New Release: The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy
ON OUR BOOKSHELF
The Charlie Method
by Elle Kennedy
The third installation of the Campus Diaries series.
Elle Kennedy trapped me in her Briar University universe and made me wish I could time-travel back to my college days. She's also inspired my hockey romance addiction. Finally, Elle has granted my wish of a why-choose hockey romance in her universe! I’ve been dreaming of this moment since the first Briar U series, and I’m happy to report it was worth the wait!
What Victoria Loved
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
Transparently, The Charlie Method seems right up my alley. Data, pros/cons - what’s not to like? This is basically how I come to all my decisions, so it’s fully relatable. So I figured it would be fitting to write this review following this process.
Action: Rate The Charlie Method
Pros
The characters! We get a mix of jock and nerd, privileged and not. But each character has a full backstory that informs their beliefs, behaviors and preferences. They’re all wildly different, yet complement each other so well.
I know Charlotte doesn’t believe in fate, but I do! I love little “coincidences” and that their paths had all crossed before the official meet-cute, and they had pre-existing relationships with each other that served as a foundation for friendship and trust.
Each character had to find themselves, figure out how to be in this relationship and what it meant for them. It wasn’t wrapped in a neat little bow. Rather, each went through their individual exploration of self, dealing with their past, present and determining what the future could / should look like. They had to be honest with themselves and each other, sharing the most painful parts of their past and exposing their vulnerabilities. And they recognized that it was essential to their relationship’s success. Yay, healthy communication!
Yes to a woman in STEM! In all the ways that Charlotte had to present herself differently or hide who she was, I appreciated that she never shied away from her intelligence. Yes, she felt the pressure to succeed, but she also never doubted that she was smart enough to get it done. It’s great to see her supported and have her effort rewarded.
We’re a Greek organization household. Or at least we used to be. And as people who sat on the exec boards of those organizations, it’s nostalgic (or traumatizing) to read about Charlotte’s experience. That was a little too real…
The steam!! This MFM relationship is accessible for those who are venturing into a why-choose for the first time. It’s not overly graphic or adventurous, but we definitely get spicy MF and threesome scenes.
Cons
There were a LOT of plotlines: adoption, complex exes, difficult parents, school, Greek life, job search, hockey, car racing, fan fiction.
While It’s an accurate representation of the chaos of senior year, there was a LOT going on. It was helpful character development / context, but at times I wish the characters just had a conversation to streamline some plot lines, as some either became redundant and dragged along, or just seemingly disappeared towards the end of the book… Elle incorporated so many tropes that we love, but I would’ve been fine without the fanfic element.
It’s always fun to read about cameos from the other Briar U books, but I was having a hard time remembering who all these dads were! I need a family tree or to just reread all the books again….
Outcome: You should read this book and all the others in the Briar U universe.
Pick up a copy of The Charlie Method (Amazon) and read with me!
Favorite Scene
“You’re going to kill me. I’m dead, Charlotte.”
“Don’t die yet. Let me come on your face first.”
- THE CHARLIE METHOD by Elle Kennedy
Similar Reads & Recommendations
A SECOND-CHANCE HOCKEY THRUPLE: Rules of Our Own (Rule Breaker #3) by Jessa Wilder (Amazon)
MMF | A right-people, wrong-time romance centered on a failed college relationship. This triad is composed of two best-friend hockey players and the girl who got away are forced to share a villa at their friends’ wedding, and they’re reminded of their off-the-charts chemistry and given the chance to explore what could’ve been. But when it’s time to part ways, they start to question if that’s the right path forward, or is it finally time to give it another shot? TW: Domestic abuse (not MMCs)
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5
A PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY THRUPLE: Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath (Amazon)
MMF | Poppy is determined to make a name for herself separate from her family, and her new role as the Director of Public Relations with the Jacksonville Rays is the opportunity she’s been waiting for to make her dreams come true. While things don’t go according to plan for this Type-A personality, she definitely overachieves when she lands herself not one, but two hockey players.
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THEY READ FAN-FICTION: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (Amazon)
If you enjoyed the bits of The Virgin and the Blade, you’ll like this! The star of the biggest TV show is secretly a fanfic author (who writes the script he wishes existed IRL for Aeneas and Lavinia) and asks out a hardcore Lavinia fan who goes viral for her plus-size cosplay.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
BY THE AUTHOR:
The Dixon Rule (Campus Diaries #2) by Elle Kennedy (Amazon)
I was thrown for a loop and for a second, I wasn’t sure how I’d land. Don’t let the pretty cover fool you, this book tackles difficult topics from loss, grief and assault. But it’s also a beautiful story of resilience, trust and friendship between two enemy neighbors who enter into a fake relationship and end up falling in love. Diana Dixon and Shane Lindley can’t seem to live in peaceful harmony, especially when Shane can’t keep his hands off of Diana’s cheerleading squad, and their chemistry is fire. But when it matters most, these two show up big for each other. TW: Domestic abuse (not MMC), death, grief
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
The Deal (Off-Campus #1) by Elle Kennedy (Amazon)
This Tik-Tok recommendation lives up to the hype. Hot hockey player in need of some academic tutoring? Yes, please. Cute tutor in need of some love tutoring? Even better. Fair warning, you’ll be reeled into the Off-Campus series and probably end up becoming a hockey fan.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
Until the next chapter!
xo, Victoria
P.S. Craving more books featuring these sub-genres, tropes, and themes? Tap the links below.
