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The Callahans #5
Fighting For You
Diego Garcia.
Class bully.
Football star.
My boyfriend.
I fell hard and fast for the resident bad boy and he fell just as hard for me too. We were the perfect couple, until things turned sour.
Senior year and we’re both super busy. He has football. I have volleyball. Soon enough, I hear the rumors - Diego’s cheating on me. After everything we’ve been through, I’m devastated. Breaking up with him was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. He doesn’t love me. Besides, only a few more months of school, and then I’m going away to college. And Diego will be permanently out of my life.
Until I find out I’m pregnant. And now we’re forever tied together…
Class bully.
Football star.
My boyfriend.
I fell hard and fast for the resident bad boy and he fell just as hard for me too. We were the perfect couple, until things turned sour.
Senior year and we’re both super busy. He has football. I have volleyball. Soon enough, I hear the rumors - Diego’s cheating on me. After everything we’ve been through, I’m devastated. Breaking up with him was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. He doesn’t love me. Besides, only a few more months of school, and then I’m going away to college. And Diego will be permanently out of my life.
Until I find out I’m pregnant. And now we’re forever tied together…
386 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2021
1152 people are currently reading
5538 people want to read
About the author
Monica Murphy
108 books18.9k followersNew York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. A believer in kissing. A believer of love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
February 19, 2021
Spoilers ahead, hmmmm 2.5* I'm conflicted on this rating because there were parts I enjoyed but ugh it was so much teen angst I rolled my eyes a lot.
My original thoughts which appear after my review were based on reviews, because of conflicting reviews however I decided to try this for myself which was actually a HUGE leap because I absolutely do not condone cheating! I think ARC reviews haven't done this book any favors. There are some that imply he cheated and a couple that said he actually did.
1)First of all these mcs are 17 almost 18 year olds. I do not like to read books within this age bracket because I tend to forgive a lot of behavior I wouldn't usually. I mean who the hell has any sense at that age?
2)Apparently the H was a major asshole in previous books, I didn't read the previous books and I'm glad I didn't because I think I would've hated him
3)The H/h are in a relationship and things haven't been going great lately. See the H whenever his girl is too busy for him or if they fight he flirts endlessly with other girls. He also has one particular mean girl all over him which sparked nasty rumors that he's cheating on the h. Instead of reassuring his girlfriend he perpetuates the rumors by hanging out regularly with the Bitch. The Bitch contributes by spreading rumors of her own
****Please note HE DOES NOT CHEAT. He claims he was tempted but he wouldn't cheat on his girl who he loved
4)The H/h have unprotected sex and she ends up pregnant, he's stunned and accuses her of lying. Everything crashes down on her, his response,the rumors the pregnancy..... Everything and she breaks up with him
5)Remember this number I'll reference it later on to give an idea of the timeline
6)Meanwhile the pregnancy is progressing and they're broken up. We get a better idea of the H and all he's facing. His family is loud and crazy, his dad is gone and his brother viciously bullies him. He did a lot of shit over the years hoping for his brother's approval. Now he's angry at his home situation and lashes out regularly. He's an asshole to a lot of people but we see a gradual change. I really didn't like his mom, she buried her head in the sand to her oldest son's actions and she really pissed me off. I don't get why books almost always want forgiveness for Family members, she didn't deserve it in my opinion.
7)The Bitch is still around
8)The h eventually takes him back, they try for a while but lots of stuff keeps happening. When they have sex he tells her he hasn't had "SEX" with anyone else and he never cheated on her. At this point I rejoiced, I literally said aloud oh thank God.Then the Bitch creates drama because the H is a dumbass. The h can't take anymore, she's a mess emotionally and it's not good for the baby so she breaks up with him for good this time.
9)The H is seeking advice and is having a lot of soul searching. At this point we learn that fuckface messed around with the Bitch after the H broke up with him(at #5 in the timeline) He said not full on sex but they kissed and stuff. I wanted to go in this book and stomp on his teenage balls. She'd just confessed she was pregnant, after his dumb ass didn't want to stop to get a condom! So technically it probably wasn't cheating because they were broken up but as usual I don't care!!! Would you all stop doing this shit, teen boy or no I wanted to beat the snot out of him but as I said kids are dumb man!
10)The breakup continues until after the baby is born. They both grow up a lot in this time, him especially. He's a really great dad and is doing his best for his kid. The h still won't have anything to do with him.... Until some months later he finally gets another shot and they get their HFN. During the time of their last breakup to present day he's been celibate, she has as well. This last part with the baby was the sweetest thing EVER!
11)I really wanted an epilogue that was some years later but I wasn't so lucky. Maybe they'll show up in later books but this type of soap opera drama isn't for me. This was well-written though, if the author has any safe reads I'd give her a shot.
I'm leaving my original thoughts below because it's funny to me lol. I read reviews that stated he'd cheated but I guess it's all in the way you look at it I guess?
***The h was actually pretty good especially when she made the decision to end things. I almost wanted them to stay friends that's how toxic they were but I've got to admit his celibacy and his attitude in the end were much improved. I wish the author would write an epilogue for them without me having to wade through more teen drama to find out how they're doing.
***************
Spoilers ahead
4.62 overall rating my gr says!! Are we seriously still forgiving cheaters?!!! Seriously?!! Girl he's going to cheat again dump this MF and RUN. Man f**k this rating. This is 2021 Cheaters don't get forgiven we grind them into dust and MOVE THE F*CK ON!!! Yet another insult to strong women in my book!
***ETA hold the fucking phone..... He cheats on his PREGNANT girlfriend!!!!!!! And gets redeemed??? Hold my earrings Imma bout to bitchslap this zero!
**ETA again lol, no rating until I confirm ☝
************
Curiosity killed the cat lol..... Ugh why did I not know this is about teenagers 😭😭😭😭😭
****ETA
guess that means Jocelyn believes that too. But why? How much do I have to say and prove to her that I’m not with Cami? I never really was.
I mean, fuck. I sort of was, but my heart wasn’t in it. We hung out. We went on a few dates. Yes, I kissed her. We messed around a little, but nothing serious. No D or V involved.
Besides, I missed Jos so damn bad after she broke up with me. I just followed along with what Cami wanted because I didn’t know what else to do. Stupid on my part. I don’t make great decisions.
My original thoughts which appear after my review were based on reviews, because of conflicting reviews however I decided to try this for myself which was actually a HUGE leap because I absolutely do not condone cheating! I think ARC reviews haven't done this book any favors. There are some that imply he cheated and a couple that said he actually did.
1)First of all these mcs are 17 almost 18 year olds. I do not like to read books within this age bracket because I tend to forgive a lot of behavior I wouldn't usually. I mean who the hell has any sense at that age?
2)Apparently the H was a major asshole in previous books, I didn't read the previous books and I'm glad I didn't because I think I would've hated him
3)The H/h are in a relationship and things haven't been going great lately. See the H whenever his girl is too busy for him or if they fight he flirts endlessly with other girls. He also has one particular mean girl all over him which sparked nasty rumors that he's cheating on the h. Instead of reassuring his girlfriend he perpetuates the rumors by hanging out regularly with the Bitch. The Bitch contributes by spreading rumors of her own
****Please note HE DOES NOT CHEAT. He claims he was tempted but he wouldn't cheat on his girl who he loved
4)The H/h have unprotected sex and she ends up pregnant, he's stunned and accuses her of lying. Everything crashes down on her, his response,the rumors the pregnancy..... Everything and she breaks up with him
5)Remember this number I'll reference it later on to give an idea of the timeline
6)Meanwhile the pregnancy is progressing and they're broken up. We get a better idea of the H and all he's facing. His family is loud and crazy, his dad is gone and his brother viciously bullies him. He did a lot of shit over the years hoping for his brother's approval. Now he's angry at his home situation and lashes out regularly. He's an asshole to a lot of people but we see a gradual change. I really didn't like his mom, she buried her head in the sand to her oldest son's actions and she really pissed me off. I don't get why books almost always want forgiveness for Family members, she didn't deserve it in my opinion.
7)The Bitch is still around
8)The h eventually takes him back, they try for a while but lots of stuff keeps happening. When they have sex he tells her he hasn't had "SEX" with anyone else and he never cheated on her. At this point I rejoiced, I literally said aloud oh thank God.Then the Bitch creates drama because the H is a dumbass. The h can't take anymore, she's a mess emotionally and it's not good for the baby so she breaks up with him for good this time.
9)The H is seeking advice and is having a lot of soul searching. At this point we learn that fuckface messed around with the Bitch after the H broke up with him(at #5 in the timeline) He said not full on sex but they kissed and stuff. I wanted to go in this book and stomp on his teenage balls. She'd just confessed she was pregnant, after his dumb ass didn't want to stop to get a condom! So technically it probably wasn't cheating because they were broken up but as usual I don't care!!! Would you all stop doing this shit, teen boy or no I wanted to beat the snot out of him but as I said kids are dumb man!
10)The breakup continues until after the baby is born. They both grow up a lot in this time, him especially. He's a really great dad and is doing his best for his kid. The h still won't have anything to do with him.... Until some months later he finally gets another shot and they get their HFN. During the time of their last breakup to present day he's been celibate, she has as well. This last part with the baby was the sweetest thing EVER!
11)I really wanted an epilogue that was some years later but I wasn't so lucky. Maybe they'll show up in later books but this type of soap opera drama isn't for me. This was well-written though, if the author has any safe reads I'd give her a shot.
I'm leaving my original thoughts below because it's funny to me lol. I read reviews that stated he'd cheated but I guess it's all in the way you look at it I guess?
***The h was actually pretty good especially when she made the decision to end things. I almost wanted them to stay friends that's how toxic they were but I've got to admit his celibacy and his attitude in the end were much improved. I wish the author would write an epilogue for them without me having to wade through more teen drama to find out how they're doing.
***************
Spoilers ahead
4.62 overall rating my gr says!! Are we seriously still forgiving cheaters?!!! Seriously?!! Girl he's going to cheat again dump this MF and RUN. Man f**k this rating. This is 2021 Cheaters don't get forgiven we grind them into dust and MOVE THE F*CK ON!!! Yet another insult to strong women in my book!
***ETA hold the fucking phone..... He cheats on his PREGNANT girlfriend!!!!!!! And gets redeemed??? Hold my earrings Imma bout to bitchslap this zero!
**ETA again lol, no rating until I confirm ☝
************
Curiosity killed the cat lol..... Ugh why did I not know this is about teenagers 😭😭😭😭😭
****ETA
guess that means Jocelyn believes that too. But why? How much do I have to say and prove to her that I’m not with Cami? I never really was.
I mean, fuck. I sort of was, but my heart wasn’t in it. We hung out. We went on a few dates. Yes, I kissed her. We messed around a little, but nothing serious. No D or V involved.
Besides, I missed Jos so damn bad after she broke up with me. I just followed along with what Cami wanted because I didn’t know what else to do. Stupid on my part. I don’t make great decisions.
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August 19, 2022
this book gets a whopping 1.5 stars
Okay sooooooo this couple annoyed me throughout the entire series. Diego was constantly being rude to his girlfriend and overall they seemed like the most toxic couple ever and guess what? they are.
Overall we have wayyy too much drama going on with not telling the truth just to hurt somebody when it is very clear why she has trust issues as well as overall making a girl the issue of this all.
The only good thing about this book is that Jos made him at least beg for a while. Well after a couple slip ups.
The rest is yet again too much drama but they had chemistry. Again minor explicit scenes that are majorly inappropriate and are me yet again have to skip over 20% of the book.
The focus on this book was a bit different than the other ones which made the plot line make more sense but again, this is a weird adult high school book aka smth that should not exist so I do not recommend.
Read it because we all know, once I start a series I need to finish it.
Okay sooooooo this couple annoyed me throughout the entire series. Diego was constantly being rude to his girlfriend and overall they seemed like the most toxic couple ever and guess what? they are.
Overall we have wayyy too much drama going on with not telling the truth just to hurt somebody when it is very clear why she has trust issues as well as overall making a girl the issue of this all.
The only good thing about this book is that Jos made him at least beg for a while. Well after a couple slip ups.
The rest is yet again too much drama but they had chemistry. Again minor explicit scenes that are majorly inappropriate and are me yet again have to skip over 20% of the book.
The focus on this book was a bit different than the other ones which made the plot line make more sense but again, this is a weird adult high school book aka smth that should not exist so I do not recommend.
Read it because we all know, once I start a series I need to finish it.
July 16, 2021
2.5✨
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
This book was frustrating, I guess all the cheating aspect caught my attention and i like drama in my books, but teen drama? it's a headache.
𝑫𝒊𝒆𝒈𝒐, is a character that I still have trouble loving. He ruined the things, the first 15% of the book I wanted to kill him but I kinda liked the growth of him.
𝑱𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒚𝒏, I really liked her, sometimes her doubts about Diego bothered me, but I understand her, everyone was talking about her boyfriend cheating on her and he didn't deny it. I liked that she decided take some time from Diego, it was the best decision.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙾𝚆 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊:
This is definitely the reason why it isn't a 5star read for me.
Diego and Cami? yup, it's a mess and annoyed me a lot because it was the whole book saying that nothing happened btw he and cami and I was like yes !! but then we have this internal dialogue of his saying that "he just messed around and kissed her but nothing with the "V" or "D" involved" and I know I'm reading about teenagers but boy, your ex is pregnant, you are with this other girl and you wonder why no one believes in you? 🖕🏼
2.5/ 5stars cuz there were some good moments, I loved the group of friends they both had and I really enjoyed the last 20% of the story with their daughter.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
This book was frustrating, I guess all the cheating aspect caught my attention and i like drama in my books, but teen drama? it's a headache.
𝑫𝒊𝒆𝒈𝒐, is a character that I still have trouble loving. He ruined the things, the first 15% of the book I wanted to kill him but I kinda liked the growth of him.
𝑱𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒚𝒏, I really liked her, sometimes her doubts about Diego bothered me, but I understand her, everyone was talking about her boyfriend cheating on her and he didn't deny it. I liked that she decided take some time from Diego, it was the best decision.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙾𝚆 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊:
This is definitely the reason why it isn't a 5star read for me.
Diego and Cami? yup, it's a mess and annoyed me a lot because it was the whole book saying that nothing happened btw he and cami and I was like yes !! but then we have this internal dialogue of his saying that "he just messed around and kissed her but nothing with the "V" or "D" involved" and I know I'm reading about teenagers but boy, your ex is pregnant, you are with this other girl and you wonder why no one believes in you? 🖕🏼
2.5/ 5stars cuz there were some good moments, I loved the group of friends they both had and I really enjoyed the last 20% of the story with their daughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2021
1 big headache star
Both the main leads were competing against each other on who can give me a more severe migraine. In the end it was a tie.
This might be a complete me problem, I understand that both the main leads are 17-18 and that’s the reason why they could be so immature. There were so many times I wanted to throw my phone away but I had to keep on reminding myself that they are just teenagers! Let's let them off the hook... right?
I tried okay? I really did but every time they went through the "Cami hole" I JUST GOT SO FRUSTRATED!!! They both KNOW how psycho she is so why are they even entertaining her in the first place!
SPOILERS/RANT AHEAD
Okay so here we go
The major issue here was I felt no connection between Diego & Jocelyn at all! No spark or anything. I personally believe that they didn’t even love each other. Especially Diego! He didn’t even try to talk to Jocelyn or win her back after she broke up with him and dropped the pregnancy bomb. They both avoided each other or would only speak to fight and then go back to avoiding each other !
Like if he truly did love her why the fuck was he avoiding her and not chasing after her and WHY THE FUCK DID HE EVEN KISS CAMI, THE GIRL WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAK UP IN THE FIRST PLACE!
“I mean, fuck. I sort of was, but my heart wasn’t in it. We hung out. We went on a few dates. Yes, I kissed her. We messed around a little, but nothing serious. No D or V involved.
Besides, I missed Jos so damn bad after she broke up with me. I just followed along with what Cami wanted because I didn’t know what else to do. Stupid on my part. I don’t make great decisions.”
Diego didn’t do anything to redeem himself or prove to ME that he changed.
It’s like they get back together and then break up AGAIN and then fast forward a few months, they both are in college now and BAM Diego has matured and is a different man now.
Like excuse me, hold up? I wanted to READ about Diego’s suffering and HOW he tried to change himself! I don’t want to be just told by the characters themselves.
Also another thing, since I didn’t read the previous books from this series, I don’t really know the depths of Jocelyn and Diego’s relationship, so I wish we got to read about that too from Jocelyn’s POV instead of the book just starting off with them having unprotected sex and then the next chapter of them breaking up.
Jocelyn POV
“Cami Lockhart was definitely one of the main reasons, but there were other things. His bad attitude for one. How quick he was to anger. We fought a lot. He became so needy, demanding all of my time when I couldn’t give it to him. He wanted me at his beck and call, but I was busy. School. Volleyball. My friends. I wasn’t going to give up everything for him. I didn’t want to lose myself.”
“I’m saying you put a lot on me and I didn’t think I could handle it! You had all of these expectations. You wanted a serious relationship and I did too, so we fell in love. Once we had sex, everything shifted. You wanted me all the time, and it felt like that’s all you wanted. You didn’t just want to hang out or get something to eat, or go out with our friends. You wanted to get me alone and get me naked. And then you wanted to always let me know how much you needed me. It was—overwhelming. You were overwhelming. It became too much. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle you.”
Diego POV
“And when my life spiraled out of control, instead of wasting my breath and protesting that everything people said wasn’t true, I just went along with it. They wouldn’t believe me anyway.
Cami and I fucked behind Jocelyn’s back? Yeah. We sure did.
We were hooking up that one night after a game at Tony’s house? Uh huh.
Cami rigged it so Jocelyn wouldn’t make it into the finals for homecoming queen? So it was easier for us to be paired up? Oh yeah, Cami definitely has that much power at school.
Everyone believes what they want. So what’s the point in arguing?”
Another thing, I didn’t like how the book ended so quickly, with how apparently toxic their relationship was I wanted to experience how they try to make their relationship work instead of reading about a time lapse where they have been hanging out and acting as a couple etc etc....
Both the main leads were competing against each other on who can give me a more severe migraine. In the end it was a tie.
This might be a complete me problem, I understand that both the main leads are 17-18 and that’s the reason why they could be so immature. There were so many times I wanted to throw my phone away but I had to keep on reminding myself that they are just teenagers! Let's let them off the hook... right?
I tried okay? I really did but every time they went through the "Cami hole" I JUST GOT SO FRUSTRATED!!! They both KNOW how psycho she is so why are they even entertaining her in the first place!
SPOILERS/RANT AHEAD
Okay so here we go
The major issue here was I felt no connection between Diego & Jocelyn at all! No spark or anything. I personally believe that they didn’t even love each other. Especially Diego! He didn’t even try to talk to Jocelyn or win her back after she broke up with him and dropped the pregnancy bomb. They both avoided each other or would only speak to fight and then go back to avoiding each other !
Like if he truly did love her why the fuck was he avoiding her and not chasing after her and WHY THE FUCK DID HE EVEN KISS CAMI, THE GIRL WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAK UP IN THE FIRST PLACE!
“I mean, fuck. I sort of was, but my heart wasn’t in it. We hung out. We went on a few dates. Yes, I kissed her. We messed around a little, but nothing serious. No D or V involved.
Besides, I missed Jos so damn bad after she broke up with me. I just followed along with what Cami wanted because I didn’t know what else to do. Stupid on my part. I don’t make great decisions.”
Diego didn’t do anything to redeem himself or prove to ME that he changed.
It’s like they get back together and then break up AGAIN and then fast forward a few months, they both are in college now and BAM Diego has matured and is a different man now.
Like excuse me, hold up? I wanted to READ about Diego’s suffering and HOW he tried to change himself! I don’t want to be just told by the characters themselves.
Also another thing, since I didn’t read the previous books from this series, I don’t really know the depths of Jocelyn and Diego’s relationship, so I wish we got to read about that too from Jocelyn’s POV instead of the book just starting off with them having unprotected sex and then the next chapter of them breaking up.
Jocelyn POV
“Cami Lockhart was definitely one of the main reasons, but there were other things. His bad attitude for one. How quick he was to anger. We fought a lot. He became so needy, demanding all of my time when I couldn’t give it to him. He wanted me at his beck and call, but I was busy. School. Volleyball. My friends. I wasn’t going to give up everything for him. I didn’t want to lose myself.”
“I’m saying you put a lot on me and I didn’t think I could handle it! You had all of these expectations. You wanted a serious relationship and I did too, so we fell in love. Once we had sex, everything shifted. You wanted me all the time, and it felt like that’s all you wanted. You didn’t just want to hang out or get something to eat, or go out with our friends. You wanted to get me alone and get me naked. And then you wanted to always let me know how much you needed me. It was—overwhelming. You were overwhelming. It became too much. I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t handle you.”
Diego POV
“And when my life spiraled out of control, instead of wasting my breath and protesting that everything people said wasn’t true, I just went along with it. They wouldn’t believe me anyway.
Cami and I fucked behind Jocelyn’s back? Yeah. We sure did.
We were hooking up that one night after a game at Tony’s house? Uh huh.
Cami rigged it so Jocelyn wouldn’t make it into the finals for homecoming queen? So it was easier for us to be paired up? Oh yeah, Cami definitely has that much power at school.
Everyone believes what they want. So what’s the point in arguing?”
Another thing, I didn’t like how the book ended so quickly, with how apparently toxic their relationship was I wanted to experience how they try to make their relationship work instead of reading about a time lapse where they have been hanging out and acting as a couple etc etc....
August 22, 2021
moral of the story: if your girlfriend hears a rumour about you cheating on her behind her back, don’t just nod and go with the flow. tell her the whole truth.
February 7, 2021
Lol, wait. HOW did DIEGO end up being my favorite Callahan series hero?!?!
How? Monica. How? Alexa, play “started from the bottom by Drake,” because Diego was the worst, but now he’s the best.
Ok, so if you’ve read this series (you really should) then you know that Diego is somewhat of the villain in Falling for Her (Callahans #2)! He betrays his newly PREGNANT girlfriend, Jocelyn, by cheating on her with his best friend’s horrible ex, and he’s just a huge jerk to everyone. Mean to his best friend’s new girlfriend, hanging around with the wrong people, getting into fights. He’s on the full bad boy spiral ride, but we see all that from other peoples POV.
The thing is, what made me hate him in other books is what made me feel compassion and fall for him in his book. What is it people always say, “villains are made, not born.” I know that’s not always the case, but for Diego life gave him some crumby hands and he definitely was acting out and reacting from that. He’s a teenager, and while everything he did was AWFUL, I think that people can get redemption, and Monica did a good job navigating Diego on that path.
Jocelyn was a “good” girl with dreams, now she’s a pregnant high schooler. When she makes the decision to keep her baby, she pulls on her big girl panties and makes it work. She is lucky because she has a lot of help, but she doesn’t take it for granted. Honestly I loved how Jocelyn dealt with the Diego situation. It’s hard to be hard on someone you love, but if you love them, and they need tough love you’re doing what’s right. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that Jocelyn and Diego’s journey is kind of perfect. Yes, it’s angsty and a ride before the ending, but the journey makes sense for them and was necessary.
I’m just still shocked that Monica made me love Diego so much. It’s amazing honestly. Near a miracle, but he’s honestly my favorite of this series now. I can’t wait to read more in this world. It’s going to be amazing, I feel it.
AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 11TH!
*ARC
How? Monica. How? Alexa, play “started from the bottom by Drake,” because Diego was the worst, but now he’s the best.
Ok, so if you’ve read this series (you really should) then you know that Diego is somewhat of the villain in Falling for Her (Callahans #2)! He betrays his newly PREGNANT girlfriend, Jocelyn, by cheating on her with his best friend’s horrible ex, and he’s just a huge jerk to everyone. Mean to his best friend’s new girlfriend, hanging around with the wrong people, getting into fights. He’s on the full bad boy spiral ride, but we see all that from other peoples POV.
The thing is, what made me hate him in other books is what made me feel compassion and fall for him in his book. What is it people always say, “villains are made, not born.” I know that’s not always the case, but for Diego life gave him some crumby hands and he definitely was acting out and reacting from that. He’s a teenager, and while everything he did was AWFUL, I think that people can get redemption, and Monica did a good job navigating Diego on that path.
Jocelyn was a “good” girl with dreams, now she’s a pregnant high schooler. When she makes the decision to keep her baby, she pulls on her big girl panties and makes it work. She is lucky because she has a lot of help, but she doesn’t take it for granted. Honestly I loved how Jocelyn dealt with the Diego situation. It’s hard to be hard on someone you love, but if you love them, and they need tough love you’re doing what’s right. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that Jocelyn and Diego’s journey is kind of perfect. Yes, it’s angsty and a ride before the ending, but the journey makes sense for them and was necessary.
I’m just still shocked that Monica made me love Diego so much. It’s amazing honestly. Near a miracle, but he’s honestly my favorite of this series now. I can’t wait to read more in this world. It’s going to be amazing, I feel it.
AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 11TH!
*ARC
no-thank-you
February 11, 2021Not for me. Too much teenage angst, asshole hero, and OW drama. He didn't "technically" cheat but fooling around with OW after knocking up a girl you claim to love is pretty close in my book. (H/h were broken up during this time) Of course she must've stayed celibate and never even got tempted by another man.
See: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank you Rachel for taking one for the team! lol
- - -
wait wait wait...
are we redeeming a cheater in this?????
someone tell me it isn't how it looks cause that is NOT romance
See: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thank you Rachel for taking one for the team! lol
- - -
wait wait wait...
are we redeeming a cheater in this?????
someone tell me it isn't how it looks cause that is NOT romance
February 11, 2021
4.5 | If the other books were pure high school drama then you can mark this as a new era, because Diego and Jocelyn's story was nothing but pure ANGST and I live for that.
Once the high school golden couple, now Diego and Jocelyn's relationship is hanging by a thread. Diego's sudden mood swings, the lack of time and communication, and cheating rumors were enough for Jocelyn, but now she's pregnant and once again her whole life seems to be upside down.
There were only two possible outcomes here; end up loving this book, or completely hating the male species, and based on the other books –with Diego being basically the villain cheating on his girlfriend who was nothing but perfect–, I was leaning towards the latter option, ready to eradicate the entire species BUT NO, I ended up loving this book and Diego and Jos are my favorite couple so far!
Diego Garcia, football star and resident bad boy, is nothing more than a facade. Beneath that harsh exterior and the I-don't-care attitude, there's just a teenager full of fear and insecurities who doesn't know how to communicate his feelings, and it seems that every time he opens his mouth, fucks everything up more. Jocelyn Douglas is the good girl; intelligent, determined, athletic and with her future already planned, it seems that she no longer has enough time for everything Diego demands of her, and the rumors of cheating only make everything worse, driving them away to the point of no return.
I love second chance romances, but this goes further. These are two characters who were at different points in their lives, where you can see all the growth that they had throughout history, until they met again, presenting their best versions, testing how strong that love ran and ready to try it one last time.
I loved Diego's redemption arc, who went from being the Villain in Jake's book, to a completely different person here, but the real star for me was Jos. I loved how level headed she was from the beginning, how she didn't let gossip get in her way and how ready she was to give Diego another chance, and then when she saw that it was toxic she prioritized herself, walking out of there for her and the baby. She kinda forced Diego's path to reach that end that they both deserved, she changed him for the better, starting a new stronger and healthier relationship. And don't even let me start on the scenes with baby G... 🥰
Even if you haven't read the other books in the series, and you like your happy endings with a little too much pain (like I do), then you should read this book, because their journey is totally worth it!
And now I can't stop thinking about two characters who have the potential to break my heart with an equally painful book...
ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
"I thought we were done. Destroyed. Guess I was wrong. And I’ve never been happier to admit my mistake in my life."
Once the high school golden couple, now Diego and Jocelyn's relationship is hanging by a thread. Diego's sudden mood swings, the lack of time and communication, and cheating rumors were enough for Jocelyn, but now she's pregnant and once again her whole life seems to be upside down.
There were only two possible outcomes here; end up loving this book, or completely hating the male species, and based on the other books –with Diego being basically the villain cheating on his girlfriend who was nothing but perfect–, I was leaning towards the latter option, ready to eradicate the entire species BUT NO, I ended up loving this book and Diego and Jos are my favorite couple so far!
Diego Garcia, football star and resident bad boy, is nothing more than a facade. Beneath that harsh exterior and the I-don't-care attitude, there's just a teenager full of fear and insecurities who doesn't know how to communicate his feelings, and it seems that every time he opens his mouth, fucks everything up more. Jocelyn Douglas is the good girl; intelligent, determined, athletic and with her future already planned, it seems that she no longer has enough time for everything Diego demands of her, and the rumors of cheating only make everything worse, driving them away to the point of no return.
"The look my girl is giving me right now… it’s everything I’ve wanted, I’ve craved since I lost her."
I love second chance romances, but this goes further. These are two characters who were at different points in their lives, where you can see all the growth that they had throughout history, until they met again, presenting their best versions, testing how strong that love ran and ready to try it one last time.
I loved Diego's redemption arc, who went from being the Villain in Jake's book, to a completely different person here, but the real star for me was Jos. I loved how level headed she was from the beginning, how she didn't let gossip get in her way and how ready she was to give Diego another chance, and then when she saw that it was toxic she prioritized herself, walking out of there for her and the baby. She kinda forced Diego's path to reach that end that they both deserved, she changed him for the better, starting a new stronger and healthier relationship. And don't even let me start on the scenes with baby G... 🥰
Even if you haven't read the other books in the series, and you like your happy endings with a little too much pain (like I do), then you should read this book, because their journey is totally worth it!
And now I can't stop thinking about two characters who have the potential to break my heart with an equally painful book...
ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
February 11, 2021
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
If you read the previous books in this series, Fighting For You is definitely worth reading EVEN if you found yourself hating Diego - trust me you are waaaay wrong about his character.
When I heard we’ll get Diego’s story I got worried. Because he was really getting on my nerves especially in Jake’s book. He was this „king“ of school that annoyed me so damn much I just couldn’t stand him. He treated his best friend awfully, and then we even found out he was cheating on his girlfriend with none other than his best friend’s ex that was really spoiled little brad everyone hated. But I decided to read it anyway and I’m so happy for doing it.
To say Diego surprised me I wouldn’t be lying. He wasn’t what I really expected him to be and I immediately hated myself for making an opinion without getting to know his story. Yes, the guy made mistakes and yes he has his flaws but not the ones I expected and he still hated himself for it. Monica amazingly described his path to be a better person and I was obsessed with his character growth.
The story is about the relationship between Diego and Jocelyn and how toxic it gets. Jocelyn wasn’t my favourite as I feel like she was adding toxicity into the relationship as well and was never accountable for it. I just didn’t like how she never tried to listen to Diego. However, she is still a very strong heroine and in the end, I admired her and her strength.
Without giving spoilers, I really recommend reading this story. It is a cute but also heartbreaking and you’ll be surprised how we got Diego’s story wrong. I also warn you that you’ll probably end up crying, as I did multiple times. This book is definitely a great addition to this perfect series!
***
Follow me on Instagram for book edits.
If you read the previous books in this series, Fighting For You is definitely worth reading EVEN if you found yourself hating Diego - trust me you are waaaay wrong about his character.
When I heard we’ll get Diego’s story I got worried. Because he was really getting on my nerves especially in Jake’s book. He was this „king“ of school that annoyed me so damn much I just couldn’t stand him. He treated his best friend awfully, and then we even found out he was cheating on his girlfriend with none other than his best friend’s ex that was really spoiled little brad everyone hated. But I decided to read it anyway and I’m so happy for doing it.
To say Diego surprised me I wouldn’t be lying. He wasn’t what I really expected him to be and I immediately hated myself for making an opinion without getting to know his story. Yes, the guy made mistakes and yes he has his flaws but not the ones I expected and he still hated himself for it. Monica amazingly described his path to be a better person and I was obsessed with his character growth.
The story is about the relationship between Diego and Jocelyn and how toxic it gets. Jocelyn wasn’t my favourite as I feel like she was adding toxicity into the relationship as well and was never accountable for it. I just didn’t like how she never tried to listen to Diego. However, she is still a very strong heroine and in the end, I admired her and her strength.
Without giving spoilers, I really recommend reading this story. It is a cute but also heartbreaking and you’ll be surprised how we got Diego’s story wrong. I also warn you that you’ll probably end up crying, as I did multiple times. This book is definitely a great addition to this perfect series!
***
Follow me on Instagram for book edits.
February 11, 2021
Writing this with tears in my eyes. Monica never lets me down. Listen, I didn’t know if I wanted to read this book after what we know about Diego from the previous books. He’s arrogant, a cheater, just an all around loud mouth jerk, or is he? This book is proof that we never know someone. We never know the struggles they go through behind closed doors. We never know why they do what they do; lash out, beg for attention.
Diego has a reputation. He’s “that guy”. You know the one, the one who wants all the attention and will do whatever with whomever to get it. When things blow up, his girlfriend Jocelyn is left looking like a fool. Jocelyn is alone, and pregnant while Diego is off with Cami being the talk of the school.
Diego knows he has made mistakes. The need for attention won out against his relationship with the girl he is in love with. When he finds out she’s pregnant with his baby, he will stop at nothing to prove he has what it takes to be a good father, and maybe more.
Jocelyn is really leery, and honestly, she has the right to be, but as she starts to see more of the true Diego, the one he hides from everyone, the more she realizes he might be more than everyone thinks he is.
This book broke my heart at times because I could feel for both of these characters. I didn’t think Monica could redeem this guy, but he’s probably one of my favorite of her characters now. I’m just so in love with their story, and the baby didn’t hurt things. I’m a sucker for a dad with his baby.
Diego has a reputation. He’s “that guy”. You know the one, the one who wants all the attention and will do whatever with whomever to get it. When things blow up, his girlfriend Jocelyn is left looking like a fool. Jocelyn is alone, and pregnant while Diego is off with Cami being the talk of the school.
Diego knows he has made mistakes. The need for attention won out against his relationship with the girl he is in love with. When he finds out she’s pregnant with his baby, he will stop at nothing to prove he has what it takes to be a good father, and maybe more.
Jocelyn is really leery, and honestly, she has the right to be, but as she starts to see more of the true Diego, the one he hides from everyone, the more she realizes he might be more than everyone thinks he is.
This book broke my heart at times because I could feel for both of these characters. I didn’t think Monica could redeem this guy, but he’s probably one of my favorite of her characters now. I’m just so in love with their story, and the baby didn’t hurt things. I’m a sucker for a dad with his baby.
February 11, 2021
This book pulled at all of my heartstrings. Diego & Jocelyn's battle to be together had many ups and downs to it. I came into this book knowing that Diego had to win me over, and he did. Jocelyn is a fierce, yet forgiving and compassionate heroine who I adored. I loved the layers to these characters that M Murphy unfolded and the depth to their story. I can't wait for more to come from this series!!
*Beta Read *
*Beta Read *
April 7, 2024
"I'll do what it takes to get this girl—especially this girl—to talk to me again. To tell me what's going on in her life. To explain to me where we went wrong, and why we can never make it right."
Ever since I read Falling For Her, I fell in love with Diego and Jocelyn's story. I'm an ABSOLUTE sucker for second chance romance and when I heard Monica was going to write their story, I was over the moon. This book is one of my highly highly highly anticipated reads of 2021 but also of my life because I've said I've been attached to this couple from day one. This book was everything and more!
Diego and Jocelyn were one of the school's beloved couples, your typical bad boy falls for the good girl until things begin to fall apart. Busy lives get in the way of maintaining their relationship and rumors start to fly, that Diego is cheating on her. Jocelyn is devastated, ready to leave Diego behind until she finds out she's forever tied to him because they're having a baby.
"What if everything they said about you was a lie?"
Diego Garcia is known as a bully, an arrogant bad boy. He's the celebrated well-known wide-receiver. He seems to have it all but the picture painted of Diego is very different from the truth. He has his own insecurities and traumas that follow him. He's tortured by them and his doubts fuel this facade. In this novel, we get to see that he is someone who loves immensely and will sacrifice anything to protect those that he loves (even when they don't deserve it). He's a good son. He's a sweet and caring lover and the greatest friend anyone could have.
Jocelyn Douglas is our fierce and forgiving heroine. She's intelligent and compassionate. She's always willing to hear the other side of the story and be a helper in any way she can. I adored her. I seriously loved her so much. I loved that she didn't let Diego pull her left and right. She didn't follow him cluelessly. She fought with him and stood her ground while willing to be warm and empathetic. She is a character I really admire and she's going down as one of my favorite female characters of all time.
These two had a lot of ups and downs but they were tied together in such a fated way. They could never stop thinking of the other, could never stop loving one another. I think my favorite part of this whole book is being able to see the progression of their love. We see them as teenagers, believing in a one great love, a romance that seems childish to young adults who learn to understand the capacity of space and time that's needed to heal, to see the worth in one another, and are willing to be partners, to sacrifice and work together. The maturation of their love story is something that Monica wrote so well and something that I didn't expect to see done so wonderfully. One small thing I would've wished for are scenes of Diego and Jocelyn's love from the beginning, how they met and fell in love, what their relationship was like before things began to fall apart. Other than that though, I have zero complaints. I loved all the domestic scenes and seeing all the cameos from our favorite characters.
Lastly, I would just like to say that Diego and Jocelyn are one of my favorite couples of ALL TIME, ALL TIME. I’ve been dying DYING to read this since they were introduced and I cannot wait for everyone to get a chance to read their story. They own me completely and they can do no wrong. So I don’t want to hear any Diego slander (I will not stand for it). Monica Murphy did an exceptional job and I'm so excited for all of her future writing projects. They will not disappoint!! I seriously can't stop talking about it to all my friends about it. I don't ever want to leave this incredible series that she's created behind. I can always trust Monica to write authentic and loveable characters with an angsty heart-wrenching plot. This was a job well done!
P.S. Don't mind me going back for a re-read already because they have me in a reading slump. Every thought I conjure is about them. I wish I could go back and read it as if it were the first time <3
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
----
reading notes:
1/26/20 - yes i’m diegojocelyn’s slave what about it?
Ever since I read Falling For Her, I fell in love with Diego and Jocelyn's story. I'm an ABSOLUTE sucker for second chance romance and when I heard Monica was going to write their story, I was over the moon. This book is one of my highly highly highly anticipated reads of 2021 but also of my life because I've said I've been attached to this couple from day one. This book was everything and more!
Diego and Jocelyn were one of the school's beloved couples, your typical bad boy falls for the good girl until things begin to fall apart. Busy lives get in the way of maintaining their relationship and rumors start to fly, that Diego is cheating on her. Jocelyn is devastated, ready to leave Diego behind until she finds out she's forever tied to him because they're having a baby.
"What if everything they said about you was a lie?"
Diego Garcia is known as a bully, an arrogant bad boy. He's the celebrated well-known wide-receiver. He seems to have it all but the picture painted of Diego is very different from the truth. He has his own insecurities and traumas that follow him. He's tortured by them and his doubts fuel this facade. In this novel, we get to see that he is someone who loves immensely and will sacrifice anything to protect those that he loves (even when they don't deserve it). He's a good son. He's a sweet and caring lover and the greatest friend anyone could have.
Jocelyn Douglas is our fierce and forgiving heroine. She's intelligent and compassionate. She's always willing to hear the other side of the story and be a helper in any way she can. I adored her. I seriously loved her so much. I loved that she didn't let Diego pull her left and right. She didn't follow him cluelessly. She fought with him and stood her ground while willing to be warm and empathetic. She is a character I really admire and she's going down as one of my favorite female characters of all time.
These two had a lot of ups and downs but they were tied together in such a fated way. They could never stop thinking of the other, could never stop loving one another. I think my favorite part of this whole book is being able to see the progression of their love. We see them as teenagers, believing in a one great love, a romance that seems childish to young adults who learn to understand the capacity of space and time that's needed to heal, to see the worth in one another, and are willing to be partners, to sacrifice and work together. The maturation of their love story is something that Monica wrote so well and something that I didn't expect to see done so wonderfully. One small thing I would've wished for are scenes of Diego and Jocelyn's love from the beginning, how they met and fell in love, what their relationship was like before things began to fall apart. Other than that though, I have zero complaints. I loved all the domestic scenes and seeing all the cameos from our favorite characters.
Lastly, I would just like to say that Diego and Jocelyn are one of my favorite couples of ALL TIME, ALL TIME. I’ve been dying DYING to read this since they were introduced and I cannot wait for everyone to get a chance to read their story. They own me completely and they can do no wrong. So I don’t want to hear any Diego slander (I will not stand for it). Monica Murphy did an exceptional job and I'm so excited for all of her future writing projects. They will not disappoint!! I seriously can't stop talking about it to all my friends about it. I don't ever want to leave this incredible series that she's created behind. I can always trust Monica to write authentic and loveable characters with an angsty heart-wrenching plot. This was a job well done!
P.S. Don't mind me going back for a re-read already because they have me in a reading slump. Every thought I conjure is about them. I wish I could go back and read it as if it were the first time <3
*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
----
reading notes:
1/26/20 - yes i’m diegojocelyn’s slave what about it?
February 9, 2021
I just love Monica Murphy’s young love/new adult stories- stories that make me feel all nostalgic for the epic, angsty, hyperbolic first love. How everything felt bigger, more dramatic, and new and exciting when I was a teen. While her characters might have extraordinary lives, I love the ways MM captures the normal teenage experience- the universality of growing up and maturing, while experiencing romance for the first time.
Fighting For You is the story of Diego and Jocelyn- two characters we’ve seen go through as secondary fixtures in the past two books, and a couple whose story has been heartbreaking- a man who cheated with the enemy, and his jilted girlfriend left pregnant. Monica had a seemingly impossible task with this story. Not only does Diego’s book fall on the heels of the books about arguably her most adored couple of all time, but she’s also telling the story of a character that we’ve grown to dislike….perhaps even hate. A character who has been the villain in other characters’ love stories. A character I wasn’t sure I could like, let alone forgive. But Monica is pretty successful at flipping my opinion about Diego- as surprised as I was.
What I always find so captivating about MM’s steamy new adult/mature YA is that she lets her characters be TEENs. They act like teenagers, they react like teenagers- they are selfish and emotional, vulnerable and insecure, they dramatize first love and they also make emotionally immature mistakes as the result of it. This is not the story of teens acting like full formed adults...this are teens experiencing complex emotions that they aren’t quite sure how to handle. And this story takes it to the next level- because these are two teens now trying to figure out how to repair a broken relationship AND figuring out an adult responsibility that even the most seasoned adults struggle to master- co-parenting.
Monica does find some ways to justify Diego’s behavior...and to be honest, his motives frustrated me. But again, Monica is letting him be a TEEN. His choices are immature, irrational, but that's part of his growing. MM also doesn’t change the core of him- though she brings it nuance- he’s still quick to anger, selfish at times, and a bit jaded. But we come to understand why, and even if I still struggle to accept his past actions, MM gives his character room to breathe and grow, and she also lets him MATURE. Of all the characters in this series, he grows to the most. Diego becomes a father long before he becomes a man, but learn to be a man he does. And, in the end, I found him changed enough to feel he was more worthy of the forgiveness that Jocelyn so frequently tries to give him...until she’s hurt too much.
Jocelyn was different from the other heroines in this series- she has a gravitas that the others don’t have, because her life is changing in very adult ways. Pregnant as a teen- her dreams are dashed, a loss cofounded by the heartbreak she routinely experiences as Diego’s hands. Again, like Diego, Monica lets her be a teen- she’s lost, stressed, and emotional. She’s desperate to make meaning of her messed up situation- to understand what happened with Diego, and so she too makes emotional and immature decisions. Decisions that aren’t always in her best interest...until she finds out how to stand on her own. She has to grow and mature herself, find control of her choices.
Ultimately, Monica finds a way to take a love story that was heartbreaking and toxic, and she gives new life through the complexities of these characters. I found myself charmed by the evolution of these two as they learned to stop grow apart and how to intentionally grow together- and though the path to their happy ending is hard and painful in places, their journey turns out indeed to be one worth fighting for. Such a sweet and angsty story!
Fighting For You is the story of Diego and Jocelyn- two characters we’ve seen go through as secondary fixtures in the past two books, and a couple whose story has been heartbreaking- a man who cheated with the enemy, and his jilted girlfriend left pregnant. Monica had a seemingly impossible task with this story. Not only does Diego’s book fall on the heels of the books about arguably her most adored couple of all time, but she’s also telling the story of a character that we’ve grown to dislike….perhaps even hate. A character who has been the villain in other characters’ love stories. A character I wasn’t sure I could like, let alone forgive. But Monica is pretty successful at flipping my opinion about Diego- as surprised as I was.
What I always find so captivating about MM’s steamy new adult/mature YA is that she lets her characters be TEENs. They act like teenagers, they react like teenagers- they are selfish and emotional, vulnerable and insecure, they dramatize first love and they also make emotionally immature mistakes as the result of it. This is not the story of teens acting like full formed adults...this are teens experiencing complex emotions that they aren’t quite sure how to handle. And this story takes it to the next level- because these are two teens now trying to figure out how to repair a broken relationship AND figuring out an adult responsibility that even the most seasoned adults struggle to master- co-parenting.
Monica does find some ways to justify Diego’s behavior...and to be honest, his motives frustrated me. But again, Monica is letting him be a TEEN. His choices are immature, irrational, but that's part of his growing. MM also doesn’t change the core of him- though she brings it nuance- he’s still quick to anger, selfish at times, and a bit jaded. But we come to understand why, and even if I still struggle to accept his past actions, MM gives his character room to breathe and grow, and she also lets him MATURE. Of all the characters in this series, he grows to the most. Diego becomes a father long before he becomes a man, but learn to be a man he does. And, in the end, I found him changed enough to feel he was more worthy of the forgiveness that Jocelyn so frequently tries to give him...until she’s hurt too much.
Jocelyn was different from the other heroines in this series- she has a gravitas that the others don’t have, because her life is changing in very adult ways. Pregnant as a teen- her dreams are dashed, a loss cofounded by the heartbreak she routinely experiences as Diego’s hands. Again, like Diego, Monica lets her be a teen- she’s lost, stressed, and emotional. She’s desperate to make meaning of her messed up situation- to understand what happened with Diego, and so she too makes emotional and immature decisions. Decisions that aren’t always in her best interest...until she finds out how to stand on her own. She has to grow and mature herself, find control of her choices.
Ultimately, Monica finds a way to take a love story that was heartbreaking and toxic, and she gives new life through the complexities of these characters. I found myself charmed by the evolution of these two as they learned to stop grow apart and how to intentionally grow together- and though the path to their happy ending is hard and painful in places, their journey turns out indeed to be one worth fighting for. Such a sweet and angsty story!
August 5, 2021
All the feels!
Finally a book I loved in this series! I wanted to read Diego and Jocelyn’s story so bad. I’m a sucker for a good redemption book and this was so great. The way both Diego and Jocelyn grew up and matured was remarkable. I loved both so much and the pacing of the story was just great. Like I said before, I need some serious angst in my HS romances, and this one had it all. The audiobook is also brilliantly narrated by Teddy Hamilton (who I adore) and Sarah McEwan. Definitely recommend!
Finally a book I loved in this series! I wanted to read Diego and Jocelyn’s story so bad. I’m a sucker for a good redemption book and this was so great. The way both Diego and Jocelyn grew up and matured was remarkable. I loved both so much and the pacing of the story was just great. Like I said before, I need some serious angst in my HS romances, and this one had it all. The audiobook is also brilliantly narrated by Teddy Hamilton (who I adore) and Sarah McEwan. Definitely recommend!
February 1, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Diego. He was the perfect Bully who regretted a lot of mistakes and I loved the way his character progressed.
Heroine : Jocelyn. She was the perfect partner for Diego. She was mature and I loved the way she loved him throughout everything that happened with them!
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 5/10
Heat Rating : 5/10
Triggers Involved : None
Plot Summary :
Jocelyn and Diego have been together for a long time. That is until Their relationship starts facing problems. With Jocelyn being busy with her football and Diego feeling lonely , rumours start to spread about him cheating on her. Jocelyn is heartbroken and is about to break up with him. Until their relationship takes a huge turn.
Jocelyn is pregnant and the father is no longer her boyfriend and rather the only man who broke her heart. Now it is up to then to either mend their differences or to keep living in agony.
Overall Opinion :
I have always been a fan of this series and was absolutely over the moon when I got to know that Diego would be getting a book too! The storyline was crazy good and it kept it hooked straight till the end. Diego was the school bully and I was just so excited to read about him falling even more in love with Jocelyn than what he previously was!!
The book was a perfect contemporary romance for all the high school second chance Romance lovers. The book had lots of emotions , but I won't call it a dark book because there was no bullying or stuff. A part of me wished that the characters were a bit more mature in the starting of the story but I was happy with their progress. They obviously had a lot to mend in their relationship and it was an amazing ride for me! A must read for all contemporary romance lovers out there!!
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February 11, 2021
I absolutely adored this story!! Full review to follow
Jocelyn and Diego were the perfect combination. Because of the strength that Jocelyn was able to show, she inadvertently helped jumpstart Diego into being the best version of himself. I LOVED THIS STORY. I knew and trusted Monica Murphy to take a character that you kind of disliked, or were drawn to if you're me lol, and made him real. She created a total package, showed the layers that created the "bully" that you may have met in prior stories. Jocelyn knew who he could be, but even she was unaware of what happened in order to create the hard layer that kept everyone just a little further away from his heart. Brilliant. This is my nomination for Monica Murphy to get the Nobel Peace Prize LOL. Yep that big of a transition. Read this book. If you haven't READ THIS SERIES. It's fn rad. xo
Jocelyn and Diego were the perfect combination. Because of the strength that Jocelyn was able to show, she inadvertently helped jumpstart Diego into being the best version of himself. I LOVED THIS STORY. I knew and trusted Monica Murphy to take a character that you kind of disliked, or were drawn to if you're me lol, and made him real. She created a total package, showed the layers that created the "bully" that you may have met in prior stories. Jocelyn knew who he could be, but even she was unaware of what happened in order to create the hard layer that kept everyone just a little further away from his heart. Brilliant. This is my nomination for Monica Murphy to get the Nobel Peace Prize LOL. Yep that big of a transition. Read this book. If you haven't READ THIS SERIES. It's fn rad. xo
January 30, 2021
4.5 Stars
I have to admit, I haven’t read the previous books in this series, so I don’t have overlapping feelings for these characters. I must say though I now have a feel where people are coming from with a certain character. One thing is definitely certain, Jocelyn and Diego brought the emotions.
Jocelyn was a very likable character. I loved her fierceness and her strength. She had to make a tough decision for the sake of her heart, and even though she knew it’d bring pain she put herself and her feelings first. I loved how she stuck up for herself and didn’t back down. I adored her and admired her.
Diego was something else. Arrogant, cocky, brash, rude, mean, and the list could go on. He definitely was on my bad side and it took me time to warm-up to him. I didn’t know if he would be able to redeem himself, but he definitely took steps to learn and he most certainly grew into a better person. I give him so much credit, he did what he had to do and it spoke volumes.
Jocelyn and Diego’s relationship had its fair share of ups and downs. It’s obvious these two had undeniable chemistry, but at the same time being together was starting to become too much, especially for Jocelyn. Even though I loved them together I applauded their time apart. That separation was much needed in order for them to grow and focus on bettering themselves not only for them, but also for each other. I must say Jos and D had my emotions in a whirlwind, they had me feeling everything. It’s no denying their evident connection and no matter what life threw their way they knew they’d have each other.
Fighting For You was an all-around enjoyable read. I really liked getting to know Jocelyn and Diego especially on a deeper level. The side characters were also great and I’m excited to get more of them and their stories. I need more and I can’t wait for more of the series.
*Thank you Valentine PR for this ARC*
I have to admit, I haven’t read the previous books in this series, so I don’t have overlapping feelings for these characters. I must say though I now have a feel where people are coming from with a certain character. One thing is definitely certain, Jocelyn and Diego brought the emotions.
Jocelyn was a very likable character. I loved her fierceness and her strength. She had to make a tough decision for the sake of her heart, and even though she knew it’d bring pain she put herself and her feelings first. I loved how she stuck up for herself and didn’t back down. I adored her and admired her.
Diego was something else. Arrogant, cocky, brash, rude, mean, and the list could go on. He definitely was on my bad side and it took me time to warm-up to him. I didn’t know if he would be able to redeem himself, but he definitely took steps to learn and he most certainly grew into a better person. I give him so much credit, he did what he had to do and it spoke volumes.
Jocelyn and Diego’s relationship had its fair share of ups and downs. It’s obvious these two had undeniable chemistry, but at the same time being together was starting to become too much, especially for Jocelyn. Even though I loved them together I applauded their time apart. That separation was much needed in order for them to grow and focus on bettering themselves not only for them, but also for each other. I must say Jos and D had my emotions in a whirlwind, they had me feeling everything. It’s no denying their evident connection and no matter what life threw their way they knew they’d have each other.
Fighting For You was an all-around enjoyable read. I really liked getting to know Jocelyn and Diego especially on a deeper level. The side characters were also great and I’m excited to get more of them and their stories. I need more and I can’t wait for more of the series.
*Thank you Valentine PR for this ARC*
February 2, 2021
Monica Murphy absolutely killed this story. From start to finish I was hooked. I devoured this book in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. Diego and Jocelyn are more than I could have imagined. The push and pull of their relationship, and the back and forth was heart wrenching but also beautiful. Fighting For You is so beautifully written and pulled out so many emotions in me.
Diego and Jocelyn’s journey is certainly not an easy one. From the start I knew that this read was going to be quite the emotional rollercoaster ride of a journey but I was here for it! All of these feels had me twisted up in the best possible way, the teenage angst, the drama, the emotional toil, the yearning, the desire, everything and so much more had my heart racing, and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. And I have to say, the character evolution of Diego was nothing short of remarkable. I was completely in awe of his growth and maturity that he gained throughout the story. And by the end, I was fully rooting for him. I have fallen completely in love with Diego! Monica Murphy isn't afraid to write about heroes who are a bit rough around the edges and yet find that perfectly imperfect person who fits their souls the way no one else can. Diego found his soulmate in Jocelyn and despite all the stops, starts and resistance, this has been one wonderful journey.
Fighting For You is an inspiring journey filled with love, heartbreak, redemption and growth. Monica Murphy is one of my favorites ever and this story is exactly why. I loved every minute of this book, and it’s completely stolen my heart.
Diego and Jocelyn’s journey is certainly not an easy one. From the start I knew that this read was going to be quite the emotional rollercoaster ride of a journey but I was here for it! All of these feels had me twisted up in the best possible way, the teenage angst, the drama, the emotional toil, the yearning, the desire, everything and so much more had my heart racing, and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. And I have to say, the character evolution of Diego was nothing short of remarkable. I was completely in awe of his growth and maturity that he gained throughout the story. And by the end, I was fully rooting for him. I have fallen completely in love with Diego! Monica Murphy isn't afraid to write about heroes who are a bit rough around the edges and yet find that perfectly imperfect person who fits their souls the way no one else can. Diego found his soulmate in Jocelyn and despite all the stops, starts and resistance, this has been one wonderful journey.
Fighting For You is an inspiring journey filled with love, heartbreak, redemption and growth. Monica Murphy is one of my favorites ever and this story is exactly why. I loved every minute of this book, and it’s completely stolen my heart.
January 31, 2021
Diego. Sigh
Listen, I hated the dude with a passion reading this series. Like I wanted him to die a fiery death. Alright, that’s a little harsh but thr sentiment was still there. When Ms. Murphy announced that she would be writing a book about the man we love to hate, I was a little worried.
I shouldn’t have worried though. And if you’re one of the ones who’re on the fence because Diego was the villain of the series. I think you should set aside your judgement and give the guy a chance.
As many of you already know, Jos and Diego are a couple on the rocks. There are rumors of cheating on Mr. Garcia’s part and it’s very heartbreaking. Especially because Jos is now pregnant.
The story is told in such an engaging and beautiful way. I’m glad I was able to see Diego in a different light. Jos is such a fierce and strong character—it’s hard not to fall in love with her. Her strength is what made her so beautiful. She was kind and thoughtful. I’m glad Diego got his head out his butt before I reached in the book and slapped him silly!
Overall, I loved this. This series is one of my faves; with amazing characters that have embedded themselves into my heart. Diego is more than the bully we thought him to be.
*Thank you to the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own.
Listen, I hated the dude with a passion reading this series. Like I wanted him to die a fiery death. Alright, that’s a little harsh but thr sentiment was still there. When Ms. Murphy announced that she would be writing a book about the man we love to hate, I was a little worried.
I shouldn’t have worried though. And if you’re one of the ones who’re on the fence because Diego was the villain of the series. I think you should set aside your judgement and give the guy a chance.
As many of you already know, Jos and Diego are a couple on the rocks. There are rumors of cheating on Mr. Garcia’s part and it’s very heartbreaking. Especially because Jos is now pregnant.
The story is told in such an engaging and beautiful way. I’m glad I was able to see Diego in a different light. Jos is such a fierce and strong character—it’s hard not to fall in love with her. Her strength is what made her so beautiful. She was kind and thoughtful. I’m glad Diego got his head out his butt before I reached in the book and slapped him silly!
Overall, I loved this. This series is one of my faves; with amazing characters that have embedded themselves into my heart. Diego is more than the bully we thought him to be.
*Thank you to the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own.
February 13, 2021
Loved it. Love Monica's words. Can't wait for the new spin-off series and that snippet at the end has definitely whet my appetite!
February 14, 2021
***4 "GiGi" stars***
OUT NOW!!!!
"She was mine. Until she wasn't."
If you have already met the rest of the Callahans, you will know that Diego wasn't the greatest guy in there. Honestly, I didn't like the guy!!! He was cocky, arrogant, he cheated his poor girlfriend and he was a bully, especially toward his cousin who was gay...
But can I be honest with you here???
When I heard that Monica will deliver his book, I was intrigued, even though I sort of hated him...
But in here, Diego proved me wrong in many levels and I'm glad that I took a chance on him!!!!
"Everyone believes what they want. So what's the point in arguing?"
Well, Diego and Jocelyn's relationship were kind of toxic and at some point, even when they weren't at their best as a couple, they had make a reckless mistake...
And now they are just two teenagers with a broken bond and a baby that is coming on their way.
How Jocelyn and Diego will face their cruel reality??? How will they be able to abandon their dreams and to be responsible for a baby???
"Scared of the unknown. Scared about this baby. I know nothing about being a mom. How am I suppose to do this all by myself?"
The first 70% of the book, I was seeing these two struggling with their new reality and the feelings that were still lingering between them... The truth is that both of them made big mistakes... Yep, they had their issues, and even though Diego had a shitty attitude toward everything, Jocelyn was in blame too...
Honestly, I wasn't feeling her love for Diego and I think that almost everything on him was bothering her, but anyway.... I can accept that they were still both very young and they were allowed to make mistakes as every other teenager in the world...
"I can't get rid of him, and he can't get rid of me. Having a child with someone is such a momentous step."
This was an out of age story and it was delivered brilliantly...
I loved that the author gave to these two space to grow up and realize what really mattered in their lives...
Yep, they made a mistake, but this mistake bound them together forever and they had to prioritize this baby more than everything else in their lives... And I liked what Jocelyn and Diego finally show us in here...
Yep, they were forced to grow up, but it was so fitting for them...
"I thought we were done. Destroyed. Guess I was wrong."
**An ARC was provided for the exchange of an honest review**
OUT NOW!!!!
"She was mine. Until she wasn't."
If you have already met the rest of the Callahans, you will know that Diego wasn't the greatest guy in there. Honestly, I didn't like the guy!!! He was cocky, arrogant, he cheated his poor girlfriend and he was a bully, especially toward his cousin who was gay...
But can I be honest with you here???
When I heard that Monica will deliver his book, I was intrigued, even though I sort of hated him...
But in here, Diego proved me wrong in many levels and I'm glad that I took a chance on him!!!!
"Everyone believes what they want. So what's the point in arguing?"
Well, Diego and Jocelyn's relationship were kind of toxic and at some point, even when they weren't at their best as a couple, they had make a reckless mistake...
And now they are just two teenagers with a broken bond and a baby that is coming on their way.
How Jocelyn and Diego will face their cruel reality??? How will they be able to abandon their dreams and to be responsible for a baby???
"Scared of the unknown. Scared about this baby. I know nothing about being a mom. How am I suppose to do this all by myself?"
The first 70% of the book, I was seeing these two struggling with their new reality and the feelings that were still lingering between them... The truth is that both of them made big mistakes... Yep, they had their issues, and even though Diego had a shitty attitude toward everything, Jocelyn was in blame too...
Honestly, I wasn't feeling her love for Diego and I think that almost everything on him was bothering her, but anyway.... I can accept that they were still both very young and they were allowed to make mistakes as every other teenager in the world...
"I can't get rid of him, and he can't get rid of me. Having a child with someone is such a momentous step."
This was an out of age story and it was delivered brilliantly...
I loved that the author gave to these two space to grow up and realize what really mattered in their lives...
Yep, they made a mistake, but this mistake bound them together forever and they had to prioritize this baby more than everything else in their lives... And I liked what Jocelyn and Diego finally show us in here...
Yep, they were forced to grow up, but it was so fitting for them...
"I thought we were done. Destroyed. Guess I was wrong."
**An ARC was provided for the exchange of an honest review**
March 10, 2021
The evolution of Diego was a wondrous thing to read. Wow did that boy step up and grown up when he had to. Outstanding!
My interest is piqued too! The new spin off series sounds promising. Why is Tony alone all the time and where do he and Jackson go. Hmmm.
My interest is piqued too! The new spin off series sounds promising. Why is Tony alone all the time and where do he and Jackson go. Hmmm.
February 15, 2021
5⭐️
I've been waiting for this ever since it was announced last year! Like OMG! Give me Diego now!
I must admit, I hated him through all the earlier books he was being featured. What he did... of course I sided with Jocelyn because I've been in her shoe and Diego wasn't also doing anything to appease her doubts. So it just snowballed from there on out.
I didn't expect some parts of the story to turn out the way it did... the author kept me on my toes.
I enjoyed the whole book. It's frustrating but also heart-wrenching...
Hope to read a bonus epilogue soon!
I've been waiting for this ever since it was announced last year! Like OMG! Give me Diego now!
I must admit, I hated him through all the earlier books he was being featured. What he did... of course I sided with Jocelyn because I've been in her shoe and Diego wasn't also doing anything to appease her doubts. So it just snowballed from there on out.
I didn't expect some parts of the story to turn out the way it did... the author kept me on my toes.
I enjoyed the whole book. It's frustrating but also heart-wrenching...
Hope to read a bonus epilogue soon!
February 11, 2021
I'm not a huge YA romance reader, but when I do, it's a Monica Murphy book! Maybe because hers are more NA than YA romance that deals with the trials and tribulations of first love and high school all wrapped up in one.
Let me start by saying that you can surely read this book as a standalone and still have your feelings all over the place about our main male character, Diego. You'll know why the past readers of the series aren't totally on board with him. BUT, if you've read the past books you know what you are in for. You know, or think you know, a little bit about Diego and Jocelyn and the start to their end. But we really have no idea. And if you weren't totally on board with Diego before (like myself), then you REALLY need this book.
Fighting For You starts out with a past scenario and we learn a bit about where Diego has come from and maybe why he is the way he is. Then we jump into high school with his first love, first experience, first everything with Jocelyn. Boy, did this take me back. I felt the way these two acted and reacted was kind of juvenile, but then I thought to myself, "they are only 17. This is EXACTLY how they should be acting." At that age, you are just learning about yourself and trying to figure out how the heck you are going to navigate your next step to adulthood. But with these two, they got hit hard. With a pregnancy. Then we add in cheating and rumors and high school and graduating into the mix and you have a story that is going to hit you with all the feels.
I don't know if I can save him, but I want to try.
Diego was not my favorite. Even throughout the book, I was having mixed feelings about him. I hated him one minute and then understood and wanted to hold him the next. He brought me through a roller coaster of emotions and how I should feel about him. Even about mid-way through, I wasn't sure about how I should feel about everything. Gotta love a misunderstood boy.
Then there was Jocelyn. Even she frustrated me at points. I actually liked her character. I liked seeing her growth throughout the book. From teenager to adult. But when she sent THAT text, I was blown away. Blown away that she would throw something away. BUT...and this is a big BUT...I LOVED that part. They both had some growing up to do and she took it upon herself to learn how to grow up and figure sh*t out. That's what they both needed and she took the steps to do that.
This book was one I wasn't sure about and didn't think I needed, but Ms Murphy 100% changed my mind in every aspect. All the questions I had about the characters, she answered. The way she transformed them throughout the story and had them grow and learn from their mistakes is a true testament to her writing and world building. And all the supporting and past characters? Just added more perfection to Diego's and Jocelyn's story. In the end, I adored these two and am glad that I got to go on their journey with them, no matter how difficult it was.
"Sometimes we have to walk away from the one we love the most, to heal ourselves."
Let me start by saying that you can surely read this book as a standalone and still have your feelings all over the place about our main male character, Diego. You'll know why the past readers of the series aren't totally on board with him. BUT, if you've read the past books you know what you are in for. You know, or think you know, a little bit about Diego and Jocelyn and the start to their end. But we really have no idea. And if you weren't totally on board with Diego before (like myself), then you REALLY need this book.
Fighting For You starts out with a past scenario and we learn a bit about where Diego has come from and maybe why he is the way he is. Then we jump into high school with his first love, first experience, first everything with Jocelyn. Boy, did this take me back. I felt the way these two acted and reacted was kind of juvenile, but then I thought to myself, "they are only 17. This is EXACTLY how they should be acting." At that age, you are just learning about yourself and trying to figure out how the heck you are going to navigate your next step to adulthood. But with these two, they got hit hard. With a pregnancy. Then we add in cheating and rumors and high school and graduating into the mix and you have a story that is going to hit you with all the feels.
I don't know if I can save him, but I want to try.
Diego was not my favorite. Even throughout the book, I was having mixed feelings about him. I hated him one minute and then understood and wanted to hold him the next. He brought me through a roller coaster of emotions and how I should feel about him. Even about mid-way through, I wasn't sure about how I should feel about everything. Gotta love a misunderstood boy.
Then there was Jocelyn. Even she frustrated me at points. I actually liked her character. I liked seeing her growth throughout the book. From teenager to adult. But when she sent THAT text, I was blown away. Blown away that she would throw something away. BUT...and this is a big BUT...I LOVED that part. They both had some growing up to do and she took it upon herself to learn how to grow up and figure sh*t out. That's what they both needed and she took the steps to do that.
This book was one I wasn't sure about and didn't think I needed, but Ms Murphy 100% changed my mind in every aspect. All the questions I had about the characters, she answered. The way she transformed them throughout the story and had them grow and learn from their mistakes is a true testament to her writing and world building. And all the supporting and past characters? Just added more perfection to Diego's and Jocelyn's story. In the end, I adored these two and am glad that I got to go on their journey with them, no matter how difficult it was.
"Sometimes we have to walk away from the one we love the most, to heal ourselves."
March 10, 2021
“Sometimes we have to walk away from the one we love the most, to heal ourselves.”
4.5/5
When I started this series, I didn't think that Diego and Jocelyn would become my favorite couple because Diego was such an asshole, but now I love them so much and need more of them!! I adore second chance romance and unexpected pregnancy tropes, and their story exceeded my expectations. Diego's redemption arc was well written, and it was so good to finally get his POV on his and Jocelyn's relationship. In high school, their relationship was toxic and flawed, and I'm glad that Jocelyn distanced herself from Diego to focus on herself and the pregnancy. It also helped Diego grow up and make amend for his mistakes. The way they reconnected at the end was so adorable, and all the scenes with baby Gigi were the cutest!!! I hope we'll see more of them in the spin-off series because I miss them already :(
February 5, 2021
4 Star Review of Fighting For You (The Callahans #5) by Monica Murphy
I’m not a huge fan of new adult or bully romance, however in saying that Monica Murphy has written a strong book with characters who drew me in. Diego Garcia is a football star and has a reputation as a bully and if rumors are to be believed, a man who has perhaps cheated on his long time girlfriend, Jocelyn.
When Jocelyn learns about the rumors she is heartbroken and breaks up with him, only to discover she is pregnant. Hard decisions need to be made by both Diego and Jocelyn and they need to communicate.
I was frustrated at times with both Diego and Jocelyn’s behaviour, they really needed to act more mature than they were. This was an emotional read that did tug at the heart strings. Can they learn to trust one another and move forward or are they destined to part.
I’m not a huge fan of new adult or bully romance, however in saying that Monica Murphy has written a strong book with characters who drew me in. Diego Garcia is a football star and has a reputation as a bully and if rumors are to be believed, a man who has perhaps cheated on his long time girlfriend, Jocelyn.
When Jocelyn learns about the rumors she is heartbroken and breaks up with him, only to discover she is pregnant. Hard decisions need to be made by both Diego and Jocelyn and they need to communicate.
I was frustrated at times with both Diego and Jocelyn’s behaviour, they really needed to act more mature than they were. This was an emotional read that did tug at the heart strings. Can they learn to trust one another and move forward or are they destined to part.
January 29, 2022
I absolutely knew that Monica Murphy was going to wreck me with this book. I didn't know if I believed that Murphy would be able to change my opinion of Diego but she made me eat those words. She took a character from this series that everyone hated and flipped our perceptions on their axes. I really love that this series is a prime example of not making assumptions about people and not judging a book by the cover. What we see on the surface is just the tip of the iceberg and there can be any number of things going on in the background that we just don't know or see. That is pretty much the case with Diego Garcia.
I really loved the honest portrayal of the characters in this book. Diego and Jocelyn both have such impressive character development. My heart hurt for Diego for all the things that he had to deal with that he was hiding from everyone. He was very much alone in his struggles and some of his behavior issues were simply defense mechanisms. That certainly doesn't excuse some of his behaviors but it does shed a lot of light on everything. I loved his character growth. When Diego had the opportunity to apologize and make things right for some of the hurtful things that he did in the past, he didn't hesitate to do it. He owned up to his mistakes and tried to make amends. And even so, I also liked that he didn't continue to be a pincushion for the aggressors in his life. He wouldn't just sit there and put up with toxicity and hurt and eventually he hit his breaking point and had the courage to distance himself from those that did him wrong. His bravery was admirable considering the sacrifices he made. His journey was truly impressive. Jocelyn also had some excellent character growth. She has an enormous amount of pressure thrust upon her when she becomes pregnant but I love how she stayed true to herself. She wouldn't let anyone bully her or make her decisions for her. She also wasn't ashamed of being pregnant in high school even if it wasn't the path she would have chosen for herself. She held her head high and made the best of her situation. She was determined not to settle either, which I really admired. She definitely wanted to be a good mom and provide for her child but she also didn't want to give up on her dreams. In addition to all the grown-up decisions she was having to make and the deterioration of her life as she knew it with huge changes on the horizon, she was also dealing with a broken heart. Jocelyn's character development was different from Diego's but it was just as profound. I also loved seeing all of my favorite characters from the Callahan series making their appearances in the story. This series has such an incredible cast of characters that I have fallen so in love with.
I really loved the genuine affection that Diego and Jocelyn had for each other. They loved spending time together and when they were together they seemed to see the light in each other. There was certainly a lot of miscommunication in their relationship which could feel frustrating at times but these two and their relationship really grow. I really liked that they each had to prove themselves to their own selves before they felt ready to be together. After their relationship fractures, Diego has a lot to make up for and it takes time for him to rebuild her trust. I think that the evolution of their relationship was very fitting. Their love story is definitely very heartwarming after all that they have shared.
Monica Murphy is such a masterful creator of stories. She has such a brilliant way of infusing so much emotion into her stories. Reading one of her books will evoke such intense emotions in you. I love the clever way that Murphy crafts the plot in her stories. Once I pick up one of her books I am loathed to put it down until I've read the final words. I get so wrapped up in her books that I lose all sense of anything else. Her storytelling is top-tier. The flow of the story is perfect and the world that she creates paints such a clear picture.
Overall, this book is the redemption story that I didn't know I needed. Diego Garcia will capture your heart in this book. If you love books with complex and misunderstood characters and stories that are packed to the brim with emotion then this book should be your next read. I can't wait for 2022 when we get the final two books in this series and I am so stoked to start the College Years series to catch up with all of my favorite characters and read their love stories.
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I really loved the honest portrayal of the characters in this book. Diego and Jocelyn both have such impressive character development. My heart hurt for Diego for all the things that he had to deal with that he was hiding from everyone. He was very much alone in his struggles and some of his behavior issues were simply defense mechanisms. That certainly doesn't excuse some of his behaviors but it does shed a lot of light on everything. I loved his character growth. When Diego had the opportunity to apologize and make things right for some of the hurtful things that he did in the past, he didn't hesitate to do it. He owned up to his mistakes and tried to make amends. And even so, I also liked that he didn't continue to be a pincushion for the aggressors in his life. He wouldn't just sit there and put up with toxicity and hurt and eventually he hit his breaking point and had the courage to distance himself from those that did him wrong. His bravery was admirable considering the sacrifices he made. His journey was truly impressive. Jocelyn also had some excellent character growth. She has an enormous amount of pressure thrust upon her when she becomes pregnant but I love how she stayed true to herself. She wouldn't let anyone bully her or make her decisions for her. She also wasn't ashamed of being pregnant in high school even if it wasn't the path she would have chosen for herself. She held her head high and made the best of her situation. She was determined not to settle either, which I really admired. She definitely wanted to be a good mom and provide for her child but she also didn't want to give up on her dreams. In addition to all the grown-up decisions she was having to make and the deterioration of her life as she knew it with huge changes on the horizon, she was also dealing with a broken heart. Jocelyn's character development was different from Diego's but it was just as profound. I also loved seeing all of my favorite characters from the Callahan series making their appearances in the story. This series has such an incredible cast of characters that I have fallen so in love with.
I really loved the genuine affection that Diego and Jocelyn had for each other. They loved spending time together and when they were together they seemed to see the light in each other. There was certainly a lot of miscommunication in their relationship which could feel frustrating at times but these two and their relationship really grow. I really liked that they each had to prove themselves to their own selves before they felt ready to be together. After their relationship fractures, Diego has a lot to make up for and it takes time for him to rebuild her trust. I think that the evolution of their relationship was very fitting. Their love story is definitely very heartwarming after all that they have shared.
Monica Murphy is such a masterful creator of stories. She has such a brilliant way of infusing so much emotion into her stories. Reading one of her books will evoke such intense emotions in you. I love the clever way that Murphy crafts the plot in her stories. Once I pick up one of her books I am loathed to put it down until I've read the final words. I get so wrapped up in her books that I lose all sense of anything else. Her storytelling is top-tier. The flow of the story is perfect and the world that she creates paints such a clear picture.
Overall, this book is the redemption story that I didn't know I needed. Diego Garcia will capture your heart in this book. If you love books with complex and misunderstood characters and stories that are packed to the brim with emotion then this book should be your next read. I can't wait for 2022 when we get the final two books in this series and I am so stoked to start the College Years series to catch up with all of my favorite characters and read their love stories.
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September 25, 2025
I was NOT a big fan of Diego at all in the previous books. His character was a bully and big-time jack-hole towards his girlfriend. I was really surprised he was getting his own book and I could not for the life of me think how Monica Murphy would redeem his character. Lo and behold she did. For those who were not fans of Diego and are leery to read his story, I think you should read it because IMO Diego redeemed himself. His character is not perfect but there is more to the story than what gossip said. I ended up loving him and enjoyed watching his growth.
I really love getting to know Jocelyn the heroine. In the other books, we just know about her from all the gossip. In this book, we meet the person. Young first love with, heightened emotions, pregnancy, and cheating rumors have just pushed Jocelyn to the end of her ropes. I felt for her. I loved the decision she made for herself to take a step away from everything even when the truth comes out she didn't go running back. She was focused and strong on bettering herself.
Overall I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I can't wait for more books in the new series that will still stay in this universe so that we can still get glimpses from the characters that I grew fond of. And can I just say I DISLIKE Cami so much! She is definitely not redeemable.
Also for those wondering if Diego did cheat or not I provided the answer in the spoiler tag.
I really love getting to know Jocelyn the heroine. In the other books, we just know about her from all the gossip. In this book, we meet the person. Young first love with, heightened emotions, pregnancy, and cheating rumors have just pushed Jocelyn to the end of her ropes. I felt for her. I loved the decision she made for herself to take a step away from everything even when the truth comes out she didn't go running back. She was focused and strong on bettering herself.
Overall I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I can't wait for more books in the new series that will still stay in this universe so that we can still get glimpses from the characters that I grew fond of. And can I just say I DISLIKE Cami so much! She is definitely not redeemable.
Also for those wondering if Diego did cheat or not I provided the answer in the spoiler tag.
February 11, 2021
High school.
He's accused of cheating due to rumours and he's hanging around with the tyer woman.
He doesn't deny it.
Heroine blocks him on her phone. Refuses to discuss cheating.
Hero. 'But how do I tell her? How do I swallow my pride and my fear and admit I got my girlfriend pregnant? Oh, and supposedly I cheated on her and left her at pretty much the exact moment she found out about the baby? Mom has already heard the rumors about me and Cami. Hell, when people started saying we were seeing each other, I legit started hanging out with her. May as well live up to everyone’s expectations of me, right?
I was fucking stupid for doing that. Mom hated Cami on sight, and openly expressed her disapproval. She adores Jocelyn.
Everyone adores Jocelyn.
Even me.'
'
“I never had sex with Cami!”'
Other woman causes loads of childish drama and it doesn't get set straight so heroine believes her.
Both very immature. Both young.
HEA.
He's accused of cheating due to rumours and he's hanging around with the tyer woman.
He doesn't deny it.
Heroine blocks him on her phone. Refuses to discuss cheating.
Hero. 'But how do I tell her? How do I swallow my pride and my fear and admit I got my girlfriend pregnant? Oh, and supposedly I cheated on her and left her at pretty much the exact moment she found out about the baby? Mom has already heard the rumors about me and Cami. Hell, when people started saying we were seeing each other, I legit started hanging out with her. May as well live up to everyone’s expectations of me, right?
I was fucking stupid for doing that. Mom hated Cami on sight, and openly expressed her disapproval. She adores Jocelyn.
Everyone adores Jocelyn.
Even me.'
'
“I never had sex with Cami!”'
Other woman causes loads of childish drama and it doesn't get set straight so heroine believes her.
Both very immature. Both young.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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