Elle Kennedy’s The Mistake is the second book in her popular Off-Campus series, and it follows the story of John Logan, a college hockey player, and Grace Ivers, a freshman trying to navigate her first year. If you’ve read The Deal, the first book in the series, you’ll recognize these characters from the sidelines. This installment shifts focus to Logan, who is dealing with the fallout from a drunken mistake that cost him his relationship with Grace and his own self-respect.
In practice, this book is often read as a standalone, but it works much better as part of the series because it builds on existing dynamics. Readers typically pick it up for the same reasons they read the first book: a mix of steamy romance, college sports culture, and characters who feel like they could be real people, albeit with some heightened drama. The pacing is brisk, and the chapters alternate between Logan and Grace’s perspectives, which keeps the story moving even when the plot feels a bit predictable.
Key features include:
- Dual point-of-view narration: This gives you access to both characters’ thoughts, which helps explain Logan’s remorse and Grace’s guardedness. It’s a technique that works well here, even if it sometimes repeats information.
- Focus on character growth: Logan’s arc is about owning up to his mistakes and becoming a better person, while Grace learns to trust again after being hurt. The character development is one of the stronger aspects, though it can feel rushed in the final third.
- Hockey and campus setting: The backdrop of college hockey and dorm life feels authentic enough for a romance novel, with practices, parties, and team dynamics adding texture. However, if you’re looking for deep sports analysis, this isn’t the place.
- Steamy scenes: The romance is explicit, which is consistent with the series. These moments are written with a focus on emotional connection, not just physicality, but they can feel repetitive if you’ve read similar books.
A notable limitation is that the central conflict—the “mistake” of the title—is resolved fairly early on, which leaves the middle of the book feeling a bit aimless. The tension shifts to external issues, like family drama and jealousy, which don’t feel as urgent. Additionally, the dialogue can sometimes be overly witty, making the characters sound more like they’re performing than having a natural conversation. This is a common issue in the romance genre, but it’s worth noting if you prefer more realistic banter.
Compared to other college romances, like those in the Off-Campus series itself, The Mistake is perhaps the weakest of the bunch. The first book has a stronger chemistry between the leads, and later books in the series handle secondary characters better. If you’re new to the genre, you might find this book enjoyable, but if you’ve read a lot of similar stories, the tropes—like the misunderstood bad boy and the determined heroine—won’t feel fresh. A generic alternative would be any other sports romance from authors like Sarina Bowen or Vi Keeland, which often hit similar beats but with more consistent pacing.
Who is this book for? It’s suitable for readers who like light, fast-paced romance with a focus on emotional recovery and a happy ending. It’s a good pick if you’re already invested in the Off-Campus world or if you want a quick read that doesn’t demand too much. It is not suitable for those who dislike explicit content, find redemption arcs too predictable, or want a story with more complex conflicts. The book also assumes you’re fine with characters who make questionable choices and then apologize for them, which might frustrate some readers.
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