I have fallen in love with reading again because of the Off-Campus Series

By Brielle Aguayo •

Two words: steamy and romantic. This is the best way to describe the Off-Campus Series, written by Elle Kennedy. This series has five books: “The Deal,” “The Mistake,” “The Score,” “The Goal” and “The Legacy.” This series, and specifically “The Deal,” went viral on TikTok last year because of the love the readers have for the characters. At the end of each book, Kennedy shares why she loves each character she created.

I have always loved reading books, but due to time constraints, I had fallen out of love with reading. But as a hopeless romantic who loves a good cheesy romance story, I have fallen in love with reading again, thanks to Kennedy.

Each of the first four books focuses on a different couple as their relationships develop while in college. The last book, “The Legacy,” provides life updates on all of the couples’ experiences.

What I love so much about these books is the girls in each story: Hannah Wells, Grace Ivers, Allie Hayes and Sabrina James, all have different looks, passions and majors.

For example, Wells, the protagonist in the first book, “The Deal,” is a music major in college whose goal is to produce music.

I was also impacted by each of the characters’ vulnerabilities, which made it easy to relate to them.

Wells dealt with issues regarding intimacy, which made it hard for her to trust anyone and open up. As young women, it is easy for us to relate and accept our vulnerabilities. Reading “The Deal” makes us feel less alone while connecting to Wells on a deeper level.

Even though she is a fictional character, I was rooting for Wells to have happiness and find the right way to be loved. This is when she found Garrett Graham, the male protagonist in “The Deal.” Graham became known as “the best book boyfriend,” a viral phrase that blew up on TikTok because of his undeniable charm, wittiness and flirtatious personality, which got him the attention of the female gaze.

Graham is known in “The Deal” and throughout the Off-Campus series as a rising hockey star whose dream is to play for the NHL. He was struggling in classes, which wasn’t good for his GPA. In order to play hockey, that problem needed to be fixed as soon as possible. Wells ends up tutoring him, and they form a friendship by helping each other along the way.

The vulnerability shown in these books made it easy to connect and relate to these characters. I found the depth of each character inspiring, whether it was their unique personalities or the fact that we are given an inside look into what they have been through.

For instance, John Logan is another hockey player in the group and, like a lot of the other guys, he has charm and good looks, however he also has a heart-wrenching backstory.

His dad is an alcoholic, which made his childhood difficult. Addiction is never easy to be around. I was not only rooting for Logan, but I was mesmerized by his story because it felt real.

When an author can make someone feel for characters and relate to them, it’s the best way for them to gain an audience of supportive readers.

Kennedy explained on the app Goodreads that inspiration for the series began with the first book “The Deal.” She loved the characters so much she wanted to write books for all of them. It can be difficult to hold an audience’s attention for one book, let alone a series. I was hooked the second I began this series because of the characters. I was rooting for all of them. I genuinely thought of them as real people because of their relatable experiences and personalities.

I am a die-hard fan of romance books. As I have gotten older and am now in a healthy relationship, I can appreciate the small moments, the climax of different love stories, but most importantly, the dedication and passion that goes into making these characters feel real and special — because they are.

Brielle Aguayo, senior communication major, is The Current’s art director and reporter.