I’m a proud OG fan of the Off-Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, so naturally, I had high expectations for Amazon Prime’s TV adaptation.
When all eight episodes of Season 1 dropped on May 13, I finished the show in two days. As someone who has loved these books for years, I went into the series both excited and nervous – adaptations can either bring beloved characters to life or completely miss what made the original story special.
Thankfully, Off Campus got a lot right.
Let’s break down what I think the adaptation absolutely nailed (and a few choices that still have me curious about where the story is headed).
The casting completely won me over
I personally loved the casting choices for the show. Ella Bright as Hannah was perfection – she captured Hannah’s wit, vulnerability, and quiet confidence in a way that felt incredibly true to the books. Belmont Cameli as Garrett was another standout. He had the charm and cockiness the role required, but also the emotional depth that made Garrett such a fan favorite in the books.
I especially loved that the show cast relatively lesser-known actors. It made the characters feel more believable and let viewers connect to Briar University without seeing recognizable faces attached to every role. There’s something so refreshing about discovering new actors through a series like this (à la Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in Heated Rivalry).
And then there’s the supporting cast. Mika Abdalla as Allie and Stephen Kalyn as Dean had so much chemistry that it almost stole attention from the main couple at times – which honestly worked in the show’s favor.
The cast as a whole also sold one of the best parts of the books: the found family dynamic. The friendships between the hockey boys and the girls are just as compelling as the romances, and the show leaned into that perfectly.
The changes for TV actually made sense
Book-to-screen adaptations are always going to have to make changes, and Off Campus made quite a few. Surprisingly, most of them worked.
I saw a lot of fans online complaining that Dean and Allie’s storyline was introduced so heavily in the first season, since their romance doesn’t happen until much later in the books. I actually loved this choice. Realistically, it would feel strange for a TV show to spend an entire season focused solely on one couple while sidelining every other major character.
The showrunner, Louisa Levy, told TV Guide that the first season would include snippets of future couples, and I think that was a smart decision. It creates continuity between seasons and avoids a common issue in romance ensemble shows where characters practically disappear once their main story ends. As much as I love Bridgerton, one of my biggest qualms is how little we see couples after their season wraps (Kate and Anthony, come back!).
The adaptation also made Garrett and Hannah’s breakup more impactful. Since NCAA laws have changed significantly since the book’s release, the original reason for their separation had to be reworked. The show’s version felt much more emotionally grounded and deepened Garrett’s internal conflict about becoming like his father.
I also loved some of the original additions the show made. Scenes like Drunk Shakespeare and Allie’s night at the bar with Joanna Maxwell fit naturally alongside iconic book moments, like Allie requesting “U + Ur Hand” by P!nk at Malone’s and Hannah and Garrett’s orgasm scene.
One of my favorite show add-ons was how much more we got to see of Beau Maxwell. In the books, Beau is more of a side presence at first, but the show gives him a larger role by making him Dean’s childhood best friend instead of just a college friend. The joint costume party was such a fun show-exclusive scene to highlight Beau and Dean’s friendship, which helps set up for Dean’s seasons and character arc (iykyk).
The sets made Briar feel real
There’s always that bittersweet feeling when a visual adaptation replaces the version you created in your imagination. Still, I have to admit the production design was incredibly well done.
The boys’ house looked exactly how a college hockey house should: very chaotic and lived-in. Hannah and Allie’s dorm had the perfect cozy-but-cramped feel, and Malone’s was just as charming as I always pictured.
The show also packed in fun easter eggs for longtime readers. Little details like Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy on Hannah’s bookshelf, Breaking Bad opened on her laptop, and the recreation of the cartoon-style book cover made watching even more enjoyable. It felt like the show creators genuinely cared about the OG fanbase.
The soundtrack was one of the best parts
Because Hannah is a musician, music plays a huge role in the books, and the adaptation took that seriously – Off Campus had so many incredible songs throughout the season.
Starting out strong with “Dancing With Myself” by Billy Idol and Generation X and “The Bitch is Back” by Elton John, the soundtrack continued to hit in scene after scene.
Some of my personal favorite inclusions were ROLE MODEL, Audrey Hobart, P!nk, and sombr.
Also, Remi Wolf gets a super fun cameo performing as herself at the Briar U Block Party in Episode 1. It was such a fun surprise and made the campus setting feel even more immersive.
Season 2 has me excited – and slightly nervous
I have to admit that the ending of Season 1 had me a little scared for what’s to come.
While Hunter Davenport was a character in the Off Campus and Briar U series, his dynamic with Dean was never this hostile. Creating that rivalry is a pretty significant departure from the books, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, so the possibility of one being introduced for Allie and Dean isn’t exactly my favorite direction.
That said, I appreciate that Hannah and Garrett’s story wasn’t tied up too neatly. Their romance got a happy ending, of course, but their individual arcs still have room to grow. Garrett’s hockey future is uncertain, and Hannah’s successful showcase proves her talent, but not necessarily what comes next for her career.
That balance gives the show something important: the ability to keep developing established couples instead of abandoning them after their romance becomes official.
Altogether though, with the Grace Ivers casting announcement and the setup for Allie and Dean’s season, I’m already counting down to Season 2. For an adaptation I was fully prepared to nitpick, Off Campus ended up being everything I wanted (and more!)