Cozy night
The ScoreBook club questions, food & host guide
Elle Kennedy
A cozy book club night for The Score by Elle Kennedy. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.
Romance-loving friends who want a laid-back, feel-good night of snacks, laughs, and heart-to-hearts
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A funny, warm-hearted college romance about a heartbroken senior and a charming hockey player who is not what he first seems. It is ideal for a blanket-and-cocoa night where everyone gets to talk about feelings, friendship, and falling for someone unexpected.
Why it works for clubs
- Heartbreak and starting over are experiences almost everyone can relate to
- The playful banter gives the group lots of easy, happy moments to share
- Senior-year worries about the future bring back readers' own turning points
- Warm friendships from earlier Off-Campus books make it feel like a reunion
Themes & mood
Comfort read
Heartbreak healing
Opposites attract
Found family
Swoony banter
Reading level
Easy
Warm-up questions
- 1 Where were you curled up while reading The Score, and did it turn into a comfort read you couldn't put down, or one you saved for bedtime?
- 2 When Dean first strolls in with all that hockey-star confidence, what was your honest gut reaction: a smile, an eye roll, or a bit of both?
Digging in
- 1 Allie starts the story with a bruised heart. What comforts you after a breakup or a big letdown, and did any of the ways she copes feel familiar to you?
- 2 Characters from earlier Off-Campus books show up here. Which friendship moment felt like a warm hug to you, and who in your life plays that role for you?
- 3 Allie and Dean both face big, scary questions about life after college. Did their uncertainty bring back memories of your own big transitions, and what would you tell your younger self in that season?
- 4 Underneath the teasing, both of them let their guard down in small, quiet ways. Which soft or vulnerable moment moved you most, and why do you think it stayed with you?
Going deep
- 1 Think about how you felt about Dean on the first page compared with how you felt by the last. Which moments earned your trust or softened your heart toward him? (Keep it vague for anyone still finishing.)
- 2 The book mixes lighthearted fun with some heavier personal moments. Without naming specifics, which part made you feel the most, and did the romance feel like a comfort or a complication when life got hard for these characters?
On the table
Baked Three-Cheese Mac and Cheese
Ultimate college comfort food, scaled up for a cozy night and baked until bubbly and golden on top
Rink-Side Soft Pretzel Bites with Warm Beer-Cheese Dip
A nod to hockey-arena snacks. Use store-bought pretzel dough for an easy, crowd-pleasing, shareable bowl
Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Honors the book's Massachusetts setting with a sweet, slightly indulgent treat that is simple to make with boxed cake mix and pudding
To sip
Hot Cocoa Bar
No alcohol
Mugs of rich cocoa with marshmallows, whipped cream, and peppermint sticks, perfect for warming up after a winter hockey game
Spiked Maple Apple Cider
Warm New England cider with a splash of bourbon and a cinnamon stick, cozy and a little celebratory
Baileys Coffee
A mellow, creamy after-dinner sip for lingering over the deeper questions
Soft acoustic love songs and mellow indie, like a snowy evening by the fire with someone who makes you laugh
Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.
Run of show
7:00
Cozy Arrivals
Welcome guests with blankets, fuzzy socks, and the hot cocoa bar. Turn the playlist on low.
7:15
Comfort Food Hour
Serve the mac and cheese and pretzel bites. Let people chat freely and hand out bookmarks at each seat.
7:45
Warm-Up Chat
Start with the two warm-up questions. Keep it light and let everyone share their reading setup.
8:05
Heart-to-Heart
Go through the theme questions. Pass the cider and let the conversation wander wherever it wants.
8:45
Dessert and Deep Talk
Bring out the Boston cream cupcakes and Baileys coffee, then open the deeper questions. Check that everyone has finished the book first.
9:15
Trivia and Scorecards
Play a relaxed round of trivia in teams, then fill in scorecards and share favorite answers before goodnights.
Host tips
- Set up a blanket basket and dim the lights with string lights or candles so the room feels like a living-room hangout, not a meeting
- Make every question optional and open with your own answer first so guests feel comfortable sharing personal stories
- Keep the mac and cheese warm in a slow cooker so you can enjoy the night instead of watching the oven
You're invited
Blankets, Cocoa, and The Score
Grab your comfiest sweater and join us for a cozy night of mac and cheese, warm drinks, and swoony hockey-romance chat. Come as you are, we will have the cocoa ready.
Trivia
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1
Which book in Elle Kennedy's Off-Campus series is The Score?Answer: The third book
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2
What is the name of the fictional university where the series takes place?Answer: Briar University
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3
In which U.S. state is the series set?Answer: Massachusetts
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4
What sport do the hockey heroes of the Off-Campus series play?Answer: Ice hockey
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5
What is the title of the first book in the Off-Campus series?Answer: The Deal
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6
What are the first names of the two main characters in The Score?Answer: Allie and Dean
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7
Allie is the best friend of which heroine from the first Off-Campus book?Answer: Hannah
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8
What is the name of Elle Kennedy's follow-up series set at the same school?Answer: Briar U
Bookmarks
Cozy night
Soft landing
Warm socks, a mended heart, and one persistent hockey player.
The Score
Cozy night
Gentle surprise
Some rebounds turn out softer than you planned.
The Score
Cozy night
Winter warmth
Cocoa in hand, guard down, heart slowly thawing.
The Score
Rate the book
Swoon Factor
Comfort-Read Coziness
Banter Warmth
Friendship Hugs
Heart-Thaw Level
The moment I'd reread under a blanket:
If this book were a snack, it would be:
One word for how it made me feel:
Print pack
- Question cards printed on kraft paper and tucked into mugs
- Place cards shaped like hockey jerseys with each guest's name
- Hot cocoa bar menu card with toppings listed
- Take-home bookmarks tied with a strip of plaid ribbon
- Cozy scorecards on clipboards with a pencil at every seat
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