From New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy comes an angsty new adult romance about the popular quarterback and the smart girl who brings him to his knees. Jake Callahan. Prince of the popular crowd.My mortal enemy.Gorgeous. All the girls want him.Quarterback. All the boys want to be his friend. He’s the most popular boy in the senior class.And he hates me.Or so I … boy in the senior class.
And he hates me.
Or so I thought.
What I mistook for hatred turns out to be…interest. There’s that thin line, right? It makes me crazy. I can’t stand it. Attraction, chemistry, whatever it is, I also can’t resist it.
And neither can he.
Together, we make no sense. The odds are against us. His friends definitely don’t approve. I’m not a part of their crowd. Not one of the cool kids. I don’t fit in, or so they say.
But that doesn’t stop him from falling for me.
And it won’t stop me from fighting for him.
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This book had some Drew and Fable vibes that I liked. Hannah did not let Jake in so easily like all the girls in his past had, he had to work a little bit for her and I think that’s what made her stand out in his eyes. I love it when the underdog gets the boy!!
When I started reading this, I didn’t realize it was YA. I thought it would be NA like One Week Girlfriend. That was kind of a bummer because I am too old for YA. I have an adult son so reading about high school kids fooling around is awkward. But I had already started the book so I kept reading thinking it would be nice to catch up with Drew and Fable. They have become boring old parents now. LOL. That’s OK because Jake is a little Drew. There were a few awkward moments for me but the story was good and I did enjoy it. However, there were a few things I didn’t like.
***Start of Very Minor Spoilers***
I didn’t like Hannah’s mother. She wasn’t there for her daughter much of the time and left her alone at night when she worked but she was fine eating the dinner her daughter cooked and putting her foot down and telling Hannah she couldn’t work. Then when she was too tired to meet Hannah’s boyfriend and his family when it would take her five minutes, that was it for me.
I thought it was very high handed of Drew and Fable to make a therapist appointment without consulting their very nearly adult son. He’s 17. If he left home it would be hard to make him come back. In less than a year he could join the Army. I think he deserves some respect and a little control over his own well being. If that’s the normal parenting style then it may be part of the reason he’s so angry all the time. No one likes to be controlled. And Jake was diagnosed with ADD as a child and was hyper. That’s actually ADHD. The H is for hyperactivity. My son and I both have ADHD.
I didn’t like the ending! All that buildup and nothing is cleared up. That’s half a story. I dislike duets and series more than I dislike YA. I’m not reading any more of this series.
***End of Very Minor Spoilers***
Overall the book was well written and I didn’t see any glaring errors or plot holes. It flowed well and had good characters. The things I didn’t like in no way made the book terrible; my dislikes were simply my preferences and opinions. If you like YA romance then you are sure to like Jake and Hannah and all their friends, family, and even their enemies so give this book a read. I give this book an easy four stars.
“Did you really just turn me down?” Jake Callahan both sounds and appears mystified. I’m sure no girl at this school has ever refused him before.
Hannah indeed did turn down Jake’s request for her to wear his jersey on game day. Jake has never talked to her in all the years they’ve gone to school together. So why now? What’s the deal here?
Jake has no idea why he asked Hannah to wear his jersey. But being rejected by her did NOT feel good. But he can’t help but be fascinated by her. She’s pretty, smart and doesn’t seem to want to have anything to do with him.
As Jake and Hannah run into each other more, things start to change. Jake may be more than he seems. Hannah is definitely unlike anyone Jake has known. Together they try to see how they can have a relationship when their social circles are very different.
I love this book. Great series!
***4 “Come at me, bro!” stars***
After reading “Close to me”, the first book in the series, i fell in love with the Callahan kids and i couldn’t resist to Jake’s story…
I’m very intrigued by this family and i want more and more…
“You have issues.”
“I do… One in particular. You.”
Well, Jake is Mr. Popular quarterback of the school and everyone wants a piece of him, especially women.
Since he was burned on the romance department, he and his friends are deciding that he has to move on, giving his jersey to an irrelevant girl to wear it on his upcoming game, but unfortunately, for him, the girl that he had chosen, she is blatantly refusing to embrace that decision…
Jake doesn’t really understand her refusal and from that moment, he is starting to notice her….
And his downfall is starting…
“She’s pretty. She intrigues me. I have no fucking clue why.”
Hannah can be called a misfit in their high school, even though she was super smart and talented…
She and her friends were never on the spotlight, unlike Jake and his clique.
So, she really can’t understand why out of nowhere, Jake Callahan had ask her to wear his jersey…
Unfortunately for her, she is starting to notice him too…
“I don’t want his attention at all, if I’m being real. He’s a distraction I don’t need.”
From that moment, a pull is bringing these two closer and closer…. even though, many things are standing on their way…
I really liked seeing this pull blossoming in something more between Jake and Hannah.
Even though they were so opposite between them and not the other’s usual type at all, they were fitting really good together…
I liked their slow burn and their secretely nightly moments…
“This is what she does to me. She makes me want. She makes me feel. She eases my mood, she makes me smile, she makes me laugh. Since she entered my life and rejected me without hesistation, I’ve been intrigued.”
And now, I can not wait for Ava’s turn!!!
Wow, girl!!! You and Eli???
I’m so intrigued in so many levels with this story and i’m anticipating it like crazy….
*I received an advanced copy of this book for the exchange of an honest review*
I should’ve been reading Monica Murphy a long time ago!
The story line and cover for Falling for Her stood out and since I’d never read anything by Monica Murphy, I figured I’ve give it a try. The best part, now I have a whole lot of reading to make up for because this story was amazing!
I love that Falling for Her is young adult themed. After doing a little bit of background work, I discovered that this series is a spin-off from a previous series, a second generation of sorts. And I’m completely enthralled by everything about this cast of characters, the younger generation as well as the older one. Monica’s writing is simple and easy to follow, and she gets the reader deeply into the story early on. Jake and Hannah’s story though they are complete opposite, is sweet and addicting. He’s the popular football player and she’s the smart, intellectual one. Together, their chemistry is off the charts. To be so young, you know the two of them deserve to be together. They just click and you get all the feels of what young love is all about.
This story takes me back as to why I enjoy simple romances. You don’t have to have all the steam and intensity to have a really great love story. It’s like falling in love for the first time all over again. So many feels and lots of sweet emotions from this one and I think readers, whether you’re new to the author or not, will appreciate Falling for Her. Sweet romance doesn’t get any better than this!
Falling For Her is the second title in The Callahans, but can easily be read as a standalone. It’s a sweet, yet angsty and drama filled young adult romance.
Honestly Jake is not the easiest hero to connect with. He’s the school quarterback, a popular, good looking, egotistical and brooding hero, who struggles with the pressures he puts upon himself.
Hannah on the other hand is a heroine who I was drawn to. She’s endearing and likeable, a bit of an outcast, but happy with being overlooked by popular crowd. Hannah is strong, sassy, feisty, resilient, honest, intelligent and reserved.
On paper this pair have very little in common, but are inexplicably drawn to each other, and they do honestly bring out the best in each other. Hannah calms Jake’s inner thoughts and turmoil and in return he boosts her confidence. The chemistry they share is intense and undeniable, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their friendship and relationship grow over the course of their story.
I’d recommend Falling for Her to anyone who enjoys an opposites attract, sports romance set in a small town high school.
3 Stars!
Having read Ms.Murphy’s work before I’ve wanted to pick up more of her books this year! From the second that I read the synopsis for this one I’ve been looking so forward to it! I liked this story!
Hannah and Jake’s journey made me feel so many different things throughout! I liked that we got both of their POV’s and getting to see high school through their eyes. I just struggled to connect with these characters and I hate that I did.
Ms.Murphy created a good read with Falling for Her!
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Valentine PR / the author*
I love the Callahan family, and getting to see the kids get their own stories is awesome. Jake Callahan has everything a high school senior could want; star quarterback, popular and girls galore. But he is not happy and feeling restless. He is looking for something, but he is not sure what it is. Hannah just exists at school. She keeps her head down and does here work. When Jake and Hannah get to know each other, they discover that there is something electric between them. With tons of drama and people trying to break them apart, they grow closer. I could not put this book down! They were such a great couple. Really looking forward to more of the Callahan’s!!
I loved this book just as much as I did the first book in the series (Close to Me), this time it’s Autumn’s brother Jake in the hot seat. I liked that even though he’s still in high school, Jake has enough self-awareness to recognize that the girls at school are only after him for one reason, and that all he wants to do is focus on senior year; hard to do when you’re under the constant pressure of living up to your father’s legacy. On the flip side we have Hannah, quiet and shy on the outside and seemingly the complete opposite of Jake, yet the chemistry between them can’t be ignored, despite the tactics from outside forces doing their best to make it so that Jake and Hannah aren’t together. A wonderful read that I highly recommend.
Hannah and Jake are polar opposites. He’s the super hot and popular king of the school. You know the one all the guys want to be friends with and all the girls want to tame. Hannah is shy, smart and doesn’t fit in with the popular crowd. But these two sure fit together perfectly. I love how they break down each other’s walls and grow as characters as they destroy the preconceived notion that two people so opposite won’t work. We get to see Jake and Hannah in a whole new light as the book progresses and I really liked both their characters. Although it did take Jake some time to grow on me. This was a quick, sweet and light read chocked full of high school drama and angst. I enjoyed it and I am definitely looking forward to Ava’s book next!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
I don’t know how Monica Murphy does it. She is a romancelandia genie and every story that she puts out is better than the last. I thought that it couldn’t get any better than Close to Me but I was wrong. It gets so much better. Falling For Her rocked my socks off.
Monica Murphy’s writing always puts a smile on my face. She is one of my favorite storytellers because of the way that she brings the reader into the story. Her writing style is one that I have always connected with. Her narration is smooth and welcoming and it makes me feel so at home. She knows how to pack emotion into her stories and keeps her readers on the edge of their seats. When it comes down to it, she writes the stories that I want to read.
Jake and Hannah were the best kind of characters. They really resonated with me. I felt immediately drawn to them. They are so relatable and likable. I loved how they both had plenty of depth and great character development. I also really loved all the secondary characters in this book and I hope that we get to hear some of their stories in later books.
The romance in this book is one that will melt your heart. It’s one that you can just feel in your bones. Jake and Hannah had this immediate and strong connection. You could feel their chemistry radiating off the pages of this book. I love how they brought out the best in each other.
Overall, I loved this book something fierce. Murphy has a way of telling stories that get under your skin. You live in them, you breathe them. This is a story that will definitely stick with me. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
Hannah Walsh really is the most imperfect perfect girl I’ve read about in a while. She just seems so, real? She’s basically raising herself and honestly, doing a damn good job at it! Hannah keeps to herself and has less than a handful of friends she can trust.. if only she could stay in her own little world. In walks Jake Callahan.
If you’ve read the “One Week Girlfriend” series.. you’ll feel like you’re looking in a mirror with Jakes character. Him and his uncle Owen’s personalities are so similar! But that’s just the way Jake likes it!
Hannah is the one girl that doesn’t fall all over Jake and he loves it. I seriously couldn’t put this book down. Their story pulls you in and keeps you guessing until the end!
4.5 Stars
Monica Murphy has done it again! I love her young adult books and all the angst and feels that come along with it.
Jake Callahan is the second oldest of four and his father is a retired NFL player. It’s his senior year of high school and he one of the most sought after guys and team quarterback. He loves football and his team but he has lot on he has a lot of pressure on him.
Hannah is quite and doesn’t hang out with the popular kids. She is smart and doesn’t hold back, she lets you know where she stands. She doesn’t know what to think when out of no where Jake approaches her.
I loved the way how Jake and Hannah’s relationship started slow. He find himself protective of her and so drawn to her. These two have amazing chemistry. I really enjoyed Falling for Her.
When I first started the reading this book, I didn’t realize it was the second book in a series. Don’t worry. They are all standalones so it wasn’t necessary to read the first book and I followed the storyline just fine (but I will go back and read about the oldest sister). What I did love was that I got to see a little glimpse into my favorite past characters of Monica Murphy’s, Drew and Fable. This Callahan series is about their family. They are all grown up and living in a small town in California with their 4 children. This story focused on their second eldest child, Jake.
Jake Callahan is popular, good looking, has dated the head cheerleader and is the quarterback for the school’s football team. He is definitely part of the in crowd and hasn’t ever veered away from that.
Hannah Walsh is a quiet and smart girl. She loves art and stays on “her side of the cafeteria”. She is NOT popular. She has two close friends and really doesn’t care about being of the In clique.
What happens when Jake approaches her in the cafeteria and asks if she would wear his jersey for his football game?? What starts as something not so serious could turn into something no one expects.
Falling For Her is High School. It’s the friendships, the relationships, the drama.
What I thought was going to be a cute mature YA story also had definite bully elements. Characters that pissed me off and characters that needed to be hit upside the head and taught a thing or two. But we also had characters that wanted to enjoy their senior year and tried to get out of their comfort zone. Those were the characters I loved and loved seeing their growth.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Hannah and Jake grow. They are two characters that don’t work on paper, but when they come together, they just understand one another. They form a quiet friendship before taking it any further and before (more) drama ensues. Jake has so much riding on his shoulders and his anger outweighs a lot. He was a hard character for me to get into liking. But when he’s with Hannah she brings out the best in him. I liked hearing his inner dialogue when he was around her. It kinda won me over.
Hannah is a girl that doesn’t take Jake’s crap and she pushes him and doesn’t ask for anything from him in return. Just that he’s himself and he sees her through his own eyes and is not influenced by those around him. I liked her from the first moment she spoke. And to see her growth as a person and able to stand up to the characters that didn’t like her? Perfect. Because in the end, it’s not the cliques and the games won, it’s about being true to who you are and being the best you can be.
Falling For Her is a mature YA book that is all set in high school. If that’s your jam, you’ll enjoy this story. You’ll be able to imagine the cliques, the classes, the parties, the popularity contests, the bullying, and football game nights. This book IS high school to a T. You may have lived some of this in years past. Jump in and take a ride to your teen years. It’s a little sweet, a little mean girl vibe, but most of all, it’s about friendship, family and growth.
Monica Murphy has been one of my favorite author’s since discovering her One Week Girlfriend series back in 2016 and when she announced that Drew and Fable’s children, the next generation, were getting their own series, I was so freaking excited and I immediately added all of the books to my TBR list! I just knew that the Callahan siblings were going to captivate my heart and oh my goodness did I find myself falling in love with them all. I especially loved that we got some more sweet glimpses of Drew and Fable as parents!
Falling For Her is the second book in the Callahan series and I freaking LOVED every second of this angsty young adult romance that had me swooning while inhaling all the words in one sitting because it was nearly impossible to put down. Jake Callahan and Hannah Walsh were an unlikely pair, but yet they were so perfectly matched. I absolutely adored their chemistry and the growth between them throughout the course of their story. There was just the right amount of drama in this slow burn romance that draws you in and keeps you on your toes the entire time.
This story was beautifully written and the author’s storytelling ability was flawless. You will all find yourself head over heels in love with these characters and their journey towards happily ever after!
“My skin tingles from where his lips touched me, and I instantly want more. More kissing. More touching. More Jake.”
Jake + Hannah’s story had my heart smiling! Falling For Her was the perfect mix of sweetness, angst, and teen drama. Plus, I’m a total goner for the whole “hot jock falls for the under the radar girl.”
I adored their entire first meeting. Hannah was so NOT impressed by him, and I was here for it! To be honest, Jake took a bit for me to warm up to, too. He was a broody guy and found himself falling into trouble a bit. However, when sweet Hannah entered the picture, his rough edges began to smooth. She was a sort of beacon of calmness he needed in his life. She also brought out a protective side in him, which was all kinds of swoon! And while Hannah calmed him, Jake in return brought her out of her shell. Had her stepping out of her comfort zone and trying new things.
Their relationship was on the more mature-YA-side with some steamy moments, and it had a slow-burn touch that I absolutely loved! I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy mature YA/NA romances.
Hannah and Jake were a great read. They were so opposite that they were perfect for each other. She was quiet, kept to herself and considered to be a nerd. Jake was popular, quarterback and came from money but yet he was humble and so was his family. He never noticed Hannah until their senior year of high school when his friends dared him to talk to her. She flat out rejected him and he was intrigued by the beautiful quiet girl. Hannah was no doormat; she was quiet and studious but she was also blunt when needed and told it like it is which attracted Jake even more. Jake defended Hannah something fierce when needed and I liked that he followed his heart and not two of his idiot best friends that were the worse. His other best friend was amazing like him. Added bonus, Jake’s family were awesome!!
I absolutely love everything that Monica Murphy writes. Her One Week Girlfriend series is my favorite so I was thrilled when she decided to write books about the kids. Falling For Her is a standalone but I highly recommend reading Drew and Fable’s story as well.
Jake is the star of his high school football just like his father Drew was. He is loved by all the girls but is getting tired of them only wanting one thing from him. He just wants to focus in his senior year and football. He never expected to fall for the quiet girl who wouldn’t even give him the time of day.
Hannah sees Jake as your typical arrogant jock that can have any girl he wants. She has no interest in being his arm candy. She is very surprised at his consistent want to spend time with her. She quickly realizes that Jake is a super sweet guy that wants a relationship with a girl who likes him for who he really is. Will these two be able to make a relationship work or will their different circle of friends keep pushing them apart?
I loved the connection between Jake and Hannah. The secondary characters added lots of depth to the storyline. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
C’est toujours un régal de lire un roman de Monica Murphy car je sais que je vais passer un excellent moment de lecture. C’est fois ci , nous retrouvons le 2ème tome de la saga Les Callahan avec une romance Young Adult toute mignonne et toute choupinette que j’ai adorée. Elle m’a donné le sourire aux lèvres et j’ai adoré l’histoire de Jake et Hannah.
Mon avis sur Close to Me – Tome 1
Jake Callahan est le fils de Drew et Fable Callahan et étant donné que son père est un ancien champion de football américan, il a une pression d’autant plus importante qu’il est en Terminale et que ce sport est son seul ticket valide pour des poursuites d’études . Il y a cette colère qui gronde en lui et les débordements sont nombreux. Les bagarres vont donc se multiplier et provoquer l’inquiétude de ses parents. Jake a donc un rôle à tenir mais il semblerait qu’il ne supporte plus ce poids sur ses épaules. Quaterback mais aussi capitaine de son équipe , il n’a d’autres choix que de les mener vers la victoire. Il fait partie des élèves populaires du lycée et il faut avouer que ses amis sont de sacrés numéros Si Caleb et Diego semblent très puérils , ils aiment mener leur monde et abaisser ceux qui ne font pas partie de leur groupe. Si au début; notre héros va se fondre dans le moule, il semblerait qu’il ne supporte plus très longtemps les remarques désobligeantes de ses amis à l’égard d’une jeune femme qu’il semble de plus en plus apprécier. Par contre , j’ai adoré son ami Tony Sorrento qui lui a plus la tête sur les épaules et qui agit de manière plus raisonnée.
Quand il va tenter d’approcher Hannah, il va faire face à un mur qui ne succombera pas à son charme en un clin d’oeil. La surprise sera de taille car il n’est pas habitué à ce qu’on lui tienne tête. Nouer une relation avec quelqu’un qui n’a pas confiance en vous est difficile et ce combat sera une première mais aussi une révélation pour notre héros. Pour une fois on se rapproche pas de lui car il est Jake Callahan , au contraire , on va le fuir pour qui il est et l’image qu’il dégage . J’ai donc aimé découvrir comment il va parvenir petit à petit à devenir quelqu’un de plus posé, de plus apaisé mais aussi de plus heureux. Il est dommage qu’ils doivent vivre cette “relation”de manière cachée car cela aura clairement des incidences sur l’intrigue. Il ne peut pas vraiment agir comme il le veut et ce rôle qu’il doit continuer de jouer est très perturbant. Plus la saison avance plus les tensions et les provocations à son égard vont s’accentuer. J’ai apprécié avoir deux chapitres écrits du point de vue de ses parents car cela nous permet de cerner encore mieux notre personnage.
Hannah Walsh a plus l’habitude de vivre dans son monde et surtout d’être invisible aux yeux de tous. Elle a été amie un certain temps avec Cami Lockhart , l’ex de Jake mais cette pom pom girl en chef est vraiment détestable car elle adore piétiner les autres et les insulter continuellement. Elle n’a aucune circonstance atténuante et nous allons forcément la détester. Diego n’est pas en reste car ce qu’il a fait subir à son cousin Marty n’est pas plus louable. Hannah vit donc au dessus de tout cela et elle serait rester dans son coin si Jake n’était pas venu l’aborder. Sa proposition est surprenante mais aussi déroutante et j’ai aimé le fait qu’elle soit restée sur ses positions tout en étant ouverte d’esprit. Elle a cette maturité incroyable qui découle de son vécu et forcément , elle n’évolue pas dans le même monde. J’ai aimé sa relation avec sa mère et le fait qu’elle parvienne à affronter les épreuves avec brio. Sophie sera aussi une bonne amie qui saura être à son écoute et qui la connaît bien. Elle parviendra à lui donner des conseils avisés tout en essayant de démêler ses propres sentiments .
La relation secrète qu’elle va vivre avec Jake donne envie d’y croire car elle sera vraiment à l’écoute de notre héros sans rien attendre en retour. Il est évident qu’elle va se méfier de cette relation car elle ne comprend pas tout ce que Jake veut. Ses gestes et ses actes sont parfois en désaccord avec ses paroles et il faudra donc démêler le vrai du faux. Etre sous les lumières n’est pas quelque chose dont elle a envie mais apprendre à connaître le héros sous son vrai jour est plus important. Nous allons donc espérer que ce lien pourra être renforcé et intensifié mais ce ne sera pas facile dans ce contexte si particulier. Nos jeunes héros devront affronter des épreuves liées à l’adolescence, à la recherche de soi et aussi à l’acceptation de qui nous sommes et à cet âge ne sera pas chose facile.
Bref si vous êtes à la recherche d’une douce romance Young Adult, alors je ne peux que vous recommander de lire ce nouveau tome de cette saga que j’adore déjà . Les Callahan n’ont pas fini de nous faire rêver et le prochain tome qui sera sur Ava, une des soeurs de notre héros promet d’envoyer du lourd.
In Falling For Her we get Jake Callahan’s story. He is the second child of Drew & Fable. (whom I have loved for years!) Jake is a senior in high school, the varsity quarterback and the most popular guy in school. Hannah Walsh is also a senior, but she’s not part of the “in” crowd. She’s a dedicated student who enjoys art more than sports. Hannah has flown under Jakes radar for years, but now that he’s noticed her he can’t get her out of his mind. The two start a friendship outside of school hours and slowly fall one another. This was a really cute high school love story. I really enjoyed seeing Drew and Fable again. I can’t wait to get Jakes little sisters story.