Before BookTok and the countless blogs and kindle releases, the reading space was once a place where all types of bookworms had to navigate Goodreads and other alternatives on instinct to pick their next read. For those of us bookworms that were deep in the rabbit hole since then, words like The Deal, The Mistake, The Score, and The Goal hit right at home. Do you all remember the rare contemporary gem that was the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy back in the far-away 2015? Well, if yes, then we’re here to remind you why you loved it so much, and if not—side eye— what are you waiting for?
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Consisting of four novels, The Deal, The Mistake, The Score, and The Goal, this New Adult, college, sports romance series was all one could want in a romance book. Explosive chemistry, dynamic characters, awesome plot twists, the deal trope and heartbreaking moments. It might not be as complex as the Maasverse and its theories, but all the fluffy and goody feelings are there. And let’s not forget The Legacy, giving us a glimpse of their lives three years later, and its sequel series, Briar U, with even more college romance and misunderstandings.
All in all, there is definitely enough reading material to finish this year with a bang. And if you’ve fallen victim to the most common bookworm problem and your bookshelves and TBR are full, then it will be perfect to welcome the new year. To further entice you to read this series of romance novels, we will provide you with a synopsis and a mini-analysis of the characters of the first book.
If you are already a fan of Kennedy’s novels, take a look at our Off-Campus and Briar U worlds, made by crewfiction with magic.
As always, beware, dear bookworms, spoilers ahead!
Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham are from completely different sides of the social sphere. Hannah is a music major and a top student, driven and confident. Garrett is the charismatic captain of the hockey team of Briar University, a bad boy with a loud personality and beloved by all.
Coincidentally, they both take the Ethics class and as one can guess, Hannah passes with flying colors, while the hockey player fails the midterm. Unfortunately, failing this class means that Garrett can’t play hockey, so he has to find a tutor. And who better for the job than the beautiful and reserved Hannah?
Garrett asks for her help and Hannah, wanting to get something out of their agreement, decides it would be a good challenge for her and might improve her chances with her crush, Justin. So they strike a deal; Hannah tutors Garrett and, in turn, he pretends to date her to make her more desirable. Fake dating is quite simple, right?
Apparently, not so. As the two of them start spending more time together, it is quickly apparent that the hot hockey captain is not just a brainless jock. Garrett’s struggle with academia seems to stem from his deep need to be the best at hockey, and his opinion that he is not smart enough.
This intrigues Hannah, who hides her own past demons under her strong exterior. Hannah’s aversion to parties and social gatherings does not escape Garrett’s notice, and he naturally uses his joyful and engaging nature to convince her to join him.
Meanwhile, Hannah is set to perform a duet in the winter showcase. However, her partner’s “diva” behavior poses so many difficulties that she decides to withdraw. Garrett and Allie, Hannah’s bestie and roommate, support her through this decision, while Garrett’s best friends and roommates, Logan, Dean, and Tucker—each the protagonist of the next books—welcome Hannah into their group as well.
On a night out to attract Justin’s attention, Garrett convinces Hannah a fake kiss will surely work. However, they are both in for a ride. When they kiss, sparks fly and logic is out of the window. Their playful banter and cozy camaraderie are now hanging by a thread.
Confusion and mixed feelings follow their kiss, but they don’t stop hanging out. Their study sessions become a safe place, that prompts a deeper connection and even leads to Hannah confessing her trauma; she was drugged and sexually assaulted by the major’s son at a party when she was fifteen.
Garrett’s supportive and respectful handling of her secret endears him to Hannah even more. Garrett’s opening up about his abusive father and how he blames him for his mother’s death due to lung cancer adds many more layers to his hockey player persona. Garrett gives Hannah space while genuinely starting to care for her and maintaining their deal.
Their chemistry and connection lead them to a more physical relationship. As Garrett gains her trust, Hannah reveals her discomfort with sexual intimacy, and Garrett—you guessed it—offers to help. Providing her with safety and respect, together they navigate the boundaries of what she is comfortable with and how she can accept another person touching her. Slowly and surely, their attraction and mutual trust bloom not only physically but mentally, and they decide to start dating.
Garrett’s father expects him to attend Thanksgiving with him, and as they are now officially dating, he takes Wellsy—the nickname Garrett uses for Hannah—with him. There, Garrett meets his father’s new girlfriend, but when he realizes he is abusing her as well, it triggers his trauma and brings memories back. After an argument, Garrett angrily leaves the house and Hannah is there to console him. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the last of the ex-hockey star Phil Graham. To complicate things further, one of the guys who testified for Hannah’s abuser bumps into her and Garrett beats him up and gets suspended for a game.
The cherry on top of an already difficult time is Phil Graham’s visit to Hannah’s workplace. He blackmails her into breaking up with his son as she is a bad influence on him, or he will cut off all Garrett’s funds, ruining his college life and potential hockey career. Hannah, perplexed and desperate to save the man she loves, has no choice but to break Garrett’s heart. She breaks up with him, saying she wants to date other people. Garrett does not really believe her, but he is undoubtedly a gentleman, so he won’t put up a fight. Hannah goes home for Christmas break, all broken and hurt. She even calls Garrett on New Year’s to wish him for his birthday.
Coming back from Christmas break, Hannah tries to get out there again and get over Garrett. For some reason, though, most guys seem to avoid her—kinda suspicious if you ask us. *Wink wink*
After overhearing others talking about it, she realizes Garrett has made her off-limits to others. At first glance, Garrett may seem like a territorial ass, but actually, it’s more than that. He knows they are not over, and wants to protect her while he is not there to do it. Interestingly enough, Hannah reasserts her independence and calls him out on his “dick move”.
This whole debacle leads to them having a very open discussion and, despite how upset Hannah is, she can see Garrett's feelings for her. She does not appreciate his overprotective actions, but she is touched. Following this heart-to-heart, the real reason they broke up surfaces.
Garrett is glad that Hannah wants him. He reveals that he has spoken with his grandparents, and they will provide him with a trust fund and everything he needs. So, his hockey career and college life are safe, and the two can finally be together despite his father’s wishes. They finally make up, giving us a heartbreaking reunion, and Garrett goes on to lead the hockey team to a decisive victory in the tournament.
Everything is fine in its place, the first book is done and everyone is happy—or are they? We give you a day before you dig into the next book. *Evil laughter echoing*
Now that we’ve got the storyline down, it’s time to take a closer look at the characters!
Hannah is witty, smart and loves her independence, with a perfect GPA, a talent for music and a passion for theater, she’s got it all. But the sexual assault she experienced at the hands of her first boyfriend has left her with unhealed trauma. Although Hannah did not stay silent, the case was covered up and led to her and her family becoming pariahs. So, it’s not difficult to see why Hannah is wary of intimacy and relationships. Her resilience and thirst for love and life allow her to let Garrett in. And it will be the start of a beautiful connection that will heal all her scars and ill her broken soul with love.
Talent, charisma, and leadership skills, pretty much sum the smoking Garrett. But behind his bad boy reputation and unscalable confidence, Graham carries a lot of emotional baggage from his abusive upbringing. This has given him immense strength, but has left him with many scars. He is protective, loyal to a fault and is always to defend those he loves. Through his relationship with Hannah, he will also learn it’s okay to trust and rely on others. His perseverance and gentleness will get him the girl, and thank god for that!
Logan is Garrett’s best friend and another hot hockey player on the Briar U roster. Easy-going, laid back and charming, Logan is there to support Garrett with his struggles—although he does have his own issues to tackle. He becomes close with Hannah as well, adding layers and warmth to the couple.
The “player” of the group, Dean, offers comedic relief with his hilarious one-liners and carefree attitude. Women worship where the blonde heartthrob walks, but Hannah is definitely not one of them. Dean is loyal and kind, with many other assets that will make you swoon in the next books.
When four hockey players live together in a four-bedroom apartment, chaos is the only logical consequence. But Tucker is the voice of logic amongst the craziness. Level-headed, calm and collected, he is there to offer support and pitch in on the serious decisions. But this ginger hottie is more than just a thoughtful dude, all he needs is the right girl.
Allie’s vibrant and colorful personality shines through the first book. Her presence is ground for Hannah, even though Allie has her own troubled romance to think about. The perfect support system for Hannah, Allie pushes her to chase her dreams and put herself out there. Encouraging your bestie to take risks is what friends are for, after all.
It’s also worth examining the major themes that constitute Off-Campus #1.
At the core of the novel and the series as a whole, we see strong friendships, that last in the turbulence of failure, hardship, and even jealousy. The boys’ friendship is something most of us aspire to find in college and maintain after. Hannah and Allie also give us a taste of girl power at its finest. Overall, seeing this bunch slowly come together is deeply endearing and hopeful.
Good friends, a successful career and a good house might be the ultimate goal, but we have to admit that love is what binds everything together. Hannah and Garrett’s unconditional love, is a definitely something to worth striving for. Even the “players” of the series feel the need for love, solidifying its crucial role. And let’s not forget that loves comes in all forms, and they are all equally important.
Love and friendship are awesome, but they would mean nothing without the unwavering loyalty of the characters. Even when the protagonists waver and people are set on breaking them up, their friends are there to support them throughout. Even when one messes up, the others are there to pick them up as many times as needed; because that’s what friends do.
Trauma and healing are very prominent themes in The Deal. With Hannah’s past SA and Garret’s domestic abuse, our characters know a thing or two about trauma. What Elle Kennedy teaches us is that we should never be ashamed of our scars. We should speak out and share our trauma, those who love us unconditionally will not see us any differently, and sharing the burden always makes it easier to carry. Like in real life, when we accept our reality, we can finally start healing.
Perhaps the hardest stage of dealing with trauma, forgiveness takes a lot of work. Hannah is still angry at her abuser and rightly so, but after she sees the effects her anger has on her relationship with Garrett, she realizes it is time to move on. The same goes for Garrett’s anger towards his father, it’s only destroying him. Reaching a point where they can both forgive those who wronged them, accurately portrays how love and healing work side by side, and we love seeing it.
Have we convinced you to read this contemporary sports romance yet, or do we need to go into more detail? We can definitely do that and even reread the whole series just so we can, you know, refresh our memories. Give the NA books a chance and we promise you won’t be disappointed! Till the next time, fellow bookworms, stay safe and never stop reading.
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Yes, The Deal is a spicy book, as are all the Off-Campus books. There are many sex scenes that are described in thorough detail, and one of the main issues is the sexual abuse Hannah experienced. Elle Kennedy uses sexual intimacy as a way to deepen the bonds between the characters.
Logan is Garret’s best friend and when he is first introduced to Hannah, he is immediately attracted to her. When she starts dating Garrett, he respectfully keeps his distance, but his complicated feelings persist and become more evident in The Mistake, the second book of the series. There, Logan realizes that he is not really in love with Hannah, but he wants companionship and love in his own life, which he will find with Grace.
The Score is the third installment of the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy. It explores the love story of Allie Hayes and Dean Di Laurentis. Allie has just come out of a rocky relationship, and Dean is not ready for commitment. As they spend more time together, they realize they want more from each other. After many shortcomings and even a very traumatic event that stigmatizes Dean, they will be officially together.
Always living in her own enchanted little world, Christina discovered the magic that can be hidden within the pages of a book when one dares to take a closer look from a tender age. An avid reader, she is constantly inspired to delve into the secrets woven between the lines and challenges herself to find her own voice amidst the chaos. She is a dedicated fan of the classics, but the supernatural creatures that have tormented readers for years are her kryptonite. The mastery it takes to infuse the author's essence, molded by the era they grew up in to their innermost desires fascinates her. Undoubtedly, putting her passion and knowledge on paper has a mesmerizing allure on her, and following the steps of so many other dreamers before her she wishes to leave her mark in the literary world. Guided by T.S Eliot’s haunting words: “I will show you fear in a handful of dust” she intends to wreak havoc in the minds of her future readers.
