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Review

5 stars!

Like most Off-Campus fans, I was so excited when Elle Kennedy announced that she was writing a second-generation book for Gigi Graham – daughter of Hannah and Garrett from The Deal. What an opportunity to revisit one of my favourite book worlds, and get a brand new NA college sports romance. And OMG, she nailed it! Gigi’s story is smart, funny, dramatic, emotional and beautifully romantic. It was so much more than I expected, with intense feels and an amazing love story, and I loved every moment of it!

Though this is a spin-off, it can absolutely be read as a standalone.

Like her revered father, Gigi Graham is a hockey phenom. She works hard and is dedicated to the sport she loves, determined to quality for Team USA and prove that she’s more than just Graham Garrett’s daughter. But there’s one aspect of her game where she needs help, and she knows just the guy to go to.

Ryder is new to Briar U. The superstar hockey player at his own school, his team has just been merged with Briar U and he is stuck in the unenviable position of co-captaining a team of players who hate each other with a passion. He’s also trying to score a prestigious coaching role at Garrett Graham’s hockey camp, and when he makes a terrible first impression in front of his idol, he accepts Gigi’s request to help her out in exchange for her putting in a good word for him with her dad.

It’s a fun set up, made all the more awkward because Gigi and Ryder are from ‘opposing’ schools, and Ryder’s co-captain is a Briar man who also happens to be Gigi’s ex-boyfriend. But sparks fly between the two, and when the chemistry becomes too much, they agree to a no-strings arrangement as a form of sports-related stress release, and to relieve their mad lust for each other.

“You think I’m throwing you a pity fuck?”
“You’re not?”
“No.” There’s a pause. “I need what I need too.” Another pause. “And I want it from you.”

Turns out the two of them are on fire together, and the sexy time is steamy as hell. The arrangement works especially well because Ryder is not a relationship guy. In fact he’s broody and antisocial and pretty much keeps to himself. But Gigi’s liveliness brings him to life, they ‘click’ in ways they weren’t expecting, and they’re both taken by surprise when they start falling for each other.

I know I have my flaws. But I need to level up to be with this woman. She forces me to be better. I want to be better for her. I want to be her hero.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Elle Kennedy kept my heart pounding through this read with laughs and swoons, unexpected twists and turns, heartbreaking drama, and wonderful depth and character development for both Gigi and Ryder.

“I’m not good enough for you,” I whisper against her lips. Alarm fills her eyes. “Ryder—”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be. But I want to try.”

I wasn’t expecting the depth of this story, and I loved that I felt so much for these characters, and felt so invested in their individual stories, and their ever-deepening relationship. There are some surprises, which I thought were really well done, and I loved every moment of their journey.

“Right now, in this moment, you’re down. But that’s okay because I’m here to lift you up.”
“Always?” she whispers, peering at me with those big gray eyes.
“Always. You fall, I pick you up. Always.”

As much as I adored the love story, the relationships between Ryder and his teammates, and Gigi and her girls, are just as fabulous. The banter, jokes and camaraderie are so freaking entertaining, and there are already some fantastic dynamics happening, and I cannot wait to get to know them all better as the series continues.

We get to see characters from the Off-Campus series – Gigi’s Uncle Dean and Uncle Logan pop in for a hilarious visit, and of course we get to check in with Hannah and Garrett, and I loved seeing them still so happy and in love, and parents to grown up kids. Hannah is sweet and caring, but fierce, and Garrett is the loving, overprotective father that I knew he’d be.

“Thanks for having me, Mrs. Graham.”
“Oh, call me Hannah, please,” she insists.
Her husband offers a deceptively pleasant smile. “And you can call me Mr. Graham.”

This is a fantastic read full of humour, heart, and a passionate, swoony romance, and it’s a fave for 2023!

5 stars.

I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by CJ Bloom and Teddy Hamilton, and it’s so good. The narrators do a fabulous job, and it’s a great book to listen to.

 

Campus Diaries