The Deal
I think this one was free on Spotify. And anytime I don’t have to spend money (or credits) on a book that’s on my TBR I’m down!
Now I feel the whole hockey college romance storyline has lived, and flourished, and is withering away as we speak.
It’s been done. At times, very well, other times, not so much.
I also love to read a full series and see every character get paired off. But when the story is parallel to another series I’ve already read it’s like I’m rereading the book rather than expanding my library.
Now we know the guy is on the hockey team and the authors usually make the FMC the variable character. In this case Hannah is studying music and dreams of being a singer.
Now why anyone would go to college for that is beyond me, but I have my own thoughts on higher education I’ll keep to myself.
Our golden boy on the other hand is failing school and needs a tutor to keep his place on the hockey team. Who better to ask than the only student who happened to pass the professor’s latest exam.
I do love that the author, Elle Kennedy, gave our FMC a backbone.
Hannah has been through it in the sex department. She was raped in high school and has a pretty disappointing ex-boyfriend. But this doesn’t make her cower around men or confrontation.
Garret is the schools all star, he has a freaking fan club! But Hannah does not subscribe.
Hannah on the other hand has the hots for another hockey player on Garrett’s team. But she’s nowhere near nonchalant enough to get his attention.
So we are blessed with a little fake dating scenario.
The two have chemistry on page, of course they do, but they deny, deny, deny.
Hannah has some cute run in’s with her hockey crush that Garret helps facilitate by making it look like she is not interested and is already taken. Because her crush likes to have what he can’t have.
Which is a bit of a red flag in a crush ladies (and gents)! If you have the hots for someone that likes you more when you’re dating someone else you should take that as a sign to walk away. He doesn’t like you, he likes what other people have.
Now the two also spend ample time in Garrets bedroom studying for ethics- or whatever class he is failing.
And Hannah’s traumatic past reveals itself when she admits a man has never gotten her off.
Garret is a lady killer and takes this as a personal challenge. After taking Hannah through it they agree he will be Hannah’s sex tutor while she is his ethic’s tutor- or whatever class he is failing.
It opens the door for some sexy spicy stuff on the page and your girl is all for it.
But of course it can’t last. All the build up, teasing, and late night movies makes Hannah start to think of Garret as more than just an annoying jock. And Garret starts to think of Hannah as more than just a way to pass his class.
I always love when he falls first too.
Now Hannah is also practicing for the winter music festival and scholarship contest. But she’s been paired with arguably the worst person on Earth. A total d-bag that just wants the spotlight so he can win and in turn makes Hannah’s life a living hell.
They end up breaking up their duet and Hannah is forced to sing a solo. But she’s incredible, the best voice in the entire department. Garret convinces her to sing and she wins the whole contest.
Things with the other hockey player play out exactly like I hope your thinking. Hannah gets her shot only to find out he is a jerk that just wants to get in her pants.
She walks away from Mr.Wrong and right into Garret’s arms. The two confess their feelings and are still together till this day.
Was it groundbreaking? No
I think I will actually put down the college sports romance for a little while, until something new happens.
Now, my final thoughts are around the TV show. And they are not good. So if that was an amazing show for you just skip to the end.
I hated the show. Granted I only watched the first episode, but they changed SO much it made me question if I in turn actually did read the book.
I did. I had to double check, but I did.
That’s all, my only thoughts are that the show was trash and the book is always better!
Overall ⭐⭐⭐ | 📚 Glad I Read It | 💫 A – Adult (Ages 18+)
Worldbuilding 🗺️
Ick Factor 😇
Fangirl Moments 💖
Spice🌶️🌶️🌶️
Errors/Plot Holes ❗
Tropes: Sports Romance, Hockey, College, He Falls First, Fake Dating
Title: The Deal
Author: Elle Kennedy
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Off Campus
Format: Audiobook
Release Date: February 24th, 2015
Length: 360 pages, 12 hours and 21 minutes
