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The Callahans #2

Falling For Her

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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 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.

430 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2020

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About the author

Monica Murphy

97 books16k followers
New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. A believer in kissing. A believer of love.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
Profile Image for mel ☽.
369 reviews10.4k followers
June 9, 2020
2.75 stars ✧

this was a light read with some cute moments, a lot of football and homecoming talk, and you know, your typical teenage drama. but the whole time i was reading this i was like
description

for those who know me, i read a lot of NA/YA books cuz they're a guilty pleasure of mine but i don't know why i keep doing this to myself. maybe its cuz i grew up with gossip girl, 90210 and 2000s teen rom-com movies and i feel nostalgic???

... yeah.

but i have reached my peak folks. the drama here was kind of immature and i don't really care about the whole football and homecoming kings and queens shit. also, the whole caring about popularity thing was annoying too.

this is pretty typical when it comes to your typical new adult/young adult highschool romance. Jake Callahan (H) is your typical popular quarterback and Hannah Walsh is your typical quiet, not so popular, artsy girl. he asks her to wear his jersey as a dare. she denies him and was an entitled asshole about it. they get to know each other and hang out "secretly", they fall in love, some misunderstanding drama in the middle cuz of H's mean friends, they're finally a couple, h loses her virginity to H, they win the homecoming football game blah blah blah.

not gonna lie, the beginning was annoying because of the OW drama. and i have a lot of receipts here so imma show y'all glimpses as to why i wanted to punch Jake sometimes and why i didn't like this as much:
➝ he's still hung up on his ex Cami
"We break up to get back together. It happened our sophomore and junior years, so here she is, probably trying to make it happen again for us this year. And every time, like a sucker, I've fallen for it."


➝ H isn't a ho, he hasn't been intimate with anyone for a while so he's willing to hook up with the ex who treated him like shit
"It's sort of true, the looking to get laid part. Cami seems willing. I bet I could ask her to suck my dick in the guest bathroom right now and she'd be down. Maybe then I'd relax a little."

they almost did it but the ex declined and he was all like aight, i ain't bothering you then and then miraculously, he's over her. H is hung up on the OW till chapter 5 but she causes more drama later.

➝ there are a lot of times where H thinks h is not all that just cuz she's not a part of his social circle and that's why she's not his type
"She's not my type. Not at all. I've been a superficial asshole throughout high school who only dates girls that are part of my crowd. The popular crowd."

i don't know... i really didn't like this. like, i know this is probably part of his character development and plot but i used to hate guys who think like this back in high school sooo.

➝ there was a time jump (2 weeks) right after they become a couple and i had major fomo because of this. there were so many things i wanted to know like are his rude friends okay with them being a couple now since all they care about is popularity? do they sit together at lunch in the cafeteria? ALSO, there was a lot of telling as to what the MCs were up to during the time jump, if you know what i mean.

➝ don't get me started on the drama that happened in the middle. (spoilers) the OW took the H's phone and texted the h "breaking up" with her and sending a pic of them kissing (an old pic back when they were sophomores). also, he didn't talk to the h and try to make up for his shitty behavior cuz she wasn't a priority. he did this twice in the book but he did feel shitty and there was a little bit of grovelling.

➝ there were so many unanswered questions like what happened to the h's other best friend that she neglected once she became popular?? what is up with H's ex and his best friend? who did said best friend impregnate? WHAT HAPPENED???

______________________________________

anyways, the ending was rushed so that's why i felt a little unsatisfied but yup. with all the typical high school drama and with the abundance of new adult books i've read, this wasn't too bad. i've just reached my peak with immature teenage drama.

but does that mean i'll stop reading NA/YA books? ha ha ha no.
Profile Image for Maditales.
609 reviews29.9k followers
August 19, 2022
Ah yes I just lOvE misogyny <3.

Right from the start I did not like Jakey aka Jakob. He was rude, the basic bad boy fùck boy, treated girls like shit and let his friends treat girls like shit.

Now the love interest was actually a pretty nice character. I liked Hannah. I liked that she was an artist and all that but wow.
One I am yet again confused on why there’s explicit scenes between minors. I had to skip so much again because it made me uncomfortable and on top of that I though a lot of these scenes were just super cringey.

Not cringey in a ya romance book but cringey in a you are actually acting like Archie from riverdale.

I swear Jake could have set “you have never experience the highs and lows of highschool football”.
It’s just football. Calm down.

Now if you’re wondering why I’m still reading this series, I got the books send to me soooo I am just finishing this series.
Profile Image for Melanie (mells_view).
1,777 reviews364 followers
June 2, 2020
The popular quarterback + the secretly sassy girl who is more than happy to exist below the radar. If you think this sounds like the formula to an amazingly angsty and sweet mature YA romance, then you’d be right.

Monica Murphy takes us back to The Callahan’s world and feeds us a perfectly crafted dish of high school angst and romance. Jake and Hannah shouldn’t fit so perfectly, but they do. She is the calm to his raging storm. He brings her out of her bubble. They both make each other beyond happy. Reading them together and going along on the ride of them falling in love was as sweet and it was rocky. Honestly, reading this book was a rollercoaster of emotions, period. Our hero makes some rash decisions along the way, and I was just HOPING he would grow.

There are other characters that did not want to see these two happy, but honestly it was all just teenagers learning and growing. I love that Monica makes you care about the side characters as much as the mains. It makes it easier to invest in the world and actually feel for all of the characters. I also love how this author truly adds so many layers to the high school romance. Like these characters aren’t just falling in love, they are dealing with real issues and struggles WHILE falling in love. It makes it feel more relatable.

I LOVE angsty high school romance, but holy crap Falling for Her had me stressed out waiting for the other shoe to drop. I think I was possibly as stressed as the heroine, Hannah. All that said I can finally breath a sigh of relief, because I’m finished reading, and I am so happy with how things went, and even happier about where things are going in this next book. It’s going to be AMAZING!

Available NOW on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited!
*ARC
Profile Image for MELISSA *Mel Reader*.
1,389 reviews1,456 followers
June 2, 2020
4 Stars!
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)

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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.

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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?

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-It’s unfair, how gorgeous he is.

-He is the most beautiful boy I have ever seen in my whole life.

-If you would’ve asked me a few days ago if I was a Jake Callahan fangirl, I would’ve said no, now I want to sign up and have an official fan club card and everything. This is what he does to me.

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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

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Profile Image for Syndi.
3,133 reviews909 followers
July 22, 2020
The first 20% is promising. The story of jock and a nerdy heroine is my favorite trope. Only 20% is interesting. The chemistry is build, anticipation is sets and the story is rolling nicely. The it starts to go downhill.

The conversation needs to be edited to be more smoothly. There is also some important part is more telling than showing. This is NA romance book. Usually NA romance is have more mild themes. The story about social status, social reputation are the main theme in Falling for Her. I feel the story can be developed better. More interesting with cute sweet innocent banters.

Overall I still enjoy this book OK. Not like it, but not hating it either.

3 stars
Profile Image for Andrea Fleury.
959 reviews76 followers
January 23, 2021
Jake the bad boy that every girl wanted. His life is football...Hannah the shy girl that thought a certain boy didn't notice. But Jake did notice. His friends told him to stay away but he didn't listen. Soon he's sneaking to her apartment at night when her moms working.
Profile Image for NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books}.
1,415 reviews85 followers
June 11, 2020
***4 "Come at me, bro!" stars***

!AVAILABLE NOW!



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*
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,741 reviews1,322 followers
June 4, 2020
***AVAILABLE NOW***

4 CROWNS

Super cute. Mature-ish YA. I really liked Hannah, but Jake took some warming up to.

Definitely worth a read.
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews842 followers
June 3, 2020
I have too many wonderful things to say about this book. I am usually not a big fan of this genre, but it is written so well that it is just a fantastic read. Jake Callahan is the star quarterback at his high school and is going through some things like everyone else in his age group. He has so many expectations piled on that he feels pressure from his friends and family. The poor boy has so much running through his brain and the stress is slowly eating away at him. Enter quiet, smart Hannah. She appears to have everything together on the outside, but inside she is shy and worried all the time. These two are so different and mismatched, but there is something that neither can deny. But as with any high school couple, the world appears to be against them and they have a lot of people trying to make sure they are not happy. With all the obstacles that face them, they persevere and show everyone that they have built a strong relationship. I really loved watching them grow as a couple, as well as individually. Really great love story!!!

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Profile Image for ♂️Must Have Book Boyfriends ♂️.
515 reviews2,186 followers
June 6, 2020
OMFG. I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK! You guys know my struggle reading this year! I couldn't put this one down! I read it in less than 24 hours, which is sayin' something!

The tension! The FEELS! It was a page turner for me! These two are so freaking...ughhh!!! My heart! I SWOONED SO DAMN HARD READING THIS BOOK! Jake is TO DIE FOR! Like the kind of book boyfriend that will stand up for the girl he is into! SWOONS!!! 😍

Anyway, this is the FIRST book I read by Monica Murphy, and it won't be the last! THANK YOU Paramita Patra for the book rec!

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#MUSTHaveBookBoyfriend #MustHaveJake #Tension #HighSchoolAngst #HateToLove #Feels #Virgin #WantedToCutABeotch #Family #SportsRomance
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https://amzn.to/30gmuU8
Profile Image for Lindsey  Domokur.
1,469 reviews120 followers
June 3, 2020
You know when you are 60% into a book and so in love with it that you run and order the paperback just to feel it in your hands? That’s where I was with this one. I don’t normally love high school drama romance, but Monica does it in a way that I love and I don’t want to throw my kindle. There is definitely drama, but Jake is such an amazing guy that I was in love with him chapter one.

I loved spunky Hannah as well. This story is totally relatable to me because it was so similar to my high school experience. Hannah was the smart girl, the one that was often overlooked by the popular crowd, but somehow caught the attention of the popular quarterback. He instantly fell for her, most likely because she turned him down flat and he wasn’t used to that sort of treatment. Sometimes people need to be knocked down a few pegs, but Jake was pretty perfect on his own. He wasn’t a womanizer or running around with all the girls, he left that to his friends. Ick. I digress. He had me at hello. I’m a sucker for a good guy, always, and Jake has such a great heart. I can’t wait for the next book! I’m so excited to dive back into this world!
Profile Image for ✨ Lucy ✨.
327 reviews96 followers
June 11, 2020
I had great expectation for this one, especially after loving the first book of this series and the previous series about Jake's parents .But I have to say I'm a bit disappointed .
This book started really good , it kept my attention until it didn't anymore. I hate when the process of going from strangers to lovers is so much speed up and without much of a fight from the girls part .
I didn't see the chemistry .
I didn't like how Jake's problem wasn't so much considered like it should have.
I didn't say this was a bad book , I liked it but only until 50% of it. the other 50% it was a little bit boring .
I gave it 3 stars
Profile Image for M..
507 reviews701 followers
February 4, 2021
More high school drama but the popular boy falling for the shy artsy girl trope never fails.

P.S. I read the blurb for Diego and Jocelyn's book before starting the series and was excited because I genuinely like the unexpected pregnancy trope, but now that I know Diego is a serial cheater, when Jocelyn has been nothing more than the perfect girlfriend? I'm not so sure about it anymore
Profile Image for konstantina.
411 reviews95 followers
December 7, 2020
Yeah popular guy/shy smart girl will always be of my favorite trope sorry it never gets old
Profile Image for Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction.
1,007 reviews824 followers
August 29, 2021
08/29/2021: Reread on audiobook!

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!

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction
Profile Image for Anne OK.
3,693 reviews528 followers
June 26, 2020
I am enjoying The Callahans series -- the second generation. And I loved Fable and Drew, their parents. The second book features seventeen-year-old Jake, who's following in his dad's footsteps and is a star on the football field (and everywhere else as well). Jake is a bit of a mess and has an anger management problem. Then he connects with a girl from the unpopular crowd who's not only a brainiac but a gifted artist, too. I loved Hannah immediately. She hasn't had an easy life and yet is friendly and helpful to everyone (and has suffered from a long crush on Jake, a boy she doesn't think would ever notice a girl like her). Together she and Jake make a great opposites attract match-up and it’s always fun to watch the big man on campus take a free fall off his pedestal.

As you might imagine, the book is full of teenage drama with plenty of bullying, mean girls, partying and some very sexually active teens and first loves. For the most part, it's on the same path as most others of this genre. The author has a way of kicking up the beat a bit and adds an excellent variety in the secondary cast of characters.

It's a fast-paced quick young adult drama-rama that takes you back to the days long past (if you're old like me!). Still, I had fun reading Jake and Hannah's story, along with catching up with Jake's mom and dad, too (even though it was very minimal).




Profile Image for Wil Loves Books!.
1,232 reviews489 followers
August 5, 2021
Jake and Hannah!

Definitely liked this one better than the first one (Autumn and Ash). I found Jake and Hannah’s story to be more engaging and both characters definitely had more depth. Not a fan of the Cami drama, and the ending felt super rushed (I think it’s because it’s super intertwined with the Ava and Eli story) but it was a step up book 1. I’m still super invested in the series but I’m going straight to Diego’s book next and then I’ll read Ava’s 2 books (why!!!). The audiobooks are great as always.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,027 reviews90 followers
May 23, 2020
* A review copy was provided by the author *

~ 3.75 Hannah Banana Stars ~

Well…..I don’t know how to really express my feelings about this book.

On one hand I really enjoyed the storyline, but on the other hand I really don’t know how I feel about Jake (Hero). Truthfully Hannah made this book for me. I loved her character so much!!!

I have always been a fan of the high school bully romance story and I think that is why I enjoyed this story.

But as for Jake….I had a hard time connecting with his personality. He had his sweet and swoony moments, but he was also kind of a jerk throughout the whole book. He really didn’t redeem himself in my eyes as the story went on. I don’t want to say too much, each reader should form their own opinion and I don’t want to spoil the story at all.

Falling For Her is the second book in Monica’s Callahan’s series. This book follows Jake Callahan. He is the middle sibling and oldest son to Drew and Fable. Again this book is a standalone novel and is told in Dual POV. I don’t believe you have to read the first book in this series to enjoy this story, but you do meet Jake in that book. Although in this story he is now a senior in high school and the starting quarterback for the football team. I will say that you will want to read this book before reading the 3rd book in this series (releasing in September ), because the storyline in this book sets up that book.

Even though this book is based in high school, I would label this book as a New Adult genre. There are some actions and behaviors of the characters that I wouldn’t say readers under the age of 16 should read. This is not a young adult story, in my opinion.

This book was filled with a lot of angst and emotion. Jake and Hannah’s story is not an easy one and they both go through ups and downs to get to a happy place.

If you are a fan of a New Adult high school bully romance that is filled with lots of angst and high school drama, then this is the book for you.


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Profile Image for Nursebookie.
2,348 reviews371 followers
August 17, 2020
I read this in one sitting and I really enjoyed it!

Monica Murphy writes young adult high school drama, cliques, friendships, opposites attract trope to perfection, and that chemistry between Jake and Hannah is beyond hot! Murphy definitely brings in a great take on this genre and it’s just so well written.

The point of views told the story in a unique way that you really had the feel for the characters and all the outside pressures that are trying to break them apart.

This was a great romance and love story!

I cannot wait for the next installment. I just can’t get enough of this series.
Profile Image for Rhonda Ziglar.
3,896 reviews39 followers
June 13, 2020
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.
Profile Image for Jen Zingaro.
1,049 reviews160 followers
May 31, 2020
This story is everything that I adore in a YA read. High school romances are some of my favorites and this one rates right up there.
I absolutely adore troubled characters. Despite Jake's fairy tale upbringing, he is struggling with some issues. Along comes Hannah who is not going to fall for any of his charms or bullsh*t.
The two of them work so well.
The jock that falls for the girl that doesn't run in his social circle. One of my favorite story lines.
It brings me back to the days of first love and all that lust that you feel as a teenager and I was hooked on this. There is some drama, mean kids and swoony romance. <3 <3
Profile Image for  Linathebookaddict  .
1,448 reviews389 followers
July 21, 2020
Loved Jake and Hannah!!!
Bully romance is my favorite kind of romance lately. And this book certainly delivered. Jake was such a complex character. In fact, all characters in this book were multi-dimentional
Fast paced and well written, it spoke to my heart. It's not an easy read, it's very emotional but the plot will make up for every heartbreaking moment. I loved it.
If you love the genre, please pick it up.
Profile Image for Farhana JC.
314 reviews24 followers
April 10, 2021
Havent read a teen romance in a hot minute so when I came across this, I downloaded it straight away because it seems right up my alley. This book had an alright premise; the 2 characters were cute but I felt like we were missing more substance/ authentic scnes between them. The author adds in a very interesting thing about our male lead but then never fully addresses it which was annoying.
Profile Image for ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn.
1,512 reviews75 followers
June 1, 2020
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.
Profile Image for Sandy S.
7,049 reviews181 followers
June 5, 2020
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.


copy supplied for review

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Profile Image for Come_read_with_me_.
773 reviews26 followers
May 27, 2020
I have mixed emotions about this book if I'm honest.
I love Monica Murphy books and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book however, it didn't live up to my expectations.
Jake is the popular quarterback in high school. He has every girl after him, guys want to be him. Hannah is the bookworm, nerdy girl who spends most of her time in the library. She is not in the spotlight so it comes as a massive surprise when Jake asks her to wear his jersey at a game! This is a big deal, girls would kill for the opportunity however, Hannah turns him down. As a result, she gets under his skin and he slowly starts to realise there are girls out there that wouldn't use him for the "title" or popularity.

These two are polar opposites! Jake is loud and rude. His friends are horrible and backstabbers (except for one or two). They are bullies. He tries to use his ex at a party because his friends suggest he needs to "get some". The way he even spoke to Hannah at the start was unforgivable. Throughout the book he does show a sweeter side however in my opinion the damage was done. He still priorities the team and his rival Eli. There also was a lack of communication between Hannah and Jake at times.

On a positive note, Hannah and her friends were amazing. They were supportive and they literally didn't care what people thought of them. Hannah did grow throughout the book which I enjoyed. She stood up for herself more. She was able to get through to Jake when others couldn't. I enjoyed them as a couple (when they communicated!).

This book is part of a series, I have not read book number one, in saying this I didn't feel I missed out. The characters were re-introduced therefore this book could be read as a standalone. This book has multiple POV's, mainly between Jake and Hannah, however, we do see one or two chapters in Drew and Fable POV (Jake's parents and main characters from another book). I would class this book as a new adult, even though it is based on young adults, there are a few mature scenes.

Overall this book wasn't for me however if you enjoy teenage romance with some high school bullying and drama then you might love this book!

I received this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jeeves Reads Romance.
1,516 reviews613 followers
June 2, 2020
Drama-filled slow burn

Sometimes I read high school romances and LOVE them. Sometimes I read them and realize I am too old to handle all of the DRAMA. This is the second kind. It’s long, it’s angsty, and it’s got drama from start to finish. If that’s how you like your romance, then I see no reason why you won’t love this. The writing is solid, the heroine is great, and the slow burn romance really worked for me. Unfortunately, I didn't love the hero and that lead to a disconnect from the story. This one sits somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me - if our first impression of the hero had been better, I would've seriously considered rating this as 4 stars, but... it wasn't.

The story follows Jake and Hannah, high school students who don’t run in the same circles. Jake is the quarterback of the football team, his ex is a cheerleader, and he’s always been focused on hanging with the popular crowd. Hannah is quieter and pretty studious, hangs with her closest friend, and doesn’t think very highly of jocks. When Jake asks Hannah to wear his jacket at a football game, he thinks he’s doing her a favor and she thinks he’s up to no good. Her reaction sets off something in Jake, and he soon finds that he can’t get Hannah off his mind.

It’s definitely an emotional kind of read with plenty of drama along the way. I actually really enjoyed Murphy’s writing style (though the book is undoubtedly too long). The development of the relationship got better and better as it went on, ending with some sweet moments and a couple of steamy scenes. By the end, I liked Jake a lot more than I did at the beginning, but it was difficult to get over his personality from the first few chapters. He comes off as a cocky jerk (not the good kind) and pursues his ex for a hookup in the early pages before setting his sights on Hannah… like one page later. Lovable jerks can make great heroes but I didn’t find anything particularly swoony about Jake until I got pretty far into the book - and it is NOT short. I did enjoy the slow burn and the emotional build, I just wish it didn't take so long to turn around. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review of this high school romance.
Profile Image for Bookjunkie_Anne.
1,097 reviews
May 24, 2020
5⭐️

Now what else am I going to do? I've just turned the last page. *sad face*

I want more!

Is there like a bonus epilogue? Because I need more Jake and Hannah!

I think I like them better than Asher and Autumn.

This is book two of The Callahan Series. It's a spin-off of The One Week Girlfriend series starring Fable and Drew. Fast forward to the future, they had four kids and they're growing up real fast... and this is their individual kids stories. This is a sports, high school romance. Which makes sense because Drew was a football superstar quarter who played for the Niners—my fave team.

It's a mix of enemies to lovers then friends to lovers romance... Jake is Drew and Fable's second child. This is his book... He's your angsty, hot-head hock and Hannah is your typical artsy, book-nerd.

It's angsty, frustrating, sweet and swoony. It's not your typical mature YA. It's mellow compared to others.

I was so excited to read this one and it didn't fail... I read it overnight and loved it. My only problem is I wish there was an epilogue...

And since I've read everything, I can't wait to read the next book... and really, September? That's eons away! Ugh!

Is it weird that I actually want another spinoff series with Jake's friends? Anthony and Caleb especially? And I'd love to read about Diego groveling! Lol
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