Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. For readers familiar with Kennedy’s other Off-Campus books, how did The Score compare? What made Allie and Dean’s story feel unique or similar to the romances featured in previous books in the series?

2. What did you think of the book’s balance between steamy romance, heavy emotional drama, and lighthearted comedy? Did any one element feel more dominant than the others, and how did that affect your reading experience?

3. What scene stuck with you the most since you finished the book, and why do you think it made such a strong impression on you?

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

1. The Life of Dean philosophy is all about doing what you want without worrying what others think. Can you think of a time when you embraced a similar mindset, even if it felt like a risk? What was the outcome of that choice for you?

2. Allie feels pressure, both from Sean and from her agent, to take to a more traditional path. Think about a time you faced external expectations for your own life path. How did you navigate that push and pull between external pressure and your own inner compass?

3. Dean discovers an unexpected passion for coaching the Hurricanes, which ultimately changes his entire career path. Have you ever stumbled upon a hobby or activity that revealed a surprising new side of yourself?

4. After their breakup, Allie decides she needs time to learn how to be alone. Have you ever felt the need to shift an established pattern in your life to bring about change and growth? How did that shift affect you?

5. The end of college is a time of major transition. How did Allie and Dean’s anxieties and decisions about their post-graduation lives resonate with your own experiences of facing a new chapter?

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

1. Briar University’s social hierarchy places elite athletes at the top. How does this privileged environment influence the characters’ actions and expectations throughout the novel? Where do you see similar dynamics play out in real-world settings?

2. The story explores different reactions to casual sex, with Allie initially feeling shame and Dean viewing it as normal. What does this contrast suggest about the gendered double standards that exist around sexuality on a college campus?

3. Allie’s father, Joe, makes immediate assumptions about Dean based on his family’s wealth. How does the novel use their relationship to explore stereotypes about social class? In what ways was Joe’s initial judgment proven right or wrong as the story unfolded?

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

1. The narrative alternates between Allie’s and Dean’s perspectives. How did seeing the story from both sides shape your understanding of their relationship? Did you find yourself sympathizing more with one character over the other?

2. How does Kennedy use the physical setting of Dean’s bedroom to map the major shifts in his and Allie’s emotional intimacy?

3. Beau Maxwell’s death serves as the story’s main crisis. How does this tragic event function as a catalyst in the novel?

4. The Score incorporates lead characters from previous books in supporting roles. How do established couples like Garrett and Hannah or Logan and Grace provide a framework or a contrast for Allie and Dean’s developing relationship?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Design a public service announcement inspired by the Life of Dean philosophy. What would be your key message, and who would be your target audience?

2. Allie’s mother created a custom perfume for her with notes of strawberries and roses. If you were to create a companion scent for Dean that represents his journey, what ingredients would you choose to symbolize his transformation?

3. If you were to add one more scene to the book from the perspective of a secondary character like Beau, Tucker, or Sean, who would you choose? What would that scene be about, and what new insight would it offer into the main story?