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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First of all, Jake’s friends are a bunch of idiots and I cant help but feel their school condition is so toxic. I hate reading about them.
But I loved Hannah and Jake’s story. Their witty banter is so addicting and fun to read. Jake was the typical conceited quarterback who broods on the outside and so incredible sweet when it came to Hannah. Hannah is a sweet, quiet and innocent girl. Basically the opposite of Jake. Even though Hannah gets so insecure sometimes.
Sweet slow burn romance that I devoured. When Jake thinks he’s doing Hannah a solid by asking her to wear his jersey he wasn’t prepared at her reply lol. Jake is the popular jock and Hannah is the shy girl who is not in the in crowd nor does she want to be. She is who she is and her genuineness and honesty appealed to Jake in a way he never thought would
Falling for Her is the second book in the Callahans series and can be read as a standalone. This is a young adult, high school romance with an opposites-attract trope (even though it starts with complete disdain for each other in the beginning). I really enjoyed this one! Monica Murphy has brought us another read filled with excellent character chemistry and a great plot. While I have seen this plot type used before, Monica still has her own fresh take on it making it feel like a unique read. I’m excited for the next one!
FALLING FOR HER is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young adult THE CALLAHANS romance series focusing on the Callahan siblings- a spin off from the author’s ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND series. This is high school students, quarterback Jake Callahan, and Hannah Walsh’s storyline. FALLING FOR HER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.
Told from four first person perspectives (Jake, Hannah, Drew, Fable) FALLING FOR HER covers a few weeks in the life of high school students, quarterback Jake Callahan, and Hannah Walsh. Jake Callahan is the all-star quarterback; leader of the popular crowd but a young man struggling with his direction in life. His previous relationship was full of turmoil and angst, and in this Jake wasn’t looking for anyone or anything to tie him down until his friends and fellow football players pushed him in the direction of our story line heroine-Hannah Walsh- a senior student who stuck mostly to herself but became the target of ridicule and bullies as soon as Jake focused his attention on her. What ensues is the building friendship, romance and relationship between Jake and Hannah with the approach of homecoming, and in the face of mockery and taunting from the school’s popular crowd.
The relationship between Jake and Hannah begins as a big of a dare. Jake is hoping that Hannah will wear his football jersey but all Hannah sees is a set up by the ‘in crowd’ to take her down. Jake is persistent in his attempts to persuade Hannah to be his friend regardless of the mockery and teasing he faces from his own teammates and the hatred from his ex-girlfriend. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
The animated cast of secondary and supporting characters include Jake’s parents Drew and Fable (One Week Girlfriend series), as well as his sister Ava; fellow teammates and friends Diego, Caleb and Tony; Hannah’s best friend Sophie; Jake’s ex girlfriend Cami, and his arch-rival Eli Bennett.
FALLING FOR HER is a story of bullies and mean girls; family and friendships; love and relationships; the have and the have-nots. The premise is entertaining ; the characters are dynamic, energetic, flawed and real; the romance is sweet, tender and impassioned. FALLING FOR HER is a delightfully frustrating, yet familiar look at the cliques of high school and how they affect everyone they touch.
I am going to start reading new authors to me more and first up is Monica Murphy. I do love YA and this blurb just called to me.
Jake is the school’s quarterback, Mr popular with a lot of pressure on him. He comes across Hannah and asks her to wear his jersey to their upcoming game. Hannah refuses, something Jake doesn’t understand and from here the pull between this pair starts.
I loved the slow build of their romance and those little moments Jake went round to her house to make sure she was safe and to keep her company.
In regards to Jakes character, there is talk of him having ADD, but I didn’t feel like it fitted into the story and was more usual teenage behaviour, then his parents make him go see someone for it, he didn’t even discuss it with Hannah, which you think he would have done? I just felt it didn’t need to be in the story.
I really liked Hannah’s character. She was strong with her morals. Not letting those in the popular crowd have power over her and I liked the way she played Jake, she was smart and sassy. Her friendships were real, unlike Jake and his evil, nasty friends!
This is the second book in the series. Jake’s older sister was first and I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything. Like any great YA book, there’s angst, a brooding possessive hero and teasing banter that made me smile.
The next book in the series sounds interesting and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Ava and Eli.
ARC received for an honest review
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Overall Ratings;u2063
First Sex Scene – 87%
POV – Duel
Hero –
Heroine –
Story –
Steam –
Chemistry –
I can’t get enough of the Callahans! I love these characters and with each book we get to know them better and get to dive back into the world of Drew and Fable. I absolutely love this book! Jake is the popular quarterback and Hannah is quiet, keeps to her friends, these two are from different circles at school. One encounter between Jake and Hannah has them on each other’s mind and a connection that neither of them seem to be able to ignore. Jake is dealing with a lot of pressure, anger, and his thoughts about Hannah. Hannah is constantly wondering if there is a catch to what is happening between the two of them. However, these two have a connection that they can’t deny, but will their differences and friends affect what is happening between them? Read Falling For Her and see what happens! Jake and Hannah take us on a flirty, fun, heart-pounding, angsty journey that will have you hooked from the start and on the edge of your seat. I could not put this book down!
And the second book in the Callahan series is even better than the first! I really loved Jake and Hannah! Two lovely and well written main characters. I just really enjoyed reading Falling For Her. It was exactly the book I needed right now. It is sweet, innocent and everything you expect from a YA high school romance.
The story of Jake and Hannah is so lovely. You could really feel everything in this book. And I just loved these characters. Hannah is just everything! And Jake!! I loved Jake! His character had so much depth to him. He was deep and emotional and I just loved his character ARC. I would definitely have loved to get even deeper into his character.
Their whole story just unfolded very well. I loved their beginning, how innocent and reserved they were and how their hate kind of turned into friendship. And all their moments together said so much more than what was actually said. It’s just the best story. Definitely a must read.
Four stars because the ending was too fast for me. There were still some things that I wanted to know and kind of felt unresolved. And I definitely would have loved to get to know even more about Jake and his character.
But altogether I really, really loved this book and it made me even more excited for the next Callahan book! Can’t wait! Let’s go Ava!
5 GIDDY STARS!! I am so freaking giddy right now…you know those book that give you the perfect feeling of high school…this is it. I loved seeing Jake and Hannah’s Story play out. Their story had all the feels with lots of high school drama for a page turning book. You definitely need this Book.
Falling For Her
Book 2 The Callahans
Monica Murphy
“She’s not talking about me touching her. It’s what she’s feeling in the moment, and I feel the same way. How quick this is happening. How strong my feelings are for her. I want her. Always. I think I’m falling for her.”
“He’s beautiful. What we’re doing right now, it’s beautiful, because we love each other and this moment, this night, means everything to me. To him.”
This is a young angst adult romance. Absolutely love the two main characters, Hannah and Jake. Story based in high school. Jake is a football player. Hannah keeps to herself in high school.
I was not disappointed. I fully enjoyed! Full of emotions! Very well written! Highly recommend.
Super cute! Popular jock and the invisible girl.
I really liked Hannah. She was smart and sassy. She didn’t give a crap about Jake and his popularity. She told him off in their first meeting. It was great. It was straightforward, just enough angst, and romance! I always enjoy reading from Monica Murphy. I’m really looking forward to the other books in the series! I highly recommend this book!!
Be still my freaking heart! Monica Murphy just nailed this NA Sports romance. I have no words for all the epic feels in Falling For Her. Goosebumps, swoons, sigh and heartstopping awesomeness till the last page.
Jake Callahan is basically royalty in his school. Son of a NFL star and star QB of the school team. He got the pedigree and the looks. So he got totally shocked when Hannah Walsh turned down his offer to wear his jersey in Friday game. Yes, he did it as a sort of last resort. But why would a shy, timid, nerdy and unpopular girl like Hannah refuse him? It appears this girl has a lot of cards in her sleeves. And Jake is sucked into this unpretentious and sassy girl’s life.
This story is kind of a bible of teenage angst and adolescent issues. Told in dual POV, the author would give you the full hardcore high school experience. The bullying. The social strata. The cruel, arrogant and self absorbed people. The nice and friendly people. All the drama and tension hooked me in. And Jake and Hannah stands in middle of the storm. They couldn’t be more different as far as social standings go. But they click like puzzle pieces. Lord, I love Jake. This guy is just too much amazing. Yes he is a bit arrogant with justified overconfidence. But he holds so much anger and rage inside. He is dealing with a lot of pressure for school and football and he just can’t catch a break. The pressure to carry his team to win, to satisfy his father, to comply with so called standards, to keep up the appearance of a stereotypical jock…and so on. Hannah gives him the peace and unconditional happiness by just being Hannah. A sweet, smart, emotional, sometimes insecure and beautiful girl. Their chemistry doesn’t make sense to anyone. But that’s what love is. This story was the epitome of slow burn and my heart was beating so fast all the way. They had to deal with the conspiracies, the set backs, the vulnerabilities and the heartaching suffering. But the happily ever after was mesmerising.
Monica Murphy has written an intense and magical love story of an unlikely couple. She made me feel all the happiness, all the sweet angst and all the steam. An unputdownable sports romance!
Received ARC for honest review
Loving the Callahan’s
Jake is the star quarterback and King of the in crowd. Hannah is a misfit. She just wants to make it through senior year so she can start over and get away from high school.
Together they make a great couple. Two people who are total opposite come together and give us a great story. I love the way Jake is over protective of Hannah and I the way Hannah’s presence calms Jake down. I’m really enjoying this family and can’t wait for Ava’s book next.
*review by Michelle
Monica Murphy knocked it out of the park with Falling For Her! Angst and sweetness mingling together in this rather addictive high school read. This book took me back to the days when I used to absolutely swoon over movies like She’s All That and daydream away. Popular Jock, unpopular artistic girl, drama, teenage angst, and sweet romance. *sigh* I loved it.
Jake and Hannah were adorable. Jake was the typical conceited bad boy who has brooding down to an art form on the outside and so incredible sweet when it came to Hannah on the inside. Hannah was just all around sweet. Smart, strong, definitely not a doormat but with true to life insecurities we’ve all had (and sometimes still do have.)
arc-review, valentine-pr
Angsty young adult. Jake is feeling the pressure. Star quarterback, retire NFL player father who is his coach, an ex girlfriend that nesses with his head. The pressure to win and not let anyone down causes a lot of pressure. He is short tempered and getting into fights. He is about to spiral out of control. Hannah is on the other end of the social spectrum. She has two really good friends. They are not popular, stay to themselves and hate the jocks. They feed into each other’s insecurities. But this year they are seniors and it’s time for a change. Hannah and Jake warily become friends that quickly becomes more. Jake’s ex and his best friend don’t like Hannah. Teen trouble brews. Hannah and Jake stumble along until they get it right. It was great to see Hannah get her sass and a backbone. She centers Jake. The calm to his storm.
I was unsure if this book would be able to carry on with the vibe that had been set by Monica with Close to me but guess what? It’s better! 🙂 You Know what you are gonna get with Jake from Book 1, he’s gonna be that snarly teenage boy but what you don’t get is how much deeper Jake is. He reminded me of Owen (Fables Brother-Four years later) and even though on paper he should have the best life like every teen out there he’s got issues, big old chip ones on his shoulders.
Hannah’s adorable. I loved her from the minute she spoke. I got her if that makes sense. Again Chelsea (Owens girlfriend) came to mind. She’s got some feisty attitude under there, but doesn’t want to rock the boat, it’s that difficult line to walk as you get to the end of your school life of being true to you or being a sheep.
I started and finished in 24hrs, could not put it down and by the end my swoon factor was stupid high….and then it ended!! What are you doing to us Monica? You cannot just end it!!
Ava and Eli are gonna cause a storm though so i can wait for the next book….just 😉
I’m very lucky to be allowed a sneaky peak at these books before they are released and it’s a privilege as I first read Drew and Fable back in 2013. Feels like we’ve grown with this family.
2 books to go and I’m sad already 🙁
This was a perfect offering of a New Adult/YA romance. I fell in love with the Callahan Clan with Fable and Drew in the One Week Girlfriend Series. Falling for her is the story of their son Jacob. While characters from this series do appear it can be read as a complete stand alone story.
Jake Callahan is your typical popular football player. He has dated the head cheerleader and is the quarterback for the school’s football team. Jake is very much the big man on campus, all the while battling an internal fight to be more, he isn’t really happy in his current roles.
Hannah Walsh is a quiet outcast of the high school. She very much knows her role in her high school and doesn’t try to draw attention or veer from her path. Her people is a small group of two. They all do what they can to avoid the notice of the “it crowds”. What starts as something as simple as getting to know each other has the potential to turn into something no one expects. This story was very much about exploring relationships and how to truly be you with in a relationship.
Falling For Her is very typical High School. This was very much a telling of relationships and coping with in the social structure of High School. It deals very much with the topic of bullying and social pressures. This book shows so much character growth.
Jake and Hannah are not typical and shouldn’t work but they do. I fell in love with Hannah and was cheering her on the entire book. To see her progression and growth really carries the story for me. Jake and Hannah really go slow into their relationship becoming friends before their romantic relationship.
Falling for Her is a mature YA book that takes place entirely in high school. It is quintessential high school, jocks, mean girls, and outcast. The world Murphy creates you can see the parties, the cliques, the bullying, and Friday Night football game. This book is everything you love and hate about high school. This was a 4/5 read for me. YA/New Adult is not always my thing, but Murphy writes so well and tell such a great story with meaningful characters that get right to your heart.
This is my first book by Monica Murphy and I really enjoyed it.
The writting was really good. I loved all the characters. All their stories are so well thought about. I‘m also so intrigued about all of the second characters and their stories.
The plot is pretty obvious. Popular, hot and broody guy falls in love with the invisible, smart and very sassy girl and vice versa. But what I didn‘t expect was for this book to be so angsty. My heart jump so many times for Hannah and Jake. And that twist at the end… I really didn‘t know what was coming. Well I pretty much didn‘t know anything that happend in this story and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Jake and Hannah‘s story is sweet and raw but definitely not easy. I enjoyed it very much.
4
Fun, Sweet, and so so Hot! This is a teenage dream come true! Monica Murphy perfectly captures the push and pull, the yearning and the angst and the all consuming rush of first Love in “Falling For Her. I never wanted this story to end. This book was everything a contemporary YA should be, new friendships, cliques, first romances, serious issues and strong family bonds.
I loved Hannah and Jake and their journey. This book had me smiling, laughing, melting and swooning with every turn of the page. Jake Callahan is the perfect entitled, sexy as sin, brooding, hunky star quarterback. And ooh, when sweet, sassy, smart, and fierce Hannah gives him a run for his money, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Monica Murphy scores a touchdown with this YA romance!
I requested this book for review because I love YA, sports romance, and the blurb was intriguing. Then when I started to read and realized that Jake Callahan is the son of Drew and Fable from One-week Girlfriend, I was so excited! I loved those books and read them several times. So imagine my delight that I’m going to read their son’s love story and above that, get to see Drew and Fable as parents of grown children! Win!!
Jake is a senior in high school and the quarterback in their football team. His father is the coach of the team, so imagine the weight on his shoulders from the expectations that he has to do good. Raised in the shadows of his father, who was an NFL legend, it’s not easy to have your dad be your coach! Then there are the expectations of belonging to the popular crowd, like they have a reputation to maintain, and the peer pressures from his best friends, who are not the best of influences. You end up being a teenager who has a chip on his shoulders, has a constant scowl on his face and behaves like an a-hole most of the time. His on and off girlfriend cheated on him with the QB of their strongest competitor and now he doesn’t have anyone to wear his jersey on the first game of the season.
He spots this girl, who is pretty and looks nerdy, and his friends egg him on to offer her his jersey. Not only does she say no, she insults him and runs form the place like he had the Ebola virus! Game, set, go! Instantly intrigued, now Jake is on the prowl!
Hannah belongs to the lower tier in this cliquey school. She’s a nerd, has excellent grades and is counting on those to leave town and get to a good college. She’s dirt poor, lives with her mother in a derelict building, and her mother is so worried with her job and her boyfriends that Hannah has practically raised herself. She watches the popular girls and guys in school from afar, has no interest to belong and prefers hanging close to the walls and stay invisible. However, that will end soon because Jake has seen her and is intrigued.
This is a fun story because initially Jake and Hannah bicker and hate each other. As time goes by, Jake realizes that Hannah is different, she doesn’t want anything from him like the other girls who want to get status by being seen with him. She sees him, wants to know about him, and doesn’t want anything from him. She also snarks at him and tells him like it is, so when he’s being obnoxious, he gets told off too.
“It’s like the popular part of me doesn’t matter to her. She doesn’t demand we walk together in the hallways at school. Doesn’t want to take photos with me so she can post them on her social media later. She’s chill. Quiet. Funny. Stubborn. Opinionated.”
Hannah doesn’t trust Jake’s intentions. She knew the jersey offer was a joke instigated by his friends. She’s afraid he’s after her to set her up and then joke about her with his friends. Since the students in his clique are also bullies, it’s not surprising she’s wary, but Jake is smitten.
“He may come across like a boy with a chip on his shoulder and pissed off at the world, but he’s really not. He’s sweet. Thoughtful. And he actually cares about me. “
Like with all high school YA’s, there’s strife with the bad girls, with the bad boys, parties with drunken boys, fights, parental intrusion, school detention, jealousy and anxiety. It’s a maelstrom of feelings and desires (also rampant hormones!) and a totally entertaining story of teenagers finding their way during their last year of high school. I loved the tenderness between Jake and Hannah, sometimes despaired of their insecurity with each other, got irritated with Jake and his obsession with fighting, and understood his parents worry about his constant anger. It was entertaining and delightful!
4 Stars!
Hannah Walsh is a high school senior that’s smart, quiet, and usually remains in the background. She keeps to herself and has a small group of close friends, but is invisible to the in crowd. They don’t even notice her, or so she thought. Then the most popular boy in school seems to take an interest in her. Jake Callahan is heartbreakingly gorgeous, and the star quarterback of their varsity football team. He’s practically the king of the school, but always seems to have this dark, turbulent look in his eyes, and a constant broody glower on his face. She doesn’t trust his intentions, and doesn’t date jocks, but she can’t deny her attraction to him.
Jacob Callahan is the second oldest of four siblings. His father is a former famous NFL player who retired and moved his family to a small town in the mountains. Jake is in his senior year, and this should be his year to shine, but he’s under a lot of pressure as the quarterback. He feels like the team’s success or failure lays on his shoulders, but he’s hardest on himself. He’s focused on school and football, and then a beautiful girl that’s the opposite of anyone he’s ever gone out with catches his attention. They have nothing in common, and don’t run in the same social circles, but he finds Hannah pretty and intriguing. She’s blunt, and doesn’t hold back her thoughts, and he doesn’t understand his reaction to her. He’s drawn to her and their chemistry is undeniable. Before long he’s completely wrapped up in her, and wants more. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles that get in the way and fight for one another?
Falling For Her (The Callahans #2) by Monica Murphy is a young adult high school sports romance that is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I really love these Callahan’s, and liked also getting more of Drew and Fable. I’ve been looking forward to Jake’s book, and really enjoyed it! It’s high on angst, and has fabulous banter as these characters go from enemies to falling in love. <3