The Deal

Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy!
Read The Deal now for the perfect fake-dating romance!
Also available as a Deluxe HB and a TV Tie-in edition

She's about to make a deal with the college bad boy . . .

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she's carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush's attention, she'll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice . . . even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date

. . . and it's going to be oh so good

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he's worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he's all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn't going to cut it.

Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Elle Kennedy engages your senses from the very first sentence! Both deliciously steamy and heart-achingly tender, The Deal is an absolute winner! — Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author

Elle has masterfully captured the feelings, the romance and the unbridled sexiness of the New Adult genre with this book! You will swoon for Garrett! — Alice Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of Wallbanger

I loved this book! Garrett is dreamy. If you love NA, you must read The Deal! — Monica Murphy, New York Times bestselling author

The Deal is everything you could ask for in a New Adult. Sexy, sweet, and emotionally satisfying. I loved this book and did not want it to end! — Kristen Callihan, USA Today bestselling author

The Deal reminds me of all the reasons I love romance — Jane Litte, Dear Author

Romance. The most adorable couple. The banter - omg the banter. The romance. The friends. The flirtation. The smiles it gave me — Mandi, SmexyBooks

This was one of the best college romance I've read...I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!! — Aestas Book Blog

Absolute 'new adult' angsty-romance reading PERFECTION! — Maryse’s Book Blog

The story and banter made The Deal a fun and sexy page-turner — Angie, Shameless Book Club

This story is filled with witty banter, sexy tension and an overall warm feeling — The Rock Stars of Romance

We haven't wiped these happy dopey grins off our faces since finishing The Deal and yep, we were well and truly in book heaven from start to finish and everything in between! — Totally Booked Blog

Hannah Wells has always been focused on her future. She is smart, determined, and committed to doing well in college, but there is one thing she cannot seem to overcome—her fear of speaking to the boy she has secretly liked for a long time. Despite her confidence in academics, her personal life is shaped by painful memories from her past, leaving her cautious about relationships and unwilling to let anyone get too close. She believes that if she can gather enough courage to ask out her crush, everything might finally fall into place.

Garrett Graham appears to be Hannah’s complete opposite. As the captain of Briar University’s hockey team, he is popular, charming, and used to getting whatever he wants. However, beneath his confident personality lies the pressure of maintaining his athletic success while dealing with a demanding father who expects perfection. When Garrett struggles with a philosophy class that threatens his grades and his ability to stay on the hockey team, he desperately needs help. Hannah, one of the top students in the class, seems like the perfect tutor, but she refuses his repeated requests.

Garrett eventually convinces Hannah to help him by offering her something she believes could benefit her. He proposes that they pretend to date so her longtime crush will finally notice her. Although Hannah thinks the plan is ridiculous at first, she eventually agrees because she has little to lose. Their arrangement begins as a simple exchange of favors—she helps him improve his grades, and he acts as her fake boyfriend. Neither of them expects the pretend relationship to become anything more than a temporary deal.

As they spend more time together, the boundaries between pretending and reality slowly begin to disappear. Garrett surprises Hannah with his patience, kindness, and genuine concern for her happiness. Instead of being the arrogant athlete everyone assumes he is, he proves himself to be thoughtful, funny, and capable of deep loyalty. Hannah, in turn, impresses Garrett with her intelligence, determination, and quiet strength. Their tutoring sessions evolve into long conversations, shared meals, and moments of vulnerability that allow them to understand each other beyond the surface.

The chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore. Their playful teasing gradually turns into genuine affection, and both begin to question whether their fake relationship has become something real. Hannah struggles with these feelings because she fears opening herself to someone could lead to heartbreak. The emotional wounds from a traumatic experience in her past have left her hesitant to trust anyone completely. Garrett senses that she is carrying pain but never pressures her to reveal more than she is comfortable sharing. Instead, he offers steady support and allows her to move at her own pace.

Eventually, Hannah shares the truth about the traumatic assault she experienced before college. The event has deeply affected her confidence, her relationships, and the way she sees herself. Rather than judging or trying to fix her, Garrett listens with compassion and reassures her that what happened does not define her. His understanding gives Hannah the courage to confront parts of her past that she has tried to ignore for years. Their growing relationship becomes a source of healing as she learns that love can exist alongside trust, patience, and respect.

Garrett also faces his own personal struggles. While he appears confident in public, he privately deals with the emotional abuse of a controlling father who views him more as a future professional athlete than as a son. Garrett constantly feels the pressure to succeed, knowing that failure will bring harsh criticism rather than support. Hannah encourages him to stand up for himself and reminds him that his worth is not determined by his hockey career. Through her influence, Garrett begins to recognize the importance of making choices that reflect his own dreams rather than living solely to satisfy his father’s expectations.

Despite the happiness they find together, their relationship is tested by misunderstandings, outside interference, and their own insecurities. Hannah worries that Garrett’s popularity and busy lifestyle will eventually pull them apart, while Garrett fears that he might not be enough for someone as remarkable as Hannah. Moments of jealousy, emotional distance, and unresolved fears threaten to undo everything they have built. However, both realize that avoiding difficult conversations only creates more problems. They gradually learn that honest communication is essential if they want their relationship to survive.

As the school year progresses, Garrett continues improving both academically and emotionally, proving that he is capable of much more than simply being a talented athlete. Hannah also grows stronger, refusing to let her painful past control her future. She becomes more confident in expressing herself and begins pursuing opportunities she once believed were out of reach. Their relationship helps each of them become better versions of themselves, not because they change who they are, but because they inspire each other to overcome fear and self-doubt.

By the end of the novel, the fake dating arrangement that started as a practical solution has transformed into a genuine and deeply meaningful romance. Garrett and Hannah discover that real love is built on trust, friendship, honesty, and mutual respect rather than appearances or popularity. They face their individual challenges with newfound confidence, knowing they no longer have to carry their burdens alone. Their journey demonstrates that healing often comes through meaningful connections with people who accept us completely, flaws and all.

The Deal is a heartfelt college romance that blends humor, emotional depth, and memorable characters. While it features witty banter, strong romantic chemistry, and plenty of lighthearted moments, the novel also explores serious themes such as trauma, family expectations, self-worth, and personal growth. At its core, it is a story about two people who unexpectedly find love while helping each other confront the fears and pain they have hidden for far too long. Their evolving relationship proves that sometimes the most meaningful connections begin with the simplest of bargains, growing into something far more genuine than either person ever imagined.