The Goode Girls of Maple Lane

Author: Jacqueline Firkins Title: The Goode Girls of Maple Lane Publisher: Avon Date Published: 09/16/2025

Read Dates: 08/09/2025- 08/10/2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 📖 I received a gifted e-book ARC. The following is my honest review✍🏻

The Goode Girls of Maple Lane is a single POV found family romance, Cameron is a stressed out vet student, going to school full time and working two part time jobs to scrape by. She doesn’t have time for friends, or a life, or a pet, but when she gets a call about a seriously neglected Golden Retriever in need of a LOT of love and help, she can’t say no. Cameron begins reaching out to those around her, including the kind and generous Everett, and builds a found family among her neighbors and community, as well as online, to shower Aggie the dog with love and support!

This was a a delightful fall read, with a ton of lovable side characters and an adorable romance between Cameron and Everett. Their relationship felt very realistic, and I loved the found family nature of the story. I’ll definitely look into more from this author.

Cameron Goode is on the verge of giving up her dream of becoming a vet. Buried under debt and juggling two jobs with a full course load, she’s utterly overwhelmed. Then a local rescue organization reaches out about a neglected golden retriever in desperate need of help. 

The last thing Cameron needs is another responsibility. But something inside her shifts when she looks into the eyes of the dog, who is so obese that she can barely move. Cameron is Aggie’s last chance. And she’s not going to let her go. 

Cameron brings Aggie home, where the promise of Autumn is in the air. As the leaves begin to change, so do both Cameron and her rescue, whose recovery she chronicles on a TikTok account. Aggie’s resilience inspires Cameron to open up to the neighbors in her building, including Everett, the guy next door who dropped everything to help Cameron save Aggie. He also happens to look really good in sweaters. 

When the account goes viral, Cameron finds herself faced with a choice between monetizing the best thing in her life or struggling to make rent and care for Aggie. Will Cameron be able to accept the help of a newfound family, including the first guy she’s fully given her heart to?