Elle Kennedy’s “The Deal” brings together college hockey romance and complex personal histories in a story that has gained renewed attention following the recent Amazon Prime adaptation of “Off Campus”.  

Originally published in 2015, the 360 page novel follows Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham, two Briar University students who enter a fake dating deal that gradually becomes something more. 

Hannah, a music major, agrees to tutor Garrett, the captain of the hockey team, in exchange for his help attracting the attention of her crush Justin, a football player. Garrett needs to improve his grades to protect his future in hockey making the arrangement beneficial to both of them. 

What makes the novel standout however, comes from the characters struggles beyond the typical college romance storyline. Hannah carries the effects of a past sexual assault, while Garrett deals with the lasting impact of abuse from his father. 

Kennedy introduces these experiences early, but does not make them the entirety of either character. 

Throughout the novel, Hannah continues to succeed academically and pursue music while navigating the effects of her trauma. Her story emphasises her ability to make her own choices rather than allowing her past to define her. 

Her difficulties with physical vulnerabilities and trust remain part of her character, making her progression toward greeted comfort feel more complicated than a simple recovery story arc. 

Garrett faces a different form of trauma. Behind his confident hockey player persona, he struggles with the effects of emotional and physical abuse from his father. 

His history contributes to his emotional guardedness, anger and his fear of becoming like the person who hurt him. His relationship with Hannah gives him an opportunity to confront those feelings rather than continuing to hide them. 

The strongest element of the novel comes through the communication between Hannah and Garrett. As their relationship changes, the story places importance on boundaries and consent. 

Garrett listens to Hannah and allows her to determine the pace of their physical relationship. The novel also presents therapy, trusted relationships and firm boundaries as positive ways of dealing with difficult experiences. 

The recent television adaptation keeps the central fake dating and tutoring premise while making several changes. Ella Bright plays Hannah and Belmont Cameli plays Garrett, with the series expanding the supporting cast by introducing characters and relationships from later books earlier in the story. 

Some plot points also change, including Justin, Hannah’s original love interest who is a musician in the series and the circumstances surrounding the couple’s breakup.  

Despite the differences, the adaptation maintains the emotional vulnerability, banter and college atmosphere that define the novel. 

For readers discovering “The Deal” because of the television series, the book offers a deeper look at Hannah and Garrett and the experiences that shape their relationship. 

With the combination of college hockey, romance, and thoughtful attention to communication and personal boundaries, “The Deal” offers more than a typical fake dating story.