Off-Campus vs Briar U: Which Elle Kennedy Series Should You Read First?
Off-Campus and Briar U are both college romance series by Elle Kennedy set at the same fictional Briar University. Off-Campus came first (2015-2016) and introduces the world, the hockey team, and the cast that carries through both series. Briar U (2018-2019) is a direct spinoff with new leads but returning characters. Start with Off-Campus.
Side by side
| Off-Campus | Briar U | |
|---|---|---|
| Which comes first | Original series (2015-2016) | Spinoff series (2018-2019) |
| How they connect | Introduces Briar University and the hockey team | New leads but Off-Campus characters return throughout |
| Best starting point | The Deal | The Chase (but read Off-Campus first) |
| Tone | Fun, flirty, established the template | Slightly more mature, same energy |
| Romance style | Fake dating, second chance, player reform | Opposites attract, rivalry, friends to lovers |
| Reading commitment | 4 books | 3 books |
| Can you skip ahead? | This is where you start | You can, but you will miss character context and callbacks |
Start with Off-Campus before Briar U. Off-Campus introduces the original Briar University world and characters, while Briar U expands that world with a connected next generation of stories. Reading Briar U first means missing character backstories and relationship context that make the spinoff richer.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Off-Campus introduces the world, the hockey team, and the characters who return in Briar U. Reading in order gives you the full experience.
Yes. Briar U is a direct spinoff set at the same university. Characters from Off-Campus appear throughout, and some plot threads carry over.
Off-Campus (2015-2016) comes before Briar U (2018-2019). Start with The Deal, the first Off-Campus book.
Technically yes, since each book has a new lead couple. But you will miss character backstories, inside jokes, and relationship context that make Briar U richer.
The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy (same universe), Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, or Mile High by Liz Tomforde.