This was a great follow up to the original! I would highly recommend to anyone experiencing a post season 2 slump. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an arc!

Okay, you need to read My Return of the Walter Boys ASAP.

It’s like slipping right back into the chaos and charm of that big, wild Walter house—but this time, everyone’s a little older, a little more complicated, and somehow even more lovable (yes, even the ones who drove us crazy before). Jackie’s story picks up with so much heart. She’s grown, she’s figuring things out, and honestly? Same, girl. Same.

There’s drama, there’s swoon, there are moments that made me yell at the book like it was a reality show, and then there are scenes that completely tugged at my heart. Ali Novak just gets the messy, emotional rollercoaster of coming back to something you thought you left behind. It’s nostalgic in the best way—but still fresh and real.

So if you loved the first book, trust me—this one will give you all the feels. Read it so we can scream about it together, please and thank you.

I enjoyed seeing Jackie and Cole continue their relationship even though there was a bit of back and forth it made sense for what she was going through. I enjoyed seeing her journey of grief and healing. I LOVE COLE so much and seeing that sweet side of his was everything. I’m excited to see the next season of the show and how it will compare to the book.

I enjoyed this follow up to My Life with the Walter Boys. Sure to be a huge hit with my library kiddos!

Loved this sequel! I read the first book so long ago and I'm glad there's a second book and show to go along with this story.

loved being back and seeing what happens with the Walter boys. loved being around the family again and loved the romance. Loved the mom and dad.

Romantic, addictive, and full of nostalgia 💖🏡. My Return to the Walter Boys brings readers back to the beloved world of sibling chaos, friendship, and first love. Ali Novak delivers a heartfelt story of second chances, emotional growth, and finding where you belong. I adored the family dynamics, the swoony romance, and the heartfelt reflections on change. A must-read for fans of YA romance and found family stories.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review. I loved getting a chance to read more of the Walter family. I am so happy that the author decided to write this fun and entertaining book. I could read so many more books in this universe. Please write more! Thank you again for allowing me to review this book! It was so fun to catch up with the Walter family!

I really enjoyed this read! Team Cole for life! This leaves room for a third book and that makes me so excited! Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review!

This felt like more of a slice of life book and less of a plot driven story which I was hoping for after the cliffhanger of the last book. I was hoping to have a little more of a fleshed out romance between Cole & Jackie and it just felt disjointed and I didn't really feel their chemistry. It was fun to be back in their world, but overall, I wish this book went in a different direction.

I was so excited to receive an early copy of this one before season 2 comes out on Netflix. I love the juxtaposition of the books witj the movies and what each adds/takes out.

I really liked the development of Cole's character in this sequel. I had mixed feelings about the way that Jackie's character evolved but I did appreciate the raw portrayal of grief displayed.

I'm hoping for more to come from this believed series.

There's a certain nostalgia to this series that I love - I'm glad we got a sequel, especially to provide the show with guiding source material. Of course, it's very much YA - but highly enjoyable for what it is, and an extension of a story many of us know and love.

Thanks Netgalley and Sourcebooks fire for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This second book was a long a waited read, while I loved the first one more it was great to read about Jackie and the Walter family again. There was a lot of things that happened between different members of the Walter family. There was also a lot of drama that happened for different characters throughout the book. I did love the relationship you get to see between Jackie and multiple other people. Jackie's relationship with each of the Walter's is specific for each person. I loved getting to see Jackie become more apart of the family. While Jackie and Cole are constantly back and forth I do love them together, and hope that they are end game. I can't wait to read the next book and to also see the new season of the TV show based on this series.

What a great sequel to this series!

“Are you saying yes?”
“I-yeah.” I whispered. “I think I am.”
“Then I’ll be your someone, Jackie.”

I will admit, there were several times I was yelling at Jackie in my head. It made me upset that she was almost sabotaging herself into not allowing herself to be happy. I think her grief was deeper than I could even comprehend.
I think while Cole did have some immature moments, especially when Jackie initially asked for space and then flirting despite Jackie’s ask for boundaries, he ended up having a mature look at things towards the end. I enjoyed reading his letter to Jackie. His recognition of their connection of losing a big part of themselves when they met, I think, is what makes them so good together. They understand that grief of the past. They relate to the loss, the fear.
It is the classic, crazy back and forth world that is teenage love and this book completely embodies it. There were times the back and forth drove me a bit crazy, but that’s teenage love sometimes! ESPECIALLY loved the ending! <3
Thank you, NetGalley! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. <3

Had to DNF this one! The writing is so childish!! Al thought I am grateful for the opportunity to review I will have to put a stop to reading because it put me in a massive slump

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ali Novak for providing me with the arc of this book!

Ali Novak’s highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling book My life with the Walter boys does not disappoint.
After a summer away from the Walter family, Jackie is back to start a new school year. While she’s been away things have definitely changed in the Walter house. Alex has a new girlfriend, Cole has moved away, and Nathan is acting all weird and closed off.
A fun and satisfying sequel to a great first book. I loved to see the fun moments in coffee shops but also the deeply emotional moments of grief. I felt like I got to know Jackie as a main character a bit more, and understood her thinking I can’t wait to see this book adapted for the next season of the TV show.
While I enjoyed this book and would recommend, I did find some parts to be a bit repetitive and I couldn’t understand why Jackie was going back and forth so much about wanting to be with Cole.

Rating: 3/5 stars
Reading Age: 14+

First and foremost, thank you to Ali Novak, Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for an advanced copy of My Return to the Walter Boys in exchange for an honest review.

Summary
Jackie Howard returns to the Walter ranch after a summer away, still reeling from her goodbye kiss with Cole Walter. She hoped the space would help, but nothing could have prepared her for how hard it would be to keep her distance from him—or how complicated things would become. With Cole working in town before leaving for college and Jackie navigating her future, emotions run high. The Walters have become like family, but her feelings for Cole threaten to upend everything. As old flames rekindle and personal growth is put to the test, Jackie must decide whether she’s ready to face the next chapter.

Short and Sweet Opinion
This book gave me a nostalgic kick, since I originally read the first on Wattpad—but it didn’t quite live up to what I hoped for. It was decent, and I loved being back with familiar characters, but the execution fell flat. The drama felt forced, and the plot lacked the growth or resolution I expected. It read too much like its Wattpad roots without the polish I wanted in a published sequel.

In Depth Opinion
Coming back to the world of the Walter boys hit me right in the feels—I was obsessed with Cole Walter waaaay back in Ali's Wattpad days. I was excited to return to this story, but I think I built the sequel up more in my head than what was actually delivered. There was definitely something comforting about seeing familiar characters again, but the writing felt like it hadn’t evolved much past its Wattpad origins.

The dynamic between Jackie and Cole had potential, but the drama between them sometimes felt a little overblown. Jackie was clear about needing space for her own healing, and it was frustrating to see Cole respond in such an immature way. While their push and pull created plenty of tension, it often came at the expense of respectful communication or meaningful growth. That said, there were glimpses of the chemistry that made readers fall for them in the first place, and it was nice to see how much they still meant to each other—despite all the missteps.

Some of the side characters didn’t get as much time as I would’ve liked (Danny especially!), and a few plot points felt unresolved or like missed opportunities. But even with its flaws, the book had heart. It was genuinely fun to return to the Walter household and feel the chaos of a big, loving family again. Jackie’s internal voice remains relatable, and there were some really sweet moments that reminded me why I fell for this story in the first place. It’s not a perfect sequel, but it still scratched that nostalgic itch.

The follow up to My Life with the Walter Boys did not disappoint! I am a Cole girlie, and I really loved how he grew in this book. The story was well done and still very sweet.

How fun to revisit this family and these characters after years away from them. I have been a fan of all of Ali Novak's books, so I was excited to see where the story was going to go next. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jackie returns to the Walter ranch after a summer in NY and faces the drama with Cole and the rest of the Walter family.

Unfortunately this book just fell flat for me. I didn't feel like the sequel developed the characters well. Jackie's grief felt brushed over and not real. The drama between her and Cole felt like it was too manufactured. I did enjoy her getting to know a few of the other Walters better, but overall it felt like there was a lot left unexplained and underdeveloped.