Book: The E.M.M.A. Effect by Lia Riley
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
This was a cute little retelling of Jane Austen's Emma with an AI and hockey twist. Knight is a hockey player struggling through a terrible season, while Harriet is a developer working on a new sports performance AI called E.M.M.A. She convinces Knight to join her beta test group, and the software promptly determines that the key to improving his performance is… dating Harriet. The use of AI as a plot device feels very topical and, honestly, a bit surprising, given how many authors have been openly critical of it. That said, the tech-heavy jargon can get a little dense if you’re not used to that kind of language.
Knight is a self-proclaimed (well, Harriet-proclaimed) golden retriever. He’s been crushing on her since they were teenagers—she’s his sister’s best friend—and his devotion is very sweet. What I loved most was how clearly he sees Harriet. Where her ex dismissed her ambitions, Knight admires her intelligence and drive. It was a little heartbreaking to watch him doubt he was good enough for her when, aside from his hockey slump, he’s pretty close to perfect.
I also really appreciated seeing Harriet working in the male-dominated tech field. That kind of representation is still far too rare in romance, and it was nice to see a heroine whose career and intelligence were front and center.