Author Elle Kennedy Reveals What Off Campus Show Did Better Than Book

by

Elle Kennedy knows how to bring some heat onto the ice.

Even popular books often need some changes when they’re adapted for the screen. The author of the Off Campus novels recently shared how the new Prime Video show—which premiered its first season on May 13—improved the romantic relationship between Hannah Wells (played by Ella Bright) and Garrett Graham (played by Belmont Cameli).

Elle shared with TopMob News that she was pleased with the decision to make Justin a musician on the show. Originally, Hannah’s love interest (played by Josh Heuston) was a football player in the book, but Elle felt it would be more humorous if he wasn’t a typical athlete, as it was out of character for Hannah to be attracted to someone like that.

But the decision was also simply a way to move Garrett and Hannah’s story further.

She explained that it helped Garrett understand Justin and why they might occasionally cross paths at parties, since they didn’t usually run in the same circles. She added that she especially loved creating the persona of Justin as a musician.

In The Deal, the first book of the Off Campus series, readers meet Hannah, a theater enthusiast, and Garrett, a hockey star, at Briar University. Their initial fake relationship unexpectedly develops into real feelings.

Even though Hannah’s crush isn’t on the football team anymore—the show has been renewed for a second season—he’s now in a fraternity with some of the hockey players at Briar U. This means it’s still very possible that Garrett and Justin have met.

Elle, who also produces the show, was thrilled with the change. She even joked that it made her consider giving the character a musical background. She felt it introduced a new dynamic, making it seem like Garrett was competing against an alternate version of himself.

Like most fake-dating scenarios, their plan quickly gets complicated. She helps him with philosophy to keep him on the team, and he pretends to be her boyfriend to impress someone named Justin. But as they spend time together, real feelings start to develop.

The author of Girl Aboard was particularly pleased with the changes made to the character Justin, but she wasn’t worried about making further adjustments to the plot.

I don’t like to predefine things when I’m working on projects like this,” she said. “I really wanted to focus on the feeling and how the characters interacted – the relationships, the friendships, and the emotional openness between Garrett and Hannah.

She explained it wasn’t about needing any one particular element. Instead, every change should contribute to the show’s overall feel. Importantly, the connection between Garrett and Hannah – their trust, closeness, and playful interactions – needed to be clearly visible to the audience.

So, it was essential that Hannah and Garrett’s romance evolved slowly throughout their story. 

She explained that the romance will develop gradually. It won’t be instant; she doesn’t want to see the characters jump into a relationship right away. She’s hoping to show a connection building naturally from a friendship into something more.

Readers of the books will likely enjoy the on-screen adaptation, as Elle commented that it perfectly captures the atmosphere of Briar U.

Off Campus season one premieres all eight episodes May 13 on Prime Video.

Keep reading for more of the best book to TV show adaptations.

The 2024 Emmy Awards nominated the Apple TV+ miniseries Lessons in Chemistry ten times. The show, based on Bonnie Garmus’s 2022 novel of the same name, earned nominations for its stars Brie Larson, Lewis Pullman, Aja Naomi King, and Millicent Shelton. Both the series and the book tell the story of Elizabeth Zott (played by Larson), a chemist who overcomes personal struggles and sexism to become a popular cooking show host in 1960s Southern California. The series is also nominated for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.

The 2024 television series Shōgun made history as the first Japanese-language show to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, receiving a total of 25 nominations at the 2024 Emmys. The FX show is based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, which tells the story of Japan in the 1600s as the Edo period began. This isn’t the first time the story has been adapted; it was previously a 1980 miniseries, as well as a stage musical and several video games.

Since it first aired in 2019, The Morning Show has been a major success in streaming, largely due to the incredible acting of its stars – Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Billy Crudup – all of whom have been nominated for Emmys. Inspired by Brian Stelter’s 2013 book, Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV, the Apple TV+ show offers a revealing look behind the scenes of morning television. It’s received 27 Emmy nominations and won one award in 2020 for Billy Crudup as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

The 2024 Netflix miniseries Ripley is based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 thriller, The Talented Mr. Ripley. Andrew Scott stars as Tom Ripley, a con artist in 1960s New York, who is paid by a rich businessman to convince his son, Dickie (Johnny Flynn), to come home from Europe. The series, which also features Dakota Fanning, was a critical success, earning 13 Emmy nominations in 2024, including nods for Outstanding Limited Series, Scott as Lead Actor, and Fanning as Supporting Actress.

Casey McQuiston’s popular 2019 novel, Red, White & Royal Blue, was adapted into a successful movie on Amazon Prime in 2023. The film tells the story of a romance between the son of the U.S. President (played by Taylor Zakhar Perez) and a Prince of England (played by Nicholas Galitzine), and it received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie in 2024.

The second installment of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (2024), dramatizes the downfall of Truman Capote’s relationships with a group of wealthy New York socialites—known as his “Swans.” After publishing a revealing article about them in Esquire magazine in 1975, Capote damaged these friendships, and the series explores how this happened. Based on Laurence Leamer’s book Capote’s Women, the FX show featured a star-studded cast including Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, and the late Treat Williams. In 2024, the season received 10 Emmy nominations, recognizing performances by Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts, Treat Williams, and Diane Lane.

The 2023 miniseries Fellow Travelers is based on Thomas Mallon’s 2008 novel of the same name. It follows the decades-long, complex relationship between Hawkins Fuller, played by Matt Bomer, and Timothy Laughlin, played by Jonathan Bailey, from the 1950s through the 1980s. Both actors received Emmy nominations in 2024 for their performances: Bomer for Outstanding Lead Actor and Bailey for Outstanding Supporting Actor, both in a limited or anthology series.

I was completely hooked when Bridgerton came out on Netflix at the end of 2020, and it seemed like everyone else was too! It really took the world by storm. I think a big part of its success was the amazing cast – so diverse and talented – plus the gorgeous music and, let’s be honest, the incredibly captivating romance. It wasn’t just popular with viewers either; critics loved it too, and it even got nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series!

Based on the bestselling books by George R.R. Martin, this dramatic series is known for its grand battles and captivating love stories. The TV show became a global phenomenon, attracting viewers even among those who hadn’t read the books. Over eight seasons, the HBO series won a record-breaking 58 Emmy Awards. Though the final season’s controversial ending divided fans—deviating from Martin’s original plans—the show is widely considered one of the greatest ever made.

HBO’s series, based on the popular novel by Liane Moriarty, attracted major stars like Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, and Laura Dern, who played the five women at the center of a murder mystery. The first season was just as captivating as the book and won eight Primetime Emmy Awards. It was so successful that Meryl Streep joined the cast for season two, even though it moved beyond the original novel’s storyline. While not as critically acclaimed as the first season, the second season still earned Emmy nominations for Streep and Dern for their supporting roles.

The Netflix series 3 Body Problem received six Emmy nominations for 2024, including Outstanding Drama Series. Set in both the U.K. and China, the show centers on scientists investigating an extraterrestrial mystery and a potential planetary crisis. It’s adapted from the science fiction book series Remembrance of Earth’s Past by Liu Cixin, which began in 2006 with The Three-Body Problem. Cixin continued the series with The Dark Forest in 2008 and Death’s End in 2010.

The British spy series Slow Horses began on Apple TV+ in 2022, but it was the show’s third season that really caught the attention of Emmy voters in 2024, earning nine nominations – including for Outstanding Drama Series. Stars Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden also received nominations for Lead Actor and Supporting Actor, respectively. The series is adapted from the Slough House novels by Mick Herron, with the first book, Slow Horses, published in 2010. The book series currently has eight installments, the latest being Bad Actors, which came out in 2023.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been loving Palm Royale! It’s fantastic to see the show received three Emmy nominations this year – for Outstanding Comedy Series, and both Kristen Wiig and Carol Burnett are nominated for their incredible acting! Now, while the series is inspired by Juliet McDaniel’s book Mr. & Mrs. American Pie, it definitely takes some creative liberties. The show follows Maxine Simmons, played by Wiig, as she tries to climb the social ladder in Palm Beach back in the late ’60s. But here’s the interesting part: in the book, things go a little differently for Maxine. Instead of Palm Beach, she ends up in Scottsdale, Arizona, after a rather dramatic Thanksgiving when she learns her husband is leaving her! It’s a fun watch, even if you’re familiar with the source material.

Lily Gladstone received an Emmy nomination in 2024 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her role in the Hulu miniseries Under The Bridge. The show, which aired in 2024, is based on Rebecca Godfrey’s 2005 true crime book of the same title. It tells the story of the 1997 murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk by a group of eight classmates in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada.

The 2024 miniseries The Sympathizer is a darkly comedic historical drama adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen’s award-winning 2015 novel. Set near the end of the Vietnam War, the HBO series follows a Vietnamese spy who escapes to the U.S. as a refugee, all while continuing to secretly send information back to the Viet Cong, forcing him to question where his true allegiances lie. The show won an Emmy in 2024 for Outstanding Supporting Actor, with Robert Downey Jr. receiving the award for his performance playing five different characters.

The series, based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel, first appeared on Hulu in 2017. It’s set in the oppressive nation of Gilead after a second American Civil War and follows June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) as she fights for her freedom. While the show has moved beyond the original novel’s storyline, it has received critical acclaim, including an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in its first season.

The acclaimed mini-series Roots began as a 1976 novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Haley. The following year, the Roots television series, starring LeVar Burton, debuted on ABC and quickly became a national sensation, earning nine Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. The series finale was incredibly popular, remaining one of the most-watched finales in U.S. television history. In 2016, a new version of Roots, with Malachi Kirby and Anika Noni Rose in leading roles, was released.

I absolutely loved this show! It was such a unique drama, filled with fascinating characters – a mind-reading waitress, vampires with charming Southern drawls, and so many more. It starred Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, who actually fell in love while filming! The series was based on Charlaine Harris’s The Southern Vampire Mysteries and took place in a small Louisiana town. Though it sadly ended after seven seasons in 2014, I’ll always cherish it – and let’s be honest, who could forget the gift of seeing Alexander Skarsgård and Joe Manganiello shirtless?!

This British series is a contemporary reimagining of the classic detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, it became incredibly popular both in the U.K. and internationally, even winning an Emmy Award for Best Television Film in 2016 in the U.S.

This thrilling series, inspired by the historical fiction novels of Diana Gabaldon, features time travel, romance, and a fight against the odds. Caitriona Balfe stars as a nurse who unexpectedly journeys to the past and finds herself torn between her husband and a passionate connection with a rebellious Scottish warrior, played by Sam Heughan.

The HBO series The Undoing stars Nicole Kidman in a suspenseful murder mystery, adapted from Jean Hanff Korelitz’s 2014 novel You Should Have Known. Kidman plays Grace Fraser, a therapist whose life unravels when her husband, Jonathan (Hugh Grant), becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Elena Alves (Matilda De Angelis).

Although the series finale sparked mixed reactions, viewers universally praised Nicole Kidman’s stunning outfits throughout the show.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen a lot of shows, and ‘Dexter’ is one that really stuck with me. It centers around Dexter Morgan, played brilliantly by Michael C. Hall, who leads a fascinating double life – he’s a blood spatter analyst by day, and… well, a serial killer by night! The show actually started as a series of books by Jeff Lindsay. Over eight seasons on Showtime, it built this incredible, devoted fanbase and racked up an impressive 23 Emmy nominations. But honestly? That final episode? Let’s just say endings are hard, and that one was particularly divisive!

In 2021, the creators revisited Dexter’s storyline with a new, limited series called Dexter: New Blood, aiming to provide a definitive conclusion.

The popular Netflix series Orange is the New Black quickly became a fan favorite, inspired by Piper Kerman’s memoir about her time in a women’s prison. Viewers connected with the show’s blend of witty humor and emotional stories, and especially with its diverse and compelling female characters, like Suzanne (“Crazy Eyes,” played by Uzo Aduba), Sophia (Laverne Cox), Pennsatucky (Taryn Manning), and Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley). The show concluded after seven seasons in 2019, leaving the characters and the Litchfield prison behind.

Before Kyle Chandler became known as Coach Taylor on TV, the story was first a movie starring Billy Bob Thornton in the same role. However, it was the 2006 TV series, based on H.G. Bissinger’s book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, that really captured audiences – even those who weren’t football fans. The show starred a talented cast including Connie Britton, Minka Kelly, Scott Porter, Michael B. Jordan, and Taylor Kitsch as the unforgettable Tim Riggins. And who can forget the iconic line? “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts…”

Fans of Liane Moriarty can enjoy another of her stories brought to the screen! In 2021, Nicole Kidman and David E. Kelley teamed up again to create a series based on Moriarty’s 2018 novel, Nine Perfect Strangers. The show, which premiered on Hulu, centers around Masha Dmitrichenko (played by Kidman), a wellness expert who attempts to help nine individuals – all strangers to each other – improve their lives. The cast includes Melissa McCarthy as Frances, Luke Evans as Lars, Bobby Cannavale as Tony, Regina Hall as Carmel, Michael Shannon as Napoleon, Samara Weaving as Jessica, Melvin Gregg as Ben, Asher Keddie as Heather, and Grace Van Patten as Zoe.

Based on the books by Cecily von Ziegesar, who grew up on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, this show became famous for its peek into the hidden world of wealthy New York teenagers. Whether you identified more with Blair (Leighton Meester) or Serena (Blake Lively), it’s hard to forget the show’s stylish cast and the envy they inspired over its six seasons on The CW.

Oh my gosh, Pretty Little Liars! I was totally obsessed! Sara Shepard’s books were amazing, but the show? Forget about it – I binged it so many times. And the cast! Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson, and Troian Bellisario were just perfect together. They kept me guessing until the very end! After seven seasons on Freeform, the show really tried to wrap everything up for us fans, which was intense. Honestly, whether all my questions really got answered? That’s… complicated, let’s just say that!

The Syfy series The Magicians brings the beloved books by Lev Grossman to life, showing what it’s like to be a student at the magical Brakebills University. These characters deal with regular college issues – tricky relationships, addiction – but with the added pressure of learning to control their powers. As if college wasn’t hard enough! Over five seasons, the stakes got incredibly high, often requiring the heroes to save the entire multiverse or even magic itself. But through it all, fans could always look forward to one thing: a fantastic musical episode.

Oh my gosh, seriously, the cast was EVERYTHING! Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Kat Graham, and Ian Somerhalder… they just made the show! I mean, it was a huge part of why everyone loved it, obviously. As a longtime fan of L.J. Smith’s books, it was a dream come true seeing those characters finally live on screen. It was so sad when it ended after eight seasons, but at least we had all those amazing moments!

Read More

2026-05-13 14:19