The Deal by Elle Kennedy (Off-Campus Book 1)

Okay, so now that the school year has begun again, I’ve taken it as my cue to fill my free time with all my favorite things to make all the difficult work I have to do more enjoyable. You know, a reward system; a certain amount of tiring and frustrating school, then some time with all the things that destress me and make it all worth it, namely, reading super fun romance books.

In all seriousness, romance books are my love language. Many people have told me that my love language is words of affirmation, but I think that’s just me on the surface. Underneath that, I secretly love reading romance books and people who love them feel like my soulmates. So, they are absolutely what I look forward to at the end of a long day, and sometimes, if I am not able to get a new one that’s been on my list, I re-read my faves. I crave those little romance tropes that make me scream and smile into my pillow—ugh, the best feeling. All I need is that little boost of serotonin and I’m back to my usual self after being bogged down by *adulting*.

Anyway, enough ranting about why romance books are superior, let’s get down to business. So, The Off-Campus series has been in the back of my head since I saw it on BookTok a few times, and my family just got a trial of Kindle Unlimited, so I was able to download The Deal! I was immediately in love, even though it didn’t have the attraction-at-first-sight trope that I love. Still, I liked the build-up and the pet name I didn’t know I needed. Also, I’ve mentioned this before, but I don’t love super intense smut in books. Physical stuff is okay, but when it gets way too intensely graphic, you’ve lost me. And, boy, did it get graphic—those children need to learn abstinence! So, that was one part of the book I didn’t love, but other than that, it was exactly what I needed this week.

I’m still technically reading Metamorphoses, though I haven’t picked it up in ages. I just got distracted by The Deal and now, oops, I guess I’ve become obsessed with the whole Off-Campus series. Oh well, I’m already on book 2, so I guess I have to finish the whole thing. Bummer.

Genre: romance, smut, Y/A

Age: 15/16+ (super sexual content)

Rating: 7.5/10