Elle Kennedy books

Fall Helmet Over Skates for Elle Kennedy’s Books

Lovers of hockey romance stories, steamy sex scenes, and quick-paced plots, come this way! Join us as we deep dive and swoon over Elle Kennedy’s most popular series.

Who is Elle Kennedy?

Canadian author Elle Kennedy is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of more than 40 titles—and she’s only 44 years old! Best known for writing contemporary romance and suspenseful romance novels, Kennedy has a fanbase that just can’t get enough. If you like sexy, character-driven romances (or specifically hockey players), then you’ll love reading Elle Kennedy’s books!

Elle Kennedy author photo

Common Tropes in Elle Kennedy Books:

  • Enemies-to-lovers
  • Forced proximity
  • Fake dating
  • Grumpy sunshine
  • Reformed playboys

Are Any of Elle Kennedy’s Books Spicy?

The vast majority of Elle Kennedy’s books are considered spicy, commonly ranking at a 4/5 or 5/5 on the universally used chili pepper scale. If you’re in the mood for explicit on-page scenes that keep the plot (and your heart) thumping at a rapid pace, then you’ll love her spicy romance books. But as a parent…maybe keep it away from your younger readers.

Do You Need to Read Elle Kennedy’s Books in Order?

While she has plenty of series that stand on their own, her most popular ones interconnect in the same hockey universe. To ensure no plot twists are spoiled, and all cameo appearances make sense, you’ll want to start with the Off-Campus series, then Briar U, and finish with Campus Diaries. Other than that, there are no rules! Grab any other series in her repertoire at your favorite independent bookstore today.

A Guide to Reading Elle Kennedy’s Book Series

Elle Kennedy has written over 10 series on her own. With that large a catalogue, there’s bound to be one that catches your interest! Discover more about each series to determine where you should start in her never-ending catalogue.

The Off-Campus Series

The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Fans of the hit show Heated Rivalry, stand up! The Off-Campus series is exactly what you’re looking for. Each book in this best-selling series follows a different couple as they navigate the ups and downs of college hockey, friendship, and, most importantly, falling in love. With bad boy love interests and sexy and smart female leads, it’s no wonder why Off-Campus is Elle Kennedy’s most popular series.

The Off-Campus Series Book-by-Book:

  • The Deal: When a fake dating arrangement ends up feeling a little too real, Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham may end up as more than tutor and student.
  • The Mistake: Will John Logan be able to win back Grace Ivers’ heart after treating her like just another puck-bunny?
  • The Score: With a school-wide reputation for being a player, Dean Di Laurentis was meant to be just a rebound for Allie Hayes, but after one night drives him wild, he starts to wonder if love is the real goal he should be aiming for.
  • The Goal: Sabrina James has her whole future planned out—but all that changes after one risky night with John Tucker throws her grand scheme way off course. 
  • The Legacy: In this collection of four novellas, we get the answer to the question everyone’s waiting for: where are they now? A wedding, a proposal, an elopement, and a surprise pregnancy—but which couple is which?

The Briar U Series

The Chase Elle Kennedy

The Briar U series is a spin-off of Elle Kennedy’s book series, Off-Campus—and it’s every bit as steamy, funny, and romantic as the last. Following the same format, each book captures a different couple’s trope-driven love story. 

The Briar U Series Book-by-Book:

  • The Chase: Opposites attract when bubbly Summer Heyward-Di Laurentis moves in with tattoo-covered, video-game playing, nerdy-hockey jock Colin Fitzgerald and his best friend—even if they want to pretend they don’t.
  • The Risk: As the daughter of the head hockey coach, Brenna Jensen shouldn’t date anyone from the Briar U team—but surely, if it’s to further her career, there’s no harm in asking Jake Connelly to be her fake boyfriend?
  • The Play: Hockey captain Hunter Davenport is going clean—no hook-ups, no flirting, and no exceptions. That is, until the beautiful and brilliant Demi Davis walks in. Since he’s committed to celibacy and she has a boyfriend, staying away from each other should be easy… right? 
  • The Dare: When the mean girls at Taylor Marsh’s sorority dare her to seduce Conor Edwards, the golden boy of the hockey team, she prepares to be humiliated. Instead, he cuts her a deal: pretend to be his girlfriend and keep the rumors going. But as sparks fly, their story may become a little more real than anyone meant it to.

The Campus Diaries Series

The Graham Effect Elle Kennedy

Considered the “second generation” spin-off series, Elle Kennedy’s books in the Campus Diaries bring the heat! With characters that may or may not be the offspring of couples from earlier books, each new love story is sure to grab your attention.

The Campus Diaries Series Book-by-Book:

  • The Graham Effect: Determined to qualify for the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her father’s enormous shadow, Gigi Graham is desperate to improve her game—even if that means accepting help from opinionated, rude, and sexy co-captain, Luke Ryder.
  • The Dixon Rule: Shane Lindley may be working his way through the entire cheerleader team, but when his ex comes back into the picture, he needs a pretend girlfriend to make her jealous—and who better than his sassy, ambitious, and sexy neighbor, Diana Dixon?
  • The Charlie Method: When Charlotte Kingston isn’t busy being the perfect sorority girl, STEM student, and adopted daughter to an overachieving family, she’s taking risks and chatting up two anonymous hotties on a dating app. When the two are revealed to be Will Larsen and his best friend, Beckett Dunne, things get steamy, secrets pile up, and lust might just turn into love.

The Prep Series

Elle Kennedy’s books in the Prep series follow the wealthy delinquents and misfits at Sandover Prep, an elite all-boys boarding school in New Hampshire. If you’re a fan of smutty academia plots and scandalous secrets coming to light, sign up for school and pick up Misfit and Rogue today!

The Avalon Bay Series

Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

Set in a South Carolina beach town, Avalon Bay is made up of three interconnected standalone novels, featuring high-stakes romance, summer flings, and second chances. If you’re looking for a beach read, these are the Elle Kennedy books for you.

The Avalon Bay Series in Order:

A Quick Glance at Elle Kennedy’s Lesser-Known Series

We could go on for hours delving into each amazing series written by Elle Kennedy—but that would give too much away! If any of these quick descriptions catch your eye, grab the first in the series, either on audiobook or at your favorite indie bookstore, to experience the toe-curling romance for yourself.

Elle Kennedy’s Other Series:

  • Outlaws: Dystopian romance novels centered on a group of rebels attempting to escape an authoritarian government’s control and navigate what love means in a violent, dangerous world.
  • DreamMakers: Contemporary romance trilogy about three former army rangers as they start a business to help male clients create the perfect dates.
  • After Hours: A collection of three standalone erotic novellas focused on high-stakes dynamics and one-night stands that turn into more.
  • The Hunted: Gritty and fast-paced series about special ops commandos, action-packed plots, and imperiled, strong-willed leading ladies.
  • Killer Instincts: Steamy and suspenseful romance series centered on mercenaries and assassins as they team up for dangerous missions and fall in love.
  • Small Town Scandals: Part romance, part mystery, the series centers around the dramatic murders in the town of Serenade, with FBI profilers working to solve the crimes and falling in love at the same time.
  • Out of Uniform: Standalone romance novels set in San Diego, with alpha-male Navy Seals falling in love both on and off-duty.

What Books Has Elle Kennedy Co-written?

Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

In addition to her many books, Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen have penned two series together. Their most popular is the Him series, a gay contemporary sports romance that follows the friends-to-lovers journey of hockey players Ryan Wesley and Jamie Canning from childhood best friends to adulthood. They’ve also written a spin-off, the WAGs series, that focuses on the wives and girlfriends (hence the acronym) of professional hockey players.

Elle Kennedy also wrote the Royals series alongside author Jen Frederick—though the two used a joint pseudonym, Erin Watt. These YA contemporary romance novels play with tantalizing plot devices, such as poor girl/rich boy pairing, found family, step-romance, and forced proximity—and that’s just to name a few!

A Look at Elle Kennedy’s Standalone Books:

Do any of Elle Kennedy’s books sound right up your alley? Head to Novel today to pick up the first in one of her many series to see for yourself! Whether you speed read it solo or discuss it in book club, we can’t wait to hear what you think.

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