Sports 🏈
College
Roommates
Grumpy sunshine

Everleigh wanted to leave her small town and explore college life. She left with the bare minimum. Her first experience was less than stellar after losing her place to live. Being in the right place at the right time lands her in a house with 3 gorgeous football players. One in particular, catches her eye, Nico.

At UCSM- football is everything. The players need security guards. They are treated like kings. Nico takes full advantage.
He is very confident in his abilities on and off the field. He knows he is handsome and het knows he is a great football player. As a senior, he wants to focus more so that he can play well enough to get drafted into the NFL. No distractions. Everleigh is a distraction.

He tries to fight his feelings and so does she. We all know how that goes. This is a highly entertaining story with great characters. The 4 roommates work well together in the story. They added humor and a sense of community. They’d friendship was encouraging. The other characters outside of the roommates were great too.

Great start to the series!

Everleigh was looking forward to her college experience however she did not get off to the best start when she finds out she has no accommodation and limited financial means to secure another arrangement. Her luck changes when she learns that three football players need a roommate, and they are willing to adjust the rent is she agrees to handle the household responsibilities. The only problem with the arrangement is her attraction to one of the roommates.

Nico is aware of his skill both on the field and when it comes to women. He is attracted to Everleigh as well however he keeps all his interactions with women casual and commitment free which would be difficult with them together. It is only a matter of time before the chemistry between them ignites but will she be his forever or just a fling?

There is a lot of should we or shouldn’t we which increases the tension between Everleigh and Nico until they realize that what they share is special even though it wasn’t easy at times. There is also a great cast of secondary characters that enhance the story and leave you wanting their stories as well.

If you are a fan of college football romance with roommates fake dating, End Game is the book for you!

I loved Nico and Everleigh and their relationship! I honestly can’t wait for more of Frank- the hopeless romantic! I think this series is going to be amazing 😍

I loved this book so much! The main characters had great banter and tension. The way Monica makes you fall in love with the entire group of friends really sets up well for the rest of the series too! My only bone to pick with this book is I reallllly wanted more spice! But honestly it was so great I'm still rating it 5 stars and I cannot wait for more in this series to come out!

I love new adult sports romances, they always have such great camaraderie and found family. The roommates factor here added to the found family dynamic and I liked all of Nico’s teammates we met throughout the story. I loved reading the way Everleigh’s addition to their home benefited them all.
I was invested in Everleigh from the start, rooting for her after she had been dealt one bad hand after another. The negotiation of roommate terms with the guys was really fun to read and the push and pull and tension between Ever and Nico was great. I love a slow burn, and this is definitely a slowww burn so be ready for that!

Everything was really working for me until one of the later conflicts that didn’t make sense to me and I didn’t really believe that the characters would be reacting the way they did.

Aside from that one detail I enjoyed every other part of the book and didn’t want to put it down. It was very binge readable! I plan to pick up the rest of the series when they’re written because I want to know what’s up with Sienna and Gavin, and I’d love to see Coop and Dollar get their HEAs!

**Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.**

Thank you Monica Murphy and valentinepr for this opportunity.

⭐⭐⭐
🌶🌶

I've been dying to read this book when I receive an email from valentinepr. I really, really missed reading about college romance, especially football romance.

Hockey romance has been becoming so big because of TikTok, but way before that, football romance was our holy grail/roman empire, and it's still my number 1 favorite trope to this day.

End Game is the first book of the Kings of Campus series.Our main characters are Nico and Everleigh.

Their relationship was kind of rocky at first. Everleigh was having a hard time looking for a place to live, and Nico and his football mates were also looking for a new tenant for their place.Everleigh heard about this, and she was brave enough to apply for it even though she would be surrounded by these hot men.It wasn't easy. Nico was really against it, but thank God for Dollar and Cooper for accepting her. Nico can't do anything about it.
And that is where their relationship starts to become whirlwind.
The tension between Ever and Nico is just wow 🥵🔥

But it really lacks something.
I can't explain what, but it really didn't give me that "tug" feeling.
Overall, this story is very cute. A light read and a good cleansing book.

An enjoyable sport romance that is under 300 pages for a quick and easy read. The dedication already had me crying about why the MMC was named what he was.

End Game by Monica Murphy is book one in the Kings of Campus series and I really enjoyed it. This is my first Monica Murphy book and it definitely will not be my last. If you like college football, sports romance, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, slow burn, roommates to lovers, then you will love this book.

I love this book, I thought the story line was so well done. The main and side characters were written so well and I loved their friendships. I hope we get Coop, Frank, Gavin and Sienna‘s stories. There were times I wanted to yell at Everleigh “what do you want, make up your mind?!” When Nico was like “should I tell her how I feel??” Yes, Nico do it. I think Sienna was my favorite character she’s so outspoken and tells it like it is. I felt bad for Frank. I really loved how Everleigh came into the guys lives and made changes without them realizing it, even had them doing yoga. I cannot recommend this book enough. Thank you to NetGalley, Valentine PR, and Monica Murphy for letting me read the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

4.5 stars

Everleigh's excited to be at UC Santa Mira, but things quickly get off to a bad start when her housing falls through. She meets Nico and his roommates at just the right time and ends up moving in with them.

There is a mutual attraction between them, but neither want something to start between them. Of course, that doesn't mean anything when their attraction deepens into something much more serious.

I flew through this story and it was such a great read. I liked the dual POV as Everleigh and Nico were both interesting characters. It was nice to see their relationship through both their eyes. The plot moves at a good pace and nothing felt rushed or overly drawn out. I am already excited to see what comes next in the series.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.

END GAME is the first instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult KINGS OF CAMPUS football romance series. This is twenty-two year old Nico Valente, and twenty-one year old Everleigh Olmstead’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nico and Everleigh) END GAME covering a few weeks in the lives, follows the building romance and relationship between Nico and Everleigh. Everleigh Olmstead has transferred to UC Santa Mira but in a matter of hours, our heroine is homeless, jobless, a victim of theft, with no place to go. Overhearing a conversation between roommates and college students, Everleigh finds herself the newest member of the household, a household full of football stars (Nico, Frank, Cooper), and the envy of every girl on campus but all is not as it appears to be when jealousy, envy, issues of trust, the requisite mean girl aim to take our heroine down. Nico finds himself pulled into the aura that is Everleigh Olmstead but Nico is not the only roommate to set his sights on our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on the friendships between roommates and teammates, issues of trust, jealousy, and a reputation as a player for our story line hero.

The relationship between Nico and Everleigh is one of immediate attraction but Everleigh believes Nico is out of her league; unworthy of a football star’s attention, and just another proverbial notch in a long line of women. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

We are introduced to several members of the UC Santa Mira Dolphin’s foot ball team: Frank Dollar, Cooper, quarterback Gavin, Cooper’s sister Sienna, and Nico’s former fling Portia. There is something developing between Sienna and Gavin.

END GAME is a story of friendships, relationships, family and love. The premise is captivating but there is limited conflict; anti climactic and the mean girl story line quickly disappears-. The romance is seductive; the characters are determined and charismatic.



THE READING CAFE: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/end-game-kings-of-campus-1-by-monica-murphy-review-tour/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6841368334


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1223261236

OH how I for some Monica Murphy new adult sports love stories! End Game and The King of Campus series is here, y’all! And this was such a cute and fun read. And a great introduction to UC Santa Mira and so many amazing characters I can’t wait to read more about! This was a fast and engaging read full of plenty of fun moments, some swoony and tender ones, and a slow simmering burn.

Nico has so many Hallmarks of a MM leading- he’s cocky, talented, popular…and his ego is as large as his playboy reputation. Monica let’s him be young and bro-y and arrogant…but she also gives him substance, he’s kind and gentle and can be considerate underneath his athlete bravado. OH and Everleigh- what did she get herself into in a house full of athletes?! She’s sweet, but she’s also got some guts (has to to live with all these guys)- and I appreciated she knew her boundaries. Of course these two are not at all on the same page, and they have some epic waffling, will-they-won’t they. Their push and pull gets under both of their skin- and the tension only brews! The chemistry is intense and you just want them to get it together and give in- but they aren’t looking for the same things, or so they think. The burn is definitely a slower burn! I wish we'd had a bit more time with them (since it took so long for them to get together), but I know we'll see more as the series progresses.

And, I love the secondary cast and the found family group dynamic - and I just melted at how the crew is with Everleigh. This is going to be a fun crew with so many entertaining characters and some hinted at dynamics that already have me thirsty for more! A great start to the Kings of Campus world!

🏈College Football
🏈Bad Boy x Good Girl
🏈Forced Proximity
🏈Mutual Pining
🏈Roommates to lovers
🏈Opposites Attract
🏈Slow Burn
🏈Banter
🏈Found family vibes
🏈Endearing secondary cast

I love Monica Murphy's books. She has. Great way of telling a story and writes such great characters. I love sports romances and this is a great start to the Kings of Campus Series.

When Everleigh overhears a group of guys saying that they need a new roommate she follows them to see if she can apply for the position. She's at a loose end and having the worst day. What she doesn't know is that these group of guys are part footballers and quite a big deal on campus.

Sharing a room with Nico is proving to be quite a challenge. He is moody and brooding and seems to get agitated at everything Everleigh does. Why does he act so strange? The tension is hard to bare, but Everleigh finds him so handsome.

It's a great story to read as they find their way together. The supporting characters are also great and I'm sure they will all be getting books as well. It's a cute story and I enjoyed escaping into this world.

I'll be honest, I kind of struggled with this one. I love Monica's books and her writing....
This is the slowest of slow burns. It's not quite the same formula as her other books. I enjoy college romance and this one has a roommate component to it. It was just missing something for me. Nico is kind of a giant baby. He did really redeem himself by the end. A nice grand gesture and he realized that he needed to straighten himself out. Everleigh was more than patient with him. She is a nutrition major and that's what I went to school for so that was really fun for me. I loved all of the other characters though and it seems like they might get stories too which I will greatly look forward to. This story is really well- written. I listened to it on audio and the narration was really good.

After being introduced to the Kings on Campus, I'm definitely invested in what the future holds for each of them. Yes, they're a little wild and have a reputation but they also have a sweeter side. Good hearts if a little misguided. But just like Ever, I fell in love with these good guys and want to see where their individual stories go from here.

This is a college romance so there is angst, a little back and forth, will they/won't they conflict and some mean girl OW drama.

Our MCs are confused, scared and not always able to handle their emotions in a positive way but the end was worth it, IMO. Did I wish we got more page time with our MCs happy and in love?! Yes, but overall this was a nicely paced romance with plenty of ups and downs. Not to mention the secondary characters that each bring a little something extra to the table.

There was no cheating and both MCs remain celibate while they figure out their feelings. Which is more than we can say for some of the other confused suckers in this series!

I love a sports romance so I was excited by the synopsis of this book and happy I was going to get the chance to read it.

Everleigh is a transfer student suffering from the worst luck on her first day in a new place. Her accommodation falls through and her car gets broken into and her belongings stolen. Luckily the 3 college football players sitting next to her in a cafe are needing a roommate.

There is a lot of push and pull between Everleigh and Nico with him not able to admit he likes her and her not believing a playboy could like her or that he was looking for more than a fling. Their relationship continues in this manner for about 80% of the story which is what makes it a slow burn but it does play out quite repetitively. When they sort themselves out, you blink and the story is finished. I would have liked less repetition and more action.

There were a few plot inconsistencies for me. Everleigh loses all her belongings and goes to buy essentials yet seems to have bought a number of yoga mats, Nico and the boys require security as they get mobbed yet no security is mentioned. Nico is a player but the only ‘other’ girl mentioned is Portia.

I liked the side characters of Sienna, Gavin, Frank and Cooper and would like to read their stories in this series.

I did enjoy this story but didn’t really feel any connection to the main characters or their feelings. The story was an easy read and I will look out for the next books that follow.

The first book in The Kings of Campus series and it’s off to a slowburn start with End Game, a college romance, as transfer student Everleigh finds herself homeless when her room falls through, but it’s a case of being in the right place, right time when she overhears a group of footballers from discussing finding a roommate.

I loved the relationship that developed between Ever and the boys, they were closer than a lot of siblings and some scenes were amusing such as Ever teaching them yoga and the thought of a group of burly football players in the downward dog pose made me chuckle as I read. The story did fall a little flat when it came to Nico as the hero. He seemed a little too arrogant, not necessarily a bad thing as it leaves room for redemption, but I just didn’t get any sense of chemistry between him and Everleigh or any build up to their romance and if anything, it felt like a case of slowburn instalove like he woke up one morning and fell for her. I would also have liked more background to Everleigh. After the opening chapters, her family was never mentioned. Despite this I did enjoy the overall book and loved the secondary characters and can’t wait for Gav and Sienna’s story.

Monica Murphy can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes EVER! Dare I say this is my favorite book of hers ever!! I loved it from start to finish and I can’t wait to read about more of the characters from this story!!
If you love:
- football romance
- college setting
- friends to lovers
- they are roommates
- forced proximity
Then add this to your TBR!!

I was so excited for End Game, especially with all the great tropes—sports romance, forced proximity, roommates to lovers—but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Nico and Everleigh’s romance felt flat, with little chemistry or tension between them, despite the numerous descriptions of their attraction. The pacing was off, with some scenes dragging while others felt rushed. That said, the side characters were fun, especially the dynamic between the roommates. If you’re a fan of college sports romances and don’t mind surface-level character development, you might enjoy this one, but it wasn’t for me.

a cute, fun, flirty sports romance with lots of slow burn! I wouldn’t say this is a typical monica murphy-style book writing wise but I still enjoyed it. Both Nico and Everleigh were enjoyable characters and I loved the roommate dynamic (it’s giving new girl). I really thought I’d love the plot but it fell a bit flat for me unfortunately. It felt more YA than I’m used to but still overall a good book. I would still recommend it for all my sports romance girlies looking for their next fix of a grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, college romance!

Thank you to Valentine PR, NetGalley, & Monica Murphy for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. as you’re reading this it’s already released so check it out 💜

ARC review for End Game by Monica Murphy

Thanks to Monica and Valentine PR for the ARC opportunity!

Featured tropes: sports romance, roommates to lovers, forced proximity, found family, opposites attract, slow burn, reformed playboy

Triggers: not really any, it's a pretty tame book. Obsessive ex maybe? Financial struggles?

Review: 3.5/5

I don't have much of an intro here so let's just dive in to what I liked and didn't like and find out why...

Things I liked:
- The character building was great. As the first book in the series, Monica did a good job of introducing a wide cast of characters that you want to know more about. Like, why is Gavin such a dumb dumb? And why is Cooper the stoic boy he is? And does Dollar find himself a partner?! (Dollar gives me Mike Hollis vibes from Elle Kennedy's Briar U series, FYI!). A lot of intrigue around the characters that I'm sure I'll continue reading the series to get to know them more.
- I loved Sienna. She was such a great side character and I can't wait for her book with what I can only assume will be with Gavin (seriously, why is he such a dumb dumb?).
- Despite his flaws, I did quite enjoy Nico. He's a dummy too but he's just endearing enough that I couldn't hold it against him too much. I think Everleight is good for him and you can see him grow throughout the book.

Things I disliked or missed the mark:
- For being on the tail-ends of their college careers, the characters all felt rather immature (not that college kids are necessarily mature either). Some of their antics throughout the book (particularly Nico's) seemed very high school.
- I wanted more. We get the impression that home sucks for Everleigh. But, beyond knowing about a lump of an ex-boyfriend, we don't know much about her past and what supposedly made it so miserable. Everleigh was, overall, a little boring and I think some of this background might have made her more intriguing. And then, we have Nico who's touted as this future NFL star...but is he? Don't know because the story just sort of ends without any closure in that sense. I understand epilogues aren't necessarily a given in any book but, gosh dangit, I like knowing where the characters have gone. Your girl just wants an epilogue to live in their HEA just a little longer!

Overall, I think I can say I liked this book. I'll likely check out the rest of the series as it releases and maybe someday have time to read some of Monica's other work.