A Lazy Reader's Review of "The Deal" by Elle Kennedy

Synopsis

    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 are 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 Garret Graham has every 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 lift his grades and 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 Garret to realize that pretend isn't going cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

Review

    Elle Kennedy's The Deal is an addictive college sports romance that delivers humor, heart, and a swoon-worthy relationship. The dynamic between the two main characters, Hannah and Garrett, is easily the highlight of the book. Their banter feels effortless, their chemistry is undeniable and their slow transition from reluctant allies to something more makes for an engaging read. While there were a few things that didn't entirely work for me, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.

    Hannah is a talented, confident protagonist with a strong personality, but at times, she falls into the "not like other girls" archetype. Some of that may be a reflection of when the book was written, but it was still noticeable, especially in the way she's set apart from other women. On top of that, her small size is mentioned so frequently that it became distracting. That being said, I still enjoyed her character. She's witty, determined, and never afraid to challenge Garret, which makes their interactions all the more entertaining. What I loved most was how their connection developed before any romantic feelings got involved. Their early friendship – filled with playful teasing, inside jokes, and a genuine sense of trust – was one of the strongest parts of the book. Their dynamic felt natural, and their back-and-forth never seemed forced, which made it easy to get invested in them as a couple.

    Garret starts off as your typical cocky hockey player, but there's so much more to him beneath the surface. His complicated relationship with his father adds layers to his character, making him more than just the charming athlete. He's funny, persistent, and surprisingly thoughtful, especially when it comes to Hannah. One of the things I appreciated most was how he respected her boundaries in their physical relationship, outside of that he's a bit of a red flag when it comes to respecting Hannah's boundaries . . ., However, I did feel like his grand confession needed a little more follow-through. Hannah was hesitant about getting into a relationship with him, and while I loved that she didn't immediately jump into his arms, although if we're being real that's exactly what she did, I also would have liked to see him put in more effort to win her over. A few sweet, deliberate gestures – some well-planned dates or more "convincing" moments – would have made their transition from friendship to romance even more satisfying.

    While The Deal isn't perfect, it's an undeniably fun and heartfelt romance. The chemistry between Hannah and Garret is fantastic, their banter is some of the best I've read in a while, and there are plenty of genuinely sweet moments that make their relationship feel real. Even though the third-act break up irked me to no end, as most do, and at times certain elements of Hannah's characterization didn't quite work for me, I still found myself fully invested in their love story. If you love sports romances with humor, depth, and a little steam, The Deal is definitely worth picking up. Do be warned, however, that there is a depiction of rape in this book.

Jan. 27, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2025

★★★★☆