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It Had to be Me
Lesley Hannigan has been trapped by her grief for three years. Ever since an incoming call on her cell phone causes Lesley to lose control of her vehicle, ending the life of her unborn baby in the collision. She hadn't been willing to miss the call, convinced it was a real estate firm that would finally get her away from Ron Brugemon, her boss turned abusive lover.
Sequestered for so long by her own life choices, Lesley finds herself ready for change and deserving of happiness. She finds it near impossible to forgive herself, until a second car accident brings her almost full circle. But she can't sort through her issues without revisiting her past in therapy.
Lesley is ready to get better. She finally has something worth fighting for... a new shot at love. Jamie Turner means so much to her so quickly, but can their relationship stand the test of Lesley's past?
Between therapy, one tried and true best friend, and stark honesty, Lesley aims to take control of her life.
Sequestered for so long by her own life choices, Lesley finds herself ready for change and deserving of happiness. She finds it near impossible to forgive herself, until a second car accident brings her almost full circle. But she can't sort through her issues without revisiting her past in therapy.
Lesley is ready to get better. She finally has something worth fighting for... a new shot at love. Jamie Turner means so much to her so quickly, but can their relationship stand the test of Lesley's past?
Between therapy, one tried and true best friend, and stark honesty, Lesley aims to take control of her life.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2025
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 11, 2025
Great Read!
Lovable and relatable characters with an emotional storyline that keeps you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.
Lovable and relatable characters with an emotional storyline that keeps you turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.
June 4, 2025
Jocelyn Kelly’s It Had to be Me is a deeply moving, emotionally charged journey through grief, healing, and the resilience it takes to reclaim your life after trauma. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Lesley Shenanigan's world a world shattered by a single, life altering moment. The rawness of her guilt and sorrow over the loss of her unborn child is palpable, and Kelly doesn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of self blame and emotional paralysis.
What struck me most was how authentically Lesley’s healing unfolds. It’s not a miraculous recovery; it’s messy, painful, and painfully real. The second car accident as a narrative turning point felt poignant rather than contrived it forces Lesley to confront not just the trauma itself, but the choices that led her there. Her sessions in therapy are some of the most compelling parts of the book, revealing just how layered and tangled her pain truly is.
Jamie Turner, her unexpected shot at love, is not portrayed as a cure all, but rather a mirror to Lesley’s growth. Their relationship isn’t a fairy tale it’s a question mark. Can love really survive this kind of emotional baggage? Kelly allows the reader to ask that without spoon-feeding the answer.
This novel doesn’t offer easy resolutions, but it offers hope. And in Lesley’s quiet, stumbling bravery, I saw reflections of struggles many of us face. A beautiful, human story of second chances.
What struck me most was how authentically Lesley’s healing unfolds. It’s not a miraculous recovery; it’s messy, painful, and painfully real. The second car accident as a narrative turning point felt poignant rather than contrived it forces Lesley to confront not just the trauma itself, but the choices that led her there. Her sessions in therapy are some of the most compelling parts of the book, revealing just how layered and tangled her pain truly is.
Jamie Turner, her unexpected shot at love, is not portrayed as a cure all, but rather a mirror to Lesley’s growth. Their relationship isn’t a fairy tale it’s a question mark. Can love really survive this kind of emotional baggage? Kelly allows the reader to ask that without spoon-feeding the answer.
This novel doesn’t offer easy resolutions, but it offers hope. And in Lesley’s quiet, stumbling bravery, I saw reflections of struggles many of us face. A beautiful, human story of second chances.
August 28, 2025
It Had To Be me
Excellent storyline and Jocelyn did a superb job in describing the situations and personal dilemmas. I especially like how she hascinterwoven past and current times. Makes the reader clearly live Lesley's journey with her
Excellent storyline and Jocelyn did a superb job in describing the situations and personal dilemmas. I especially like how she hascinterwoven past and current times. Makes the reader clearly live Lesley's journey with her
September 29, 2025
Easy and enjoyable read! You can really feel yourself going through this thing called life with Lesley. Through the ups and downs , she gradually becomes stronger. Happy to see Jamie making his way into her life. A book worth reading!
July 12, 2025
Rare in a book I get to feel the grief, love one character and completely hate another. Well written and just adorable little love story. Characters are portrayed so well.
September 10, 2025
Great debut novel! The story was heartbreaking and hopeful, difficult and captivating. Even though the reader knows the "end" to the second earlier timeline intertwined, it was still a page turner. I found the characters compelling, complicated, interesting, and totally believable. It's a story of trauma, grief, and healing, and also a beautiful love story. Hope to see more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews