This book was so cute, it had most of the tropes I really love: enemies to lovers, fake dating, "i like him but I am not sure if they like me back, ANGST, like it had it all and I had a fun time reading!

The standout to me in this book is the FMC Lexi, she is a primary caregiver in her home, and she is struggling to fund her mother's insurance, her college fees, and well basically her whole life. I admired how the author made her a character to root for, cause her circumstances, especially adding that her mum had cancer, were far from ideal:(

I will say I have never been a fan of the rich boy falls for the not-so-rich girl trope... I like to call it the "tortured millionaire" trope😅 Not that the pains of millionares are invalid, i am not saying that, it just seems like in books, rich characters MUST have a bad relationship with their parents, or have a need to impress others or something in the lines of that. Due to this I found Damien’s character very predictable, kind of loosing the thrill of finding out ,ore about him as a character.

All in all, this was such a cute read!

Thank you to Rowan Croft and the publisher for the opportunity to read The Girlfriend Agreement early!

(Rowan, where the hell have you been, loca? Because I need to read everything you write from now on.)

The Girlfriend Agreement was an absolute delight from start to finish! Rowan Croft delivers a fresh, laugh-out-loud college romcom packed with heart, heat, and just the right amount of chaos.

Lexi Dornan is a brilliant, no-nonsense student who finds herself reluctantly fake-dating Damian Navarro—the campus heartthrob with a reputation and something to prove. Their dynamic is electric from the start, full of sharp banter, simmering tension, and emotional depth that slowly sneaks up on you.

I especially appreciated the thoughtful cultural touches throughout the book, Damian’s Mexican heritage is woven in with care, and the refranes (Spanish proverbs) that open his chapters were a standout detail. The story also doesn’t shy away from real-world issues like the broken U.S. healthcare system, giving Lexi’s motivations real weight.

What truly sets this apart is the balance between humor and sincerity. The chemistry is fantastic, the female friendships are strong and refreshing, and the emotional payoff is worth every page.

Fans of fake dating, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and slow-burn romances will absolutely devour this. I’m officially invested in the Conwick U universe and can’t wait to read whatever Rowan Croft writes next!

Rowan Croft’s The Girlfriend Agreement (Conwick U #1) is a 484-page, slow-burn college rom-com that turns the fake-dating/enemies-to-lovers formula into a smart, high-energy battle of wits between a genius heroine and the campus playboy, delivering equal parts sharp banter, emotional growth, and swoony chemistry—all capped with a satisfying HEA and a bonus chapter that tees up the rest of the series.
Lexi Dornan—“literally” a genius—is roped into pretending to date Conwick University’s notorious charmer, Damian Navarro, after his parents threaten to cut him off unless he proves he can commit, while she needs the cash he’s willing to pay for the ruse.
Croft layers perennial fan-favorite tropes—fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and opposites-attract—into a new-adult campus setting that crackles with academic rivalries and chaotic dorm antics.
.The novel’s heartbeat is its banter: every confrontation between Lexi’s razor-sharp logic and Damian’s cocky charm feels like verbal fencing, keeping pages turning and tension taut.
At 484 pages, the plot takes its time, letting resentment thaw into genuine affection, so the eventual payoff feels earned rather than rushed.
Damian’s gradual shift from reckless legacy kid to partner willing to fight for Lexi (and his own future) gives the book an emotional core that elevates it above pure rom-com hijinks, while Lexi’s arc—learning to value messy feelings as much as academic achievements—lands with equal weight.
Croft keeps the laughs coming through tutoring disasters, meddling roommates, and one spectacular lab-experiment-gone-wrong scene that cements the pair’s reluctant alliance.
Spice levels sit at a solid “3” on the NetGalley scale—enough heat to satisfy without eclipsing character development—and the consent-positive intimacy scenes feel both fun and heartfelt.
With its clever heroine, reformed bad-boy hero, and trope-stuffed plot executed with sparkling dialogue, The Girlfriend Agreement is a joyous debut for the Conwick U series and a must-read for fans of Elle Kennedy’s Briar U or Lynn Painter’s Better Than the Movies who want extra STEM-girl smarts and slow-burn payoff in their campus romances.

What a ride! I absolutely adored this book from beginning to end. Rowan Croft takes the beloved fake-dating trope and gives it real emotional weight and nuance.

Lexi is a brilliant, relatable heroine trying to navigate her college life while dealing with the heartbreaking reality of her mom’s cancer diagnosis. Her struggles with finances, insurance, and the emotional toll of chronic illness felt deeply personal and incredibly real.

Damian, on the other hand, starts out as the classic playboy you love to hate, but the more you learn about him, the more his character surprises you. His arc is layered with grief, vulnerability, and some truly beautiful moments of growth. I went from glaring at him to full-on rooting for him.

The interracial romance (Damian is half Mexican, Lexi is white) was handled beautifully, and the chemistry between them was fantastic. There’s heart, humor (including some hilarious Twilight references), and a satisfying emotional payoff that left me smiling and wanting more.

This is a must-read for fans of fake dating, redemption arcs, and character-driven romance with depth. I can’t wait for the next installment in the series!

The whole “fake dating” trope is a classic for a reason, and Croft definitely leans into the charm of it. The setup is fun, the banter between the leads has its moments, and there are a few genuinely adorable scenes that gave me the warm fuzzies. If you’re looking for a low-stakes, feel-good romance, this checks the boxes.

That said, I struggled to connect deeply with the characters. They were likable enough, but their emotional arcs felt a little surface-level. I wanted more depth—more backstory, more tension, more why behind their choices. Some of the dialogue felt a bit stiff, and the chemistry, while present, didn’t totally sizzle the way I hoped it would.

This one was a goodie!
The Girlfriend Agreement by Rowan Croft is a slow-burn college rom com in the simplest of terms. We get the drama, the silly easy going banter and the spice. Our book starts off with a spicy scene I did not see coming, nor did our two main characters, Damian and Lexi. Lexi, a brilliant STEM girlie with grapheme, falls into a fake relationship with Damian, a wealthy playboy, at his request to help him into his parents good graces.

I loved the journey these two took together. Their relationship starts slow with an almost enemies-to-lovers vibe, poor Lexi fell for Damian in the past but our bad boy had a little bet going, which ended not so gracefully. They get to reconnect in a special way through this fake dating scenario and it comes together so well. Hated Damian’s mom and dad in the beginning but they grow on you and had a nice little redemption ending. Damian’s abuela is perfect, she has no poor qualities, haha, but Xolo was the sprinkles to abuela’s cupcake. Sweet and simple perfection. They were able to help show such a sweet side to Damian that he needed. Lexi’s mother and aunt, also perfection, no comments needed other than that.

Loved, loved, loved the whole mathematics and pharmaceuticals plot, as a health care professional, it was a little chef’s kiss for me. This was such a lighthearted read for me and I’m in shock it was a college romance, beyond pumped with how much I loved it. Would gladly read anything else by Rowan Croft!

Thank you NetGalley and Shire-Hill Publications.
5 stars!

4.25

Thank you to Rowan Croft, Shire-Hill Publications, and NetGalley for a copy of this arc!

Tropes:
- Fake Dating
- Rich Boy x Poor Girl
- Nerd Girl x Popular Guy
- Slow Burn

For starters, how beautiful is the cover! I really enjoyed reading this story! It does start off a little slow and you wonder how the MMC is going to redeem himself. But once you've dive into the layers behind him, it really opens your eyes. I loved the depth behind both Damien and Lexi, the chemistry between the two was there from the beginning! I also really loved Lexi's love of maths and her genius aspects - those were amazing.

There is great representation of female friendship in this too that I'm wondering if this will be carried on in the later series!

I'm a sucker for a fake dating and opposites attract, and this story gives just that! It was so lovely to see Lexi and Damien's relationship and feelings grow beyond everything! And I loved seeing Damien's character development - to become a better person. Also the man loves Twilight unashamedly - I have to love him for that??

Check out this book when it comes out July 29th!

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this eARC.

DNF

This is 1st person, dual POV. Which is my favorite.
I love a fake dating trope.
The cover art is super cute.
The Spanish at the beginning of the MMC’s chapters was a unique touch.
The spice was well done. However, I was not a fan of spice on page one. (I do enjoy spice in my books) but think it should build up to it a bit.

Unfortunately I could not finish this one. I got to about the 15% point. The MMC was wayyyyy too toxic. I was not a fan of his “fuckboy” attitude. (Which is fine to an extent in romance novels) but I think it was overdone. He was bragging about how rich and hot he is and how many women he hooks up with way too much. He’s slept with basically the entire student body and it’s pointed out (gross) There was even a bet with one of his friends of a sex bucket list. (That’s just downright awful) He also made comments about poor people that just didn’t sit right with me. “Doing whatever else it is that poor people do for fun”. The guy was just horrible. His parents being rude don’t justify his behavior either. And I don’t think they were wrong for wanting to cut him off for his behavior. I’ve read other reviews saying he gets a redemption, but there’s nothing that could redeem him for me at this point, unfortunately.

Some of the writing style I didn’t like. She used alot of phrases like “Past me” “Drunk me” “Last night me” etc. which seemed a little repetitive and juvenile. (Trying to also remember this story does involve young college kids) Otherwise, the writing itself was good!

I did love how she shined a light on the huge issues with our healthcare system and insurance companies. It’s such a real life problem.

Overall though, it was well written and I would’ve enjoyed it if it wasn’t for the MMC. I would try more books by this author in the future!

The Girlfriend Agreement is a delightful slow-burn romance that hits all the right feelings. Rowan Croft blends laugh-out-loud humor with heartfelt emotion in this fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers college romcom. Lexi and Damian’s chemistry is electric, their banter sharp, and their emotional growth is deeply satisfying to the reader. There are many lovable side characters. This book is a feel-good read that is impossible to put down. Perfect for fans of witty dialogue, emotional depth, and a satisfying happily ever after.

Lexi was so easy to like. The characters in this book were so well written, which is why Damian was so disgusting. He really is an absolute ICK. Yes he gets a redemption arc, but still. It was hard for me to like him even at the end. Lexi deserves the world though.

So freaking cute. I loved the fake dating setup, the soft queer rep, and the genuine chemistry between the leads. The writing was warm and witty, and I found myself smiling so much. It’s one of those books that feels like a cosy hug in romcom form.

I absolutely loved Lexi from the start and she was so easy to root for. Damian, on the other hand… let’s just say he took a bit longer to win me over. I seriously wanted to jump into the book and shake some sense into him! 😅 But once he started to open up, I found myself really enjoying their dynamic. The ending truly pulled at my heartstrings in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the early access. All thoughts in this review are my own!

I loved this book! It was the perfect romcom! I could definitely see this being made into a movie some day. The cocky rich boy and the girl who needs money. Both hilarious and full of attitude which makes it even better. I enjoyed the added bits learning about new things. Mexican heritage, her unusual medical condition, and others. They were interesting little bits added in to round out the characters. His Twilight addiction! At first I thought would be cringy but seriously wouldn't have him and this story any other way. It was amazing and I loved all the references. Then the added storyline of cancer. Which everyone now a days can unfortunately relate to. It was a good insite to grief and also the burden of insurance and bills versus saving a loved one.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Damian's character development was evident not only in his action but also in his verbiage. In the beginning, he repetitively spoke about women disrespectfully, and it started to become repetitive. I felt that it made the beginning of the book drag as we tried to understand what happened previously between him and Lexi, and what happened between him and his parents to make him want to rebel.

I really enjoyed the relationship dynamics in this book. Lexi's friends, Damian's parents, Damian's grandparents' relationship, etc. it all made them feel more humanistic.

I do feel like having a translation guide or notes at the end of the chapter would have helped me to stay more engaged with the conversation between Damian and his family. I know basic Spanish, but I feel like I was guessing and hoping that my translation was correct based on context clues. Pulling my phone out to translate removed me away from the story.

Thank you netgally and the publishers for accepting me to review this arc!

I haven’t read a romance book in a long time that had proper character development like Damien did. At the start of the book I kinda hated him, which I think was the intention, and slowly as the book goes on and he starts realising his privilege lifestyle and starts healing from his past trauma, I started to forgive him and grow to really enjoy his character despite his actions at the start of be book. That takes lots of skill to be able to pull of a such a satisfactory redemption arc that feels earned!

I always love the fake dating trope! If there is a book with fake dating best believe I will be reading it. And this book does it so well!! The dynamic going from hating each other to realising their feelings was so fun to read.

It’s also dual pov which just adds so much more depth to the characters, going in I thought 580 pages was a bit lengthy for a romance book, but after finishing I think the length is justified

What can I say…I absolutely loved this book. I love Lexi, I love her feistiness but I also love her vulnerability. Damien, oh Damien at first I hated him alongside Lexi but just like Lexi I slowly fell in love with him.

This wasn’t a typical rich boy girlfriend agreement story for me it was honestly so good and it felt realistic. I am so glad they got their happy ending. I can’t wait to read more of Rowan Croft’s work in the future

This book had me grinning, swooning, and even tearing up a little by the end. The Girlfriend Agreement was such a fun ride, and honestly, it surprised me with how emotional it got, especially toward the ending!

We get the story from both Lexi and Damian’s POVs, which I really liked. It helped me understand both characters better, especially Damian. I didn’t like him at all at first, he came off too arrogant, but the way his character evolved had me totally rooting for him by the end! The growth on both sides felt real and well-paced🫶🏼

The fake dating was also super entertaining! The banter between Lexi and Damian was sharp, flirty, and sometimes hilarious. There were moments that made me smile like an idiot and I loved that! Also, it was spicy even from the start!🔥🥵

One of my favorite parts, though, was the friendship dynamics. Lexi’s group felt like the kind of friends everyone wants in their corner. There’s definitely a strong found-family vibe here, even for Damian, which made his arc even more satisfying!

However, at some point the book felt a bit longer than it needed to be. Some of the internal dialogue got repetitive, and I found myself skimming a little in the middle. But overall, the writing was engaging enough to keep me invested!

The last few chapters really hit me emotionally, especially the family stuff. It added more depth to the romance and made it more than just a lighthearted read🥹

If you like romance with a mix of fun, flirty banters and spicy scenes, definitely give this one a try!🩷🫶🏼🔥

She’s All That meets Pretty Woman… but make it emotional, healing, and way more redeeming for our broody MMC, Damian 😍.

Lexie is neurodivergent, sharp as a tack, and has a heart so pure it’ll melt yours 🧠✨💛. Their enemies-to-lovers journey hits all the beats—banter, tension, emotional depth—and throws in grief, family, and some seriously beautiful growth arcs.

It’s equal parts heartache and hilarity, and I devoured every second.

SPICE: 3🌶 | RATING: 4.25⭐️

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

✨️ARC Review✨️

Hay Dios Mio!!!

This book.

THIS BOOK!!!!

It was so worth the wait to read The Girlfriend Agreement. Rowan, you are an absolute goddess because this book is a MASTERPIECE 😍😍😍 I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book for all of eternity. To the moon and back. No amount of stars in the universe, no amount of galaxies can express how much I adored and loved reading this book. I literally had to take my time reading becasue I didn't want it to end, and now that I've finished it I feel an emptiness 🥺. I've never felt such emptiness since I finished reading all the Harry Potter books or a Harry Potter fanfic on ao3 called Crimson Rivers.

The Girlfriend Agreement has left such a huge message to me and such an impact that I will always remember. I will definitely be rereading this book in the future (in a couple of days 🙃)

Damian's redemption arc was so beautifully satisfying. He deserves that and more. Losing a loved one is always the hardest thing in the whole world. Feeling that ache in your heart, hoping it'll go away, but all it does is just linger forever. But good does come. It's not always bad. And that's what Damian's story shows.

And Lexi. You fiery woman. I got to show my appreciation for us STEM girlie, even though Im not a math genius like her, I appreciate her so much. And that feeling of not being enough installed on you by past relationships, I know how that feels today. But you pulled through, and now you found someone who challenges your mind and you, and stayed. I love that for you and I hope to find that myself.

UGH😭😭😭😭 MY STANDARDS ARE SO HIGH BECAUSE OF THESE FICTIONAL MEN but its good because we all deserve better... and more. I'll love this book until the end of time.

Thank you Rowan and NetGalley for this wonderful eARC 🫶🏼🥹.

The Girlfriend Agreement comes out July 29, 2025 🥰🥰

3 ⭐️
ARC // Releases July 29, 2025

Thank you to Shire Hill Publications and NetGalley for an advance copy.

———- All thoughts are my own.

This was an entertaining read, and I wished I enjoyed it more. Damian and Lexi have run into each other before and it ended badly, but now Damian needs to clean up his image for his parents and for the company he is set to inherit. Lexi’s mom is sick and the insurance is cutting funding for her life saving medication. One Craigslist ad later and these two come to an agreement.

The fake dating was fun, and I loved how it progressed to something real. You’ll love Damian’s relationship with his grandma. If you can get past Damian’s personality in the first 30% of the book, you’ll enjoy the growth he shows by the end. There’s a real powerful message regarding grief and how it can present itself and the need for someone to just acknowledge that it happened. The math was interesting and I think I learned something and I kind of loved that. 😆

The writing style wasn’t for me, unfortunately. For example, the FMC or MMC would ask a question, and it would take several inner monologues before the answer was revealed, that I had to go back to see what the question even was. Maybe that is/will be a personal experience, but it happened enough that it was noticeable. Now that I think about it some more, maybe it’s intentional because of how Lexi views the world and how her genius mind works and maybe had we known that prior to it being explained by Ronnie 50% in and then Lexi 80% in, my brain could have rectified this is how it needed to be written. 🤷🏽‍♀️