The Legacy (Off-Campus, 5) Paperback – September 21, 2021

*NO SPOILERS PART OF MY REVIEW*I was eagerly anticipating this book ever since I learned it was coming out! I watched so many TikToks about this series and it made me feel so validated in my obsession for the Off Campus series and the OC couples. Therefore, I could not wait to read The Legacy as soon as it came out. I refreshed my Kindle app and there it was! I read all night, and slept for maybe 1 hour but I finished the book within 12 hours of it being released. I was SO pleased. This book was fabulous. Though it is 4 novellas (one for each couple) Elle Kennedy did an amazing job of weaving the four stories together and making it seamless. I really appreciated the continuity throughout the whole book. Seeing the group's dynamic was a total highlight of this book. I absolutely loved that we got to see their messages in the group chat and see how their friendships have stood the test of time and distance after their college days are over. I LOVED seeing the mentions of other characters in the Briar U/ Off-Campus universe as well. It reminded me of why I love this series so much. One thing, not a real spoiler but the epilogue is only about one couple, not all 4 like I had hoped and expected. I really hope we see more from the Off-Campus/Briar U universe in the future. If you love this series, you will really enjoy this book.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THE WHOLE SERIES. IN ORDER. INCLUDING THIS AMAZING BOOK.****CAUTION SPOILERS AHEAD****I appreciated that Elle Kennedy added more to Grace and Logan's story given that a version of it was already published 2 years ago (?). I really liked their story. At first I was a little annoyed that it ended on sort of a cliff hanger, but once I read the whole book, it made sense because other novellas in this book ended the same way.Allie and Dean are my favorite couple in the Off-Campus series, followed by Hannah and Garrett. Allie and Dean's story in this book was great. I really loved getting to see them together again. The main conflict/ problem in their story was surprising to me. Allie's hesitation about engagement, wedding, babies, seemed a little bit uncharacteristic of her. She is SUCH a hopeless romantic, that seeing her be apprehensive about all of those things was confusing for me as a reader and a fan. But overall, I really enjoyed seeing Dean and Allie again. I love Dean so much. He is such an innately good person and so is Allie. I'm sad that there was no "glimpse into the future" for A&D in the epilogue because I would have LOVED to see them start a little family and maybe name their son Beau since Beau Maxwell was such a big part of their story. Sabrina and Tucker's story was also great. I appreciated that the author gave them a conflict in this book that in my opinion was never really resolved/addressed in The Goal. Their communication skills as a couple was beyond bad and frustrating! Tucker's admission to Sabrina that he is unhappy in his job coming as a surprise to Sabrina was bizarre. I enjoyed seeing them as parents to a toddler, so cute! Finally, Hannah and Garrett. The original Off-Campus couple. The people that started it all. I appreciated the premise of their novella, but bringing Garrett's abusive father back into the storyline, but only in a novella was unfair. There is SO SO SO much to say and unpack with regards to that. Shoehorning it into a brief novella was frustrating as a reader because it felt like that needed to be a whole full-length book itself. And Hannah holding off on telling Garrett about the pregnancy was also strange and unlike them. Garrett switching his opinion so quickly about being a dad was way too rushed. I feel like they were a couple who was pretty good at communication so seeing how Hannah handled this situation in this book was surprising. I would have really loved to see Garrett acknowledging that he has a lot of childhood trauma to work through and process in therapy! That would have been some real character development for him. Also, the lack of a wedding for them was upsetting because I feel like they deserve that and as a reader, I would have loved to see thatI!! Lastly, The epilogue was also a bit of a let down as I expected it to be a flash forward for all 4 couples, but it was just for Hannah and Garrett and it wasn't really a flash forward at all.*END OF SPOILERS*READ THIS BOOK!!! THANK YOU ELLE KENNEDY!!!!

I was a little skeptical starting this one cause I’m not usually a novella person. BIG HOWEVER! This was definitely needed because I was already starting to miss the OG Briar kids!I’m not gonna go into too much detail since this is a spoiler free account, but I’ll just give you my thoughts on each novella:Logan and Grace:this one had me kicking my feet, giggling, and SQUEALING! It was so cute from start to finish and of course there was a little spiciness🤭 no complaints about this one!Dean and Allie:In the words of Jacob Black- “SHE’S NOT SURE WHAT SHE WANTS” and it irritated the hell out of me🙄 She was absolutely infuriating in this one and couldn’t wait for this part to be over🥲Tucker and Sabrina:There’s started off a bit flat if I’m honest. I mean, they were just kind of. . .boring. Which is a shame cause they’re my favorites out of the whole series!😭Graham and Hannah:Of course the OGs! Loved their portion of the book, until a certain part happened😐 I feel like Garrett didn’t handle it well, but he made up for it in the end. But this one was also so sweet because it showed how supportive they are to each other in their different careers.This book wasn’t overly spicy because it was more so about life after the college world experience, which is fine. There was still a fair amount of spice and I loved what I was given!😅Last thing I’ll say about this book: I did not expect to laugh as hard as I did reading this! I mean I was legitimately CACKLING through this entire book!😂Overall, I really enjoyed this one and loved seeing what our favorite characters were up to after graduation.

This review is one of the hardest ones I've ever written. The Off-Campus series is without a doubt one of the best series I've ever read. I have loved these characters, their stories, and the growth we've seen along the way. I love the love they all share.A quick refresher of the 4 previous books and how I rated them:The Deal - Garrett and Hannah - 5/5 (10/5 if it were an option.)The Mistake - Logan and Grace - 5/5The Score - Dean and Allie - 5/5The Goal - Tucker and Sabrina - 4/5I was so excited about this book! A glimpse into some of my favorite characters, and where are they now. But, as much as it breaks my heart to say it, this book fell flat.First, let's talk about the pros.1. Throughout the first four books, one of my favorite parts was the bromance and friendships between Garrett, Logan, Dean, and Tucker. THIS BOOK DOES SUCH A GOOD JOB WITH THAT, AND OMG IT MAKES MY HEART HAPPY. Their friendship is front and center and I loved every part of it.2. Logan and Grace's and Tucker and Sabrina's installments in this book are the best in my opinion. I do wish that the rest of the gang could have been there for Logan and Grace's wedding, but it was oddly fitting for them.3. This book is laugh-out-loud funny.4. I love, love, loved watching Sabrina fighting for her man when he got arrested. Like yes, queen!Now for the cons:1. The biggest reason this book physically pained me is how Garrett and Hannah's part was written. It was so far out of character and literally broke my heart. Their story is the last one of this book. They're my favorite couple from the series, and the part of The Legacy I was looking forward to the most. And boy, it let me down and broke my heart. I actually went back and reread The Deal not long after finishing The Legacy because I was so confused by this part of the book. I had to go back and restore my love in Garrett and Hannah. In The Legacy, I feel Garrett does not have his life together, and he's mean, especially to Hannah. Like we get it, Phil Graham is the worst, but Garrett never used to take it out on Hannah or let it affect their relationship, but boy does it ever here. And Hannah hiding the fact she's pregnant from Garrett for so long?! What is up with that?? Ugh, it literally hurts to be writing this because I looked forward to this and wanted to love it so much but just didn't.2. Allie could not have been more immature in their section. I get she was scared, but girlfriend, c'mon. When Dean Di Laurentis offers you a ring and his last name, you don't tell the man no.A rating of the different couples parts of this book:The Pact - Logan and Grace - 4/5 starsThe Proposal - Dean and Allie - 3/5 starsThe Honeymoon - Tucker and Sabrina - 4/5The Legacy - Garrett and Hannah - 2/5As grateful as I was to get to go back and hang out with the Off-Campus crew again, it just fell flat for me. I wish we could get a redo. See them all now. How's marriage going? How are the kids? How's work? Get to laugh it up with the gang again, and fall in love with the love they share all over, especially Hannah and Garrett. I feel this book lacked the finality and closure this beautiful series deserved. Truthfully, it would have been better off without this installment altogether (Which I literally HATE to say.)