This is the first book in the new adult contemporary college hockey romance series, Briar U, by Elle Kennedy set in the same world of her Off-Campus series. Each book can be read as a stand alone and features a different couple. The second book, The Risk, is expected to release 2/18/19.

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother.

And that his best friend has a crush on me.

And that I just moved in with them.

Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?

He knows where to find me.

This was a satisfying book and what I expect to get when I pick up a college hockey romance. The couple in the book, Summer and Fitzy, were a fun pairing but I did feel like the characters could have had more depth.  The tropes in this include roommates and some quality of friends/enemies to lovers due to all the angst. I don’t particularly love either of these characters and I disagreed with a lot of their choices and thinking, which definitely had me almost talking out loud trying to give them advice. However Kennedy knows how to write steamy scenes and despite the predictability of some of this book it was still a fun read.

Some weird things for me included a moment where Summer’s brother (Off-Campus cameo!) walks in on them doing the deed. I would literally not be able to look my brother in the eye again ever if this happened to me. Also because her brother is friends with Fitzy there is this weird sit down moment of like, the big brother talk?? I don’t know…that kind of sibling dynamic is always weird for me and while I get it being a good idea to talk with your friend about dating his sister, she can do whatever she likes and her brother shouldn’t have any say in it so interactions like this usually make me feel a bit cringe.

Also Summer becomes friends with her BFF like super easy. They have this cool girl meet cute and then they’re basically just instantly best friends. I’m not saying this can’t happen but… also it would be cool if this kind of thing did actually happen because making real friends in real life can be hard yo.

One more weird thing that had me wanting to yell advice at the characters – there’s a hookup scene initiated by Summer that felt really weird and one-sided and then later she yells at him for letting it happen if xyz, he wasn’t on board with their developing relationship, etc etc, angsty angst. But like. For me, you jumping a guy like that doesn’t equate to anything more than that unless you’ve guys have talked it out and DTR ya know?! Another one of those classic classes of if you just had honest communication half the book’s conflicts would be solved kind of thing. Also,  while hooking up is great, that alone doesn’t create or constitute a relationship or obligations to or from the other person.

Finally, there is a trigger warning for a creepy teacher #metoo attack moment.  I think this part was handled well and was really relatable to all those stories we unfortunately either have experienced ourselves or have heard of.

All in all I’d say this was a fun quick read that’s worth picking up. I liked getting the cameos from the Off-Campus characters and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more from Summer and Fitzy as this series continues. This books definitely set me up for wanting happy endings for all the other roommates and friends of the MCs so I’m looking forward to picking up the next book.

Recommend for fans of new adult college romance, hockey romance, and the roommate trope.

3.5 stars!