A fun read for this book, where Sienna has had a crush on Gavin, the QB of the football team where her brother plays, for more than two years.

Since their intricate relationship, the keep going on and of with it, because Gavin is mainly cared of commitment and Sienna, though her crush on him, is scared of being rejected, to be put on the backburner like she has experienced all her life.

More or less is a fun and fast read, though there were some things I would have liked the author spent more time. Like in book 1 when Nico organised the dinner to apologise after the yoga practice and Sienna stormed out of the dinner because of Gaving, it was not addressed in book 2 at all.

Still, thanks to the author and @netgalley and @valentine_pr_ 's PR for the arc. All opinions are my own.

#arc #arcreader #arcreview #arcreviewer #playitoff #monicamurphy #kingsofcampusnovel #bestfriendssister #football #sportsromance #romance #romcom #onandoffagainrelationship #closeproximity #forcedproximity #collegeromance #newadult #spicy #secretlove

Sienna has had a thing for Gavin since before she started college. As her brother's teammate and best friend, though, he should be off limits. I liked that the book started off with a glimpse of her freshman year so you get a sense of their mutual attraction and why things are awkward now two years later.

Monica Murphy writes great series in which she builds up the cast of characters with each book, so you can't wait to get their story. Gavin was an interesting character and he had a connection with Sienna that was undeniable. Monica did a nice job with the relationship development as there was some push and pull as they definitely had some obstacles to get through before their HEA.

Play It Off is a great addition to the series and I am already looking forward to more from this series!

Since the last book I couldn’t wait to get Gavin and Sienna’s story. Sienna is the younger sister of Gavin’s best friend and teammate. Her freshman year her and Gavin kissed. But it ended there. And the last two years they have done their best to avoid each other. Which isn’t easy when Sienna is good friends with her brother and his other teammates. So they are around each other often. Despite that Sienna still has a crush on Gavin. And now they’ve called a truce. But staying friends isn’t easy with the attraction they have to each other. There is good banter and plenty of chemistry. I look for to the next book in the series.

A mutual crush that turns into secret and forbidden romance. Sienna has had a crush on Gavin, the star quarterback at college and her brother’s teammate, for a couple of years. He secretly harbored a crush on her too. The spice was steamy once they finally expressed their feelings for each other. I had to remind myself a couple of times that the characters were still in college and therefore young, as some of their actions did seem immature, unrealistic and exaggerated. Overall, a lighthearted, quick college romance read.

Sienna and Gavin have been skirting their attraction for years. He's decided she's off limits as his brother is his teammate and close friend and his toxic father has drilled into his head that women at this time in his collegiate football career are nothing but a distraction. She's still holding out hope that things will change but her hope is fading and as other options present themselves, maybe it's time for her to let go of her seemingly unrequited crush once and for all.

But despite what Gavin has told himself, he's not ready to let her go and now he's got a choice to make. His team or the girl of his dreams.

I knew this one was going to tug at my heart. There's nothing like the tension of the forbidden love. I am definitely a fan of the jealousy trope so I loved seeing Gavin FINALLY get it together and realize what was important to him. Thankfully this one wasn't too angsty and she definitely dialed up the steam compared to book 1, which I am ALWAYS here for.

I'm still holding out hope for my guy Dollar to get his HEA (and coop too of course)!

Make this your next read if you're looking for a brother's teammate forbidden romance with all the sneaking around, tension and spice that your heart can desire.

ARC REVIEW

Tropes
🏈 Brothers Best Friend
🏈 College Sports
🏈 Found Family
🏈 Forbidden Love
🏈 Dual POV

I read this book within a day! It was such a fantastic read! I loved Gavin and Sienna so much! I loved their dynamic in the first book and couldn’t wait to read about them and find out what was going to happen!

I loved how this book overlapped the first book, while you knew what events happened in the first book it was awesome to read what Gavin and Sierra were doing in the same timeline and their POV!

Sienna has had a crush on Gavin for years and it isn’t a secret, they had one night where things got heated but then pretty much avoided each other for 2 years!
Gavin being the QB of her brothers football team has a lot of pressure and isn’t sure if he can handle an actual relationship. I love how sienna defends herself and holds her own while she cares for Gavin but needing him to realize on his own what he wants. When he comes to his senses I love what a mature relationship they have! I definitely enjoy when there isn’t a 3rd act breakup!! It’s a nice breather to see healthy communication and support within the couples!

I can’t end this review without mentioning the SPICE
The spice was definitely there and I’m here for it!!
🥵 🔥 🌶️

4 star read for me!! Any book I can devour in a day is worth recommending to others!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sports romances are some of my favorite reads, and I absolutely loved End Game, the first book in this series. It was a five-star read for me so of course I was excited to read this book.

Play It Off is a fun, flirty story between the quarterback of the university football team, and his best friend’s little sister. The forbidden element to their relationship played a huge role in the storyline, as did the spice. I prefer open-door romances, but in the case of this couple in particular, if you removed the spice, there was little connection remaining. I had a hard time connecting with the characters in general. It is a new adult book and for much of it, the characters are in the end of their college journeys (juniors & seniors), but it didn’t feel that way. The personalities and maturity levels of our MC’s felt more like 18-year-olds.

I don’t think I’ll continue with this series after this book, but that’s ok. It doesn’t take away from the fact that I really loved End Game. If you enjoy new adult, sports romances with heavy spice and the below tropes, this could be the book for you.

- Second chance romance
- Brother’s best friend
- Forbidden / secret relationship
- Football romance
- Will they / won’t they

Thank you to Monica Murphy, Valentine PR, and Montlake for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions expressed are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was so excited for the second book in the Kings of Campus series, Play It Off, and Sienna and Gavin’s book did not disappoint! This is the perfect book if you’re a lover of college sports romance and best friend’s sibling trope 🤭

Sienna is a sweetheart FMC. She has been crushing on Gavin for years, but knows it’s out of reach because he’s the star QB of the school and even worse … her brother’s best friend. She’s funny and confident, and doesn’t let anyone stop her from going after what she wants! Gavin on the other hand is struggling with his feelings, and even if he is popular and loved by everyone, he can be insecure at times.

Together, these two creates some serious tension and chemistry and I simply loved following these two as they navigated college and their feelings for each other. As always, Monica knows how to write a MMC that makes you swoon and Gavin for sure made it happen several times 😮‍💨

Thank you so much Monica Murphy, Montlake and Valentine PR for the arc of this book! 🩵

This book is for you if you love:

🏈 Sports Romance
🩵 Best friend’s sibling
🏈 Secret & forbidden relationship
🩵 Confident & witty FMC
🏈 Jealous/possessive MMC
🩵 They both fall hard

Monica Murphy’s books always brings all the feels. Filled with characters that will warm your heart, romances that will make you melt, and friendships you wish were your own, and this series is one you don’t want to miss.

This is Chase Maddox and Sienna Cooper’s journey and I couldn’t get enough of these two.

After secretly coming close to hooking up with her brother’s best friend her freshman year, she has been trying to move on without much luck. Watching him with every other girl on campus, while giving him the cold shoulder and treating him like he is the enemy is the only way she keeps him at arms length.

“Fighting my feelings for a man who struggles with knowing what he wants. Even though I’m standing in front of him, willing and able. Seriously. Men are the worst.”

Gavin has been struggling with his feelings for his best friend’s sister Sienna. She’s always been beautiful, but his attraction to her keeps growing with every day, but this being his senior year surely he can stay away a little while longer…or not!

There's no keeping these two away from each other, and the push-pull will give you the slow burn that makes you beg for flames to erupt…and they do!

I devoured this book within a few hours. And I mean…devoured! There was no putting it down!

I loved Gavin and Sienna’s story. Get ready to sigh, and swoon! Go read this book now!

“Chemistry. That’s what we’ve got. The air is charged every time we’re in the same room together”

Sienna and Gavin’s chemistry is definitely off the charts, something they proved after that one night when they almost crossed the line. Since then they’ve been trying to mostly avoid each other which is hard since Gavin is Sienna’s older brother’s teammate and one of his best friends.
Gavin’s focus should be solely on football but he just can’t seem to stop thinking about Sienna even though he knows she’s off limits.

I love a good brother’s best friends/best friend’s sister romance and Monica definitely delivered! Those lingering looks, and sometimes lingering touches, love them! The delicious pining and slow burn is so worth it when Gavin and Sienna finally give in to the strong attraction between them.

This is book 2 in the Kings of Campus series so you’ll definitely see all our favorites from book 1, End Game.

If you love a football romance, best friend’s sibling romance with all the swoon, spice and sneaking around then definitely read this book!

Play It Off sweeps us back into the beloved King of Campus world, this time with a college football, brother’s best friend romance featuring Sienna and Gavin — a story brought to life by a vibrant cast of characters who make every moment unforgettable.

This was such a fun read, and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. All the tropes were perfectly served, and I have to admit — sports romance combined with the brother’s best friend trope has always been my weakness. The slow burn was done so well, and when the spice finally hit, it was absolutely worth the wait.

Sienna was a sweet, dreamy girl who had often felt overshadowed by her brother, craving to be someone’s priority — something I found incredibly relatable. I loved her character; she was funny, witty, outgoing, and never afraid to go after what she wanted. Her energy made her so easy to root for.

Gavin, the star quarterback, was the golden boy with a heavy heart. Having suffered under the pressure of an overbearing father, he carries a lot of emotional scars. His jealousy and possessiveness were addictive to read, and his internal struggle about not feeling "good enough" for Sienna added a raw vulnerability to his character. I loved that while he was this dirty-talking, confident athlete on the outside, underneath he was just a boy scared of losing something precious. Although Gavin made me a little mad at times, his character growth was genuinely commendable — and by the end, he completely floored me with his charm and sweetness.

Overall, Play It Off was a cozy, sweet, and spicy read that left me smiling. The forbidden romance vibes, the secrecy, the sneaking around, the witty banter — everything came together beautifully. It had the kind of warmth and emotional pull that makes you want to stay in that world a little longer.

A delightful, heart-fluttering read! If you enjoy sports romances with the perfect amount of spice and sweetness, this one’s for you.

Play It Off by Monica Murphy is the second book of her Kings of Campus Series.
This one's about Sienna Cooper and Gavin Maddox.

Sienna is Coop's little sister and officially off-limits for all the guys of the football team.
But... there's Gavin. He's Coop's best friend, and also really interested in Sienna.
Well, if this isn't the perfect combination for some chaos?!

I fell in love with all these boys and girls when I devoured End Game (book 1 of the series about Nico and Everleigh). So, now it was so great to go back to this clique to experience the love story between Sienna and Gavin.
*SWOON ALERT*
Gavin Maddox. The star QB has a heart of gold, a filthy mouth, and other filthy things. 🤭😉❤️‍🔥 Football is his number one priority, but Sienna plays an important role, too... and yeah, it's not that easy to confess or deal with the feelings in front of everyone else - especially Coop.
But it isn't easy for Sienna as well! She's the little sister, her brother is the most important thing in their family... and Gavin turned her head.

Honestly, sometimes they frustrated me... but then they made me swoon so much more, and everything was forgiven. LOL
OMG, and his nickname for her?! PERFECTION! 🥰

I really enjoyed the story of Sienna and Gavin, but Nico & Everleigh are still my number one couple so far. 🤭😅
Play It Off is a really good mix of romance, drama, absolutely sexy times, humour, and emotions!

Can't wait to see which couple is next!

Thanks a lot to Monica Murphy and Valentine PR for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

I had so much fun reading this book. I really love the story between Sienna and Gavin. There's just something about the My Brother's Best Friend Trope that gets me every time and Monica Murphy knows how to write tension in longing so well. Sienna is unsure about her future but she is sure about falling Head over heels for her brother's best friend, Gavin Maddox. I fell in love with Sienna from the start of chapter one, you want both characters to just go for it but the anticipation is everything!!! Gavin is the quarterback of the very popular football team at their college and he gets a lot of attention from fans and women but he only has eyes for Sienna his best friend's sister. When he finally gives in to his feelings for her, the chemistry is electric between them. They are meant to be together but with the pressure of his senior year, getting the team to the championship and possibly upsetting his best friend. He wants to keep their relationship a secret, just until football season is over. The stolen Kisses, forbidden Hookups topped with the yummy spice is chef kiss. I'm starting to fall in love with sports romance, I can't get enough of them.

✨ARC Review✨
Kings of Campus: Book 2
18+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was such a fun and sexy read! Sienna has had a crush on her brother’s best friend/teammate/sexy quarterback who’s been secretly pining for her the whole time as well?! Yes, please!!!

The banter, the chemistry, the sneaking around, it was all so good! The scenes between Sienna and Gavin where they would steal secret glances and touches in public, but not be able to keep their hands off each other in private were hot! 🔥 And every time Gavin would get jealous and possessive over Sienna, I was giggling and screaming for her, because my girl deserved the world! ❤️

If you enjoy a sports romance with the perfect amount of sexiness, spice, and sweetness, go read this now! 🏈

Thank you to Monica Murphy, Valentine PR , and NetGalley for this incredible ARC!

This is the second book in this amazing series, and this is Gavin and Sienna’s story.
Sienna has had a secret crush on her brother’s best friend, quarterback Gavin, ever since she was a freshman, and they have avoided each other for the past 2-years.
This is a well written slow burn, easy to read story, which has family, friendships, emotions, boundaries, hostility, tension, secrets, second chances, forced proximity, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and sweet, college football romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

4.25stars-PLAY IT OFF is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult KINGS OF CAMPUS erotic, romance series. This is UC Santa Mira quarterback Gavin Maddox, and Sienna Cooper’s story line. PLAY IT OFF can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Some of the events of PLAY IT OFF run parallel to, and cross over with the events of book one END GAME.


Told from dual first person perspectives (Gavin and Sienna) PLAY IT OFF follows the building but forbidden romance and relationship between Gavin Maddox and Sienna Cooper. Approximately two years earlier, Sienna Cooper met and fell in love with her brother’s teammate Gavin Maddox but after their almost night together, Gavin and Sienna ghosted one another, ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room. Fast forward to present day, Sienna is determined to call out Gavin’s need to keep his distance but all does not go according to plan when our couple struggle to remain neutral in the face of their sexual attraction. Tired of Gavin’s constant push and pull of our story line heroine, Sienna reconsiders her attraction to Gavin but a disappointing visit with family sends Gavin into a spiral from which they may never come back.


The world building follows the ‘forbidden’ relationship but also the US Santa Mira’s football team’s race to the championship. We are up close and personal with the dysfunctional Maddox family dynamics, and Gavin’s downward spiral in the face of the constant belittling and heart break.


The relationship between Gavin and Sienna is a teammate’s sister/forbidden romance in which our couple keep their relationship on down-low. Gavin battles between head and heart fearing the fall-out of their relationship reveal, and in doing so, is constantly pushing Sienna out of his life. Sienna has loved Gavin since the first time they met but Gavin struggles to feel worthy of his own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.


There is a large ensemble cast of familiar, colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including the return of Nico and Everleigh (End Game 1), Frank Dollar, Sienna’s brother Coop, and their parents. We are introduced to Sienna’s roommate Destiny, and his school acquaintance Ryland.


PLAY IT OFF is a story of secrets and lies, family and friendships, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is seductive ; the characters are dynamic, determined and charismatic.





THE READING CAFE: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/play-it-off-kings-of-campus-2-by-monica-murphy-review-tour/



GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7520642035



BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2855901189

I absolutely devoured this audiobook! Monica Murphy is the queen of NA sports romance, and this book is the perfect example of how seamless and addictive her storytelling is when it comes to college romance.

I LOVE the brother's best friend trope - seriously LOVE it - and Gavin and Sienna's chemistry has been brewing for a couple of years, which we even saw a glimpse of in Book 1 of the series. The fact that Gavin pines over Sienna just as hard as she does him made me fall in love with him immediately. But this Golden Boy is a devil in the sheets, and I ate up every little surprise he gave us.

Sienna is sassy, independent, and not afraid to go after what she wants... which is Gavin. I cheered her on like I was her bestie and swooned so hard over these two.

Thank you M Murphy for giving us a fun college escape with characters who are relatable and swoon-worthy. Can't wait for what's next in the series!! Well done once again!

Play It Off - Monica Murphy

5/5⭐️

📚📚📚
This series all I can say is ABSOLUTE CHOKEHOLD! I finished this book in one sitting and ATE IT UP! Gavin and Sienna were too freaking tier! The banter between these two had me giggling and let’s just say Gavin with his “truth serum” scene straight up left dead. Omg he was so great 😂 Sienna is seriously that girl and I hope she gets her ice cream truck! The spice was just HOT HOT 🔥 Overall I can’t recommend this one loud enough! Add it to those tbrs!

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- Alpha Hero
- Athlete
- Best Friend's Sibling
- Boy Obsessed
- College Football
- College
- Forbidden Love
- Found Family
- Jealous
- Possessive
- Secret Hookups
- Secret Romance
… You should definitely check this out

Play it Off is book two in the Kings of Campus series, Sienna and Gavin's story.

I couldn't love this one more!
Sienna is completely in love with her brothers best friend, the hotshot QB.

One of my absolute favorite things about this book is, it isn't drenched in drama, there's none. It's about navigating your feelings and relationships with someone whom you feel is off limits.
Chemistry, spicy are perfect. Just an overall fantastic continuation to the Kings of Campus series.

I absolutely loved Gavin and Sienna in this! Their relationship was so refreshing—genuinely unique, with no forced third-act breakup (which made my heart so happy!). The banter was sharp, the emotional buildup was perfectly paced, and watching their connection grow felt so natural and rewarding. This book was the perfect palate cleanser—light, engaging, and heartfelt in all the right ways. Their chemistry was very well done and I appreciated that they understood each other perfectly. I love the vibe of Santa Mira and am now personally considering running an ice cream truck after hearing it in this book. I’m beyond excited for the rest of the series! (Also, all my homies hate Ryland.)