Elle Kennedy was already a household name in the book community, but after the mega-hit that is the Amazon Prime adaptation of her novel, The Deal, in the Off Campus series, she is truly everywhere. This summer, book lovers and TV aficionados alike got to know Hannah, Garrett and the rest of the Briar squad and we cannot get enough. Bringing those nostalgic, college-set entertainment vibes and mixing them with a new intention around consent and masculinity, this show isn’t just creating buzz, it’s creating conversation. So we sat down with the author to ask her about what it was like to see the story come to life and how important some of the core messaging is.

She Reads: Did you have a feeling Off Campus would connect this strongly with audiences all these years later, or has the reaction surprised you?

Elle Kennedy: I’m always humbled by how much readers continue to love Off-Campus! The series has been around for more than a decade and it continues to appeal to new audiences, so I had a feeling that people would love the show.

SR: Were there any scenes from The Deal that you were especially nervous or excited to see brought to screen?

EK: I was excited to see not only the relationship between Garrett and Hannah play out on the screen, but the friendships. Hannah and Allie’s friendship is so important in the book. They are ride or die, and the best support system for each other, so I was eager to see Ella and Mika bring that friendship to life. Similarly with the boys—the friendship between Garrett, Logan, Dean and Tucker is a brotherhood, and I was really looking forward to seeing that portrayed onscreen.

SR: When you wrote Off Campus, hockey romance wasn’t nearly as popular as it is today. What’s it been like watching the rest of the genre catch up?

EK: Hockey romance has been popular for a really long time among romance readers, but it’s exciting to see it reach a more mainstream audience now. I’ve loved watching the success of my peers as the years have gone by, and I hope to see more hockey romances on screen now!

SR: One thing fans seem to love about Off Campus is that it feels like it was made with romance readers in mind. Why do you think audiences are responding so strongly to that?

EK: The romance community is huge and dedicated to the books and characters they love. They’ve done so much not just for me but the genre as a whole, and I think they appreciate when book to screen adaptations have them in the forefront of their mind.

These adaptations wouldn’t happen without the readers.

SR: Was there a moment on set where you thought,”Yep, that’s exactly how I pictured it”?

EK: Walking through the Hockey House was a surreal experience. This house is the setting for nearly all the books in the Briar universe, and it’s lived in my head for so long now, that seeing it on set was a moment I’ll never forget.

SR: One of the biggest conversations around the show is Garrett Graham. Readers have loved him for years, but now viewers are calling him a refreshing example of masculinity on television. Why do you think he’s striking such a chord?

EK: Garrett’s biggest fear is hurting the people he loves. He blends confidence and vulnerability so easily it’s hard not to be captivated. In the book, he is there for Hannah from the moment she places her trust in him, and he communicates, even when it’s difficult for him. I think the screen adaptation really highlights these qualities that readers fell for.

SR: A lot of viewers have praised the show for depicting consent in a way that feels natural, sexy, and romantic rather than performative. What are your thoughts on that conversation?

EK: Consent is romantic and sexy. It’s important to any relationship, and especially for Hannah, and Garrett understood that. In the book, the conversation surrounding consent and trust occurs with an older teammate, Birdie, who Garrett approaches for advice. In the show, that conversation happens with Dean. Both iterations show that Garrett does not take Hannah’s request lightly, and I think the fact that he cares so much about this is what makes him a romantic hero that readers and viewers gravitate toward.

SR: What do you think romance as a genre gets right about teaching emotional intelligence and healthy relationships?

EK: Healthy relationships are built on having emotional intelligence. The romance genre celebrates this by telling love stories around characters who can navigate their relationship with empathy.

SR: Many viewers have compared Off Campus to the golden age of college-set TV dramas. What were some of your favorite shows in that space, and does it feel surreal to see Off Campus entering that conversation?

EK: It’s definitely surreal to see the success of Off Campus. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away for me. I’m a Gilmore Girls fan and I saw someone compare Garrett to Jess, and that was really cool. I was also a huge fan of Felicity and Dawson’s Creek, and I think this series captures some of the nostalgia of these old faves.

SR: The success of Off Campus feels bigger than just a hit adaptation—people are talking about romance, healthy relationships, friendship, and what they want from stories right now. What do you hope viewers ultimately take away from the show?

I hope the relationships and friendships are the big takeaway from the show. That it really matters who you surround yourself with, that you choose people who empower you and raise you up, and who can really see you even if you can’t see yourself.