What are good book club discussion questions for The Goal?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: Settle in with your warm drink: what was the first moment in this book that made you smile or sigh happily?; If you could curl up on the couch with one character just to chat, who would you pick and what comfort snack would you share?; This story leans into the idea of showing up for someone even when life gets scary. When has someone showing up for you felt especially comforting, and did any scene here remind you of that?; So much of the warmth comes from big, loyal friendships and chosen family. Which relationship in the book made you feel the most at home, and why?; The hockey player wears his heart openly while she keeps hers guarded. Which approach feels more like you, and did the story make you feel gentler toward the other kind?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a The Goal book club?

Food: Loaded baked potato and cheddar soup, Warm chocolate chip skillet cookie, Buffalo-style baked wings with ranch, and . Drinks: Spiked hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps, Salted caramel Irish cream latte, and Vanilla-cinnamon steamer with whipped cream.

Cozy night

The GoalBook club questions, food & host guide

Elle Kennedy

A cozy book club night for The Goal by Elle Kennedy. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.

A relaxed club that loves heartfelt romance and reading purely for the warm fuzzies

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A warm, swoony college romance where a big-hearted hockey player and a guarded senior navigate an unexpected pregnancy, full of tenderness, humor, and found-family feels. It is the kind of comfort read that begs to be talked about over cocoa and blankets.

Why it works for clubs

The unplanned-pregnancy premise sparks gentle, heartfelt conversation about family and fear
Two very different personalities learning to trust each other invites personal reflection
Cozy campus-and-rink backdrop makes for easy, feel-good discussion
Themes of chosen family, vulnerability, and showing up for someone resonate widely

Themes & mood

swoony comfort read found family new adult romance tender

Reading level

Easy

Warm-up questions

1 Settle in with your warm drink: what was the first moment in this book that made you smile or sigh happily?
2 If you could curl up on the couch with one character just to chat, who would you pick and what comfort snack would you share?

Digging in

1 This story leans into the idea of showing up for someone even when life gets scary. When has someone showing up for you felt especially comforting, and did any scene here remind you of that?
2 So much of the warmth comes from big, loyal friendships and chosen family. Which relationship in the book made you feel the most at home, and why?
3 The hockey player wears his heart openly while she keeps hers guarded. Which approach feels more like you, and did the story make you feel gentler toward the other kind?
4 A surprise can turn a person's whole plan upside down. How did the book make you feel about fear and hope tangling together, and did any moment soothe you?

Going deep

1 Without giving anything away, was there a moment of honesty or tenderness between them that stayed with you after you closed the book, and what about it moved you?
2 By the end, how did you feel about the kind of family the characters build for themselves, and did it leave you feeling hopeful in a way you want to carry into your own life?

On the table

Loaded baked potato and cheddar soup

Cozy, hearty comfort food that suits chilly rink-side and campus nights and warms everyone up for talking

Warm chocolate chip skillet cookie

A gooey, share-from-the-center dessert that feels indulgent and nurturing, perfect for a sweet romance

Buffalo-style baked wings with ranch

An easy, homey game-day nod to the hockey-player hero, low effort and crowd-pleasing

To sip

Spiked hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps

A grown-up, cuddle-on-the-couch mug that leans into the cozy winter-sports mood

Salted caramel Irish cream latte

Warm, sweet, and a little indulgent for a swoony evening in

Vanilla-cinnamon steamer with whipped cream No alcohol

A soothing, non-alcoholic hug in a mug that anyone can enjoy

Soft, glowy, heart-on-sleeve love songs for a blanket-and-candles night in

Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.

You're invited

Cozy Night In with The Goal

Bring your comfiest socks and an open heart for a warm, low-key evening of soup, cocoa, and swoony conversation about Elle Kennedy's The Goal. No pressure, just good feelings.

Trivia

1

Who is the author of The Goal?

Answer: Elle Kennedy
2

The Goal is part of which of Elle Kennedy's popular series?

Answer: The Off-Campus series
3

What college sport does the male lead play?

Answer: Ice hockey
4

What broad genre does The Goal belong to?

Answer: New adult / contemporary romance
5

Roughly what stage of college is the female lead in?

Answer: She is a college senior
6

Elle Kennedy is best known for writing which type of novels?

Answer: Contemporary and new adult romance
7

The Off-Campus books are largely set in what kind of location?

Answer: A college campus
8

Is The Goal a standalone or part of a connected series of books?

Answer: Part of a connected series