The Golden Boys by Rachel Jonas and Nikki Thorne
Kings of Cypress Prep School #1
Teen & Young Adult Fiction
October 16, 2020, Self Published

This is the book that got me through this crazy, chaotic election week. It was just the distraction I needed from politics and nonstop map daddies. I’m looking at you Steve Kornacki.

My current book crack is bully romance and The Golden Boys, book one in the Kings of Cypress Prep series did not disappoint. What’s it about?

Here we go…
Blue has a hard life. Her brother is in prison for a mysterious, yet I suspect highly relevant to the plot line, crime. Her mom has left her family. Her dad is a raging abusive alcoholic and Blue has to take care of her younger sister, keep the lights on and everyone fed. Her brother, before being carted off, secured her a scholarship at the local elite prep school. I have no idea how he did this, but it could be related to his crime in some way. Blue is grateful for the opportunity, but nervous about fitting in and leaving her sister on her own in public school.

Meet West (last name = Golden), he seems to have a blessed rich life full of material things, and the cachè that comes with being one of three super hot triplets. All is not how is seems because West’s dad is super sketchy. He cheats on West’s mom, and while West is snooping to get his dad’s credit card, he finds a random mobile phone in his dad’s safe. On the phone he finds a photo of a beautiful topless young woman. His assumption is that this is his dad’s latest gorgeous mistress and he snaps a pic, leaves the phone in the safe and plots his dad’s fiery demise. Not really…but he’s angry, frustrated and amped up to do something about it.

Now, here’s the twist…

Blue starts at West’s prep school. He takes one look at her and…BAM! realizes she’s the young woman on his dad’s phone. He’s sure of it and ropes his brothers into making her life miserable. He never tells them why they’re doing it, but in true bro form, they are all in. If you’ve read your share of bully romances, you know what happens next. He’s a dick. A world class jerk, and his friends are terrible to poor Blue, too.

I won’t spoil anything else, but will say, the author does a great job of building up their love- hate relationship. Blue is strong, funny, brave and gives it back in spades to West. They prank each other and there are some really ugly (dangerous) stunts as well. The entire time, the author leaves clues that all is not how it seems. Throughout the entire book there is an interesting gossip app that posts photos and updates on the popular kids and Blue’s lives, stirring things up Page Six or Perez Hilton in high school style. I thought that was a fun device and I’m curious to know who this person who calls herself, “QueenPandora” is. I’m sure it’s an existing character.

The book ends on a MAJOR cliffy. You’ve been warned. Amazon tells me book two isn’t until April 2021 (for the love all things holy…) and the author’s FB page says she’s trying for December (yessss….please!)

Grade A

Amazon * Goodreads