Tawni’s Book Nook: The Deal by Elle Kennedy Book vs Show

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

The Deal by Elle Kennedy Completely Hooked Me

The Deal book vs show comparison will absolutely contain spoilers for both the novel and the Off-Campus TV adaptation. Sorry lol!

I’ve actually been wanting to read The Deal by Elle Kennedy for quite some time now. Hockey romance has completely taken over the romance genre lately, and this book has been recommended everywhere across BookTok, Goodreads, and romance reader circles. So when I found out Amazon Prime was adapting the Off-Campus series into a TV show, I immediately knew it was finally time for me to jump on the bandwagon.

The hype was absolutely justified. Going into The Deal book vs show comparison, I honestly didn’t expect to love both versions as much as I did.

The first book was amazing. The chemistry, banter, emotional depth, and romance completely pulled me in from the start. Then after finishing the book, I immediately binged the entire Off-Campus TV series.

And yes, the show was different from the book in several ways. But honestly? I still loved it.

The cast was nearly perfect. Belmont Cameli, who plays Garrett Graham, absolutely understood the charm, confidence, and emotional vulnerability Garrett needed. And omg… that man is HOT. Like, dangerously attractive lol.

Even with some storyline changes, the show still captured the emotional core, chemistry, humor, and chaotic college romance energy that made me love the book in the first place.

If you’ve been following my Tawni’s Book Nook reviews, then you already know I’ve fully entered my romance-book era. Between Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, Ice Shy by K.M. Gillis, and now The Deal by Elle Kennedy, apparently hockey romance officially owns my reading life right now lol.

Garrett and Hannah’s Chemistry Was Everything

What starts as a simple arrangement between Garrett Graham and Hannah Wells slowly becomes one of the sweetest and most emotionally layered college romances I’ve read in a while.

Garrett is cocky, arrogant, charming, and fully aware that he’s attractive. Hannah, meanwhile, is intelligent, passionate, hardworking, and refreshingly honest. Their personalities clash immediately, which makes the banter between them incredibly entertaining from the start.

The “deal” itself is simple. Hannah agrees to tutor Garrett in Philosophy so he can stay eligible for hockey. In exchange, Garrett agrees to fake date Hannah to make Justin Kohl notice her.

Classic fake dating setup? Yes.

But what makes The Deal work so well is that Garrett and Hannah’s friendship develops naturally underneath all the flirting and tension. Their relationship doesn’t instantly become romantic. They actually learn each other’s vulnerabilities first.

And honestly, that emotional connection is what made me fall in love with this story.

The Trauma and Emotional Depth Made the Story Feel Real

One thing I really appreciated about The Deal by Elle Kennedy was how it balanced romance with deeper emotional themes.

Hannah is still carrying the trauma from her sexual assault, and the book handles her healing journey with a lot of care. There were several moments where her vulnerability, fear, and anxiety felt incredibly raw and real. Her growth throughout the story never felt rushed.

At the same time, Garrett is also dealing with emotional abuse and pressure from his father. Underneath Garrett’s confidence and cockiness is someone who desperately wants love, support, and validation outside of hockey.

Together, they become safe spaces for each other.

That’s honestly what elevated this story beyond just another college romance for me. The relationship wasn’t only about attraction. It was about trust, healing, friendship, honesty, and emotional support.

Why the Banter Between Garrett and Hannah Works So Well

The dialogue between Garrett and Hannah might honestly be one of my favorite parts of the book.

Their conversations feel playful, natural, sarcastic, flirtatious, and emotionally intimate all at once. Garrett constantly pushes Hannah’s buttons, while Hannah refuses to let Garrett’s ego fully win.

And somehow, despite Garrett being unbelievably cocky, Elle Kennedy still makes him charming.

That balance is hard to pull off.

There were so many moments where I found myself smiling while reading because their chemistry felt effortless. Even during serious scenes, their connection remained believable.

And omg… the nickname “Wellsy” absolutely melted me.

The second Garrett started calling Hannah “Wellsy,” it instantly became one of those small romance details that somehow makes the relationship feel even more personal and intimate. It’s playful, affectionate, and very “Garrett” at the same time.

I also really appreciated that Garrett’s storyline wasn’t just about hockey or popularity. Even though his father is a famous NHL player, Garrett genuinely wants to succeed on his own merit and not because of his father’s name or reputation.

That added so much more depth to his character because underneath the confidence and cockiness is someone trying to prove he’s capable of building his own future independently.

The Off-Campus TV Series Was Different, But I Still Loved It

After finishing the book, I immediately watched the entire Off-Campus TV adaptation, and honestly… I had a great time with it.

Yes, the show is different from the book.

The cast themselves admitted in interviews that they knew changes were being made and even read The Deal before filming to better understand the characters and story dynamics. That level of care honestly shows in several performances throughout the series.

Even though certain storylines, pacing, and relationships changed, the show still captured the fun, emotional, chaotic college energy that makes The Deal so enjoyable in the first place.

And Garrett and Hannah’s chemistry? Still there.

What Stayed the Same in The Deal Book vs Show

Even with the adaptation changes, there were several things that still felt true to the original story:

• Garrett’s confidence and charm
• Hannah’s emotional depth and intelligence
• the fake dating setup
• the college hockey atmosphere
• the emotional vulnerability underneath the romance
• the banter and chemistry between Garrett and Hannah

The show still understood the heart of their relationship, which is probably why I enjoyed it as much as I did.

The Biggest Differences in The Deal Book vs Show

Okay, now let’s really get into the spoilers and adaptation changes because there were definitely quite a few.

How Hannah’s Storyline Changed in The Deal Book vs Show

One thing I noticed immediately was that the TV show streamlined and combined several storylines from the book. Hannah’s work life is a good example. In the book, Hannah works multiple jobs, including at Della’s café and Malone’s hockey bar. The show simplifies those settings more, combining parts of Hannah’s work environment and tying her more directly into the hockey world from the beginning.

Justin Kohl is also completely different in the adaptation. In the book, he’s a football player. But in the TV show, they turned him into a musician, which honestly worked really well for me because it gave Hannah and Justin a more believable shared connection through music.

The showcase storyline changed a lot too. The show leans much harder into Hannah’s writer’s block, stage fright, and trauma recovery, while the book handles her musical ambitions differently. Honestly, I thought the TV series did a really good job making Hannah’s emotional struggles feel more visually impactful for television.

How Garrett and Hannah’s Relationship Changed in The Deal Book vs Show

One of the BIGGEST differences between the book and show is Garrett and Hannah’s relationship pacing.

In the TV series, things become romantic between them much faster. But in the book, their relationship develops much more naturally over time. They spend a lot more time together building trust, friendship, attraction, and emotional intimacy before they officially become a couple.

The karaoke scene especially plays out very differently in the book. Hannah gets drunk, makes a move on Garrett, and he actually stops things from going too far because he realizes she’s intoxicated. The next morning, Hannah opens up to him about her sexual assault trauma, which becomes a major turning point in their relationship.

From there, Garrett slowly helps Hannah rebuild trust and comfort physically and emotionally. Their relationship becomes much more of a gradual slow burn in the novel, which I personally loved.

The Justin storyline also changes quite a bit. In the show, Hannah more clearly moves away from Justin emotionally once Garrett enters the picture. But in the book, Hannah still technically plans to go out with Justin. She just becomes so wrapped up in Garrett that Justin slowly fades into the background naturally.

The famous kiss scene is also completely different.

In the TV show, the kiss happens in the weight room and Logan walks in during the moment. In the book, the kiss actually happens in Garrett’s bedroom after he jokingly teases Hannah about supposedly being a bad kisser. Then Dean walks in, not Logan, and Hannah kisses Dean instead to throw Garrett off. It’s honestly one of those chaotic romance-book moments that made me laugh while reading.

Dean and Allie’s Early Setup Completely Surprised Me

Speaking of Dean…

One of the biggest changes for me personally was how early the show started setting up Dean Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes.

HUGE SPOILER! I only found out this was an early setup because when I was grabbing all the Elle Kennedy Off-Campus series books, I read the synopsis for each one and discovered that Dean and Allie eventually get together in book three, The Score.

As someone currently reading the books in order, I was SO confused at first because Allie and Sean are still together at the end of The Deal novel. In the books, Dean and Allie’s relationship doesn’t even really begin until much later during The Score.

So seeing hints of attraction and tension between them already happening in season one definitely caught me off guard.

New Characters and Added TV Drama

The show also created several storylines and characters specifically for television.

Daveed, who was added for the TV adaptation, honestly became one of my favorite additions. The Duos party, which really highlighted Dean and Beau’s bromance, also never happens in the books, but I actually loved the extra friendship chaos and tension it created onscreen.

Jules is another major show-only addition. In the books, Logan’s family dynamic is completely different. He still has an alcoholic father, but the Jules and their Mom storyline doesn’t exist at all. I have mixed feelings on Jules overall. They worked fine for TV drama and campus gossip purposes, but personally, I don’t think the adaptation necessarily needed them.

The adaptation also added much more tension between Garrett and Logan. In the books, their friendship is much stronger and less competitive. The hockey team bromance dynamic feels more central in the novels, whereas the show leaned harder into interpersonal drama between the guys.

Hannah’s Trauma and Garrett’s Family Storyline Changed

Another pretty major change involves Hannah’s trauma and who knows about it.

In the TV show, Hannah struggles more with Garrett telling others about her assault. But in the book, Hannah actually gives Garrett permission to tell certain people, including his coach and close friends. That difference removes a lot of the emotional conflict surrounding trust and privacy between them.

The breakup storyline also changes significantly.

In the TV adaptation, Garrett pulls away because he’s afraid of becoming like his father emotionally. But in the book, Hannah is actually the one who breaks things off. Garrett’s father, Phil Graham, pressures Hannah and basically manipulates the situation because he views her as a distraction to Garrett’s hockey future.

The Locker Room Scene Was Better in the Book

And yes… we need to talk about the shower or locker room scenes lol.

In the beginning of the TV show, Hannah accidentally sees Garrett naked in the shower, which definitely does not happen in the book. But honestly? Belmont Cameli as Garrett Graham… whew. I understood why the internet lost its mind over that scene.

However, the book does still give readers a locker room moment between Garrett and Hannah, just in a completely different context. And personally? I actually loved the book version even more because it carries so much emotional weight.

In The Deal novel, Hannah storms into the boys’ locker room to confront Garrett after their breakup and ends up face-to-face with not only Garrett, but basically the entire naked hockey team. It’s awkward, chaotic, hilarious, and very on-brand for this series.

But underneath the humor is one of the most important emotional moments in the book.

Garrett’s father pressures Hannah to end the relationship by threatening Garrett’s tuition and financial support. Hannah believed Garrett’s future still depended on his father’s financial control. But during the locker room confrontation, Hannah learns Garrett already solved the problem himself by accessing his trust fund and cutting off his father’s financial leverage completely.

That revelation becomes the turning point for their reconciliation.

And honestly? I loved that version so much more because it shows Garrett finally taking control of his own life, independent of his father’s influence, while also proving how deeply he cared about Hannah and their relationship.

Smaller Changes Book Readers Will Notice

There’s also the hilarious “hands-off” rule from the books that the show changes completely. Garrett basically claims Hannah campus-wide in this ridiculous, possessive, over-the-top way that somehow manages to be both childish and funny at the same time.

The Aaron Delaney storyline changes too. In the books, Aaron isn’t a hockey player at all, which means Garrett never gets suspended after fighting him like he does in the show.

And finally, one smaller detail I found interesting was that Hannah actually had a serious long-term boyfriend before Garrett in the books named Devon. He genuinely tried to help her through her trauma, but their relationship lacked chemistry and ultimately didn’t work out.

Why I Still Loved Both Versions

Honestly, after reading and watching both versions, I almost view them as two separate interpretations of the same core story.

The book gives readers more emotional depth, slower relationship development, and stronger internal character growth.

The TV series adds drama, visual chemistry, expanded side characters, and more interconnected storylines for future seasons.

And surprisingly? I genuinely enjoyed both experiences for different reasons.

Which Version Did I Prefer? The Deal Book vs Show

Honestly? I genuinely loved both.

The book gave me deeper emotional intimacy, internal thoughts, and stronger relationship development between Garrett and Hannah. Their emotional healing journeys felt especially powerful on page.

But the TV show brought the world to life visually and gave the friend group dynamic a fun energy that worked really well onscreen.

I don’t necessarily think one version ruined the other.

Instead, I think they complement each other.

The book gives you the emotional depth.
The show gives you the visual college romance chaos.

And somehow, both work. That’s what ultimately makes The Deal book vs show adaptation so enjoyable. The book and series may tell the story differently, but both versions still capture the emotional connection between Garrett and Hannah.

Final Thoughts on The Deal Book vs Show

The Deal by Elle Kennedy book vs show proved to me that adaptations can still succeed even when they make changes.

At the core of both versions is a story about healing, vulnerability, friendship, attraction, and learning how to truly trust someone else.

Garrett and Hannah’s relationship works because underneath all the flirting and fake dating is genuine emotional support and honesty.

And honestly? That’s what made me love both versions so much.

What’s especially funny now is that my confusion about Dean and Allie’s early setup officially makes a lot more sense because the Off-Campus Instagram account just confirmed that season two will focus on Dean and Allie’s story next. Even Entertainment Tonight backed the announcement on Instagram too, so clearly the Dean and Allie era is officially happening.

Which means yes… the TV adaptation is officially jumping straight to book three, The Score, instead of following the original book order with The Mistake next.

And honestly? I’m not even mad about it because the chemistry and tension between Dean and Allie in season one was already SO strong. But as someone currently reading the books in order, I’m still really curious to see how the show handles skipping ahead and what that means for Logan’s storyline moving forward.

Now excuse me while I continue reading the Off-Campus series because I absolutely need to know what happens next.

Have You Read The Deal or Watched Off-Campus?

Did you prefer the book or the TV adaptation? And how do you feel about the changes the show made to future storylines?

Because I already know book readers probably have opinions lol.

What I’m Reading Next

📚 Up next in Tawni’s Book Nook…

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.

And honestly? I already know this book is going to emotionally destroy me all over again lol.

I actually watched the Amazon Prime adaptation first because I had no idea We Were Liars was originally a book. But omg… the show was SO good and completely wrecked me emotionally. That ending? Absolutely devastating.

The second I finished the series, I immediately knew I had to read the book next so I can compare the page-to-screen differences for myself.

And based on what I’ve already heard from readers, I’m not emotionally prepared whatsoever.