The Deal (Off-Campus, 1) Paperback – February 24, 2015

College setting, they come from two different worlds on campus, but past pain and a certain deal lead to something more than a friendship. I love hockey romance and my favorite New Adult trope is a nerd and a jock. This was a variation on that and I already enjoy the author's adult romances so it was an easy choice when I needed just such a book for a pair of reading challenges.The Deal opens with pretty, but quiet music student, Hannah Wells, agreeing to tutor the popular captain of the hockey team, Garrett Graham, in their shared philosophy class so he can stay eligible to play in exchange, he agrees to help her make a Hannah's secret crush, a gorgeous football player, jealous. A surprise friendship forms and then a fake kiss sizzles into something potent and real. But, they both have pasts that can rear ugly heads and future plans that don't involve each other. Will they renegotiate for a new deal?I don't mean this disparagingly, but I've never gravitated toward the New Adult genre. We all have our druthers and this is one of mine. That said, I had no hesitation picking up an Elle Kennedy New Adult. After reading the Him series, I had no doubt this author could write this genre well and make me love the story I was getting. It didn't hurt that she put one of my few favorite college tropes into play and she didn't emo it up though the pair both had deep issues from their past, particularly Hannah who is an abuse survivor. She gave due attention to character background like her music and his hockey, their friend circles, their college lives, and their relationship all equally. It was even paced and evenly developing building from a little hostility to partners in their deal, to friendship, and finally something more.Hannah was raped at a high school party. I don't feel this is a spoiler since it's revealed in the opening chapter. She's getting her life back and has dreams and goals. She is in a place where she's ready to join in some social events and get back to dating with her roomie bud, Allie, as her wing gal. She's already got who she thinks is the perfect guy in her sights even if another guy is distracting her. I thought Hannah's character was fabulous. She's feisty, but also vulnerable. She puts herself out there, but she's still working through stuff. I was impressed that the author went the extra mile in that Hannah had sex with Garrett, but it didn't magically erase her rape and they have to take a step back together and give her time. It's not some dark shadow hovering, but it's there in a realistic way.By the way, Garrett turned out to be one amazing guy. He was finding his way and figuring stuff out, but he was right there for Hannah. He was way more than the persona he wore like armor and it was fun to watch Hannah figure this out and appreciate him. He, too, has demons, but like Hannah, he doesn't let it take over everything.They have their big crisis moment, but even then, the struggle was within bounds and didn't blow up into absurd angst.I was thoroughly entertained by the banter and college antics of their friend groups, engaging with the characters, and rooting hard for the romance. I flew through this book in two sittings. I want all their friends' stories now though I cringe at what Logan's story will be like after his big misstep.In summary, it was better than I was even hoping and I want more Off-Campus series. For those, like me who hesitate to pick up New Adult romance or want to take your first plunge into the genre, I can heartily recommend The Deal. It is still free last I checked if you want to test drive it.

Garrett Graham is on the track to becoming a professional hocley player, but his grades are plummeting. In order to stay on the team, he needs to get a tutor to up his GPA. It seems like the most genius plan to seek out the only girl that didn't fail the class everyone else failed, and ask her for help.Hannah Wells is music student andn an aspiring singer-songwriter, so she doesn't have time for tutoring egomaniac hockey-players. However, Garrett offers to help her conquer her secret crush - a deal she can't help but accept. But as she and Garrett spend more and more time together, it seems like her crush suddenly comes second place...What I loved about this book:The great chemistry between the charactersThe great side-charactersThe humourWhat I felt needed improvement:The predictable storylineI read so many stellar reviews for The Deal on Goodreads, so I thought I could give it a try. Although I found it a nice read overall, I wasn't so convinced by the storyline. It was nice, but it was probably a tad predictable. The general storyline actually felt A LOT like Four Years Later by Monica Murphy (jock needs tutoring from geek) coupled with the usual pygmalion-twist (guy helps girl to get noticed by her crush, and ultimately falls for her, like in M.K. Schiller's The Do Over). But thank god there was one really great thing to The Deal which would drag my rating up again: the really great and convincing characters.Hannah and Garrett are complete opposites at the beginning of the book. He's the popular jock, and she's one of the outsiders who hangs out with the artsy music crew. And sure enough, as the story goes, Hannah has preconceived ideas around Garrett. She actually turns Garrett call for help down a number of times, proudly standing her ground. That is until he comes up with the proposal of helping her get noticed by her crush Justin..."He's probably sending telepathic orders for me to tutor him. Well, too bad for him. There's no way I'm wasting the little spare time I have on a college hockey player who thinks he's a rock star."And even while it is true that he likes to have fun with girls, he's also a very nice and charming guy, who turns out to be a real great friend and accomplice to Hannah. He managed to break through her walls even if he had issues of his own to deal with. I usually don't tend to like male heroines who turn from man-ho to caring book boyfriend overnight, but in Garrett's case it was different: he wasn't an arrogant, conceited player."I've never met anyone who is so repulsed by my popularity, and I have no idea what to make of it. I think I might like it."And other than the fact that the two main characters have nothing in common at first glance, they have an undeniable chemistry at all times. I just loved how they interacted, and I loved their funny banter."I want to murder him in his sleep. No, I want to murder him when he's awake so he can see the joy on my face when I do it."And then there's a third dimension to this book, which was so cliché it was probably bordering on "too much". Indeed, Hannah went through some tough times in her past, which made it difficult for her to really enjoy sex. So to prepare for when that special moment happens with her crush Justin, she wants to get it on with Garret to see if he could potentially help her enjoy sex again (in other words: fix her up for Justin). So yeah, with all those things lined up, you can't avoid the inevitable anymore! Because as you can imagine, this "arrangement" will lead to all kinds of... feelings."As insane as it sounds, a test run with Garrett might be just what I need to work through my issues. He said so himself - he doesn't date girls, he sleeps with them. There's no risk of him falling for me or demanding a relationship."Yet, in summary, it was a very nice standard New Adult college read which I enjoyed reading, and since I also very much liked the side characters (especially Garrett's housemates), I will definitely be looking forward to reading the next books in the Off-Campus series.