The Girlfriend Agreement

First off, I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and author for this advanced copy.

The good: I did overall enjoy the FMC. It took a little too much time in my opinion to get to her backstory fully but I enjoyed her perspective and how she views the world. In addition, I'm obsessed with Ronnie. She's such a fun best friend while also being super protective of Lexi and reassuring her that she is loved deeply. The basic story and calling out of how insurance works in the US was really good and I appreciated the underlying message given as it applies to so many people with cancer and other health concerns that insurance likes to refuse coverage of.

The not so good: Overall I think this has the makings of a good read but there were a few issues I saw that made it a little tough to finish. To start with, while I love Damian's overall arc and the end of his story, I feel as if the rich boy stereotype was a bit overplayed. It felt like it was overemphasized at various points and some of his behavior just rubbed me the wrong way over time because while the character did learn his lessons by the end of the book it took a very long time for it to happen. In addition, s0me of the classism happening at Conwick felt overdone as well. From the description it read as 99% of the students being millionaires and took a little suspended belief. Lastly, the main premise of the story took quite a bit of time to get into.

I am looking forward to Ronnie's story in the future and want to once again emphasize my appreciation of being able to read this early!

When the girlfriend agreement begins, we see Lexi and Damiem drunkly hooking up. These two characters have a previous history and its messy, Damiem is in senior year of college and is the defintion of a playboy. His father has had enough of Damiem's imature behavior and threatens to cut him off if he doesn't get his life in order. Lexi is a somphore in college and is dealing with an ill mother. Damiem needs a girlfriend to help clean up his image and lexi nees money to take care of her mothers medical treatment. Lexi agrees to be damiem's fake girlfriendand in return is paid by Damiem. Damiem does not know the reason as to why Lexi's nees the money. Along the way to characters start to fall for each other.

I will preface my review by saying this book was well written and very entertaining. I personally hated one character and it skewed my perception of the book. I like romances to have redeemable MCs.

I feel extremely conflicted about this book. I would have DNFd by 20% if this wasn’t an arc. The MMC was absolutely insufferable. There is “fuckboy” and then there is Damian who is absolutely the scum of earth. He literally forgot who the FMC was… multiple times. 🤢

I didn’t think it was possible for me to ever like Damian especially after watching him discover empathy at the age of 22.

Miracles of all miracles he turned into a completely different person who was likable by the end of the book. Luckily his behavior change was enough for me to enjoy reading the romance towards the end.

The FMC, Lexi, I loved. She deserved so much more. She is a brilliant math major who truly loves her family and friends. A really sweet 19 y.o.

I enjoyed reading in the last 40% but was hate reading the first 60%.

Thank you to Rowan Croft, Shire-Hill Publications, and NetGalley for a copy of this arc in exchange for an unbiased and honest review..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This was such a fun, trope-filled ride. I love fake dating stories, and this one brings together an awkward genius and a charming playboy in a way that works so well. The enemies-to-lovers tension, the high-stakes fake relationship, and the emotional undercurrent all gave the story good depth despite its light-hearted feel. Some moments dragged a little, but the romance had me rooting for them till the end. A great pick for readers who love college romances with steam, sass, and heart!

Rowan Croft delivers a refreshingly sharp and heartfelt college romance that thrives on the tension between enemies-to-lovers and fake‑dating tropes. Genius student Lexi Dornan clashes hilariously with notorious playboy Damian Navarro, who stages a fake relationship to win parental approval and financial security. Their relationship blossoms through biting banter, unexpected emotional depth, and a gradual, realistic transformation—Damian’s redemption arc feels earned, and Lexi’s witty, independent voice anchors the story.

The novel excels in chemistry: the slow build of attraction is laced with laugh‑out‑loud moments, clever pop‑culture nods, and steamy interludes that never overpower the story. While a few early cringe‑worthy lines and predictable “big speech” moments may put off some readers, the emotional payoff is genuine—several heartfelt scenes hit just the right notes.

Overall, The Girlfriend Agreement is a lively, laughter‑filled, and emotionally satisfying rom‑com. It’s ideal for fans of sharp banter, swoony slow‑burns, and characters who grow without losing their spark. If you're craving a fun, messy, and heartfelt tale of two opposites who just might be perfect together, this one delivers.

The author was so kind that gave me an arc copy through netgalley.

First my thoughts, I completly fell in love with this book, how the characters grow mentally is something I always love to see in the books and with the cover at first I thought about Percy and Annabeth from Percy jackson and that made me fall more in love, that they looked just like my favorite couple in all times, again, thank you so much Rowan Croft for the arc, the moment I finished this book I instantly followed you everywhere, can't wait for nthe next one.

In this book we have Alexandria, a genius who got a scholarship to Conwick, and we also have Damian, a guy who has zero interest in dating

At the beggining of the book we are mentioned of the past with this two, the buquet list Damian had adn how this buquet list affected Lexi. We can see how even if they disliked each other, they put their diferences to a side for mutual benefit, but as time passes their hate starts turning into something else, even if they still haven't figure it out.

I love the characters in the story. I enjoyed the character growth from Damian. Adding the family aspect to the characters made them feel more like real people.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Rowan Croft for this ARC opportunity!

I enjoyed this plot and character development in this book. Enemies to lovers, fake dating and billionaire type romance are some of my fav tropes. The characters are so relatable at points in the story. The MMC gives off major F-boy vibes and the FMC really wants to be a strong independent woman. The story got better for me in the second half. I liked the first half, it was just a little slow building.

The spice was definitely spicing in this book! The Chemistry between the characters was really good and the journey that the characters went on was fun and messy but such a good story.

The fake dating trope really gets me every single time! I really enjoyed Rowan Croft’s writing style, everything that happened felt so organic especially Damians character growth. I absolutely loathed him the first half of the book but his redemption in the second half felt so realistic he completely won me over. The banter and witty dialogue between the two main characters MADE this entire book and the references to twilight were unexpectedly hilarious! I wasn’t expecting this to hit me right in the feels but it had so many tender moments I teared up in a few different scenes! I look forward to any future installments by Rowan


Thank you Netgalley and Rowan Croft for this eARC!

4.5 stars, rounded up because this book wrecked me emotionally in the best way.

The banter, the chemistry, the emotions—this book has it all, and it’s really good. Yes, I cried during that (almost) final chapter. Watching Damian change genuinely made me feel like a proud mama 😌. He didn’t do a full 180, but even the smallest bit of maturity from him felt like growth.

I’ve never hated a main character so instantly… and yet somehow, I found myself rooting for him by the end. It didn’t erase the hurtful things he did in the beginning (believe me, I remember 😤), but the way Rowan handled his journey softened something in me. And Lexi? I adored her. She’s fierce, brilliant, vulnerable, and so unapologetically herself. She didn’t just hold her own—she shone.

The writing pulled me in deeply. Every emotional beat landed with purpose, and the character development was phenomenal—for both Lexi and Damian. There were moments that made me laugh, ache, hope, and yes… cry. 🥲

If you’ve ever wanted to throw a book at the wall and hug it close within the same hour, this one’s for you. The Girlfriend Agreement is messy, tender, and ultimately full of heart. I’ll be thinking about these two for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Rowan Croft for the eARC 💛

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I have a lot of mixed feelings regarding this book. Where do I even begin…

First of all, our main male character Damian. I think this whole “fuckboy” persona went a little too far, because what do you mean you have fucked almost the entire female half of the student body with no repeats?? Of course, later in the book we are given an explanation for his behaviour, but that doesn’t change the fact that it all had already left a bad taste in my mouth. Therefore, his whole character development arc does not feel realistic or authentic, mostly because it was so sudden. Lexi, our main female character, is a great lead. Her reasons for agreeing to date Damian are admirable. I also loved her ability to stand up for herself and not be afraid to say whatever is on her mind.

I have to say, I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first one. When the characters stop pretending they don’t like each other and the plot with the pharmaceutical company really picks up. If we close our eyes and forget everything Damian had said and done in the first chapters of the book, then I can confidently say that their relationship was cute and I enjoyed their banter.

What bothered me the most were the moments where a character goes on and gives a whole speech about something that feels totally unnecessary at the moment. I mean, do you really go and tell basically a stranger, whom you despise, your friend’s entire backstory with every little personal detail? I sure hope not. And that’s just one example.

That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy the book at all. It was easy to read and had managed to keep my interest throughout the whole novel. The topics raised in this book are very important and relevant. The plotline with the main character’s mother and their struggle to pay for her medication, in my opinion, was done with utmost care. It really forces you to feel and to think about, how even in our age, there is still a long way to go.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Shire-Hill Publications and Rowan Croft for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! <3

The Girlfriend Agreement was an enjoyable read!
Lexi is a super smart genius when it comes to math but has mostly kept to herself because she tends to struggle in social settings.
Damian is a rich playboy that's just partying through college with no care for the consequences of his actions. When his parents threaten to cut him off he has the perfect solution....a fake girlfriend.
This book had drama, banter and emotion. Make sure to check it out!

This was a good read. It had classic tropes, like slow burn romance, the classic enemies to lovers and also fake dating. It gives a rom-com vibe. I can see a TV show from this. It's a great read! Overall 4.5 stars!

"I manage to resist everything, except temptation.”

I would like to thank Netgalley, Shire-Hill Publications, and Rowan Croft for this ARC opportunity!

3/5 ⭐️ - I liked it.
3/5 🔥 - Spice level.

What I really enjoyed was the plot and the character development. It was a classic enemies to lovers story with a realistic development of redemption, angst, and spice. The spice was well written and not over the top. The plot made the characters relatable even with the billionaire MMC aspect of the story. The friendships of the MCs in this book where also very well put together.

What I did not click with was some of the writing style. There were many phrases that were a little cringe/repetitive and I felt myself skimming through a few of the chapters with the way it was written. I understand that it is supposed to be from the viewpoint of college students but there was too much of it for my taste. I did like the references to Twilight and Pokémon and Coco and such to keep it real to the times but sometimes it felt oddly placed. This is the only reason I’m giving 3 instead of 4 stars.

With that said, if you love a good enemies to lovers story with a good backstory then I would definitely give this a read. I was laughing and almost crying at several points in the book. It definitely tugged at my heart from the beginning!!

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating, Grumpy + Sunshine, Billionaire MMC + Genius FMC, Redemption Arc

This was such a great read, had the classic slow burn, enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes that were done really well, as well as great and clear character development and growth for both the main and side characters.

While this book was funny with great banter between the main and side characters, it also touched on more deeper topics. It was nice to see those issues get resolved in healthy and realistic manner with the growth of the characters.

Although some of the banter and lines in the book were a tiny bit cringe, I found myself cackling more than anything else and the spicy scenes were not over the top.

Overall a great book, I would recommend this book, and I am absolutely going to pick up the next book, as I'm excited and interesting to see the development of the main character of that book.

The Girlfriend Agreemenr by Rowan Croft
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (but like imagine each star is actually a shrine I’ve built to this book)

OKAY LISTEN. This book?? Is the Sistine Chapel of romcoms. The Mona Lisa of fake dating. The Everest of enemies to lovers and I will NOT be taking questions at this time! 😭 I had to sit and compose myself after and take some time to form a review that was worthy of this masterpiece honestly.

❣️Lexi Dornan = my spirit animal.
❣️Damian Navarro = my Roman Empire.

Fake dating? SPICE? TWILIGHT JOKES? Bonus scenes that made me scream into my pillow and kick my feet???

@authorrowancroft, how dare you. HOW DARE YOU write a debut THIS good 😩

I’ve never rooted harder for a chaotic academic gremlin and a reformed golden retriever fuckboy. I laughed, I swooned, I blacked out from pure excitement, and I could have cried because I didn’t want it to end😭 The character growth??? The tension??? The banter??? It’s literary serotonin and I’m mainlining it.

I will now be shouting about this book from rooftops, ambushing strangers in bookstores, and haunting your dreams until you read it. You’ve been warned.😌

Rowan Croft, you evil genius. THANK YOU for this masterpiece. I am now your hype woman for life. I cannot believe little old me got to read an ARC of this 😭 you have not just written a book, you’ve re-wired my brain ♥️

This book was such a fun read. I’m a sucker for fake dating, and this one hit all the right notes without feeling over the top. Lexi is smart and relatable, and watching her deal with Damian (who is somehow both annoying and ridiculously charming) was honestly hilarious. Their banter had me grinning, and the slow-burn tension kept me hooked the whole time.

It’s got just enough drama, just enough steam, and a whole lot of heart. If you’re into college romances with enemies-to-lovers vibes and chaotic chemistry, this is definitely one to pick up.

This was such a fun book for me! An enemies to lovers with spice- my perfect book! The author did a great job of creating a character that I hated at first but then developed both characters throughout the book and made me absolutely love him. The banter was great and had me giggling. I also loved Lexi's friends and how fiercely loyal they were- it made me incredibly intrigued to read her next book that would be centered around her sassy best friend. I kind of devoured this book and was sad when it ended honestly. Also- I loved the spanish aspect of the book as well! As someone hispanic, the author did a great job really capturing how warm a Mexican family can be, especially sus abuelas! I will be posting my review on my goodreads and Amazon when I am able!

Lexi Dornan is me trying to make smart decisions and immediately failing when faced with a charming, emotionally unavailable man. The Girlfriend Agreement gave me fake dating shenanigans, forced proximity, and playboy-who-falls-HARD energy—and I devoured every chaotic page.

The banter? PERFECTION. The tension? OFF THE CHARTS. The “I’d never fall for you” vibes? Absolutely DELICIOUS. Damian Navarro is a cocky hot mess who slowly morphs into the kind of cinnamon roll you want to punch then kiss. Lexi is the brainy, sarcastic queen who’s way too smart for this but does it anyway—and we love her for it.

Yes, some parts were a little predictable, but who cares when the chemistry is this steamy and the angst is top tier? This book brought me 90s rom-com nostalgia with modern swoons