You can never really go wrong with a glossy romantic drama, especially when it’s based on a successful book series. Prime Video is once again delving into adaptations with a new show based on the TikTok-favorite Elle Kennedy books. It’s already being compared to other hockey romance adaptations like “Heated Rivalry,” thanks to its mix of sports drama and heightened relationship stakes. Essentially, it’s a college soap packed with steamy moments and a surprisingly tender story.
- Rating: 3.5/5 stars
- Verdict: A glossy YA romance adaptation that turns Elle Kennedy’s TikTok-favorite books into a bingeable college soap. “Off Campus” has hockey drama, steamy romance and emotional depth, with strong leads, found-family dynamics and growing chemistry. It starts unevenly but quickly becomes an addictive, heartfelt watch worth investing in.
- Where to watch: "Off Campus" is streaming on Prime Video
While the books are mainly known for being “spicy,” the series plays out more like a grounded romantic drama in the same vein as “Bridgerton.” It focuses on the camaraderie of the Briar University hockey team and the women who challenge them. “Off Campus” is already a new guilty pleasure of mine, not only because of its addictive, high-gloss production value, but because it has characters genuinely worth investing in.
Plus, it’s already been renewed for season 2, so it’s clear Prime Video has high confidence in the series. If you’re looking for a binge-worthy watch this week, or simply want a bit of spice on your screen, here’s why “Off Campus” is worth adding to your watchlist now that it’s streaming.
What is ‘Off Campus’ about?
“Off Campus” follows the lives of students at Briar University, where hockey players, musicians and close friends get involved in complicated relationships during their college years. Season 1 centers on Hannah Wells (Ella Bright), a quiet but talented songwriter who reluctantly agrees to tutor Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), the university’s confident star hockey captain, after he begins struggling academically.
In return, Garrett agrees to help Hannah catch the attention of another student, Justin Cole (Josh Heuston), by pretending to date her. Their casual arrangement quickly grows more complicated as the two spend more time together and become deeply involved in each other’s lives.
Alongside Hannah and Garrett’s story, the series explores the wider Briar University circle, including Garrett’s hockey teammates John Logan (Antonio Cipriano), Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn) and John Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks), whose friendships and relationships become a major part of campus life as they manage college pressures and life away from the rink.
‘Off Campus’ is a surprisingly addictive watch
For some context, I haven’t read Kennedy’s novels, but I knew going into that it was designed as an anthology-style series. While the core group remains, each season is expected to shift focus to a different couple within the friend group. This first season revolves around the shy Hannah and the brooding hockey star Garrett. It’s very much opposites attract, and even from the first five minutes of her accidentally walking in on him showering, it’s clear the show isn’t shying away from the genre’s most familiar tropes.
But that’s exactly what I came for. “Off Campus” thrives on a simple story structure, with the two leads conveniently bumping into each other just enough to spark curiosity and build the kind of yearning so many of us want from romantic dramas right now. Thankfully, the two leads have the chemistry needed to make their on-screen interactions work, especially as the tension and spiciness ramp up in later episodes. The series isn’t afraid to lean into being glossy or dramatic.
What I didn’t expect, though, was for the characters to have darker backstories. “Off Campus” leans into the fun of college life and crushes, but it also explores some surprisingly heavy emotional territory, including Hannah navigating past trauma and Garrett dealing with a toxic, overbearing father. While the romances are the hook, the found-family dynamic of the hockey team becomes the show’s emotional spine, showing how these bonds act as a form of survival during the chaos of young adulthood. Ultimately, the series feels like a fantasy about emotional belonging.
I have to admit the pilot episode is arguably the weakest, which isn’t ideal considering it’s the one that has to convince people to keep watching, but it does improve significantly after that. Beneath the romance, there are some deeper ideas about finding your place in the world, but since this is made for YA fans, it doesn’t forget the costume parties, beer-chugging, spicy dream sequences and, of course, the butterfly-inducing yearning. After binge-watching the first season, it’s safe to say I’m already excited for the next couple to get their “Bridgerton” moment.
Stream "Off Campus" on Prime Video now
