Reviewed by Lady Macbeth
TITLE: Off the Boards
SERIES: Camrose U #2
AUTHOR: Maia Kinley
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 307 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 30, 2025
BLURB:
I’m obsessed with the prettiest, smartest guy on campus—and he’s never even looked my way.
Killian
It’s my last season playing college hockey, and I’m determined to help get the team all the way to championships this year. Unfortunately, whether I actually get to be on the ice depends on how well I do in statistics. I need a tutor, and the one person my professor swears can help me refuses to even give me the time of day.
I’ve been into Maddox since the first time I saw him, but he’s not into jocks—and he doesn’t even acknowledge my existence. When I finally ask if he’ll tutor me, he shuts me down immediately.
But I’m not one to give up. This might be my last chance to get close to him, and I can’t let that slip away.
Maddox
I don’t do jocks. I don’t befriend them, date them, or tutor them. Not after… everything.
But when Killian, one of the Camrose Rams’ star players, barges into my life, avoiding him becomes impossible. He’s loud, charming, and way too persistent—and he looks at me as if I hung the moon. Somehow, I end up getting roped into tutoring him. And letting him into parts of my life I’ve kept off-limits.
As much as I try to keep my distance, it’s impossible. He’s everything I swore to stay away from, and exactly what I can’t seem to resist.
Off the Boards is an M/M nerd/jock romance, perfect for readers who like study sessions brimming with tension, flirty and overprotective hockey players, and a tutor who’s very close to breaking his no-jocks rule
REVIEW:
Finally Killian Schultz has the opportunity to get to know Maddox, the smart pretty guy he’s had a crush on for so long.
I adored the “triangle” Caleb-Maddox-Killian in the first book, Zone Entry, where Killian, completely smitten, tried very hard to convince a reluctant Caleb to introduce him to his best friend (their banter was awesome!). The first chapters of this book, in fact, overlay the line of the events of the first book, and I loved that we could see them under Killian and Maddox’s POV.
Killian is the sunshine jock, the life of the party, always having boys and girls fawning over him. Maddox is the classic nerd, a little grumpy, very reserved and entirely dedicated to his studies. He’s also a TA and Killian, with his charming ways and funny lines, is able to get him to agree to a tutor session.
But what was supposed to be a one time lesson, becomes a regular thing and they start spending quite some time together.
I adored Killian, he’s so open, trustworthy, honest, there’s no hint of malice in him. He’s also very respectful and despite being so very attracted to Maddox, he’s always tried to not push him too much.
Maddox is very much attracted to Killian too, but his past experiences with jocks in high school were miserable: he’s been heavily bullied and, in order to protect him, Caleb almost lost his scholarship because he punched Maddox’s bully.
Since then, Maddox dated sporadically, preferring his textbooks and focusing on accomplishing his plans about a teaching career.
Killian demolishes Maddox’s walls little by little until Maddox understands that Killian is the right partner for him: attentive, thoughtful, romantic.
They’re perfect for each other and I loved how Maddox helped Killian in gaining self confidence and especially in realising what he really wants for his future.
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
Maddox hasn’t learned his lesson from high school, when his tendency to hide things until they get bad got him hurt and his best friend in trouble. He repeats his past mistakes and despite having a strong support from his boyfriend and his best friend he’s still incapable of opening up and asking for help.
The relationship between Killian and his father with Maddox pushing a bit, it was still a little too similar to what happened in book one with Nick, his dad and Caleb (even with quite some differences).
The guys on Killian’s team are amazing, I can’t wait for Rhys’ story: it already seems a bit angstier, but I really want to see him happy too.
RATING: 
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