The Score by Elle Kennedy review: Dean and Allie totally work

Have you ever read continued reading a series because you know how every book is going to feel? That’s exactly where The Score by Elle Kennedy lands. This one brings secret hookups and a hero who somehow manages to be both ridiculous and weirdly irresistible. If you like your college romance playful, hot, and a little messy before the feelings sneak in, Dean and Allie absolutely deliver.

THE SCORE is a great addition to the series and it cements the fact that this is one of the strongest new adult series out there. ~ Under the Covers

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.

What is The Score by Elle Kennedy about?

In The Score by Elle Kennedy, Allie is fresh off a breakup and not looking for a new complication, which is exactly why Dean Di Laurentis becomes one. What starts as a hookup with an expiration date turns into something deeper, sexier, and more emotional as both of them start facing what they actually want next.

The Score by Elle Kennedy Book Review

We are back in the Off-Campus series and Elle Kennedy has done it again!  I keep coming back to this series because I really enjoy the easy flow of these relationships and Allie and Dean were no exception to that rule.  Perfect opposites attract if you will.  Allie has just broken up with her longtime boyfriend and since her best friend isn’t in town, she ends up hiding out at Dean’s house.  One thing leads to another and while she thought sort of the worst of him in the sense of being a manwhore, they end up in bed together.  After that, they just can’t stay away.

I kind of liked that their relationship starts off as a secret.  They have a chance to explore each other thinking there’s an expiration date and without having all their friends becoming involved and mucking things up.  They are incredibly compatible sexually and that’s what ignites the fire, but what keeps it going is the fact that they are perfect for each other in every other way and they realize they can connect on a deeper level.

Both Dean and Allie have also things to decide about their lives and their future and it was nice to see that woven into the story and how maybe in a way they helped each other get to those decisions.  As a couple though, they have amazing chemistry.  They are playful (one of my favorite things about the series) while being scorchingly hot.  Dean is a bit of a dirty talker and neither one of them is afraid to go for what they want in bed.

I admit I wasn’t quite so happy, and yes maybe a bit shocked, by what prompts the conflict between these two.  But although what happens is not to be taken lightly, I don’t think how that all played out was enough of a conflict to create the tension it did.  That’s just my opinion.  Didn’t like his response, didn’t like her response.

THE SCORE is a great addition to the series and it cements the fact that this is one of the strongest new adult series out there.  The books are consistently good, the author’s voice and the tone you can expect in each book is steady, so you know exactly what you are getting into before you even start.  I like that!

Favorite Quote:

“Get over yourself,” I mutter.  “I’d be wet if any guy was rubbing up against me.”
“Bull. Fucking. Shit.”  His thumb brushes my clit.  I almost fall over.  “It’s me.  You want me.”  He pushes one finger inside and my inner muscles betray me by tightening around it.  “As long as this hungry pussy keeps dripping for me, we’re not fucking done.”

About the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy

The Score is Book 3 in Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus series. The books in the series all take place at the same college, with connected characters and couples across the series. While this is a series, they are interconnected standalones.

Final Thoughts

The Score is the kind of romance that not only delivers a sexy and fun read but also lands on the emotion. Deal and Allie have insane chemistry and once I started reading, I was fully locked in. Plus, that Off Campus magic is annoyingly hard to quit, honestly.

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