Monday, May 21, 2012

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick



My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Published: June 14, 2012 by Dial Books (Penguin Teen)
Received: ARC for review from NetGalley & Penguin - thank you!
My Life Next Door
"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. {goodreads.com}

I can't stop thinking about this book.  It's the kind of story that lingers with you, even when you're not reading it.  I had a feeling I'd fall in love with the pages of this one, but I had no idea just how much it would capture my heart.  My Life Next Door holds all the elements for what I see as a perfect YA contemporary novel.  There is young love, passion, conflict, friendship, trials, and so much uncertainty that comes along with those precious adolescent years.  I feel as though I know these characters.  I may even live just next door.  So much of their world, has become a part of mine.  Their stories are edged in to my mind, fitting comfortably where I never want to forget them.

Samantha comes from a very strict one parent household.  Her mother is currently running for election, with her desires to please the local seaside New England town before attending to her own daughter's needs.  Nothing is ever looked at too carefully, bits and pieces of their crumbling life are continuously swept under the rug (or sucked up in Samantha's mom's vacuum).  But there is a family next door, a large vibrant family, which has captured Samantha's attention since she was a little girl.  Always peeking inside their windows from her balcony next door, wondering what it would be like to be a part of such a pulsating family.  Then one day, Jase, the second oldest son to an army of children, climbs Samantha's trellis and invites her inside their world.

I was completely captured by the Garrett family.  From the strong, yet laid back so-in-love parents... to the colorful array of siblings.  Each one came alive through the pages and I found myself wanting to be a part of this family almost as much as Samantha.  And then of course, there is the boy.  Oh sweet Jase.  He has stolen my heart.  Such a good, good boy.  I adored his will to step in when the family needed him most, but I also admired his innocence when it came to falling in love with Samantha.  These two characters hold a winning prize for strong, yet easily shattered characters as they should be in YA lit.

There is laying on the grass, hands intertwined, all while star gazing.  Climbing up trellises and into open windows in the middle of the night.  Taking late night swims to cool off from the summer heat.  And the sweetest, softest, most desirable first everything's for what a true teenage romance should be.  I adore this novel so, so much.  I was expecting a summer romance, but got a story that went so far beyond that.  I know this will be a contemporary novel that I will revisit time and time again.  How could anyone say goodbye to the Garretts?


21 comments:

  1. Wow. What a review! I couldn't agree more with everything you said! Such a beautiful book, I LOVE the Garrets too! :)

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  2. This sounds like such an engrossing read full of wonderful, loveable characters. You've made me wish I had the book sitting next to me so I could pick it up and start reading it right away.

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  3. Ahhh fudge, I want this book so bad but NetGalley = no approval. I guess I can wait another couple weeks :) This review, naturally, made me want it so much more. And I love that cover! I LOVE KISSING COVERS!

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  4. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! It's been on my wishlist for a while and now I'm REALLY looking forward to reading it.

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  5. I am so glad that you adored this book! I've been awaiting its release for a long time, and totally preordered it before we got the Galley so... I'm really glad you loved it! Sounds like everything I love in a contemporary YA and hey, that yellow dress is AWESOME. ;)

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  6. It sound so sweet!
    I'll be sure to keep this book on my radar! It does sound like a lot of things a YA should be!
    thanks for t he review

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  7. I love how we can't stop TALKING about this book too! So glad we had a little read-along :)

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  8. Awesome review! The book sounds really awesome, definietly going to put in on my wishlist :)

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  9. I just finished reading this book last week and pushing the limit yesterday and now I can't get either of them out of my head!!! I'm on this Contemp YA kick now

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  10. OOoo What a cute review... now.. I have to meet his boy!! Jase seems like an amzing boy I most definitely have to meet! Thanks!!!

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  11. Sounds adorable. I'm going to buy it on its release day!

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  12. Wonderful review! i've been wanting this book forever and I'm so glad you loved it!

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  13. This book needs to be mine! I already decided months ago that I would want to read it but now it is a definite MUST! I foresee a Barnes & Noble trip in my very near future ;)
    p.s. Awesome review!

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  14. And when I say very near future, I of course mean in June...when it publishes! Lol!

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  15. I cannot wait to read this. It sounds so sweet and your review makes me want to read it so much more. Amazing review :)

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  16. Oooh I saw this one a while ago and it looked intriguing! DEFINITELY adding this to my summer reading list fo sho!

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  17. I requested this one from NG after hearing you rave about it! :)

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  18. I only read part of this post because I'm waiting on my preorder, but it sounds like I might LOVE IT. Excited to read now!

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  19. Oh my golly, your review has me wanting My Life Next Door RIGHT now. I think when it comes in from the library I'll set aside a day to just go outside and read it on the lawn because that seems like just what it needs :D

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  20. I just finished reading Anna's review, which got me excited about this book. And now I've read yours and I'm practically dying for this come out! This book sounds adorable and like the PERFECT summer read! With the pool finally open, I want to have a cute book like this in my hands pronto!

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  21. I always rely on you and your reviews for my YA contemporary recommendations - and so far, none have failed me yet. This is definitely a book that I want to add to the list!

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