Book Review: The Theory of Second Best by J. Bengtsson

Student of economics beware! “The Theory Of Second Best” is a romance novel being reviewed, not the 1956 economic theory by Richard Lipsey and Kelvin Lancaster that says, “if one optimality condition in an economic model cannot be satisfied, it is possible that the next-best solution involves changing other variables away from the values that would otherwise be optimal.”

Well… that sounds just too theoretical. But, not for Kyle McKallister who had to play second fiddle to his famous older brother Jake McKallister, talented musician and rock star rolled into one.

But, perhaps Kyle could be the star, at least for once. Cast in a popular reality show, Kyle had to shed his sidekick persona and depend on his own wits to win. But, there was one complication – Kenzie Williams. She had gotten into his skin and he could not shake her off.

A coming of age story, albeit from the left field, “The Theory Of Second Best” is a tender look at friendship and love amidst a no holds barred competition.

The Theory Of Second Best” is Rated M for Mature due to sexual scenes, language and violence.

  • The Theory of Second Best
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Description:

Kyle McKallister has lived his life in the shadows. Younger brother to one of the world’s most elusive and embattled celebrities, Kyle has carved out a comfortable existence touring with his famous brother and living in the lap of luxury with no commitments or plans of his own, only a deep, haunting loyalty to his brother. But his life is about to be shaken up when the opportunity comes to compete on a popular reality show.

Small town girl Kenzie Williams has come on the show for one thing only: to win. But when a disastrous start forces her to rely on an eclectic band of misfits, she finds herself immediately smitten with a handsome and mysterious cast mate. Life on the island is just a game. Can Kyle and Kenzie’s fragile spark survive the pressures of the real world?

Warning! No alpha males were harmed in the making of this novel. While the laid-back, self-deprecating Kyle may someday discover his inner bad boy, he’s clearly still in the baby stages of self-discovery. This is the story of an ordinary young man stumbling his way through life and the everyday girl who shows him a better way.


Photos in collage: Beach by Aknafi and Guitarist in Concert by Pexels, both on Pixabay; Kissing Couple by Christiana Rivers on Unsplash.