Going into Off Campus, there was definitely a level of nervousness. Elle Kennedy’s book series is one of the biggest modern college romance series for a reason, and when something already has such a loyal fanbase, adaptations can very easily go wrong. Especially with romance. What works on the page does not always translate naturally onscreen, and characters readers adore can suddenly feel flat the second they become real people instead of imagined ones.
Thankfully, the show manages to avoid most of those problems surprisingly quickly. And honestly, it really does feel like it understands these books.
The series keeps the heart of The Deal intact while still making it work for television, which is probably the biggest thing fans could have hoped for. The fake dating setup between Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) still has all the charm, tension and emotional vulnerability that made the original story so addictive in the first place, but the show also expands the world around them in ways that actually benefit the adaptation.
What makes the season work most, though, is the chemistry between Bright and Cameli. Without that relationship landing, the entire series probably falls apart. Instead, they end up carrying the show effortlessly. Cameli gets Garrett completely right. He has the confidence, humour and cockiness people expect from the character, but there is also a softness underneath it that stops Garrett from becoming just another stereotypical “hot hockey player” love interest. Bright is equally strong as Hannah. She balances Hannah’s quieter, more introverted personality with a confidence that grows naturally throughout the season, and emotionally, she gives some of the show’s best performances.
Together, they genuinely feel believable. That is probably the biggest compliment a romance adaptation can get. The relationship develops at a pace that actually allows you to understand why they fall for each other, rather than just telling the audience they are meant to. Their banter feels natural, the emotional moments land properly, and when the show slows down and just lets them exist together, it is often at its strongest. The chemistry works equally well in both the softer scenes and the more romantic ones, which is something a lot of these adaptations struggle to balance.
What also helps is that the series understands that Off Campus was never just about one relationship. The friendships and wider group dynamic are such a huge part of why people love these books, and the show captures that surprisingly well, too. The hockey house genuinely feels chaotic, lived-in and fun, and the chemistry between the cast makes the ensemble side of the show feel natural instead of forced.
That is especially true with Allie Hayes (Mika Abdalla) and Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn). Even with limited focus this season, their dynamic already completely stands out. The teasing, tension and constant back-and-forth between them already feels very “Dean and Allie” in the exact way fans probably hoped for. The show does a really good job planting seeds for future seasons without making it feel like setup constantly takes priority over Hannah and Garrett’s story.
The same goes for Logan (Antonio Cipriano) and Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks). Both characters are introduced naturally enough that they already feel important within the group dynamic rather than just existing to tease future romances. That balance matters because one of the strengths of Elle Kennedy’s books is how interconnected all these characters feel.
Tonally, the series also gets the “new adult romance” atmosphere right. It fully leans into the escapism and fun of college romance while still allowing room for heavier themes underneath everything. The hockey games, parties, dorm room conversations and late-night emotional talks all feel very true to the tone of the books. At the same time, the show handles more serious storylines involving sexual assault and domestic abuse with genuine care rather than using them purely for shock value or drama. That balance is probably why the season ends up feeling so bingeable.
It knows when to be fun and cheesy, but it also knows when to slow down and let emotional moments breathe properly. And yes, there are definitely moments where the dialogue leans heavily into romance tropes or things become slightly unrealistic, but honestly, that is part of the charm. Off Campus was always trope-heavy in the best way possible. Fake dating, opposites attract, found family, emotionally unavailable hockey players, the series embraces all of it without feeling embarrassed by the genre.
And that confidence really helps the show. Not every adaptation change will work for everyone, and there are moments early on where the show is still finding its rhythm, but once it settles, it becomes ridiculously easy to binge. More than anything, it feels like a series made by people who actually understand why readers connected with these characters so strongly in the first place. By the end of the season, it is very hard not to immediately want more time at Briar University.
★★★★
Streaming now on Prime Video / Ella Bright, Belmont Cameli, Mika Abdalla, Antonio Cipriano, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Stephen Kalyn / Based on the book series by Elle Kennedy / Created by Louisa Levy / Prime Video
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
