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My Life with the Walter Boys #2
My Return to the Walter Boys
The highly anticipated sequel to My Life with the Walter Boys, the internationally bestselling novel that inspired the Netflix series!
Jackie Howard returns to the Walter ranch after a summer in New York. She needed space—and got it. But she doesn't know where things stand with her and Cole Walter after that goodbye kiss. Over the summer, she stopped texting him. She never stopped thinking about him.
Still, with Cole living off in town to work at Tony's garage before he heads off to college, Jackie thinks it'll be easy to avoid him—only to find that when she sees him face to face at last, it's, well... impossible to resist him. Things are getting complicated: he's the boy she can't get off her mind, and the Walters have become the family she loves and needs. How can Jackie move forward when she's afraid of taking the next step?
Jackie Howard returns to the Walter ranch after a summer in New York. She needed space—and got it. But she doesn't know where things stand with her and Cole Walter after that goodbye kiss. Over the summer, she stopped texting him. She never stopped thinking about him.
Still, with Cole living off in town to work at Tony's garage before he heads off to college, Jackie thinks it'll be easy to avoid him—only to find that when she sees him face to face at last, it's, well... impossible to resist him. Things are getting complicated: he's the boy she can't get off her mind, and the Walters have become the family she loves and needs. How can Jackie move forward when she's afraid of taking the next step?
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2025
966 people are currently reading
22.5k people want to read
About the author
Ali Novak
18books2,710followersAli Novak is aWisconsin native and agraduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s creative writing program. She started writing her debut novel My Life with the Walter Boys when she was only fifteen. Her work has received more than 150 million reads online.
When she isn’t writing, Ali enjoys Netflix marathons, traveling with her husband Jared, and reading any type of fantasy novel she can get her hands on. You can follow her on Wattpad,Twitter,Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat @fallzswimmer.
Please note that I don't answer messages on ŷ. Please feel free to contact me on Twitter or Instagram.
When she isn’t writing, Ali enjoys Netflix marathons, traveling with her husband Jared, and reading any type of fantasy novel she can get her hands on. You can follow her on Wattpad,Twitter,Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat @fallzswimmer.
Please note that I don't answer messages on ŷ. Please feel free to contact me on Twitter or Instagram.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
October 21, 2017
Will this book ever come out. It’s been way to long and I want to read it.
January 28, 2022
Hello? Eight years later I’m so excited for Netflix to be making a TV series about My Life with the Walter Boys, but I would love a sequel too!
Want to read
November 1, 2014I NEED THIS NOW
Currently reading
April 20, 2025april 15
ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT.
IT IS OUT
dont even think about trying to get in contact with me bc this gonna take over. it was nice knowing ya
april 4
11 MORE DAYS AHHHHHH
AJSNJFTNEGUIVPT#$BV
february 11
COVER UPDATE!! COVER. UPDATE.
ummm its definitely... something
october 16
this... this is definitely gonna be interesting... but im here for it!
ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT. ITS OUT.
IT IS OUT
dont even think about trying to get in contact with me bc this gonna take over. it was nice knowing ya
april 4
11 MORE DAYS AHHHHHH
AJSNJFTNEGUIVPT#$BV
february 11
COVER UPDATE!! COVER. UPDATE.
ummm its definitely... something
october 16
this... this is definitely gonna be interesting... but im here for it!
December 8, 2023
Please write and release book 2🙏
April 19, 2025
4 ⭐️
Cole is so so hot.
Cole is so so hot.
Want to read
January 11, 2017THERE'S NOT EVEN A DATE YET?!
I'm slowly dying....
I'm slowly dying....
April 2, 2025
Just as good as the first one. Oh my gosh.
This is an exceptional duology that everyone needs to read! I could not put down either of the books!!
My life with the Walter Boys is my favorite read of the year so far! Thank you, Ali Novak! You know what you're doing!
I loved the dirt racing element in this book!! Considering my dad is a dirt race car driver, and I spend so much of my time at race tracks, I loved reading about it! I've never read a book where they went to a race track!!
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the arc!! Make sure you guys check this book out when it releases on April 15th!!
Thanks for reading💗
This is an exceptional duology that everyone needs to read! I could not put down either of the books!!
My life with the Walter Boys is my favorite read of the year so far! Thank you, Ali Novak! You know what you're doing!
I loved the dirt racing element in this book!! Considering my dad is a dirt race car driver, and I spend so much of my time at race tracks, I loved reading about it! I've never read a book where they went to a race track!!
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the arc!! Make sure you guys check this book out when it releases on April 15th!!
Thanks for reading💗
Read
March 24, 2025«I'm going to focus on fixing myself and figuring out my future, whatever that looks like. Maybe when I do, the timing will finally be perfect.
All my love, Cole»
Imagine getting a continuation of a story 12 years later... Well, here you don’t have to—it just happened!
Let's start with the fact that I absolutely adore the TV show, and I read the original novel only days before the Netflix premiere. So when I saw My Return to the Walter Boys on NetGalley? I almost choked on nothing.
This book picks up right where the first one ends, then jumps ahead to the end summer—and honestly, it felt so nice knowing Ali Novak got the chance to revisit the Walter House and give us more.
To be completely honest, to me Cole and Jackie's relationship in this book was too emotional-swings-like? The letter tho? PLEASE!
He smirked at this. "You think
I'm pretty?"
I rolled my eyes. "You think you're pretty."
"I think you're pretty."
You know who did not disappoint? ISAAC! If you know, you know, but let’s just say� here? He’s spicyyy!
A huge Thank You to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Ali Novak for the ARC! It was so nice to step back into this world.
˙�.˚୨ৎ ria’s romance rating scale ୨ৎ˙�.˚
� plot 55/100
� writing 67/100
� characters 69/100
� giggle & feet-kick-ability 63/100
� general enjoyment 60/100
� cringe -0/-100
0.25/5 🌶� (Yeah, it's even a tiny bit spicy as a YA)
total: 314
*500-471 - 6 stars
470-401 - 5 stars
400-341 - 4 stars
340-201 - 3 stars
200-101 - 2 stars
100-0 - 1 star
December 10, 2023
Is this book gonna be the second season?!(so excited, waiting for it already) But I swear Netflix if you drop this series after first season your gonna have enemies
Want to read
November 13, 2024im going to become a magician just so i can make this book disappear!!
April 17, 2025
As a fan of the first book, the cliffhanger killed me. Sadly this book didn’t deliver a satisfying ending. There wasn’t any resolution between Cole and Jackie like I would have expected from a sequel. This book has no plot. It was basically a back and fourth Cole and Jackie book. There were loose ends that didn’t make any sense. Why? 😭 to me, it felt like she forgot who the Walter’s are, who Cole is, and what the book is about. I guess 10 years between books will do that. 😞. The magic and unity of the Walter family wasn’t there. It felt like the Walter’s were falling apart. I love them so much so it saddened me to see them in chaos. Their personalities were not the same. They were very off. What happened to Issac!? Issac basically made a point to make dirty sex jokes in every conversation. Sometimes multiple. Cole did a complete 180. He’s no longer the bad boy we all love. The “Cole effect� seems to be something the author forgot how to write. I’m very disappointed that this book didn’t live up to my expectations. I only read this because I’m such a fan of the first book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2025
I so badly wanted to love this book. Really enjoyed the first one and the Netflix adaptation of it as well. But this book just had so many things that didn’t make sense? Like I hate to say it that it just felt poorly written and was all over the place. It was almost like the first book was ignored and the second was written based of things that happened in the show and not the book. ☹️
Want to read
February 11, 2025I NEED THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW
update: apparently this book and season 2 of the show are going to follow completely different storylines?? if they make jackie end up with alex I will actually scream
COVER IN PROGRESS YESSSS I MISS MY COLE BABY
no way its coming out on my birthday month screaming rn. the cover is as mid as the first one but its okay because i need more jackiecole
update: apparently this book and season 2 of the show are going to follow completely different storylines?? if they make jackie end up with alex I will actually scream
COVER IN PROGRESS YESSSS I MISS MY COLE BABY
no way its coming out on my birthday month screaming rn. the cover is as mid as the first one but its okay because i need more jackiecole
April 17, 2025
I hate to say it, but this was disappointing.
This review is not going to give major spoilers, but it will be spoiler adjacent because it's the only way I could explain my feelings. Please keep that in mind and skip this if you need.
Initially, I was super invested! Jackie was on her way back to Colorado and the Walters. Everything was right in the world
Nope. Immediately, Jackie wanted space from Cole for her mental health. Did this man take that well? No. He started being actually horrible to her. Because she said she needed space to grieve... seems fair 😒
Like, fine, we love creating drama for the plot, but this was just not it.
Oh, and Alex is hot now? But also such a background character that it really doesn't matter. That was odd. Why bother mentioning it?
Someone tell me why didn't Danny come back or feature in more than just one phone call? And that phone call was somehow purely a plot device, but we never get to see if that's accurate? It's just an assumption Jackie makes lol
Oh and when Cole changes his behaviour, he goes back to flirting non-stop with Jackie DESPITE her being very clear about her boundaries. To the point where he pushes her back into being his girlfriend but without ever asking her. At which time he decides to treat her like trash again!!!
He then has the audacity to seem shocked when she yet again states her boundaries and tries to get space
And then the whole ending... please tell me why they have one conversation, and then it just... ends. I was shocked and not in a good way.
I don't know if that was the plot? Or if there just wasn't one.
This book is just one huge mess, if I'm honest.
The only character that didn't make me want to throw things was Isaac! He had depth. He felt real! And if I'm honest, he weirdly had more chemistry with Jackie than he should've 😂 He was flirty af! And he knew when to apologise sincerely, unlike someone *cough* Cole *cough*
Tbh every star I give this book is because of Isaac.
Despite loving the first book and the TV show, I can't really recommend this. Maybe the author should've left this series in 2014?
� 𝟐 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
PS. Can someone teach Jackie to knock? 💀
PPS. Why is there a whole Harry Potter trivia night in this book? Gross.
This review is not going to give major spoilers, but it will be spoiler adjacent because it's the only way I could explain my feelings. Please keep that in mind and skip this if you need.
Initially, I was super invested! Jackie was on her way back to Colorado and the Walters. Everything was right in the world
Nope. Immediately, Jackie wanted space from Cole for her mental health. Did this man take that well? No. He started being actually horrible to her. Because she said she needed space to grieve... seems fair 😒
Like, fine, we love creating drama for the plot, but this was just not it.
Oh, and Alex is hot now? But also such a background character that it really doesn't matter. That was odd. Why bother mentioning it?
Someone tell me why didn't Danny come back or feature in more than just one phone call? And that phone call was somehow purely a plot device, but we never get to see if that's accurate? It's just an assumption Jackie makes lol
Oh and when Cole changes his behaviour, he goes back to flirting non-stop with Jackie DESPITE her being very clear about her boundaries. To the point where he pushes her back into being his girlfriend but without ever asking her. At which time he decides to treat her like trash again!!!
He then has the audacity to seem shocked when she yet again states her boundaries and tries to get space
And then the whole ending... please tell me why they have one conversation, and then it just... ends. I was shocked and not in a good way.
I don't know if that was the plot? Or if there just wasn't one.
This book is just one huge mess, if I'm honest.
The only character that didn't make me want to throw things was Isaac! He had depth. He felt real! And if I'm honest, he weirdly had more chemistry with Jackie than he should've 😂 He was flirty af! And he knew when to apologise sincerely, unlike someone *cough* Cole *cough*
Tbh every star I give this book is because of Isaac.
Despite loving the first book and the TV show, I can't really recommend this. Maybe the author should've left this series in 2014?
� 𝟐 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
PS. Can someone teach Jackie to knock? 💀
PPS. Why is there a whole Harry Potter trivia night in this book? Gross.
Want to read
August 9, 2015OMG A SEQUEAL NO WAY
Shelved as 'need-to-read'
July 19, 2016I WANT IT SO BAD
April 3, 2025
harry potter references in a book published in 2025 is certainly... a choice
Read
October 3, 2015gimme!!!!!
April 25, 2025
I mean it was published 15 years later. Also possible I’m less mentally ill
April 22, 2025
At first I disliked it because what was supposed to be only one summer later, felt like years in the characters. Like they all acted so differently at first, and the book had a different feel to it. But by the end it was so good! And I felt so sad realizing it was over! I wish there was another
April 22, 2025
she added smut to this one thank god
April 17, 2025
My whole heart. I know this might not be complete and I’m ok with that! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for Cole and Jackie!!!!! It picked right up from the last book! The rawness and banter and tension-> 10/10!!!!!
April 17, 2025
This was a super-cute follow up. I enjoyed Jackie and Cole's tension and all the other messes that are the Walter boys.
April 17, 2025
i can’t do this any longer give me season two PLEASE 😭😭😭😭
April 23, 2025
After reading the first book and also watching the first season on Netflix I absolutely fell in love with this story of Jackie and the Walter boys. Since the book and the first season ended differently I was very interested to see how the second book would pick up where it left off and I’m curious how closely it will be lined up with the second season coming out soon. I was scared to read this book because I thought it couldn’t live up to the glory of the first one but oh boy was I wrong.
Thoughts:
First of all, I absolutely loved how this book dove deeper into Jackie’s grief over her family’s passing. It reveals Jackie’s internal fears, causing her to worry about her future life with the Walter family. And I think the book does an amazing job of showing how difficult it can be to process and grieve past relationships while also developing new ones.
I also loved how this book contained more character development of some my favorite characters in the Walter family. You get a better look into Issac’s issues with his dad, get to see Nathan’s struggles with his new epilepsy diagnosis, and get to see another side of Katherine as she does her best to keep up with her thousands of kids. In addition to this, Cole figuring out his next moves in life without his identity in football was so heartbreaking and amazing to read at the same time. And there is one particular part that is guaranteed to make you sob.
I love the friendship you get to read about between Jackie and Danny that formed over their summer together in New York, however I really wish I could’ve gotten more of it because the book all takes place once she gets back to Colorado.
And of course the romance between Jackie and a particular Walter boy kept me invested from cover to cover.
Definitely 100/10! Please please please read it
Thoughts:
First of all, I absolutely loved how this book dove deeper into Jackie’s grief over her family’s passing. It reveals Jackie’s internal fears, causing her to worry about her future life with the Walter family. And I think the book does an amazing job of showing how difficult it can be to process and grieve past relationships while also developing new ones.
I also loved how this book contained more character development of some my favorite characters in the Walter family. You get a better look into Issac’s issues with his dad, get to see Nathan’s struggles with his new epilepsy diagnosis, and get to see another side of Katherine as she does her best to keep up with her thousands of kids. In addition to this, Cole figuring out his next moves in life without his identity in football was so heartbreaking and amazing to read at the same time. And there is one particular part that is guaranteed to make you sob.
I love the friendship you get to read about between Jackie and Danny that formed over their summer together in New York, however I really wish I could’ve gotten more of it because the book all takes place once she gets back to Colorado.
And of course the romance between Jackie and a particular Walter boy kept me invested from cover to cover.
Definitely 100/10! Please please please read it
April 16, 2025
"That was what true healing was, wasn't it? Acknowledging your pain but choosing happiness--and I was ready to choose Cole, over and over again."
I was a bit nervous about this sequel, I was praying a love triangle wouldn't show up again....AND IT DIDN'T. That isn't to say there isn't a fair amount of drama but I like that it focused on Jackie and Cole's internal problems and didn't involve anyone else. I loved being back with the Walter family and I wouldn't say no to another book....
Although the drama was a bit frustrating at times, by the end I could see its purpose and everything worked out so that the story feels complete. My one big frustration was that we didn't see enough of Cole and Jackie as a legitimate couple once they pushed past their issues and were open with each other. I'm kind of hoping for another book just because I want to see how things go with some of the plot lines (Isaac deserves his own story 100%--actually all of them do. Sign me up.) and MORE JACKIE AND COLE DATING. PLEASE.
This series was so much fun and I definitely recommend it for a nice summer read.
Content: f/m kissing & making out (nothing overly descriptive but there is a scene where the fmc sees two people kissing and the couple are both topless), sexual innuendo, one scene where the fmc walks in on a guy masturbating but besides knowing what he is doing it isn't overly descriptive, language
I was a bit nervous about this sequel, I was praying a love triangle wouldn't show up again....AND IT DIDN'T. That isn't to say there isn't a fair amount of drama but I like that it focused on Jackie and Cole's internal problems and didn't involve anyone else. I loved being back with the Walter family and I wouldn't say no to another book....
Although the drama was a bit frustrating at times, by the end I could see its purpose and everything worked out so that the story feels complete. My one big frustration was that we didn't see enough of Cole and Jackie as a legitimate couple once they pushed past their issues and were open with each other. I'm kind of hoping for another book just because I want to see how things go with some of the plot lines (Isaac deserves his own story 100%--actually all of them do. Sign me up.) and MORE JACKIE AND COLE DATING. PLEASE.
This series was so much fun and I definitely recommend it for a nice summer read.
Content: f/m kissing & making out (nothing overly descriptive but there is a scene where the fmc sees two people kissing and the couple are both topless), sexual innuendo, one scene where the fmc walks in on a guy masturbating but besides knowing what he is doing it isn't overly descriptive, language
April 19, 2025
I was really excited when I saw this , I bought it on the day it was released but I’m really disappointed . Story was way too rushed and also that really annoys me because there was so much fluff that could’ve been taken out to actually structure the book properly and get a decent book . I.e the many times Alex and Kim kissed - who cares!?, the incomplete sentences from Lee and Isaac - I assumed they get addressed before the book ends but again nothing . That whole trivia scene took almost 10 pages (exaggerated but you get the point)!
Yes there was growth for Cole which I was so grateful for but that’s about it . Jackie’s character growth didn’t happen until the last chapter which was frankly a bit annoying . Nathan felt like an afterthought the whole time , the little Walters had more life in this book than anyone else .
Everything felt so rushed . One minute Jackie needs space from Cole and doesn’t want a relationship and the next she and Cole are kissing . The yearning was forced and I’m so annoyed because I really was looking forward to something - it could’ve been just friendship between Cole and Jackie and I would’ve taken their banter but the fact that they went from 100-75-0-100-50-75 � I mean goodness I had whiplash .
Personally it felt written for a series not a book - almost like the reader / viewer should just fill out the blanks and it annoyed me .
I’m still trying to understand the book honestly . First book was cheesy but at least it was , dare I say complete ? The stories just merged but this ? Nope
Yes there was growth for Cole which I was so grateful for but that’s about it . Jackie’s character growth didn’t happen until the last chapter which was frankly a bit annoying . Nathan felt like an afterthought the whole time , the little Walters had more life in this book than anyone else .
Everything felt so rushed . One minute Jackie needs space from Cole and doesn’t want a relationship and the next she and Cole are kissing . The yearning was forced and I’m so annoyed because I really was looking forward to something - it could’ve been just friendship between Cole and Jackie and I would’ve taken their banter but the fact that they went from 100-75-0-100-50-75 � I mean goodness I had whiplash .
Personally it felt written for a series not a book - almost like the reader / viewer should just fill out the blanks and it annoyed me .
I’m still trying to understand the book honestly . First book was cheesy but at least it was , dare I say complete ? The stories just merged but this ? Nope
April 17, 2025
I haven't written a full review in ages and i can't be bothered starting now, so heres a couple points:
*I have graduated from crushing on Cole, to crushing on Isaac. Only real ones will agree with me. and when he wasn't being like completely HORRIBLE, he was being so sweet.
*I want more Danny content bc Danny seems like a vibe. Justice for Danny!!
*Considering how long it's been since Ali Novak wrote My Life With The Walter Boys, it is incredibly impressive that she kept everything consistent. Kudoos to her for that bc i probably would have just changed everyone's names by accident.
*I feel like there was more going on with Nathan than just the driver's licence thing??? Idk, just the way that whole bit went down was so confusing and underwhelming.
*WHY DID LEE PUNCH ISAAC???? because literally isaac was about to tell Jackie and then she's like 'no all good' and I'm like 'NO isaac spill the tea'
*Why do i feel like Ali is gearing towards a trilogy, or even more books about the rest of the Walters because that would be sooo cute!
*It ended so abruptly and i got bored.
*Ugh. I read somewhere that the second TV series isn't going tto be based on the second book and im like why??? also whens the second TV series coming out, bc filimings been wrapped for like 62 years.
anyway thanks for lettign me rant ladies.
*I have graduated from crushing on Cole, to crushing on Isaac. Only real ones will agree with me. and when he wasn't being like completely HORRIBLE, he was being so sweet.
*I want more Danny content bc Danny seems like a vibe. Justice for Danny!!
*Considering how long it's been since Ali Novak wrote My Life With The Walter Boys, it is incredibly impressive that she kept everything consistent. Kudoos to her for that bc i probably would have just changed everyone's names by accident.
*I feel like there was more going on with Nathan than just the driver's licence thing??? Idk, just the way that whole bit went down was so confusing and underwhelming.
*WHY DID LEE PUNCH ISAAC???? because literally isaac was about to tell Jackie and then she's like 'no all good' and I'm like 'NO isaac spill the tea'
*Why do i feel like Ali is gearing towards a trilogy, or even more books about the rest of the Walters because that would be sooo cute!
*It ended so abruptly and i got bored.
*Ugh. I read somewhere that the second TV series isn't going tto be based on the second book and im like why??? also whens the second TV series coming out, bc filimings been wrapped for like 62 years.
anyway thanks for lettign me rant ladies.
March 29, 2025
I loved following the continuation of Jackie’s new life with the Walter’s! I recently read the first book and rewatched the show because I didn’t remember everything & there was a lot of differences but I still really enjoyed both! Im genuinely curious if this book was written just out of how Ali Novak wanted the story to continue, or if she wrote it similar to how season two of the show will go! I am excited to see the next season hit & to compare, but aside from that I enjoyed My Return To The Walter Boys and loved the direction it took!
Spoilers from here on out:
There was a lot of back and forth between Jackie & Cole, and I know that’s usually where people get annoyed, but in my opinion it makes sense. Jackie is still grieving and was trying to figure out her own emotions before jumping into a relationship, after realizing thats what she was doing, and I respect that. She had her priorities of healing and was doing the best she could for her circumstances and managing her fears. There is no right way to grieve and at the end of the day, her story is more than just about the romance along the way, so I did not mind the back and forth because it showed the reality of ups & downs that people can face internally while grieving.
I loved seeing the sweet side of Cole the whole time, and I am very curious to see where the story continues to go if more books come out!
Spoilers from here on out:
There was a lot of back and forth between Jackie & Cole, and I know that’s usually where people get annoyed, but in my opinion it makes sense. Jackie is still grieving and was trying to figure out her own emotions before jumping into a relationship, after realizing thats what she was doing, and I respect that. She had her priorities of healing and was doing the best she could for her circumstances and managing her fears. There is no right way to grieve and at the end of the day, her story is more than just about the romance along the way, so I did not mind the back and forth because it showed the reality of ups & downs that people can face internally while grieving.
I loved seeing the sweet side of Cole the whole time, and I am very curious to see where the story continues to go if more books come out!
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