3.5🤩🤩🤩
Monica Murphy’s End Game brings us into the world of college and sports romance, offering a familiar blend of tropes that I love. While it wasn’t my favorite of her work, there were still moments that made me smile and feel nostalgic for the classic college romance setting.
One highlight for me was the great first kiss. It was well done and really a good feels moment. It was also enjoyable to see Everleigh experiencing college life for the first time.
However, Nico, the MC, didn’t quite hit the mark for me. His immaturity felt jarring—almost like he and the rest of the cast were teenagers dropped into a college setting. Their personalities lacked the maturity you would expect from early 20-somethings. I did, however, find myself gravitating more toward Cooper. I liked him from the start, even before I realized who the main character would be. He continued to grow on me as the story progressed, unlike Nico.
The character development for both Nico and Everleigh just wasn’t there for me. It felt basic and a bit underwhelming. While there was chemistry between the two, I struggled to connect with it, mostly due to the underdeveloped plot and the narrative choices. The story didn’t dive deep enough into the complexities of their relationship, leaving me wanting more substance to back up their connection.
That being said, End Game still delivers on the tropes that make college and sports romances fun to read. There’s something comforting about falling back into the familiar world of young love, campus life, and some good ol’ football.
End Game didn’t fully resonate with me, but Monica Murphy’s ability to capture the essence of a college romance will still appeal to fans. If you enjoy light, trope-filled stories with a sports twist, this might be a quick and entertaining read for you.
I graciously received an ARC from ValentinePR via NetGalley.
#arcreview #endgame #monicamurphy #collegeromance #sportsromance #loxonbooks #netgalley