The Deal by Elle Kennedy Summary, Characters and Themes
The Deal by Elle Kennedy is a contemporary new adult romance that blends emotional growth with the excitement of college life. It takes place at Briar University and follows two very different students—Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham.
Hannah is a focused music major dealing with trauma from her past. Garrett is the confident captain of the hockey team trying to keep his grades up to stay eligible.
Their lives collide when Garrett needs tutoring and Hannah needs help getting noticed by her crush. A fake dating arrangement sets the stage for something much deeper.
With themes of healing, love, trust, and personal empowerment, The Deal delivers a balance of humor, heart, and vulnerability.
Summary
At Briar University, Hannah Wells is a talented and intelligent music major. She carries emotional scars from a past sexual assault, which makes forming romantic relationships difficult.
Though she has a crush on football player Justin Kohl, she’s hesitant to act on it. Meanwhile, Garrett Graham, the popular and cocky hockey captain, is struggling in his Ethics class.
If Garrett fails, he risks being benched from the team. Desperate, he seeks out Hannah, who scored well on the midterm, and asks her to tutor him.
Hannah refuses at first, wary of his persistence. Eventually, Garrett offers her a deal—she tutors him, and he helps her get Justin’s attention by pretending to date her.
She reluctantly agrees. Their tutoring sessions begin, and the dynamic between them quickly shifts.
They joke, tease, and challenge each other. Garrett proves he’s more intelligent and dedicated than Hannah expected.
Garrett introduces Hannah to his housemates—Dean, Logan, and Tucker—who provide comic relief and camaraderie. Despite the act, the fake relationship begins to feel genuine.
Their closeness intensifies. At a party, Garrett gets jealous, revealing feelings he hasn’t yet admitted.
The two share a kiss—gentle and emotionally charged. It’s Hannah’s first safe physical experience since her trauma, marking a turning point in her healing.
She opens up to Garrett, explaining her past in more detail. He listens without judgment, offering support rather than solutions.
Their physical relationship grows, but always at Hannah’s pace. Garrett is patient, respectful, and makes her feel valued.
Their “deal” is no longer just a tactic. It becomes clear that they care deeply for one another, even if neither says it out loud.
Garrett’s issues with his emotionally abusive father begin to surface. His father uses legal threats and public pressure to manipulate Garrett’s life.
Hannah learns more about Garrett’s past and begins to trust him fully. Her best friend Allie discovers their relationship and is supportive after seeing Hannah’s happiness.
Soon, their secret relationship goes public. While it’s generally accepted by others, Garrett still struggles with commitment, influenced by his toxic family history.
Small misunderstandings start to build. Garrett distances himself, fearing he’ll hurt Hannah like his father hurt his mother.
He pushes her away under the guise of protection. Hurt and confused, Hannah ends the relationship.
Both are miserable without each other. Garrett focuses on hockey, and Hannah immerses herself in music.
Eventually, Garrett confronts his father, threatening to expose the truth unless he backs off. He realizes he can’t lose Hannah.
He attends her musical showcase and apologizes in front of everyone. He confesses his love, and Hannah forgives him.
They restart their relationship, now openly and confidently. They begin integrating into each other’s lives in meaningful ways.
Garrett visits Hannah’s family during winter break. Their bond deepens as they share childhood stories and find strength in each other.
When Garrett’s father tries again to manipulate him, Garrett chooses to be honest—with Hannah and his friends—about the threats.
Back on campus, they thrive both individually and together. Garrett excels in hockey and school, and Hannah shines in her music.
Their physical intimacy becomes a source of strength and comfort for Hannah. She no longer panics and begins to reclaim control over her body.
News of Garrett’s conflict with his father reaches the media. With Hannah and his teammates by his side, Garrett faces the attention with maturity.
His teammates support him wholeheartedly, showing the family he’s found outside his biological one. The bond among the hockey guys grows stronger.
Garrett ultimately severs ties with his father for good. It’s a painful but necessary decision that frees him from years of emotional burden.
Hannah’s confidence blossoms. She performs a solo that connects deeply with the audience—and Garrett.
They begin talking about their future—careers, graduation, and staying together no matter where life takes them.
They attend a university fundraiser together, showing they’re proud of their relationship despite the attention it draws.
Garrett passes his final Ethics exam. He secures his GPA and earns his place on the team through his own hard work.
At a quiet gathering, Garrett gifts Hannah a guitar pick engraved with “Always.” It’s a symbol of love and loyalty—simple, powerful, and deeply personal.
Months later, Garrett is on the path to becoming a professional hockey player. Hannah is working toward her music goals.
Their relationship is strong, built on trust, healing, and genuine connection. They are happy, committed, and ready to face the future—together.
Their love story is not perfect, but it’s real. Through trauma, misunderstanding, and emotional growth, they’ve built something lasting.
Characters
Hannah Wells
Hannah is the intellectual and emotionally layered protagonist whose life is shaped by resilience and trauma. A music major at Briar University, she is determined, smart, and ambitious, yet emotionally guarded due to a sexual assault she experienced at the age of fifteen.
This trauma has left her with a complex relationship to physical intimacy and romantic trust. Over the course of the novel, Hannah undergoes significant growth—not just in learning to love again, but in reclaiming her sense of agency.
She begins the story infatuated with Justin, seeing him as a safe and traditional ideal. But this crush soon dissolves as she grows closer to Garrett Graham.
Through her evolving bond with Garrett, she begins to redefine what emotional safety means and experiences a slow, deeply meaningful sexual awakening that is portrayed with remarkable empathy. Hannah’s arc is ultimately one of self-restoration.
She learns to trust again, reclaims her physical and emotional boundaries, and achieves a newfound confidence both in her music and in her sense of self.
Garrett Graham
Garrett is the charismatic and seemingly stereotypical captain of the Briar hockey team, but the novel skillfully peels back layers to reveal a sensitive, principled, and wounded young man. On the surface, Garrett is cocky, popular, and driven, especially when it comes to hockey.
Yet this bravado masks a painful personal history involving an emotionally and physically abusive father who is also a celebrated NHL star. Garrett’s fear of becoming like his father fuels his academic rigor, emotional hesitance, and reluctance to name or define his relationship with Hannah, even as it deepens.
He begins the novel desperate to maintain his grades to keep playing hockey. But what starts as a transactional tutoring deal turns into a life-altering emotional journey.
Garrett grows by confronting his past, learning to communicate vulnerably, and ultimately recognizing that true strength comes not from control or performance, but from authenticity, respect, and emotional honesty. His love for Hannah is never performative.
It’s rooted in compassion and fierce protectiveness, making him one of the most compelling romantic leads in the genre.
Justin Kohl
Justin serves more as a symbolic figure in Hannah’s journey than as a fully fleshed-out character. He represents the kind of affection and attention Hannah initially thinks she wants—safe, handsome, traditional—but lacks the emotional and intellectual depth she ultimately finds with Garrett.
While he is not portrayed negatively, his primary function in the narrative is to contrast with Garrett and to underscore Hannah’s shifting desires. As she gets to know Garrett and experiences genuine emotional connection, her infatuation with Justin fades.
This highlights her internal transformation. Justin’s presence early in the novel prompts Hannah to enter the social situations she would otherwise avoid.
He indirectly catalyzes her emotional growth and her eventual bond with Garrett.
Allie Hayes
Allie is Hannah’s vivacious and fiercely loyal best friend, providing emotional support, comic relief, and a reality check when needed. She plays a pivotal role in grounding Hannah, especially during emotionally turbulent moments.
Allie’s support is not just superficial—she observes the changes in Hannah and is quick to notice the seriousness of her relationship with Garrett. Her initial shock when she discovers their involvement gives way to enthusiastic support.
This signals her emotional maturity and intuitive understanding of her friend’s needs. Though a secondary character in The Deal, Allie adds warmth, humor, and depth to Hannah’s world.
Her presence enhances the realism and richness of the campus community.
Dean Di Laurentis, Logan, and Tucker
These three housemates of Garrett offer a balanced mix of levity and emotional grounding. They form the core of the hockey house that Garrett and eventually Hannah become deeply enmeshed in.
Dean is charming and slightly reckless. Logan is brooding yet loyal.
Tucker is the steady, good-natured presence in the group. While they are not deeply explored in this novel, each contributes to a sense of camaraderie and masculine intimacy.
They counterbalance Garrett’s troubled family dynamic. Their playful banter and group loyalty help humanize the hockey team beyond athletic clichés.
They show that male friendships can be both humorous and emotionally supportive. They function as a chorus to Garrett’s emotional development.
They reinforce the themes of found family and mutual support that run through the novel.
Themes
Healing from Trauma and Reclaiming Agency
The Deal talks about the journey of healing after sexual assault, embodied in Hannah Wells’ character. Her trauma is not sensationalized but presented as a complex, enduring struggle that affects her romantic relationships, physical intimacy, and self-worth.
What distinguishes this portrayal is the sensitivity with which the narrative allows her recovery to unfold—not in sudden breakthroughs, but through small, cumulative moments of trust and safety. Garrett doesn’t fix her; instead, his presence, patience, and respect for her boundaries help create the conditions where she feels safe enough to heal on her own terms.
Her decision to initiate physical intimacy, her confiding in Garrett, and eventually her ability to perform confidently at her showcase are all milestones in her journey back to emotional ownership and self-agency. These steps mark a reclaiming of control over her own life and body.
This theme powerfully underlines that recovery is not about forgetting trauma, but about learning to live and love fully in its aftermath. It reinforces that healing is not linear but can be deeply empowering when supported by trust and choice.
Emotional Vulnerability and Mutual Growth
At the heart of The Deal is a slow-burning evolution from transactional arrangement to deep emotional connection. This relationship challenges the characters to confront their vulnerabilities.
Garrett, often perceived as a cocky, invulnerable hockey star, is revealed to be deeply scarred by his abusive father and the pressure to live up to a toxic legacy. His relationship with Hannah compels him to question the emotional armor he’s built.
Similarly, Hannah begins the story carefully guarded, her intellect and independence used as shields against emotional intimacy. Through shared experiences—academic collaboration, playful banter, mutual respect, and physical closeness—both characters learn to trust and be trusted.
What makes their dynamic compelling is how they hold up a mirror to each other’s fears and insecurities without judgment. Their growth is not one-sided but mutual, and it is only when they accept their imperfections and open themselves up to being hurt that they are able to experience the fullness of love and connection.
The Complexity of Consent and Respect in Romantic Relationships
The Deal treats consent not as a checklist but as a foundational, ongoing process within romantic intimacy. The novel explores how consent, trust, and mutual respect are not just prerequisites for healthy sexual relationships, but also central to emotional bonding.
Hannah’s past trauma brings this theme into sharp focus, but the book never exploits it. Instead, it underscores that emotional safety is just as essential as physical safety.
Garrett’s restraint, his attentiveness to non-verbal cues, and his consistent affirmation that Hannah controls the pace of their relationship reflect a nuanced understanding of what it means to respect a partner’s autonomy. Even during emotionally charged moments, Garrett avoids making decisions for her.
This allows Hannah the space to regain confidence in her body and desires. The book elevates the conversation around consent by showing that respect and patience are not merely romantic ideals but necessary acts of love.
The Role of Friendship and Found Family
The camaraderie between Garrett and his teammates—Logan, Dean, and Tucker—as well as Hannah’s bond with her best friend Allie, presents another central theme. The idea that chosen families can offer healing, belonging, and support when biological families fall short is deeply felt.
Garrett’s biological father is emotionally abusive, but his fraternity brothers provide the kind of loyalty, humor, and protective love that his home life never did. They are not just comic relief but a vital support network that reinforces his emotional growth.
Hannah, too, is buoyed by the strength of her friendship with Allie, who listens without judgment and always champions Hannah’s agency. These secondary relationships are not sidelined—they are integrated into the emotional arc of the main story.
The story illustrates how friends play an essential role in both coping with hardship and celebrating progress. They help foster an environment where both Garrett and Hannah can explore love, identity, and vulnerability without fear.
Identity Beyond Stereotypes
Another significant theme in The Deal is the breaking down of stereotypes—particularly around gender roles and identity. Garrett initially appears to be the archetypal alpha male athlete: confident, sexually experienced, and emotionally detached.
Hannah is painted as the nerdy music major with emotional baggage. But as the narrative progresses, both characters systematically dismantle these labels.
Garrett proves to be intellectually capable, emotionally intuitive, and surprisingly romantic. His love for hockey doesn’t preclude his desire for emotional connection.
Hannah balances strength with sensitivity, and her trauma does not define her entire identity. She is witty, assertive, ambitious, and passionate about her music.
The book makes a broader commentary on how societal expectations—around masculinity, femininity, and sexual behavior—often fail to reflect individual realities. In presenting characters who actively push against these reductive molds, The Deal encourages readers to see identity as multi-dimensional and shaped as much by inner truth as by outer perception.