The early 2020s witnessed a surge in the popularity of romance novels, including the sports romance subgenre. The Graham Effect aligns with this trend and employs familiar romance tropes to shape reader expectations and develop character arcs.

Sports romances, notably those centered around hockey, gained momentum in 2023. They often feature male protagonists who, despite participating in physical sports like hockey or football, display unexpected levels of consideration and vulnerability. This contrast appeals to a wide audience, much like similar dynamics seen in vampire and military romances, where the allure stems from the contrast between the male lead’s dangerous nature and his tender treatment of the main character.

Elle Kennedy is well-versed in the hockey romance genre, which is evident in her Off-Campus and Briar U series, as well as the Him series co-authored with Sarina Bowen. However, The Graham Effect is the first book where the female lead, Gigi, is also an athlete. Through Gigi’s character, Kennedy explores the nuances between men’s and women’s hockey, emphasizing the strategic nature of women’s hockey due to the absence of body checking.

Hockey romances incorporate the excitement of sports, adding tension to the narrative through depictions of games and practices.