The Score

The series that inspired Amazon Prime's Off-Campus – Now Streaming!

A New York Times bestseller and TikTok sensation! Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from international bestselling author Elle Kennedy.

He knows how to score, on and off the ice...

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn't have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she's nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won't include the king of one-night stands.

It'll take more than flashy moves to win her over...

Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he's a ladies man, all right, and he's yet to meet a woman who's immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world―and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It's not over until he says it's over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it's time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle is the author of more than fifty contemporary fiction and romance novels, published by a variety of major houses. Her work includes the Off-Campus series, the global phenomenon which has captivated millions of readers around the world.

The Score by Elle Kennedy is the third book in the Off-Campus series, and it focuses on the unexpected romance between Dean Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes. Set at Briar University, the novel combines humor, passion, friendship, college life, emotional healing, and personal growth. On the surface, it is a fun and sexy sports romance about a confident hockey player and a theater student who do not expect to fall for each other. But beneath the playful banter and romantic tension, the story is also about learning what real love means, facing grief, and becoming mature enough to choose a meaningful future.

Dean Di Laurentis is one of Briar’s star hockey players. He is handsome, rich, charming, and completely aware of his appeal. He has a reputation for being a player, and he does not pretend to be anything else. Dean enjoys casual relationships and avoids emotional commitment. He is used to getting what he wants, and his life appears easy from the outside. He comes from a wealthy family, does well in school without seeming to try too hard, and has a bright future ahead of him. But because everything seems effortless for him, people often underestimate him. They see only his confidence, money, and flirtatious nature, not the intelligence, loyalty, and emotional depth hidden underneath.

Allie Hayes is very different from Dean’s usual hookups. She is a drama student, serious about acting, and recently out of a long relationship with her boyfriend Sean. Allie knows that breaking up with Sean is the right decision, but she still feels emotionally confused. She does not want to fall back into old patterns, and she is trying to prove to herself that she can be independent. When she ends up staying at Dean’s house to avoid seeing Sean, she plans to keep things simple. But Dean’s charm, humor, and attraction are hard to ignore. One night turns into something unexpected, and both Dean and Allie are surprised by how strong their chemistry is.

At first, Allie thinks being with Dean was a mistake. She does not want to become just another girl in his long list of casual experiences, and she worries that getting involved with him will only make her life more complicated. Dean, however, is immediately interested in her. What begins as physical attraction slowly becomes something deeper. He likes Allie’s honesty, energy, talent, and the way she challenges him. She does not worship him or excuse his behavior. She calls him out, pushes back, and makes him work for her attention. This is new for Dean, who is used to easy relationships with clear limits.

The romance develops with a lot of humor and teasing. Dean and Allie have strong chemistry, and their conversations are full of playful arguments and witty exchanges. But as they spend more time together, the emotional connection becomes harder to deny. Allie begins to see that Dean is not just a shallow rich boy. He is smart, thoughtful, and capable of caring deeply. Dean, in turn, begins to realize that he wants more than casual fun with Allie. For the first time, he is interested in being someone’s boyfriend, even if he does not fully know how to handle that change.

One of the important parts of the story is Allie’s struggle to leave her past relationship behind. Sean is familiar and comfortable, and their history makes it difficult for her to fully move on. The book shows how hard it can be to end a relationship that has lasted a long time, even when it is no longer right. Allie must learn to trust her own feelings and stop going back to someone simply because he is safe. Her relationship with Dean helps her discover a different side of herself, one that is more confident, honest, and willing to take risks.

Dean’s growth is just as important. At the beginning, he avoids commitment and treats life like a game, but his feelings for Allie force him to look at himself more seriously. He must learn that love is not only about attraction or fun. It also requires respect, responsibility, and emotional honesty. Allie becomes the person who makes him want to be better, not because she demands that he change completely, but because she sees the good in him that others often miss. Through her, Dean starts to understand that he is capable of more than the careless image he has created.

The novel also takes a more emotional turn when Dean faces a painful loss. This tragedy shakes him deeply and changes the tone of the story. For someone who has always seemed carefree, grief becomes overwhelming. He does not know how to process it, and he begins to struggle with guilt, sadness, and anger. This part of the book reveals Dean’s vulnerability and shows that even people who seem to have perfect lives can be deeply wounded. His pain affects his relationship with Allie and forces him to confront emotions he would rather avoid.

Allie’s response to Dean’s grief is one of the most meaningful parts of their relationship. She supports him, but she also understands that she cannot fix everything for him. The book does not present love as a magical solution to pain. Instead, it shows that love can offer comfort, patience, and a reason to keep going. Dean must do his own healing, but Allie’s presence helps him remember that he is not alone. This gives their romance more depth and makes their bond feel stronger.

The friendships in The Score add warmth and comedy to the story. Dean’s hockey teammates, including Garrett, Logan, Tucker, and others, continue to play an important role. Their teasing, loyalty, and brotherhood create a lively background for the romance. The team feels like a family, and their support becomes especially important when Dean is grieving. Elle Kennedy uses these friendships to balance the emotional moments with humor and to show how important chosen family can be during difficult times.

By the end of the novel, Dean and Allie have both changed. Allie has learned to trust herself and step away from a relationship that no longer fits her future. Dean has learned that he is capable of love, loyalty, and real commitment. Their relationship begins as something accidental and physical, but it grows into a partnership built on trust, laughter, honesty, and emotional courage. *The Score* is ultimately a story about two people who seem mismatched at first but end up helping each other become more authentic. It is playful, romantic, and heartfelt, showing that love can arrive when least expected and that even the most carefree person may be waiting for someone who sees who they truly are.