This was a cute, quick read. I enjoyed the story of Everleigh who stumbles upon a room for rent when she overhears men talking in a restaurant. After losing her room she had for rent unexpectedly, and being new in town, she is desperate and is open to whatever she can find. She follows the guys and they open up and let her rent the room, not knowing how she will change their lives for the better. Everleigh learns quickly that these guys aren’t just normal college students, but some of the best football players in the country and beloved players of the Dolphins College team. Around here, they’re like celebrities. Everleigh, aka Ever, finds her groove in the house while teaching yoga to the guys, cooking dinner, and slowly falling for Nico, the ladies man in the house. Over time, Nico realizes his feelings for Everleigh, but is it a bad idea to see someone you live with?

If you enjoy…
Sports romance
College romance
Opposites attract
He falls first
Found family

You’ll enjoy this quick and cute love story!

I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is a new series by the author and it takes place in college and involves players on the football team. Aside from games they play and parties, it is very light on the sports part of it. I really loved it and got caught up with all love,lust, romance, hot scenes between the two main characters, Everleigh and Nico.

I really loved the whole group that we meet. Nico is the strong, silent but hot guy, Cooper is the friendly and kind roomie who has an awesome sister, Sienna that Ever becomes close to. And Frank/Dollar is the guy that stalks and falls for girls at first glance. Gavin is a non-roomie but Sienna has a huge thing for him while he has never noticed her. They all welcome Ever and introduce her to college life.

I loved watching Ever make friends and enjoy college life while falling hard for Nico. And I adored Nico. He is a good guy who a lot of people never really get to know. He lets Ever in and I adored watching them fall for each other. I cannot wait for more in this fun series.

End Game (Kings of Campus) by Monica Murphy
Rating: 3.5/5
Tropes: Sports romance, forced proximity, found family, college romance.

End Game by Monica Murphy is the first book in the Kings of Campus series. This is my first read from Monica Murphy and I can assure you it won’t be my last.

In End Game we follow the story of Nico and Everleigh. Everleigh is a transfer student who is trying to make her way through college life, and Nico, is the angsty football player.

End Game was a great read. The main characters as well as the supporting characters were so perfectly written and really brought this story to life.

If you’re looking for the perfect college sports romance that leaves you feeling all the feels, then this book is definitely for you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Montlake, and the author, Monica Murphy, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

3 1/2 stars- I have read Monica Murphy's The Players series so I was looking forward into digging into another sports series from her. This was a quick read for me. I really liked the element of found family in this book and the bond all the characters shared as the book progressed, such as Everleigh leading yoga sessions for the team. I liked Everleigh, but I struggled a bit to connect with Nico. I would read the next book in this series.

Title: End Game (Kings of Campus) by Monica Murphy
Release Date: September, 17th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


"End Game (Kings of Campus)" by Monica Murphy offers a fun and steamy college romance filled with charming characters and engaging drama.

Everleigh's journey as a transfer student navigating the ups and downs of college life is both relatable and endearing. Despite facing challenges, her positive outlook shines through, making her a protagonist readers can root for. The dynamic between Everleigh and Nico, the brooding football player, adds depth to the story, with their slow-burning romance delivering plenty of tension and emotional payoff.

The supporting cast of characters, particularly the housemates, brings additional layers to the narrative, creating a sense of found family and camaraderie. However, some pacing issues may leave readers wanting more tension and build-up in certain scenes, especially in the development of Everleigh and Nico's relationship.

This is a delightful read for fans of college sports romances, offering a mix of heartfelt moments, steamy encounters, and entertaining drama.


Thank you to The Publisher Montlake , The Author Monica Murphy & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read End Game, but it just did not do it for me. I could not get into it. It was slow, there was no chemistry between the characters, I just didn't feel it. Unfortunately I had to DNF.

The book description had me so excited to read this book and the tropes sounded great! Sports romance, forced proximity, opposites attract, roommates to lovers, college romance 🫶🏻 BUT this book fell short for me 😭

We didn’t see enough interactions between Everleigh and Nico, and the few scenes we did see didn’t convince on their romance. We saw a lot of descriptions about their attraction for one another but there was zero chemistry or tension. I was more interested in Sienna and Gavin’s story tbh

Nico is arrogant, sooo popular (he apparently needs security to ward off his fans but I never saw this) and allllll the ladies want him (I wasn’t convinced on this). He was a man child, he couldn’t communicate, and thinks cooking dinner will make everyone forgive him (where’s the grovel?). Everleigh wasn’t any better, she was boring with no personality and couldn’t communicate either.

I had a hard time with the book pacing, some scenes dragged out and others were too quick and left me unsatisfied. I wouldn’t say their romance was instalove because it was only towards the end of the book where they got together, but it went from 0 to 100 so it felt like instalove??

I enjoyed the friendship between all the roommates, and imagining the yoga scenes with all the big football players was entertaining. I think if you enjoy a college sports romance with a reformed playboy, maybe give this one a go and see if it’s for you.

End Game is extremely character driven; main characters, secondary characters, and even background characters were all deeply involved within the story. That being said...that yes, the main romance revolves around the central couple of Nico and Everleigh, if it wasn't for the rest of the characters, I'm not sure how invested I would have been with Nico and Everleigh if it hadn't been for everyone else picking up the plot. 

So let me explain....

Everleigh finds herself in a predicament when she transfers to UC Santa Mira and needs a place to live. Without going to much into detail, she moves into an empty room available at the home where Nico, Cooper and Frank also known as Dollar live. She has no idea who these men are, just that they have an available room and that she needs one she she isn't sleeping in her car. 

I would just like to raise a red flag, because who moves into a strange house with three strange men, but I realize this is fiction, so I let it go for the sake of the plot, but please single ladies, don't do this. Ever.

As for the the three guys, they like her because Everleigh has no idea who they are. Again, I won't go into all the detail, except to say that they enjoy the anonymity that she brings. As footballers they are used to the jersey chasers and while they need to rent the room, they also don't need the crazy that comes with over enthusiastic women. The three guys; Cooper, Frank, and Nico decide to take a chance and come to an agreement to move Everleigh in realizing she is new to school, she will literally sleep in her car which is unsafe, and especially for Coop, Everleigh reminds him of his sister. Frank is a bit enamoured of her, but that infatuation is quickly laid to rest. As for Nico...he's the leary one, but with his past he has a reason to be.

Among the secondary characters we also have - Cooper's sister, Sienna, who becomes Everleigh's best friend and Gavin, who is the team's quarterback who is one of Nico's best buds too. This is the core group and unlike some romance books where secondary characters come and go, the core group is there in basically every chapter. They made the plot fun and quirky and definately spiced things up. 

I enjoyed the camaraderie between the guys, the girls and even with Everleigh and her roommates. It's honestly the relationship between Nico and Everleigh that fizzled here and there. They both have baggage that stunts anything from budding in the beginning and then keeps their chemistry from really taking off. At least that was how I personally felt.

I did enjoy getting to watch the others begin potential relationships or even destroy some possibilities of ones. Like I said, they made the plot worth reading and why the book got a 4.5 rating over all.

"End Game" by Monica Murphy is a sizzling college romance that will leave you cheering for love against all odds!

In this captivating novel, we follow Everleigh, a transfer student whose college experience takes an unexpected turn when her housing plans fall through at the last minute. Desperate for a place to stay, she seizes the opportunity to move in with a group of football players, thinking they'll be nothing more than roommates.

But fate has other plans when Ever finds herself drawn to Nico, a football player who makes her heart race like no one else. Despite their undeniable chemistry, they both know they want different things in life and giving in to their attraction seems like a recipe for disaster.

Nico, a senior gearing up for his final season with the Santa Mira Dolphins, has no room for distractions. Yet, Ever is an irresistible temptation, challenging his resolve at every turn. Their banter is electric, their connection undeniable, and sparks fly in more ways than one as they navigate the ups and downs of living together.

Monica Murphy delivers a story filled with passion, humour, and heart, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The tension between Ever and Nico is palpable, and watching them dance around their feelings is both frustrating and utterly delightful. With each page, you'll find yourself rooting for them to overcome their differences and find a way to be together.

But "End Game" isn't just about romance but also friendship, growth, and taking chances. The supporting cast of characters adds depth and humour to the story, making you feel like part of their tight-knit group.

In "End Game," Monica Murphy has crafted a captivating romance that will make you swoon, laugh, and maybe even shed a tear. So, if you're looking for a book that will warm your heart and leave you grinning from ear to ear, look no further than "End Game." Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

I’ve been wanting to read Monica Murphy for a long time now and I’ve finally bitten the bullet!

This book was a perfect little palette cleanser. It was a short and sweet sports romance, what more could you want?

I love the dynamic when a girl has to live with guys as her roommates. I just think it’s so fun and reminds me of The Chase by Elle Kennedy! It’s fun, full of banter and a little bit of drama thrown into the mix!

Everleigh developed such a good relationship with each of the guys in the house, but I was WEAK for her and Nico! I love me a reformed playboy / alpha hole and Nico was so good! A little grumpy, but soft on the inside and I loved seeing their relationship develop.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
- Football Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Roommates
- Found Family
- Banter
- College Romance
- Reformed Playboy

End Game is a quick college sports romance.

It follows Everleigh, a new transfer student who is down on her luck, and Nico, the popular football player that everybody knows and loves.
Everleigh, who is newly homeless, has no choice but to room with three football players, and what ensues is friendship, love, and a whole lot of drama.
Coop is like a brother to Everleigh, and his sister Sienna quickly befriends her. Frank (Dollar) is annoying and a little dim-witted, but you can't help but love him. Nico is a player who can't commit, but that quickly changes when Everleigh brings out his soft side.
The dynamics between the roommates and their banter made this a fun read. I loved the yoga scenes and could picture these burly football players trying to do a downward dog pose.
I liked all the secondary characters, and I hope that means we will see more of them and read about their storylines.

The only thing I had a hard time with was the pacing. Some scenes felt so long, while others were wrapped up too quickly. I thought it took a while for Everleigh and Nico to get together; I guess it felt slow burnish, but then when they did get together, it just happened so quickly. I'm glad it wasn't insta-love, but I wanted to feel more tension and build-up between them.

Overall, if you love college sports romances with fantastic secondary characters and fun drama, I recommend picking this one up.
Thank you NetGalley, Monica Murphy and Montlake for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows Nico and Everleigh. Nico is the big man on campus, he is one of the captains of UC Santa Mira football team. He is your typical arrogant jock that all the ladies want (which is mentioned numerous times). Everleigh is your “I’m not like other girls” girl. Everleigh is looking for a place to stay when her living situation falls through at the last possible moment. She is in need of a place to stay when she overhears that a group of guys mentioned their roommate bailed last minute and are looking for a roommate. The guys agree with the condition that she cooks three times a week for them, which she agrees.

I gave this book two stars. I did not give this book a one star because I enjoyed the first half of the book. I felt Nico and Everleigh had a good pace and good amounts of interaction and tension. I was enjoying the book up until the fifty percent mark. After the fifty percent mark my enjoyment went down fairly quickly. The story felt rushed after that. I did not enjoy Nico’s character. He is a literal man child who throws a tantrum when things don't go his way. He was easily forgiven by everyone after a quick dinner. The things he said/did were irredeemable in my eyes. Nico’s inability to communicate is such a turn off. Everleigh was pretty boring. Her whole personality is that “she is not like other girls”. She also could not communicate her feelings to save her life. There is also a scene when they finally get together that I did not like, under the circumstances they were in.There was a pretty big red flag. I also did not feel the chemistry between the two characters.

At first I was looking forward to the future books. The side characters were being set up nicely. Things took a drastic turn with the events toward the end of the book. The men in these books are assholes in my opinion, except for maybe Coop.

Thank you once again Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Monica Murphy is queen of sport romance and this new series is a hit!

Everleigh and Nico’s story from the start was so fun. There wasn't a moment that I was bored. One thing that I loved was the Dual Pov, it always makes the story more engaging and I love that we can see from both perspectives and their story was so sweet. Everleigh is new to UC Santa Mira and her housing falls through so she ends up rooming with 3 football players and as much as Nico tries to resist thinking about her, she is always on his mind. I loved that he seems tough and all broody and grumpy but he's so soft and sweet and caring and the found family trope was so good. I love when a group of people find each other and become friends and family. I love the he falls hard and harder trope and it works so well. I loved their chemistry and relationship dynamic and I cannot wait to see the rest of the series.

I liked this book overall but felt that it was kind of slow and there was lots of ways the book could have grown!

Overall it was a good book and I liked the friendships between the roommates and I loved all the secondary characters as I felt they brought a lot to the book.

It felt though that the book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger in the sense there was lots that had been mentioned but didn’t see the outcome. An epilogue would have been fantastic to kind of fully wrap up the story.

A close proximity, college romance, and the first book in the new Kings of Campus series. Everleigh transfers to UC Santa Mira only to have her housing fall through. When she hears a group of boys talking about needing a new roommate, she is quick to insert herself into their living situation. She finds herself with a mutual attraction to Nico, a senior football player. Sparks fly and what they both know is a bad idea becomes irresistible.

Monica Murphy is a go-to author for me. I love her writing and the series that she puts together are like their own little worlds that you don't want to leave.

In this new series we meet Everleigh.and Nico. Everleigh may have just made the biggest mistake of her life. Transferring to a new college in her junior year was always going to be tough, but having her housing fall through, her car broken into, and nowhere left to turn, she's all out of options. Luckily, she overhears 3 footballers say they need to find a new roommate, and manages to convince them to let her move in. She's finally found her feet, and her new roommates are great. The only problem is her growing crush on Nico, the one guy she should never want, but can't stop thinking about.

I can't wait to read more from this author and this series.

This is the first book of the Kings of Campus series. This was a first Monica Murphy read for me but will definitely not be the last. I enjoyed seeing the growth of Everleigh and her positive outlook on everything, despite having an (extremely) rough start. I truly loved all of the characters — except Portia 🙄— I loved the slow burn of their relationship, and I loved the found family that came from them all becoming roommates and friends. I, as always, enjoyed the dual POV, and cannot wait to continue to read the rest of this series. I would have loved to get a little more with their relationship, but I’m hoping we will get more of that in the books to come in the future. Thank you to Monica Murphy, Montlake, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! This book will be released September 17, 2024.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Nico and Ever were everything! Loved all the other guys too! Can't wait for the next in this series of standalones. Bravo Monica, Bravo!

After moving unis, Everleigh finds herself in a new town with nowhere to live. That is until she overhears three guys discussing there need for a fourth roommate in the local coffee shop. What she doesn’t realise is, these aren’t just any guys - they’re THE guys on campus, all playing for the college football team.

As you’d expect, Everleigh ends up feeling more than friendship for one of her new roomies, and a tale of lust and longing is created.

I got sucked into this book so easily, it was a light and fun read. I do think there were a few starts of plot lines that were quickly dropped that I’d liked to have seen more off - but this has the makings of a fun series of interconnected standalones.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Endgame by Monica Murphy is the first book of the Kings of Campus series and is a college romance with a football-based subplot with some comedic elements weaved in.

However, it was unfortunately not my favorite. I had difficulty being engaged in Everleigh and Nico’s journey. The main characters were quite bland, and there wasn’t anything extraordinary about them or the storyline.

I did enjoy Everleigh finding herself throughout the story and pushing herself in a good way at UC Santa Mira despite the rough start she had.

Murphy excels at writing school-setting romances. The Lancaster Prep series is one of my favorites in that category, and I’d recommend checking it out if you enjoy those types of settings. However, End Game fell a little flat for me.

Thank you to the publisher; Montlake, the author; Monica Murhpy, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my unbiased opinion and is given with free will.