Who Jackie ends up with in My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 is nothing like the books

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for My Life With the Walter Boys season three and the books*

My Life With the Walter Boys season three is here, and it takes an even more devastating turn for Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez) and Cole (Noah LaLonde) before ending on a cliffhanger that could change everything. 

If you remember, season two of the YA Netflix series ended with a similarly dramatic cliffhanger, with Alex (Ashby Gentry) catching Jackie and Cole professing their love for one another, which was swiftly interrupted by the news that George (Marc Blucas) had been in an accident. 

Season three picks up where we left off – don’t worry, George is okay in the end. As for Jackie and Cole, they do finally get together, but it’s short-lived. Part of the reason being Jackie’s friend from New York, Eliot (Naveen Paddock), who basically convinces Cole he’ll never be good enough. 

Cole breaks up with her later in the season, believing she’d be better off without him – but this just leaves her confused and devastated. Do they find their way back to each other in the end?

Who does Jackie end up with in My Life With the Walter Boys season 3?

Technically, Jackie’s still single by the end of My Life With the Walter Boys season three. Eliot does kiss Jackie during the community centre opening night, but she doesn’t officially begin a relationship with him as the finale wraps up there. 

The twist is that Cole almost changes everything. After Jackie texts Cole to thank him for helping make the opening night a success, he realises breaking up with her was a mistake. Determined to tell Jackie he still loves her, he races to find her.

On the way, rival racer Danvers (Jedidiah Goodacre) catches up with Cole, furious that he walked away from a competition. He rams into Cole’s car, sending it careering off the road in a violent crash. 

The finale cuts away before revealing whether Cole survives, leaving Jackie not knowing that he was on his way to reconcile with her, let alone that his fate is hanging in the balance. She’s blissfully unaware for the time being, and potentially starting up something new with Eliot. 

Speaking to Netflix, showrunner Melanie Halsall said, “There’s something between Eliot and Jackie. Eliot’s had this thing for Jackie and they got closer after she broke up with Cole. 

“I think there’s a moment for Jackie where she looks at Eliot and thinks, ‘Maybe this is the kind of guy I end up with. Maybe this is the world I should belong to.’”

Why it’s a huge change from the books

If you were hoping the books would reveal what happens next, you’re out of luck. Eliot doesn’t exist in Ali Novak’s original My Life With the Walter Boys novels at all. 

The childhood friend was created exclusively for the Netflix adaptation, meaning the entire season three love triangle between Jackie, Cole and Eliot is brand new for the show.

The books also give Jackie a much clearer ending. Rather than leaving her torn between multiple love interests, Jackie ultimately ends up with Cole. 

Alex is no longer a serious romantic contender by the conclusion of the novels, and the pair’s relationship is presented as the story’s natural endgame. We can assume (or maybe hope) the show will follow suit, but that’s for the producers to know and for us to find out. The good news is season four is on the way. 

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Featured image credit: Netflix