How Netflix’s Critic-Panned Show Became the Perfect Summer Drama for Fans of Complicated Stories
The Netflix teen drama My Life with the Walter Boys is back, and once again people can’t stop talking about it.
The show, which is based on Ali Novak’s Wattpad novel, first hit Netflix in December 2023. From the beginning, it caught attention even though critics didn’t have many good things to say. Rotten Tomatoes gave it just a 45% approval rating with an average score of 5.3 out of 10.
But despite the bad reviews, the audience keeps coming back for more.
Season two was released on August 28, 2025, and Netflix already renewed it for a third season coming in 2026. That says a lot about how strong the fanbase is, even if critics don’t get the hype.
The next chapter is coming in hot.
— Netflix (@netflix) July 7, 2025
My Life with the Walter Boys returns AUGUST 28. pic.twitter.com/yXZMaSdxzs
The story is centered on Jackie Howard, played by Nikki Rodriguez. Jackie is a teen from Manhattan whose life changes after losing her parents in a tragic accident.
She ends up moving to rural Colorado to live with the Walter family, a household packed with seven sons and one daughter. The mix of grief, new beginnings, and teenage emotions quickly turns into a mix of romance, family drama, and yes, a messy love triangle that fans love to argue about.
On social media, people are very open about why they enjoy the show. One fan admitted, “I love a cheesy predictable teenage drama/love story. Give me the ‘I can’t stay away from you’s’ and the ‘being with you makes me feel so much I feel out of control.’ I will eat it up every time.”
Another viewer agreed, saying, “I love my stupid summer shows and I love a good found family and I love stupid teenage romance and I eat it up over and over again.”
The Walter boys themselves are a huge part of the buzz. Alex Walter, in particular, is winning hearts.
A fan wrote, “I started watching My Life with the Walter Boys and Alex Walter is genuinely like my dream man, he’s so fine.” But not everyone is thrilled about the love triangle, especially since it involves two brothers and Jackie. One person admitted, “Just finished watching My Life with the Walter Boys after promising myself I’ll never watch a love triangle that involves 2 brothers and a girl.”
The show’s popularity is also fueled by the chemistry between the cast. A fan on social media pointed out, “One thing I love so much about the My Life with the Walter Boys cast is that they all genuinely like each other. They get along so well with each other and are always hanging out. It’s so refreshing to see because that’s so rare nowadays.”
Of course, not every reaction has been positive. Some people feel let down after binging the latest season. As one review bluntly said, “Finished My Life with the Walter Boys. If you haven’t watched I recommend you don’t because WHAT THE F***.”
Good or bad, the show is being talked about everywhere. With its mix of teen love, family drama, and binge-worthy chaos, My Life with the Walter Boys has become one of Netflix’s most popular summer shows.
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