Prime Video's Off Campus has arrived, and fans of Elle Kennedy's beloved romance novels are already buzzing. The first season, based on The Deal, follows hockey player Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) and music student Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) as they strike a fake-dating pact that quickly turns real. But the show doesn't stop there—it also plants seeds for future couples, most notably Allie and Dean, whose story appears earlier than in the books. Showrunner Louisa Levy sat down to explain why that change was necessary, and how she balanced staying true to the source material while making the series work for television.
Why Allie and Dean Get an Early Start
Levy knew that a TV series couldn't end with a simple happily-ever-after for Garrett and Hannah. "It's not a feature film," she explained. "Because it's a series, there needs to be some sort of cliffhanger." Rather than leave the main couple on a tense note, Levy decided to give them a satisfying conclusion and instead tease the next romance. "It made more sense to start with Allie and leave a little cliffhanger there," she said, noting that Allie is already Hannah's best friend, making the transition organic. This approach also avoids introducing too many new characters at once, keeping the focus tight for Season 1.
Keeping the Trauma Intact
One of the biggest concerns among book fans was whether the show would handle Hannah's past assault and Garrett's history of abuse. Levy emphasized that these elements are "the soul of these books" and were never on the chopping block. "I would never have cut those out," she said. The challenge was adapting them for a visual medium without exploiting the trauma. "It was really important to me to take care of this trauma... and handle it responsibly on TV," Levy added. The show never depicts the actual events, focusing instead on how the characters survive and find connection. "It's about them surviving the traumas," she said, and recognizing that shared experience in each other.
Working with Elle Kennedy
Author Elle Kennedy is a producer on the series and has been deeply involved. "She's read every episode, she's seen every cut," Levy revealed, and has given her blessing to the adaptations. Levy hopes fans will feel the same: "I know Elle is excited about the show, and I hope that the fans are too."
Plans for Future Seasons
With a second season already greenlit, Levy has her sights set on adapting the first four books in the series. "I certainly have plans to get through those if Amazon will let me," she said. The fifth book, an epilogue, might be sprinkled in, but the core focus remains on the four main romances. For a deeper dive into how the show handles its source material, check out our full review of Off Campus.
Levy's approach to adapting beloved books offers a masterclass in balancing fan expectations with the demands of television. By honoring the emotional core while making smart structural changes, Off Campus is shaping up to be a standout romance series. As Levy put it, "I can only stay true to my own north star and tell the stories that I get excited by." And so far, that star is shining bright.
