Book Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Dial
Expected Publication: June 14, 2012
Pages: 304
Age Demographic: Young Adult
Received via: ATW ARC Tours
amazon | b&n

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.

* Summary taken from Goodreads.

❝My Thoughts❞

My Life Next Door is a wonderfully compelling novel, filled with intrigue and likable characters. It's beautifully filled with the essence of a sweet summer romance. Huntley Fitzpatrick has done a brilliant job of crafting such a sweet and tragic story that readers will find themselves relating to, well developed characters, and tension filled pages. The plot is tension driven with drama that will keep readers glued to their seats. Huntley's characters are incredibly relatable and easy to connect with.

Samantha Reed is a super delightful character to get to know. She has spent so much of her time watching the family next door and wondering how they could have such a great time in comparison to her little family. Little does she know how much her life will change, the night Jase climbs up her trellis and manages to shift her point of view. Samantha finds herself falling in love with his family just as much as she's falling for Jase. Samantha almost represents a butterfly emerging from a cocoon throughout the story, as she begins to discover things about herself that she hadn't realized before. She's growing into the person that she's always wanted to become and is starting to make decisions and start living her life the way she's always wanted to do.

The Garrett family is large and endearing to watch. George is just as adorable and entertaining as he can be. Their zany antics and the love they have for one another was delightful to read. It was interesting to see the contrast that Huntley Fitzpatrick explored a bit between this family and Samantha's. It made it that much more compelling. It's also fun to see how well Samantha fit in with the Garrett clan and becomes just as loved.

Samantha and Jase's romance is truly one of the sweetest and most vulnerable aspects of this book. They are incredibly adorable and deeply earnest in their feelings for one another, from the beginning as their relationship continues to grow and their connection develops deepens more over time. In an unexpected twist of drama, Huntley Fitzpatrick turns the story on its head and almost sends Samantha and Jase's world crumbling down around them when a horrible accident occurs leaving Samantha unprepared about what to do next. What she has to decide next holds the power to hurt two people that she cares a great deal about and she's not exactly sure how to handle it. The decision that she finally comes to is a bit unexpected, but in a wonderfully tragic aching way that will leave readers breathless with emotion.

The only drawback for me personally, is that it seemed as if the aftermath of the drama was a little too neatly wrapped up. Other than that, the novel itself is such a wonderfully fun, realistic view of summer romance, good laughs, and self-discovery. Fans who enjoy the amazing writing style of Sarah Dessen, Sarah Ockler, Susane Consalati, or Stephanie Perkins will absolutely fall in love with this book, as it's the perfect summer read to curl up with a glass of lemonade on a hot sunny day, underneath the shade and read.

{ This ARC was provided by ATW ARC Tours, in exchange for an honest review which I have provided. No money exchanged hands, I review books for fun because I love to read. I am not interested in monetary gain. Any piece of this ARC that was/wasn't quoted, is not part of the finished product and should not be perceived as such.}