11 Answers2026-06-19 20:27:29
If you're asking about the 'Briar U' books, there seems to be a bit of confusion because that isn't the actual series name. Elle Kennedy's series is called 'Off-Campus', and the follow-up is 'Briar U'. The whole thing is basically one big hockey romance universe, and reading them out of order will have you missing inside jokes and cameos like crazy.
The chronological order you want is: 'The Deal', 'The Mistake', 'The Score', 'The Goal', and then 'The Chase' and 'The Risk' from the Briar U set. Honestly, you could maybe skip 'The Goal' if you're pressed for time—it's fine, but it feels a bit like an extended epilogue for the first three couples. Starting with 'The Deal' is non-negotiable though; it sets up the whole friend group dynamic and the college setting.
I tried reading 'The Chase' first once because the blurb hooked me, but I kept wondering who all these people in the background were and why their banter seemed so loaded. Went back, did it right, and it was a way better experience. The later books assume you know the crew.
3 Answers2026-06-19 21:16:27
Most people asking this are probably trying to figure out if they’ve missed any novellas or special editions, and I totally get that. There are four main novels in the Briar U series: 'The Chase', 'The Risk', 'The Play', and 'The Dare'. That's your core reading order right there.
Elle Kennedy did write a fifth book, 'The Legacy', which is kind of a crossover with her Off-Campus series, focusing on Logan and Grace's wedding. It slots in after 'The Dare' chronologically, but it feels more like a bonus epilogue for both series rather than a strict Briar U #5. So for a complete experience, you'd read the four main books, then maybe 'The Legacy' if you’re invested in the whole world.
3 Answers2026-06-19 02:35:06
I saw a lot of new readers asking about where to dive into the Briar U series, and honestly, it's a hot take but I don't think you absolutely have to start with 'The Chase'. Hear me out. Yeah, it's the first book, but 'The Risk' was actually my entry point because I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and Brenna Jensen's vibe just hooked me right away. I went back and read 'The Chase' later and it was fine, but jumping into book two didn't ruin anything major for me—the core friend group drama unfolds across all of them anyway.
If you're someone who gets twitchy about missing a single reference or cameo, then by all means, start from the beginning. But if a particular couple's dynamic in the blurb calls to you more, I'd say follow that instinct. The series is built to be pretty welcoming whichever door you walk through first.
3 Answers2026-06-19 11:09:30
I was looking for this exact info last week! The 'Briar U' series by Elle Kennedy has three main books—'The Chase', 'The Risk', and 'The Play'—which focus on different couples at the university. There isn't a traditional spin-off series, but the 'Off-Campus' series, which came first and is set at the same fictional college, is deeply connected. Characters from 'Off-Campus' like Garrett and Logan pop up all the time in the 'Briar U' books.
So if you're asking about reading order, you could start with 'Off-Campus' (the first book is 'The Deal') and then move to 'Briar U' for a chronological experience. But honestly, you can jump into 'Briar U' on its own; the author does a decent job filling in the backstory. I just finished 'The Risk' and didn't feel lost, even though I haven't read all the earlier books.