Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your overall impression of The Goal? How do you feel it compares to other popular books in the hockey romance subgenre, like Hannah Grace’s Icebreaker?

2. The story alternates between Sabrina’s and Tucker’s first-person perspectives. How did hearing both sides of the story shape your reading experience and your feelings about their relationship?

3. How effectively did you think the novel balanced its lighthearted romance and humor with heavier themes like economic hardship, family dysfunction, and the realities of an unplanned pregnancy?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Sabrina’s intense ambition is driven by her desire to achieve financial security. Have you ever set a major goal that was motivated by a need for change or stability in your own life?

2. Tucker is persistent in his pursuit of Sabrina, even when she repeatedly pushes him away and sets up emotional walls. Can you recall a time when patience made a significant difference in one of your own relationships, either with friends, family, or a partner?

3. An unplanned pregnancy completely upends Sabrina’s and Tucker’s life plans. Think about a time when an unexpected event caused a major shift in your own priorities or plans. How did you adapt, and how did that experience reshape your view of the future?

4. Hope and Carin act as Sabrina’s surrogate family, providing the unconditional support she doesn’t receive at home. What role have supportive friends played in helping you navigate challenges in your own life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. As a key example of the new adult genre, the novel focuses on characters navigating the turbulent transition from college to adult life. In what ways do Sabrina’s and Tucker’s stories reflect the specific financial, professional, and personal anxieties that young adults often face today?

2. The new adult genre is sometimes criticized for fetishizing various types of romantic and sexual relationships. How can romance authors navigate depicting a wide range of sexualities while being mindful of authentic representation?

3. What does the novel suggest about class and privilege in a college setting? Where do you see similar social hierarchies playing out in the world today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the symbol of Harvard Law School evolve across the novel? What does Sabrina’s growing relationship with Harvard reveal about her character?

2. For those who have read other books in the Off-Campus series, how do each of the romantic leads in Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series compare to each other? What techniques does Kennedy use to emphasize Garrett, Logan, Dean, and Tucker’s differences and similarities?

3. The novel explores the idea that vulnerability is necessary for a true emotional connection. What specific moments in Sabrina and Tucker relationship were most key in deepening their bond?

4. How does Tucker either embody or subvert the “jock with a heart of gold” archetype?

5. For those who have read other books in the Off-Campus series, how does Tucker and Sabrina’s journey compare to the other couples’ stories? What makes their dynamic and the challenges they face unique within the world Kennedy has built?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The Off-Campus series has been produced as a television series. How do you feel about the casting? Which actors in the show best embodied their characters from the books. What casting changes would you make?

2. Write an additional scene for the Epilogue set five years after the book ends. What would a typical day look like for Sabrina, Tucker, and Jamie? What new challenges might they be facing, and what would their family dynamic be like?