SUMMARY
He’s a player in more ways than one…
College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.
Now he’s going to need to up his game…
After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat… and she plans on driving him wild.
Image and summary from Goodreads.
REVIEW
After rereading The Deal, I knew I couldn’t stop there. With the Off-Campus TV series on the way, I wanted to revisit the entire series before seeing these characters brought to life on screen. I was especially excited to get back to Logan and Grace’s story because I remembered enjoying it the first time around and this reread reminded me exactly why they’re one of my favourite couples in the series.
One of the things I love most about Elle Kennedy’s books is that the characters feel like a genuine group of friends. Returning to Briar U felt like catching up with friends and I loved seeing familiar faces like Garrett, Hannah, Dean, Tucker and Allie pop up throughout the story. Those little moments between the whole group are some of my favourite parts of the series because they make the world feel so lived in. It never feels like you’re reading about just one couple, you’re reading about a whole friendship group that genuinely cares about one another.
Logan has always been one of my favourite characters and this reread only made me love him more.
From the previous books, he’s always been the funny, laid back one who seems to make everyone laugh, but getting to see things from his perspective really adds so much depth to his character. Beneath all the confidence and humour is someone who’s carrying a lot more than he lets on. I found myself feeling for him throughout the book because he genuinely wants to do the right thing, even when he doesn’t always make the best decisions.
One of my favourite things about Logan is how loyal he is. No matter what’s happening in his own life, he’s always there for his friends. Whether it’s supporting them, making them laugh or simply showing up when they need him, he’s the kind of character you can’t help but root for. He’s far from perfect, but that’s exactly what makes him so lovable.
Grace was also such a wonderful match for Logan. I loved that she wasn’t intimidated by him and wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself. She had a quiet confidence that balanced Logan’s personality perfectly and watching their relationship grow felt natural and believable. They challenged each other, helped each other grow and brought out the best in one another. I found myself smiling through so many of their interactions because they just worked.
Their romance had such a nice balance of humour, emotional moments and genuine chemistry. I also appreciated that both characters were allowed to grow individually alongside their relationship, which made their connection feel even stronger by the end of the book.
If I had one small criticism, it’s that there were a few moments where I wanted some of the conflicts to resolve a little quicker. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment, but there were times when I was eager for the story to move forward because I was so invested in seeing Logan and Grace find their happy ending.
Overall, I had such a great time returning to Briar U. This reread reminded me why the Off-Campus series has remained so popular over the years. The friendships, the humour, the romance and the hockey all come together to create a series that’s incredibly easy to get lost in.
This was another easy 4 star read for me. Logan and Grace’s story was just as enjoyable the second time around and I loved getting to spend more time with the entire Briar U crew. Now I’m even more excited to continue rereading the rest of the series before the TV adaptation arrives.
-Rachelle
I’m on Instagram at @rachellesbookshelf
