My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick Published by Penguin on June 14th 2012
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 432
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
Huntley Fitzpatrick’s debut novel is a knockout. If this book is any indication, she is going to be one fantastic author!
My Life Next Door is a romance. It has one of the most beautiful, real love stories I have ever read (think Anna and Lola.) That, however, is only a small part of the story. The bigger part is a story of growing up, a story of friendship, and a story of family, both Samantha’s and Jase Garrett’s.
Samantha’s family may seem like the perfect one, in the beginning, but it quickly proves different. The Garretts are the real perfect family although they are better classified as perfectly imperfect. There are two relatively young parents and eight children from the ages of twenty down to one. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett, Joel, Alice, Jase, Harry, Duff, Andy, Patsy, and George are all wonderful characters. George is a sweet, inquisitive little boy. Patsy is the cutest little girl with an obsession with boobs. Joel is a good bad-boy. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are fabulous parents and very much in love. Harry and Duff are two funny little boys. Andy is a 14-year-old girl going through trials and tribulations with her first boyfriend.
Then there is Jase. Sweet, sensitive, sexy, wonderful Jase. There really are no flaws with this boy. As for the honorary members of the Garrett family, Samantha and Tim, they are just as great. Samantha is shy ans scared of going outside her comfort zone but she wants to explore her feelings for Jase (and his wacky family.) Tim has more problems than anyone should possibly have but he has some surprisingly wise moments. The rest of the cast of characters, Grace Reed, Tracy Reed, Flip, Clay, and Nan were minor characters but they were still remarkably well-developed and thought out.
The story starts off as a typical coming-of-age story but it doesn’t stay that way. It is a surprisingly fast-paced contemporary novel and while the real shocker doesn’t come until close to the end that doesn’t mean the story isn’t gripping from the start. Readers will be captivated by the romantic dynamics, the family dynamics, and towards the end, by the tragedy that rocks both worlds.
Overall, My Life Next Door is one of the best contemporaries I have ever read, right up there with Sarah Dessen, Susane Colasanti, and Stephanie Perkins. If I could give this book a higher rating, I would.
Looking for more reviews of My Life Next Door?
I can’t wait to read this book – my pre-order should arrive any day now :p Your review has made me even more excited for it – that is some high praise! 🙂
This one has been on my tbr pile forever. I am so happy it is finally out so I can go grab a copy. Thanks so much for reviewing it. I can’t wait to start it! Happy reading!
http://thebucketlist-gn.blogspot.com
I am so excited to read this book. It sounds amazing! Great review 🙂
-Montana@TheBookBelles
oh YAYY I am so glad you liked this one, and I love that you compared it to Stephanie Perkins! I love her books, so now I’m REALLY excited for this one!
when I saw the description for this book, I knew I had to read it. So glad to hear it’s living up to expectations.
I have heard countless amazing things about this book and I’m so glad it hasn’t received a bad review yet! (well from what I’ve read)I’ve been anticipating this book for a long time so it’s good to see it’s a great read! I can’t wiat to start reading it!
I want to read this so bad! But I have no idea when it comes out in Australia D:
I reviewed this book this week as well. I absolutely loved it!
I’ve heard nothing but awesomeness about this book and your review confirms it. I can’t wait to read it!
I love this book sososososososo much. Soooo much. Stephanie Perkins is a great comparison and Tim was probably my favorite character. I looooved seeing him grow up.
I’m so glad to hear good things, this one has been on my To Read list for a while now! Can’t wait to get my hands on it! 🙂
So glad you picked this one… Love the review…
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
A friend just gifted me this one for my Kindle, and now I’m even more excited to read it!:)
I have read a lot of good things about this book. I bought it but haven’t read it yet.
My blog – http://bookbloggermom.blogspot.com
I applied for this one in NetGalley, but it has not been approved (or denied) yet.
Ooohhhh! Thanks for convincing me to read this book! I’m not one for contemps, but I liked the Romeo/Juliet vibe 🙂
I just finished the book. Read it in 2 days. It was such a good book.
My blog – http://bookbloggermom.blogspot.com
Wow, that sound great. It must be very good if you want to read it even higher than the highest rating! This sound like a perfect summer read to me. I’ll definitely put this one on my vacation list with books I need to read ^^
I have this book at the ready! After reading your review I’m excited to get to it soon!
New follower: Arlene from WinterHaven Books 🙂
This book, THIS BOOK is the book of my HEART!! I kid you not. I totally loved it. I loved the romance which was so real and charming (the sex scene was so perfectly done, how it’s about feelings and emotions not the actual act) and I LOVED the characters. I totally fangirled over how Huntley Fitzpatrick wrote about a huge family while making each member a total individual you connect with and like and remember.
I absolutely loved this book! It’s absolutely ruined me though because now I will be comparing every potential love interest to Jase Garrett and I mean come on who can live up to that? I really liked that it didn’t just focus on the romance but so many other realities of life as well. I think that the romance was so wonderfully built up! Everything was just right, the pace of it, the tension. I just love how in love with each other Sam and Jase were and that they were just so on the same page with each other meaning that their love was new to both of them and that they were navigating it together! Definitely my new favorite book.