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

Synopsis

    He knows how to score, on and off the ice . . .

    Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn't have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she's nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her long time relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won't include the king of one-night stands.

    It'll take more than flashy moves to win her over . . .

    Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls . . . he's a ladies man, all right, and he's yet to meet a woman who's immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world – and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It's not over until he says it's over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it's time to stop focusing on scoring . . . and shoot for love.

Review

    The Score, the third book in Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series, had potential with its charismatic leads and steamy romance, but it ultimately fell flat for me. While there were some fun and entertaining moments, the book struggled with pacing, character depth, and a romance that never fully felt convincing.

    Dean is the quintessential playboy—cocky, confident, and completely unapologetic about his lifestyle. While his character worked well as a side presence in previous books, having him as a lead didn’t fully translate. His charm could be fun, and I did appreciate the moments where he showed more depth, but his development felt inconsistent. There were times when his more vulnerable side came through, particularly in how he handled his unexpected personal struggles later in the book, but for much of the story, he felt like the same one-dimensional, overly confident guy from before. I don’t mind a cocky hero if there’s emotional depth beneath the surface, but Dean’s progression felt rushed and shallow. He was also, so fucking annoying at times. There were times where I genuinely wanted him to shut up and stop talking.

    Allie, on the other hand, was a mixed bag. I liked that she was determined and willing to stand up for herself, but I didn’t always connect with her choices. Her initial reluctance to get involved with Dean was understandable, and I actually liked that she didn’t immediately fall for his charm. However, once she did, her character felt less defined. Much of her storyline revolved around their relationship, and while romance is obviously the central focus of the book, I wanted more of a sense of who she was outside of it. She had strong opinions and ambitions, but they often felt like background details rather than key parts of her character arc. She was also quite annoying at times. I feel like she allowed other characters to influence her decisions and it just felt really inconsistent with her characterization.

    The chemistry between Dean and Allie was definitely there, but it didn’t always feel like it went beyond the physical. Their banter had its moments, but compared to the relationships in the previous books, I didn’t feel as emotionally invested in their connection. It often felt like the story relied on their attraction rather than developing a truly deep bond between them. Another issue was the pacing of their relationship. The transition from casual hook-up to something serious felt abrupt, and I would have liked to see more build-up to their emotional connection. Instead, their romance sometimes felt like it existed more for the sake of being the next couple in the series rather than because they genuinely belonged together. There was just too much sex in this book. Too much horniness! And none of it felt deserved.

    While The Score had moments of humor and steam, it lacked the emotional depth and engaging character dynamics that made The Deal work so well. Dean and Allie’s relationship felt rushed, and neither character had a fully satisfying arc. There were parts of the book that were entertaining, but overall, it didn’t leave much of an impact. I wanted to love this one, but in the end, it was just okay. Fans of the series might still enjoy it for the banter and familiar setting, but it’s definitely the weakest of the books so far.

Feb. 9, 2025 – Feb. 12, 2025

★★⭑⭑☆☆☆