Review: The Deal by Elle Kennedy
The Deal (Off-Campus #1)
by: Elle Kennedy
Publication Date: Feb. 24, 2015
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Nina Bocci in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 358 pages
Order Links: Amazon
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy...
Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.
...and it’s going to be oh so good.
All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.
Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.
...and it’s going to be oh so good.
All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.
Oh my people. Where do I even start? I absolutely ADORED this book! It made me laugh, made me swoon, made me hurt for my main characters and what they've gone through.... sigh. So many feels. I adore college romances and Kennedy does a brilliant job of making me feel as if I were back on campus. The setting plays an integral part in this book and that made me really happy. We get to see our MC's go to class, interact at parties, and go to sporting events! All while developing a really fun relationship! This book was everything I love about New Adult.
I really admire how realistic it was too. Garrett is a bit of a player and just because he meets Hannah, that doesn't stop him from being one! Sure, we don't SEE him macking as much, but he doesn't just all of a sudden transform into this unbelievable guy who is on the straight and narrow because he met 'the one'. Sure, Garrett finds Hannah attractive, but he would have never paid the girl any attention, had he not desperately need tutoring in his ethics class. Hannah doesn't fall for his charm either. In fact, she does a pretty good job of resisting him until he offers her the one thing she wants: to gain another guy's attention.
I loved watching Hannah and Garrett spend time together and actually become friends first. They have the exact kind of friendship that I would want with a significant other- filled with banter and humor. It's a slower burn kind of relationship and I enjoyed that a lot. I love their confusion over their feelings because falling for the other is definitely not on their agenda. They have some seriously hot chemistry and that first kiss? WHEW. Not only do they have so many hawt moments, but they have some really poignant ones that really play a huge role in their transitioning relationship. My heart melted so much because of the progress they made together. Both Hannah and Garrett have been victims in their young lives, so watching them open up and fight their battles together is awe-inspiring.
I loved both Hannah and Garrett's friends. They all cracked me up so much, especially the guys. I loved their interactions and I am eager to see who the next book will revolve around!
This was such a fun read for me. I loved Hannah and Garrett, watching them banter and fall for one another, and see them tackle some very hard topics together also. Garrett's persistence will make you laugh, as will so many other scenes and I applaud Kennedy for infusing humor into her novel. If you loved Scoring Wilder by R.S. Grey, I really think you'll love this one too.
16 comments
Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I loved that Garrett was unapologetic and didn't miraculously change all his ways just because he met Hannah. I loved how everything developed between them. It all felt so realistic. It was funny and sweet and super sexy and ... I just absolutely loved (nearly) everything about it. I'm so excited to see who gets a book next... I suspect it might be Logan.
ReplyDeleteYes! He was so awesome! I loved how realistic it was too. This will definitely be my favorite NA of the year.
DeleteWell this sounds like something I would read and enjoy a lot. Bad boys are my favorites and it seems like they share hot moments with humor in it (a plus in my book)
ReplyDeleteGreat review
Ruty @Reading...Dreaming
Yes! I loved the humor infused in this one! It worked so well!
DeleteGAHHH this sounds so much fun and exactly what I want in a New Adult read... do I need to get my one click finger out? I might have to lol. Great review!
ReplyDeleteYES. You so do girl. This book rocked my socks!
DeleteI'm glad you pointed out that he does't just "clean up his act" once meeting her. I have always disliked that in novels/movies, because it's just not realistic.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely keep an eye on this one. Great review hon!
I agree- it's not. So that's why this was so refreshing to me.
DeleteThis sounds so good! I'm going to read it after I finish Thoughtful. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it as much as I did Britt!
DeleteOkay so you've convinced me, and I have offically added this to my TBR!! Sounds like all the ing about NA romance I love!
ReplyDeleteYAY! You will LOVE this Amy!
DeleteOhhhhhh, college bad boy huh? Sounds like my type of book! I'm definitely going to have to pick this one up so I can meet Garrett ;)
ReplyDeleteEeep! I hope you do Christy! It completely took me by surprise how much I LOVED this one!
DeleteI need to get this one!! Firstly, love sporty books. Secondly, banter and humor. I love banter!! plus, scoring wilder is one of my absolute faves, so I really think I'd like this one!
ReplyDeleteOh I KNOW you'll love this Wendy.
DeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
My blog is an award-free blog, however, as I just do not have the time to follow-up.