Elle Kennedy

Elle Kennedy is a Canadian romance author known for her contemporary and new adult romance novels, particularly her popular Off-Campus and Briar U series. She has published over 60 books across multiple romance subgenres including contemporary, new adult, romantic suspense, and military romance. The author gained significant recognition with her 2015 release "The Deal," the first book in the Off-Campus series, which became a breakout success in the new adult romance category. Her work frequently features college settings, hockey players, and military personnel as central characters. Kennedy's novels regularly appear on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, and she has published with both traditional publishers and through self-publishing channels. Her writing style typically incorporates dual perspectives, steamy romance scenes, and elements of humor throughout her stories. The success of her Off-Campus and Briar U series has established Kennedy as a prominent figure in the new adult romance genre, particularly in sports romance featuring hockey players. She continues to release multiple books per year across her various series and standalone titles.

Readers consistently rate Kennedy's books between 4-4.5 stars across platforms, with The Deal (Off-Campus #1) maintaining a 4.31 average from 240,000+ Goodreads ratings. Readers appreciate: - Fast-paced plots with humor and banter - Chemistry between main characters - Balance of romance and plot development - Sports elements that feel authentic - Dual POV narration style Common criticisms: - Repetitive plot structures across series - Similar character archetypes recurring in different books - Later books in series not matching quality of earlier ones - Some find the sexual content too explicit - Predictable storylines On Amazon, The Deal maintains 4.5/5 stars from 15,000+ reviews. One reader notes: "The dialogue is sharp and natural, the relationships feel genuine." A critical review states: "Characters start to feel interchangeable after reading multiple books." The Off-Campus series receives stronger reviews than later works, with readers particularly praising the character development and emotional depth in the first three books.

Off-Campus Series: The Deal - A college hockey player agrees to tutor a music student in exchange for her help improving his public image. The Mistake - A hockey player attempts to win back the girl he pushed away after a one-night encounter. The Score - A female college student enters into a friends-with-benefits arrangement with her best friend's teammate. The Goal - A pragmatic college student unexpectedly becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a hockey player.

Briar U Series: The Chase - A female hockey player develops feelings for her brother's best friend while attending Briar University. The Risk - The daughter of a hockey coach becomes involved with a rival team's captain. The Play - A college hockey player pursues a relationship with a girl who runs a successful anonymous gossip account. The Legacy - A hockey player attempts to prove himself worthy to a girl who believes he's nothing but a privileged athlete.

Him Series (co-written with Sarina Bowen): Him - Two male hockey players reconnect years after a summer camp encounter altered their friendship. Us - A continuation of two hockey players navigating their relationship while pursuing professional careers.

True North Series (co-written with Sarina Bowen): Good Boy - A professional hockey player falls for his teammate's sister after moving to Vermont. Stay - A security expert becomes involved with his client's daughter while protecting her family.

Killer Instincts Series: Midnight Rescue - A female mercenary undertakes a dangerous mission to infiltrate a human trafficking ring. Midnight Alias - An undercover operative works to expose criminal activities at a strip club. Midnight Games - A mercenary leader works with a rival organization to rescue kidnapped team members. Midnight Pursuits - A young operative proves herself during a protection detail of a wealthy target.

Jennifer L. Armentrout writes new adult and contemporary romance with college settings and strong chemistry between leads. Her books feature similar relationship dynamics and banter to Kennedy's work.

Tessa Bailey focuses on steamy contemporary romance with alpha male characters and strong-willed heroines. Her writing includes hockey romance series and college-age characters that align with Kennedy's style.

Penelope Douglas creates romance books with enemies-to-lovers plots and complex relationship development. Her new adult titles feature college settings and sports elements similar to Kennedy's stories.

Kristen Callihan writes sports romance and new adult contemporary with emphasis on character growth and relationship building. Her Game On series shares themes with Kennedy's hockey romances.

Sarina Bowen specializes in hockey romance and new adult stories set in college environments. Her books contain similar themes to Kennedy's work, including sports, friendship groups, and relationship conflicts.