Best Books Like Elle Kennedy (2026): 4 Picks Compared

Readers hunting the best books like Elle Kennedy want steamy romance built around college campuses and athlete heroes, with couples who spark on the page. We compared four romance novels by author, series position, publication date and what each listing’s description says, so you can match the book to your mood. Every pick names who it suits and who should skip it.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Score by Kennedy	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The Mistake by Kennedy	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Deep End by Hazelwood	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Beautiful Things by Christy	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Score by Kennedy

Elle Kennedy·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who want Elle Kennedy's own steamy college hockey romance, following Dean Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes as graduation pressures hit.

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Pros

• Written by Elle Kennedy, so it matches the focus keyword directly
• Book 3 of 5 in the Off-Campus series, with the series position stated
• Word Wise and Screen Reader support stated in the listing

Cons

• The description includes mature romantic content, so check before buying for a younger reader
• Starting at Book 3 of 5 means missing the earlier couples in the series
• No page count stated in the listing

2

The Mistake by Kennedy

Elle Kennedy·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who want another Elle Kennedy college hockey romance, following John Logan and Grace Ivers through a second-chance story at Briar University.

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Pros

• Written by Elle Kennedy, the author named in the focus keyword
• Book 2 of 5 in the Off-Campus series, so series readers can start earlier
• Word Wise and Screen Reader support stated in the listing

Cons

• The description includes mature romantic content, so check before buying for a younger reader
• Part of a five-book series, so a fan will want the other volumes next
• No page count stated in the listing

3

Deep End by Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who want a steamy college sports romance by another author, following Stanford diver Scarlett Vandermeer and swim captain Lukas Blomqvist.

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Pros

• Steamy college sports romance, the closest subgenre match to Elle Kennedy
• Published February 4, 2025, the most current book in this list
• Screen Reader support stated in the listing

Cons

• The description includes mature romantic content, so check before buying for a younger reader
• No page count stated in the listing
• No Word Wise support stated in the listing

4

Beautiful Things by Christy

Samantha Christy·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who want a small-town single-dad romance, following a father learning to communicate with his deaf young daughter.

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Pros

• A print length of 434 pages is stated, with Page Flip listed
• Published May 24, 2024, with Word Wise and Screen Reader support stated
• Centers a deaf child learning to communicate, a theme stated in the description

Cons

• The description carries a trigger-warning note, so check before buying
• A small-town single-dad romance, not the college sports setting of the other picks
• Tied to The Brothers of Calloway Creek series, so a fan may want the other books

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More picks to compare

• Complete Off-Campus Series SetAll five Off-Campus novels in one 1870-page set, November 2023Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a reader of steamy romance, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. None of the four listings states a reading age or grade level, so the score rests on fit, contents and value alone. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best books like elle kennedy

Start with her own books or the closest match

The Score and The Mistake are written by Elle Kennedy and sit in the Off-Campus series, so they match the keyword directly. Deep End, by Ali Hazelwood, is the closest outside match: a steamy college sports romance about a Stanford diver and the swim captain. For more romance lists for your reading group, browse the book club books shelf.

Check the series position

The Mistake is Book 2 of 5 and The Score is Book 3 of 5 in the Off-Campus series, so start with The Mistake to read them in order. If you like campus romance with a strong following, see our books like Bridgerton list too.

Preview the content before buying

All four descriptions include mature romantic content, and Quiet Beautiful Things carries a trigger-warning note in its description, so read the description before buying for someone else. Quiet Beautiful Things is the only pick with a stated page count, at 434 pages.

Before you buy

• Check the series position: The Score is Book 3 of 5 and The Mistake is Book 2 of 5 in the Off-Campus series.
• All four listings state Screen Reader support; three of them also state Word Wise.
• Read the description for mature themes before buying for a younger reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Elle Kennedy book should I read first?

The Mistake is Book 2 of 5 and The Score is Book 3 of 5 in the Off-Campus series, so start with The Mistake to read them in order.

Which pick is closest to Elle Kennedy’s style?

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood: a steamy college sports romance about a Stanford diver and the swim captain, published February 4, 2025.

Which pick has the most pages?

Quiet Beautiful Things: the listing states a print length of 434 pages, the only page count stated among the four picks.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Score by Kennedy

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Related lists

See every book club list and all fiction lists.

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