood home conjures painful images of tiptoeing around her alcoholic father, while walking through town reminds her of special moments with her high school sweetheart, Corey Johnson.
Then she runs into Corey in present day. Shocked at how the past and present have collided in unexpected ways, Andi tries to make sense of the paths that brought each of them to where they are. Only the more Andi tries to understand the two most impactful men in her life, old wounds are reopened. Can Andi find it in her heart to forgive those who broke her heart, or more importantly, can she ever forgive herself?
The Corey Effect is a tender story about making peace with the past. Told in alternating timelines, the reader gets to see important events that took place and their long lasting repercussions. It also entertains the notion that true love can prevail with the passage of time and some patience.
Once there, however, Andi is overcome with bittersweet feelings from her past. Walking through her childhood home conjures painful images of tiptoeing around her alcoholic father, while walking through town reminds her of special moments with her high school sweetheart, Corey Johnson.
Then she runs into Corey in present day. Shocked at how the past and present have collided in unexpected ways, Andi tries to make sense of the paths that brought each of them to where they are. Only the more Andi tries to understand the two most impactful men in her life, old wounds are reopened. Can Andi find it in her heart to forgive those who broke her heart, or more importantly, can she ever forgive herself?
The Corey Effect is a tender story about making peace with the past. Told in alternating timelines, the reader gets to see important events that took place and their long lasting repercussions. It also entertains the notion that true love can prevail with the passage of time and some patience.
March 6, 2023
Andi returns to her hometown ten years after leaving to attend her estranged father’s funeral. AndI assumes her first love, Corey got out of their small town, but it turns out he’s still there and connected to her father. As AndI faces her painful past she also gets a new perspective on what happened since she left.
Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes so I was really excited to read The Corey Effect. I liked how the story was written in dual timelines, then and now, so we could see Andi’s past and watch her growth in the present. This story touches on some tough topics like alcoholism and abuse, and shows how someone can overcome this things while making peace with their past.
I really liked reading about the past and Corey and Andi’s relationship. I was hoping things would work out for them and that they could move on from the hurt they both felt. This book is about hope and healing, and I enjoyed seeing Andi’s growth throughout. She is a relatable main character.
This was my first book by Dembowski, and I look forward to reading more from her.
Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes so I was really excited to read The Corey Effect. I liked how the story was written in dual timelines, then and now, so we could see Andi’s past and watch her growth in the present. This story touches on some tough topics like alcoholism and abuse, and shows how someone can overcome this things while making peace with their past.
I really liked reading about the past and Corey and Andi’s relationship. I was hoping things would work out for them and that they could move on from the hurt they both felt. This book is about hope and healing, and I enjoyed seeing Andi’s growth throughout. She is a relatable main character.
This was my first book by Dembowski, and I look forward to reading more from her.
September 20, 2022
The story is a second chance romance. It's told through present day and flashback scenes. I loved getting to see the characters as adults, and also learning about the events in their youth that molded them. I never found myself reading one timeline and wishing it would switch back to the other timeline. Both storylines were very well done. But please check the content warnings - Some of the flashbacks are intense.
I just love how real this book, the story, and the characters feel. This author has a way of writing that brings the characters to life. They are flawed and endearing and even frustrating at times. And they are entirely relatable. The dialog feels natural. And the storyline is heartbreaking and hopeful. It's full of complex relationships and character growth. I loved reading it.
My only negative is the borderline infidelity trope. As much as I loved the characters and the romance, it prevented me from being fully invested in the relationship.
Thank you NetGalley and Red Adept Publishing for the advanced copy.
CW: alcoholism, abuse, panic attacks, infidelity
I just love how real this book, the story, and the characters feel. This author has a way of writing that brings the characters to life. They are flawed and endearing and even frustrating at times. And they are entirely relatable. The dialog feels natural. And the storyline is heartbreaking and hopeful. It's full of complex relationships and character growth. I loved reading it.
My only negative is the borderline infidelity trope. As much as I loved the characters and the romance, it prevented me from being fully invested in the relationship.
Thank you NetGalley and Red Adept Publishing for the advanced copy.
CW: alcoholism, abuse, panic attacks, infidelity
October 29, 2022
I just adored this beautiful second chance love story. The timeline jumps between now and then giving insight into the struggles that tore Andi and Corey apart and also brings them back together. There are serious issues, such as alcoholism and abuse, that need to be addressed, but Casey writes them with a compassionate hand and the ending had me smiling and my heart happy with the way life has of coming full circle.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2024
When Andi returns to her hometown after her father's death, she is shocked to find her ex Corey is still in town. He's not only in town but he's in business with her now dead father. This second chance romance was so much sweeter than I expected! I appreciated the way the author dealt with the heavy hitting subjects tackled in the story - alcohol addiction and death of a parent and felt that she portrayed them well. I liked the way Andi and Corey gravitated towards each other as if no time had passed between them and loved hearing their flashbacks. I'm excited to read more from this author.
September 24, 2022
I received an ARC of this text from NetGalley for an honest review.
The Corey Effect follows Andi Scott, a 28-year-old Communication Manager who has experienced her full load of hurt throughout her life. Andi is determined to make something out of her life, however with a life changing event, and her boyfriend being a jerk and forcing her to go and do things she doesn’t want to do – she returns to her hometown to find that life continues to move on for everyone even once you leave. After 10 years, her friends have married, gotten divorced and married again, not to mention the ever-growing list of children that now fill the friend group. The thriving businesses they developed, the rekindled relationships… shall I go on.
Andi has to decide what she wants in life now, as she learns that everyone in her life – even her own mother has been lying to her and mistreating her.
This book for me was a pain to read. I felt it dragged through storylines, and there was no real relief. Not one character was enjoyable start to finish, all having moments when I wanted to yell at them for choices and this made me feel like reading the book even less.
The Corey Effect follows Andi Scott, a 28-year-old Communication Manager who has experienced her full load of hurt throughout her life. Andi is determined to make something out of her life, however with a life changing event, and her boyfriend being a jerk and forcing her to go and do things she doesn’t want to do – she returns to her hometown to find that life continues to move on for everyone even once you leave. After 10 years, her friends have married, gotten divorced and married again, not to mention the ever-growing list of children that now fill the friend group. The thriving businesses they developed, the rekindled relationships… shall I go on.
Andi has to decide what she wants in life now, as she learns that everyone in her life – even her own mother has been lying to her and mistreating her.
This book for me was a pain to read. I felt it dragged through storylines, and there was no real relief. Not one character was enjoyable start to finish, all having moments when I wanted to yell at them for choices and this made me feel like reading the book even less.
October 17, 2022
Another great read from this author. A story of second chances, forgiveness and moving on from a painful past. Andi Scott returns home when her father dies. She returns home to everything she left behind. Even Corey, her high-school sweetheart who broke her heart. She also discovers things about her father. Who was an alcoholic. This was a heartfelt and relatable story of moving on from the past to be able to accept what the future holds. I enjoyed this and felt everything Andi was dealing with and how the issues from the past can haunt you. Excellent read.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
April 9, 2024
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars
March 20, 2025
This is an interesting storyline about breakups, divorce and abuse.
August 11, 2022
The Corey Effect was like a walk down memory lane for two long lost first loves. Andi left town a decade earlier never intending to return but when life leads her back she has to face the past. The chapters alternated between the present and the past pretty seamlessly so that I never felt lost or overwhelmed. We learn about Anti and Corey’s first meeting, their first kiss, and how they love blossomed into something strong and passionate. How as they grew up they had to make tough choices and compromise. There was a lot to unpack and I enjoyed digging through their relationship wreckage to get to the heart of their love story.
Andi’s character had already undergone tons of personal and emotional growth during the decade that passed but during the actual book, she really came into her own and faced some hard truths. It was refreshing to see her make new choices and find her voice.
Corey was a totally different person as an adult and yet he still had that sweet charm and easy personality. Although the entire story was told in Andi’s POV, I think the reader was able to glean the pain and struggle he endured and the adult decisions he also had to make over the years and how those affected him.
These characters were sweet and endearing and their chemistry was palpable. I loved the build up and anticipation in this second chance romance.
I don’t want to spoil it but I will say that this story tugged at my heart strings. It frustrated me because the author did a great job of building some anticipation and creating angst, but it also broke my heart and put it back together with how she gave the characters a sweet HEA.
Andi’s character had already undergone tons of personal and emotional growth during the decade that passed but during the actual book, she really came into her own and faced some hard truths. It was refreshing to see her make new choices and find her voice.
Corey was a totally different person as an adult and yet he still had that sweet charm and easy personality. Although the entire story was told in Andi’s POV, I think the reader was able to glean the pain and struggle he endured and the adult decisions he also had to make over the years and how those affected him.
These characters were sweet and endearing and their chemistry was palpable. I loved the build up and anticipation in this second chance romance.
I don’t want to spoil it but I will say that this story tugged at my heart strings. It frustrated me because the author did a great job of building some anticipation and creating angst, but it also broke my heart and put it back together with how she gave the characters a sweet HEA.
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October 28, 2022The beginning threw me off a bit, but after the first chapters, I started getting really invested in the story. Andi can be somewhat annoying at times, but we must understand her story in order to understand her. The flashbacks also added a lot to the book and made the read much more exciting. Emily is adorable, Krystal is our best girl and Corey is the perfect match for Andi. A perfect second chance romance.
October 7, 2022
This book ran way too long! While I certainly understand all the angst and painfulness of the story, it felt like we were being beat over the head with it. In my opinion, it lacked cohesiveness.
The storyline was good; the characters lacked depth; the plot twists and turns were lost in the switching back and forth of the story. Thank goodness there was a HEA that helped redeem this book. I must say I used some tissues while reading this story but that was due to frustration as well as the sadness of the story.
Read this one at your own risk. Some will like it…others not so much. I found it to be just so-so. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and found it to be just sort of meh…)
The storyline was good; the characters lacked depth; the plot twists and turns were lost in the switching back and forth of the story. Thank goodness there was a HEA that helped redeem this book. I must say I used some tissues while reading this story but that was due to frustration as well as the sadness of the story.
Read this one at your own risk. Some will like it…others not so much. I found it to be just so-so. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and found it to be just sort of meh…)
October 16, 2024
Is it so hard to come up with a romance book where u have to rip off one of the most popular romance stories of all time. (The notebook but worse)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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