Found via the Netflix series, which I'd happily binge-watched. Alas, a rare example of a screen adaption that was more nuanced and rich than the book. ( )

This was such a fun book to read and a much needed break from the heavy books I’ve been reading. Jackie looses her entire family in one night in a car accident. Her mom’s best friend, Katherine, steps in and offers for Jackie to come live with her and her family. Katherine leaves out the fact that there’s 12 boys waiting at home to meet Jackie. Walking into her new home, she’s thrown into an unknown world, very different than her NYC life. The book was entertaining and a great read, especially because two of Katherine’s sons are fighting for Jackie’s attention. If you’re looking for a fun story with a few laughs, this book is what you’re looking for. ( )

2.5 stars


( )

Jackie' parents and sister have been killed in a terrible car accident. Jackie has been living with an uncle but he travels a lot so her mother's best friend Katherine Walter decides to "adopt" her for a year. Jackie goes to live with the enormous Walter family which consists of eleven boys (and one girl?) on a farm in Colorado, Some of them are Katherine's biological children - two sets of twin boys, and some are nephews from her sister's failed life. So, not only must Jackie cope with the loss of her own family, she must try and absorb herself into this other giant family as well as coming to terms with the fact she no longer lives in New York but now is stuck in some tiny country town
To make matters even worse, there seems to be two of the boys Alex and Cole who are infatuated with Jackie and she must choose between kind-hearted, friendly Alex and roguish player Cole who gets her drunk the first time they go out together.
A fascinating book about being resilient and facing the truth about who you are and your place in families. I liked when the author strayed away from the central romance triangle into the lives of the other Walter boys although I was a bit confused about Parker as she was initially introduced as a boy. The Danny and Nathan characters as well as Lee the cousin all bring something to Jackie's story. I also liked that the boys' perspective was told in an additional chapter at the end of the book.
I read this book because a student raved about it and I can see why. Great read. ( )

I’m an only child and for as long as I can remember I’ve loved big families. Some of my favorite movies, books, and shows growing up had lots of kids. They didn’t even need to be families (Babysitters Club, Daddy Day Care and Camp), but I did prefer the families. Cheaper by the Dozen, Yours, Mine and Ours, Full House, even those reality tv shows with the huge families. I just couldn’t get enough of them. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a Weasley. I just love big families. So needless to say when I found out about My Life With the Walter Boys I knew I had to read it.

It took awhile for me to get my hands on this book but when I finally did I couldn’t wait to start it. I really enjoyed it, though I feel like the main reason I liked it as much as I did was because of the fact that there was a big family. It was probably a three star book for me, but I had to give it four because of how big and crazy the family was. There is just something about the loud, hectic, messy fun the comes with big families that I just can’t get enough of. I just eat this stuff up.

Even though I doubt I will enjoy Ali Novaks other book, The Heartbreakers, as much as this one, I'm still excited to read it. I probably should have read that one first. I am planning on reading My Life as a Walter Boy soon. ( )