Overview of The Risk

In "The Risk," Briar coach's daughter and Harvard's hockey captain ignite forbidden passion across rival teams. Kennedy's witty enemies-to-lovers tale has readers laughing out loud through 14,000 reviews. Can love survive when family loyalty and championship dreams collide?

Key Themes in The Risk

  • rivalry romance
  • sports journalism barriers
  • hockey culture
  • coach's daughter trope
  • gendered workplace discrimination

Quotes from The Risk

  • I don't take orders from Harvard dickheads.

  • Jake Connelly just declared war.

  • A change is coming.

  • The systemic nature of gender bias becomes starkly apparent.

Characters in The Risk

  • Brenna JensenAspiring sports journalist and coach's daughter
  • Jake ConnellyHarvard's star hockey forward and team captain
  • Ed MulderSexist interviewer at HockeyNet
  • McCarthyJake's teammate who briefly dates Brenna

About the Author

About the Author of The Risk

Elle Kennedy is the New York Times bestselling author of The Risk and a leading voice in contemporary hockey romance. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Kennedy discovered her passion for storytelling at a young age, writing her first novel at twelve and pursuing English literature and creative writing at the University of Toronto.

The Risk, part of her celebrated Briar U series, delivers the signature mix of witty banter, emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry that has made her a BookTok sensation.

Kennedy's literary universe began with her breakout Off-Campus series in 2015, followed by the Briar U spin-off, the next-generation Campus Diaries series, and the dramatic Prep series set at an elite boarding school. Her keen understanding of relationship dynamics and ability to craft swoon-worthy, alpha male love interests have earned her millions of devoted readers worldwide. Her Off-Campus series is currently being adapted into a television show by Amazon Prime and Temple Hill Entertainment, bringing her beloved hockey heroes to screens everywhere.

Download Summary of The Risk

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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