All Nighter

The Undergrads #2

by Julie Murphy

A good girl and bad boy make 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.

Daisy was always a wallflower (yes, she does see the irony). But she’s decided that college is her time to bloom. She is going to be That Girl who goes all the parties, kills it at school, and finally loses her v-card. (Virginity is a construct, but still!) Unfortunately, everything about Daisy screams girlfriend material.

Heath is a tattoo artist by night and a Wexley student by day. After leaving the UK to apprentice for his hero, he’s following through on the promise he made his father to go to college. He’s trying to keep his head down and his grades up.

Until Heath goes to work and finds the new front desk assistant is Daisy--the stunning girl with a fear of needles who went into a panic the week before on his tattoo bed. When he learns that she plans on hiring someone to have sex with her, Daisy senses judgement coming from Heath and she challenges him to be the lucky guy.

She's not his type and he's definitely not hers, but Heath makes an offer anyway. Five dates. And then Heath will sleep with Daisy. No sooner. No later.

Daisy is hesitant to say yes. What he’s asking for is frighteningly close to a relationship. But as the two begin to catch feelings, will five dates be enough?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, College, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Expected publication December 1, 2026

About the author

Julie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her and her cats who tolerate her. After several wonderful years in the library world, Julie now writes full-time.

When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.

She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.

Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.

Reviews

[angelinabvby ۶ৎ]

GUESS WHO GOT ARC APPROVED

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Undergrads: All Nighter by Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: December 1, 2026
Rating: 5 stars

I genuinely did not expect to love this book *even more* than the first installment, but Julie Murphy somehow pulled it off.

Considering I rated the first Wexley College book 4.75 stars, this being a full 5-star read says everything about how much this story worked for me. Daisy and Heath had incredible chemistry from the very beginning, and I was completely invested in their relationship. What starts as a simple arrangement quickly becomes something so much deeper, and watching them fall for each other felt natural, emotional, and unbelievably addictive.

Daisy was such an easy character to root for. Her determination to reinvent herself in college while still figuring out who she wants to be made her feel incredibly real. And Heath? Absolutely obsessed. The tattoo artist exterior paired with his genuine care, patience, and vulnerability made him impossible not to love.

Julie Murphy perfectly balances humor, spice, heart, and character growth. The banter was excellent, the tension was immaculate, and the emotional moments landed exactly when they needed to. I found myself smiling through so much of this book, and by the end I was completely convinced that this series only gets better with every installment.

If you enjoyed the first book, prepare yourself because this one somehow raises the bar.

Tropes:
✨ Good girl × bad boy
✨ College romance
✨ No srtings attached
✨ Opposites attract
✨ Tattoo artist MMC
✨ He falls first
✨ Workplace romance
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Lots of tension and spice

[Nya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an e-arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

3.5

I really enjoyed this and I feel like I need to start reading more of Julie Murphy's Adult novels - she's such an "easy" writer to read. Just enough detail to have you understand the characters yet keep her plot going. All the characters in these books are just so darn likable. I got invested once again!

I do think this was a bit of a let down from book 1: Student Union, but I do really love Daisy and Heath's story. Just for some unknown reason it took me a bit longer to get invested into the plot. Again, I was able to really relate to Daisy's internal conflicts and loved how they were able to COMMUNICATE! It's crazy how uncommon that is in romance book conflicts. It makes sense, how can you have the plot of "hiring" someone to take your virginity if you can't communicate properly?

This book is quirky but not as quirky as book one. This one is just oh so sweet. I do love Heath, he's such a genuinely good guy and a complete opposite from the "bad boy" archetype. He's completely smitten with Daisy from the beginning.

Julie has her characters speak from the heart, and their backgrounds play such an integral part into how their stories spread out. She's not afraid to touch on heavier topics like diseases, religion, sex work, etc. Julie Murphy wants her characters to be tangible human beings with flaws, anxiety, self doubt and opinions just like the rest of us, and I LOVE reading books with plus size characters and not being constantly reminded of their body. Yes, they're plus sized, but they're also human beings who deserve to feel desired. I felt so good about myself and my body after reading this.

Julie Murphy, you deserve the world.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

That was a treat!

I received the complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley and decided to dive right in, despite it being book two in a series I knew nothing about.

I suspect these are interconnected standalones, as I never felt like I was missing anything. It was refreshing to just sit back and enjoy the story! It moved along at a great pace, had endearing characters who felt authentic, and gave them some depth.

The best part? The narration.

This was dual narrated by Victoria Connolly and Will M. Watt, and they both did a fantastic job! Now, I wish it had been a duet because this book would have been perfect for that, but both narrators handled the other gender’s voices well, so it was still thoroughly enjoyable.

I’d never heard either of these narrators before, but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for them in the future, especially Watt. His accent was wonderful, and it kept me so engaged! While his British accent was the primary voice for the MMC, Heath, he switched effortlessly to an American accent for the FMC, Daisy, and the supporting characters.

This was definitely the opposites-attract romance I’ve been searching for! Well written, with depth, a bit of spice, and a realistic love story, this one has me checking out the authors’ other works. A delightful surprise that reminded me just how much the right narration can elevate a reading experience!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan, Macmillan Audio, and of course Julie Murphy for an eARC and an ALC of this book. My opinions are my own.

There is nothing I like more than an absolute simp of a MMC who is desperately yearning for the FMC. Like, he is otherwise pretty badass and put together…but he is putty in her hands. Let me tell you, Daisy is walking Heath like a dog and she doesn’t even know it. The whole good girl X bad boy thing is done SO well here. These two are such adorable characters on their own, but together?? Insane. Great chemistry and an amazing love story. This is for sure a Romance, but their individual growth is what makes their stories so compelling in my opinion.

Their individual character arcs are so wonderful. That’s something Julie Murphy does a great job with, I’ve found. She doesn’t usually focus on one character having an arc. This is told in dual POV, and while Daisy is still the main character with a bigger character arc, we still see Heath have his own character arc. I really appreciate that both characters experience growth, and it’s their relationship that allows them to make those changes. Neither of them seems to feel like the way they were before was bad, but they have grown and changed as people which is natural for their age.

As someone who is old enough to have a child in college and typically struggles to read books written about characters who are college-aged or younger, I have really enjoyed this series. It feels incredibly honest and true to the time. The characters feel vulnerable and very three-dimensional. I am taken back to how I felt when I was that age and how insecure I felt at times, and the way Daisy grows into a more true version of herself is a wonderful coming of age story. This was truly great.

After reading the ebook, I was so incredibly excited to listen to the audiobook. Being chosen for an ALC had me thrilled because I didn’t have to wait until December, and I can say with certainty that you will love the audiobook! It’s done in dual narration and both narrators did an amazing job. Some of my favorite moments in the book felt extra special in audio. Victoria Connolly as Daisy was so good. She did such an amazing job perfecting her sweetness and also did a great job on the other voices. Will Watt as Heath though? Amazing. I’m always so excited when the accents are real instead of put on because I feel like people from the UK do a better job doing American accents than vice versa. Amazing narration.

[Pía · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

First, thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan, for letting me get an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

4.75/5 — stars

What a fun read! It was wild that all the characters in the book were likeable. I like characters you love to hate, but from time to time, it's nice to have such lovely characters.
All of this book was so sweet.

Heath, the MMC, was the best. He may look like a bad boy, but he is the golden boy of boys. And he was so down bad for Daisy.

As for Daisy, our FMC, I love her. She is a good girl, and I really felt for her and could identify with her need to play peacemaker between her parents. Been there.

Really, this was great. It was really fast-paced, and I didn't get bored for a second. There were also such lovely scenes. The scene where he lets her tattoo him has my heart. And the spice was also so good.

I would recommend this book to everyone who likes romance books, but especially to someone who wants characters they will love. You won't regret reading this book.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

- Tattoo artist x Good girl
- Five date pact
- Two POVs
- First person

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Undergrads is such a delightful series. All Nighter was every bit as entertaining and heart-warming as Student Union. Returning to Wexely University for the next couple’s story and getting to hang out with Clover, Briar, and Daisy again was the best! Heath and Daisy's story does not disappoint. Total opposites, and yet somehow the perfect fit. A tattoo artist and a girl afraid of needles set the stage for the perfect meet-cute and all the ensuing antics.

Having fought and survived a childhood illness, Daisy is a good girl trying to assert her independence. Getting a tattoo and losing her v-card are at the top of her list. But she is deathly afraid of needles due to said childhood illness, and her father is a famous megachurch pastor who, despite his own sordid past, expects his daughter to be the perfect PK (pastor’s kid), which does not include a daughter who engages in behavior like hanging out with tattoo artists and committing the ultimate sin (according to some really judgy people) of having sex before marriage.

Heath crossed the pond to attend Wexley University and to train under the fabulous tattoo artist Claudia, the owner of Lost & Found Ink. His class attendance is less than stellar because all he really wants to do is pursue his dream of being a full-time tattoo artist, well, that and Daisy. Heath has a tough exterior, but he’s all mush on the inside, especially when it comes to Daisy. From the very beginning, the chemistry between them is absolutely charming, and Daisy’s word vomit is amusing as all get out. I think my favorite thing about Heath is that he doesn’t judge Daisy for her desire to please her father; he accepts her just as she is, and it’s just so sweet

Heath finds out about Daisy’s v-card losing quest and can’t stand the thought of some stranger doing the deed, so he steps in and offers her a compromise. Dates for a v-card. Daisy reluctantly agrees, and she soon discovers it’s probably the best decision she has ever made. Heath is the gentleman you never would have expected him to be, but again, he’s all mush. Daisy gets some pretty awesome dates with some side benefits. All in all, All Nighter is a fun, saucy read, and I loved it.

Daisy’s personal story and hang-ups about losing her v-card did hit close to home. As a lifelong PK (pastor’s kid) myself, I know all about purity culture and the ridiculous pressure put on young women to maintain their purity at all costs. I have been to real-life versions of Redeeming Life Church, and I have met many versions of Pastor Randy and Charity, the perfect pastor's wife. These depictions were eerily accurate. The one redeeming factor is that Pastor Randy does seem to genuinely love his daughter, even if he shows it in a slightly misguided way.

Also, the attempts at naming their friend group were hilarious. I am curious to know if the last name Clover came up with stuck, and I am absolutely dying to know what is going on with Briar, and I hope her story is next.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pulled an all-nighter to finish this one in one sitting.

This one has:
❌ strike a bargain for dating
🖌️ tattoo artist x pastor’s daughter
🌸 college romance
❤️‍🔥 opposites attract
✨ deconstructing purity culture
🔥 delightful plus-size representation

I loved Daisy and Heath's dynamic -- seeing Daisy come into herself and gain confidence was so satisfying. Their emotional arc is believable, steamy and sweet.

I love Julie Murphy. Her books are always magical for me.
Thank you so much to Macmillan and Balzer+Bray for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited that I got a chance to arc read this book after getting to arc read the first one! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Julie Murphy for an advanced copy of this book. The second I read the description of this book, I knew that I needed to read it asap. Any book that has a plus size FMC, a British MMC, and is set in my home state is going to be good. This is the second book in the series, and the story follows Daisy and Heath. The main character is Daisy, an overachieving college student who wants to abandon her wallflower lifestyle and become the cool girl in college. Her main goal? To lose her virginity. The other main character, Heath, is a tattoo artist from the UK who is a tattoo apprentice for his idol and is just going to college to keep his promise to his dad. They are as different as they get, but after a failed tattoo walk in, and Daisy's new job as the front desk assistant to Lost & Found, the tattoo place Heath works at, the two make a deal. 5 dates, and Heath will sleep with Daisy and help her achieve her goal. Will it end up being just a deal, or will it become so much more? I really liked this book, and during college I have encountered so many people with the same goal as Daisy in their start of college. I loved this book, and am anxiously awaiting book three! 5 stars.

[Ali Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK.

Absolutely loved it. I adored Heath and Daisy SO MUCH and my goodness... I loved Charlotte and Claudia and VICTOR so much, too! Julie writes in a way that makes every character standout in their own way and has you absolutely wanting to know more about the entire cast. We also get more Clover, Daisy, and Briar moments - heavy on the extra Briar that we are afforded. (I can't wait to figure out what Briar was up to behind the scenes and am *crossing my fingers* hoping for more books in this series!!!) Butter Chicken aka Betsy also stole my heart this time around. Victor really was an MVP for me and I would absolutely gobble up more of him. He is precious to me.

I'm so grateful for everything Julie gives us in opposition to purity culture and everything she does in support of those of us coming out the other side of it all. It's encouraging and emboldening. And reading a character like Heath was so healing, too. The way he wanted the best for Daisy every step of the way. His friendship and humor and steadfastness. The way he protects her time and time again in little and big ways did something major for me, too. I loved that he wanted to take it slow with Daisy from the get go because he wanted to savor his time with her and the way that played out in the story line. I adored how Heath vacillated between taking control and relinquishing it. There are a lot of MMCs written that I melt over - but Heath is truly one of the top MMCs that I think would make the absolute best kind of partner.

And true to every Julie Murphy book I've ever read, she is SO good at humor. "Humilitation-induced boner" and "yes, daddy" were two moments that made me smile and I loved so much. Heath joking about his own make-a-wish moment cracked me up, too. Even more than the humor?? THE SPICE and intimacy was sooooo well written! GAH!!! Every. Single. Bit. Of. It. Big fan!

*Audiobook notes*
I enjoyed the audiobook very much! I think Will M. Watt was one HELL OF A CHOICE and the perfect Heath! I wish Will Watt narrated things into my ears every day, to be quite honest with you. I enjoyed Victoria Connolly as well - but sometimes I feel like she can overdo it for me, personally. (Overacts maybe? It comes off as disingenuous at times.) But I really did like listening to this one. Overall I WOULD recommend the audio version! I switched between the audio and ebook versions and enjoyed them both.

As someone who wholeheartedly and enthusiastically enjoyed book one, book two was EVEN BETTER. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and Balzer + Bray for the early audio & digital copies. All opinions are my own.

[Kelly · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Ok stop, I really thought I might DNF the book in the first chapter because I just wasn’t vibing with the silliness of the FMC debating religion and premarital fornication in her head while seated in church with her pastor father and step family. It came off cringe, tho I understand the sentiment behind the words.

But after that chapter, the story really takes off and I truly enjoyed the character development of Daisy and accepting being her own person and not trying to please her dad. Anyone growing up with a strong religious upbringing that sheltered them can probably relate to this one a bit. Being able to go off to college and sort of experiment and explore without your parents breathing down your neck.

Heath was a breath of fresh air! And he has an accent. Double points for him. He totally falls first and is such a sweetheart for Daisy. So supportive and intuitive of her needs. But a total badass that you don’t mess with. The things he does to accommodate her and make her feel valid and cared for.. ugh. Love him.

Ngl, I was surprised at the depth of the spice but I am not complaining one bit. For a book with the virgin trope, holy moly…. Very hot. Heath really set the bar high for Daisy.

This can be read as a standalone. I did not read the first book in the series. The audio was amazing. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC.

[Kandace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillanAudio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

All Nighter is book #2 in Julie Murphy's "The Undergrads" series. Here, we follow Daisy Madison. Daisy has always been a wallflower, but decided that college is her time to blossom into herself. In short, she wants to have her hoe phase. The only problem? She screams girlfriend material. Meanwhile, Heath is a tattoo artist by night, Wexley student by day, sexy British sex-god by all the time. He's come to America to be an apprentice for his hero, but under the stipulation he'd go to college. He just wants to do his thing. That is until he goes to work and finds Daisy as the new front desk assistant. Daisy, who has a fear of needles and panicked the week before on his tattoo bed. He learns that she plans on hiring someone to take her virginity, and Daisy challenges him to be the guy when she senses judgement. To her surprise, and his, he makes an offer. Five dates and then he'll sleep with Daisy. She's hesitant. She doesn't want a relationship, just a hoe phase. But sparks fly.

I love these books. Honestly I enjoy seeing how the friends’ stories weave together just enough that we still see the girls and their friendship + hints of their relationships, but not to the point where it overpowers the main couple. Heath did give me bad-boy-but-not as bad-Hardin from After… but i love those cringe movies so hey, im happy! 4/5 stars.

[Amy Bergesen · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

The Undergrads: All Nighter
Julie Murphy

I love this book! Heath is perfectly protective and positively swoony! Daisy is quirky, smart, and so deeply caring (and deserving of care herself). She feels like a real young woman who not only has real anxieties and desires, but also great girlfriends (the supporting characters deliver, and have me so ready for the next book!). The megachurch-heiress-meets-hot-British-tattoo-artist premise is just wildly perfect, and captures the chaos and unpredictability of college life in a way that is both thrilling and authentic.

Anything can happen when you’re young and in love, and Daisy and Heath give us a feel-good shot of happiness and spice. They aren’t thirty-year-olds cast as twenty-year-olds. They are college-aged, and their lives are just as erratic and colorful as that time of life truly is. But Julie Murphy doesn’t infantilize them or downplay their emotions— she gives us real young adults. The story and characters feel spot-on and ring true. All Nighter is optimistic and so readable. I loved the first book in this series, but I love All Nighter more!

Second in a series
Interconnected standalone
HEA
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Julie Murphy and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

julie murphy has done it again!! 🤭

what you’ll find…
✨ tattoo artist x pastor’s daughter
🌸 college romance
✨ opposites attract
🌸 deconstructing purity culture
✨ plus-size representation

i absolutely love this interconnected series!! 🥹🩷 we met clover, daisy, and briar in student union, and i knew i needed all three of their stories! (if you haven’t read it yet, please do yourself a favor and read it asap!) i already can’t wait for house rules, briar’s story, coming in august 2027!

this was such a fun, entertaining read that i flew through! from a grilled cheese hustle to a cat named butter chicken, julie murphy always keeps me guessing. 😂 i adored daisy and heath together, but i especially loved seeing their individual growth.

“you can’t love someone else until you love yourself. but what if letting yourself love someone else means that you are loving yourself? what if choosing heath is choosing me?”

thank you netgalley, balzer + bray, macmillan, & julie murphy for the arc for all nighter! 🩵📖

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this series. I enjoyed this one even more than the first even though I felt like I related to the characters in the first one more.

I really enjoyed Daisy's story especially her relationship with her dad. It was really trauma coded and relatable and I think she was so strong to handle that the way she did. Obvs I liked her mom more but she was more of a supporting character and not as heavily mentioned in the book but she seemed great.

Heath was my favorite character though. I think his story had so much depth and I respected his journey and how he handled his relationship with his parents as well. His parents were well intentioned and didn't annoy me NEARLY as much as Daisy's dad did.

The tattoo shop aesthetic of this story was so fun and I liked that this didn't take place on campus as much as the first because it provided a new setting that was really enjoyable.

[Erika Pollard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading The Undergrads: Student Union as an ARC as well, and although not a favorite of mine, I did want to see where this series was going to go and jumped at the opportunity to read this one as well.

Julie Murphy is a queen at writing humor, banter, and spice - quite a bit of spice! This isn't a problem for me, but I do like a little bit more substance to my romance stories. This one was a fun, quick read, but I have a love/hate relationship with the FMC's in these books. Daisy is a good girl ready to be a bad girl- a perfectly understandable rite of passage. Unfortunately, I didn't find her very likeable, but it wasn't anything that ruined the book for me. I had to remind myself that we're reading about college-aged young adults, so the maturity levels were as expected.

I would recommend this one to my younger (18+ for sure) romance-loving book buddies who enjoy a bit of opposites attract, silly and spicy romance (leaning more towards the spice), with fun side characters, and MMCs that may not become book boyfriends but will still entertain!

[Katie · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

*Received from netgalley
I read this in one day, practically in one sitting. I liked Daisy from Undergrad and this really develeoped her character and gave her much more depth.
I really liked that Heath became the flip side of her story as opposed to the date for hire situation Daisy tried to initiate. They seem to bring out the best in each other even unintentionally.
I like the plot development and friends outside of the romance focus too.
Open door spice 🌶️

[Laura Twaroski · Rating 5 out of 5]

If he doesn’t let you tattoo him, does he even really love you?!

This book deserves all the hype. Every tiny bit of it and then some. I LOVED it!

The emotional growth for both characters was grounded in such realistic struggles. From the wanting to please those around us to figuring out who we are without the noise - it was a really deep story about loving yourself while you allow others to love you, too.

It also had *epic* spice.

[alicebme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I liked Daisy’s story! She has sizzle and is so direct and kind-hearted. And Heath. Wuhhhhh. He’s not Heath Ledger, but also he’s kinda Heath Ledger. Read this. I can’t wait for Briar’s story.

eArc from NetGalley

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because this is a Julie Murphy book, it is, before I say anything else, Good Actually. There are some very human moments, some genuinely funny moments, and of course, some steamy moments. I loved the tattoo shop setting (as a tattoo-haver myself) and I enjoyed the side characters. The writing is quick and clever and sucks you in.

So all that out of the way—this was one of my least favourite Julie Murphy reads and yes, I feel bad saying it. I didn’t really like either lead; Heath felt underbaked and Daisy felt so immature and wishy-washy. Her relationship with her dad was a central tension but the resolution was rushed, disingenuous, and, honestly, as someone who left a deeply Christian household as a young adult, easy in a way that felt insulting. It never grappled with what the relationship meant for Daisy in the long-term, cheapening the message of self-liberation for me.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan | Balzer + Bray, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this DRC. All opinions are mine alone, written without AI.

[Amber Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Julie Murphy for the arc!!
One thing I can promise you that Julie Murphy is amazing at, is writing a jealous man. In All Nighter, the second book in The Undergrads series, it’s time for Daisy to find her happily ever after. Daisy is in her second year of college and is on a mission to get hired for her dream internship, and to lose her virginity. Our British bad boy mmc, Heath, steps in to help and an unexpected friendship blossoms between the two. During their time together, Daisy motivates Heath to chase his dreams and Heath helps push Daisy outside of her comfort zone and encourages her to discover what she wants from life and make choices for herself. Sounds like boyfriend material right? Well because of their backgrounds he doesn’t think he is good enough for her which is sad for him but great for us because we get a book full of yearning! Loved this book and I can’t wait for the next one!!

Tropes:
- College setting
- Lessons in the bedroom
- He falls first
- Friends with benefits

[Jack Pusloskie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of:

-The Deal
-Icebreaker
-The Graham Effect

In All Nighter by Julie Murphy, shy Daisy is determined to reinvent herself in college, even if it means making a bold deal with Heath, a guarded tattoo artist. Five dates, then no strings attached… or so they think. As their arrangement deepens, both are forced to question whether they can keep emotions out of the equation.

This was a fun, slow-burning romance about stepping outside your comfort zone and catching feelings when you least expect them.

I had a bit of a love–hate relationship with this book. It took me some time to get into the story, largely because I initially found Daisy to be insufferable. However, as her background and family dynamics became clearer, her behavior made more sense, even if she still wasn’t always my favorite.

That said, I really enjoyed Heath as a character. The chemistry between Daisy and Heath was one of the strongest aspects of the book, as every interaction felt charged with tension, and their dynamic kept me engaged. I especially appreciated how they challenged each other to grow and to reconsider the paths they thought they had to follow. Heath, in particular, saw through Daisy’s “good girl” facade and created space for her to be more authentic, which added depth to their relationship.

Overall, while I enjoyed the character dynamics and romantic tension, I did struggle with the central premise at times, as it felt a bit unrealistic.

I received this eBook ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Murphy, and Macmillan Publishers | Balzer + Bray for the opportunity to review All Nighter. This review has also been posted on my Goodreads: @jack-pusloskie—feel free to check out my profile there!

[Jessie Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book to review.

Not realizing I had only received #2 of this series as a galley, I read both #1 and #2 Undergrads books back to back.

Please know this is at least a 4/5 chili peppers book with a sex-based plot. (I saw Julie Murphy and jumped, but had I known those things I probably would have backed away slowly.)

In book 1, we meet Daisy as Clover's hallmate and friend. She is a sweet, curvy, all-around nice girl, but we don't learn all that much about her from Clover's POV. So book 2 tells Daisy's story.

It's really a story sort of raging against purity culture. Daisy is the daughter of a megachurch pastor, who had her as the result of an affair and didn't acknowledge her existence until she had pediatric cancer. And yet she's expected to be attending seminary (which she's not) and holding up every moral code that her father never did.

Daisy knows she's ready for her "ho era," but boys see her as girlfriend material. So when she meets a tattoo artist AND finds herself working at the tattoo shop, they strike a deal to remove Daisy's v-card.

As expected in any romance, they will fall for each other, Daisy will have to confront her own issues and her father, and she will have to decide between them. No big surprise here.

Julie Murphy is a great writer, which makes these books utterly readable, even if this one was reeeeaaaaallllllyyyy too spicy for me. Even though Daisy is consenting age, she is a college freshman and Heath is 23, which struck me as a little icky too.

Now I've read these two books, though, so I'll probably have to read book 3 to find out what's going on with their third friend, Briar.

[Katie Hodgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun! It was well written and easy to read quickly without getting bogged down in complexity or emotion.

Daisy is your classic do-gooder (as you'd expect the daughter of a Church pastor to be!) and Heath feels like your classic bad boy (but British?). It was nice to see more of Clover and Briar and this book felt like a good set up for Briar to be book 3. The characters really saved this one for me as they were so fun - the storyline felt very unrealistic and tropey, which was a shame.

I will say Heath's Britishness took me out of the book quite a lot of the time - he absolutely did NOT speak like a British man would and sometimes that made him sound like someone's nan, which ruins the spice quite a lot. It also didn't feel very much like a university setting, with Daisy essentially being bank-rolled and Heath somehow not needing to go to classes despite being there on a student visa.

[Morgan Williams-Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in 7 hours and I fear I will never get over Heath. A British, tattoo artist who is a green-flag jealous man? Yes, please, sign me up for ten of them.

He was the perfect guide, and partner for Daisy’s journey, and I LOVED Julie’s writing in bringing these two together. They were a perfect balance of opposites attract, and had the perfect touch of juuuust whimsical enough to make it work. I am DOWN BAD, for a man who says “I Love You” first.

Good Girl + Bad Boy = five stars 🤩

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

[yueting ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Nighter was one of my most anticipated releases this year. Everything about it, from the tropes to the characters, just felt like it was made for me. I adored Daisy in Student Union , and her story was everything I wanted and even more than I could have hoped for. It's funny. It's heartfelt. It's incredibly hot. It's quite literally my perfect book.

Daisy and Heath's romance is sweet, flirty, and just slightly unhinged in only the way Julie Murphy can write. Her unorthodox scenarios and cheeky characters work every. single. time. Because within the bargain to lose her virginity that Daisy strikes with Heath is softness, genuine connection, and a wonderful mix of humor and humanity.

Heath was so charming he gave me butterflies every time he flirted with Daisy. Every "darling" and "love" from him had me giggling, and every time Daisy frazzled him, leaving him baffled and unaware and just slightly turned on, made me giddy. He is a bad boy in occupation—classic tattoo artist—and dereliction of his student duties only. Because while he has the flirting chops to really pull off the whole no commitment asshole vibe, he is kind, thoughtful, and so attentive to Daisy from the moment they meet. He's also a bit of a freak: possessive, primal, and oh so jealous. This man was putty in her hands before he even knew it.

And Daisy! One thing Julie will always do is give us amazing, authentic plus-size rep. I love how Daisy just lived and existed in her body—the body she is currently trying so very hard and endearingly to get laid. She is as much of a good girl as Heath is a bad boy: just on the surface. I loved her insecurities surrounding her relationship with her father, and by extension acceptance and love. I loved her determination despite that to seek out something all for herself. Her growth was moving and frustrating and entirely real.

And the two of them together were just so good—comforting and electric at the same time. I think some of my favorite scenes were just them cuddled up on the couch. And Julie’s writing is as snappy and wry and playful as ever. She knows how to make every conversation, even the mischievous, teasing ones, meaningful. Heath is so ferocious about but gentle with Daisy. And Daisy believes in him and his dreams and his talent enough for the both of them. I loved how their growth included supporting each other, and I was just completely sold on their connection.

I also really enjoyed the cast of side characters, expanded here to include the artists at the tattoo shop. Vincent in particular was a highlight for me because he was just so ridiculous. The small glimpses of Clover and Bennett made me grin so big. And Brair continues to be so chaotic; she introduces a cat into the mix that has perhaps the best book cat name ever. And there are dropped hints here that I hope will lead into her own book.

I still can't quite believe that this book was exactly what I wanted. It's equally thoughtful, about purity culture and family expectations and choosing things for yourself, as it is hilarious and raunchy. There are "good girls" and "good boys" and deep conversations about Daisy's childhood and the meaning of Heath's tattoos. Julie just never disappoints. I need everyone to read this series.

[Lyndsie Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely 4 star read. In summary, if Julie Murphy writes it, I'm going to read it. It will always be a good time! Although the second book in The Undergrads series didn't hit home quite as strongly as the first one did for me, I still really enjoyed my time spent with Daisy, Health, and the rest of the Wexley gang. Julie's subplots are always meaningful, and this is particularly true on multiple fronts for me with this book. I have to say, the history of cancer and it being a semi-critical element of this book was a surprise for me...and for someone currently going through cancer and dealing with a port (and subsequent permanent scar), there were times this hit way too close to home. Readers be warned!

Positives:
*Daisy was a really-well fleshed-out character. There was a lot of backstory and it came to play well with the sub-plot of the book. You could really feel how torn between her parents she was and how she always felt the need to play peacekeeper. You could also understand why she kept wanting her father's approval and felt beholden to him since he was paying a lot of the bills. Having grown up being a part of a youth group, purity culture and the pressures of that were really relatable in this story.
*Heath was pretty well done also. The nuances of his story were a bit harder for me to follow - like, how exactly did he end up in the PNW? But overall, he was a likable character and a good match for Daisy.
*The tattoo shop characters were all great! I enjoyed this expansion into the town around Wexley and seeing Daisy interact with others beyond college students was a nice change.

Challenges:
*There was not enough time with the rest of the Wexley girls! For being best friends, I feel like Clover and Briar are barely present in this book. Daisy talks a bit about her loneliness in this regard, but in comparison to the first book, it then becomes apparent how little time the girls seem to spend together in their second semester of college. I think Clover & Briar could have appeared more and it wouldn't have taken away from Daisy's story.

Overall, this was a solid continuation of the series and I can't wait to see what's in store for Briar...

Thank you to Macmillan/Balzer + Bray and to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange of my honest review!

[Nicki Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rate: ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ / 5
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ / 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: New Adult, Hot Tattooed MMC, Virgin FMC, Opposite Attract, Forced Proximity, Fake Dating-ish
Series | Undergrads #2 - Standalone Interconnect
ARC Read | Book Releases on Dec 1, 2026
NetGalley

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to read the next book to the Undergrads Series! All Nighter did not disappoint and I quite enjoy this book (honestly I think I enjoyed it more than the first!). This book follows Daisy and her journey at Wexley. Julie takes you on journey as you follow Daisy, a young virgin christian girl, who does everything for her Pastor father. You follow each step on how Daisy is trying to find herself in the world without her father and soon to come to terms that she is living 2 separate worlds. The world that she pleases her father in everything especially when it comes to his image. Another world of her rebelling and trying to live her life the way she wants it including getting rid of her virginity and experiencing her "hoe" era.

I normally don't read books with virginity trope however I made the exception with this. I was literally captured within the first chapter and I never once got bored reading it. I loved that this book is a standalone interconnect to the series that if you didn't read the first book, you wouldn't get lost knowing what happened in the first book. You do get a see Clover and Bennett make an appearance here and there, including Daisy's roommate, Briar. I love the friendship between Clover, Briar, and Daisy had throughout the book. It makes me which that I had friendship when I was in college.

Now for the smut scenes! The smut scenes is definitely just the right amount of smut especially when it comes to New Adult Contemporary Romance. It makes you giggle while reading and also makes you jealous of how Daisy's first experience was perfect in that moment.

Overall it's a great book and I do recommend this to anyone who likes the Virginity Trope and New Adult.

[Molly Smiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you MacMillian, Balzer + Bray, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m sorry but FIVE DATES AND THEN IT’S OVER??? yeah no I was immediately unwell.
The Undergrads: All Nighter is peak “this is a terrible idea but let’s do it anyway” romance and I devoured it like it was my final exam grade on the line.
Daisy deciding she’s about to reinvent herself in college?? go to parties, thrive academically, and very casually check “lose my virginity” off her to-do list??? I already loved her. And then Heath—tattoo artist by night, broody student by day, absolutely trying to mind his business—gets dragged into her chaos and I was like oh this is going to ruin me.
The DEAL??? five dates and then they hook up, no emotions, no complications??? SURE. OKAY. DEFINITELY NOTHING WILL GO WRONG THERE.
The tension in this book??? unreal. Every date is like:
“this is still fake right?”
“we’re just sticking to the plan right?”
…meanwhile they’re catching feelings at a rate that should be studied.
And I loved that it wasn’t just spicy/fun (it absolutely is), it actually had heart. Daisy trying to figure out who she wants to be vs who everyone expects her to be?? Heath dealing with his own stuff and trying not to get attached?? it all felt messy and real in the best way.
Also the vibes are EVERYTHING:

good girl x “bad boy” but he’s secretly soft
structured dating plan that immediately falls apart
college chaos + late nights + feelings creeping in
“this was supposed to be simple” (it is NOT simple)
mutual catching feelings and pretending they’re not

And the way the emotional payoff hits?? I was GONE. fully invested. zero chill.
Julie Murphy really said “what if I make you laugh, blush, and spiral a little” and yeah… mission accomplished.
5⭐️, absolutely no notes, I would go on all five dates just to see how bad of an idea it really is.

[Audiobooksgirlie · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

What a fun, charming, and wonderfully entertaining story! Julie Murphy brings her signature humour, heart, and relatable characters to All Nighter, the second book in The Undergrads series. It’s a delightful combination of college romance, friendship, self discovery, and all the complicated emotions that come with figuring out who you are and what you want from life.

The story follows Daisy, a sheltered college freshman determined to reinvent herself, embrace new experiences, and take control of her romantic life. Enter Heath, a British tattoo artist and fellow student who proposes an unexpected arrangement: five dates before they take things further. What begins as a practical agreement gradually becomes something much more complicated as their chemistry grows and genuine feelings enter the picture.

I particularly enjoyed the balance between humour and emotional depth. Daisy’s journey toward confidence and independence adds substance to the romance, while Heath brings charm and tenderness to their developing relationship. Their playful banter, contrasting personalities, and romantic tension make the five date arrangement especially entertaining. The friendships and college atmosphere add another layer of warmth to the story.

The audiobook is narrated by Victoria Connolly and Will M. Watt, whose performances bring both Daisy’s and Heath’s perspectives to life. The dual narration complements their personalities and captures the humour, vulnerability, and growing attraction throughout the story, making for an engaging listening experience. A super delightful college romance with a fun premise, wonderful chemistry, memorable characters, and plenty of heart. The combination of humour, friendship, and unexpected love makes this such an enjoyable story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.