Amazon MGM Studios has made an incredibly smart move. They’ve successfully cornered and conquered the book-to-screen adaptation market. With the culmination of The Summer I Turned Pretty, many couldn’t help but wonder, what’s next? Luckily, there’s plenty more to come that will appease #BookTok fans. From The Love Hypothesis to Every Year After, the platform has slowly become one for yearners, craving steamy romances with an added layer of substance. If Off Campus is any indication of what’s to come, audiences are in for a legendary summer.
The series debuted on the streamer on May 13, 2026, and quickly rose to the top spot on Prime Video’s trending series. Based on the New Adult book series, Off-Campus, by Elle Kennedy, Louisa Levy leads the charge. With various writing credits under her belt, including HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant, Off Campus has become her first project as a co-showrunner alongside Gina Fattore. She’s previously worked as an assistant on Grey’s Anatomy. Levy credits Shonda Rhimes for exemplifying how to craft entertaining television while equally and effectively giving the audience what they want. This explains why the new Prime Video trending series feels as refreshing as Netflix’s Bridgerton.
Already renewed for a second season, Off Campus promises to follow the books by centering a new couple’s romantic journey each season. For this one, audiences keep up with the rollercoaster love story of Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli). Garrett is the star captain of the Briar U hockey team, #GoHawks. He’s also recovering from the emotional and physical abuse of his father that traumatized him throughout his childhood. On top of that, living in the shadow of his dad’s hockey legend status can be a lot. Luckily for him, he finds Hannah. She can ground him through it all. Hannah herself, on the other hand, is not defined by her past. She had a good childhood. She has supportive and loving parents. But when she was in high school, a classmate roofied her drink and sexually assaulted her at a party.
Now they both count on each other to hold up their end of the bargain. The deal in question? Hannah will help Garrett get a good grade on their next assignment for their philosophy class. Garrett will, in turn, help Hannah capture the attention of her crush, alluring musician Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston). While she’s hoping for sparks to fly with Justin, inevitably, however, she ends up falling for Garrett. This, in turn, leads Hannah to come to terms with her trauma and grow to trust another man. She goes as far as to admit to Garrett, after she shares a few details about the incident, that she’s aware the assault does not define her. However, she can’t seem to climax with a man during sex. Garrett, in true rom-com fashion, takes on the challenge.
The most kicking-your-feet-giggling-uncontrollably part of the show is the fact that Garrett seemingly falls first—and hard. Men who yearn are, in fact, very much in fashion. Additionally, one of the most charming and appealing aspects of the show is the full team of women behind the scenes. Beyond Louisa Levy, the show’s eight episodes count on four female filmmakers behind the camera—Samantha Bailey, Erica Dunton, Silver Tree, and Dawn Wilkinson. They understood the assignment thoroughly.
From the first episode, the feminine touch on the development of the show is evident. While it is a series surrounding sex and intimacy, the nudity is never gratuitous. It was quite surprising to view female nudity and not have it be treated as a spectacle. When two characters bared their chests for the screen, it felt as common as witnessing someone doing their laundry.
The true sweet spot lies there. It goes beyond the physical act of sex for the sake of views in search of steamy content. The show blends emotional intimacy amongst its characters. Everyone is struggling with a specific relationship problem or simply a familial situation that conflicts with their growth as a person. They’re all handled with emotional maturity that may seem unrealistic for college students, yet it’s earned. Additionally, while the main couple is the draw for season one, the creative team doesn’t forget about the supporting cast. Many times, when crafting a rom-com, people isolate or underdeveloped the friends. They are and should be just as important. They should feel like real people to enhance the setting; make it feel lived in. Luckily, that is the case with Off Campus.
And an added layer is how the soundtrack blends into the episodes effectively. It never serves as a distraction to the plot. Instead, it decorates every scenario into something worthy of a rom-com classic. This is a logical interpretation considering the creative team references various rom-com staples throughout the episodes, either through visual language or direct quotes. There are 10 Things I Hate About You, Sixteen Candles, and Dirty Dancing, among others.
This is a show that understands what its audience wants and serves it on a silver platter. The chemistry is off the charts. You believe the love story as it unfolds, marking a refreshing and addictive new addition to television. While it may benefit from more diversity on screen, Off Campus exemplifies how to treat characters with a respect and nuance that feels ultimately revitalizing.
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