Fake Marriage Turns Real in Julie Murphy's 'The Undergrads: Student Union' Excerpt

A college couple's staged romance takes an unexpected turn during a campus housing event.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:20pm

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An extreme macro photograph of shattered glass in high-contrast studio lighting, capturing the glitzy, high-stakes glamour of a blossoming college romance.The shattering of boundaries between a fake college marriage and a real, passionate romance is captured in this abstract close-up of glittering, high-contrast textures.Cannon Beach Today

In an exclusive excerpt from Julie Murphy's upcoming new adult novel 'The Undergrads: Student Union', a college student named Clover and her fake husband Bennett are forced to convincingly play their roles as a married couple during a campus housing event. As they navigate the awkward situation and weave an elaborate backstory, their staged affection begins to feel all too real, hinting at a deeper connection between the two.

Why it matters

The marriage of convenience trope is a beloved staple in romance fiction, but finding a fresh, contemporary take on it can be challenging. Murphy's new series explores this classic trope in a college setting, where the high-stakes campus housing crisis provides a unique catalyst for the fake marriage premise. The excerpt showcases Murphy's talent for crafting witty, flirtatious banter and teasing out the underlying chemistry between her characters, leaving readers eager to see where their relationship goes next.

The details

In the excerpt, Clover and Bennett are invited to attend a campus housing event for married couples living on-campus. Forced to convincingly play the role of husband and wife, the two weave an elaborate backstory about how they met in a haunted house, with Bennett even going so far as to physically flirt with Clover in front of the other couples. As the event progresses, the lines between their staged romance and real feelings begin to blur, building palpable tension between the two protagonists.

  • The excerpt is set during a campus housing event on an unspecified date.
  • The Undergrads: Student Union is set to be released on May 5, 2026.

The players

Clover

The protagonist of the story, a college student who finds herself in a fake marriage arrangement with her friend Bennett to secure campus housing.

Bennett

Clover's friend who agrees to the fake marriage arrangement, and begins to blur the lines between their staged romance and real feelings.

Miss Linch

The assistant director of housing who organizes the campus housing event for married couples.

Marshall

Miss Linch's boyfriend, a kindergarten teacher who brings his own bowling shoes to the event.

Blake and Danielle

A married couple in their late twenties with a seven-month-old daughter, who also attend the campus housing event.

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What they’re saying

“We're fucked," Bennett whispers. "The guy has invested in equipment.”

— Bennett

“Intimidation tactic," she says. "My Greta throws a strike her uncle taught her called the One-Eyed Willy.”

— Sandra

“He was a dirty old man, but his heart was in the right place.”

— Greta

“Damn," says Blake as Danielle reclaims her seat beside him and Greta takes her turn.”

— Blake

“The best ones always are," says Blake, and I sense a slight bit of annoyance from Miss Linch in return.”

— Blake

The takeaway

This excerpt showcases Julie Murphy's talent for crafting witty, flirtatious banter and teasing out the underlying chemistry between her characters in a fresh, contemporary take on the classic marriage of convenience trope. The blurring of the lines between Clover and Bennett's staged romance and real feelings leaves readers eager to see where their relationship goes next in the full novel.