This book contains:
- Teen pregnancy
- Death of loved ones and the resulting grief
- Orphaned child
- Overcoming addiction.
Matteo is a recently retired professional soccer player struggling to adjust to life after soccer. While he was known as Lucky Luca on the field, his life hasn’t always been so “lucky”. Those same experiences are exactly what drives him to help his neighbour Porsha when it becomes clear she needs help.
Porsha is struggling — at home and at work (at least in her eyes). So far she hasn’t been able to keep a nanny for longer than a week for her unruly nephew and it’s impacting her work in more ways than one, as well as her sanity.
After Matteo is unexpectedly introduced to Porsha’s lingerie, he finds himself meeting the woman herself, and offering to be her manny. While both Matteo and Porsha feel an attraction to each other, they’re both more interested in Fin’s wellbeing and ensuring he has the best opportunity to thrive as possible.
As Matteo’s time as a manny continues throughout the whole summer school holidays, beyond the initial week they’d agreed to. They find resisting each other harder and harder, even while they help each other see their “problems” from a more objective point of view.
I always love Rachael’s books, and I did really enjoy this!
I just found the title a little misleading. At least, by my definitions for “rebel” and “tycoon”. I personally wouldn’t attribute either of these adjectives to Matteo based on what we learn of him by the end of the book.
A rebel to me is someone who knowingly does the wrong thing and stirs trouble, with little to no care about how their actions impact others. Which just never felt like Matteo. And then there’s the tycoon bit. A tycoon to me is someone who’s worth in the billions and owns multiple different types of businesses across several industries. Which based on what we learn about how Matteo makes his money post soccer; this also doesn’t fit him.
Instead, he came across as a really thoughtful, considerate guy who’s been proactive about learning how to adjust to life after his professional soccer career. Which is quite admirable to me.
On the other hand, I’m surprised he kept trying to help Porsha. I would have given up by the time we got barely halfway through the book. Not because I don’t like helping people, more because of how she responded to his attempts to help.
To me, these two couldn’t be more opposite. Even while they process their own individual grief, and learn how to live in their new world.
