Did not get to read - have way too many books on the shelf. Need to clear some out. Hope to get to this one in the future though.

End Game #1 in the Kings of Campus series by Monica Murphy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

What to expect

🏈College sports romance
🏈Good girl x Bad boy
🏈Reformed player
🏈Roommates
🏈Found family
🏈Mutual pining
🏈A little angst
🏈Slow burn

End Game is the first book in a new series which I enjoyed reading. Everleigh was a very likeable fmc and Nico is the typical hot, jock mmc. I enjoyed the push pull of their relationship and the slow build of their romance. Their chemistry is there from the first time they lock eyes even if they try to resist it.

I liked the other characters and am looking forward to reading their stories. I felt that there could have perhaps been a little more drama on Everleigh’s side (her ex turning up and seeing her living with football players for example).

I recommend reading this book as I really enjoy Monica’s writing style and find it engaging.

I love sport romances and this is the first book I read from this Author! Nico and Everleigh‘s story is fun cute read! Loved seeing how they were with each other. Definitely a slow burn with the best ending!

Monica Murphy definitely chose to perfect season to release this book! Reading a football romance, on the first Sunday of football season? The vibes were immaculate. I really liked the female main character in this book. I found Everleigh’s struggles and triumphs to be equally relatable, as I recently went through a very similar transition point in my life; moving to a new city where you know no one, and experiencing happiness within the new environment. I also enjoyed the found family, and the sports aspects of this book a lot! I feel like sometimes sports romances disconnect from the sport itself, but in this one, football was prominent all throughout. There really was no plot, which is fine because the pacing of the first half of the book was great. However, as it went on, i found myself enjoying it less and less. I hated the male main character… Nico was so whiney and he just gave me the ick constantly. It also just felt very wattpad-y, which is a positive quality for some, but not for me. Overall, I just don’t feel like this couple would last in real life, so it was hard for me to be super invested in their story. Full review posted on Amazon and Instagram :)

This is the fourth Monica Murphy book I have read and it definitely did not disappoint! This book was such an easy read. I was hooked from the very first page and didn’t want to put it down. I loved the friendships that formed between Everleigh, Sienna and the other roommates.
This was the first book in the Kings of Campus series and I really hope the next book is about Sienna and Gavin.

Everleigh and Nico had a great story.
I loved the way they met and first got to know each other. I would have loved to have been in her situation living with them all.
It was great how the guys were first hesitant about her and then realized how she actually made them better guys and players..
Also, kept the house clean and the boys eating healthier.
Even joining in her yoga routine, I could only imagine what site in their backyard.
Nico, Gav, Coop and Frank had such a great friendship and connection with each other. Not just being teammates they were more like brothers.
Sienna was such a great friend to Ever and just what she needed. She was a handful and I loved her character.
It was also funny how Nico was towards Ever. He never had to work to get a woman and not did she make him work.
Another great story by Monica Murphy.
Can't wait for the next book in this series.

I am a sucker for a book that is forced proximity and this book checked all the boxes. It was a quick read that kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

I loved Everleigh and Nico, the meet cute, the buildup, and everything in between was amazing. The secondary characters added another layer of perfection to this story, and I really hope they all get their own books in this series!

This book is definitely a slow burn, but once the fire is officially lit…WOW. That’s all I can say! This was an all-around great college romance, and I can’t wait for the next one!

4⭐️ // 🌶️

• close proximity
• sports romance
• friends to lovers
• college

This was the perfect light, sexy, fun, college romance to start the football season! 🏈

Everleigh moves to UC Santa Mira to finish college with roommates lined up. But when she arrives there was a mixup with her room rental leaving her “homeless”. She’s at the local cafe, when she overhears 3 guys saying they need to find a roommate ASAP. So she jumps at the opportunity and asks if they would take her in as a roommate. Little does she know she’s about to room with the 3 hottest and most popular football players on campus.

Honestly what can go wrong when rooming with 3 hot guys. Naturally they all want to have their shot with her. But Everleigh grows to have eyes for only one, Nico.

I loved all of the side characters too!! The other guys on the team and their banter with each other was hilarious. I realllllly hope Sienna & Gavin get a story because I am dying to see if/what happens with them.

This was a fast paced, light & fun, college football romance. I was hooked from the first page and it was hard to put down. The story was very relatable and I could def see it happening in real life. It was a refreshing pallet cleanser! I really enjoyed it. There was nothing heavy or crazy dramatic about it. Highly recommend if you’re looking for some fun to read!

This was a super cute story that was just so easy to read, I found myself flying through it!

I loved how the story started off with the whole roommates thing and how the attraction between Nico and Everleigh was there right from the start and just kept building up to something more!

I did however feel the ending was a little lacklustre for my tastes. I like a little more drama in the books I read and while there was potential for it in this one it just never amounted to anything. But hey, I’m sure lots of people will relish in reading a book like this that’s nice and light and has very little turbulence throughout! I still thought it was a good read and I’m hoping for more stories for some of the side characters we met in this one!

Another fantastic football romance! Enjoyed read about Nico the reformed playboy that becomes obsess with Everleigh the new roommate. A page turner and a must read!

I was generously gifted an e-arc for end game and I really enjoyed this! I don’t read sports romances too often but this was 👌🏼I loved how quickly I felt the story progressed! Nico & Everleigh had really good chemistry 🥹 If you love sports romances I definitely recommend you check this one out!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Monica Murphy has been hit or miss for me lately. This feels like just another college sports romance. It didn’t blow me away like I hoped it would.

I’ve never read a book by Murphy before but I see her stuff everywhere and End Game, first in a new series, seemed like the perfect place to start. I enjoyed the characters being flawed, making mistakes but also being willing to admit it and try to do better. I do wish they’d spent more time together on the page so we could see them develop a connection, to realize that maybe they were willing to chance getting involved with each other. It was a pretty big roadblock to their relationship so being there for that was pretty important, I think.

The friendship between the guys and with Everleigh was a definite highlight. Picturing their lives together, including yoga with a bunch of football players, was a hoot. I love that they become like a family unit, caring for each other. Giving each other support, but also a hard time when they need it. As well as a smack when they need that as well.

As the first book, in addition to the main romance there was a bit of time setting up characters for future books. And there is definitely A LOT there that I’m looking forward to. I really hope she gives Dollar a fair shake. He’s so earnest and … in need of someone to love him and let him love them back. And Sienna definitely needs someone who will be the guy she deserves. As a first read for this author, I’m intrigued and can see why she’s so popular.

*sigh* Waiting is hard, y’all! When’s the next book coming?

Everleigh is a transfer student to Santa Mira, home to the Dolphins football team. She is desperate for a place to stay when her plans fall through and manages to find a room living with three football players. Everleigh has no idea how big a deal these guys are on campus, her naivety and nonchalance was refreshing to read and it doesn’t take long for her roommates, Nico in particular to warm up to her.
Nico is a player, a guy who cannot commit to one woman. I loved seeing his real character hidden underneath the cocky football player who can charm any girl with just his smile. Everleigh bought out a softer, more caring side to his personality just by being her and I loved it! The friendship between Sienna and Everleigh is sweet and fun, and I’m hoping Sienna gets her HEA soon too …

If you enjoy:
🩷college romance
🩷football
🩷roommates to lovers
🩷slow burn
🩷some spice

then End Game is for you!
Out now through Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, thanks to @valentine_pr_ and the author for the early copy I received. I’ll definitely be reading this series as they release, I want to know the rest of the guys’ (and Sienna) stories!

End Game is the first book in the brand new college romance series Kings of Campus by Monica Murphy.

You might know I am a sucker for a good football college romance and of course I had to read this book and I loved it so much!

The slow burn between Everleigh & Nico was destroying me the whole time! Those two kept us on our toes for a long time but when those two „enemies“ finally turned into lovers … HOT! The air was sizzling whenever they were in the same room and I couldn’t wait until they finally got together!

How can you not fall in love with Nico?! Even though he looks like a player and a bad boy from the outside, he really isn’t. He is the whole package and he is totally swoony! Everleigh wasn’t so lucky in the beginning. She moved to another city, was homeless in the beginning and her car was broken into. But her three new roommates helped her a lot.

Monica just knows how to write an amazing football college romance and she didn’t disappoint! You need to pick up this book!

Can I also say how much I love Nicos &Everleigh roommates/friends?! Now I need their stories ASAP!!!

When Everleigh Olmstead moves to a new town for her fresh start in a new college, she doesn’t have the best start when the room she had arranged falls through and then her car is broken into and all her belongings stolen. In the local cafe, Ever overhears a group of boys, unaware at the time that they are the college football stars, complaining they need a new roommate so fast forward a few hours and Ever’s luck is turning around, at least on the room front.

Her new roommates Frank and Cooper make Ever feel right at home but it’s Nico Valente who makes her weak at the knees. The playboy is certain that letting Ever move in is a bad idea but still finds himself offering to share his bathroom and a few chance run-ins has the pair growing closer as friends but both certain nothing could ever happen romantically.

With Sienna, Coopers sister getting close to Ever and the whole group spending more and more time together, how long will Ever and Nico be able to ignore their attraction and when Nico’s ex starts causing problems, will their budding relationship be over before it even begins?

This book is full of angst and is a good slow burn. I did get frustrated with the amount of back and forth between Ever and Nico before they finally decide to give things a go. The constant one step forward and two steps back did get tiring and I found myself skim reading a little.

I really liked the dynamic of the group and think the series will be good as this book has set a number of potential plot lines in motion. This book focuses mainly on the relationship between Ever and Nico and even the side plot surrounds Nico’s ex Portia so if you are looking for a book with a lot going on, this isn’t going to be for you.

I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for low spice and an easy read with good side characters. I haven’t read any of this authors previous work but this book certainly wouldn’t put me off picking up another of their books.

Pretty run of the mill college sports romance. As it’s the first in the series there’s quite a bit of setting the stage a developing characters which I enjoy. You truly have to suspend disbelief in this one: the fmc moves in with the three football players after overhearing they need a roommate in a coffee shop. These same guys, including the star of the football team (an NFL recruit and national champion), eat takeout for most meals, drink alcohol with dinner, and host parties in season. Alas. It’s exactly what you expect going into it, and isn’t that what we all need sometimes?

End Game by Monica Murphy offers an engaging blend of romance and drama, but it doesn’t quite reach the depth it could have. The chemistry between the main characters is strong, and the pacing keeps you invested, though at times, the plot can feel predictable or cliché. The emotional stakes are high, but they don’t always land with the same impact as they should. Murphy’s writing is easy to read, and fans of contemporary romance will likely enjoy the book. Overall, it’s a solid read if you're in the mood for something light and entertaining.

As usual I really enjoyed a Monica Murphy book, i don't know how you make a good book everytime but your books are such a comfort reads for me✨️

When Everleigh gets a text saying her room was already rented out. When she over hears a couple guys talking, at a local coffee shop, stating they need a new roomie, she jumps for the chance. She corners them and states she will cook for them 3 times a week as well as rent. These 3 guys end up being part do the college football team and all they really think about other than the game is eating, so they agree.

Everleigh is trying to find herself and be successful. Nico is one of her roommates and he’s a total player but that changes once he gets to know Everleigh. She really brings the best out of the guys.

I loved the central coast details in this story. Felt like I could really imagine this storyline due to it. I also love the yoga sessions.

Tropes:
Roommates
Reformed Playboy
College Romance
Forced Proximity
College Football
Slow burn
Close Friends Group