Written by Elle Kennedy, the Off Campus series follows four star hockey players at the fictional Briar University. Each book focuses on a different couple, usually following a popular romance trope like "fake dating," "friends to lovers," or "enemies to lovers."

The series exploded on BookTok over the last few years because it hits the "sweet spot" of being genuinely funny and well-written while delivering the high-intensity romance that older teens and 20-somethings crave. While the characters are athletes, the books spend as much time on their emotional growth and academic struggles as they do on the ice.

With the Prime Video series launching in May 2026, we’re seeing a massive resurgence in the books' popularity. The show is looking to capitalize on the "sports romance" fever that has taken over streaming platforms lately, and because the source material is quite graphic, parents should expect the show to follow suit.

If you feel like every girl in the 10th grade is suddenly an expert on power plays and icing, you can thank the "Hockey Romance" subgenre. There’s a specific cultural moment happening where the "Golden Retriever Boyfriend" (the nice, supportive guy) and the "Hockey Bro" aesthetic have merged.

Teens love these books because they feel like a bridge to adulthood. The characters deal with "real" problems—career anxiety, complex family dynamics, and sexual health—without the "chosen one" stakes of fantasy novels. It’s escapism that feels like it could actually happen (if everyone at college was a fitness model, anyway).

Check out our guide to why hockey romance is trending.

Let’s be "no-BS" here: these books are "spicy." In the world of BookTok ratings, Off Campus usually sits at a 3 or 4 out of 5 flames.

We aren't talking about a "faded to black" kiss. We are talking about explicit, multi-page descriptions of sexual encounters. While the books are widely praised for depicting healthy consent and communication, they are intended for an adult audience.

However, we know that in reality, 15 and 16-year-olds are the ones driving the sales. If your child is reading The Deal, they are reading about characters who are 20 or 21 years old. The language is also heavy on profanity—think "unfiltered locker room" talk.

Beyond the romance, the series does touch on some heavy topics. The Deal features a female lead who is a survivor of sexual assault. While the book handles her healing process with a lot of care, it is a central part of her backstory and could be triggering for some readers. Other books in the series deal with unplanned pregnancy, the death of a parent, and the pressure of professional sports.

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The upcoming TV adaptation of Off Campus is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Given Prime Video's history with adaptations like The Summer I Turned Pretty (which aged up the content slightly), parents should be prepared for a show that is much more adult than a typical CW drama.

If your teen wants to watch it, it’s a great time to talk about the "Instagram-ification" of relationships. The show will likely feature high production values and very attractive actors, which can sometimes glamorize the "toxic" traits of the characters that are more easily critiqued in the books.

Instead of banning the books (which, let’s be honest, usually just makes them more appealing), use them as a springboard for some actual conversations. These books are surprisingly great for discussing:

Q: What age is the Off Campus series appropriate for?

The Off Campus series is officially categorized as New Adult, which is intended for readers 18 and older. However, many parents of mature 16+ teens find the books acceptable as long as the teen is prepared for explicit sexual content and some heavy themes like sexual assault recovery.

Q: Is the Off Campus show on Prime Video okay for a 14-year-old?

Probably not without a parent present or some serious pre-vetting. While the exact rating is pending for the May premiere, the source material is highly sexual, and the show is expected to target an older audience (17+) with a TV-MA rating.

Q: Are the Off Campus books "brain rot"?

Not at all. While they are definitely "popcorn reads," Elle Kennedy is a skilled writer who tackles character development and emotional trauma with more depth than your average viral romance. They are "guilty pleasure" books, but they aren't low-quality.

Q: Which book in the series is the most "spicy"?

The Score, which follows the character Dean Heyward-Di Laurentis, is generally considered the most explicit in terms of the frequency and detail of sexual scenes. If you are on the fence, this is the one to look at most closely.

The Off Campus series is the current gold standard for the hockey romance craze. It’s funny, it’s engaging, and it’s very adult. If your teen is already deep into BookTok, they’ve likely already seen these covers.

With the show coming out in May, the "Briar U" fever is only going to get hotter. If you have a mature teen, these books can actually be a bridge to some really healthy conversations about relationships and consent—just be prepared to skip over a few chapters if you’re doing a "buddy read" with them.

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