My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick on June 14th 2012
Also by this author: The Boy Most Likely To
(394 pages) • Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes & Noble
"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, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.
As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.
Okay obviously the first thing I need to mention is CONNECTICUT! I love when books are set in my state; I can definitely get a better feel for the setting and environment. Of course, the made-up town in this book is clearly down by the shore (an area I am definitely not from), so it barely feels like Connecticut. My part of the state features a lot of farms and smelly cows.
This book was definitely hyped up, but – thank god – met my expectations! I really loved Jase, and he’s the reason this book was so fantastic. Sam was an okay character, but a little flat. I know that she’s had a pretty sheltered life and Jase helped her get out of of her comfort zone a bit, but I just wasn’t totally on board with her. Regardless, I shipped them as a couple very hard. I liked how sex was kind of an important part of the book. Any YA book that talks about it or actually does it is okay in my book. It’s real! It’s a part of teenagers’ lives.
There were a few things that bugged me. I mean, clearly Tim had a problem with drinking and some drugs, but AS USUAL the portrayal of weed-smoking in a YA book bothered me. It’s something that I think authors don’t usually get right. This was no exception. Tim was a huge dickhead in the beginning but seriously shaped up throughout the book. At first, I was like “people really wanted a book about this asshole?” (since people were so excited for The Boy Most Likely To)… but I started to see it. I’m really eager to get started on that one, actually. Tim’s sister Nan…. oh lord. I have a lot of feelings about her and I’m wondering if anything gets “resolved” on that end in the next book. We’ll see, but just know that I would have absolutely punched her in the face if I were Sam.
“It’s all so good. My body is singing-happy, my days are full of good moments, my life feels more right than it ever has been before. And that can be, I learn, how it happens. You’re walking along on this path, dazzled by how perfect it is, how great you feel, and then just a few forks in the road and you are lost in a place so bad you never could have imagined it.”
The family feels in this one were definitely off-the-charts. I felt bad for Sam because her mom was definitely tightly wound and hard to deal with. The Garretts were the complete opposite but so excellent. I loved everyone in the family and could really picture the chaos (in a good way). And then… the twist happened. I won’t share spoilers, but I’m still not totally sure how I felt about it overall. It was a very serious topic that happened pretty late in the book (maybe about 75%) and I definitely didn’t see it coming. It got resolved in the way I predicted though. It kind of dampened my enjoyment for a while because I was incredibly frustrated with Sam. I know she was stuck between a rock and a hard place, but the answer felt pretty obvious to me.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this one and am eager to get started on Huntley Fitzpatrick’s other two books! I’m hoping for the same kind of feels and excellent boys. Jase is king in my heart though… for now.
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| Overall: | 4.3 |
It’s been ever so long since I first read MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, but I still think of it with great fondness. I really enjoyed reading about Jase and Sam! Their romance was sweet, and the Garrett family dynamic was irresistible. I’m so happy that you wound up really enjoying this one!
Yes! The family dynamic was one of my favorite parts.
Jase is literally one of the best YA book boyfriend role models out there. I TOTALLY know what you mean about Nan though. It almost reminded me a bit of the toxic relationship with Jules and Cricket in Nantucket Blue, and I’m hoping for some closure in The Boy Next Door as well!
I don’t want to spoil anything now that I finished TBND, but you’ll seeeee
I loved Jase too!! He definitely made this book for me… and of course the rest of the Garretts. But also I agree about Nan. I HATED her and I am hoping the next book clears some of those feelings up with some redemption for her.
Yeahhh let me know what you think when you read the next one! lol
I loved this book! I was a little timid when it came to reading it because it seems like everyone and their mom is a fan of this book, and I was just so afraid that I would be the black sheep and end up hating it.
Thank goodness I loved it! But I just loved Huntley’s writing in this one. Everything about it was just perfect. It’s definitely my favorite of Huntley’s books.
I read The Boy Most Likely To and wasn’t a huge fan, but this one was great!
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