SUMMARY
A New York Times bestseller! Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from international bestselling author Elle Kennedy.
He knows how to score, on and off the ice…
Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she’s going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands.
It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over…
Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.
Image and summary from Goodreads.
REVIEW
Re-reading the Off Campus series has reminded me exactly why it’s become one of my all time favourite sports romance series. Even though I already knew what happened, I couldn’t wait to get back to Dean and Allie’s story because without a doubt they’re my favourite couple in the entire series.
There’s just something about Dean Di Laurentis that makes him impossible not to love. When we first meet him throughout the series he’s the charismatic, confident, commitmentphobic guy who never takes anything too seriously. He’s funny, charming and somehow manages to steal every scene he’s in. But underneath all of that confidence is someone who has never really stopped to think about what he actually wants out of life.
That’s where Allie comes in.
I absolutely loved Allie as a heroine. She isn’t looking for someone like Dean and after everything she’s been through, the last thing she wants is another complicated relationship. I really enjoyed that their romance wasn’t instant. There was plenty of build up, chemistry, banter and tension before they finally admitted what they meant to each other and for me that made the payoff so much more satisfying.
One of my favourite parts of the book is watching Dean slowly become completely obsessed with Allie. It happens so gradually that even he doesn’t realise it at first. The guy who once avoided commitment at all costs suddenly can’t stop thinking about one person and watching him fight those feelings before eventually embracing them was incredibly entertaining. Once he finally accepted that he loved her, I was completely invested. Every little moment between them just made me smile.
What really elevates this book beyond being just another fun college romance is Dean’s emotional journey. Spoilers ahead….
Beau’s death completely changes the direction of the story and I honestly think Dean needed to hit rock bottom before he could truly figure out what mattered. It’s a heartbreaking moment that forces him to confront the life he’s been living and the future he actually wants. Up until then he’d always been able to joke his way through difficult situations or avoid thinking too deeply about them. Losing Beau strips all of that away. Watching him grieve, grow and realise that love, family and genuine connections were more important than his carefree lifestyle made his character arc one of the strongest in the series.
I also loved getting more time with Garrett, Hannah, Logan, Tucker and the rest of the gang. One of my favourite things about this series is how each couple continues to appear in the later books. They genuinely feel like one big family and revisiting those friendships is always comforting.
The reason this isn’t quite a five star read for me is that there were a few moments that felt a little drawn out, particularly in the middle of the story. While I loved the emotional payoff, there were sections where the pacing slowed more than I would have liked.
Even so, The Score remains one of my favourite books in the Off Campus series. Dean and Allie’s chemistry is incredible, their relationship feels earned and Dean’s emotional growth makes this so much more than a typical college romance. Every time I revisit this book, I’m reminded why they’re still my favourite couple.
-Rachelle
I’m on Instagram at @rachellesbookshelf
