Book Review: The House of Wolves, James Patterson and Mike Lupica

The House of Wolves is another book that I found good, not great.

The Wolf family is a San Francisco power family. They own the professional football team, as well as the prestigious San Francisco Tribune newspaper. When the patriarch dies under mysterious circumstances, the reading of his will brings many surprises. Thirty-six-year-old daughter, Jenny, has been given control of the newspaper and the football team. Her brothers are not happy. Jenny had been an outcast and had not had contact with the family. So all sorts of things are planned to wrestle away the football team from Jenny. You see, her brothers have planned to sell the team to make a huge profit.

Jenny also suspects her father's death was actually a murder, and she's out to prove it and avenge her father's death. Nasty family. Lots of deception and backstabbing.

I'm usually a fan of Patterson and have read a couple of Lupica's books. I found that I didn't care much for the characters. Most of them weren't very nice. And maybe the book went on a bit long, although it isn't that long of a book. I was interested enough, but life got in the way and it took me a long time to finish, so that may be part of it.

It has a nice little twist at the end, but I wish this character had been introduced earlier in the book. I think the ending would have had a bigger impact. So, as stated, I liked The House of Wolves by two very popular authors. If it sounds like something you would like, I would recommend it.

Published by Little, Brown & Co., January 9, 2023
eARC obtained from Edelweiss+
400 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: After the Game by Abbi Glines

I'm picky about my romantic contemporary novels, but After the Game has enough substance included, and I really enjoyed it.

The story of Riley and Brady is a high school romance with an emphasis on family, forgiveness, and responsibility. Riley and her parents have recently returned to Lawton, Alabama, after being run out of town because she accused Rhett, the high school football star, of rape.  They have returned to take care of Riley’s grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's.  Riley has also brought a child that was a product of that rape. Rhett is away at college, living the dream as if nothing happened.

Riley is shunned, and sometimes worse, by pretty much everyone in the town. No one believed her about the rape, and no one knows about the baby.  No one has been welcoming; in fact, her old friends have been much the opposite-- until Brady, a football star who was Rhett's best friend, picks her and the baby up during a rainstorm.

Riley’s parents are refreshingly present and supportive.  The story follows the expected path, but there is some depth added with the Alzheimer’s angle and also Brady dealing with seeing his father having sex with a woman who is not Brady’s mother.

Brady is the best quarterback in the nation, and the team is on their way to a state championship.  So developing a relationship with Riley and revealing his father’s transgressions are not something Brady needs to focus on with his scholarship on the line.  But he cannot avoid either one of these issues.

Brady is a “too good to be true” guy and Riley is a  bit perfect for a teen mom, but their relationship takes a natural, slow progression that is refreshing. For teens who enjoy a feel-good high school romance, this one will definitely satisfy.

Published by Simon Pulse, August 22, 2017
ARC obtained from Libraries Unlimited
352 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Stupid Fast, by Geoff Herbach

Stupid Fast is a cute, funny book about a teen boy who goes from picked on to popular because all of a sudden he can run very fast.

As Felton goes through puberty, he grows very big and becomes very athletic without even trying. Once the track coach sees him running in PE, his life takes a very different turn. Once track is over, it's summer -- but the football team has Felton's summer all planned out, since he is going to be their star running back in the fall.

Felton also has to take over his best friend's paper route for the summer. And, the girl that lives in his best friend's house for the summer has caught Felton's attention.  She's a pianist -- a very good pianist, and she's hot.

Felton's life isn't perfect, however. Felton's dad committed suicide when Felton was five, and his mother hasn't told Felton and his little brother anything about their father. As Felton grows and changes, his mother checks out. She stays in her room all the time -- won't do anything for the boys. There's no food. The house is a mess. They are totally on their own, and their mother doesn't want anything to do with the boys.

There's drama, romance, sports, and a lot of teen angst. It's all written very well, and is very entertaining. I think Stupid Fast is a great book for teen boys who enjoy sports and want to read about a realistic struggling teen.

This just isn't my kind of book. It reminded me of Swim the Fly (which I liked) or Carter Finally Gets It (which I couldn't finish.) I don't like teen jock humor. I did like the dramatic part of Stupid Fast but I guess I just don't relate to the awkward male teen. Or, at least I don't like to read about them.

I read Stupid Fast because it's nominated for our High School Teen Book Award for next year, and I always read all of the nominees. I can see why Stupid Fast is on the list -- but it's just not my kind of book.

Published by Sourcebooks Fire, 2011
Copy obtained from the library
311 pages

Rating: 3/5

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