Back-to-School September ends on the ice with Elle Kennedy’s The Deal and Him (co-written with Sarina Bowen).

Nikki and Meg dig into why these two 2015 hockey romances are still topping charts nearly a decade later, comparing fake dating vs. best-friends-to-lovers, college vs. new adult vibes, and what made both books blueprint-level sports romances.

Listen in for:

• Garrett Graham: the original “he falls first, he falls hardest” hero?
• Why hockey housing should come with a hazmat rating
• The book that made everyone fake-date a little harder
• Nikki’s ringette camp horror story: pine needles, lake baths, and trauma bonding

Read our full review of "The Deal"

Read our full review of "Him"

Listen to our response episode to the "Off Campus" series on Amazon Prime

Books/Media Mentioned:

• The Deal by Elle Kennedy, part of the Off-Campus series
• Him by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
• Us by Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
• Boyfriend Material & Husband Material by Alexis Hall
• Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
• Heated Rivalry & The Long Game by Rachel Reid
• Puckboy series by Eden Finley & Saxon James
• Savannah universe books by Aimee Nicole Walker
• In the Game by Sloane St James, book 3 in the Lakes Hockey series

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