The Deal

If only there were more NA romances like this one! This book completely charmed me, and is probably one of the best college romances I’ve read in a while now. While the premise isn’t anything I haven’t read before, I felt like the author took the idea and shaped it into her own unique tale, so trust me when I say it’s not your typical NA romance riddled with common clichés. This book was definitely one of those unexpected gems: the more I read, the more I fell in love with the delightful main characters, the witty banter, and the steamy and impassioned romance. Elle Kennedy, you’ve got yourself a new fan! A big reason to why this book was such a winner for me was the hero Garrett. It may be just me, but I’m a little tired of heroes who are bad boys and jerks...I mean, give me a guy who’ll actually live up to the title of ‘hero’ you know? And Garrett really did. He’s a sports jock who’s not only dedicated to playing hockey, but also in getting his grades up as well and has such a fun-loving, caring personality. It’s really hard not to fall for him! When his grades drop though, and his hockey-playing goal is in jeopardy, he finds the class smartie to tutor him, leading him right to the heroine Hannah. Studious and practical, Hannah is pursuing her goals as a songwriter/singer and is pretty confident in all areas of her life, except her sex life that is. She’s finally found one guy who catches her interest but with absolutely zero seduction skills she’s at a loss. When Garrett barges into her life asking for her to tutor him, they agree on a deal: she’ll tutor him so he can bring up his grades and be able to keep playing hockey, and in exchange he’ll pretend-date her to catch her crush’s attention. I LOVE that there’s no insta-love, and heck, the attraction didn’t settle in until later too. Hannah and Garrett’s relationship is very much a gradual build, going from barely acquaintances to tentative friends to an explosive couple. But I’ll also admit that in the very beginning of this book, I wasn’t fully into the story and the characters until later. I didn’t like how judgmental Hannah was towards Garrett in the start, partially because her crush was in the same position (both sports players) as him and she chose to stereotype Garrett while glorifying the other guy, even when Garrett’s actions were always honorable and meant well. But as I read on, my dislike for Hannah thawed out and I ended up really loving her character. I liked that despite her very strong personality, she had this layer of vulnerability and her backstory (actually, both hers and Garrett’s) hurt to read. And of course, I loved Garrett’s patience and understanding with her, and how he propelled their relationship forward one step at a time. I also appreciated that there wasn’t any contrived drama, which almost always exists in the NA books I read. Any and all conflict in this story was handled well, very thought-out and dare I say, practical too. I love that the author doesn’t follow the norm and to balance out the angst, she’s got a wonderful sense of humor that’s evident in the story. Almost everything I highlighted in the book were passages of snarky/witty/laugh out loud hilarious banter that made me laugh the entire time I read. And the locker scene near the end of the book? Freaking EPIC I tell you! Much like the way Hannah and Garrett surprised each other and everyone else when they fell in love, this book also surprised me in the best of ways. Love NA romance? You’ll hit gold with this book. Not a fan of NA romance? Take a chance and let this book work its charm on you too. The Deal is a NA romance standalone and the first book in the Off-Campus series. Consecutive books will be about side characters.

The Deal by Elle Kennedy is a college romance that fully delivers on its reputation. With engaging characters, steady emotional growth, and a relationship that develops naturally, it’s easy to see why this book remains so popular. The story follows Hannah Wells, a focused and reserved music student, and Garrett Graham, the confident captain of the college hockey team whose academic struggles threaten his future. When their paths cross through an unexpected agreement, a friendship begins that gradually deepens into something more meaningful. One of the book’s greatest strengths is its pacing. The relationship doesn’t rush or rely on instant attraction alone. Instead, it builds through shared experiences, honest conversations, and growing trust. This approach makes the connection between the characters feel believable and emotionally grounded. Both Hannah and Garrett face personal challenges that shape their decisions and growth throughout the story. These elements add depth without overwhelming the romance, keeping the focus on character development and mutual support. The dialogue is lively, the humour is well-placed, and the emotional moments are balanced with lighter scenes that keep the story moving. While some plot elements may feel familiar to readers of the genre, the overall execution is strong. The conflicts fit naturally within the story, and the resolution is satisfying without feeling overextended. The Deal is an enjoyable, well-written romance that blends heart, humour, and character-driven storytelling. A solid choice for readers who enjoy college settings, slow-burn relationships, and emotionally engaging narratives.

So, this is the first book by Elle that I have read. I was seeing this floating around Facebook for free and thought why not I’ll give it a try. So, I clicked the link only to find out I had bought this book ages ago (Don’t judge me). Anyways, I decided that now was the time to actually read it seeing as I’ve had it for ages. And I am so freaking glad I did, this book is stellar!!! I happen to love College romances and this one hit every single one of the marks for me. “I can’t help it. Tolbert seems to respond to my brand of bull It’s a gift.” “Well, I want your gift. Please, master, teach me how to bull.” I absolutely adored this story from the start. Elle pulls you right in with prose and storyline and holds you captive until the last word. Garrett and Hannah are freaking amazing together and their banter is off the charts. I loved every single moment they were together in this book. You could feel their connection bleed from the pages and rush over your skin, keeping you utterly entertained as they bicker and throw sarcastic remarks at each other non-stop. "She darts out the door, leaving me staring after her in frustration. Unbelievable. Every girl at this college would cut her frickin’ arm off to help me out. But this one? Runs away like I just asked her to murder a cat so we could sacrifice it to Satan." Garrett is the bad boy hockey captain on campus, so he’s probably just as you’d imagine. He’s got a huge ego and plows through Puck Bunnies regularly. That’s why when he asks Hannah for her help with the class he’s failing, he doesn’t take No for an answer, his ego won’t allow it. And Hannah tells him No often. Eventually though he wears her down and finds what it takes to make her say yes. At first, she’s hesitant to tutor Garrett because she thinks of him like other’s do, that he’s a dumb jock. But as they start to spend more time together, they become friends. And as their friendship grows you see that he too has demons that he’s trying to overcome. "I’ve never seen anyone who sleeps with so many pillows. Maybe he needs them to cradle his massive ego." Hannah is this sweet, smart girl who has some issues she’s trying to work through. I loved the way Elle handled the mental health aspect in such a realistic way that it causes a visceral reaction. You feel for this girl who went through something so heartbreaking it would scar anyone. Watching as Hannah grows more comfortable with herself and battles her demons to be a more relaxed and open person was so satisfying to see. "With that one teeny tiny word, my heart inflates like a gosh darn helium balloon. Hannah’s trust, meet Garrett’s hands." The care with which Garrett handles Hannah makes your heart ache in your chest with how unbelievably sweet it is. You have this huge hulk of a man taking the time to research and make sure that everything he does is at a slow pace and just perfect, so Hannah doesn’t have a meltdown. I could watch the way he cares for her everyday and never get tired of it. Garrett had me falling head over heels for him in that moment. This beautifully broken couple will give you all the feels. It’s as if each of their broken pieces was looking, searching for a place to call home, and they found it in each other. I burst into the locker room and – Penises! Sweet Jesus. Penises everywhere. Horror slams into me as I register what I’m seeing. This may have been the first book I’ve read by Elle but most certainly won’t be the last. She has created such a wonderful series with these character’s you can’t help but fall madly in love with. Her humor interlaced with the intensity of the story-line, keeps you laughing one minute and has your heart aching in your chest the next. I was left emotionally wrung out but with my heart so utterly happy. I can’t wait to jump into the next story in line with this series, because it’s that addicting!!!

Ame cada minuto Elle tiene una forma de hacer que las conversaciones de los personajes sea tan orgánica que me encanta

I went without knowing much, only based on a recommendation. And I throughly enjoyed it! The pace, the character development, the humor, the romance, the hard stuff… Everything felt natural and real.

Loved it! Captivated from start to finish! Witty and Realistically Romantic! The chemistry between the bad boy hockey player Garrett Graham and the saucy Hanna Wells is perfectly scripted, they both have a vision of where they need to get in life, both have horrific secrets they don't want to share and neither want a romantic relationship. But when circumstances bring them together and the seamless banter between them starts it gets your heart beating because you want these two broken souls to get together. But Hanna has a crush on another guy and Garrett has a no girlfriend rule. he needs to pass a course to keep playing hockey so Garrett strikes a deal with Hanna who excels in his class to tutor him in exchange to get her guy. But when they start spending time together they form a trusting friendship then one night it all changes over a kiss and and the sexual chemistry between them explodes into hot and steamy scenes. They share their secrets to each other and forge a romantic relationship full of love and then their pasts haunt them and cause heartbreaking moments but in the end they realize that they want each other and will not let anyone get in their way! Highly recommend this book!

I loved this book. It doesn't shy away from the painful themes. How the characters support each other 👌🏼 Enough spice to get the heat up. I seriously cracked up at the locker room scene. Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Love: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Spice quantity: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spice quality: 🥵🥵🥵 Dark: 😈 Humor: 😂😂😂😂 Suspense: 🙈🙈 Predictability: 🎱🎱🎱🎱 Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖 Feels: 👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏼👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏼👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏼👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏼👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏼 Emotional Depth: 🧠🧠🧠🧠 Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ Perspective: first person dpov Cliffhanger: No Epilogue: Yes, and a bonus scene Format: E-book formn Why I chose this book: This was sooo long on my TBR. Now I'm regretting not starting it sooner

Para las que amamos esta serie de Elle Kennedy, pero que no tenemos una edición tan bonita como esta. A mí me da igual que esté en inglés. Es perfecta. Tanto las ilustraciones, los cantos y la sinopsis a modo de estrategia de partido de hockey... sencillamente, una edición preciosa. Por más así.