A fun and sexy college open-door romance told in the dual, first point-of-view of Everleigh and Nico. Despite the forced proximity due to an unexpected roommate situation, their relationship development was quite the slow burn (yet had me wanting just a bit more of the connection aspect) and I was here for it! I loved the reformed playboy attitude of Nico and the vulnerability of Everleigh…The supporting characters were fun to get to know too-can’t wait for their stories!

This book is so adorable! Heart eyes all over!

I love Monica Murphy, she is without a doubt one of my auto-buy authors, no questions asked!

End Game tells the story of Nico and Everleigh. From the first time they meet chemistry happens, and all through the book the tension between them is so intense that it keeps us on edge with each turn of the page. And just when we think things are going to happen... Monica twists the game again, and we continue eagerly waiting for them get their HEA.

And let me tell you that this book is the EPITOME of SLOW BURN… OMG… So exquisitely slow.

This book is super light, which makes it super easy to read and the continuous succession of events keeps it fast-paced.

The entire dynamic of this group of friends, found family, is very well written, giving space to all the characters to show their personalities, and we begin to get glimpses of what is to come. And I'm definitely ready and eager to finally find out what happened between Sienna and clueless Gavin...

Monica Murphy DID IT AGAIN!

Nico is one of the star football players at the college that Everleigh has just transferred to. When she arrives she finds out that the room she was renting had been rented out to someone else. Sitting in the coffee shop trying to figure out what she’s going to do she hears the guys next to her talking about how they need a roommate. Nico is one of her new roommates. And despite how good looking he is she knows that he’s a playboy. And not what she’s looking for. Nico is full of himself, and admits he doesn’t want a relationship. He is attracted to Ever and knows she’s attracted to him. But when she turns him down he doesn’t know what to do or how to feel because he never gets turned down. This was a good story. It had me captivated from the very start. This is going to be such a good series I can’t wait for the next book!

I really enjoyed this! Everleigh was truly starting fresh, focused on finding her happiness, while Nico was living his best life, determined to make his final year of college unforgettable. They didn’t see each other coming, but watching their chemistry unfold with all the push and pull was amazing. The other characters were fantastic. Dollar especially stood out, and I’m hoping we get his story next. Honestly, I’d love to hear all the boys' stories!

I love this author and loved The Players series so had high hopes for this book.

I did enjoy it, but I think that’s because I do like a good angst story, and this book has got A LOT of it.
I liked the main characters and the whole group, and I am very much looking forward to the rest of the boys stories.

I did find that at times the characters felt immature - which I guess since this is a college romance could be assumed a given, but I just didn’t like that element of the story. I also felt like I waited a long long long long time for any 🔥 - though when it came it was worth the wait 🤣

Overall a good college sports romance

I truly adore when Monica Murphy writes football college romances - there’s always something about it so addictive and this book was no exception.

I fell for Nico right in the beginning and I loved how obsessed he became with Ever along the way - because dear Lord, who doesn’t love a boy obsessed?

There’s a lot of things I enjoyed in this book. Firstly, the pace!! So fast paced and easy reading - I couldn’t stop and I feel like I read the book so fast because of that!

Secondly, the group dynamic was *chef’s kiss* - everyone in this book brought something to the table and I adore that. The found family aspect and how the guys loved Everleight was one of the best things that happened in this book - I LOVED EVERYONE *not you, Portia!!!!* and I can’t wait to read the next books in this series because they will be SO FREAKING GOOD - I just know it.

The main couple's chemistry was so intense, I was on the edge of my seat every page because I just wanted for them to seal the deal RIGHT AWAY - the wait was killing me.

And Monica did it again: she made me want to read ANOTHER BROTHER’S BEST FRIENDS just based on every small moment she delivered us - I can’t wait for Gavin and Sienna. UGH, I need to know what the hell happened!

Short long story: read this one if you, like me, love college romance, forced proximity, found family and a reformed playboy!

End Game by Monica Murphy is the first book in the Kings of Campus series. I can already tell that this series is going to be a good one!

Nico and Everleigh have instant chemistry with just a look across a coffee shop. Nico and his roommates could be the answer to Everleigh's prayers...if she can stand to live with 3 stinky, messy men. Nico is a player when it comes to relationships, but he sees something different in Everleigh right away. Everleigh doesn't do the non-committed thing and you shouldn't date your roommate, right?

I loved this slow burn to explosive story so much! I felt an instant connection with everyone in the house, as well as Gavin and Sienna. Nico has this quality that just sucks you in from the beginning and Everleigh is so strong. You just can't help but love these two! I can't wait for the next books in the series!

I always love the start of a new series and Nico and Everleigh are just the couple to debut the Kings of Campus series.

As Everleigh transfers into UCSM for her senior year, she knows very little about campus, the possible job situation or the students.

Immediately in an unfortunate situation, she is desperately looking for a room to rent.

Overhearing some, as yet unknown, male students discussing their search for a house mate offers a solution to her problem.

This novel captured me from the very first page. Everleigh's vulnerabilities makes for an interesting start to this new series, introducing some of the successful football players on campus and how she befriends them...well all accept one!

Everleigh and Nico's journey is not, in my opinion, typical of what I expect in a college sports romance but it absolutely works for them.

Fast paced and interesting, with secondary characters we're sure to meet again and again, future books in the Kings of Campus series are already high on my tbr list.

Format: 📱 eBook 📱 (ARC)

This was my first read from Murphy, and I really enjoyed it. Starting out being thrown right into the action as Everleigh struggles to find a place to live before semester starts really puts you in the thick of the chaos. It's lucky that the stars align and that there's a spare room at Nico and his teammate's house - and so follows a great push/pull, banter filled, fantastic dynamic that leads to our roommates falling for each other.

You could feel the tension between Nico and Everleigh from the beginning, and I loved how much they both fought against their feelings for each other, promising to be friends - but we all know how that turns out. I do feel there could have been a bit more chemistry. There were also moments I felt we could have done with learning more about Everleigh - there were lots of hints and allusions, but nothing really solid cementing her past. I really loved the dynamic between Everleigh and the rest of the housemates (even if Dollar was a bit frustrating to begin with) - and enjoyed the peek into the potential MCs for the rest of the series.

This was a fast paced, quick read that had me sucked in from the start, filled with all my comfort tropes - college romance, sports romances, forced proximity - a slow burn that has you hooked, as well as a great cast creating a fantastic found family.

Thank you to the author, @valentine_pr_ and Netgalley for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.

End Game is book one in the Kings of Campus series by Monica Murphy.
A great football college romance story. With the best characters.
This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were great and witty.

College forced proximity...

Monica Murphy is back at it again. College, forced proximity, steam, opposites...
Ever needs housing and ends up living with a bunch of players. Boy football players.
One in particular, Nico catches her fancy, just as Ever catches Nico's fancy.
They want different things, they both don't need the distraction. But, hey, they are both hot college students living together. You so know exactly what's gonna happen...
Recommend.

I did not expect to love this book so much. It was the perfect mix of steam, heart, and humor. The characters were well written and lovable, except for Nico's ex; she was a trip. I really liked the relationships between the roommates and teammates; their banter kept me smiling. Everleigh was so sweet, and I was glad when she and Sienna became friends. There was more to Nico than met the eye, and I really enjoyed watching him fall so fast and hard for Everleigh. They had amazing chemistry and were so cute together. This was a delightful introduction to a new world. Now I need books for Cooper, Frank, and Seinna and Gavin ASAP!

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own

Cute romance, not too spicy, but there is some sprinkled throughout. I'm guessing there will be a series due to the way the author set up various characters.

One thing I disliked was some of the dialogue seemed too unbelievable. I just couldn't place it with the character's previous attitude or behaviour.

End Game is a fun, sexy college romance between college football star Nico and down-on-her-luck Everleigh, who ends up sharing a house with Nico and some of his teammates after her off-campus housing falls through.

Nico is your typical college jock: he doesn't do commitments, kind of has a big ego, and is a big playboy. But he can't shake the feelings he's developing for Everleigh, and that scares the crap out of him. On the other side, Everleigh sees herself as a Plain Jane, and can't fathom why the popular football star would ever want to be with her.

End Game is a super slow burn. There is definitely a lot of back-and-forth between Nico and Everleigh, and they have some heavy makeout sessions along the way, but the real getting together for this couple doesn't happen until about 85% into the book. And it was kind of refreshing that there is no miscommunication between the two of them and no Third Act Breakup. Their biggest obstacles are how they both can't seem to get out of their own ways, and are both incredibly insecure and scared when it comes to telling the other how they feel.


I really enjoyed getting to know the other roommates/friends in this book and look forward to seeing them find love. Especially Gavin and Sienna!!!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

End Game (Kings Of Campus, #1) by Monica Murphy

Entertaining, fun, full of great friendships, attraction, sizzling chemistry, college romance, and love. This story had me from the beginning till the end. I loved watching the push and pull, the yearning, and the angst, as these two fight their feelings for each other. I laughed, I sighed, I swooned, and I fell hard and fast for them with every turn of the page.

This is Everleigh and Nico’s journey and I loved every moment to their HEA!

Everleigh Olmstead is about to start her first semester at UC Santa Mira, she’s eager to make new friends, have new experiences, and just be . . . free for once. Only to be devastated on the day she arrives, when she finds out that the housing she had set up fell through and now she is homeless. Desperate to find a place, she overhears some guys talking about needing another roommate and follows them. After telling them her circumstances and that she wants to rent the room, they finally agree, after she agrees to to cook for them, but she has no idea who they really are except that they are football players.

Nico Valente is a senior and in his last year with the UC Santa Mira Dolphins hoping to be drafted into the NFL at the end of this season. With so much on the line he doesn’t need a distractions. And that is why he is against her being in the house. Nico is also a “player” and someone that all the girls want. “No” is a word he isn’t used to hearing, and a word that just draws him in more.

I loved Nico and Everleigh! I loved their sizzling chemistry, their stolen glances, their private moments, their jealous moments, and their secret obsession with each other. And the falling was everything and more that I crave in a romance.

I also loved all the fantastic secondary characters in this story and I can’t wait for the next books in this delicious new sports romance series!

I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

I'm wasn't too much in love with Ever's self-esteem. All the yes, but then running... "Make up your mind!" I felt like she had a lot to offer but was down on herself. Thank God she had roommates that valued her. What I did like is the life lessons. That was key to mold Nico into a better man. And a character worth liking. This is a slow burn book, but still entertaining. It feels at the end like this is just the beginning. Plus, it will leave you charmed by the rest of the roommates, wanting what comes next for them.

End Game is a fantastic read. I loved this one so much. The chemistry between Nico and Everleigh is chefs kiss. You feel for Everleigh at the beginning as one thing after another happens. Everleigh is a sweetheart and focused. Nico is a bit selfish but he has a big heart. I love how he is with the rest of the team. There is this lovely bond formed with Everleigh and the rest of her football team roommates that I adore. The fight of attraction between Everleigh and Nico is fantastic. I love this roommate/ sport romance so much. I could not put this down. You are just going to love Nico and Everleigh so much. You need to meet them today. Go one click this now.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one sitting. Nico is my new favorite book boyfriend. I LOVED him and reading his point of view in the first person was amazing. He was so sweet. The chemistry between Nico and Everleigh was off the charts from the first moment. 5 stars.
I received an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley and Valentine PR in exchange for an honest voluntary review.

I was so excited to read this one as it has some of my top tier tropes.
Sports romance, forced proximity, roommates, college romance.
But this fell so flat.
Everleigh was boring, but somehow perfect at everything and had everyone falling over their feet for her. Nico was annoying and just an asshole. And no matter how many times you tell me he is this womanizer, does not make me believe it. This was the definition of telling and not showing.
The pacing was wildly off. Moments we should have been expanding on, we rushed. Moments we shouldn’t be worried about, we wasted pages on.
If you are looking for a sports romance to just fill some time, this one is fine enough. But I can recommend numerous others that are worth your time over this.

Monica Murphy does it again!!! I have ended up falling in love with yet another character from one of her books, and was simultaneously smitten and annoyed by him that i could have screamed in his face and then told him thank you,

This was such an easy read and an absolute delight. There is nothing too overwhelming or crazy to understand before jumping into this because ultimately it is just a college sport romance. It delivered on every level that i thought it possibly could have, and again, was just such an easy going fun time.

This book is full of all of the usual things you would expect from a sports romance set in college. There's the frat bros and rest of the team mates who act in the way that only sport dudes can, jealous ex girlfriends who haven't taken a hint and also can't take no for an answer. Not to mention the sizzling chemistry between the main characters who become reluctant roommates and then something MORE!!!

I'll admit that i thought this book might get boring at points when i realised that the main characters didn't like each other in the beginning but i was so wrong! Yes, they don't really like each other but that's only because he is a bit of a control freak who thinks that she is going to move into his house (that he shares with some other team mates) and start changing everything and ruin the 'vibe'. And she doesn't like him because of how controlling and arrogant and mean he comes off as at the start. BUT, all of those walls start to slowly crumble away until they can't deny that they like each other!!! *Que manic squealing*
They end up spending a lot of time together one on one which is where all of the magic happens and they start to really see the other person in a new light. UNTIL, the obvious miscommunication starts to happen.
They both agree that they should only remain as friends because they are living together, have college to focus on, and don't want to ruin the dynamic in the house if it all goes sideways. I think that was really smart and grown up and was the perfect set up for all of the yearning and pining that happens after!!! Obviously, he can't stay away from her though because he is the DEFINITION of falling first and hard, but he is also super annoyed by these feelings and her constantly referring to him as a friend, and he obviously takes it out on her verbally. Not cool my guy. He has to go through this whole mental ordeal and talking to his family and friends to realise that he is being the problem not her, he is the reason they aren't together, and that he absolutely has to change his attitude if he wants to get the girl.
This is all because she was saying RIGHT FROM THE START that she wasn't a one night kinda girl, she needed to be in a relationship for that kinda thing to happen, but she wasn't ready/willing to jump into one with an almost total stranger.

Honestly, i HATE the miscommunication trope with my whole being most of the time. but i was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed this!!! I think it was just the right amount/length of miscommunication, and without anything too intense or mean or damaging being said that it was completely fezable for them to work it out and end up together!!!

Again, while i really really really enjoyed this book, devoured it and had the most fun, i felt SO FREAKING BAD for Frank (dollar). He had me feeling so many emotions and he was only a side character. I really hope that he gets his own book, because he needs a happily ever after!!! He was literally doing anything and everything he could think of to get a girlfriend, someone to love and love him back, because HE JUST WANTED TO BE IN LOVE AND LOOK AFTER SOMEONE!!!! He is a total hopeless romantic, the poor guy!!!

A huge thank you to Monica Murphy for giving me the chance to read yet another one of her books as an arc reader, it was a delight! <3