Offside by Avery Keelan Summary, Characters and Themes

Offside by Avery Keelan is a college sports romance that blends heartbreak, healing, and high-stakes hockey. 

At the center of the story is Bailey James, a journalism student who’s blindsided when her long-term boyfriend and college hockey star, Luke Morrison, dumps her on her birthday. Reeling from betrayal, Bailey crosses paths with Chase Carter, the infamous forward from a rival team. What starts as snarky banter and undeniable chemistry becomes a full-blown secret romance that defies team lines, loyalties, and reputations. Avery Keelan crafts a story that’s raw, romantic, and rich with emotional tension—a perfect pick for fans of angsty, slow-burn love stories.

Summary

Bailey James has her entire world turned upside down on the night of her 21st birthday. 

She expects a romantic dinner with her long-time boyfriend Luke Morrison—star forward and captain of her college’s elite hockey team, the Callingwood Bulldogs—but instead, she gets a cold and calculated breakup. Luke, citing pressure from his future NHL career, dumps her in a restaurant like it’s just another item on his to-do list. 

It’s public, humiliating, and emotionally devastating. Bailey, whose life is closely tied to the hockey team through Luke and her brother Derek, is suddenly left floundering.

Trying to keep up appearances, she still attends the next Bulldogs game. But watching from the stands while Luke plays—and loses—only deepens the sting. That night, Bailey’s friends take her to a nightclub to cheer her up, which is where she first collides with Chase Carter: the rival team’s golden boy and bad-boy forward from Braxton University. 

He’s cocky, charming, and seems to enjoy pushing her buttons—but he also surprises her. Despite his flirty bravado, Chase treats her with unexpected respect, ensuring she gets home safely instead of taking advantage of her vulnerable state.

Over the following days, Bailey struggles to process her breakup, especially when she discovers that Luke may have already moved on with another girl, Sophie. Gossip swirls through the school and social media, making Bailey feel disposable. Meanwhile, she starts running into Chase more often—at the rink, around campus, in random late-night encounters. 

Their banter becomes a lifeline, transforming into something more meaningful with every conversation. Chase, notorious for hookups and heartbreaks, begins revealing parts of himself no one else sees—his loyalty, his depth, his hidden emotional scars.

As Bailey and Chase grow closer, their chemistry becomes undeniable. They start sneaking around, forming a connection neither of them expected. 

But secrecy comes at a cost. Bailey worries about how Derek will react—he’s fiercely loyal to his team, and Chase is essentially the enemy. 

Worse, Luke starts inserting himself back into her life, acting possessive and trying to guilt her into staying within the “approved” social circle.

Tensions mount as rumors start to fly and people begin to suspect the truth. Bailey is torn between following her heart and staying loyal to her brother and former friends. Luke’s jealousy intensifies when he realizes Bailey is slipping out of his control, and Derek starts questioning her behavior. 

The fragile balance starts to crack.

Eventually, the secret relationship is exposed. The fallout is immediate and brutal—Bailey is judged, criticized, and even ostracized by people who once claimed to care about her. Derek, caught between family and team, fails to fully support her, leaving Bailey feeling more alone than ever. 

But through it all, Chase never falters. He stands by her side, even as his own reputation and place on his team are put at risk.

In the climax, Bailey makes a stand—not just for her relationship, but for herself. She confronts Luke’s manipulations, calls out her brother’s silence, and finally prioritizes her own happiness over what others expect from her. Her relationship with Chase, tested by secrecy and scrutiny, emerges stronger.

The story closes with an epilogue that gives readers a glimpse into Bailey and Chase’s life after the drama. They’re no longer hiding. 

Their relationship is real, public, and thriving. Bailey has grown into someone stronger, more independent, and ready to live life on her own terms—with the guy who saw her worth when no one else did.

Characters

Bailey James

Bailey begins the story as a loving and loyal girlfriend, devastated by the sudden breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Luke. Her world is shaken when he ends their relationship on her 21st birthday, citing his future NHL career as the reason. This harsh and impersonal breakup forces Bailey to confront her worth, leaving her emotionally adrift.

As a journalism student, Bailey is intelligent, but her heart is tangled with her loyalty to Luke, her family, and the hockey team, which makes her initial struggle even harder. Over time, she finds herself drawn to Chase Carter, a player from a rival team, and as their bond deepens, Bailey starts to confront her own emotional needs.

She transitions from a girl who feels emotionally responsible for everyone else’s happiness, especially her brother Derek, to a woman who chooses herself and her own emotional well-being. By the end of the book, Bailey has found a sense of independence, strength, and love in her relationship with Chase, someone who appreciates her for who she truly is.

Chase Carter

Chase starts off as the quintessential bad boy—arrogant, cocky, and feared by those around him. He’s known for his volatile nature, often getting under people’s skin, especially Bailey’s. Despite his reputation, he proves to be more than the stereotypical “player” when he shows respect for Bailey’s boundaries and takes care of her when she’s vulnerable.

Chase’s emotional journey is more complex than it first appears. While he initially seems to be just another cocky hockey player, he has deep emotional baggage that he keeps hidden. His past has made him wary of trusting others, and his self-imposed isolation shields him from vulnerability.

As his connection with Bailey grows, however, Chase reveals a much more caring and loyal side. He finds himself caught between his team loyalty and his feelings for Bailey, but as their relationship deepens, he ultimately chooses love and honesty over maintaining his bad-boy image.

Chase’s character arc is one of emotional growth as he learns to open up, embrace real love, and prioritize his relationship with Bailey over his own fear of vulnerability and social reputation. By the end of the story, he has committed to Bailey, willing to face the consequences of their relationship, no matter the fallout.

Luke Morrison

Luke is Bailey’s ex-boyfriend and the captain of the Callingwood Bulldogs. He is introduced as confident and charismatic, a player with a promising future in the NHL. However, as the story progresses, Luke’s true character is revealed.

He is immature, emotionally manipulative, and unable to handle the complexities of his relationship with Bailey. His breakup with Bailey is a key turning point in the story, and it’s clear that his decision to end the relationship was not a result of a sudden realization but rather a calculated move to prioritize his career without considering Bailey’s emotions.

He claims that their breakup is for her benefit, but this assertion is shown to be a selfish way to justify his own desire to move on. As the story progresses, Luke attempts to maintain a hold on Bailey, using guilt to try to pull her back into his life.

His quick transition into a new relationship, possibly with Sophie, only underscores his insensitivity and lack of emotional depth. Luke’s character arc is one of hypocrisy and self-interest, acting as a catalyst for Bailey’s growth.

His actions, though hurtful, push Bailey to reclaim her independence and stop relying on him for validation. By the end, Luke is firmly cast as the antagonist, and his relationship with Bailey is irrevocably damaged.

Derek James

Derek, Bailey’s older brother and a player on the Bulldogs team, plays a more passive role throughout much of the story. His loyalty to the team often conflicts with his relationship with Bailey, as he is reluctant to take sides when the tension between her and Luke, and later her involvement with Chase, escalates.

Derek is protective of Bailey in his own way, but his focus on team unity and hockey politics often leaves Bailey feeling unsupported and isolated. Throughout the story, Derek’s inability to confront the issues within his family—particularly his failure to stand up for Bailey—adds to the emotional strain that Bailey experiences.

Although Derek’s intentions are not malicious, his lack of emotional support creates a significant rift between him and his sister. By the end of the book, Bailey realizes that her loyalty to her brother is one-sided, and she must prioritize her own happiness over seeking his approval.

Derek’s arc is one of passive conflict; he remains an obstacle to Bailey’s growth rather than an active supporter, and their relationship is strained as a result.

Themes

The Complexities of Love and Loyalty Amidst Rivalry and Betrayal

One of the central themes in Offside revolves around the complex interplay of love, loyalty, and betrayal, particularly in a setting where competition and rivalry dominate. Bailey’s initial heartbreak from her breakup with Luke, her ex-boyfriend and hockey team captain, sets the stage for a deeper exploration of loyalty—both personal and team-related.

The emotional toll of Luke’s cold breakup, particularly on her 21st birthday, acts as a betrayal not only of her love but of the trust they had built. This theme is amplified as Bailey’s emotional journey intersects with her growing attraction to Chase, the bad boy from a rival team.

Despite their burgeoning feelings for one another, their relationship is surrounded by the potential for betrayal, not only because of their rival schools but because of the conflicting loyalty to family and friends. Chase, despite his rough exterior, becomes a safe haven for Bailey, representing the kind of loyalty she no longer receives from her former boyfriend or even her brother.

The narrative explores how love can both heal and complicate feelings of loyalty, asking the question: how can one balance these often conflicting forces in an environment where one’s personal relationships are entangled with competitive and familial obligations?

The Struggle for Identity in the Shadow of Other People’s Expectations

Bailey’s character arc is deeply rooted in her journey of self-discovery, particularly her struggle to define her identity outside of the roles imposed on her by others. As a daughter, sister, girlfriend, and journalism student, Bailey is constantly placed under the pressure of living up to others’ expectations, especially her family and the hockey world her brother Derek and her ex Luke represent.

From the outset of the novel, Bailey is deeply tied to the idea of being “the perfect girlfriend” to Luke, especially as their relationship was built upon mutual support in his pursuit of an NHL career. After her breakup, Bailey is forced to confront not just the betrayal of Luke but also the dissolution of her own self-image.

She begins questioning her role in her family dynamic, particularly with her brother Derek, whose passive indifference to her emotional pain highlights the conflict between family loyalty and her personal needs. Over time, Bailey learns to separate her worth from her past relationships and instead builds a stronger sense of self by leaning into her own desires and ambitions.

Her eventual relationship with Chase symbolizes her reclaiming of agency over her identity, as she steps away from the expectations placed on her by others and chooses a partner who sees her for who she truly is, not who she is expected to be.

The Emotional and Psychological Toll of Public Scrutiny and Social Media

The theme of public scrutiny is pervasive throughout Offside, particularly as the relationship between Bailey and Chase becomes increasingly secretive and under threat of exposure. In a world driven by social media and gossip, their relationship becomes a spectacle for others to dissect and judge, which leads to intense emotional strain for Bailey.

Social media acts as a double-edged sword in the narrative, where moments of personal joy are juxtaposed with moments of intense vulnerability. As rumors about Luke’s new relationship circulate, Bailey is forced to confront not only the emotional fallout from her breakup but also the invasive nature of digital culture that magnifies personal pain.

This constant exposure of her private life, whether through direct comments, gossip among friends and teammates, or through the public rivalry between schools, amplifies her feelings of isolation and insecurity. The narrative critically examines how modern culture, driven by public opinion and social media, affects individual relationships and personal growth.

The toll it takes on Bailey—feeling judged by her peers, family, and even strangers—forces her to consider how much weight she should give to others’ opinions, ultimately leading her to a realization that personal happiness and self-empowerment are more important than public validation.

The Dangers and Rewards of Emotional Vulnerability in the Face of Fear and Trauma

Another powerful theme in Offside is the exploration of emotional vulnerability, particularly through the character of Chase. At first, Chase appears to be the quintessential “bad boy” whose aloof and cynical persona shields him from emotional pain. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that his emotional distance is a defense mechanism built from past trauma and trust issues.

As Bailey gets closer to him, she discovers the emotional complexity beneath his tough exterior. Chase’s hesitancy to fully commit to a relationship stems from a fear of being hurt, which mirrors Bailey’s own reluctance to move on from her past with Luke.

This fear of vulnerability is depicted as a source of conflict, as both characters struggle to open up to each other while also confronting their own internal struggles. The novel emphasizes the difficulty and risk of emotional vulnerability—whether it’s Bailey allowing herself to love again after the betrayal by Luke or Chase learning to trust and open up about his past.

Ultimately, their willingness to confront their fears and embrace vulnerability is what allows their relationship to grow and become genuine. This theme portrays emotional vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a necessary and courageous step toward true connection and healing.

The Impact of Betrayal and Forgiveness on Personal Growth and Relationship Dynamics

Finally, Offside delves into the themes of betrayal and forgiveness, examining their transformative impact on both individuals and relationships. Luke’s initial betrayal is the catalyst for much of Bailey’s emotional journey, pushing her to reconsider her self-worth and the nature of her relationships.

Luke’s actions are not just a personal betrayal to Bailey, but a public one, as the breakup occurs on a significant day in her life—her birthday. This public nature of betrayal is compounded by the sense of emotional manipulation, as Luke continues to pursue other romantic interests despite his claims of wanting a clean break.

Bailey’s subsequent growth involves learning to forgive—not necessarily Luke, but herself, for allowing herself to be treated in such a manner. The theme of forgiveness is explored further through Bailey’s relationship with Chase, who helps her navigate the complex layers of forgiveness, both of herself and of those who have wronged her.

Bailey’s ability to forgive others and herself becomes a crucial step in her journey toward emotional freedom, enabling her to embrace a future with Chase without being weighed down by past hurts. This theme of forgiveness not only facilitates personal healing but also helps to reshape the dynamic between Bailey and Chase, where mutual respect, understanding, and compassion replace bitterness and distrust.