The Deal: The addictive sports romance from TikTok sensation and bestselling author, Elle Kennedy! (Off-Campus)

The Deal by Elle Kennedy Review: TikTok Romance Worth the Hype?

What Actually Happens in The Deal

Hannah Wells needs to pass her philosophy class, and Garrett Graham needs someone to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Classic fake relationship setup, then — Hannah tutors the star hockey player, Garrett pretends to date her, and inevitably they catch feelings. Kennedy doesn't reinvent the wheel here, but she does execute the familiar beats with enough charm to keep you turning pages.

The college setting feels authentic enough, particularly the hockey team dynamics. Kennedy clearly did her homework on university sports culture, and Garrett reads like an actual twenty-something athlete rather than a thirty-year-old masquerading as a student. Hannah's academic struggles ring true as well — the pressure to maintain scholarships and parental expectations creates genuine stakes beyond the romance.

The TikTok Factor

After scrolling through countless BookTok videos about this series, I can see why it resonates with that crowd. Kennedy writes banter that actually sounds like how people speak, not like a screenwriter trying too hard to be witty. The chemistry builds gradually rather than hitting you over the head, and when things do heat up, the scenes feel earned rather than gratuitous.

The hockey backdrop doesn't hurt either — there's something about competitive sports that amplifies romantic tension, and Kennedy milks that for all it's worth. Garrett's teammates provide comic relief without feeling like cardboard cutouts, and the team's dynamics add depth to what could have been a straightforward romance.

Where The Deal Stumbles

The pacing drags in the middle third, particularly when Kennedy leans too heavily into Hannah's insecurities about dating someone out of her league. We get it — he's popular, she's not — but the self-doubt becomes repetitive. Some of the conflict feels manufactured, particularly the inevitable third-act breakup that could be resolved with a five-minute conversation between functioning adults.

Kennedy also has a tendency to over-explain emotions that come through clearly in the dialogue and action. The writing occasionally veers into telling rather than showing, which breaks the flow of otherwise engaging scenes.

The £5.49 Question

For the price of a fancy coffee, you're getting a solid introduction to what became a beloved series. The Deal isn't revolutionary literature, but it delivers exactly what it promises — escapist romance with likeable characters and enough steam to fog up your Kindle. The book runs to about 400 pages, so you're getting decent value for money in the romance paperback market.

If you're new to sports romance, this isn't a bad entry point. Kennedy writes athletes who feel like real people rather than fantasy objects, and the college setting adds a layer of nostalgia that works whether you're 18 or 38. The series continues with Garrett's teammates, so if you connect with the writing style and world-building, you've got several more books waiting.