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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
based on the blurb and recs i really wanted to root for diego and jocelyn... but what is there to root for ?
i know they’re young and in a difficult situation but both of them are extremely dumb - defend yourself, stand up for yourself, communicate and stop listening to everyone around you, stop underestimating your enemies, COMMUNICATE
the book is extremely bad written. the author had the blurb but didn’t know what to do with it. it reads as phony .... the empty arguments, the story changing every two seconds ... there was so much more believable stuff to do for a young couple with this dynamic honestly. instead it’s a damn puzzle until the author decides what she really wants to do. and then... a few chapters later you’re told things happened differently
also if it’s a dual pov let the characters think? and tell us things ? diego did “things” with cami you’re not told exactly what happened until 700+ pages in (and jocelyn isn’t told either)
cami- something has to be said about her. it’s the first book from that series i’m reading but apparently she’s there to wreak havoc in all the couples? who said it was a good idea ? even marco has more personality than she does. if you’re going to add characters at least make sure that they’re fully formed ? otherwise it’s only ridiculous. i can’t for the life of me understand how she managed to do any bad to the relationships she’s so obvious and ridiculous - yet it works because author said so
i loved older books by this author and thought this series would have the same vibe. damn was i wrong, i child would have done better
i know they’re young and in a difficult situation but both of them are extremely dumb - defend yourself, stand up for yourself, communicate and stop listening to everyone around you, stop underestimating your enemies, COMMUNICATE
the book is extremely bad written. the author had the blurb but didn’t know what to do with it. it reads as phony .... the empty arguments, the story changing every two seconds ... there was so much more believable stuff to do for a young couple with this dynamic honestly. instead it’s a damn puzzle until the author decides what she really wants to do. and then... a few chapters later you’re told things happened differently
also if it’s a dual pov let the characters think? and tell us things ? diego did “things” with cami you’re not told exactly what happened until 700+ pages in (and jocelyn isn’t told either)
cami- something has to be said about her. it’s the first book from that series i’m reading but apparently she’s there to wreak havoc in all the couples? who said it was a good idea ? even marco has more personality than she does. if you’re going to add characters at least make sure that they’re fully formed ? otherwise it’s only ridiculous. i can’t for the life of me understand how she managed to do any bad to the relationships she’s so obvious and ridiculous - yet it works because author said so
i loved older books by this author and thought this series would have the same vibe. damn was i wrong, i child would have done better
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
On the one hand I loved this book, and on the other hand I was incredibly frustrated with it. Diego and Jocelyn start dating during their freshman year in high school and the book starts with them breaking up partway through their senior year just as Jocelyn discovers she is pregnant. I enjoyed very much both characters and their angst and seeing how everything plays out with them, but I was also incredibly frustrated in parts. Although we learn the reactions and things Diego does that Jocelyn finds frustrating and difficult, I never felt like they were fully addressed.
I did LOVE seeing both characters grow throughout the story and how they develop and seeing that happen in action, not just being told it happens.
This was my first read of Monica Murphy, and I intend now to look for and read some of her backlist.
Spoiler
There are multiple references by Jocelyn, friends of hers and even Diego's friends to Diego not treating her well during their time together, and although Diego definitely apologizes and makes changes, I was frustrated that the specific actions were not called out. They were talked about in more general terms and only specifically in relation to one girl - the girl that facilitated the break up. I found this frustrating - he acknowledged needing to change and seemed to change, but I would like to have seen him called out for flirting constantly with other girls and possibly a scene where he is approached by girls, without Jocelyn present, and him rebuffing those flirts. It was such an egregious action on his part and to have done it over and over again and never had it specifically addressed. In one scene in the end he talks about it in relation to the one girl, but it didn't feel like enough for me which how much it was mentioned in the book.I did LOVE seeing both characters grow throughout the story and how they develop and seeing that happen in action, not just being told it happens.
This was my first read of Monica Murphy, and I intend now to look for and read some of her backlist.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
THAT. WAS. TORTURE
Diego and Jocelyn nearly broke me with their fighting, their back and forth, their pain.
I appreciated Jocelyn's strength, kindness, and perseverance. Her willingness to go it alone rather than dealing with the hostility and hurt Diego seemed to bring to the equation.
Diego. I often felt sorry for the guy, he obviously needed guidance and support (which he basically had to beg for at times), his home life was a mess (to put it politely), and it seemed no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite get to where he needed to be with Jos.
Cami... can someone PLEASE, take her out. She is the absolute worst.
I have never felt such rage against a fictional character before, my hatred for her runs deep.
4.5 stars for this angsty, emotional goodness.
Teddy and Sarah did a stellar job with narration.
THAT. WAS. TORTURE
Diego and Jocelyn nearly broke me with their fighting, their back and forth, their pain.
I appreciated Jocelyn's strength, kindness, and perseverance. Her willingness to go it alone rather than dealing with the hostility and hurt Diego seemed to bring to the equation.
Diego. I often felt sorry for the guy, he obviously needed guidance and support (which he basically had to beg for at times), his home life was a mess (to put it politely), and it seemed no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite get to where he needed to be with Jos.
Cami... can someone PLEASE, take her out. She is the absolute worst.
I have never felt such rage against a fictional character before, my hatred for her runs deep.
4.5 stars for this angsty, emotional goodness.
Teddy and Sarah did a stellar job with narration.
This book was one I was nervous about not because I didn’t think I’d enjoy it but because I thought it would shatter my heart. Diego was the guy in Jake’s story that we all hated because of the way he behaved and treated his girlfriend at the time. Diego and Jocelyn had a rocky relationship that bordered on toxic because Diego was very needy and needed constant attention so when he felt Jocelyn wasn’t giving him enough, he sought it out in other ways like flirting with other girls. Diego never cheated on Jocelyn but they way he let rumors fly without trying to justify himself was just as bad and hurtful. Jocelyn was amazing and strong so when things happen and take her down a different path, she stands her ground and knows she deserves better than what Diego can give her at this point. I don’t want to give too much away but this story ended up making my heart hurt but it healed it in the best possible way too and I will say this author took a villain and found him redemption in a way that made him not only ask for forgiveness but grow as a human and become an adult. I have falling for Diego and absolutely love it!! Can’t wait for more!!!
Be still my heart, Diego and Jocelyn are so adorable together.
I’ll be totally honest, I hated Diego in previous books. He was an arrogant, cheating jerk who didn’t deserve redemption. And I thought both he and Jos needed to grow up. But, high school is very emotional, and all about learning and growing. Plus, Diego and Jocelyn are thrust into a very grown up, emotional situation. A baby is no joke. I had my daughter at 26 and didn’t feel prepared, I couldn’t imagine being 17 or 18 and having a baby!
Diego has a lot of growing up to do. He’s had a bad home life, and he lashes out at people when he believes he’s being hurt. He purposefully wanted to hurt Jos when she wasn’t there for him like he wanted her to be. He wasn’t a cheater at all, which shocked me, but also pissed me off. If he loved Jos so much, why let Cami fuel those rumors? Why go along with them? Why not stand up for yourself and be a better person.
Jocelyn also had a lot of growing up to do, even though she’s having a baby. I think she made the right choice when she was pregnant, and when she chose to get herself away from the stress and drama, I think that helped her and Diego to both grow up.
I want more of everyone!! I loved how almost everyone was involved, but I wish there would’ve been some Autumn and Ash in there, and we would’ve seen if Jake and Hannah were still together!
I cannot wait series to continue and see where everyone has ended up!! 10 stars, I love this series!!
I’ll be totally honest, I hated Diego in previous books. He was an arrogant, cheating jerk who didn’t deserve redemption. And I thought both he and Jos needed to grow up. But, high school is very emotional, and all about learning and growing. Plus, Diego and Jocelyn are thrust into a very grown up, emotional situation. A baby is no joke. I had my daughter at 26 and didn’t feel prepared, I couldn’t imagine being 17 or 18 and having a baby!
Diego has a lot of growing up to do. He’s had a bad home life, and he lashes out at people when he believes he’s being hurt. He purposefully wanted to hurt Jos when she wasn’t there for him like he wanted her to be. He wasn’t a cheater at all, which shocked me, but also pissed me off. If he loved Jos so much, why let Cami fuel those rumors? Why go along with them? Why not stand up for yourself and be a better person.
Jocelyn also had a lot of growing up to do, even though she’s having a baby. I think she made the right choice when she was pregnant, and when she chose to get herself away from the stress and drama, I think that helped her and Diego to both grow up.
I want more of everyone!! I loved how almost everyone was involved, but I wish there would’ve been some Autumn and Ash in there, and we would’ve seen if Jake and Hannah were still together!
I cannot wait series to continue and see where everyone has ended up!! 10 stars, I love this series!!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh, Diego. I don’t know how you did it, but you won me over. Now, don’t get me wrong. I still struggled with you through the first third of Fighting for You, but Monica Murphy did something that helped you: she humanized you for her readers. That she could take a wildly unpopular character and strip you to your essential self, make you apologetic, and willing to work, or “fight”, for Jocelyn made it easier to love you. I didn’t know if she could do it. I mean, there are still some issues I have with her storytelling. I’m not a fan of the level of details she provides plus there are still inconsistencies in her characterizations. However, she made me LIKE you more than I liked Jocelyn in this book. You were the most consistent character of Fighting for You. In contrast, Jocelyn was like many of Murphy’s characters in the earlier Callahan books: one minute accepting of you and the other minute rejecting you. There was a moment near the end, Diego, when I was ready to tell you to move on because Jocelyn was holding a grudge for far too long. If you had told me that I would have imagined that about you after Eli and Ava’s duet, I would have laughed. But instead, this book, I believe, might just be my favorite in the series of standalones. Jake and Eli are still fairly unlikeable to me. Thank goodness for Hannah and Ava. With you, we see the consequences of early trauma. We recognize the impact of substance abuse on one’s development of character. We recognize the complicated binds of family. You, I think, have redeemed Jake and Eli’s stories for me.
Now, we really, really need Tony and Jackson’s stories. If you could put in a good word to Monica, asking her to develop heroes that we can like, I’d appreciate it. I mean, if she could redeem you, the sky’s the limit for them. Right?
P.S. I kind of adore the fact that $ex feels incredibly tangential to this book which is odd given that clearly you and Jocelyn ‘did the deed.” While it does exist, the steam level feels appropriate for your’s and Jocelyn’s journey.
Oh, Diego. I don’t know how you did it, but you won me over. Now, don’t get me wrong. I still struggled with you through the first third of Fighting for You, but Monica Murphy did something that helped you: she humanized you for her readers. That she could take a wildly unpopular character and strip you to your essential self, make you apologetic, and willing to work, or “fight”, for Jocelyn made it easier to love you. I didn’t know if she could do it. I mean, there are still some issues I have with her storytelling. I’m not a fan of the level of details she provides plus there are still inconsistencies in her characterizations. However, she made me LIKE you more than I liked Jocelyn in this book. You were the most consistent character of Fighting for You. In contrast, Jocelyn was like many of Murphy’s characters in the earlier Callahan books: one minute accepting of you and the other minute rejecting you. There was a moment near the end, Diego, when I was ready to tell you to move on because Jocelyn was holding a grudge for far too long. If you had told me that I would have imagined that about you after Eli and Ava’s duet, I would have laughed. But instead, this book, I believe, might just be my favorite in the series of standalones. Jake and Eli are still fairly unlikeable to me. Thank goodness for Hannah and Ava. With you, we see the consequences of early trauma. We recognize the impact of substance abuse on one’s development of character. We recognize the complicated binds of family. You, I think, have redeemed Jake and Eli’s stories for me.
Now, we really, really need Tony and Jackson’s stories. If you could put in a good word to Monica, asking her to develop heroes that we can like, I’d appreciate it. I mean, if she could redeem you, the sky’s the limit for them. Right?
P.S. I kind of adore the fact that $ex feels incredibly tangential to this book which is odd given that clearly you and Jocelyn ‘did the deed.” While it does exist, the steam level feels appropriate for your’s and Jocelyn’s journey.
emotional
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes