Dazzled by Books

From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a sexy rom com about a college marriage of convenience that goes way beyond chemistry 101...The first in a trilogy of romance novels that follows a group of girls as they navigate love, friendship, and new adulthood, this is perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy and Hannah Grace.

CLOVER ROWAN WALSH knows The Plan.
Get a full ride to her dream school, Wexley University.
Conquer the school of business.
Say goodbye to the paycheck-to-paycheck life she and her mom have known for years.

There's just one hiccup. With the first semester rapidly approaching, Clover learns her housing grant has fallen through. But a loophole presents Married couples can live in the dorms for the price of one student. Clover is willing to sacrifice the sanctity of marriage...even if it means proposing to the one person she swore she'd never speak to again.

Bennett Andrew Graves is the only heir to the Graves Coffee empire. After spending his first year at Wexley, squeaking by in classes and becoming personally acquainted with the female student body, he is looking forward to living off campus. Until the girl he grew up with (and whom he completely devastated years ago walks back into his life with the most absurd Will you marry me?

Bennett can't refuse Clover. He owes her this, but that doesn't change the fact that these two can barely carry on a conversation without getting at each other's throats. Forget about sharing a dorm —much less one bed.

But as Clover and Bennett hide the true nature of their marriage, they find that playing house isn't all that bad-especially with certain marital benefits in the mix. In fact, Clover and Bennett are soon forgetting the most important part of their fake marriage of convenience... that it's supposed to be fake.

Themes & Tropes:

Book Review:

The Undergrads: Student Union by Julie Murphy is the first installment in a new college-set romance series. It delivers a lighthearted, fast-paced story that makes for an enjoyable, easy read.

The novel follows Clover Walsh as she begins her freshman year at Wesley University, only to discover that her housing has unexpectedly fallen through. Desperate for a place to live, she takes advantage of the university's experimental married student nousing program by proposing a marriage of convenience to Bennett Graves-her former childhood best friend, who also happens to be the boy who broke her heart years earlier.

This was a book I flew through, finishing it in just one day. The story maintains a fun, upbeat tone throughout, and I especially enjoyed watching Clover and Bennett navigate the awkwardness of sharing a living space while confronting their complicated history.Both main characters have their flaws, which made them feel believable, although I often found myself wishing they would simply have an honest conversation. Many of their conflicts stem from miscommunication, and clearer communication could have resolved several issues much sooner. Clover's thoughts and emotions sometimes felt scattered, making it difficult to connect with her at times. Bennett, however, stood out as the stronger character for me. While he made mistakes in the past, he genuinely seemed to have learned from them and was committed to moving forward and becoming a better person.

Overall, Student Union is a charming, entertaining start to the series. While some of the conflict relies heavily on a lack of communication, the engaging premise, likable romance, and quick pacing make it an enjoyable read for fans of college romances and marriage-of-convenience stories.