The Goal (Off-Campus Book 4)
What happens when the life you planned collides with the future you never expected? In *The Goal*, Sabrina James has a clear path ahead: finish college, conquer law school, and build the independent life she’s always wanted. Romance was never part of the plan—especially not with John Tucker, a charming hockey player who believes some things are worth fighting for. After one unforgettable night changes everything, Sabrina must face a new reality while Tucker proves that the biggest goals in life aren’t always achieved alone. A heartfelt romance about ambition, trust, and learning to let someone in.
- Release Date
- 2016
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Our Review
About the book
Briar University hockey senior John Tucker has a one-night stand with Sabrina James, a driven pre-law student juggling work, school and a difficult home life. When she discovers she is pregnant, the two must decide whether they can build something real while both of them face major life changes.
Our review
The Off-Campus series takes a sweeter, more grown-up turn as an unexpected pregnancy turns a fling into something much bigger.
Kennedy gives Tucker, the steady and supportive best friend of earlier books, his turn in the spotlight, and he makes a likable lead: patient, kind and genuinely eager to be a father. Sabrina is the more interesting character, a fiercely ambitious woman wary of letting anyone derail her plans, and her guardedness gives the romance its friction. The banter and the found-family hockey crew remain the series’ biggest pleasures.
The accidental-pregnancy trope will be a dealbreaker for some readers, and the book occasionally smooths over how hard the situation would really be for a student with few resources. Tucker can feel almost too perfect, which lowers the stakes. But fans who have followed the gang since The Deal will enjoy the cameos, the warmth and the more mature emotional territory.
What we loved
- Tucker is a refreshingly gentle, steady hero
- Sabrina’s ambition gives her real dimension
- Beloved series cast drops in throughout
Keep in mind
- Pregnancy trope will not work for every reader
- Conflicts resolve a little too neatly
Read it if you like
The Deal, Icebreaker, fans of college hockey romance with heart
The verdict
A warm, softer entry in the Off-Campus series that trades some spark for tenderness, and mostly makes the trade work.
