2 out of 4 stars
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Front Runner recounts the story of Larry Bianchi, a poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks, that is desperate for greener pastures and a champion racehorse. With a knack for choosing winning racehorses, Larry captures the attention of some shady characters. When Mr. Bugiardini offers him a once in a lifetime opportunity, he jumps into the mafia underbelly with no question about what it might entail. Follow Larry as he learns the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Sometimes, it’s just a crook waving a green flag.
Front Runner started off great. A young, underprivileged kid with ambitious dreams getting caught up with the mafia - It sounds great. I enjoyed the story introducing the reader to a young Larry. We see him bright-eyed and innocent, as he dreams big with his friends about horses and enough money to help out his widowed mother. It makes his motivations real, and as the reader, I understood why Larry did the things he did. It also created a depth of character that I liked.
I genuinely liked Moehl’s portrayal of Larry’s love interest, Marissa. She’s not the type of romantic interest you would expect for a book set in the 1950s. She’s aggressive, takes control and loves winning. Front Runner runs a fine line between gore, organized crime, and utter ridiculousness. It led to incredible bouts of comic-relief, but, unfortunately, it also created a disconnect. It’s difficult to empathize with a character that you never really see as human. I want to connect with the character's story, not just read about it.
Now, although the book’s cover should have warned me, I was expecting something a bit more serious. The blurb was suitably ominous, and I was looking for a riveting read about a man struggling with temptation. Instead, I read about young boys becoming men by surviving their hormones, love and a crazy guy named Chef Jack. I was amped for battles, but none ever came. More time focused on describing horseracing statistics and Larry’s feelings for Marissa.
Larry had great drive, and his motives were always clear. I just wish that same detail had been used with the other characters, especially Marissa. I could have loved them all, but something was sorely lacking. The timeline also became confusing with huge time-skips and no indication of how long had passed.
I am happy to admit the typos were few, with only a missing quotation mark or two. While Front Runner is predominantly full of silly fun, it receives its fair share of gore, sex, and profanity, so be warned.
I rate Front Runner 2 out of 4 stars. I loved Larry’s mission and how his character grows throughout his journey, but I would have enjoyed Front Runner a lot more if there had been more detail to the supporting characters, and a sombre tone here or there, just to create a connection between the reader and the story. I would recommend this book to those seeking a story of a young boy as he grows into a man while battling his hormones and a guy with a meat cleaver.
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Front Runner
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