I can’t believe the same person wrote Keep Me in Your Heart and this. I was expecting a wow effect from this book and at least a 4.5-star read, but I ended up completely disappointed.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I disliked a male main character this much. He just didn’t work for me at all, and I couldn’t see a single reason why anyone would fall for him.

From his constant back-and-forth attitude toward Sienna, which drove me insane, to some of his absolutely awful lines. The worst one—and the moment I officially gave up on him—was: “Because what woman is worth getting on my knees for?” Like... what even?? Who do you think you are to say something like that?

Sienna had her irritating moments too, she definitely wasn’t perfect, but compared to Gavin, she was a solid ten.

What also bothered me was how their “love” felt like it was based solely on sex. It just didn’t sit right with me. I ended up skipping most of their spicy scenes because I simply wasn’t interested in them as a couple.

And I was honestly so mad that Monica had to ruin Rynald’s character just to make Gavin look even slightly better. There was literally no other reason to make him that sleazy.

I still want to read the Lancaster Prep series and finish Lancaster Prep: Next Generation, but Kings of Campus is a definite no for me. In my opinion, you can totally skip this book.

My rating: 4.5/5

My Thoughts: Sienna has been harboring a crush on Gavin since freshman year. Things started heating up between them until an unexpected interruption spooked Gavin. Gavin is the Quarterback and her older brother's best friend. Now, Sienna does her best to avoid her attraction to Gavin while they're forced together in mutual college settings. Gavin has always harbored feelings for her, but he's afraid of the repercussions between him and his best friend Cooper. The angst and attraction between these two are undeniable. As much as they try to avoid one another and forget that one night, they're always drawn back to one another.

The excitement I have had since their book was announced has been nonstop. I loved their book and couldn't put it down. This book has a brother's best friend, football romance, drama, spice, enemies to lovers, and second chances. Monica Murphy writes sports romance so well and is such a comfort author for me. I highly recommend reading this book.

New installment of the Kings of the Campus series is perfect mix of a college second chance romance, our favourite brother's best friend trope and all the feelings.

Sienna Cooper is a headstrong girl with a secret crush in a form of Gavin Maddox who in return is a best friend of her brother.
But senior year is here and they have to spend time around each other. Sienna's worries and feelings are so raw and pulling readers' heartstrings. And Gavin is also starting to crumble in front of her. He can't be only platonic anymore, he aches.

Chemistry is top charts! They are so enamored.

This is a great continuation of the series, can't wait for what Monica will have for us in store!


Tropes:
- Slow burn
- Second chance
- Brother's best friend
- College romance

Play It Off is the second book in the Kings of Campus series by Monica Murphy. This is the book of Sienna and Gavin.

Gavin Maddox is the star quarterback of the Santa Mira Dolphins football team. Sienna Cooper a very independent woman who is a student at Santa Mira and is the little sister of Gavin's teammate. Sienna has had a crush on Gavin for many years and an interlude between them two years ago is something that neither one of them has forgotten.

It's now Gavin's senior year and he and Sienna continue to find themselves in one another's space. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but neither of them wants to voice how they are really feeling. Will they eventually be able to admit how they really feel? Will Sienna's brother be an issue?

There is a lot of emotion in this book and the way the two main characters navigate it is understandable. There is tension, emotion and a lot of chemistry between Gavin and Sienna. I also liked how the other teammates played into the story.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Love Gavin and Sienna!! Pulled you in from the very first page! Loved how you got to see Nico and Everleighs story form the friends point of view also!

This book did NOT disappoint. I read book 1 in this series and fell in love with all the characters so I was super excited for Play It Off to be released. Monica has an amazing writing talent that shines through in all her books.

Do you have to read the first book in the series before this one? No. You will want to read it eventually though. Nico and Everleigh have such a cute story as well.

Sienna and Gavin are just…. I can’t even articulate it. The angst was perfect between these two. It started early in the story and only kept going from there.

Gavin just needed to get his head out of his behind and realize his example of “love” and a marriage was not an accurate depiction of many relationships. He gravitated towards Sienna but pushed her away over and over again.

Sienna has it bad for Gavin and decided avoidance after an encounter with him her freshman year was her best option. Even though Gavin hung out with her brother all the time and she has a great relationship with her brother.

I love a good forbidden romance where one person doesn’t believe in love. When one of the characters is the best friend’s siblings, I just melt. They have so much history usually and it’s fun to read about. To add to the forbidden romance, the non-believer in love I such a cute read usually. They just suddenly find themselves falling for the other person but it can’t be love. The revelation part is always a point in the story that hooks me. This book had me devouring the brother’s best friend and he doesn’t believe in love tropes. Just perfect!

I am thankful for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. Thank you to Monica Murphy and Valentine PR for giving me this opportunity. I’ll be listening to the book and rereading it when it’s released.

4.5

Sienna and Gavin bring the heat in book two. Teammates' little sister who's had a crush for years, say less. These two skirt around each other for years before finally caving and having a secret relationship for fear of how their friends and family will react. With her brother being Gavins teammate, Sienna is forced to keep their relationship on the down low. But once they are exposed, the truth will set them free. A fast-paced college football story with likable characters.

I didn't vibed with it, I find it blandly boring. Some things were cute, but the characters felt flat to me. Maybe it's because sport romance are starting to bore me to death. But I wasn't so interested in the plot and I find a lot of other things going on in this book aside from the romance. It was a ok book, because I love Monica Murphy writing, but these characters are not for me.

Play It Off is the second installment in the Kings of Campus series, and it dives headfirst into the fiery connection between Gavin and Sienna. Their chemistry, hinted at in the first book, finally erupts as their secrets come to light. This story is a whirlwind of tension, longing, and undeniable passion and this addictive, back-and-forth romance is a delightful ride.

Sienna is magnetic—bold, vibrant, and unapologetically herself. After years of living in her brother’s shadow, she craves someone who will see her, choose her, and put her first. Her love for Gavin has always burned quietly, but a secret encounter two years ago left them tangled in a web of avoidance and unspoken desire.

Gavin, equally captivated by Sienna, wrestles with his own fears and misconceptions about what he truly needs. His impulsive words often threaten to unravel the fragile bond they’re building, but once he realizes what’s at stake, his determination to claim Sienna is unstoppable.

The pages practically crackle with their snarky banter and electric chemistry. Their journey from forbidden, hidden glances to a love that’s loud, proud, and unapologetic is as heartwarming as it is steamy. This fast-paced, emotionally charged read is brimming with heat and heart and adds another layer of charm to an already engaging series.

Monica Murphy does it again with Play it Off—a swoony, tension-filled romance that hits all the right notes. One of my favorite things about this series (and others by Murphy) is how she builds a connected world of friends you can’t help but root for. It’s always fun seeing familiar faces while getting new love stories.

Sienna is such a relatable heroine. She’s kind-hearted, confident, and brings just the right amount of spice to the story. I loved how bold she could be, even in vulnerable moments. Gavin was a standout too—he’s more than just the charming QB. His inner conflict, loyalty, and emotional depth made him easy to fall for.

The chemistry between these two is undeniable, and the slow-burn buildup had me hooked from the start. The tension was perfectly drawn out, making every moment between them feel earned and meaningful. If you love a brother’s best friend trope with heart, heat, and plenty of angst, this one’s for you.

Thank you to VPR and NetGalley for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book in exchange for an honest review.

We had to wait for them, but they DELIVER!!

Gavin and Sienna’s relationship was so pure and sweet. Even if all the will-they-won’t-they was hard to deal with, as I just wanted - no needed - them to be together.

Their spice was so freaking hot too! Hot damnnn!

*4.5

This was really fun. I liked how much tension there was between them. The fact that they both can't stop thinking about their night two years ago was great. They had a really good build up to their relationship and I loved when he was jealous. I just have an issue with the time jump. It's not that I don't believe they are in love then I just wish we would have seen at least a few snapshots of them during those months.

I received an arc from valentine pr.

What do you get when you match a dirty-talking dreamboat with a feisty best friend’s younger sister? You get the kind of forbidden romance that only Monica Murphy can deliver. Oh my goodness. I have read this book twice and my love for both Gavin F*&king Maddox and bada$$ Sienna Cooper continues to soar. I have the same feelings I had way back when during my first read from this author, One Week Girlfriend. Gavin, in particular, is giving me huge Drew Callahan vibes as the ultimate walking sex on a stick with a heart of gold.

The story unfolds with a glimpse of an intimate drunken night during Sienna’s college freshman year where she and Gavin are interrupted by roommate Destiny, which starts the next two years of avoidance and a hate/love neither can ignore. The fact that both of their lives are intertwined with Sienna’s brother Coop, who is part of the winning football team that Gavin QB’s for, continues to put a polite distance between them, neither forgetting what happened that night but realizing they can’t go there again. Even if they secretly want to.

BUT…the chemistry between them is evident to everyone but them it seems. I mean, I loved that Nico could see Gavin’s stare directed at Sienna whenever she was in the room and gave his QB good-natured grief whenever possible. And Coop’s new housemate Everleigh, who becomes a bestie to Sienna, knows that Gavin needs to get his head out of his gorgeous a$$ and I was beyond happy when she told him so.

With all that said, I just loved how Murphy allows both characters to be mature and clearheaded when it comes to how they will navigate their feelings for one another. How Gavin is there for Sienna as she struggles to say out loud what her dreams are for when she graduates. Sweet pillow talk that allows Gavin to share just how evil a man his father is with Sienna there to tell him to ignore what his old man continues to spew wrt his football playing. They fall for each other on their own time and own terms, without the whole world watching. They each demonstrate that they can be committed to one another without all the nonsense attached to his popularity as a successful athlete.

And in true Murphy fashion, there is that glorious moment when the stars align just right and our couple realizes just how much they love each other and will face the wrath of friends, family and the rest of the college campus, knowing they have each other’s backs no matter what. No one does these kinds of scenes quite like Monica Murphy does and it makes all the stops and starts and frustration worth it.

Another great component is that we get Nico and Everleigh’s burgeoning romance (Book 1: End Game) from another point of view, in real time, as the book progresses. It was fun seeing them also ignore their true feelings with good friends always there to push them when needed.

In addition, a huge shout-out to Destiny and what she brought to the book. Murphy nailed the ‘having a roommate you aren’t real friends with but are perfect to live with’ situation. We don’t see much of her but Destiny proves to be a good friend when all is said and done and I liked her tough girl persona and her eventual affection for Sienna.

I’ll just end with this thought: when looking for a swoony, schmexy yet playful kind of love story, look no further than Play It Off. It’s the very definition of feel-good romance and one that will make you smile and sigh just like I did.

🏈 Brother’s Best Friend
🎓 College Romance
💔 Second Chance
🔥 Slow Burn
🚫 Forbidden
😤 Mutual Pining
🛑 Off Limits
💬 Flirty Banter
👀 Secret History
⏳ Forced Proximity

Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Play It Off by Monica Murphy is a swoony, second-chance college romance with just the right mix of angst, heat, and heart. This instalment in the Kings of Campus series centres around a brother’s best friend dynamic, making it a perfect pick for readers who love the tension of forbidden crushes and unresolved history.

The story follows Sienna Cooper, a strong, independent college student who’s been nursing a not-so-secret crush on Gavin Maddox—star quarterback, campus heartthrob, and, unfortunately, her brother’s best mate. After one unforgettable night two years ago, they’ve spent every day since keeping their distance. But with senior year in full swing and their social circles still overlapping, avoidance is no longer an option.

Sienna’s voice is refreshingly honest, a blend of maturity and raw vulnerability. She tries to play it cool, but her emotional honesty pulls readers in. Gavin, on the other hand, is a classic Monica Murphy hero—fiercely loyal, emotionally torn, and driven by both ambition and unresolved feelings. He’s focused on his final season of football, but Sienna’s presence throws a wrench into his plans to keep things strictly professional and platonic.

The chemistry between them crackles from the start. Monica Murphy excels at writing tension—both romantic and emotional. As the story unfolds, it’s clear that what’s keeping them apart isn’t just Sienna’s brother, but their own fear of what it means to admit how deeply they still feel. Their banter is addictive, their internal battles compelling, and the eventual payoff is oh-so-satisfying.

One of the book’s strengths is how it balances college life realism with classic romantic tropes. There’s the bro-code conflict, the push-pull dynamic, shared friend groups, late-night parties, and moments of quiet intimacy that make their world feel authentic. It’s a story not just about romance, but about timing, trust, and what it means to grow up while still holding onto someone from your past.

Play It Off is a solid follow-up in the Kings of Campus series—perfect for fans of brother’s best friend romances, college football drama, and slow-burn second chances. If you like your love stories with depth, tension, and a side of sporty swagger, this one will definitely win you over.

Sienna & Gavin piqued my interest in End Game with their mysterious past together, and Play It Off gives us all of the inside scoop to their juicy relationship,

In this classic brother’s best friend story, Sienna and Gavin have undeniable chemistry, but the pressure of relationships and life obligations leads them to push each other away. But when they form an agreement to be friends, lines are quickly crossed and their secret relationship is harder to keep under control.

I’m always a sucker for alternative POV and hearing how down bad both of the MCs were for each other really had me invested. I enjoyed the spice and pace of this novel as it made it very hard to put down (I read it in one sitting!). I highly recommend Play It Off for fans of sports romance, new adult, and found family!

Thank you Valentine PR and Monica Murphy for the ARC for review!

I love everything Monica Murphy writes! THIS BOOK! I absolutely LOVED Sienna and Gavin. Gavin was so swoon worthy and I loved the storyline. I definitely love a good spicy sports romance!