R E V I E W

The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy

Advanced reader copy graciously provided by Little Brown Books UK | Piatkus via Netgalley

☆☆☆☆☆

I practically inhaled this book. As mentioned in my review of Book 1 in the Campus Diaries series (The Graham Effect), I'm reading these books without having read the Off-Campus or Briar U books first. That being said, this story focused on two characters who, as far as I can tell, have no familial ties to the original Off-Campus pairings but were introduced to us in The Graham Effect and therefore my lack of prior character knowledge was irrelevant. What is relevant is that I am now two books into this amazing series and desperate for more.

The Dixon Rule focuses on Diana Dixon and Shane Lindley, the respective best friends of the main characters in The Graham Effect. Tropes abound in this book, with forced proximity, reverse grumpy-sunshine and some good old fashioned fake-dating, and as a result, The Dixon Rule focuses far less on the hockey aspect (especially since the majority of this book takes place in the summer off-season) with minimal on-page game play.

Despite knowing and loving Elle Kennedy's talent for penning steamy interactions, I found this story to be unexpectedly raunchier than book 1 as a result of Shane's 'being watched kink'. Unlike with Gigi and Ryder, the friends with benefits dynamic between Shane and Diana in this book seemed more realistic with feelings not coming into play until much later. We also learned more about Beckett and Will's sexual antics here, too, though I'm still not sure whether there is enough premise there for these characters to merit their own book in this series unless the author plans to go down the 'why choose?' route and perhaps involve one of the other legacy children in their escapades for good measure.

This book also explored a few darker themes in comparison to its predecessor, and I do think some trigger warnings up front might be necessary. Whilst I predicted what lay ahead for Shane and his family, the goodbye scene between him and his dad in the hospital left me raw, and my heart hurt for him. I was not, however, anticipating the devastating domestic abuse encounter for Diana towards the end of the book, naiively hoping that we'd seen the last of ex-boyfriend Percy earlier on in the story. It was these unexpected developments to the standard 'hockey romance' narrative that had me desperately reading on, well into the early hours, seeking that happily ever after for our main characters. I was not disappointed.

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Where to begin? Going by the synopsis this book promises a light hearted frenemies to lovers/fake dating romance with witty banter and steamy spice which it delivers on but it also has a huge amount of depth to the plot and unexpected emotion to the characters journeys. The last 20% of this book devastated me and what Shane finds himself going through is something I went through myself and knowing how all of that feels in real life... the way Elle wrote those scenes packed one hell of an emotional punch and resonated with me on a deep level. Up to that point the book was sitting at around a 3.5 star but that added depth to the story and to the characters so it just elevated the entire experience of the book for me.

I read this in less than a day as I struggled to put it down. Initially I found Diana's character a tad grating, her issues with and behaviour towards Shane because of them were judgemental and childish but thankfully her character soon turned around and I actually really grew to enjoy her. Shane I liked from the get-go as his way of dealing with Diana's initial attitude and snark amused me and when they realise they can help the other out with their respective ex's by pretending to date the story really gets going and it isn't too long before those "fake" feelings start to feel mighty real. The chemistry between these two and the spice was spot on for me, that scene in the kitchen... damn!

As briefly mentioned above this book does deal with some heavier topics in parts so check content and TWs if needed as both Diana & Shane deal with things that could be triggering to some but are topics that are unfortunately part of life so seeing them spoken about and represented in books is important in my opinion and I personally thought Elle handled them well and with care. I listened to book 1 of this series as an audiobook and I enjoyed this book so much that I will be purchasing the audio when it releases so I can have it for my collection. Thanks again for the opportunity to ARC read this. This review will eventually be posted on the links provided in my profile but not until after the publishing date.

The fact that I got to read this as an ARC!? AM | DREAMING?!
To say | loved this book is an understatement, the friendship that Diana and Shane created was so cute to see and how their relationship developed had me over here giggling, the banter and the fact she got him to enter a dance competition for her | absolutely loved. The crumbs we got from the off campus series made me realise how much I need to re read them again, I definitely want a book with Beckett and Will next i can't even begin to imagine how good that will be!

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

Elle's writing just gets better and better; which is quite a feat as it was 5 star from the beginning.

On the surface this promises quippy banter and steamy romance, which is delivers on but it's also got huge amounts of depth to the plot and character journies. I laughed, raged and balled my eyes out like a baby, often within mere chapters of each other.

For my fellow Off Campus, Briar U and Graham Effect enthusiasts, expect to see Easter eggs and cameos in abundance! 😉

Thank you NetGalley! This book was such an emotional roller coaster that had me sitting up and gasping a lot at what was happening. At the start I did find myself getting bored as I just wasn't feeling the bond between Shane and Diana, however as the book progressed the bond was evidently seen. There was a lot of huge plot twists which was not expected at all but I love how both of the characters were supportive of eachother and in the end this became a lovely romance book.

This book was so good! I could not put this book down and ended up reading it in less than 24 hours. Elle Kennedy knows exactly how to write an amazing romance book, All of her books, especially this one (Which is probably became my favourite one) Have such a nice cosy Vibe to it, which makes rereading it exciting and comforting. I cannot wait for this book to come out so I can have it sitting on my bookshelf ready to read! The characters -as always-Were all amazing, Very entertaining And the story itself was enjoyable to read certain topics that were Involved with this book were eye-opening and important to include in books nowadays.
Thank you so much for this arc!
I thoroughly enjoyed the book

Wow I couldn’t put this book down!!! I enjoyed the first book of this series but something about this one drew me in. A little too smutty for me but that’s what Elle Kennedy does best!

Title: The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy

Release Date: May, 14th, 2024

4.5 Stars

This is book 2 of the Campus Diaries Series but can be read as a standalone.

Diana Dixon's got a packed summer schedule, from dance rehearsals to double shifts and dealing with her pesky ex. When Shane Lindley moves into her building and starts flirting with her cheer squad, Diana lays down some strict rules to protect her turf.
But Shane's over casual flings and wants something real. So, when his ex resurfaces, he proposes a fake relationship with Diana to make her jealous. Despite her initial protests, Diana sees the perks of the arrangement for dealing with her own ex.
As they navigate their pretend romance, Diana and Shane start feeling a real spark. But as feelings deepen, they face the reality that their fake relationship might just be turning into the real deal.

Elle Kennedy knocks it out of the park! She delivered! The Spice was hot…so hot.

Talk about heat—this book sizzles from start to finish. With all the best tropes and tension that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, I couldn't tear myself away. Percy's bull had me itching to jump into the story myself.

Trust me, this one's a must-read!


Thank you to The Publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK | Piatkus , The Author Elle Kennedy & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

This was a solid, mid-range read for me. The first few chapters were kind of clunky and made me wonder if reading the book would be a chore, but then it seemed to settle in and find its groove (or maybe I did). Although I wasn’t particularly interested in Shane or Diana based on their appearance in the first book in this series, they turned out to be very likeable characters and I did enjoy reading about them. They were capable, well adjusted individuals and I appreciated how low-angst their story was, with no misunderstandings or unnecessary drama. There was lots of humour, too, and I especially liked the good natured bickering between the protagonists and the high-octane HOA meetings.

Amidst the positives, there were some negatives. There were a LOT of supporting characters in this book and while I appreciated seeing the protagonists inhabit a fully realised world (instead of being in a relationship bubble), sometimes it felt cluttered. The appearance of the four heroes of the original Off Campus series in particular felt shoehorned in and didn’t add anything to the story (much as I love Dean De Laurentis).

Also, the sudden uptick in action in the last few chapters felt kind of rushed, and some plot elements felt forced rather than organic (I’m thinking particularly of Shane’s otherwise very sensible mother’s decision making here). Diana’s mother was a complete caricature; I’ve never met a professor (and I am one) who would begrudge their primary school children a dance- or sports-related hobby, or complain that being in the presence of teenage athletes was depleting their brain cells. Also, if she was such an intellectual snob, how did she end up married to a policeman in the first place? None of this rang true to me.

Overall, this was a sweet and spicy book but there was no big emotional payoff and I wasn’t feeling the romantic relationship to the degree I did in some of the author’s other works (The Graham Effect, The Risk, The Score).

Loving Diana's attitude so much. Loved how she blossomed through this book. And that also includes Shane which I am so broken hearted for I was bawling my eyes out last quarter of the book. This book was funny and eyes opening. Altho I though this series meant to be second generation of Briar? Please tell me Gigi wasn't the only one.

Thank you Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group, and Elle Kennedy for the eARC of this book !!!

Following Diana and Shane, this romance certainly does not disappoint.

When Shane moves in across the hall, he receives nothing but hostility from Diana, and believe me does she have her reasons. But through each of their own problems they could both benefit from coming together to tell a little lie. Except that lie is that they are in fact in a relationship... even though they hate each other. But at what point does this facade begin to drop? Could something real and raw form in this haze of hostility?

From laughing out loud, to crying along with them, everything about their story was so tangible to the reader. Their hilarious and fiery dynamic led to a highly entertaining book, which I found impossible to put down !! The budding of their relationship was so raw and emotional. Everyone will be rooting for this relationship!

As I said, I laughed, I cried, I loved, what more do you want?

I personally absolutely loved this! I read it in one go, couldn't put it down and I don't regret a thing!
I could really feel the chemistry between Diana and Shane, and the banter and arguments between them sometimes was so funny!

It was like a roller coaster of emotion and I was laughing a lot at many points throughout this book.
I was crying towards the end of the book it was very emotional and it takes a lot for me to cry. But the emotions were written so well that I thought I was there watching and going through it myself.

I love enemies to lovers and I do like fake dating but only if it's written right and interest me. Elle wrote the trope very well which was one of the reason I loved it so much. This book had it all!!

5/5 ⭐️'s 100%

I was going to read this in May but I was so happy to be accepted for an arc. I also know some people may not read this because neither of the main characters's pov were second gen. But I wanted to add don't let that stop you, this was a very good book and you do see plenty of past characters. I can't wait to see what comes next.

There was some sensitive topics like domestic violence written so please check the trigger warnings.

Thank you for the arc Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and Elle Kennedy

Diana Dixon has a lot going on this summer. She's rehearsing for a ballroom dance competition, juggling two jobs, and dealing with an ex-boyfriend who can't take the hint that it's over. Yet despite all that, she still has plenty of time and energy to tell Shane Lindley to screw off.

Shane just moved into her apartment building and seems dedicated to sleeping his way through her entire cheerleading squad. Sure, he's a tall, gorgeous hockey player, but he's messing with her turf. This calls for some ground rules: no parties in her apartment, leave her teammates alone, and - most importantly - leave her alone.

What Diana doesn't realize is that Shane's sick of hook-ups and tired of being on the rebound after his long-term girlfriend called it quits. He wants a relationship. And when his ex comes back into the picture, he pretends he has one to make her jealous . . . and who better to play the girlfriend role than his sassy new neighbor?


This is the first book release from the Briar U universe since I've been reading Elle Kennedy and you wouldn't believe how excited I was when the email hit to say I got an ARC copy of this book!

I was so tempted to phone in sick to work just so I could finish this book, I did not want to put it down. These 2 are definitely in my top 5 book couples and I loved the references to older and potentially new main characters. The one thing I did miss in this book was due to Shane moving out of the house, you didn’t get to read about the other boys in team as much.

- Hockey Player x Cheerleader
- Summer Romance
- Fake Dating
- Sub/Dom
- Frenemies with benefits

The last 15-20% of the book was an emotional rollercoaster, I was reading through my tears. At one point I had to stop and compose myself to be able to see again. There are some parts of this book that could be hard hitting for some readers, If you have any triggers check TW.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't get enough of it. The chemistry between the characters was so natural as was their sexual chemistry and tension. This was one of the easiest 5 stars I’ve given! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

This will also be pubished on Goodreads, Amazon, My instagram page - The bookworm series and my blog page of the same name.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers Little Brown Book Group UK and Elle Kennedy for the eARC of this fantastic second instalment of The Campus Diaries series, provided in exchange for an honest review.

The Dixon Rule has quickly become one my new favourite Elle Kennedy reads and as always, Elle knocks it out of the park with her writing and immersion into the world of Briar University.

Watching Shane and Diana’s relationship develop from start to finish was a real blessing and this book contains one of the hottest spice scenes I’ve ever come across.

Diana was feisty, fun and absolutely badass and Shane was such a secret softie. Their journey kept me gripped and I couldn’t stop reading.

In typical Briar University fashion, I also couldn’t stop smiling and laughing, which is one my favourite thing about the Briar Universe. It’s rom-com vibes are next level!!

Tropes:
- Enemies-To-Lovers
- Neighbours / Forced Proximity
- Fake Dating
- College/ Sports Romance
- Friends with Benefits

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I feel as though this book went from 0-100 really quick. For the first half I was pretty bored and then EVERYTHING happened I couldn't put it down! It was spicy, funny and completely heart breaking. I'm quite a new Elle Kennedy reader but this book is confirmation that I NEED to read more of her stuff!

At first I did find Diana to be slightly insufferable but as I continued reading, I really did learn to love her.

This book does deal with sensitive topics so please check TWs.

Tropes:
Fake dating
Forced proximity
Hockey romance
Frenemies with benefits

Even though I was slightly disappointed that this book was not about a second gen Off-Campus character, i really wanted to give it a try. The Graham Effect was enjoyable but forgettable to me, so I was really happy that the this book sucked me in, in a way the previous one couldn’t. The romance plot started quite slow and it took about 80 for the mc’s to have a conversation, but it didn’t feel that long. I really liked their banter and that was the most fun part of the story to me. That was also because, for a lack of a better word, the book felt a bit uneventful. I didn’t notice really big plot points in the book or scenes to remember it by. There was a barbecue and the dance competition, but neither of those I found myself getting excited for and they felt rushed.
I definitely liked this one better than the last one and the vibe came a lot closer to the original Off-Campus series. I think if this series progresses Kennedy might be able to recapture the magic that was in the Off-Campus and Briar U books, so i’m excited to see where it takes us next.

I've read my bunch of campus romances lately, and I have to say : Elle Kennedy is the best ! This new series is clearly one of my favorites ! The Graham effet was great, and so it this one !
Diane is Gigi's best friend. She's the captain of the Cheerleaders team and is a firecracker. She recently inherited from her late aunt a condo, and she's thrilled to live there on her own. Only black spot, Shane, Ryder's best friend, has been offered an appartment by his parents on the same land. And so, they'll be neighbours. But Diane hates Shane : because of him and his one night stands, a lot of her teamates were upset last year. So, if they want to live peacefully, he will have to follow the Dixon rules...

This book was fun, and emotionnal, and tough. I love that this is not only a steamy love story, but that there are lots of layers to their stories. It's tolerant, and respectful, and I loved it !

The Dixon rule

Enemies to lovers
Fake relationship
Friends with benefits
Neighbours

This book is Elle Kennedy on steroids, it has the comedy aspect, the drama, the utter chaos and the romance is top tier but above all that it’s also absolutely heartbreaking.

I think this time round I actually prefer the MMC which is a first for me. Shane is actually incredible. He’s definitely hit my number 1 on Elles males which is madness because I didn’t expect ANYBODY to take Garrets place but yettttt here we are.

Diana is like marmite at times, you’re either going to love her or hate her. She’s childish in certain aspects but then really mature is other aspects. The way she treats Shane and turns the neighbours against him over a misunderstanding on HER part is so frustrating.

Lynsey can eat a bag of dicks.

“I don’t know why but I’m weirdly affronted by the word flaccid” probably my favourite line throughout the entire book.

Some of my favourite moments.
1. Shanes parents and sister just being.
2. The removals from the group chats.
3. Will, Shane and Diana. IYKYK

Overall I think this might be in my top 3, maybe even top 2 of Elles books and that’s saying something since I’ve read all of her books and they’re all good. I however don’t think one of Elles books has ever made me feel all the things that I did within one book. Kudos to you Elle, thank you for the tears and laughter. Bring on the next.

SPOILER AHEAD


P.S the “I’ll always be with you” hit me especially hard. A few weeks after my dad unexpectedly was found dead I had a dream and he said those exact words.

P.P.S coach is getting soft in his old age.

P.P.P.S WILL AND BECKETT NEED TO BECOME A THING PLEASE I WILL SELL MY SOUL TO WHOEVER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

I absolutely am loving this series so far and Elle Kennedy knocks it out if the park with this follow up. I love the hockey waiver of course and how Ellie and Shane’s fake date romance turns into something more over the course of the novel. It’s a troupe that never gets old and when it’s done to perfection with just the right amount of heat like Elle Kennedy does it makes for a fantastic read.

I’m always excited about a new Elle Kennedy book, probably irrationally so. But no one writes hockey romances like she does. As with all of her books, you can technically read this on its own but it takes some of the joy away. Similarly to the Graham Effect, we get lots of appearances of characters from the Off Campus series, and if you’ve read those these little scenes simply bring pure joy. I love both of our MCs, Diana is absolutely badass and Shane is such a softie it’s adorable. I had a great time reading about them becoming closer. The book does deal with a couple heavy themes, especially towards the end, and it’s worth checking the TWs. It really hit me personally and I cried a little bit (or a lot bit, who’s to say). The reason I can’t give this book a full 5 stars is because the Graham Effect was simply an entire mile before this one. I think it might be that there was less/no longing/yearning in this or I don’t know, but the Graham Effect blows this book out of the park. Don’t get me wrong, this is still an amazing book, but it’s not really comparable. Do read this if you’re looking for a hockey romance, Elle Kennedy fans should definitely read it (we get some more Hannah and Graham appearances). I had a great time and thank you to the Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book.