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 really enjoyed My Return To The Walter Boys and loved the direction it took!

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!

I give this book 3.5/5 complicated boyfriends!

I was excited to get the opportunity to read this book as an arc from NetGalley. I’ve read the first book and watched the TV show. Cole and Jackie are a pretty frustrating couple, but then I must remind myself they are also supposed to be 16 and 18 so I should probably cut them some slack.

This novel is super fast paced, I read through it in one day, which can we attributed to Ali’s writing. I was hooked from chapter one and I was rooting for our characters to work it out. My only issues with this book is the whiplash you get from both Jackie and Cole in regard to their relationship and each other, but return to my earlier comment, they are supposed to be kids. And I know when I was 16 I was hopeless!

Highlights of this story include;
The visit to the thrift shop
A phone call with Danny
Jackie working through her grief
Literally every time Isaac is present on the page. He is everything!

Fun read! Has me excited for season two of the show.

It was so good getting back into the world of the Walter Boys. This follow up to her "My Life with the Walter Boys" did a great job bringing you right back into the storyline.

It took me a moment to remember all the characters from the first book, and this story felt disjointed and forced for me. It was hard to understand Jackie’s reasoning for being on and off with Cole, and her moments with Isaac were too chaotic. But overall it was nice to be back with the Walter family. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an advanced copy.

Reread My Life with the Walter Boys before reading this one, which helped since I hadn't read it since at least 2015 or so.

I can tell it was written to sort of feed off the hype of the Netflix series (which I still haven't watched). I felt about it the same way I felt about most companion novels: I liked it for what it was, but didn't feel like it was necessary. I mean, it's been 13 years since the first book came out, so...

I did like how we delved into Jackie's grief. I remember rereading the first book and wondering more and more about that part of her life, so this companion novel did that well. I did get tired of the back and forth with Cole and his whole attitude and approach to just about everything. I honestly wanted Jackie to end up alone and work on herself. Maybe she did because I read a couple of ARCs off my Kindle when I didn't have a chance to catch up on reviews. Take that as you will.

Thanks, NG!

This book felt kind of forced. Like because of the tv series a second one had to be written. There was a lot of fluff in it and it just didn’t flow well. I also struggled with Jackie not wanting to be in a relationship because she needed to figure out her own stuff, to just suddenly being in one. It frustrated me that she wasn’t allowed to take the time she needed. I can usually read YA, but this one missed the mark for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

My Return to the Walter Boys by Ali Novak, is the sequel to My Life with the Walter Boys.
Jackie spent the summer in New York, and now she's back with the Walter family for the new schoolyear.
Much has chenged over the summer, but some things stayed the same.
Cole graduated from highschool, works at a garage and is off to college soon. Jackie enters her junior year at highschool, is still grieving her family and finding here footing.
A beautiful story about teenager with astounding maturity, a wonderful sequel to a fantastic first book. I recommend the book that deserves all the stars.

This book truly encapsulates teenage romance and how confusing love may be to teens. The grief in this book is portrayed well. Jackie is sculpted to be a more brave and independent person than the first book, and I really love seeing that growth.

I totally loved this book! It was a great sequel, so easy to read, I couldn't put it down. I'm definitely checking out the author's other stuff. Now I'm so hyped for the next Netflix season (if there is one)!

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!

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.

Thank you netgallery and to the author for this arc copy. This is my first ever arc.. so this is really special to me🥰
I give this book 3 stars! I still liked and enjoyed it very much! I read this book as a kid almost 11 years ago! And being able to read the 2nd book 11 years later I felt like a kid again lol! It’s also 3 stars because I’m not much of a YA reader it felt like it’s for the younger ones but I really wanted to know what happened from the ending of the first book and series. The tv show is a huge comfort show for me.

I enjoyed the relationship between Jackie and Cole for it to build up. I do feel like the ending was a little rushed. I wanted more details and more to the story what happens next…

I can’t wait to see how Netflix season 2 plays out


Favorite Quotes:

"Then there are days when you smile at me and I just...forget. All the pain fades away, and that makes me feel so damn guilty. How can I be heartbroken in one moment and happily kissing you the next?"

"You pushed through the pain so you could stay In the moment with me, and that means something,
Jackie."

"No, listen. This is gonna sound cheesy, but being with you makes me feel right in a way I haven't felt since playing football,"

If you liked the original story, My Life with the Walter Boys, then you will enjoy this book as well. This second book in the series picks up right where the original ended. Life is even more chaotic than the last book, and the drama never seems to end. It’s a fun read that will keep you hooked.

I loved it! Jackie and the Walter boys (and Parker of course) all felt very real and relatable in their own ways. I hope there’s another book because it’s so fun to see their world! But feeling very grateful for what we learned about everyone in this book. Thank you for the chance to read this! I will recommend it to friends and family!!

I did not love this book as much as the first book but I loved that there was a sequel. Such fun realistic characters. There is talk of sex and drugs.

A Heartfelt and Swoon-Worthy Sequel

Ali Novak delivers an unforgettable follow-up to My Life with the Walter Boys with My Return to the Walter Boys, a novel filled with romance, personal growth, and the warmth of family.

Jackie Howard’s return to the Walter ranch is just as emotional and exciting as fans could hope for. After a summer apart, she’s unsure where things stand with Cole—but from the moment they see each other again, the chemistry is undeniable. Ali perfectly captures the push and pull of first love, making every stolen glance and heartfelt conversation feel electric.

But this book isn’t just about romance. The Walter family remains the heart of Jackie’s story, bringing their signature humor, love, and chaos into every scene. Each sibling adds something special, making the ranch feel like home not just for Jackie, but for readers too.

Ali Novak’s writing is warm, engaging, and full of heart. She beautifully explores Jackie’s fears about the future, the uncertainty of love, and the challenge of stepping outside her comfort zone. Watching her navigate these emotions and embrace the unexpected makes for a deeply satisfying journey.

For fans of the first book, My Return to the Walter Boys is everything you could want in a sequel—romantic, heartfelt, and impossible to put down. Whether you’re here for the swoon-worthy love story or the charming chaos of the Walter family, this novel delivers in every way.

A big thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

I loved reading the first book back in my Wattpad days but like a decade later, I really struggled with these characters. Although the story had some cute moments, I spent the whole time frustrated with the main characters. I am normally a big fan of YA romance but this book just wasn’t for me.

Thank you net gallery for this arc! I fell in love with the Walter boys after the first book and just all the characters personalities and individuality that a sequel was much needed and this one did not disappoint. The bonds the families have with Jackie get touched on so more in this book. The relationship with her and Cole between the banter and the dynamics was a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel!

- [ ] This is an ARC review. I want to thank Ali Novak and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! While YA isn’t typically my genre of choice I couldn’t help but request this one. After reading the first book I fell I love with the Walter family chaos. For an only child here, it’s hard to imagine that all of that occurs in one house. The second book was a great sequel! I’m so thankful Jackie and Cole finally actually had a real conversation about them and any feelings they have for each other. Their banter back and forth was all I needed. Well really the whole family’s banter! Everyone cannot seem to help but to say whatever is on their minds! While Jackie and Cole didn’t immediately get together the tension that radiated to the point everyone else could feel it was high. Once they were finally together their roller coaster of their relationship brought all the feels! This is a such good YA book and I CANNOT wait for the second season of this to be released on Netflix.

3.50 stars 🌟

It was great to return to this happy crazy family. The tension between her and Cole was still 🔥 but at times she came off way to flighty. I love a slow burn but sometimes her dropping him like she did didn't make sense. Her grief for her family sti comes across and is done so well. This is book 2 so it's an absolute you have to read book one. I love the books and the show, and now I can't wait for season 2. Perhaps a season 3 should come as well

What a joy to return to this world after such a long break!
I’ve love seeing what the characters are up to and hope this gets a Netflix run as well. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!