Review: My Life Next Door

Title: My Life Next Door

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publication date: June 14th, 2012

“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?

Rating: 5 stars
Without a doubt, My Life Next Door is my FAVORITE summer read of 2012. I had went into this book thinking I'd probably like it, but I honestly didn't think I would love it this much!

I've heard that this book is comparable to Anna and the French Kiss, but I don't think the style of writing and the story is as chick-lity and light as Anna--to me, it's more reminiscent of Sarah Dessen's novels. This book has the perfect blend of family problems, romance, friendship, and change. It's got something for everyone. All the wonderful elements of the story are just woven together so well, so flawlessly that I was completely flabbergasted that this was a debut novel! In my experience, it takes most authors maybe 1 or two books to really hit their stride in writing, and the last time I read a debut of this caliber would have to be John Green's Looking for Alaska.

The cast of characters in this book were all just so.... perfect. And I don't mean perfect as in, they're all flawless and nice, but perfect as in they'r very REAL. They're 100% believable.
The Garrett family stole my heart. Every single one of them. But especially Jase, the love interest (big surprise there!), and George, the toddler with a fascination with discovery channel.
Samantha was a great protagonist--I was a little iffy about her at first, but as the story progressed, she showed a lot of character growth and I grew to love her. Her mother, was a pretty difficult character for me to like because I just didn't like her whole attitude and she did a LOT of things I didn't agree with. And I never ended up liking her. BUT. At the same time, I could understand why she made the decisions she did. Lord knows I didn't want to empathize with her, but I couldn't help it! Darn you Huntley Fitzpatrick....

And on a side note, the most intriguing character of the novel for me was Tim, who is the brother of Samantha's best friend. He started off as a very annoying druggie, but he underwent SO much character development that by the end of the novel, that he became one of my favorite characters of the novel!

I can't possibly end this review without talking about the romance.... I mean, guys. Come on.
The romance in this book was sooooooo good! Like, OMG-why-can't-this-boy-be-real good. To be honest, I didn't expect too much from Jase after reading the blurb because he sounded like the quintessential nice guy next door who's all perfect and helps the main character realize she needs some change and blah blah blah. But boy was I floored when I started reading about him! He turned out to be so original and his swoon-factor was off the charts! His and Sam's relationship was very realistic and absolutely beautiful.

The only thing I wasn't crazy about this book was the ending. It felt a little sudden and a bit too open-ended for my taste. Overall, though, this book was freaking AMAZING. I can't wait to see more of Huntley Fitzpatrick's writing!

My Book Boyfriend: Jase Garrett

MBB is an awesome weekly meme started by Missie The Unread Reader (find out more at by reading the intro post) and is currently co-hosted by Lesley over at My Keeper Shelf!

I love My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, not only because it's a  fabulous summer read, but it introduced me to Jase Garrett who has earned himself a name on my list of all-time favorite book boyfriends!

Oh yes, he is that swoon-worthy.

“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 bit about Jase Garrett

• His first name is actually Jason
• He's the third oldest Garrett
• Likes to fix things
• has wavy brown hair, green eyes, and olive skin

His first meeting with Samantha:
"Hey," he says again, sitting down next to me as though he knows me well. "Need rescuing?"
I stare at this boy. He's obviously a Garrett, and not Joel, but which one? Up close, in the light spilling from my bedroom, he looks different from most of the Garretts--rangier, leaner, his wavy hair a lighter brown, already with those streaks of blond some brunettes get in the summer.
"Why would I need rescuing? This is my house, my roof."
"I don't know. It just hit me, seein gyou there, that you might be Rapunzel. The princess in the tower thing. All that long blond hair and... well..."
"And you'd be?" I know I'm going to laugh if he says "the prince."
Instead he answers "Jase Garrett," reaching for my hand to shake it, as though we're at a college interview rather than randomly sitting together on my roof at night.

Jase has a rather unusual... hobby?
"Walking into Jase's room is like walking into... well, I'm not sure... A forest? A bird sanctuary? One of those tropical habitats they have at zoos? It's filled with plants, really tall ones and hanging ones and succulents and cacti. There are three parakeets in a cage and a huge hostile-looking cockatoo in another. vI look, there are other creatures..."

Swoon-worthy moments:
"Jase?"
"Mmm-hmm?" He lift up on one elbow, his face barely visible in the twilight.
"You have to kiss me," I find myself saying.
"Yeah." He leans closer. "I do."
His lips, warm and soft, touch my forehead, then slide down my cheek, moving sideways to my mouth. His hand comes up to press the nape of my neck beneath my wet hair, just as mine slips to his back. His skin's warm beneath the cool sheen of water, his muscles tight as he lies there, still balanced on one elbow. I curl in closer. 

After about five minutes I say, "Put this back on now." I thrust his shirt at him.
"Okay. Why?"
"Just do it."
"Unbelievably distracted by my body, Samantha?"
"Yes."
He laughs. "Good. We're on the same page, then." There's a pause. Then he says, "I said that wrong. Like it was all about how you look, and that's not it. It's just that you're so different than I thought you were."
"Than you thought I was, when?"
"When I saw you. Sitting on your roof. For years."
"You saw me. For years?" I feel myself flush again. "You didn't tell me that."
"For years. Course I didn't tell you. I knew you watched us. Couldn't figure out why you didn't just come over. I thought... maybe you were shy... or a snob... I didn't know. I didn't know you then, Sam. Couldn't help watching you back, though."

Jase studies my face, then takes my hand, pulling me down. He carefully curls around me, so my head is resting on his arm, and his head's resting on my shoulder. His fingers move slowly through my hair. The paradox of Jase is that at the same time I'm so conscious of the head of his chest against my back, and the muscles under the shorts on the legs twined around mine, I feel so safe and comfortable that I fall, almost immediately asleep. 

Honestly, it's like every time Jase appears in the book, I fall more and more in love with him! I'll have a review of My Life Next Door up within the next couple of days so be sure to check back if you want to know more about the book! :)

Waiting on Wednesday #12

Hosted at Breaking the Spine

 My Life Next Door
by Huntley Fitzpatrick
to be published June 14th, 2012

“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.