The world of books is evolving with screen adaptations improving, giving everything the books gave and more. Being able to get creative with your own visions is one of the reasons Columnist Liv Woolf loves books. But here she discusses how Elle Kennedy has managed to do the impossible and bring her Off Campus book series to life in an Amazon Prime series.
The Off Campus book series has been adapted into a swoony feel-good show. Each book follows the love stories of each hockey player.
You witness each player unexpectedly fall in love, whether they like or not. They’re all unapologetically themselves, messy, funny and chaotic but they’re a family.
Books are made up of a thousand words and millions of stories; there are whole other worlds out there created by just letters on a piece of paper.
They allow you to escape reality, immersing yourself into the stories with these characters. Books are a comfort blanket; without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. To be able to pick up a book and live a whole other life, separating myself from my own reality and just switching off my problems, is a form of therapy.
I prefer books over TV adaptations. Books allow your imagination to run wild, deciding yourself what you want to visualise, what you think fits right. Adaptations take that control away from you and decide it all for you.
However, I will give credit to the Off Campus adaptation. The giddiness and excitement followed through from the books, bringing the spark alive.
TV shows are the second greatest distraction after books. I think sometimes it can be harder to immerse yourself in a show and there has to be a special talent and chemistry on screen for it to work, much like the work of a writer, but when it’s done right, it’s magical.
The best part of this adaptation was that I got to experience their stories all over again. Sure they missed out some crucial points, but did it give everything I want to give? Yes, and more.
These actors brought Elle Kennedy’s phenomenal writing to life.
Now sue me, but in my opinion, there’s nothing better than a silly romance – the yearning, the fake dating, the chasing around until they physically can’t stay away from each other.
I crave a book that’s going to have me giggling, kicking my feet. It’s goofy and sometimes extremely cringey but God it’s good.
I think people forget just how much shows and books help people. I found a calm in this book series, it made me laugh on days I would otherwise just cry on, it let me relate to characters, so I didn’t feel so alone, and it gave me hope. Sure, it’s fictional but it can be real, these friendships, the issues they have to face and the relationships, all real-life scenarios.
These books make you think about your life, what you want to accomplish and who you want to associate yourself with.
They teach you lessons and show you different outcomes, making you wonder and question how you want to navigate your life.
Hannah and Garrett’s love kicks off the series with a bang. I loved the way I found a character to immediately relate to – Hannah. I related to Hannah in ways I wish I didn’t.
However, witnessing a character experience a form of something you’ve experienced is comforting in a weird way.
It makes you feel a bit more hopeful for yourself, to see how she let herself feel all the emotions, allowed herself to let loose with Garrett, knowing what she went through didn’t weigh her down.
She didn’t let it define her, and yes, what Hannah experienced in the past of being drugged and raped was one of the most horrifying things a person could experience, but she didn’t let it consume her. She shows you that even though it may always be a struggle, it becomes manageable.
That you’re also allowed to let a healthy relationship heal you, when it’s the right one. It’s trial and error but isn’t everything in life?
For now I will immerse myself in another book whilst I wait on the edge of my seat, itching for 2027 to come along for season two to be released.
