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Cocky
STAR FOOTBALL PLAYER JABARI ‘TITAN’ MCKINGSLEY
HAS BEEN DREADING RETURNING HOME AND FACING THE OBVIOUS OBSESSION HIS LITTLE SISTER’S WEIRD BEST FRIEND HAS WITH HIM.
EXCEPT.
FRANCINE "FRANKIE" CAMPBELL IS ALL GROWN UP NOW AND…
UNINTERESTED?
HAS BEEN DREADING RETURNING HOME AND FACING THE OBVIOUS OBSESSION HIS LITTLE SISTER’S WEIRD BEST FRIEND HAS WITH HIM.
EXCEPT.
FRANCINE "FRANKIE" CAMPBELL IS ALL GROWN UP NOW AND…
UNINTERESTED?
546 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2026
About the author
Taahesi B. Williams
5 books92 followersTaahesi B. Williams is a debut Indie author from a small island in the Caribbean. She's been writing stories since the age of ten, driven by her love for crafting complex characters and exploring human connections. In addition to writing, She's also an artist and passionate reader.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 23, 2026
These two drove me crazy 😫😮💨
Titan came home expecting his little sister’s weird best friend to still be obsessed, only to find Frankie grown, fine, and uninterested. The tension, the attitude, and both of them acting like they didn’t care when they clearly did had me stressed in the best way.
I also loved how Taahesi brought in topics we don’t always see talked about enough PCOS, fat phobia, women being overlooked, toxic mothers, and sibling rivalry. It added so much depth to the story while still giving all the chemistry and chaos.
Titan came home expecting his little sister’s weird best friend to still be obsessed, only to find Frankie grown, fine, and uninterested. The tension, the attitude, and both of them acting like they didn’t care when they clearly did had me stressed in the best way.
I also loved how Taahesi brought in topics we don’t always see talked about enough PCOS, fat phobia, women being overlooked, toxic mothers, and sibling rivalry. It added so much depth to the story while still giving all the chemistry and chaos.
May 13, 2026
Okay this one was a little long winded at times, I’m not even gonna lie 😭 but overall? I had a really good time with this story.
Jabari and his professional grade buttholeness had me entertained the whole read. Him and Francine already having that built-in rivalry made their banter hit even better. And baby… Francine acting like she didn’t remember that man?? COMEDY. The anguish she put him through was deserved too 🤭
What worked for me most was getting to actually feel the relationship shifting while reading. You start off enjoying the tension and before long you rooting for them bad.
Now Za… sis was aiming her anger at the wrong folks in my opinion and handled some things selfishly. I understood her feelings, but still side-eyed a few decisions.
Overall though, this was a good time and honestly different from the type of books I usually pick up, which made me enjoy it even more. (4.5/5)
Jabari and his professional grade buttholeness had me entertained the whole read. Him and Francine already having that built-in rivalry made their banter hit even better. And baby… Francine acting like she didn’t remember that man?? COMEDY. The anguish she put him through was deserved too 🤭
What worked for me most was getting to actually feel the relationship shifting while reading. You start off enjoying the tension and before long you rooting for them bad.
Now Za… sis was aiming her anger at the wrong folks in my opinion and handled some things selfishly. I understood her feelings, but still side-eyed a few decisions.
Overall though, this was a good time and honestly different from the type of books I usually pick up, which made me enjoy it even more. (4.5/5)
March 30, 2026
This was Everything!!!! (Maybe Spoilers)
This is my first book I read by Author Taahesi. When I say I can relate to this book I can relate to this book!!!! She didn’t hold it back she gave the culture and realism full throttle. Making this based in England just was a cherry on top because if it’s not the US the Caribbean and African culture resides in it’s England.
First off the names alone are so coded🤣🤣 Francine and Jabari the couple of this highlighted book had some issues man their start off was so rocky and at one point had me eyeing Jabari real sideways for my sis Frankie. They had things to work on together and separately these issues they had are so real because these types of things happen a lot in the African and Caribbean culture. Where some parents bring in generational trauma or unrealistic expectations that they project onto their kids and this is where Chinaza aka Zaza gets into the fold. She’s a great supporting character but so under-looked by others because she’s not her brother and doesn’t bring what he brings. I love the friendship that she and Frankie had but at the same time I’m sad of their outcome. It’s understandable how this happened and why and it’s apart of life that shows not everything is just black and white there are grey areas. That fight and the explosion of it all my brain keeps running back to it I’m still lowkey just sitting here in raw shocked about it. I feel-if she had said it from the time Zaza asked the outcome wouldn’t have been so bad as when it was exposed. I’m sad about their relationship but at the same time certain changes needed to happen for Jabari, Frankie and ZaZa.
My thoughts are all over the place that I want to express so just bare with me lol. I know some people might view Frankie as difficult but to me she wasn’t she represented fortunately and unfortunately us as women in this world who has on our backs all this load with the added topping of either being African or Caribbean or both. She had things she needed to realize about her self to come to terms with where she needed to be or wanted in the end. Same with Jabari he needed to go through this as well to understand what he needed to change to become a better person; I can say that he was so understanding of Frankie and I loved it even when she cussed him like dog and he cussed her back he didn’t give up 😂. Now the parents the representation of them and their characters are so real especially in the culture because Chinaza and Jabari’s mom pissed me off with her constant ridiculousness and the dads ability to stay out of it which doesn’t help. While Frankie’s mom was those parents that you grew up together with so they’re more understanding but still real but more open for you to go to them. The bantering’s and the way Frankie’s mouth can go toe to toe and her actions especially that supermarket scene she made me love her even more her mouth is so saucy 🤣.
Author Taahesi really brought in the cultures when I tell you no lies she really made us African and Caribbean girls feel so seen from gaming to religions, to anime’s and manga, to the foods, to the sayings, to such relatable relationships with parents, to musical theatre, to PCOS for black women and the issues that unfortunately come with it, to the reality’s of living in this world as young black women. I could go on and on but I just want to thank Author Taahesi for representing us so much !! The day I meet this woman I need to give her a hug or something because she has touched peoples hearts giving people outlets they have experienced as well and I don’t even think she knows it 🫶🙌.
I’m going to be sitting in my thoughts these next couple of days really reminiscing about this book and its characters I can feel how this is going to stir for a while and I would love to hear others takes on this book and Authors Taahesi thoughts on creating this wonderful art. We don’t know what the future holds for this couple and the supporting characters but I have hope it gets even better and with more time it heals to go back to some resemblance of before especially with Frankie and Zaza. Now I’m off to reminisce and check out the rest of this authors catalog and can’t wait to see and read what else she has for the future 🤎🤎
This is my first book I read by Author Taahesi. When I say I can relate to this book I can relate to this book!!!! She didn’t hold it back she gave the culture and realism full throttle. Making this based in England just was a cherry on top because if it’s not the US the Caribbean and African culture resides in it’s England.
First off the names alone are so coded🤣🤣 Francine and Jabari the couple of this highlighted book had some issues man their start off was so rocky and at one point had me eyeing Jabari real sideways for my sis Frankie. They had things to work on together and separately these issues they had are so real because these types of things happen a lot in the African and Caribbean culture. Where some parents bring in generational trauma or unrealistic expectations that they project onto their kids and this is where Chinaza aka Zaza gets into the fold. She’s a great supporting character but so under-looked by others because she’s not her brother and doesn’t bring what he brings. I love the friendship that she and Frankie had but at the same time I’m sad of their outcome. It’s understandable how this happened and why and it’s apart of life that shows not everything is just black and white there are grey areas. That fight and the explosion of it all my brain keeps running back to it I’m still lowkey just sitting here in raw shocked about it. I feel-if she had said it from the time Zaza asked the outcome wouldn’t have been so bad as when it was exposed. I’m sad about their relationship but at the same time certain changes needed to happen for Jabari, Frankie and ZaZa.
My thoughts are all over the place that I want to express so just bare with me lol. I know some people might view Frankie as difficult but to me she wasn’t she represented fortunately and unfortunately us as women in this world who has on our backs all this load with the added topping of either being African or Caribbean or both. She had things she needed to realize about her self to come to terms with where she needed to be or wanted in the end. Same with Jabari he needed to go through this as well to understand what he needed to change to become a better person; I can say that he was so understanding of Frankie and I loved it even when she cussed him like dog and he cussed her back he didn’t give up 😂. Now the parents the representation of them and their characters are so real especially in the culture because Chinaza and Jabari’s mom pissed me off with her constant ridiculousness and the dads ability to stay out of it which doesn’t help. While Frankie’s mom was those parents that you grew up together with so they’re more understanding but still real but more open for you to go to them. The bantering’s and the way Frankie’s mouth can go toe to toe and her actions especially that supermarket scene she made me love her even more her mouth is so saucy 🤣.
Author Taahesi really brought in the cultures when I tell you no lies she really made us African and Caribbean girls feel so seen from gaming to religions, to anime’s and manga, to the foods, to the sayings, to such relatable relationships with parents, to musical theatre, to PCOS for black women and the issues that unfortunately come with it, to the reality’s of living in this world as young black women. I could go on and on but I just want to thank Author Taahesi for representing us so much !! The day I meet this woman I need to give her a hug or something because she has touched peoples hearts giving people outlets they have experienced as well and I don’t even think she knows it 🫶🙌.
I’m going to be sitting in my thoughts these next couple of days really reminiscing about this book and its characters I can feel how this is going to stir for a while and I would love to hear others takes on this book and Authors Taahesi thoughts on creating this wonderful art. We don’t know what the future holds for this couple and the supporting characters but I have hope it gets even better and with more time it heals to go back to some resemblance of before especially with Frankie and Zaza. Now I’m off to reminisce and check out the rest of this authors catalog and can’t wait to see and read what else she has for the future 🤎🤎
April 12, 2026
Jabari x Frankie
Cocky completely exceeded my expectations and reminded me why I love character-driven romance so much.
The story follows star footballer Jabari “Titan” McKingsley, who reluctantly returns home expecting to deal with the same awkward dynamic he left behind his little sister’s best friend, Francine “Frankie” Campbell, and her obvious childhood obsession with him. Except things aren’t the same anymore. Frankie is all grown up… and surprisingly uninterested.
From the very beginning, Taahesi B. Williams proves once again how skilled she is at writing complex, layered characters. It would have been easy to dismiss both Jabari and Frankie at first glance he’s confident to the point of arrogance, and she’s guarded in ways that initially feel distant. But the deeper you go into the story, the more their vulnerabilities, motivations, and emotional depth unfold. I found myself falling in love with both characters early on, flaws and all.
What stood out most to me was the growth. This story celebrates unapologetically being yourself while still allowing space for reflection and change. Both Jabari and Frankie evolve in meaningful ways, and their journey toward understanding themselves and each other felt genuine and earned.
As someone who loves sports romances, I was pleasantly surprised by how invested I became in Jabari’s career. Even without knowing much about soccer/football, the way Williams weaves the sport into the narrative made it engaging and emotional rather than purely technical. His career pressures and personal expectations added another layer of tension and realism to the story.
Another highlight is the rich familial and cultural dynamics throughout the book. The relationships surrounding the main characters add depth and authenticity, making the story feel bigger than just the romance. These elements give the novel heart and make the emotional stakes even stronger.
Overall, Cocky felt like a breath of fresh air. It’s a story about growth, identity, love, and learning to see people for who they truly are not who they used to be.
Cocky completely exceeded my expectations and reminded me why I love character-driven romance so much.
The story follows star footballer Jabari “Titan” McKingsley, who reluctantly returns home expecting to deal with the same awkward dynamic he left behind his little sister’s best friend, Francine “Frankie” Campbell, and her obvious childhood obsession with him. Except things aren’t the same anymore. Frankie is all grown up… and surprisingly uninterested.
From the very beginning, Taahesi B. Williams proves once again how skilled she is at writing complex, layered characters. It would have been easy to dismiss both Jabari and Frankie at first glance he’s confident to the point of arrogance, and she’s guarded in ways that initially feel distant. But the deeper you go into the story, the more their vulnerabilities, motivations, and emotional depth unfold. I found myself falling in love with both characters early on, flaws and all.
What stood out most to me was the growth. This story celebrates unapologetically being yourself while still allowing space for reflection and change. Both Jabari and Frankie evolve in meaningful ways, and their journey toward understanding themselves and each other felt genuine and earned.
As someone who loves sports romances, I was pleasantly surprised by how invested I became in Jabari’s career. Even without knowing much about soccer/football, the way Williams weaves the sport into the narrative made it engaging and emotional rather than purely technical. His career pressures and personal expectations added another layer of tension and realism to the story.
Another highlight is the rich familial and cultural dynamics throughout the book. The relationships surrounding the main characters add depth and authenticity, making the story feel bigger than just the romance. These elements give the novel heart and make the emotional stakes even stronger.
Overall, Cocky felt like a breath of fresh air. It’s a story about growth, identity, love, and learning to see people for who they truly are not who they used to be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
TROPES:
🎮Enemies to Lovers
🎮Best Friend’s Brother
🎮Forbidden Romance
🎮He Falls First
whew this was a sloooooow burn, it’s been a minute since I read a burn so slow but when she said loathing to lovers….that’s exactly what is was and they don’t fall fast!!
So, I understand the title quick because in the beginning my face was all crunched up at Jabari. He is way too full of himself, thinking he too good for everything and everybody. Then i’m rolling my eyes at Frankie because she was confused right along with Jabari cause what are we doing I don’t got time for your attitude 😂
Za got me yelling “STAND UP FOR YOURSELF”
Chile these characters put my on a rollercoaster ride, I didn’t know how it would end tbh nor did I expect that kind of ending…i’m not even sure i’m accepting of the ending either but I liked it. Cocky they were
fun fact: the cast is multi-cultured and that made me magically read in an accent…it was only right lol 🤷🏽♀️😂
🎮Enemies to Lovers
🎮Best Friend’s Brother
🎮Forbidden Romance
🎮He Falls First
whew this was a sloooooow burn, it’s been a minute since I read a burn so slow but when she said loathing to lovers….that’s exactly what is was and they don’t fall fast!!
So, I understand the title quick because in the beginning my face was all crunched up at Jabari. He is way too full of himself, thinking he too good for everything and everybody. Then i’m rolling my eyes at Frankie because she was confused right along with Jabari cause what are we doing I don’t got time for your attitude 😂
Za got me yelling “STAND UP FOR YOURSELF”
Chile these characters put my on a rollercoaster ride, I didn’t know how it would end tbh nor did I expect that kind of ending…i’m not even sure i’m accepting of the ending either but I liked it. Cocky they were
fun fact: the cast is multi-cultured and that made me magically read in an accent…it was only right lol 🤷🏽♀️😂
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, thank you to Taahesi for the opportunity to review!
Once again, I am blown away by a Taahesi B. book. I want to give so much credit to the way she writes complex characters. It would be easy for me to write off both MCs-but I fell in love early on with both- flaws and all. There is a lot of growth and unapologetic being oneself in this book, and I love how the writing highlights that. I am a sports romance girlie, and for not knowing much about soccer/football, I was also super invested in the aspect of Jabari’s career. Also, as a Blue Lock girl, not disappointed 😂 The familial and cultural dynamics that came into play make the story even more meaningful.
Theo got some competition. Well done!
Once again, I am blown away by a Taahesi B. book. I want to give so much credit to the way she writes complex characters. It would be easy for me to write off both MCs-but I fell in love early on with both- flaws and all. There is a lot of growth and unapologetic being oneself in this book, and I love how the writing highlights that. I am a sports romance girlie, and for not knowing much about soccer/football, I was also super invested in the aspect of Jabari’s career. Also, as a Blue Lock girl, not disappointed 😂 The familial and cultural dynamics that came into play make the story even more meaningful.
Theo got some competition. Well done!
May 15, 2026
Arc review
Honestly I could not stand Jabari in the beginning!! OMG, the arrogance, the nonchalant way of thinking That everything is due to him… bro what ?? And the way he was so oblivious to his mom and sister relationship ??? HELLO !!! Get down ! Anyway, I open up my heart even though I still think he was stupid, he was very crazy in love with Francine. I like the pressure he was applying, making her more open to the idea that she deserved to be loved properly. Their relationship definitely gave me some headaches but hey, it’s a Taheesi b Williams book so… Surprisingly I wasn’t so mad at Frankie, she was very hot and cold but I think I just get her.
Honestly I could not stand Jabari in the beginning!! OMG, the arrogance, the nonchalant way of thinking That everything is due to him… bro what ?? And the way he was so oblivious to his mom and sister relationship ??? HELLO !!! Get down ! Anyway, I open up my heart even though I still think he was stupid, he was very crazy in love with Francine. I like the pressure he was applying, making her more open to the idea that she deserved to be loved properly. Their relationship definitely gave me some headaches but hey, it’s a Taheesi b Williams book so… Surprisingly I wasn’t so mad at Frankie, she was very hot and cold but I think I just get her.
May 17, 2026
wheeeew!
Taahesi don’t play with these characters that make you feel deep 😩 I shuffled between tears, laughter, frustrated screams, and life changing experiences through these characters.
I loved their journey of learning to find security in being strong without stunting growth and getting to those starting stages of healing. I’m without a doubt gonna carry this story with me for some time.
Taahesi don’t play with these characters that make you feel deep 😩 I shuffled between tears, laughter, frustrated screams, and life changing experiences through these characters.
I loved their journey of learning to find security in being strong without stunting growth and getting to those starting stages of healing. I’m without a doubt gonna carry this story with me for some time.
May 2, 2026
CROYDON!!!!!!
Other than the fact that the majority of people who go Wetherspoons in the uk, especially if you are from Croydon, are white I liked this. Just needed a lot more of the Nigerian and Jamaican culture in it which was overwhelmed by the religion part.
The story of these two was really enjoyable.
Other than the fact that the majority of people who go Wetherspoons in the uk, especially if you are from Croydon, are white I liked this. Just needed a lot more of the Nigerian and Jamaican culture in it which was overwhelmed by the religion part.
The story of these two was really enjoyable.
May 21, 2026
First book by this author and I enjoyed it so much. Jabari was cocky as hell, but my girl Frankie humbled him every single time. That man was down bad for her and I loved every second of it. I also loved seeing Jabari slowly break down the walls Frankie had built up over time. Their chemistry was so good and the banter made this such a fun read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’d like to thank Taahesi for the opportunity to get an ARC of this book.
I love her writing. That being said, she can’t do any wrong in my eyes and unfortunately has made me a lifelong fan. I think this lowkey might’ve been my favorite book of hers so far.
I love her writing. That being said, she can’t do any wrong in my eyes and unfortunately has made me a lifelong fan. I think this lowkey might’ve been my favorite book of hers so far.
March 30, 2026
COCKY AF
Taahesi, you did it again girl. This book was so good I didn’t want it to end. Frankie was such a stubborn FMC but I loved her even still. The title of this book is so fitting because Jabari was every bit of cocky. Loved this read so much!!!
Taahesi, you did it again girl. This book was so good I didn’t want it to end. Frankie was such a stubborn FMC but I loved her even still. The title of this book is so fitting because Jabari was every bit of cocky. Loved this read so much!!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews