Long before sports romance became a major trend in publishing, Elle Kennedy was already building a loyal following with stories about college hockey players, emotional depth, and fast-paced romance.
Now, with 'Off Campus' officially set to premiere on Prime Video, fans are revisiting the series that helped bring hockey romance into mainstream pop culture.
Originally published between 2015 and 2016, the 'Off Campus' books follow a group of Briar University hockey players as they explore relationships, friendships, and the pressures of elite college sports. Although romance is at the heart of the series, hockey is much more than just a backdrop.
That authenticity is part of what made the books resonate so strongly with readers.
Unlike many sports romances that treat sports as a mere aesthetic, Kennedy's writing shows a real understanding of hockey culture. Team dynamics, training schedules, injuries, and locker-room relationships shape the characters' emotional worlds, making the series feel grounded even in its most dramatic moments and creating a strong sense of found family.
For fans of the genre, that realism is important.
The popularity of hockey romance has exploded in recent years due to online reading communities like BookTok, where readers have embraced emotionally open male characters along with the intensity and competitiveness of sports. However, 'Off Campus' arrived before this trend became widely successful, helping to define many of the tropes that dominate the genre today.
The books mix classic romance elements – enemies-to-lovers tension, fake dating, and emotionally distant athletes – with the fast pace and pressure of collegiate hockey. The result is a series that appeals not only to romance fans but also to those drawn to sports dramas and character-driven storytelling.
Kennedy's interest in hockey helped shape this balance. Instead of portraying players as idealised archetypes, the series highlights the realities of team culture and the emotional toll of constantly performing under pressure.
This blend of vulnerability and competitiveness has become a key part of the appeal of sports romance as a whole.
The upcoming TV adaptation arrives at a time when romance adaptations are more popular than ever, with studios increasingly looking to BookTok hits and online fandoms for their next series. For many readers, however, adapting 'Off Campus' brings a unique challenge.
The chemistry between characters is vital, but so is the environment of the hockey world itself. Fans want the adaptation to capture the humour, camaraderie, and emotional intensity that made the books special. Hockey scenes must feel realistic, but so must the quieter moments between characters that give the novels their emotional depth.
In many ways, that balance reflects why the series became successful to start with. At its core, 'Off Campus' isn't just about hockey players falling in love. It explores identity, pressure, friendship, and finding emotional connections in a competitive environment. The romance may attract readers, but the authenticity of the hockey culture is what keeps the series enduring.
As anticipation builds for the adaptation, longtime fans hope the series can replicate what the books achieved so well – capturing the audience's attention for what happens both on the ice and off it.
'Off Campus' hits Amazon Prime 13 May. An immersive 'Off Campus' fan experience takes place at Romancing The Novel in Paddington (New South Wales) from 13-19 May.
