Book Review: Two Houses (Verona College Book 1)

Rich Boy, Poor Girl

By GG Collins           Copyright 2024

Given this story has unfolded during each generation, even before the writing of Romeo and Juliet, Two Houses has taken this time in everyone’s life and made it all the more poignant and introspective. Told from the viewpoint of each character, in the capable hands of M.G. Cobbett, makes it an intimate read from start to finish.

Todd Steadman II and younger brother Jessie live in the neighborhood of Hawthorn Hill. Their father is chief constable in Beswick Stanton. It is the first day of school at Verona College and we immediately learn that Todd has broken off with his girlfriend Tamara Lewis, also “affectionately” known as Tampon Lewis.

Recognized for his bullying, Todd directs his attentions on Carmel Edwards. Boys used to pull girl’s pigtails when they were interested in dating her, but Todd chooses the fine art of bullying to pave the way to a date. He may not always get what he wants. His father has big plans for him including who he will marry. And he goes to absurd lengths to insure it happens; even controlling the boys’ cell SIM cards.

“I have warned their single mother that she is to keep her trash away from you or face the consequences. Last warning. I won’t have it.” – Todd Steadman, Sr.

The “trash” are Carmel and Penny.

For Jessie, the artistic one, he must live with the knowledge he is his father’s least favourite son and maybe isn’t loved by him at all.

Carmel and her sister Penny live – as we have come to call in the US – on the wrong side of the tracks. Their mother is raising them alone and Carmel has taken it upon herself to help out her mother with meals and housekeeping duties and works part-time at a petrol station. The sisters’ relationship of support and love is beautiful reading.

As the story unfolds, the boys’ mother Norika Fujimoto, who lives in Japan tries to intervene, but will she be successful? Read these soulful pages to find out if anyone gets their happy ending. You won’t want to stop turning pages.

Available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CG4PR6W3 and in the UK https://tinyurl.com/bdfkj3fb