Book review - The Boy Most Likely To

Title: The Boy Most Likely To
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi
                     The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Rating: 

a pleasant read

Summary: Tim used to be a major partier. In fact, his friends declared him the boy most likely to find the liquor cabinet, drive his car into a house, and drink himself to death. After getting kicked out of his prep school, he vowed to turn himself around. He's two months sober, living in a garage apartment, and working towards his GED. And he might just be falling in love with his best friend's sister, Alice. His chance at a better life is endangered, though, when his partying comes back to haunt him in a big way. 

My opinion: The Boy Most Likely To is actually a sequel (first book entitled My Life Next Door) but you don't really need to read the first one to understand this one. There were a few moments where I got the sense that Fitzpatrick was referencing something from the first novel but for the most part they didn't impede my understanding of the plot. While the general plot is familiar territory (former wild child finds out he has a baby with a kid he barely knows) the conclusion is fresh. The characters are solidly developed and likeable. While the plot arc is rather predictable, it's pleasant. This is a good book for an afternoon, light and entertaining.

More information: The Boy Most Likely To releases August 18.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.