End Game is my first introduction to author Monica Murphy, and it's also the first in a new sports romance series. Which I'm a bit of a sucker for! So I had high hopes for this and one and it didn't disappoint.

As lead character Everleigh transfers to UC Santa Mira to escape a shitty home life and everything she's known to get the full college experience. Only that experience doesn't get off to a great start when she arrives in town to find her accommodation has fallen through and as the new college year is just days away. Accommodation is thin on the ground and way out of Everleigh's price range.

But Everleigh gets lucky when she overhears three guys in a coffee shop discussing a spare room for rent. So she follows them when they leave in the hope she can nab the room for herself.

Only the room is out of her price range. So she strikes a deal with the guys instead.

Which leaves Everleigh living with three football players Nico, Coop and Dollar. Who are the kings of the campus. Especially Nico. The most sought after guy on campus and a player on and off the field. And the one roommate who didn't want Everleigh moving in.

Oh, and the one guy Everleigh may have a tiny crush on.

But Nico doesn't do relationships and feels having Everleigh around will change everything. And he's right. Just in ways he could never imagine.

And with a great sense of found family, a delightful slow burn romance and really likable characters. This was an extremely enjoyable introduction not only to Monica Murphy but this new series too and I'll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.

Everleigh was excited to start her junior year, having just transferred to UC Santa Mira. That was until, at the very last minute, her housing accommodations fell through. Now she's left without a place to live. Until she overhears three guys talking about needing to find another roommate. So she did what any desperate person would do, she tells them she's looking for a room. Now she's living with three football players, one who is exceptionally sexy. But they are roommates, and she's not going to get involved with him no matter what.

End Game is the first book of The Kings of Campus series, and it was really fun. I enjoyed the relationship development between Everleigh and Nico. It was a very slow burn as Everleigh was skeptical to get involved with her roommate, and Nico wasn't exactly the relationship type. I thought the side characters were phenomenal and can't wait to read their stories. If I'm being honest, I actually liked some of the side characters more than I did the two MC. But that's just because I couldn't stand all the noncommunucation between Ever and Nico. Otherwise, this was a solid sports romance with your normal egotistical college jock guys.

What a great college football romance! Loved how Everleigh and Nico met and how they tried to fight their feelings but ended up finally giving in. The relationships between the roommates was so much fun and loved the banter! Could not put this book down. Great steamy and swoony moments. Surprisingly emotional at spots too. This was my first Monica Murphy book but it definitely won't be my last. Can't wait to read more of this series!

This book was so cute! It had me laughing and had my heart hurting throughout the book. This is my first book by this author, but I am definitely going to go through and read her backlog! I love this couple together. I really hope one of the books in this series is going to be about Frank, he deserves some love. I am already excited for the rest of the series. I want it now.

This is the first book in the Kings of Campus series. This is the story of Ever and Nico. Ever is the new girl in town. However the house she was moving to fell though and now she has no place to live at all. She has moved to town to attended college and things couldn't have gone any worse for her. However, maybe fate is now being kinder to her when she overhears some guys needing a roommate. Never mind that it is three football players, desperate times call for desperate measures. Nico is a football player and now one of her roommates. Now he is not a guy your going to fall for right off the bat. I think I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with him. To be in college he wasn't the most mature person ever. He also has this thing where he don't communicate like you would think, he just thinks that gestures replace good conversations. However, he kind of grew on me as we went. Ivy is in a tough spot and she has some seriously hot roommates and a big old crush on Nico. I loved the banter and friendship that all the guys shared. I love that this book was not an instalove read. I like when they have to work for what they have. Now I can't wait for the next book in this series.

I think I aged out of this book. It felt way too young for me. I should have been tipped off when words like rizz and simp started appearing. The characters lacked maturity or depth, and stereotypically, maybe that was the goal in writing college-age individuals. But even for their age, the personalities were incredibly shallow. The stereotypes were a little much - the player guys that don’t want a girl to invade their space and change them (since when was lighting a candle a purely female activity?). Then the young female in distress and in need of rescue and she gets housing in exchange for cooking for the boys. Meh. A little too Snow White for me. This will be someone’s cup of tea for sure. I think I’m just not the target audience and that’s ok!

Cozy in for a lighthearted college love story. Nico is the starting running back, going through his senior year aiming to have fun with no entanglements. He wasn’t bargaining for a new roommate though to occupy his attention. Everleigh is a college transfer student who finds herself homeless and appeals to 3 college football players to let her stay with them when she overhears they have a room to rent. Then the fun begins! The story is a snapshot of college life for a semester and two people who don’t want to fall for each other but can’t stop it. I wish the epilogue had gone out a little further but It’s a cute story for a weekend.

Roommates with chemistry
This is the start of a new college football series and I’m looking forward to reading about the rest of the team.
After a string of bad luck leaves Everleigh homeless just after arriving for college she manages to talk her way into moving into the Football House.
Ever and Nico had great chemistry, thick tension and fun banter.
With engaging characters, humour, drama, emotion, angst, some twists, slow-burn steam and wonderful friendships, this is a great read.

To start, this is my first time reading a book by Monica Murphy. I do own one other book written by them but I have yet to get to it yet (#lifestory) I jumped at reading this because, I mean, sports romance?! Also, the premise of a girl choosing to be roommates with 3 football stars and try not to fall for one of them? HA! Ya right. I remember I read something like this on Wattpad YEARS ago and I was so ready for all the tension, steam, and passion…Ya, that was not it with this 😅
TO start, the characters are supposed to be 23 years old, in university/college. Based on their actions throughout the WHOLE book, I’d think they were like 12 or 13. While this is supposed to be a New Adult book, I felt it read more like a New Young Adult (and honestly, if I took out the maybe 10 pages of “romance” between the main 2 characters, I would willingly give this to high school students to read 🙈)
The main characters were just SO immature. I mean, they literally just yelled at each other. I think they were maybe chill with each other for like, 30 pages total? Besides that they just yelled or were giving the silent treatment to others (real mature for 23 year olds, which is not to say that everyone is SUPER mature at that age, but COMMON). The MMC was supposed to be this huge player but only ever mentions one girl? It was weird. Also, the FMC just instantly deciding the she loves him (after like ripping his head off for months) after dating him for less than a week? I mean, I am all for the insta-love but this was just weird (and also in the literal last 5% of the book 😬)
So, while they were just literally bickering the entire book, I really did love the side characters. They were so fun and I felt closer to them than I did the main ones.
I just want to leave you with this one line, that no where in my 26 years have I ever, EVER, heard a 23 year old guy say nor text this (it may be slightly different since I did have an eARC of this book, but like, 🤷‍♀️)

“I’m whipped, I’m soooo in loooooooooove, I’m a simp, I’m a pussy, I’m all of the above. I laugh along with them and tell them all to go to hell, but I never, ever deny it” (I truly wish I was lying, but this is what was coming from the MMC 🙈)

Will I be trying more from this series? I’m not 100% sure, but I will try and read the other book I own from them and go from there.

Thank you to Valentine PR for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review 💕

This was a fast-paced and entertaining read, particularly for those who love sports romances. The chemistry between the main characters is undeniable and kept me thoroughly engaged from the start. The plot is captivating and kept me eagerly reading. A major highlight is the well-developed side characters, who bring extra dimension to the story. I'm excited to see how they grow in future books in the series.

This is Book 1 in the Kings of Campus Series by this author. It is a captivating opposites attract romance between college roommates, Everleigh and Nico. These incredible characters are easy to fall for. The sparks, chemistry, tension and emotions really zing back and forth between them. The storyline offers an addicting combination of feels, heart, swoon, laughter, drama and twists, with stellar secondary characters. Funny, sweet, insightful and inspiring, you won’t want to miss this charming love story!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Valentine PR and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

End Game is a rule breaker destined to illicit all the feels. From sensory to emotional, Murphy pushes every button on a fast track to the heart. Over the top and under the radar collide to deliver an experience, you won't soon forget.

I’m excited for this new series. I loved Everleigh’s relationship with her roommates, and of course Nico. This college/football/roommates/slow burn romance was really sweet. Four stars

His Saving Grace: A Later in Life Military Veteran Romance (An Austin After Dark Book 4) by Alexa Padgett is a 2nd chance romance between Steve, the biological father of Nash (platinum record rock star), and a close family friend Jasmine, known as mama to all close loved ones. His Saving Grace is about two characters who have loved and lost and live with past regrets but attempt to move on. Steve wants to move on, but trauma from his past has stunted his ability to move forward in a relationship with Jasmine, even though he craves closeness and love. Jasmine desires the companionship and closeness she once had with her first husband, who died serving in the military decades ago. Jasmine’s second husband was the brother of her first husband, which has left her with emotional scars and a lifetime of regrets. After a one-and-done with Steve, Jasmine had hoped for more. Add in the meddling girl crew of her two daughters-in-law, her daughter, and a close family friend, which leads to many dates that lead to disaster. At the same time, Steve looks on, seeping in jealously. Alexa Padgett gives the matriarch of her Austin After Dark series her HEA in this interlocking stand-alone love story.

This is the first book in the Kings of Campus series by Monica Murphy and my first book by this author. Sports Romance and New Adult romance are my jam, so the blurb totally caught my attention and I would like to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Just a little FYI - if specific genres are your jam this also hits Forced Proximity, Roommates to Lovers, Opposites Attract, and specifically Football Romance.

Everleigh is a transfer student that found herself unexpectedly homeless after her housing fell through at her new university. While trying to rally and find herself a new place to stay, she overhears three guys talking about a room becoming available for rent and she approaches them in order to rent the room. (And this is the only part of the book where I was like....hmmmm, no college student I know would do this because she follows them home to ask about the room with no clue who they are or where they are going. I work on for a university and this goes against everything these ladies learn and are constantly told! SAFETY but I digress.)

Little does she know how much her life will change. Due to the agreement she made with the three guys, she quickly integrates into their lives, and she fits in pretty well. The relationship between Ever and Nico develops like a lot of real-life relationships - meaning the swoony romance some people expect in a romance novel seems a little played down. It felt more realistic with the attraction between the characters being the primary focus and Ever not wanting to settle for what all the other girls have had before her.

I like the roommate dynamic. I enjoyed that this was an engaging, quick read (an afternoon is all you need!) and I will be looking for the next book in the series. (Gotta see what happens to the roomies! Especially Frank - I hope he finds everything his heart desires.)

End Game is the first book in the new Kings of Campus series by Monica Murphy. It's a new adult close proximity, sports romance, and it was amazing! I've loved all of this author's series', but especially the high school/college sports romance series', so I was thrilled when I heard about this new series. Nobody does new adult (high school/college) like Monica, and she does not miss a beat with this one!

This first installment features Nico and Everleigh. I loved them together! The whole story was fantastic from beginning to end, and I really can't wait for Sienna and Gavin's story! This series promises to be amazing, just like the Callahans! Highly recommended with way more than five stars!

Seriously!!! Ugh, Monica literally writes the most perfect men! Each series, her men and females just suck you into their story and make you feel like it's your real life! Not only do you get all the feels, but you get an epic 5 star read! I feel like this is going to be my favorite series yet!!!And Nico is ugh swoon worthy and I'm obsessed

Loved Nico!! He’s definitely an all time favorite! Grumpy football player falls for his girl roommate! The story line very slow burn but loved it!

This author is one of my go-to for amazing football romance reads. End Game was everything and more. Definitely a slow burn romance but every page pulls you in.

Everleigh was such a likable and brave character. She left everything she knew to move and attend a college where she didn’t know anyone. Only to have everything blow up in her face once she arrived. So she found herself homeless, until she over heard a few guys at a coffee shop talking about needing a roommate.

Nico isn’t too happy to have Everleigh move in and anytime she is near, he is turns into a grumpy jerk. He doesn’t understand his feelings or thoughts towards her. It is once he realizes he may be attracted to his roommate that things become a little clear. But does she feel the same.

I loved the vulnerability and insecurity they both had, it made them seem so realistic.

End Game by Monica Murphy is a fun, addictive college sports romance that had me hooked from start to finish! Everleigh and Nico’s chemistry is undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship evolve from friends to something more, despite their differences. Everleigh’s new “family” of roommates added depth to the story, with plenty of humor and support, especially when Nico was being difficult. The close proximity trope worked perfectly here, and I enjoyed the way Everleigh found her place both in Nico's life and with her friends. This is a great start to the Kings of Campus series, and I can't wait for more!