All worship and no play makes this curvy protagonist a frustrated young virgin.
by Kat Valdez/The Defiant Curtsy
Publication date: Dec. 1
The second book in The Undergrads universe, a steamy interconnected college-set new adult series full of big humor, big heart & big grilled cheese!
Logline: A good girl and bad boy strike a deal in the second book in the binge-worthy trilogy of romance novels from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy. Perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy and Hannah Grace.
Tagline: “A sex pact with the pastor’s daughter? What could go wrong?”
Warning: Mild spoilers.
Julie Murphy’s second novel in The Undergrads series is another charming winner!
I loved the dynamic between good girl Daisy and Scottish rebel-with-a-heart-of-gold Heath. This creative twist on the fake-dating trope is swoony and endearing.
What’s different
Fascinating secret identities. Daisy is a childhood cancer survivor and formerly secret love-child of a megachurch pastor who’s tired of playing it safe and wants to lose her “v-card.”
Heath looks like a rebel with his tattoos, light-brown curls, and slacker/punk aesthetic but is actually a sensitive, talented artist who harbors a secret inferiority complex: he’s not good enough for Daisy.
What’s awesome
The caring and supportive friendships between (1) Daisy and her roommates Clover and Briar (2) the coworkers at Lost & Found Ink, and (3) Daisy and Heath, before they realize they’re perfect for each other. Friendship as a foundation for a romantic relationship? Hot.
Humor is a big part of these relationships, and it’s a delight to read.
Equity and inclusion
-Curvy protagonists in fiction are on the rise, and I found it refreshing to read about women who love their bodies and dress and adorn themselves accordingly.
-All the main characters are white. One minor character is a tattoo artist who is Asian American.
-A college education in the U.S. is expensive, and our society leads us to believe it’s the only way to a fulfilling career.
But so many other options exist in the trades (plumbing, electrician, and utility workers, for example) and creative and service industries (a multitude of jobs in arts and culture, hospitality and entertainment.)
Heath is an international student on a scholarship. His dilemma of having to choose between his janitor father’s dream for him (to graduate from college) and his true passion in life (tattoo artist) is realistic and relatable.
This mirrors Daisy’s challenge of staying true to herself and her life goals (marketing and publicity career) while her father pressures her to follow in his ministry footsteps.
I loved the cozy vibe and respectful, safe space that Lost & Found Ink owner Claudia creates for her employees and clients. (No toxic masculinity allowed, as we learn in one satisfying and drama-filled scene.) After a few missteps and bumps, Daisy finds her place there as the staff’s desperately-needed scheduler and greeter.
It was also lovely and heartwarming to see how Heath tried defend Daisy against her manipulative and controlling birth father. It was ultimately her battle to fight.
Daisy and Heath’s struggles with identity — and yearning for love and acceptance — will resonate with readers. And did I mention the steamy-yet-tender love scenes?
We’re rooting for them!
I highly recommend “All Nighter” to readers looking for an uplifting (and oh-so-hot) romance filled with humor and lively dialogue that jumps off the page.
Julie Murphy is one of my new favorite authors. I can’t wait to read the next installment in The Undergrads series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.
Kat Valdez believes in happily ever after. When not reading about strong and smart women (and their male allies), she’s rowing or playing tennis with them on the lakes, reservoirs and courts of Colorado.
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