One Week Girlfriend: A Novel (One Week Girlfriend, #1)

by Monica Murphy

In this emotionally-charged, sizzling romance, a wayward girl enters a fake relationship with a college football star—until past secrets threaten their all-too-real feelings for each other—from the New York Times bestselling author of Lonely for Only You and A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime.

“A sweet and sexy read with a dash of angst. It will hook you from page one!”—Under the Covers

Temporary. That’s the word I’d use to describe my life right now. I’m temporarily working double shifts—at least until I can break free. I’m temporarily raising my little brother—since apparently our actual mother doesn’t give a crap about either of us. And I always end up as nothing but the temporary girlfriend—the flavor of the week for every guy who’s heard the rumor that I give it up so easily.

At least Drew Callahan, college football legend and local golden boy, is upfront about it. He needs someone to play the part of his girlfriend for one week. In exchange for cash. As if that’s not weird enough, ever since he brought me into his world, nothing really makes sense. Everyone hates me. Everyone wants something from him. And yet the only thing Drew seems to want is . . . me.

I don’t know what to believe anymore. Drew is sweet, sexy, and hiding way more secrets than I am. All I know is, I want to be there for him—permanently.

Don’t miss any of Monica Murphy’s steamy One Week Girlfriend series:
ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND • SECOND CHANCE BOYFRIEND • THREE BROKEN PROMISES • FOUR YEARS LATER

• ISBN10: 0804176787
• ISBN13: 9780804176781
• Publish Date: 27 August 2013 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Bantam
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780804176781

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Drew must return "home" for Thanksgiving, but dreads all the ghosts he will need to deal with while there. He decides he needs a buffer and invites Fable to be his girlfriend for one week. Fable knows Drew from the bar she works in and is none too interested in spending time with him, however, he makes her a monetary offer she cannot refuse. During their visit, their feelings towards each other (and themselves) changes. Drew will release some of his demons, Fable will learn what it feels like to be valued, but will it last?

Things I liked:
1. The style of the book - each chapter is a day or part of a day of their one week relationship, and split into Drew and Fable's perspectives. It really allows you to gauge the growth in their relationship, as well as, enabling one to get into each characters' head.

2. Fable - there is a lot more to her than you initially think. I like strong, feisty females and although she has many things to feel sad about, she never goes there.

3. Drew - that boy is so broken. His family life is so FUBARed. I just have no words.

I have a desperate need to read the next book as the ending is a cliff-hanger!!!!

[Leah]

I heart New Adult books so much, so when I spotted Monica Murphy’s novel One Week Girlfriend on Amazon when it was the Kindle Daily Deal, I bought it immediately. For 99p you can’t go wrong with any kind of book – it’s almost always a good chance for me to be introduced to a new author, and it’s even better when I know that author has other fabulous books waiting to be discovered! One Week Girlfriend is the first in a series of four books (Second Chance Girlfriend, Three Broken Promises, and Four Years Later). Which basically meant that when I read One Week Girlfriend I had three more books waiting, yay! And since I LOVED One Week Girlfriend, well, colour me happy (although I do have to wait for books 3 and 4 but that’s OK).

I was really excited to start reading One Week Girlfriend because the synopsis is amazing. Drew Callahan needs a buffer. He needs a fake girlfriend to come home with him for Thanksgiving to keep him out of trouble with his dad and step-mother, Adele. Fable needs money. She’s looking after her brother while her dead-beat Mom spends more time drinking and spending time with loser boyfriends and knows that the promise of $3000 will see and her brother through for a couple of months. So when Drew asks Fable to be his fake girlfriend for a week, she agrees. The last thing she expects though is to fall for Drew for real, but he’s hiding so many secrets and his family are so messed up, Fable isn’t entirely sure what she’s letting herself in for, but she’s willing to take the risk…

I really, really enjoyed One Week Girlfriend. Every time I picked it up, I never wanted to put it down and it was disappointing every time I had to, because y’know I have to work. But I was entirely taken with Drew and Fable’s story. Sure, it’s a bit soap-operaish, especially because I knew exactly what was coming in regards to Drew and his secrets. Some people will question it, and say it’s perhaps farfetched, but I really enjoyed it, despite knowing what was coming. I loved how they basically clicked from the word go. From that meeting outside the bar where Fable works. It just seemed right. Throughout the novel, Fable says that she thinks she and Drew were meant to meet, and that shines through in the novel. It’s like, as soon as they met, boom!!! – how hadn’t they already met before? They were clearly soulmates and it leapt from the page.

I just adored the book! It took me almost a week to read, but if I’d had the time I’d have completed it in just the one sitting. It was THAT good. So good, in fact, that I’ve gone and bought Second Chance Boyfriend already and plan to read it next, even though I’ve got tons of books to read already. I’m also planning to pre-order books 3 and 4, because I’m already super invested in this series already. I already want to know if Fable and Drew manage to sort out all their issues and get their happy ending, despite so many conflicts and problems, and stuff. Monica Murphy is a wonderful writer and I loved that she set the book from both Drew and Fable’s perspective, I loved seeing how they were both feeling at any one time. I totally recommend the book, it’s a fantastic start to a fantastic new series and I can’t wait to read more!

[nitzan_schwarz]

Not entirely sure how I feel about this book yet...

[Cocktails and Books]

WRECKED! These two absolutely, positively wrecked me. I had heard so much about this book and really wanted to read it. But the book seriously needed to come with a warming label because it will provoke some pretty strong emotional responses.

Drew Callahan, star collegiate football player may look like he has the perfect life on the outside, but looks can be deceiving. He dreads going hom and comes up with a plan on how he can create a barrier between him and his family. Pay the sluttiest girl in town, Fable, to pose as his girlfriend for seven days. But Fable isn't what Drew expected. She has her own secrets and despite everything he's heard from his teammates and other guys around campus, she's not anything like what the rumor mill has said. She ends up being the lifeline that Drew needs to get through the holiday. But they both wonder if what they are feeling could possibly make it past seven days.

Neither one of these characters are what they seem from the very beginning. They are both broken by their own set of evil circumstances. While one's story might seen sadder than the other, they are both tragic and heartbreaking. Fable is trying to raise her thirteen year old brother, despite having a mother who would rather spend her time with whatever boyfriend of the moment she has rather than deal with her children. It's a lot of pressure for a twenty year old to handle. So when Drew makes his proposition, she's only thinking of her family. But no one thinks about Fable. Her brother tries, but he's too young to get passed that self-centeredness a thirteen year old feels. She uses sex as a way to, temporarily, feel something.

Then there is Drew. Of the two, Drew absolutely, positively breaks my heart. He is tormented and desperately trying to hold it together before he falls apart. His father is distant and his step-mother is overbearing (and that's being WAY too nice). The only way Drew can deal with all their emotional issues is to stay away and close down. But with Fable he can't seem to keep his emotions firmly behind the wall he's used. She stirs up feelings in Drew and shows him that with the right person, they aren't as bad as he thinks they are.

This is a tough read. Step Mommy Dearest will evoke all sorts of emotions in you as you read. Violent emotions. And even if you think you know where things are going with the story, when you get the climax is devastating. Monica Murphy, who was an author that was new to me, can draw out such an emotional response from the reader that you are as traumatized as the characters. This is a story that will stay with you well after you finish the last page.