Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

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.

Review:

This one had been on my wish list for a long time prior to reading it. It sounded like just my kind of a read...an romantic and fun contemporary read similar to one of Sarah Dessen's books! Thankfully, it was nearly perfect. Romantic, spellbinding, and simply unputadownable, My Life Next Door is a one of a kind debut, one that has left me pumped to read more by Ms. Fitzpatrick!

My Life Next Door had so many good things going for it, and even though I read this one all the way back in May, the plot and characters are still clear in my mind, which is always a good sign, in my opinion.

One of the things that made me love it so much was the main characters. Samantha Reed was an interesting main character. From the start, I couldn't help but be enamored in her world as well as rooting for her to finally break out of her shell. For so long, Samantha had been the picture perfect daughter. She always did the right things, talked to the right people, and dated the right boys, but when she meets the Garretts, her long time neighbors, everything changes. Suddenly, Samantha becomes a different person...someone who's not afraid to live, and to put it simply, I loved the new Samantha! The Garrets were always memorable. Even though there was so many of them, I had no problem keeping track of them. They were like the classic TV family...messy yet lovable and hilarious. I couldn't get enough of them all, especially Jase Garrett, Samantha's love interest. He was such an amazing guy. Sweet and adorable, Jase did so much to help out Sam, and they're relationship together was realistic

The plot in this was also a lot of fun. I loved finding out more about the Garrets as well as seeing Samantha evolve as a person as well as Samantha's relationship with Jase evolve as well. The dynamic between Sam and her mother and sister was also well done. The tension between them was easily felt, and in the end, I felt that everything ended just as it should...better yet not perfect. The thing that really got me about the plot, though, was that major twist at the end. I didn't see it coming, and while it really moved the book along towards the end, I wasn't always the biggest fan of it. It seemed weirdly placed and a little too soap opera like for me. However, I did enjoy the ending 100%. It was bittersweet yet the perfect way to end the book.

Lastly, I loved Huntley's writing! Very similar to Sarah Dessen and Simone Elkes. She really managed to develop her characters and plot lines and her writing just truly captured the summery feeling of this book.

In all, I simply adored My Life Next Door, and I highly suggest you pick it up as well!

Grade: A-

My Life Next Door (Amazon/ Barnes and Noble/ Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley