Absolutely Unputdownable!

End Game by Monica Murphy delivered everything I love in a sports romance — heart-pounding tension, emotional depth, and sizzling chemistry. The dynamic between Everleigh and her football-star roommates is electric, with so much more than just the typical college romance. Everleigh is strong and independent, making her an incredibly relatable protagonist, while the love interest is the perfect blend of cocky and vulnerable.

The pacing of the story kept me on the edge of my seat, and I loved how the emotional stakes were so high — every interaction between the main couple felt crucial, pulling me deeper into their world. Monica Murphy has this knack for writing characters you can't help but root for, and I found myself fully invested in their journey from the start.

If you're looking for a college sports romance with depth, humor, and a ton of heart, End Game is an absolute must-read. I can't wait to see where the Kings of Campus series goes next! Monica Murphy has knocked it out of the park again! 🏈💘

This was such a quick and sweet read!

College setting. Everleigh is a new transfer student whose housing fell through and she happens upon a group of guys looking for a new roommate.

Nico is a football star at the school with girls throwing themselves at him.

Definitely a lot of set up as this is a new series and new world to us from the brilliant Monica Murphy.

I do love a good reformed bad boy - I wish there was more important conversations between the two.

Would I Recommend?: Yes!

Overall I enjoyed the book, the story between a college football player and the new student who came to shake up the lives of her roommates.

The relationship between Nico and Everleigh is slow, very slow and although at times I wanted to slap him, it caught my attention.
Maybe it started slow, and the end was very rushed but I enjoyed turning each page.
I liked the relationship between everyone, the friendship, the interaction and how Everleigh and Sienna become best friends.
I want to know the story between Sienna and Gavin, what would happen with Cooper's future, and especially with Dollar.
It was a good read for me novel

Thank you ValentinePR for the ARC

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧

Oh, how I love Monica Murphy and her inability to write an amazing story that will grab hold of your heart and consume you from page one and not let go until way after you’ve finished the book.

You’ll enjoy this book if you like these tropes… ♡

✿ Sports Romance
♡ Alpha Hero
✿ Bad Boy/Good Girl
♡ College Football
✿ Forced Proximity
♡ Grumpy/Sunshine
✿ Opposites Attract
♡ Roommates-To-Lovers
✿ Undeniable Chemistry
♡ Slow Burn
✿ Found Family
♡ Reformed Playboy
✿ Top Tier Banter
♡ Enemies-To-Lovers
✿ Awesome Secondary Characters
♡ Athlete

This is the first book in the King of Campus series and I’m not going to lie. It took me a few chapters to really start to connect with the story and the characters, which isn’t normally the case when it comes to Monica Murphy. In saying this, it was still a great read once I did get over that hump. I devoured the second half in under a few hours.

Everleigh is a new college student and is having a run of bad luck after her living situation falls through and her car gets broken into, she is left homeless and in desperate need of a place to stay. Just when she thought all was lost, she overhears a small group of guys talking about how they need a roommate. She wastes no time and immediately introduces herself and convinces the guys to let her move in.

These guys… Oh, boy! Everleigh has no idea what she’s gotten herself into! These boys are not just your regular jocks. They are the “it” crowd on campus, they are royally and are treated like royalty. They are some of the best footballers around!

These guys and Everleigh come up with a plan that if Everleigh cooks and keeps the place clean then they would make it affordable for her to stay with them.

You’d think this was the perfect setup, right? Well, it was… Until Everleigh started to develop feelings for Nico, unfortunately, he’s got a bad reputation when it comes to women and relationships… Or lack thereof. He’s more of a one-night-stand guy who doesn’t call his conquests back. A hit it and quit it. A pash and a dash…. You catch my drift… However, even though Nico is closed off and will give her the cold shoulder one minute show her this kinder side the next. You can clearly see that Everleigh has gotten under his skin but he refuses to admit it and claims he’s not interested in a relationship and she has made it clear that she’s not just interested in hookups. They try and fight the attraction they have for each other but living together isn’t helping the situation and the attraction only intensifies and they continue to get closer, the sexual tension and chemistry are undeniable and they keep things as innocent as possible but when an ex pops up, everything changes and it pushes them even closer together…..

Will these two finally let themselves be together and stop fighting with undeniable attraction and chemistry? Will it all fall apart and will lose each other completely


As I said above, it took me a bit to get into this book but once I did, it was enjoyable and easy 4 STAR read!!

4 STARS

This was such a cute, fun read that laid a good foundation for the rest of the series. I loved the chemistry and the relationship development between Nico and Everleigh, the push and pull of a slow burn was perfectly done. I loved the dynamics of all the roommates, definitely gave me New Girl vibes and I loved them all. I can't wait to see where this series goes.

I really liked this one! It was a fast and easy read, and just what I needed right now. I liked the characters, and the side-characters were so amazing as well. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

i read the whole thing but the MMC was kinda annoying, i loved the side characters though and can’t wait for their books

Transferring to UC Santa Mira is supposed to be my ultimate college experience—until housing falls through at the last minute. So when I overhear a group of guys complaining they need another roommate, I jump at the opportunity.

They’re just football players. Even if one of them makes me weak in the knees, it doesn’t mean anything unless I let it. And I won’t.

We want different things. Wanting each other doesn’t change that.

Nico

It’s my senior year and final season with the Santa Mira Dolphins. The last thing I need is a distraction, but that’s exactly what this girl is. Ever is too leggy, too gorgeous, too thoughtful—and a whole lot of too much that gets under my skin.

I guess I get under hers too. I can’t help myself.

We live together. That alone makes it a bad idea…but I never could resist a little trouble.

Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

End Game is the first book in the Kings of Campus series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Everleigh was a little shy, considering she didn’t know anyone on campus, and she’d just moved into a house of football players. But the guys quickly took to her, as friends…except for Nico. There was something between them that they both tried to deny.

Ever and Nico were so good together! They had great banter, and they actually became friends before falling for each other. And I loved how she didn’t just let his charm or flirting get to her; he had to work to get a chance.

The found family with his teammates was great as well. And I’m so curious about them, so I can’t wait for their stories.

Sweet and tempting. Monica Murphy is such a wonderful author. I love her. End Game was fantastic! Such great chemistry.

I love how Monica began this series! I was hooked from the very start! 👏🏻 End Game is the first book in the new Kings of Campus series. I knew as soon as l Everleigh met Nico and the boys, they were going to become something. (Yes I went in blind with the characters’ names.) Shocker! 😆

This was a quick read for me because I absolutely adored it! It was a cute football romance with lots of tension and build up. Everleigh and Nico came with plenty of drama and I was here for it!

I did not finish this book. and wanted to leave a review explaining why for transparency to other readers.

The description of this book made me really excited to read it. A sports romance with all of the tropes I usually love, but unfortunately the characters ruined it for me. I spent half of my time reading this book sighing in frustration and wanting to throw my kindle across the room. I struggled to latch onto the story and I couldn't focus on reading more than a few pages at a time.

Nico, the MMC, was a non-communicative man child who didn't understand or appreciate where he went wrong and would upset other people. I felt his character was written and came across in such a childish and immature manner. Everleigh, the FMC, was actually a really boring character and she like Nico, had ZERO communication skills. I am a 31 year old woman, so maybe it's just that my College Romance reading days have passed by me.

I did enjoy the friendship group to an extent, but it's not enough to make me want to continue with this series I'm afraid.

Other readers seems to share similar views, so maybe the author will make some tweaks going forward.

*I did not post this review on any other platform.*

I loved this book. It was such an easy read because the story was so fun and easy to read. I loved the characters in this book and how the story was developed. I really felt for Dollar. He is so sweet and caring but keep coming on to strong! I so hope that he will find someone.
Is did hoped we could get some more background information over everleigh and Nico just to get to know them some better. But the story between them was fun to read and I’m excited to see what more is to come in this new series!

If you are looking for a cute, fun sports romance that gives you a bit of break from the heavier reads, this might be for you.

EverLeigh transferred colleges and was left homeless when her housing fell through. She ended up getting a room with three guys from the football team. She becomes really great friends with them and their teammates while also developing feels for one. Nico is a stereotypical jock playboy that doesn’t want to be tied down but in close proximity, starts falling for the new roommate.

Her new friend, Sienna, is probably the worst part of this book. She’s obsessed with the QB who literally has no idea and clearly doesn’t care. Same with the roommate, Frank. Obsessed with every girl that he sees. Maybe they end up together.. the book could have done without those two.

This brought me back to the core of Monica Murphy's books that I love so much. "End Game" was right in there, giving me the same feelings from my favorite books of hers - and I loved it so much!

Everleigh and Nico's story had so many layers to it, yet Monica kept it relatively light and fun despite the challenges of the main characters. I was riveted from go and felt like I could just keep reading this story for so much longer.

As always, Monica's writing is always fabulous. Her stories and characters are just so well developed and in depth... both being so fully rounded. I love that part of her writing. And I was so excited when I began reading this and it brought me all the same feels as Monica's one series that is my absolute FAVORITE!!! A series I've read and re-read so many times, so to feel all those same feels for Nico and Everleigh was so amazing and it just made me want Monica to bring us so much more from this world, and from these characters! I loved the book and for anyone who loves a good college football story, then definitely read this one!

I wanted to read this book because of the description. I love a good sports romance. This was my first Monica Murphy book. The writing was good, despite a couple editing errors. I liked the characters and character development. My only complaint is that the story is slow. There was a lot of back and forth about whether the couple should be together or not. That’s not my favorite plot element, but the characters are likable.

End Game
@monicamurphyauthor
Available NOW!

ARC Review:

🏈New Adult
🏈Sports Romance
🏈Forced Proximity

End Game is my first book by Monica Murphey. This is a New Adult Sports Romance. Our mfc, Everleigh is in a tough spot when her housing falls through after transferring to a new campus. Thankfully, Everleigh overhears three guys talking about needing a roommate and makea her move. The three guys happen to be the stars of the football team. The mmc, Nico, is not the biggest fan of Everleigh moving in but gets outvoted by the other roommates Coop and Frank.

This is a fun, lighthearted read with charactera that are for the most part very likable. There is some back and forth about becoming more than roommates that I personally felt like could have been resolved a little earlier.There is a lot of potential stories with the side characters and I would be interested to see what happens with Coop, Frank, Sierra and Gavin.

You should read End Game if you are a fan of Monica Murphey, Sports Romance, New Adult and mild spice.

This book is AVAILABLE NOW!

Thank you Monica Murphey and team for the opportunity to receive an ARC.

#ARCReview #MonicaMurphey #NewAdult #SportsRomance #EndGame #Review #Bookstagram #bookdragon

This was an enjoyable hate to love sports romance. I enjoyed the plot and dynamics of the roommates and the star player. But I unfortunately somewhere along the way this feel flat for me. It has every ingredient to be an absolute new favorite read but their connection felt more superficial and I don’t think we got to see enough of their slower moments. I really wanted to open the dynamic of the relationship and see what made them work so perfectly together instead of being told. All over I hope there will be more books in this series and I truly enjoyed the side characters and the main characters as a couple.

I loveeeed this book so much!!!!
Monica Murphy writes some of my favourite football romance books and this was amazing!
When Everleigh needs a place to say, what could go wrong moving in with a house full of football players?
Nico was so attracted to her and I loveeeed it!! It was so angsty and slow burn and I just wanted them to get together already haha ! It was so good and I cannot wait for more from Monica!

𝙀𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚
- 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘺

Nicco Valente
Everleigh Olmstead
#1 King of Campus series

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity of ARC.

Everleigh is starting her term in UC Santa Mira as a junior, but before she could even begin she had lost her accommodation and got her car broken and all her stuff stolen. But nevertheless she somehow finds a place to live with three boys sharing the housing and getting into agreement to cook meals for them in order to cover a part of her rent.

Nicco is the popular guy among ladies not just for his sport but also for his notorious personality. He has this instant attraction towards Ever which he tried to fight but in the end lost.

This story was good but a slow burn which was a bit dragged and had a bit of less interesting plot compared to Monica's other books. There was constant back and forth between Nicco and Ever, despite their obvious interest in each other, just because of their past and insecurities.

A lot of loose ends in the book regarding the background of both Nicco and Ever ( their family, Nicco' dad, Ever's mom, her ex bf as the info was just so little) which I hope will get tied around as the series moves further. And I can't wait to read the story of Gavin and Sienna and even want to see how Dollar manages to get a girl who gives him the love he deserves.

All in all it was a good book but not what I had expected as per Monica's standard. Maybe it was just me and you might like it because it has all the good tropes you'd love.. Give it a try.. It's available on KU.

Toodles💕