Book Club Night Kit

The Goal

Elle Kennedy

Cozy night

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.

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.

Reading level: Easy

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

Discussion

Warm-up

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 & to sip

To eat

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