this book was incredible! i always love a fake dating plot, especially an enemies to lovers one at that, and this was a prime example of why. damian and lex are both beautifully complex characters who i could see myself in parts of, and their relationship of pure love and forgiveness was gorgeous to read.
the highs and lows of the college experience was well written, especially in terms of finding ways to balance it on top of other life issues, as most college kids can relate to, and this relatability made this such a perfect read.
plus the twilight references really boosted the reading experience!
thank you to rowan and netgalley for this arc!

Fake dating. Enemies to lovers. A spoiled rich boy with a point to prove. Count me in.

The Girlfriend Agreement opens with a clear, descriptive voice that sets the scene for what’s to come. At times, it felt a bit more detailed than I expected. I enjoy a slow burn, but I do like some flirtation or tension early on to keep me engaged. The early build-up takes its time, focusing on every step before things really get going, which for me made some parts feel a little slow.

That said, Damian and Lexi did grow on me, gradually and not without a few frustrations. But by the end I was genuinely invested.

Damian starts off as difficult to warm to: privileged, a bit self-important, and emotionally closed off. There are hints of past trauma that suggest depth, but they’re touched on quite lightly at first. I found myself hoping those aspects would be explored more fully, which thankfully happens later on, adding more nuance to his character beyond some of his less considerate moments. Lexi is portrayed as highly intelligent, though at times this leans towards a slight superiority complex. The mention of having a higher IQ than Einstein felt a little over the top, especially since much of her brilliance takes place off the page until later in the book when it is shown more clearly.

Still, once the fake dating arrangement is in place, their dynamic properly starts to click. The push and pull between them is full of snark, spark and increasingly sweet moments. I loved seeing Damian fall first, even if he didn’t realise it. When he finally does, that M&M run completely melted me.

The third act twist managed to avoid the usual breakup trope (praise be) and instead gave us Damian trying to actually process his feelings. I genuinely appreciated the maturity in that choice. His growth from spoiled party boy to someone who wants to use his privilege to make a difference is believable and honestly quite heart-warming.

When they come back together, it’s not with fanfare or drama but something quiet and real. The “I love yous” were perfectly in character – heartfelt, a little chaotic, and completely them.

Looking forward to seeing where the next book takes us

Campus playboy finds himself needing a girlfriend, to grow up and to get a grip on reality. Geeky girl needs a steady income for a compelling personal reason and agrees to be 'the' girlfriend.

I'll preface this by saying, the forgiveness that Lexi shows Damian is more than I could comprehend. The knack of the author to redeem Damian and his actions is clever but, well into the book I still wanted to push him off a cliff, under a bus or out of a window. I was with Ronnie on this one.

Really well written. I loved the chapter headings. They were a nice touch. I'd love a good 100pages chopped out to let the core themes sing the loudest and not be lost in the often repetitive passages of internal dialogue. The deeper issues of expectation, health access and wealth disparity, social media, legacy, being a carer and grief get lost in Damian's self-flagellation and Lexi's 'but I hate him'.

Lexi and her brain was fantastic. I would have loved more of the arithmatic synesthesia built into the story. The glimpses of this different way of seeing and experiencing the world were great but they were fleeting.

The healthcare and wealth disparity on display throughout was jarring but again, really well done. As an Aussie, I find the US medical system unbelievable at the best of times but this powerful single example bought home the often complex and difficult decisions families must face.

I look forward to more from Conwick U universe.

With thanks to the author, Rowan Croft, Shire-Hill Publicatiins and NetGalley for the eARC to read ahead of publication.
All opinions and grammatical errors are my own.

*4.5 stars
~ NetGalley ARC Review ~
this was really cute and fun i had a good time reading! we love a good fake dating trope🤭 loved lexi + damian and lexi's friends too!
if ur looking for a fun college contemporary romance i would recommend!

‘the girlfriend agreement’ was such a fun read! i found myself grinning, swooning, and even emotional while reading!

(minor spoilers ahead)

i really enjoyed lexi’s & damien’s characters - we get dual pov! lexi is a math genius who is sweet, powerful, and is true to herself. damien is your typical playboy (in the beginning anyways), who is extremely flirtatious. he ends up being so much more in the end - so sweet and so caring! he would do anything for lexi. i loved their character growth even more and don’t get me started on the BANTER!

the whole storyline i adored. lexi’s mom is sick with cancer, while damien’s family owns a pharmaceutical company. they begin to ‘fake date’ in order to help each other out. such a unique storyline, that’s fun & spicy yet emotional.

one of my fav moments… ‘ i <3 u ‘ 🥹

the only thing i didn’t love was the length of the chapters! i sometimes found myself losing focus due to the length. it almost felt like it dragged on a bit and the book was a little longer than it could have been.

thank you netgalley & author for the arc of ‘the girlfriend agreement’ ☺️

what to expect:
- fake dating
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- reverse grumpy x sunshine
- reformed playboy
- billionaire mmc
- enemies with benefits
- opposites attract
- STEM vibes fmc

Loved loved loved this book!

It had the right amount of sass, wit and romance that I want from a book. Fake dating? Check, enemies to lovers? Check, College romance? Check. This book has it all!

I loved the relationship development between Lexi and Damian. I loved how Lexi is written, she knows her own mind, is loyal and loving (and VERY intelligent). I was routing for them both throughout.

We all know how the book is going to end, that is the challenge with writing romance novels but with this book you are captured by the journey that Damian and Lexi go on. I really like the character development of Damian, I do wonder however how it would have changed if he had a group of friends around him influencing decisions it seemed slightly convenient that he was on his own.

One big ick for me with this book was reference to the dad being like hitler, I personally don’t think that should make it into any book.

For me this was such a fun read and a strong 4.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Rowan Croft and Shire-Hill Publications for allowing me the privilege to read this book before publication.

Let me start this review by saying one thing loud and clear: I despise math. Like, I’d rather jab a needle in my eye than solve a basic equation level of hate. So imagine my absolute horror when I realized that math is the one thing in life that actually makes sense to our protagonist, Lexi Dornan. I wasn’t sure how I’d connect with a character who sees the world through formulas and numbers when I’ve always lived in feelings and words. But somehow, Rowan Croft pulled it off. Against all odds, she made me love—and relate to—a character who is basically my polar opposite. And she made it feel effortless.

I can’t even tell you the exact moment I fell in love with this story. It snuck up on me, slipping past my skepticism and math-induced anxiety until I was suddenly, completely hooked. What kept me turning pages? The tension. The humor. The grief. The humanity. And, of course, the slow-burn chaos between Lexi and Damian.

Damian starts out as a classic reformed fuckboy—well, trying to reform to convince his parents he’s changed (spoiler: he hasn’t, not really, at least not yet). The fake dating trope delivers everything you'd hope for: snark, tension, forced proximity, and a slow, satisfying unraveling of both characters. Lexi and Damian clash hard, but beneath all that banter and bravado is a layered, emotional story about grief, growth, and learning to let others in.

Damian’s development is one of my favorite things about the book. He starts as a bit of a cocky asshole, but we start to see the cracks—the parts of him holding onto an unprocessed grief that shapes how he moves through the world. His journey isn’t neat or easy. Neither is Lexi’s. But watching them challenge each other, support each other, and call each other out made their eventual connection feel all the more real. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s the emotional payoff that makes the romance sing.

One of the most impressive things? Every character, even those on the periphery, feels fully fleshed out. They have their own lives, their own goals, their own voices. The world doesn’t revolve around Lexi, and in a book this short, that’s no small feat.

This story balances heavy and light with finesse. One minute I was snorting with laughter, the next I was blinking back tears. It doesn’t sugarcoat grief, or healing, or the messiness of figuring yourself out. And if you’re looking for a neat-and-tidy love story with a squeaky-clean male lead and an instant happily-ever-after… this isn’t it.

But if you want a romance that feels real—a story where the love is hard-earned, where forgiveness isn’t handed over freely, and where growth comes with growing pains—this one’s for you. Rowan Croft has created something special here: a book that made me, a math-hating, feelings-first reader, fall hard for a girl who speaks in numbers and a boy who’s learning how to be better.

Read this if you love messy characters, emotional honesty, hilarious banter, and hard-won happily ever afters. You won’t regret it.

The Conwick U Series kicks off with Lexi and Damian's story, and my oh my, what a wonderful start it is!

Damian did Lexi wrong in her freshman year, and now he's back in her life for a completely different reason. He needs help convincing his parents he's growing up and committing to something, and she needs help raising money for her mom's medical expenses. From this mutual need comes their "girlfriend agreement."

The banter is on point, and the tension is off the charts. Don't let the tropes fool you; their love may be a slow burn, but the story itself moves at a captivating pace.

Rowan knows exactly how to hold our attention for all 581 pages. You're going to love this one, so make sure you grab it!

Enemies to lovers, fake dating, AND a billionaire romance?? All the best tropes in one place!

The tension! The character development! The friends! Ugh this was such a good book. There is so much depth to the main characters, and they both grow and learn together. The book tackles difficult topics such as death of a sibling and a terminally ill parent. It does so with care and consideration for the emotions that go along with those situations. While there is plenty of drama, there is also plenty of witty banter. It's a he fell first dream. I think anyone who loves any of the tropes will enjoy this book.

My only complaint is that it got a bit long-winded. On more than one occasion, the main character will be asked a question. Then there is a page or two of inner monologue before they finally answer the person. It was distracting to me because I'd already have forgotten what the question was. Overall, it can be overlooked and it didn't take away from the story or vibe!

I absolutely flew through The Girlfriend Agreement. Fake dating plus enemies-to-lovers is my weakness, and Rowan Croft nailed it. Lexi is such a relatable main character – she’s smart, sarcastic, and always a little chaotic in the best way. Her interactions with Damian made me laugh so many times. Damian starts off as the arrogant playboy everyone warns you about, but as the story unfolds, you see his sweet, caring side and can’t help but fall for him.

Their chemistry is electric from the start. Every little glance or sarcastic comment between them made my heart flutter. But it’s not just fluff – there are genuine emotional moments that tug at your heart. Lexi’s struggles felt real, especially her worries about money and her insecurities, and Damian’s growth throughout the book was so satisfying to watch.

I also loved the side characters, especially Damian’s family and Lexi’s friends, who added humour and warmth. The ending left me smiling like an idiot.

If you’re in the mood for a steamy, funny, and heartfelt college romance with amazing banter, swoony moments, and two characters you’ll root for so hard, definitely pick this one up.

Thank you Rowan Croft and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.

This book was heartfelt and had some real meaning behind the story.

It had me laughing throughout and many moments also brought me to tears.

The main characters were both complex and had their own unique personalities. It gave a really insight to how they were feeling with their internal monologues, highlighting how they were feeling and what they were dealing with in an unspoken way. It had me in the feels several times wanting to reach in to the book and hug the character and tell them everything will be fine eventually.

The book really brought out my emotions from laughing at the banter of the FMCs 2 close friends and the banter between the FMC and MMC. Along with plenty of twilight jokes. But it also brought me to tears in many moments when some hard topics and feelings were highlighted.

The author really has you feeling for the characters and their situations.

The only warning I will give in this review is it deals heavily with Cancer, treatments and loss and the surrounding feelings of grief so please be aware before jumping into this book especially if this sits close to home. There is a full content warning at the beginning of the book but I wanted to highlight it here too.

I have given the book 5 stars because any book that can make me want to keep reading into the night and make me feel true emotions for the characters and makes me have to wipe away tears deserve all the stars.

I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants a lovely cute romance between 2 characters but also deals with and highlights some big issues.

I will definitely be reading this again in the future and will be reading book 2 when it’s available too.

➕The Girlfriend Agreement 🟰
✍🏼 Rowan Croft
⭐️ 4.5/5
ARC Copy; Release date July 29, 2025


I really really liked this book. It nailed the enemies to lovers trope perfectly! I found the transformation of their relationship to be fluid and absolutely believable. Also, I loved that the third act conflict was not a miscommunication trope between Lexi & Damian. I laughed out loud and cried multiple times during my read!

Lexi was a fiery math genius with a heart of gold. I loved how fiercely she cared about her mom and would obviously try to move heaven and earth to help her. She was strong willed, confident, and willing to put people in their place even with her underlying anxiety.

At the start of the book Damian is very much to spoiled, disrespectful, playboy, billionaire heir. I thought his character development throughout the book was well done. He did not just instantly turn into a well rounded, selfless, perfect man - which I enjoyed and appreciated. He had to consciously put effort into working on his self awareness and taking the steps to become a better person.

Their dynamic had excellent banter and turned into a relationship that was so genuine and sweet. I loved how they slowly transformed into each other’s safe space.

I absolutely loved Ronnie in this book - Lexi’s best friend. I cannot wait for when we get a chance to read her story! She was a 10/10 friend and a force to be reckoned with!

Book tropes in this book: enemies to lovers, reformed playboy, billionaire heir, fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, slow burn, & woman in STEM.

The one thing I struggled with was how long the chapters are, but that is strictly a personal preference. Thank you so much to Rowan Croft and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review!

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*

Rating: 4.75⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️


Okay. There are playboys. There are reformed playboys. And then there is Damian. It took FOREVER for his redemption. I almost thought i was going to hate him the entire time. Truly. But he had a moment about 76% through where it happened. But until then, he literally forgot who Lexi was. SEVERAL times.. yikes.

Lexi however. LOVED her. Feisty, funny, and on a full ride scholarship. Super supportive. And made sure that Damian knew how proud she was of him by the end.

#Dexi Forever



Thanks to NetGalley and Rowan Croft for access to the ARC in exchange for this honest review!

3,5 stars

I could say so much but i'm gonna try and be short on my review
I really enjoyed the book overall just took me a while to get into the story, or to get attatched to it. I loved Lexi with all my heart but Damian i don't know... i just had a hard time with him.
After 50% of the book i wasn't sure how i was standing in it but kept reading and it got better hahaha.
A good fake dating, slow burn, enemies to lovers book.
Again, i love Lexi and i really need a Ronnie in my life

First off I would like to start off this review by thanking, Rowan Croft, the publisher and netgalley for a the opportunity to read this book early!

If you’re looking for a enemies to lovers, reverse grumpy/sunshine, fake dating romance, between a billionaire playboy who is need of a reputation fix, and a brilliant STEM minded woman who is desperate need of finding a way to help her mother, filled with banter, spice, quite a few tense and dramatic moments, as well as some healing that leads to a happily ever after that’ll have you feeling warm and fuzzy then I highly recommend grabbing a copy of The Girlfriend Agreement now!


I have to say I did enjoy the plot of this book, it was well flushed out, and so well written that I truly felt like I was right there at Cornwick university, or at Lexi’s family home or even in Damien’s dorm room. It was so excellently written that you’ll truly feel immersed in the settings of this book! Now I must say I am a very character driven reader, and I struggled a bit with loving our main characters in the begging. But in the last half of this book I really fell in love with these characters, I really wanted to love them throughout the whole book but I just found myself having a hard time relating to either of them. Not because I didn’t feel for their struggles, as individuals or even as a couple, but because for me personally it just took to long for them to warm up to each other and have actual open communication. And while I love a good enemies to lovers banter… there where points where their banter read less like banter and more like just straight up tryin to be mean to each other for the sake of hurting each other. I also struggled with them both struggling to open up to each other because they knew the other one was keeping something from them when they were also keeping secrets. I will say though in the last 40% of the book though I felt a shift in these characters where I really started to enjoy them and their relationship and was really rooting for them! They began to open up to each other, communicate better, and I felt like we really got to see the people they were behind their social facades, which I felt even as readers we hadn’t got to really see through until the last half of the book. That really endeared me to these characters and I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series!

Overall, this was a good read that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a well written, slow burn, enemies to lovers, fake dating romance, that I can say has a Happily Ever After that’ll have you ready for book two!

I received this ARC and based on the cover on I thought it was going to be a cute, fluffy romance.. it was, but it was so much more in the best way! This book is an enemies to lovers, fake dating, and second chance story. It draws you in within the first chapter! This story went so much deeper and had a level of depth I wasn’t expecting. Check your trigger warnings as this story touches on chronic illness and grief. There is also a good amount of spice.. which makes it that much more to love! This is a GREAT book and you should pick it up!

“For the sake of our agreement, we should keep things professional...and stick to the rules as they are."
Yeah, they did not keep it professional 🤭


This is such a cute fake dating romance book! I really enjoyed it.
I was instantly hooked right from the start, and did not expect the slow burn to burn so quickly, and then burn slower again. But I’m not complaining.
After the first contact between the two main characters, a heated contact I might add, they both realize they actually made a terrible mistake. Well, at least that’s what Lexi thinks. She totally hates him. She is the math genius on a scholarship, with money problems, who will do anything to help her family.

Damian on the other hand, doesn’t hate her, he actually doesn’t feel a thing. He’s the rich CEO son, womanizer student, party boy and “I don’t need a girlfriend” kinda guy. But what he needs, is to show his parents he’s an adult. Which he -respectively?- isn’t. So what better thing to do, than look for a fake girlfriend to convince his parents he’s changed.

Sounds like a bad idea? Yeah, probably is.

The story was truly really engaging, the banter was bantering and you could literally feel the tension building between them. On top there was so much plot on both sides too. Lexi’s problems at home, Damian’s struggles with his parents.. so much drama.

My only negative thought about this book is its length. Don’t get me wrong, I love a thick book, but for this kind of romance story, I sometimes felt like there were too many very long internal dialogues, which made the actual conversations feel less important. And made me loose focus.
But overall, loved it :)

🎓university setting
🖤enemies to lovers
🚫fake dating
🤓nerdy banter
💸rich playboy
🔥slow burn (emotional)
🫂trauma bonding
🌶️ 3/5 spicy

Thank you NetGalley and Rowan Croft for approving this eARC.

The Girlfriend Agreement is everything I want in a college rom-com—sharp banter, fake dating chaos, and two characters who absolutely shouldn’t work… but totally do.

Lexi and Damian's enemies-to-lovers tension is so good, and the fake relationship setup is great—equal parts hilarious and heart-melting. I loved watching Damian slowly evolve from walking red flag to actual soft-hearted cinnamon roll. If you love a romance where opposites clash, sparks fly, and feelings sneak in when no one’s looking, this one’s a total win

Spicy romance books aren’t usually my thing, but oh my goodness, I ate this one up. Once the story took off, I could not stop reading. I was completely hooked on the tension, the emotions, and the slow unraveling of both characters. I seriously wish there was a sequel because I wasn’t ready to let them go.

I loved every second of their banter and chemistry. The fake dating setup, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and that perfect slow burn tension all worked so well together. Damien totally caught me off guard. I didn’t think I’d fall for him like I did, but watching him grow and open up made me feel so much for him.

This book took me through a full range of emotions. One minute I was grinning, the next I felt a little heartbroken, and then I was full-on giddy. It had everything I love in a romance: heart, heat, healing, and a really satisfying ending. The writing was beautiful and emotionally grounded, and I could feel every bit of the connection between the characters. I can’t wait to read more from Rowan Croft!

i <3 this book

A fckboi heir (Damian) to a billion dollar pharmaceutical company is threatened to be cut off by his family and decides to hire a fake girlfriend to provve he's company material. The woman he hires happens to be a woman he f*cked and ghosted the previous year and who was caught up in his own sex scandal. She's a genius, neurodiverse math student who desperately needs the money to get her mom through chemo and so takes the job despite her hatred for Damian.

I love a good fake dating romcom and this book seriously DELIVERS. It's filled with witty, chaotic banter, tons of repressed longing and the perfect amount of double entendres. While it really leans into the humour, it doesn't shy away from real issues. The characters are complex, trying to unravel their own traumas, grief and fears. It deals with weighty topics like family death, healthcare inaccessibility and cancer, but gives them the space and gravitas they deserve. These aren't one-dimensional characters, they really bring you into their lives and stories with beautiful growth arcs and healing.

It examines the efficacy of capitalistic healthcare structures and the ridiculous privilege enjoyed by the 1%. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did and it was a very pleasant surprise.