My Life Next Door

I chose to give this book a 2 star rating because I was very disappointed by the ending. The book itself was decent but I felt like there was no closure whatsoever. The whole point of reading a book is for the amazing wrap-up, and you don't get that in this novel.

I heard about this book via YA Reads or maybe even the SBTB site and thought it looked pretty awesome. I mean, the cover alone makes me so excited, it isn’t funny. But I kept waiting for the price to go down–it didn’t. Finally, after months of waiting, I bit the bullet.

Samantha has spent her whole life in her large home, trying to be the opposite of her older sister and be the perfect daughter for her politician mother. But Samantha can’t help but watch the Garrett’s next door from her window. They are the one thing in the world she is forbade to associate with, per her mother’s instructions.

The Garrett family is loud, and there’s a new one every few years. Toys litter their yard, as do cars. And one night she is seen by Jase Garrett–who proceeds to climb the trellis and knock on her window. And then, seventeen year old Samantha Reed’s life begins. Suddenly, her private school education and country club membership mean little. She begins to realize that the world is larger than her home and her already planned life. And Jase’s kisses make her come alive.

But when Jase begins to ask questions about why she’s in his life (and at his house) while he’s still ‘the guy from the wrong side of the tracks,’ Samantha begins to question if everything she has been taught is really right. And she begins to see cracks in those she previously thought of as unbreakable. As Samantha is stuck between two people she loves, will she be able to find a solution that makes everyone happy?

I so enjoyed this book, and want to pick up the second in the associated ‘world’ as soon as possible. With the Mt TBR Double Dog Dare, I won’t be able to read it until April 1, so I am going to make a note of it. The next book features one of the more compelling characters in the book, Tim. Tim is Samantha’s friend (and her best friend’s twin brother)–but he’s battling a horrific drug and alcohol issue, but cleans up throughout My Life Next Door.

Jase just feels like the absolute perfect book boyfriend. He’s good with his hands (can fix just about anything) and loves animals. He plays football, and has enough time to help his six brothers and sisters (and parents) whenever possible. And his kisses. Huntley Fitzpatrick explains kissing in a way that would make even the most chaste person want to do some research. And, he gives good conversation. In short, I think this book would give younger readers the message not to settle for someone, unless there is a LOT going on. Which is awesome.

I wholeheartedly enjoyed this read, much more than I originally thought I would and I am so incredibly happy that I picked it up. You can pick it up in hardcover, paperback, ebook or audiobook format from your favorite book retailer.

Honestly, I think there should be a sequel because in the ending you never what really happened with all o the character's lives. Does Samantha actually move or does she stay with Jase? Do the Garrets get out of bankruptcy? You are left with too manny questions. But overal its a verywell written book, I really enjoyed it.

okay dis samantha chick is annyoing as frick first of all samantha is a sucky name you need to make ppl call you sam or sammy second of all FRICKIN TALK dis dumb chick never talks then dosnt like when her friends stops being friends with her. not the best book ive ever read not gonna lie but it was okay. i didnt really like anyone cause no one was funny i need some comic relief in my life not this serious stuff but jase is hot hot hot as a TATTTER TOOTTTTTTTTT okay thats it dont spend 7 dollars on this get the perfect game or something k bye

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 14, 2012
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Won a giveaway

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

What I Liked:

I am not going to lie: I LOVED this book! This book continues my contemporary reading streak, and makes me never want to read anything else! I finished it, and then a couple of hours later, I picked it up and again and re-read some parts of it. This morning, when I woke up, I stayed in my bed and thought about this book. It's such a compelling read! And here I am gushing like an obsessed person :)

Samantha. She is such a wonderful and likable heroine. She is not ditzy and stupid, nor is she fierce and wild. I like how she thinks in most situations. She is so kind and sweet, especially with the Garrett children, Tim, and her family. I admire her decision at the end, though I think she should have done that sooner.
I immediately liked Jase, once he made his debut in this novel. He is so nice! And handy to have around - he can fix anything! Must be nice. I love his loyalty to his family, as well as to his animals, his Mustang, and finally, to Samantha. He is the kind of boy that I think every girl wants, not the hardcore bad boy that every girl thinks she wants.

I liked the dual plot - Samantha's life with Jase, and Samantha's life at home. Both sides of the plot had great depth, and even though I did NOT like Samantha's mother, I appreciated the amount of writing Ms. Fitzpatrick does that involves Grace and Clay.
The end, or I suppose the climax, completely caught me by surprise. I knew something bad was going to happen - the synopsis says that something will cause Samantha's world to shatter, but I did not know what it would be. When it happened I was shocked. I did not see that coming. Nevertheless, the end is a very, very good one. Several things are not resolved, but I find it a satisfying end.

What I Did Not Like:

I want to say nothing! But as I said above, several things were not quite resolved, and I would have loved to see them wrapped up. But, it did not bother me as much as some loose ends not being tied in some books did.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! This could be my favorite contemporary so far. It's at least one of my favorite contemporary novels that I have ever read.

Rating:

5 stars. If you ever get the chance to read any contemporary novel, make it this one!

Even though they're Muggles, the Garretts reminded me so much of the Weasleys. Whenever I first read Harry Potter as an only child of a single parent, I wanted so badly to be a Weasley child. I wanted that sibling bond. Reading about the Garretts in My Life Next Door gave me that same feeling. At first glance, it seems as though Fitzpatrick has delivered just another contemporary teen romance with a cute cover. But after investing in My Life Next Door, I've discovered that it's so much more than that. It's a story of growing up, family, friendship, and love of all kinds.

I really do have so much love for this book. So far, it has been my favorite read of this summer. Fitzpatrick has such an easy writing style that I easily found myself lost in the world she had created. But the characters are really what made this book for me. I loved Sam. She faced things that so many teens do today, and I felt a sense of camaraderie with her. A lot of the things she went through and emotions that she was forced to process I can recall from my own confusing teenage years. The entire Garrett family pulled me in. I felt like part of them. The entire time I was reading My Life Next Door, I wanted to be a member of the family.

Huntley Fitzpatrick does teen romance right. Even though this book could have easily fallen prey to the constraints of the over-saturated YA contemporary market, it really exceeds all expectations and carves its place as an original story. The plot was paced perfectly. I have yet to find a book with better pacing than this one. I was absolutely enthralled with this story. Whenever I finished My Life Next Door, I wasn't ready to leave the world of Sam and Jace behind. That's always a solid indication for me that I've just read an incredible book that will leave an effect on me for a very long time. Book two in this series, The Boy Most Likely To, can't come soon enough.

“Everything was wonderful and then everything was awful.”

Okay, so maybe that's a tad hyperbolic, but Samantha "Sailor Supergirl" Reed's sentiment on her life pretty much sums up my feelings on her book as well. What started out as a sweet -- albeit cheesy -- summer romance quickly transformed into a morality debate with a side of political cover-up.

I wish I was kidding, but unfortunately I'm not. Now don't get me wrong, in a genre plagued by love triangles, it was nice -- initially -- to see a change of pace and an obstacle presented outside of a competing male love interest. However, the problem with the big "unthinkable" event in My Life Next Door was simply that: it was unthinkable. Everything about it was inconceivable. From the rushed timing to the probability of said incident occurring, to -- most importantly -- the reactions of the character's involved.

Honestly, when you're first hit with the twist it's jarring. If you're like me, you'll have to go back and reread the pages to combat your feelings of "WHAT??"

The most upsetting part was that the twist had potential to be interesting. It could have presented the reader with a compelling quandary of: "What would I do if placed in a similar situation?" Unfortunately, a mere page or so later, the incident's intrigue crashes and burns due to the character's (you guessed it) unthinkable behavior. I didn't have time to ask myself: "What would I do?" because the character's took it to a whole other -- wholly unrealistic -- level. Maybe I'm wrong, but the whole last half of the novel felt rushed, far-fetched, and outside of the realm of possibilities.

Now I know what you're thinking: "It's YA contemporary! Lighten up!" And normally, I'd be with you. But even our leads fell flat for me. We know literally nothing about our heroine Samantha except that she comes from money, works 2 jobs, makes good grades, and has a perfect body. We don't know her goals, aspirations, motivations, or anything that makes her "worth fighting for."

And our male love interest is just as stereotypical. Fore real Jase's Prince Charming's first words to Sam are: "Hey, need rescuing?" He's sugar and spice and everything nice, but not what pages are turned for.

In fact, the only reason I'm rating this higher is due to two secondary characters that stole the show.

First up, the adorably precocious 4-year-old George that kept the book light and entertaining with his incessant worries about everything from astronauts to bacon. In a family of 10-going-on-11, he found a way to stand out and steal scenes. And -- thanks to my recent viewing of IT -- I kept picturing this cutie pie while reading and that face alone is worth an increased star rating!

“Why do all the hot girls want the jocks and the good boys? We losers are the ones that need you.”

This weighty thought comes from Tim, a troubled teen who's layers and commentary kept me attentive throughout the story. His character had levels I was interested in exploring and personally makes me believe his spinoff novel (The Boy Most Likely To) will be more engrossing than it's original counterpart.

Overall...
While this book didn't live up to the hype for me, I'm certain it would be a great read for younger audiences looking for a book on first loves, first betrayals, and navigating the obstacles associated with growing up. Plus, there's a corn snake named Voldemort that has a shoe fetish, so if that does anything for you then don't hesitate to pick this up!

This seemed set to be a sweet romance, as the main character Samantha Reed falls for the boy next door, but turns into a conscience story part of the way through, with moral dilemmas which make it hard to put down.

Samantha’s mother, Senator Grace Reed, is an ambitious and highly critical person with a shiny image to maintain. The large Garrett family who lives next door is far more relaxed and spontaneous, and each member values comfort and affection over keeping up appearances. Samantha has secretly watched the Garretts from her upper window for years, and one evening Jase, the second eldest son, introduces himself and quickly wins Samantha’s heart.

Sam is a lovely, honest narrator who has trouble juggling family loyalty with disenchantment over some of her mother’s unscrupulous values. Senator Grace makes a terrible mistake which hurts every member of the Garrett family and turns their lives upside down. Sam knows speaking up about it may destroy her mother and rock her own life, so she faces an enormous ethical conflict.

Deceptiveness of appearances is a major theme. On the surface, Samantha appears to be the girl who has everything going for her, but a lifetime of being repressed and controlled by her mother has been covered up. Even she is seduced into thinking her life is picture perfect by those who resent or envy her, but comes to understand it’s nothing of the sort.

I get how some readers could call the start too slow, others too fast, and they could both be right, in different ways. The pace sort of meanders along at first, with a romance that just rockets off without much conflict. There is also a fair bit of dialogue which is written more for characterisation than moving along the plot. I’d urge them to persevere because the story does take off in a shocking way. And of course, the type of reader who just wants to escape to another world full of lovable characters will probably be hooked from the start, just as Samantha is when she spies on the Garretts. Some of the younger members of the Garrett family are very cute.

A couple of side characters help make this story something special, and that’s the Mason twins. Sam’s best friend, Nan is an anxious perfectionist, and her brother Tim is a school drop-out who has become a heavy substance abuser. Their friends and family take them on face value, yet there are murky secrets they keep to themselves which echo the theme of things not being as they seem. What a mixed-up pair of siblings indeed.

Following Tim’s progress, as he battles his addictions and low opinion of himself is a fascinating study in itself. He’s a great contrast to the male lead character, Jase. They are both intelligent, perceptive and original young men, but since Jase comes across as pretty perfect from the start, he doesn’t really need much character development. Tim undergoes enough character development for both of them to the extent that I think it would have been a poorer book without him.

As I'd happily read more about the Garrett family and co, I think this book ultimately worked for me when I got into it.

4 stars (3 for the introductory chunk of the book, and 5 for later on)

I can't believe that I have waited nearly a month to review this book! For some reason, I just have not felt compelled to put my feelings about this book into words as of yet....maybe because I don't have a lot of feelings about this book. I expected it to be great. Everyone seems to love this book so I expected that I would love it just as much. I was very wrong. I didn't hate it but it was nothing special in my book. In fact, I would have most likely given the book a lower rating except I kind of enjoyed the last section of the story.

I make no secret of the fact that I am most certainly NOT a teenager. In fact, I am the mother of a teenager (not to mention my older child that has already passed up her teenage years). Let's just say that I am kind of old. This is a book for teenagers. I read a lot of books for teenagers and love talking about them with my daughter but sometimes I just cannot relate. This is one of those times.

The basic story is about a perfect little teenager girl, Samantha, who lives with her kind of crazy politician mother. Her mom is running for re-election so it is really important that everything remain perfect down to the perfect lines in the carpet after vacuuming (Do people actually worry about this stuff??? I am doing good just to turn the thing on and suck up the dog hair all over the floor.) Samantha has always spent a lot of time watching the family next door.

Jase lives next door with his family, who happen to everything Samantha's family is not. They are loud, loving, and exciting and there are a lot of them. Jase is one of 8 kids in his family. Jase's family kind of took over the story at points. When Jase and Samantha start hanging out, they end up spending most of their time together at Jase's house. Eventually Samantha is pulled in enough to become a regular babysitter for the family.

My daughter thought Jase was dreamy. I can't say that I share her opinion. Of course, old ladies are not supposed to think that teenage boys are dreamy. That is a rule. I actually found most of the book to be boring. Since I wasn't spending my time drooling over Jase, I wanted something to happen in the story. Nothing did for most of the book. I had to wait until the last 25% of the book for anything interesting to happen. Not cool.

This book wasn't horrible. I didn't hate it and I thought it had some good points. I liked Tim a lot. He was interesting but that was because he was intoxicated for a large portion of the book and spoke without a filter most of the time. Samantha and Jase were okay main characters. The last 25% of the book were rather exciting. The book was easy to read and I like the flow of the novel. This is the first book by Huntley Fitzpatrick that I have read and I plan to read other book in the future. I actually already have the next book in this series ready to go, but only because the main character is Tim. I like Tim a lot so I am hopeful that his book will work for me a little better.

I had already heard lots of good things about this so I couldn’t resist checking it out for myself.

The first chapter painted a lovely picture of curiosity and intrigue from Samantha. Her innocent fascination with her new neighbours, The Garretts, made me smile because I could imagine her so vividly in my mind watching them and eavesdropping to get more information.

Samantha was a sweet character and when her home life took a strange turn she found solace in a most unexpected place. This is where things got really interesting for me. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her first experience of the Garrett home, she was like a fish out of water but totally went along with it – this made me love her even more! Later on she had to make some difficult choices and I really hoped she would do the right thing.

Bringing a hard edge to the storyline was Tim who had some pretty serious issues going on. This was written in a delightfully believable way and left me wanting to do something to help him. Somehow he ended up being one of my favourites which is why I was so excited to discover that the author has written The Boy Most Likely To, it features Tim as a main character!

This was an addictive read with a young feel to it. A breathtaking glimpse into the nerve-wracking dance of first love.

Samantha Reed seems to always do the right thing. She follows the rules and is the daughter who doesn't cause trouble. Her father left them behind and her mother has taken care of her and her sister the best she could. However, this summer her mother is not behaving as usual. She's in politics, running for reelection and she has a new guy in her life. But, she is not the only one changing, Samantha is doing it too.

From the moment the Garretts moved next to her house, Samantha has watched them. She knows most of them by site. She has been told by her mom to stay away from them. "They are loud, have too many kids, their toys are everywhere, their grass is not cut perfectly, and so on". But, when Jase Garrett approaches her, the next thing she knows, she's spending time with him and with his family. He's not what she was expecting and he makes her feel important. He listens to her and he makes her feel things she hasn't before. This doesn't last, a devastating event affects their lives and soon Sam is the one hiding something from him and she has no idea where to turn for help.

I really liked the flow of the story. Love the way Sam and Jase came together. Sam did seem to have everything except a warm family. Most of the time I felt like her mother was too cold and later on delusional. I did feel like Sam was trying to keep Jase as a secret and until Jase called her on it, she was happy continuing to keep him hidden, almost like she was ashamed. Jase, what can I say about him? He was just amazing. A great son, brother, friend and boyfriend. He was smart, sweet, loyal and I wish he was real. I was rooting for his success from the first moment he showed up in the novel.
I was surprised how much I ended up liking Tim. I'm happy his story is out there too.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

This was the first book I've read by Fitzpatrick and I can say that I was not disappointed. From the very beginning I was extremely curious about the Garrett's next door. Although, I really did suspect that something bad was going on over there. Turns out there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary going on. The book had a great plot and characters. Some I loved and some I really really disliked lol!

Jase Garrett-- one of my favorite characters in a long time. He just seems so calm and rational for a teenage boy with seven siblings. I also loved the way he handled everything with Samantha's mom.

Samantha Reed-- overall she was a pretty good character. I was pretty unsure of her for most of the book but she finally did the right thing although if I were in her shoes I'm not sure I could have done what she did.

Tim-- I kind of felt for him from the beginning. You could tell he wasn't exactly happy with his decisions but if I had his family I might have fallen into the same habits. Thankfully, he got better with the help of Mr. Garrett, Jase and Sam.

Grace Reed-- omg! This lady reminded me of Umbridge from Harry Potter. I couldn't stand her! And there is absolutely no reason why you as the parent should put your 17 year old daughter in the situation that she did. Not to mention the way she acted over her much younger boyfriend was kind of gross.

Clay-- another character I really wanted to slap while reading. When you read this book you'll completely understand.

and lastly but not least Nan--Tim's twin sister. Ugh! There was something off with her from the very beginning. I didn't like her at all and later on you find out so many things that it's impossible to like her. She was just one of those catty jealous girls that makes you want to scream!

Overall, I loved this book. I would read it again and recommend it to everyone. You never see the plot twist (or climax if that's what you prefer) coming. It was really well done.

I am giving this 4.5 stars. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought, and honestly did not think I was going to finish this after the first few chapters. I am so glad I did.

I love all of the characters in this story from Sam and Jase, to his entertaining siblings. I enjoyed what the Garrets bring to the story as a real family (with real love and real struggles).
I think Tim kept the story going in the first half of the book. I was not a huge fan of Nan. Gracie and Clay were great villains. Everyone played such a crucial role in this book, and was one reason I really loved it.

I adored the romance! It also kept the book moving for me...until the twists. Jase and Sam were too cute!

I did not see the twist coming at all! I knew the twist was going to involve Clay, but my mind was in a whole different area thinking about what may happen. I think the twist was good, but I wish it would have been resolved a little differently.

Overall, really enjoyed this and I will be continuing on with the series.

This was definitely a sweet, quick read that works well when you're looking for something to get you out of a reading funk. I enjoyed it immensely, and enjoyed the characters and interactions between them. I've always been a sucker for the-boy-next-door-speaking-through-windows-sneaking-out-onto-the-roof romances, and this one did not disappoint.

Sam is a very nice girl, raised by an ambitious, superficial and arrogant, albeit well-meaning, mother, who is extremely judgmental of their next door neighbors lifestyle. Sam's mom raised her two daughters on her own after their father bailed on them many years ago, and ever since, she's used that as an excuse for pretty much everything she does throughout the book. She also suffers from a mild case of OCD, in which the house needs to be in tip-top condition at all times, and there are certain meals eaten at certain days, the same regular table booked at the restaurant and so on. Being raised by that kind of mom has not been easy for Sam. She learns to control her emotions, keeps her thoughts to herself, becomes somewhat of an introvert, and never takes any risks. She is the typical "good girl".

Sam has been fascinated by the Garret's ever since they moved in, but has never dared approach them or speak to them...that is until Jase suddenly decides to break that barrier. She has always yearned for their family dynamic, and Jase, taking her into his life makes her want it that much more. However, all is not as it seems from her bedroom window...the Garrets lives are a lot more complicated than she imagined. With 8 or 9 children, it is hard to keep up with all of them, it is hard to secure a stable life for all of them...it is hard to even ensure that they would all receive a proper education. Sam experiences that directly with Jase, who is considering not going to college in order to get a job and help his family.

Obviously, there's romance. And obviously it is the sweet, cheesy, make-your-heart-melt kind of romance. I really loved how Jase was able to bring Sam out of her shell. How she grew and developed as a character and was a completely different person from the naive, quiet girl we met at the beginning of the book. Her best friend - whom I can't even remember her name right now - irritated me to no end. The way things unfold between them at the end really surprised me and angered me. Tim - the best friend's brother - was a pleasant surprise however. At first, I really couldn't handle him and found him completely unnecessary, but as things progressed, I was pleased at the turn of events his character took.

The one thing that kind of nagged at me the whole time about the Garrets situation is the fact that they just kept popping kids despite their circumstances. I'm not one to judge, I come from a big family myself, and I love being a part of a big family, and have no qualms with families who choose to have as many kids as they want. What does bother me though, is that if you cannot equally provide for each and every one of your children, then it is not fair to have that many in the first place. Even towards the end, when things are so bad for the Garrets, Jase's mom finds out she is pregnant once again - with a 9th child. NINE. Jase is number 3 I think in the family, and he is worried about not being able to go to college, and you are on your 9th child? How is that right or fair? I'm all for free will, but this is just completely bonkers in my opinion. I couldn't get past that storyline, because I felt as if Huntley Fitzpatrick was really shining a bad light on Sam's mother for thinking it and victimizing the Garrets for their situation. The truth is, the Garrets situation didn't have to be as bad as all that had they chosen to settle for 5 children instead of 9. Every one of those children are wonderful, and I loved their different personalities, but realistically speaking, as parents, you make certain decisions that alter the lives of your children. It is a responsibility that you cannot take lightly. Use protection, for God's sake.

A good story. Entertaining and endearing. Although I did have my misgivings on some of its aspects.

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.

“Maybe if I can just sleep for a hundred years, I'll wake up in a better story.”

I haven't read a good YA contemporary in a long time. Sarah Dessen was always my go to for books like that. So when I decided to pick this one up, I looked forward to the same feeling Sarah's books gave me. Now, have never read a Fitzpatrick book before, so I didn't know her writing style going in, but the cover and synopsis practically shouted "read me, I'm a contemporary you'll love."

And that I did.

Samantha is a teenager with regular problems, but her mom is running for mayor, her sister is always away, and the Garretts are causing some major curiosity. Samantha has done everything her mom has told her to do without complaint, but her summer is about to change because of the Garretts. Knowing she shouldn't, her curiosity gets the best of her and she's quickly surrounded by the Garretts and all their woes/happy moments. Samantha is wise but goes against her mothers hatred for the Garretts and spends more time with them, finding them the polar opposite of her family, and she finds this exciting and new. I see Samantha as this girl who wants more of a family and to know what love really feels like, so when she starts to feel it, she becomes uneasy and hesitant.

“The Garretts were my bedtime story, long before I ever thought I’d be part of the story myself.”

Until Jase...

Want to finish this review? Check it out here: http://abibliomaniacs.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-my-life-next-door-huntley_20.html

4.5 stars

YA is my genre sweet spot and I quickly knew that I was going to like this book. It ticked so many boxes, young love, chemistry, family relationships and that summer feeling. Jase and Samantha have an opposite sides of the track thing going on, despite being neighbours. Jase is a delightful young man, full of life, passion, fun and integrity. Sam is cautious and guarded but she is a development in progress.

Where this book excels is the character development around family relationships. There's a wicked mother and a large family in this book. The large family captured my interest and heart, it was so well written and I found myself under their spell. The writing in general I found to be of high quality enabling me to get lost in the pages but I felt like more was needed at the end. I felt somewhat disappointed by the abruptness of the ending.

This is my first book by Huntley Fitzpatrick and I wonder where I've been, not knowing about her till now. Her talent for an unusual story within the YA genre and character development means I am eager to find more of her work.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. It starts out with a great Rapunzel-like premise, but takes an odd turn. Books of this nature always have some sort of conflict that works to tear young lovers apart, but this particular conflict seems a bit overdramatic, not to mention coincidental. And Samantha's mom is just too much. Her choices go beyond selfish and straight to amoral. I like the redemption of Tim, but not really sure what to make of Nan; there is zero closure there. Same with the fate of the whole Garrett family really. We were invested in them, we deserve to know how they fare.

And this is small, but it bugged me. No one who has ever had a four year old would believe that George could speak the way he does. It's ludicrous to think he could even comprehend half of what Fitzpatrick has coming from his mouth, let alone be frightened by it. But hey, he pronounces hospital as "hostible", so that makes up for it. A kid that supposedly knows about black holes, and knows how Eskimos make their ice cream is going to say hostible. Right.

In the over saturated YA romance genre My Life Next Door stood out for its well rounded and fleshed out characters and the rich intertwining story lines.

If you've got as far as reading the reviews I'm sure you've read the blurb and as it pretty accurately sums up the main points without giving away any spoilers I won't bore you with a re-hash of the plot. The main focus of the novel is on the developing relationship between Samantha Reed and her next door neighbor Jase Garret. Coming from completely different backgrounds Jase and Samantha are alike personality wise as both are driven, focused, mature and capable of introspection in a way not all seventeen year old's are. The romance between them is slow burning and develops over time and although those hormones get the better of them and there is a focus on the physical aspect of their relationship the bond between them is a pretty accurate portrayal of the intensity and insecurity of first love.

Unlike other books in this genre the relationship between the two of them doesn't eclipse their every day lives. Like most seventeen year old's they still have familial obligations and input and both are answerable to their parents. There's quite a lot of parent and sibling involvement as they hang out at each others houses and become entwined in each others lives. I feel this is often absent from YA romance novels, particularly if the protagonists are meant to be mature. I tend to find that the parents are mainly absent from the story and this is normally portrayed as been because they "trust" them. In this novel Samantha has a complicated relationship with her largely absent senator mother who she is still accountable to, and Jase's parents rope Samantha into babysitting and offer Jase cringe worthy (but sensible) advice on sex. It was nice to see a novel that shows teenagers that although they may think they are adults at 16/17 parents still have an active role in their lives.

A lot of Samantha and Jase's personality and the dynamic of their relationship was shown and developed by things going on around them. Samantha has been friends with siblings Nan and Tim nearly all her life. Tim is having an on going battle with drink and drugs and Nan is an academic perfectionist who places herself under an enormous amount of stress to perform well. The way Jase and Samantha cope with the issues that these characters bring into their lives really shows what they are made of. The way they interact with Jase's many siblings also gives them chance to develop and show a more fun side to their personalities.

As well as portraying parents as been part of their lives, Samantha's mother also gets a massive chunk of story line herself. The novel examines the mother/daughter relationship throughout but Samantha's mother is also falling in love at the same time as her daughter. Her mother loses herself in her boyfriend with disastrous consequences for both families and the fall-out from her mother's mistakes make for plenty of drama. Fortunately Huntley Fitzpatrick is able to maintain the drama without it becoming melodramatic.

With romance, strong characters, and a good plot which touched on teenage issues of substance abuse, sex, academic pressure, class and moral dilemmas this is an engrossing, moreish read which straddles the YA/Adult readership divide nicely. As the book closed I just wanted to keep on reading, partly because the loping easy style had sucked me in, partly because I was so invested in the lives I'd been reading about and partly because just so many things could have been expanded. Although there is a conclusion to the book I just wanted more. There were a lot of things which could have been explored. This is the main reason I didn't bump this up to 5 star. However, I was delighted to find out that there is a sequel novel and I'm rushing off to find a copy now.....

This seemed set to be a sweet romance, as the main character Samantha Reed falls for the boy next door, but turns into a conscience story part of the way through, with moral dilemmas which make it hard to put down.

Samantha’s mother, Senator Grace Reed, is an ambitious and highly critical person with a shiny image to maintain. The large Garrett family who lives next door is far more relaxed and spontaneous, and each member values comfort and affection over keeping up appearances. Samantha has secretly watched the Garretts from her upper window for years, and one evening Jase, the second eldest son, introduces himself and quickly wins Samantha’s heart.

Sam is a lovely, honest narrator who has trouble juggling family loyalty with disenchantment over some of her mother’s unscrupulous values. Senator Grace makes a terrible mistake which hurts every member of the Garrett family and turns their lives upside down. Sam knows speaking up about it may destroy her mother and rock her own life, so she faces an enormous ethical conflict.

Deceptiveness of appearances is a major theme. On the surface, Samantha appears to be the girl who has everything going for her, but a lifetime of being repressed and controlled by her mother has been covered up. Even she is seduced into thinking her life is picture perfect by those who resent or envy her, but comes to understand it’s nothing of the sort.

I get how some readers could call the start too slow, others too fast, and they could both be right, in different ways. The pace sort of meanders along at first, with a romance that just rockets off without much conflict. There is also a fair bit of dialogue which is written more for characterisation than moving along the plot. I’d urge them to persevere because the story does take off in a shocking way. And of course, the type of reader who just wants to escape to another world full of lovable characters will probably be hooked from the start, just as Samantha is when she spies on the Garretts. Some of the younger members of the Garrett family are very cute.

A couple of side characters help make this story something special, and that’s the Mason twins. Sam’s best friend, Nan is an anxious perfectionist, and her brother Tim is a school drop-out who has become a heavy substance abuser. Their friends and family take them on face value, yet there are murky secrets they keep to themselves which echo the theme of things not being as they seem. What a mixed-up pair of siblings indeed.

Following Tim’s progress, as he battles his addictions and low opinion of himself is a fascinating study in itself. He’s a great contrast to the male lead character, Jase. They are both intelligent, perceptive and original young men, but since Jase comes across as pretty perfect from the start, he doesn’t really need much character development. Tim undergoes enough character development for both of them to the extent that I think it would have been a poorer book without him.

As I'd happily read more about the Garrett family and co, I think this book ultimately worked for me when I got into it.

4 stars (3 for the introductory chunk of the book, and 5 for later on)

I can't believe that I have waited nearly a month to review this book! For some reason, I just have not felt compelled to put my feelings about this book into words as of yet....maybe because I don't have a lot of feelings about this book. I expected it to be great. Everyone seems to love this book so I expected that I would love it just as much. I was very wrong. I didn't hate it but it was nothing special in my book. In fact, I would have most likely given the book a lower rating except I kind of enjoyed the last section of the story.

I make no secret of the fact that I am most certainly NOT a teenager. In fact, I am the mother of a teenager (not to mention my older child that has already passed up her teenage years). Let's just say that I am kind of old. This is a book for teenagers. I read a lot of books for teenagers and love talking about them with my daughter but sometimes I just cannot relate. This is one of those times.

The basic story is about a perfect little teenager girl, Samantha, who lives with her kind of crazy politician mother. Her mom is running for re-election so it is really important that everything remain perfect down to the perfect lines in the carpet after vacuuming (Do people actually worry about this stuff??? I am doing good just to turn the thing on and suck up the dog hair all over the floor.) Samantha has always spent a lot of time watching the family next door.

Jase lives next door with his family, who happen to everything Samantha's family is not. They are loud, loving, and exciting and there are a lot of them. Jase is one of 8 kids in his family. Jase's family kind of took over the story at points. When Jase and Samantha start hanging out, they end up spending most of their time together at Jase's house. Eventually Samantha is pulled in enough to become a regular babysitter for the family.

My daughter thought Jase was dreamy. I can't say that I share her opinion. Of course, old ladies are not supposed to think that teenage boys are dreamy. That is a rule. I actually found most of the book to be boring. Since I wasn't spending my time drooling over Jase, I wanted something to happen in the story. Nothing did for most of the book. I had to wait until the last 25% of the book for anything interesting to happen. Not cool.

This book wasn't horrible. I didn't hate it and I thought it had some good points. I liked Tim a lot. He was interesting but that was because he was intoxicated for a large portion of the book and spoke without a filter most of the time. Samantha and Jase were okay main characters. The last 25% of the book were rather exciting. The book was easy to read and I like the flow of the novel. This is the first book by Huntley Fitzpatrick that I have read and I plan to read other book in the future. I actually already have the next book in this series ready to go, but only because the main character is Tim. I like Tim a lot so I am hopeful that his book will work for me a little better.

I had already heard lots of good things about this so I couldn’t resist checking it out for myself.

The first chapter painted a lovely picture of curiosity and intrigue from Samantha. Her innocent fascination with her new neighbours, The Garretts, made me smile because I could imagine her so vividly in my mind watching them and eavesdropping to get more information.

Samantha was a sweet character and when her home life took a strange turn she found solace in a most unexpected place. This is where things got really interesting for me. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her first experience of the Garrett home, she was like a fish out of water but totally went along with it – this made me love her even more! Later on she had to make some difficult choices and I really hoped she would do the right thing.

Bringing a hard edge to the storyline was Tim who had some pretty serious issues going on. This was written in a delightfully believable way and left me wanting to do something to help him. Somehow he ended up being one of my favourites which is why I was so excited to discover that the author has written The Boy Most Likely To, it features Tim as a main character!

This was an addictive read with a young feel to it. A breathtaking glimpse into the nerve-wracking dance of first love.

Samantha Reed seems to always do the right thing. She follows the rules and is the daughter who doesn't cause trouble. Her father left them behind and her mother has taken care of her and her sister the best she could. However, this summer her mother is not behaving as usual. She's in politics, running for reelection and she has a new guy in her life. But, she is not the only one changing, Samantha is doing it too.

From the moment the Garretts moved next to her house, Samantha has watched them. She knows most of them by site. She has been told by her mom to stay away from them. "They are loud, have too many kids, their toys are everywhere, their grass is not cut perfectly, and so on". But, when Jase Garrett approaches her, the next thing she knows, she's spending time with him and with his family. He's not what she was expecting and he makes her feel important. He listens to her and he makes her feel things she hasn't before. This doesn't last, a devastating event affects their lives and soon Sam is the one hiding something from him and she has no idea where to turn for help.

I really liked the flow of the story. Love the way Sam and Jase came together. Sam did seem to have everything except a warm family. Most of the time I felt like her mother was too cold and later on delusional. I did feel like Sam was trying to keep Jase as a secret and until Jase called her on it, she was happy continuing to keep him hidden, almost like she was ashamed. Jase, what can I say about him? He was just amazing. A great son, brother, friend and boyfriend. He was smart, sweet, loyal and I wish he was real. I was rooting for his success from the first moment he showed up in the novel.
I was surprised how much I ended up liking Tim. I'm happy his story is out there too.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

This was the first book I've read by Fitzpatrick and I can say that I was not disappointed. From the very beginning I was extremely curious about the Garrett's next door. Although, I really did suspect that something bad was going on over there. Turns out there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary going on. The book had a great plot and characters. Some I loved and some I really really disliked lol!

Jase Garrett-- one of my favorite characters in a long time. He just seems so calm and rational for a teenage boy with seven siblings. I also loved the way he handled everything with Samantha's mom.

Samantha Reed-- overall she was a pretty good character. I was pretty unsure of her for most of the book but she finally did the right thing although if I were in her shoes I'm not sure I could have done what she did.

Tim-- I kind of felt for him from the beginning. You could tell he wasn't exactly happy with his decisions but if I had his family I might have fallen into the same habits. Thankfully, he got better with the help of Mr. Garrett, Jase and Sam.

Grace Reed-- omg! This lady reminded me of Umbridge from Harry Potter. I couldn't stand her! And there is absolutely no reason why you as the parent should put your 17 year old daughter in the situation that she did. Not to mention the way she acted over her much younger boyfriend was kind of gross.

Clay-- another character I really wanted to slap while reading. When you read this book you'll completely understand.

and lastly but not least Nan--Tim's twin sister. Ugh! There was something off with her from the very beginning. I didn't like her at all and later on you find out so many things that it's impossible to like her. She was just one of those catty jealous girls that makes you want to scream!

Overall, I loved this book. I would read it again and recommend it to everyone. You never see the plot twist (or climax if that's what you prefer) coming. It was really well done.

I am giving this 4.5 stars. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought, and honestly did not think I was going to finish this after the first few chapters. I am so glad I did.

I love all of the characters in this story from Sam and Jase, to his entertaining siblings. I enjoyed what the Garrets bring to the story as a real family (with real love and real struggles).
I think Tim kept the story going in the first half of the book. I was not a huge fan of Nan. Gracie and Clay were great villains. Everyone played such a crucial role in this book, and was one reason I really loved it.

I adored the romance! It also kept the book moving for me...until the twists. Jase and Sam were too cute!

I did not see the twist coming at all! I knew the twist was going to involve Clay, but my mind was in a whole different area thinking about what may happen. I think the twist was good, but I wish it would have been resolved a little differently.

Overall, really enjoyed this and I will be continuing on with the series.

This was definitely a sweet, quick read that works well when you're looking for something to get you out of a reading funk. I enjoyed it immensely, and enjoyed the characters and interactions between them. I've always been a sucker for the-boy-next-door-speaking-through-windows-sneaking-out-onto-the-roof romances, and this one did not disappoint.

Sam is a very nice girl, raised by an ambitious, superficial and arrogant, albeit well-meaning, mother, who is extremely judgmental of their next door neighbors lifestyle. Sam's mom raised her two daughters on her own after their father bailed on them many years ago, and ever since, she's used that as an excuse for pretty much everything she does throughout the book. She also suffers from a mild case of OCD, in which the house needs to be in tip-top condition at all times, and there are certain meals eaten at certain days, the same regular table booked at the restaurant and so on. Being raised by that kind of mom has not been easy for Sam. She learns to control her emotions, keeps her thoughts to herself, becomes somewhat of an introvert, and never takes any risks. She is the typical "good girl".

Sam has been fascinated by the Garret's ever since they moved in, but has never dared approach them or speak to them...that is until Jase suddenly decides to break that barrier. She has always yearned for their family dynamic, and Jase, taking her into his life makes her want it that much more. However, all is not as it seems from her bedroom window...the Garrets lives are a lot more complicated than she imagined. With 8 or 9 children, it is hard to keep up with all of them, it is hard to secure a stable life for all of them...it is hard to even ensure that they would all receive a proper education. Sam experiences that directly with Jase, who is considering not going to college in order to get a job and help his family.

Obviously, there's romance. And obviously it is the sweet, cheesy, make-your-heart-melt kind of romance. I really loved how Jase was able to bring Sam out of her shell. How she grew and developed as a character and was a completely different person from the naive, quiet girl we met at the beginning of the book. Her best friend - whom I can't even remember her name right now - irritated me to no end. The way things unfold between them at the end really surprised me and angered me. Tim - the best friend's brother - was a pleasant surprise however. At first, I really couldn't handle him and found him completely unnecessary, but as things progressed, I was pleased at the turn of events his character took.

The one thing that kind of nagged at me the whole time about the Garrets situation is the fact that they just kept popping kids despite their circumstances. I'm not one to judge, I come from a big family myself, and I love being a part of a big family, and have no qualms with families who choose to have as many kids as they want. What does bother me though, is that if you cannot equally provide for each and every one of your children, then it is not fair to have that many in the first place. Even towards the end, when things are so bad for the Garrets, Jase's mom finds out she is pregnant once again - with a 9th child. NINE. Jase is number 3 I think in the family, and he is worried about not being able to go to college, and you are on your 9th child? How is that right or fair? I'm all for free will, but this is just completely bonkers in my opinion. I couldn't get past that storyline, because I felt as if Huntley Fitzpatrick was really shining a bad light on Sam's mother for thinking it and victimizing the Garrets for their situation. The truth is, the Garrets situation didn't have to be as bad as all that had they chosen to settle for 5 children instead of 9. Every one of those children are wonderful, and I loved their different personalities, but realistically speaking, as parents, you make certain decisions that alter the lives of your children. It is a responsibility that you cannot take lightly. Use protection, for God's sake.

A good story. Entertaining and endearing. Although I did have my misgivings on some of its aspects.

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.

“Maybe if I can just sleep for a hundred years, I'll wake up in a better story.”

I haven't read a good YA contemporary in a long time. Sarah Dessen was always my go to for books like that. So when I decided to pick this one up, I looked forward to the same feeling Sarah's books gave me. Now, have never read a Fitzpatrick book before, so I didn't know her writing style going in, but the cover and synopsis practically shouted "read me, I'm a contemporary you'll love."

And that I did.

Samantha is a teenager with regular problems, but her mom is running for mayor, her sister is always away, and the Garretts are causing some major curiosity. Samantha has done everything her mom has told her to do without complaint, but her summer is about to change because of the Garretts. Knowing she shouldn't, her curiosity gets the best of her and she's quickly surrounded by the Garretts and all their woes/happy moments. Samantha is wise but goes against her mothers hatred for the Garretts and spends more time with them, finding them the polar opposite of her family, and she finds this exciting and new. I see Samantha as this girl who wants more of a family and to know what love really feels like, so when she starts to feel it, she becomes uneasy and hesitant.

“The Garretts were my bedtime story, long before I ever thought I’d be part of the story myself.”

Until Jase...

Want to finish this review? Check it out here: http://abibliomaniacs.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-my-life-next-door-huntley_20.html

4.5 stars

YA is my genre sweet spot and I quickly knew that I was going to like this book. It ticked so many boxes, young love, chemistry, family relationships and that summer feeling. Jase and Samantha have an opposite sides of the track thing going on, despite being neighbours. Jase is a delightful young man, full of life, passion, fun and integrity. Sam is cautious and guarded but she is a development in progress.

Where this book excels is the character development around family relationships. There's a wicked mother and a large family in this book. The large family captured my interest and heart, it was so well written and I found myself under their spell. The writing in general I found to be of high quality enabling me to get lost in the pages but I felt like more was needed at the end. I felt somewhat disappointed by the abruptness of the ending.

This is my first book by Huntley Fitzpatrick and I wonder where I've been, not knowing about her till now. Her talent for an unusual story within the YA genre and character development means I am eager to find more of her work.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. It starts out with a great Rapunzel-like premise, but takes an odd turn. Books of this nature always have some sort of conflict that works to tear young lovers apart, but this particular conflict seems a bit overdramatic, not to mention coincidental. And Samantha's mom is just too much. Her choices go beyond selfish and straight to amoral. I like the redemption of Tim, but not really sure what to make of Nan; there is zero closure there. Same with the fate of the whole Garrett family really. We were invested in them, we deserve to know how they fare.

And this is small, but it bugged me. No one who has ever had a four year old would believe that George could speak the way he does. It's ludicrous to think he could even comprehend half of what Fitzpatrick has coming from his mouth, let alone be frightened by it. But hey, he pronounces hospital as "hostible", so that makes up for it. A kid that supposedly knows about black holes, and knows how Eskimos make their ice cream is going to say hostible. Right.

In the over saturated YA romance genre My Life Next Door stood out for its well rounded and fleshed out characters and the rich intertwining story lines.

If you've got as far as reading the reviews I'm sure you've read the blurb and as it pretty accurately sums up the main points without giving away any spoilers I won't bore you with a re-hash of the plot. The main focus of the novel is on the developing relationship between Samantha Reed and her next door neighbor Jase Garret. Coming from completely different backgrounds Jase and Samantha are alike personality wise as both are driven, focused, mature and capable of introspection in a way not all seventeen year old's are. The romance between them is slow burning and develops over time and although those hormones get the better of them and there is a focus on the physical aspect of their relationship the bond between them is a pretty accurate portrayal of the intensity and insecurity of first love.

Unlike other books in this genre the relationship between the two of them doesn't eclipse their every day lives. Like most seventeen year old's they still have familial obligations and input and both are answerable to their parents. There's quite a lot of parent and sibling involvement as they hang out at each others houses and become entwined in each others lives. I feel this is often absent from YA romance novels, particularly if the protagonists are meant to be mature. I tend to find that the parents are mainly absent from the story and this is normally portrayed as been because they "trust" them. In this novel Samantha has a complicated relationship with her largely absent senator mother who she is still accountable to, and Jase's parents rope Samantha into babysitting and offer Jase cringe worthy (but sensible) advice on sex. It was nice to see a novel that shows teenagers that although they may think they are adults at 16/17 parents still have an active role in their lives.

A lot of Samantha and Jase's personality and the dynamic of their relationship was shown and developed by things going on around them. Samantha has been friends with siblings Nan and Tim nearly all her life. Tim is having an on going battle with drink and drugs and Nan is an academic perfectionist who places herself under an enormous amount of stress to perform well. The way Jase and Samantha cope with the issues that these characters bring into their lives really shows what they are made of. The way they interact with Jase's many siblings also gives them chance to develop and show a more fun side to their personalities.

As well as portraying parents as been part of their lives, Samantha's mother also gets a massive chunk of story line herself. The novel examines the mother/daughter relationship throughout but Samantha's mother is also falling in love at the same time as her daughter. Her mother loses herself in her boyfriend with disastrous consequences for both families and the fall-out from her mother's mistakes make for plenty of drama. Fortunately Huntley Fitzpatrick is able to maintain the drama without it becoming melodramatic.

With romance, strong characters, and a good plot which touched on teenage issues of substance abuse, sex, academic pressure, class and moral dilemmas this is an engrossing, moreish read which straddles the YA/Adult readership divide nicely. As the book closed I just wanted to keep on reading, partly because the loping easy style had sucked me in, partly because I was so invested in the lives I'd been reading about and partly because just so many things could have been expanded. Although there is a conclusion to the book I just wanted more. There were a lot of things which could have been explored. This is the main reason I didn't bump this up to 5 star. However, I was delighted to find out that there is a sequel novel and I'm rushing off to find a copy now.....

I was having a hard time deciding on exactly what to write about this book. I didn't know if I should have said I completely hated the book just because of the ending or say that I loved it but hated the ending. It is a toss up between the two, I am still neutral but I promised a review on this and there is one thing I do not break.. and that is a promise!!

Samantha is a very likable character. She is sweet, funny, sarcastic, beautiful, hard working etc. You could relate to her and even though her mother was a snobby hot mess she never acted like she was too good for everyone, she was just Samantha.
She lived her life on the inside looking out on the world because her mother tried to shelter her and keep her as busy as she could manage with school activities, school, social engagements etc. Samantha did not need to work because her mother provided well for her but she worked two jobs over the summer to pay her own way in the world. One of her favorite things to do was to sit outside her bedroom and watch her neighbors, the Garrets.
They were a rambunctious family with 8 children, age ranges from 1-20, but they were well-mannered, sweet, and hard working children. Each of them had their own personality that added to the richness of the story and made it more interesting to read. Jase was the 17 year old in the family that unbeknownst to Samantha saw her staring at their family almost every night and he also watched her, while she watched them. He finally went to talk to her one night when she was sitting out on her roof and they formed a friendship. Jase's mother of course recruited Samantha to help her babysit when she needed someone and that is how Samantha was introduced to the world of the Garretts. Not only did Samantha fall in love with Jase but she fell in love with his family. She saw how a family could be and how much love there was between parents and their children. She didn't have that in her own home so she craved it while watching them.
Of course the plot twister, I never saw coming! It was different from what I was expecting, and I actually liked that the author made it so different. Samantha's world gets turned upside down and she is now altered, her whole world gets shifted and she is now seeing things less in black & white and more in gray and different shading. She doesn't know whether to do the right thing and hurt people she loves or keep quiet and hurt people she loves. It was a lose-lose situation for Samantha and the readers are left feeling very sympathetic towards her and wondering what descision they would have made in that same situation.

Like I stated before, the story ended rather abruptly and with no second book in sight I have to say that I am upset. The author left so many stories open, I had to create my own ending for them and at that point I was so mad that I pictured the whole town blowing up and everyone dying... the end!! When I finally calmed down from the disappointment I was still feeling bereft but I decided that I won't let the ending ruin the WHOLE book, I will just warn everyone that the ending will leave you hanging and hoping there will be a second book to finish off the characters that were left with their stories unfinished!
So hopefully everyone that reads this book will harass the author enough to get her to write an epilogue, chapter, second book.. SOMETHING that will complete this book and make it whole because as of right now it is incomplete.

The story itself had great pacing, and I was easily sucked into the slice of life feel of Samantha’s teenage existence. The big climax is terribly shocking and the aftermath really made me feel bummed out for all parties involved. There is a realistic resolution, but I was actually quite surprised by the ending.

Sam’s best friend, Nan was one of the world’s worst besties ever and a not so great sister to Tim as well. I liked Sam’s mom’s honesty about not being into babies, but I hated her snobbery and how she waffled on the values she lectured her 2 daughters on. Her political ambition really surprised me, and I didn’t like her younger boyfriend and political advisor, Clay at all. The guy totally personified ruthless ambition in an entirely icky manner.

One of my favorite supporting characters was young George Garrett, one of Jase’s many siblings. I loved George’s young nerdy knowledge, his anxieties, and his tendency to walk around half naked. He was so unintentionally funny and endearing. I also liked the fact that he was drawn to Sam immediately and never lost his affection for her despite her later unfortunate absence.
Another favorite supporting character was Tim, Nan’s brother and also a friend of Sam’s. Initially, he has slacker and loser down to a T. But eventually, he is inspired to wake up and do something about his addiction and hop off the loser train. I loved that he found some purpose and becomes a good friend of Jase’s in the process. The flirty comments he tossed Alice’s way while not well received by her totally cracked me up.

One of my favorite scenes that didn’t include George (loved him!) was the TMI chat Mr. Garrett has with Jase after he discovers the lock Jase installed on his bedroom door. It was priceless in the retelling. And I loved Jase’s honesty about his conflicting feelings about his parents choosing to have such a large family. I either missed or just didn’t understand the reason why his parents would want to continue increasing their family numbers. Considering their modest income from Mr. Garrett’s hardware store, I felt just as conflicted as Jase. Perhaps that topic will come up again and be expounded upon in book 2 of the series, The Boy Most Likely To (June 2015). I can’t wait to see how Tim and Alice rub along in that one.

This to me, was a story of misconceptions, more so because Samantha's mother, a Senator, a person who supposedly acts on behalf of the people, ironically knows nothing about the people.

The Garrett's have moved next door and OK they were larger than the average family (there's the mum the dad and eight kids). Samantha's mother is appalled at the unkepmt appearance of the Garretts, in so much as the garden is untended, the mother openly breast feeds on the front step and the younger children run around virtually naked.

This YA book, was by no means an easy one to read. The sheer number of Garretts, took some time to absorb, but then throw in a few more characters, which I felt could have been characterised a lot clearer and it took some time to actually work out who was who. In addition to this, the book is clearly aimed for a US audience because much of the terminology wasn't something I, as a Brit, was particularly familiar with and in today's market of eBooks and the fact these books have become available worldwide, I do feel that the author could possibly be isolating a potential market.

There were some grammatical errors which also meant often having to refer back, to work out what was actually meant.

This book is ultimately about two people who meet i.e. Samantha Reed and Jase Garrett, and the obstacles that get in their way i.e. Samantha's over opinionated mother. I felt on occasion there were too many distractions from the actual romance itself, because quite frankly I loved Samantha and Jase and the basic story itself was awesome. I loved Tim, he was perfectly imperfect which made him stand out from so many of the other characters.

There are some parts or the story which I felt were what I can only describe as 'brushed under the carpet' and this, for me, gives the book an unfinished feel.

Maybe I have been overly critical in my review, especially considering I've given it 4 stars, but for me there is such a huge potential for this book to be amazing and quite possibly a 5 star read.

I am SO glad I bought it!

As soon as I finished it, I was looking up the author to see if she had any other books because I really liked her writing style. I found that she had a followup book that went along with My Life Next Door, so I ran out to Barnes & Noble to get it. That’s how much I liked the first book.

I like this story because there is so much more to it than your typical summer romance. There’s the star-crossed lovers aspect, as she (Sam) is from a proper, uptight house of a senator and he (Jase) is in the loud, messy house next door, “one of those Garretts”.

But shortly into the book, you become fascinated with the Garrett family, just like Sam did. You want to know what goes on in their crazy busy life. You fall in love with the family, especially little George. You just want to know more about them, and like Sam, can’t help but be intrigued.

MEET THE GARRETTS:
The Garretts make having a large family seem extremely overwhelming and yet amazing at the same time. Eight kids, all almost three years apart. That’s insane. What’s crazier than having eight kids? An extremely political uptight mother. Samantha definitely got the short end of the stick in the parental lottery because if my mother scheduled every free minute of my summer I would try to escape next door as well.

Everything about Jase and Samantha’s relationship is so incredibly soft and adorable. Their awkward first times, truths, trials and errors are all what being a teenager is about. The secondary characters were all fleshed out and real, each with their own unique attitude and mannerisms making this one of the best written books I’ve read in long time. The only real issue I had was Nan, Samantha’s best friend. She is just a little turd. Seriously I have no idea what her problem is but I just hated her personality. Nan is literally that mean toxic best friend you don’t want to lose but it’s not healthy to be friends with.

The “unthinkable” issue that twisted this love story and sent me reeling was totally from left field. I did not see that coming at all. No spoilers but I absolutely hate Samantha’s mother now and forever will. You just can’t forgive something like that.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Although this book was wickedly long I didn’t want it to ever end. I need more Jase/Samantha in my life. I love big families in books and the Garretts were perfect. George is by far my favorite (besides Jase obviously) but the rest were equally as good/funny. They all have their own distinct personalities that I really hope Huntley Fitzpatrick writes about.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes this was an amazingly sweet book that grappled tough decisions without being depressing or filled with typical teenage angst.

Review can be found here: https://parttimebooknerd.wordpress.com/2015/07/21/book-review-my-life-next-door-huntley-fitzpatrick/

My Life Next Door wasn’t what I thought it would be. But that’s not a bad thing. Sam’s father left her mother when she was pregnant with Sam and Sam’s sister, Tracy, was 1 year old. Sam’s father came from a big family. When the Garretts move next door Sam’s mom, Grace, assumes the worst about them. They’ll be loud and messy. And she’s all about what she can control—neat and pristine and quiet. Grace was a pretty good mom for the most part, but she’s gotten distant lately due to running for political office. Grace has her shortcomings, that’s for sure. One of them is the prejudice she shows toward her next door neighbors. Because they don’t have the kind of life that she has (or wants) she looks down upon them.

But Sam is fascinated by the Garretts. Not only has her mom been distant but her older sister has as well. She’s either wrapped up in her boyfriend, off doing her own thing, or preparing for college. She’s basically just not there for Sam. Plus Grace has recently started dating a guy from her campaign. And this guy gives Sam the creeps in a way that she just can’t quite put her finger on. Regardless, the house that’s full of life has become an extreme fascination for Sam. Until one day, Jase Garrett climbs her trellis and opens her life to a whole new world—the world next door.

Jase is the third child out of eight. He loves his big family and resents those who remark on how bothersome a large family is. I loved the entire Garrett family. Joel, Duff and Harry we didn’t get as much from as Alice, Jase, Andy, George, and Patsy. But each and every one of the members has a great personality attributed to them. Alice is rough around the edges, but she has a soft spot deep down. She’s going to nursing school. Jase is great. He’s everything you hope for in a first love. He’s great at fixing things, and he dreams of going to college. It’s not so much that football is his dream as football is his means of getting a scholarship and thus going to college. Andy is fourteen and hitting her dramatic and boy crazy stage. George seems to be afraid of everything potentially harmful and boy does he have a vast knowledge of what all is harmful. But he’s still a very open kid. Just loveable. And poor Patsy just wants to be fed--breastfed.

A family of 10 has its financial burdens for sure. It doesn’t help that the hardware store Mr. Garrett owns isn’t doing so well either. Yet Sam has it made. Her mother’s family apparently had money and had a trust fund set up for her. Plus with her mother’s work in politics, Samantha has never really wanted for anything. But she doesn’t take that for granted either. Samantha works two jobs during the summer to make her own money and to stay busy.

The nature of the big conflict was not something I predicted in the least based off the description and the start of the book. Of course, some potential conflicts were obvious, but that big one kind of surprised me. How Samantha handled things right at the 80% mark was annoying to me as I felt like it was a bit of a cop out. But big things are at stake and real life would make the right thing to do very difficult. I loved how Jase responds when he learns the truth of what’s going on, and that almost redeems Sam’s stupidity.

Now that I’m typing my review for My Life Next Door I’m really seeing how many dynamics were going on with this book. Aside from the Garretts being great characters, Tim and Nan were great additions too. Nan truly annoyed the mess out of me. Utterly spoiled and self-centered. Tim, on the other hand, really worked hard to overcome who he used to be and change. It took him a while to get to that place though. Having just read My Life Next Door, I can’t say that I would be dying to read from Tim’s POV, but that’s what we’re getting with The Boy Most Likely To. And if that book is even remotely as layered as this one, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. Tim, however, did contribute a large amount of f-bombs to My Life Next Door which I could have done without.

Favorite quotes:
-Our house contains all that’s high-end and high-tech and shiny clean. And three people who would rather be somewhere else.

-It’s so weird sitting there in the kitchen with this woman I’ve seen from a distance for ten years. Like finding yourself in an elevator with a celebrity. I repress the urge to say “I’m a huge fan.”

-“…This is not the time for your adolescent drama.” I cannot help but wonder if any parents ever actually schedule in adolescent drama on their day planners. Looks like a slow week, Sarah. I guess I can pencil in your eating disorder.

-“…, my Sam.”

I’d seen plenty of people say that they loved My Life Next Door, but it truly was better and deeper than I expected. The layers and the depth of each character was really well planned out and executed. And I truly can’t wait to read more from Huntley Fitzpatrick. My Life Next Door gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read My Life Next Door? What did you think? Let me know!

This story was just down right adorable. You not only had the first love going on, but you had family drama on Sam’s side and family unity on Jase’s. Jase’s family is amazing. Every character is unique and I LOVED Jase’s little brother, George. George was just a ball of random scary facts that had to be talked down to prevent him from balling his eyes out in fear. Then you had Patsy who is the baby of the bunch who’s first word is boob-which gradually turns into poop by the end of the book. Oh, and let’s not forget about Alice who is this hard-core chick who doesn’t stick with a guy for too long, dyes her hair just about once a week to a new funky color, and is fiercely loyal and protective of her family. And that’s only half of the family. I seriously loved this family. Enough about the Garrett’s though let’s talk about the main characters.

Samantha is the senator’s daughter. She lives a privileged life in their fancy house. When she was younger this unruly family moved in with bunch of kids. As the years passed they continued to have more kids. Her mother, like most of the stuck-up people in the neighborhood gave this family nothing but dirty looks and unwanted suggestions and commentary about their life. However, Sam was fascinated with this family and watches them from the comfort of her own home for years. Unlike her own family life, the Garrett’s seemed full of life and were extremely close. When her and Jase start hanging out she knows her mother would not approve and she keeps their relationship a secret. She’s one of those characters that wants to be a good daughter but also wants to live their life. She tries to find balance between the two but over time finds herself becoming more and more of a Garrett than a Reed.

Jase was AMAZING! He doesn’t blink at anything. He’s always cool and thinking ahead. He knows his family won’t be able to afford college for him, so he works his butt off training in the hopes of snagging a scholarship. Meanwhile, he works at his father’s hardware store and watches his siblings when he’s not training or working. He was a class-act guy. If I wasn’t already marries, and he wasn’t a fictional character in a book, I would want to marry him. Not only that but when it comes to Sam, he’s nothing but understanding and takes things slow with her. He’s not happy that she won’t tell her mom about their relationship but he doesn’t push her. Heck, even when things aren’t looking good between the two of them, he doesn’t act like a jerk, he hears her out and actually listens to what she has to say. Seriously, Jase was amazing.

My Life Next Door is written solely in Sam’s POV. However, she is around a lot of people. Between her home life with her horrible mother, the Garrett’s whirlwind of a family, her best-friend, and her best-friends brother… there was a lot going on. I was never really bored while reading. There was just always something going on. Something developing off to the side. I will say that Tim was a character that at first had me skimming over. He was a little bit too over the top for me. However, he thankfully mellows out into a human being. In the end I actually quite enjoyed his character. So, I’m happy to see that his and Alice’s story is next. He spent this entire book pursuing here and trying to get her to go out with him while popping in and helping the family when they needed it most. He really did a 180* in this book.

I could go on and on about My Life Next Door. I really did enjoy it. It had been sitting on my to-read list for a while and I can’t believe it had taken me so long to finally pick up a copy. I’m glad I did though because not only did it get me out of my funk but I now have a new author and series to follow. I’m excited to see Tim and Alice’s story. I really hope we get cameos with not only Jase and Sam, but of the whole Garrett family as well.

I loved that book! Huntley Fitzpatrick is such an amazing writer. I can't wait to read her other books.

After too much of teen angst in pretty disappointing "The Summer I Turned Pretty" trilogy I needed someting nice and sweet and compelling. "My Life Next Door" made me feel good and warm and fuzzy on the inside.
This is not a book with a Huge Surprise at the end, there is no teen angst, no suicidal tendencies, no drama that needs an actual Child Protective Services intervention. This book is pretty predictable, but still, I read it with great pleasure, I enjoyed every page of it.

First of the protaginists are likable. The Garrets Kids are all great.
Samatha was too passive for my taste, she should have stood up to her bully of a mother sooner, and she should do "the right thing" sooner as well. But, as I sais, she's likable, sweet and kind.
Jase is swoon-worthy, a great guy that can fix everything.
I really liked Tim, the stoner friend, and I'm so happy to hear that he'll be a main character in "The Boy Most Likely"!
I hated Nan as well as this Clay dude. Nan is mean, awful sort of person, her insecurities and hopes for "better future" will destroy her in the end. The only consolation for me is that we all know how this sort of people end - sad and lonely, in their crappy apartments, drunk or high all the time but still full of delusions of grandeur and hopes for that better times will eventually come.
Yes, I'm petty towards fictional characters.
And don't get me started on Grace, this sad excuse of a mother.

The things that I didn't like:
-I hoped that maybe we'll learn more about Sam's dad.
-Sam was to passive and she took action too late.

The things I liked:
-Everything else.

You should definitely read this book, because it's perfect summer read. It won't change your life, it won't make you think about the absolute truths. It will make you feel good, it will make you want read rest of Fitzpatrick's books.

I’m SO happy that I finally read MY LIFE NEXT DOOR! After promising to read it last summer and allowing other plans to come first, I knew I wanted to make the time to read it this year. When I heard about Penguin Teen’s “The Blog Most Likely To…” promo, I knew the time was absolutely perfect to start it and yes, the stars aligned!

MY LIFE NEXT DOOR was actually really different than what I thought it would be — not in a bad way, but I was expecting it to be a light and fluffy contemporary, leaning more towards the feel of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS or ON THE FENCE. Nothing really led me to believe this aside from the cover and blurb but it was a bit hard to shake when I first started reading! I’m really glad I didn’t let my preconceived notions get in the way because this was really a beautiful book. MY LIFE NEXT DOOR is less fluffy and more… I wouldn’t say serious, but I guess realistic. It showed positives and negatives in a more contemplative manner and it was so much more overall than just the romance. (I mean, ANNA and ON THE FENCE handle these things too but… you know what I mean. Just totally different feel.)

I really loved the differences in families in this book. Samantha’s mother is a senator, her family has always been well-off, and her mother is very much about maintaining appearances and status. Her mother is happy to finally have teenagers because as much as she loves her daughters, she’s never been a fan of children. Their neighbors the Garretts are pretty much the opposite in every respect. The family is big, the house is messy, the atmosphere is warm, and everyone is free to be themselves, appearances be damned. It was really interesting to see what Samantha and Jase learned from each other and what their families learned from each other as well. Each family felt so real and true to themselves — even Mrs. Reed with her need for order and tidiness — and I loved how I could witness Samantha and Jase really discovering new things about each other and at the same time, growing themselves.

The romance was also so adorable. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first because I was expecting the book to focus more on the development of the romance and the tension leading up to the two characters being together, but the focus was much different than that. MY LIFE NEXT DOOR reminded me what young love is like but it also gave me glimpses of true and unconditional love (which were not the same for me in my life but what I saw with Sam and Jase). It was so touching to see so many sides of their relationship develop and strengthen and it felt real and raw and true.

The friendships and family dynamics are pretty spectacular too, and not all of them turned out the way I though they would. I was so annoyed with Tim and ended up falling in love with him maybe even more than Jase?) and I really enjoyed watching Samantha’s various degrees of friendships with Jase’s siblings. Not everything was a happy friendship or ended as “best friends forever” but it all felt so real and touched on something that I went through in my life as well. The families felt so real and I really enjoyed that not everything had a Full House finish. Sometimes families are messy too and things don’t always wrap up neatly.

I guess you could say that I had an idea of how MY LIFE NEXT DOOR would go but it really took me by surprise and I’m so happy that it made me feel so many different things! I would have been happy to read this as a stand alone but I’m SO excited that it has a companion now and I can’t wait to read THE BOY MOST LIKELY TO!

This book was originally reviewed on my blog, The Hardcover Lover.

It was a long, long time ago when I first bought a paperback copy of My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, and it was all because my sister dropped it in my basket at the store without telling me. At that point, I hadn't heard of Huntley, but I bought it and my sister read it. She loved it, so I promised myself that I would read it eventually. Time passed, and I kept telling myself that I would get to it, but other books and commitments got in the way. Then a miracle happened, and I found myself looking at a hardback copy of it at the same Half Price Books just a few months later. Months passed by again, and I found that I still hadn't read this praised about book.

When Penguin Teen contacted me about participating in their summer feature, The Blog Most Likely To, I jumped on the chance to read it. Boy was I glad that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed this charming novel!

Just saying that I enjoyed My Life Next Door isn't enough to convey everything that I felt while reading this seemingly flawless book. I felt like I was transported into a dreamy, yet busy Connecticut town and immersed into the day-to-day life of the neighborhood where Samantha Reed lives and works.

I loved all of the imperfect characters in My Life Next Door because they were all so realistically flawed. The Reeds are anything but perfect. Samantha's life isn't as easy and magical as it appears, and her sister, Tracy, doesn't act like a perfect child. Then you have the matriarch of the family, Grace Reed, who has a secret of her own, and the picture perfect family is about as flawed as we all are. The other characters in the book have their own problems, and I can't give Ms. Fitzpatrick enough credit for them. There is a character for everyone in this book to relate to whether you are the perfectionist or the one who needs to straighten things out and get your life together.

And what summery YA novel would feel complete without a romance, right? There's an adorable romance in My Life Next Door that follows a Romeo and Juliet plot line, but with a very fresh and young feel. Readers will swoon as Samantha and Jase fall in love and learn to solve the problems that pop up unexpectedly.

If you haven't already, do yourself a huge favor and read this book! As I'm writing this, I'm wishing that I would have read this when it was released three years ago. I would definitely recommend this to fans of more mature YA, and especially for readers with interest in politics as it is a reoccurring theme in the book. I know I will definitely be picking up the companion book, The Boy Most Likely To when it hits shelves this August!

Original review can be found at:
Www.beawesomebeabooknut.blogspot.com

This is a BEAUTIFUL story! Fitzpatrick did a phenomenal job with all aspects of this story! I was definitely able to relate to certain characters of this story and I loved that.

We've got 2 completely different families and 2 different worlds.

Samantha Reed, our protagonist, appears to have it all a successful mother, perfect grades, a wonderful best friend and her she keeps herself busy with jobs she doesn't really need. The Reeds are all about appearance, who have the perfectly clean house down to the perfectly made ice cubes that have mint leaves in them. So why does Samantha sit on her roof for YEARS watching their next door neighbors family? They are everything the Reeds are not...

The Garretts are a BIG family (something I relate to being #5 of 8 children-all from same parents who are still together). Their house is loud, messy, and full of life. Samantha's mom does everything she can to separate themselves from the Garretts because she can't stand "those" kinds of people. I absolutely fell in love with the Garretts because they are everything a family should be. The authrod did a fantastic job making each family member personalities different and yet be able to see that regardless of their differences they were the same and came from the same family who loved and supported each other. It was so much fun to be a fly on the wall and watch this all unfold.

When, after so many years of watching this family, Jase joins Samantha on the roof one night and from that point on the separation that Ms. Reed tried so desperately do put up starts to crumble. Especially when Samantha and Jase get together.

This story is about family, love, finding one's self and practicing what you preach, it's about morals, and where do you stand when life makes you decide where your loyalties really lie. It was wonderful.

Overall: I would LOVE to recommend this book, but sadly, there are language and talk that I would find inappropriate for younger audiences...

Language: HEAVY (lots of F words)
Violence: mild
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (one of Samantha's friends talks about getting drunk and high A LOT)
Sexual Content: moderate (there is talk about sex, there are make out scenes with clothes coming off, there is knowledge that characters had sex)

Rating: 3.5 / 5

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick is a sweet, hot book about first love, family, and the difficult decisions between right and wrong, and family and love.

The overall story was interesting, and the love between Jase and Samantha was well paced and sweet, things were heated up between them towards the middle of the book, but the sweetness of their love remained throughout.

I loved the Garret family. They were funny, cute, and the close family relationship between them was truly remarkable and sweet. Meanwhile, I found Samantha and her family to be a very unique and complex family. It was obvious that Samantha's mom cared about her children and it was shown throughout the book. However, at the same time I felt that Samantha's mom was also very absent from her children's life. Huntley Fitzpatrick created the character of Samantha's mom in such a nice complex way, that it left the final decision to the reader to decide whether to like or dislike Ms. Reed. This was one of my favorite aspects of the book, the way Fitzpatrick wrote the character of Samantha's mom was truly amazing.

Moving on, you must be wondering that if I liked the book so much, than why did I rate it as only 3.5 out of 5. The answer to that, fellow readers, is that as much as the story was interesting and unique, I felt that the overall pace of the entire story was a bit slow and boring. Some of the chapters or scenes that were in the book wasn't really needed, in my opinion. I think the book would have been equally good if it didn't involve unnecessary chapters or scenes, they were more of a way to make the story longer than to add to it. You might have a different opinion, but that was how I felt, and therefore at times the story seemed kind of slow and boring to me. That was pretty much the only reason this book didn't get a 4 or 5 rating, or was that two reasons?

Anyway, the overall book and story was pretty interesting and unique. If your looking for a new unique and sweet book to read, than this is definitely a book that you should pick up. Fitzpatrick is a wonderful writer and has a nice way of hooking the reader to the book from the first sentence.

This was sweet, coming-of-age, YA story.

Jase Garrett is very mature for his age and is a real caregiver, nurturer, fixer type, from a huge and chaotic family, where he is the third of 7 kids.

Samantha Reed is the good girl in her one-parent family and has trodden the straight and narrow path for all her 17 years. She has observed the Garretts from her rooftop since they moved in next door a few years earlier. Her snobbish, Senator mother has looked down on the Garretts since day one, which meant that Samantha never interacted with them.

At the start of the summer before her senior year, Jase climbs up to her roof to make first contact, and suddenly Samantha is catapulted into the midst of the Garretts’ crazy life, and discovering real love for the first time.

This story is about family, friendship, loyalty, first love and sexual awakenings, as well as the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. I adored Jase and Samantha – they were a great pair of kids.

I thought the story ended quite abruptly and I would love to read a further NA story about these two and their families – there’s definitely mileage to be had there.

**I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

This is your typical boy meets girl and they fall in love, boy from the “wrong” family, however, it is completely different than almost any other boy meets girl book I’ve ever read.

10 years ago Jase Garrett and his huge family move in next to Samantha Reed, her sister and their very pretentious trust fund mother, who does nothing but complain about the noise and messy yard of their new neighbors. Sam, who is the youngest Reed daughter is starting the summer between her Junior and senior year, works two jobs and spends her nights outside of her bedroom window watching the Garret’s and has for a while. Samantha is left up to her own devices while her sister goes to the Hampton’s with her boyfriend, and her mother is working on her Senatorial re-election campaign and having a fling with a much younger man, who basically invades their lives.

One night, while sitting outside her window, Jase Garrett climbs up the trellis and invades Samantha’s space, thus leading them to a tentative friendship that leads into more. For the first time Sam is getting an inside look into the lives of the Garrett’s as she grows closer to Jase and the rest of his family.

I have to say that I love Jase’s younger brother Georgie. He is adorable and I just wanted to hug him time and time again during this story.

Okay, back to the review, Sam’s whole world is changing as she becomes more and more integrated with Jase and his family, becoming a go to babysitter, and falling in love with Jase. Her mother has no idea that Sam is with Jase, or even hanging out with the Garrett’s, as she is too wrapped up in her campaign and Clay, her new political advisor, who is slowly moving into the Reed household and gives creepy vibes to Sam. I have to say that there were several times during this story that I wanted to strangle Clay. I never trusted him from first moment he showed up in the story till he was finally gone.

I really liked all of Jase’s family, but Sam’s mother and sister grated my nerves throughout the entire story, especially the way they both kind of left Sam on her own, or forced her to attend things for the good of her mother’s campaign.

Then one night changes the entire dynamic of both Sam and Jase’s entire world. I knew something bad was going to happen from the description of the book, but what actually did happen was not what I expected, and I also never expected Tim to be the voice of reason for Sam. I did however like how Ms. Fitzpatrick wrote our how Sam dealt with this and how it would affect her relationship with everyone in her life, especially Jase.

My review is originally posted on Read it in a Day

People watching has become a common pastime these days, mainly when one is waiting at an airport, bus stop, etc. But for Samantha Reeds, she can do this from the comforts of her own home. The Garretts, family of ten (Eight kids, ranging from early twenties to one year old) live right next door, making it easy to catch glimpses of their everyday lives. This way, she learns about her neighbors, who she wouldn’t know otherwise. Samantha’s mother, the senator of their small town, single mother of two, wants nothing to do with her over-producing neighbors. This dislike has become law for Samantha and her sister: Stay away from the Garretts.

Of course, there’s only so long before they run into each other, and when they, it’s a summer love that changes everything. As Samantha gets to know Jase and the rest of his family, she begins to realize that maybe her mom had it all wrong. While in her own home schedules and orders take priority, she finds that in the Garret house, there’s a warmth she’s never experienced before.

Everything starts to unravel as Sam begins to question everything she has ever known, from her mom’s rules to the Garrets’ different lifestyle, to ultimately what right and wrong really mean.

I identified with the Garretts a lot. Although I don’t have nearly as many siblings as Jase does, I can see where he’s coming from. In my house we were free to make messes and discover and play. That’s why I loved the family dynamic, no matter what the situation. The Garretts are a close knit family and they don’t unravel when things go bad, instead, they get closer.

Samantha and Jase compliment each other beautifully, and the fact that Jase never gives up on her makes me love him all the more. At the times that I felt like hitting Samantha in the face, he was patient with her. I loved that.

This is a light, cute, sweet read, perfect for summer, and spring, and fall, and winter…and you get the idea

This was a very sweet story of first love, but also a coming of age story, in my opinion. Samantha had that moment, that all children eventually do, when they see their parents as real. She saw her mother trying to have a relationship, as well as her mother making some serious mistakes. The romance between Jace and Samantha grew so organically, and the way they approached the physical part of their relationship together was honest and adorable and real and mature too. But, what really won my heart was the Garrett family. I loved the chaos, and all the distinct personalities each child had. The love abounded in the Garrett home, and although they had 10 people under their roof, they welcomed Samantha (and Tim) with open arms.

I am looking forward to reading more of Huntley's work and the companions to this story.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick is the perfect summer read. Gosh, I loved this book and in a way, was rendered speechless by how refreshing it felt to read a novel that wasn’t supernatural or any of that, just normal. Along with the sweetness of first love and a wonderful set of characters this is the type of book that you’ll feel like re-reading later just for the fun of it.

Samantha was relatable and extremely likable, with the occasional witty dialogue. Then, theres Jase. Oh. My. God. I love him so much. Marry me? Basically, the sweetest most caring guy in the world who’s admirably loyal to his family and even after working an entire day he comes home to take care of his siblings which was so cute. He’s the guy every girl wishes they could have.

And together they’re magic.

Adorable fluffy beautiful magic. Even though I kind of want him for myself I can’t help but acknowledge how good Samantha and him are together. Throw in the Garrett family and you have something near to perfection. Each and every one of them were amazing, especially George and it was pretty easy to distinguish as well as remember who each on them were. Mr and Mrs. Garret were fantastic, it was obvious that they really loved each other and the scenes in which they were in made me smile. Also, Samantha’s mom was so frustrating, she definitely had her moments that would make me want to throw the book across the room. I wish the relationship between Samantha and her sister, Tracy would have been further explored though.

Furthermore, I was a bit let down by the ending. Several things were left unresolved, something that caused me to be left with a lot of questions (like for example, what did the Garrets decide to do?) but it was good nonetheless.

Overall, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick is the perfect summer contemporary. With humorous dialogue, great characters, and a totally swoony romance.

I finished this book a few days ago and every time I think about it, I get upset. It started off great. A fun, but intense teen "first love" type of story. But as it went on (and on and on and on) I kept trying to figure out where this was going. There were so many subplots and none of them were solved! It got really intense in the last few chapters after very long chapters of complete nothing, just for it to end. Nothing was solved, no explanation to what have happened, no loose ends were tied and I was left feel really unsatisfied. I loved the story of Jace & Sam and I wish it could have been just that. Because everything else that was thrown in just ruined it for me. Especially when you have no idea how it even ends. You can't just throw in all these intense moments and then end it! I felt like reading this whole thing was a waste just because of the ending. And trust me, I was really into this book for a long way into it. So it just goes to show how not tying up your loose ends can just ruin it all for a reader.

I liked it. Not loved it, just liked it.

I’ll just keep this review as short as possible because honestly.. the book almost bored me to death!

Characters:

Samantha (main character) Annoying! (she’s also sort of kind of dumb)
Jace – Swoonworthy, yes.
Gracie (Samantha’s mother) – ugh, I just want to stab her.

Clay – who is this again? Lol

Nan (samantha’s bestfriend) – I liked her, especially when she delivered that speech in front of Samantha, I was like ‘yeah! You go girl,make that girl realize how incredibly clueless she is!’

George and Nan’s brother (love love them!)

Story:

I think the problem is me. I have read a lot of books similar to this that when I read it, it didn’t amazed me. BUT! The story is so well-written. The story is a little slow and like I mentioned earlier, Samantha is kind of boring. Jace and his family is one of the reasons I fought to finish this book. I must say, Jace and Samantha’s relationship is soo sweet (I think I got diabetes because of it) and Jace is totally swoonworthy! That’s why I got annoyed by Samantha by almost the last few pages, I personally think he doesn’t deserve Jace.*sigh* anyway, I loved every Garrett family member that sometimes I wish I was part of their happy family (lol)

The last few pages are confusing. I think it has some loose ends. I know that Nan and Sam got in a fight but what happened next? Is that it? Also to Nan’s brother (still don’t remember his name, though I’m sure I love his character) He’sa big a-hole at the start of the story but he slowly changed as the book progresses (I think this guy deserve his own book)

Overall, My Life Next Door is a big fat OKAY.

*Don’t let my review stop you from reading it, I think you’ll enjoy this if you’re a fan of (extra) sweet romance.

am so thankful that several different people forced me to read this book because it is a true gem. I cannot stress how much I loved this book and how much I think everyone should give it a chance. This book sums up young adult entirely. It has everything; it's how it should be written. There's barely anything negative I can say about it.

The first thing worth talking about is our main character, Samantha. She is perfect. She experiences all emotions and truly brings us on an emotional journey. Her self-growth was truly astounding. She has highs and lows and everything in-between, and this is the way a young adult book should be written. No single emotion dominates this book, thus we experience all emotions because we are so connected to the characters thanks to Fitzpatrick's amazing writing style. Jase Garrett, like Samantha, was incredibly easy to connect to as well. I can totally understand why he may be many people's new bookish boyfriend. I really have nothing to say about him because he was written so perfectly. He genuinely cares about Samantha and his family. He cares about protecting those he loves, but he doesn't care what anyone else thinks because he is so happy. Basically, every girl in the world would be happy if we could clone and reproduce Jase Garrett and sell him by the millions. And the best part is that he is insta-love free! Great advertising slogan, no?

The secondary characters in this book deserve a huge round of applause as well, specifically Tim and George. Tim is the older brother of Samantha's best friend, Nan. He is a recovering addict that inadvertantly found his place in the world when the Garrett's entered Samantha's life. Watching his self-growth was just as powerful as watching Samantha's. Then there's George Garrett. He's Jase's four year old little brother. To put it simply, this kid is going to grow up to be a rocket scientist who moonlights as a comedian. He's incredibly intelligent and downright hilarious. He often left me cackling and was a huge source of comic relief in this story alongside Tim and his odd epiphanies. Honestly, I could read an entire book about Tim and a grown-up George because I love them so much and their characters were so incredibly done.

Nan, Samantha's best friend, was mentioned earlier. I have to admit that the way things ended with her left me a little sore. Nan, in my opinion, is slightly selfish, though she genuinely cares about Samantha. She's too focused on going about things the wrong way, and it doesn't end well. Their relationship was really heartbreaking because it was so pure and full of happiness at one point. But, in reality, Samantha is at a time in her life where friends come and go. Not going to lie, it's painful. I can say that from personal experience. So, while I hated how this went down, the relatability was off the charts and I respect Fitzpatrick for putting something so true into her novel.

One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the contrast of the Reed family and the Garrett's. Firstly, every young adult novel should have a family like the Garrett's. They're not only positive, but they're genuine. They love each other and they function as a proper family unit. It was nice to break out of the negative young family mold that is circulating these days. However, that cliche is ever present in Samantha's own broken family. Her mother is a control freak and she is not at all likable. In fact, I legitimately despise her. She puts her image and political career before her family and she treats everything as a bargaining chip. This is only spurred by her new boyfriend and campaign manager, Clay, who I also despise with every fiber of my being--perhaps more than Samantha's mother. Either way, while I understand their inclusion in the story, I wish there was some type of humanity and natural mothering lurking beneath Ms. Reed's surface. You can't manipulate and intimidate people to do everything you want, so I was always rooting for other characters whenever they finally found the courage to stand up to the bullies that Ms. Reed and Clay played.

There's also one twist near the end of the book that made me completely sick to my stomach. It is unfortunately true, bad things happen to good people who do not deserve it, but you'd hope others would dig deep and find their humanity to help out. With that in mind, I have to admit it was brilliant. Not only was it unexpected and unique, it furthered the plot line in understandable ways. It made this contemporary novel stand out, and it was so terrible because we were so connected to the characters. It makes you question humanity, but eventually gives you a little bit of hope. It was shocking, but necessary and perfect. Bravo, Fitzpatrick!

Fitzpatrick's writing style shines through on every page. It's her amazing ability to write that causes this book to be absolutely unputdownable. She has this way of drawing the reader in and holding us captive until the very last word on the very last page. Whether it be connecting us emotionally to her characters or writing a scene where young lovers must go shopping for condoms for the first time, you can't look away. Speaking of which, she totally captured the perfection, awkwardness, and bliss that is young love beautifully, as evident throughout the entire novel and not just the awkwardly adorable and hilarious condom scene.

I have nothing else to say. If this review has not convinced you to read this book, then I don't know what will. You must be a robot incapable of emotion and love.

Just a content warning...I would recommend this to mature young adult readers. There is swearing, sexual situations, mentions of drug usage, manipulation, and violence. It is very controlled and done respectfully, but it is existent in this book.

~4.5/5

[More of my reviews are available on my blog, Geeky Reading, to which there's a link on my profile.]

This book was so good. I loved it, so very much. I was expecting to, as well, so I’m really glad that I did. That it was so good. And that the plot took such a surprising turn, at least to me.

Samantha’s mother is a politician, a neat freak, and she cannot stand the Garretts’ next door. And yet Samantha, the good, responsible daughter and student and everything else, cannot help but watch the Garretts’ from the roof outside her window, all the time. In the Garrett household, there are eight kids, most of them about three years apart, both parents present—they have a pool, and toys and things all over the yard, and the mother is always breastfeeding out in the open. And as Samantha gets pulled into the family by an odd encounter with Jase, the son her age, she finds that she loves them.

Samantha is great. I love that she’s such a good girl, but she falls for Jase, not a bad boy, who her mother hates even the thought of. Samantha is smart, understandably conflicted, fun, and responsible. And Jase… I love Jase. He’s sweet, fun, responsible, works hard, gets embarrassed… He is just so amazing. He’s so good for Samantha, just as she is for him. And their sexy-esque times together are very nice, as well. There are more than I thought there would be, and they are much more adorable and sweet, they are just so very good. Sex, also, is handled much more openly and sweetly and maturely between them than I thought it would be, and I was pleasantly surprised by that.

And the Garrett family! I love them. All of them. There’s the youngest, Patsy, who can only say a few words and is attached to her mother’s breast. There’s Duff and Harry, who are always fighting about something, throwing things at each other. There’s Andy, who’s just getting her first boyfriend and learning about and kissing boys now—a dreamy, somewhat dramatic teenage girl. There’s Alice, the oldest daughter, who’s training to be a nurse and always dating a new boy. Joel, the oldest son, who rides a motorcycle and has a leather jacket and helps around the house as much as he can. And finally, my favorite, there’s George, one of the younger boys, who doesn’t really like wearing all of his clothes, likes sweets, is afraid of so many things and knows all these odd facts about them, and who tells all. He is adorable, and so sweet, and I love him. He’s probably my favorite Garrett, a tiny bit above Jase. There are also the parents, who aren’t around quite as much, but whom are both very awesome and smart and sweet—they’re fantastic parents.

Next is Samantha’s family. Her older sister, Tracy, is not around too much, and I don’t really agree with her on a lot of things, but she’s mostly there for Samantha when she needs her. She has her own life, and I like what’s happening with her own future, as well as what she’s doing with her boyfriend, Trip. Then there’s Samantha’s mother, who I don’t really like. And part of that is probably personal experience with people very like her, but still. Don’t really like her, cannot believe how she reacted to Samantha about her attitude, as well as about Clay (Samantha’s mother’s boyfriend, who is a total manipulative jerk) and what she’s doing in her political world. Ugh, cannot believe that.

The political aspect of the book was something I was not expecting, but something that I really liked, and could relate very well to. I was glad it was part of the book, and happy about the impact it had on Samantha and the Garretts’.

Next is Samantha’s friends. There’s Nan, who I thought would be okay at the beginning, and then slowly started not really liking. By the end, I didn’t like her at all. Tim, on the other hand, Nan’s brother, is fantastic. He’s a jerk at the beginning, and he has some bad parts later, but he grows quite a bit by the end of the book, and I like him quite a lot. And I like his attraction to Alice, and I hope that that went somewhere later.

I really, really liked this book. It was sweet, and romantic, and mature, with a very good pace and voice and awesome characters. I loved it, and I can’t believe it took me so long to read. The writing, and some of the characteristics, reminded me of Sarah Dessen, but with a lot more romance—like Katie McGarry style romance, only a bit less in intensity and frequency. Overall, a very good book. And I cannot wait for Fitzpatrick’s next book to come out, as it is already on my want list.

This was pretty cute. It was very different than I was expecting, but not terrible.

I found the relationship between the main characters to be very believable. Jase was adorable. He was very mature for his age, but it was easy to understand why he would be that way with all those younger siblings around to look after and help out with.

I had issues with Samantha's character. She basically always had everything handed to her, and that makes a character hard to relate to. Particularly one so young. Until the end of the book it was clear she had never faced any legitimate struggles that she would have had to overcome. This made it kind of unbelievable for me that she would respond to "the incident" the way she does at the end. I understand having a conscience and wanting to do the right thing, but I didn't see that she would have ever had to overcome anything that would prepare her for the way she responds to the situation.

It also seemed bizarre to me that she would be able to blend in with Jase's family to effortlessly, always doing and saying the right thing. She was able to jump right in babysitting all of these overwhelming kids and be amazing at it right off the bat. I just didn't find her character relatable or believable.

I'm also not a fan of how this book ended. I'm not sure if it makes me a good person or a bad person, but the conclusion (lack of consequences in particular) really did not sit well with me whatsoever.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I missed this one when it came out, but was desperately wanting to read it. After reading Fitzpatrick's other novel What I Thought Happened, I was desperate to read this novel.

I wasn't disappointed. I adore how Fitzpatrick writes. This right here is contemporary fiction at its best.

Her characters are always so quirky and just so real. Fitzpatrick isn't afraid to dive in and tackle the hard issues and I love that.

I adored Samantha Reed and Jase. They were so cute together and I loved watching them grow up. This book had a depth to it that I wasn't expecting. But then again it's Fitzpatrick and so I'm not surprised. A truly great read.

I love books that make me think about something, books that leave me reflecting on what I read. That book did all that and more. Definitely recommend to fans of Dessen, Anderson, and Caletti.

So why 4 stars? There were some parts that just seemed a little bit forced for me, but I enjoyed it immensely.

In Summary: A cute book about first-love, coming of age, and the sometimes tortured relations that families can have--all in one package that readers will not want to miss.

Warnings/Side-notes: This book has several mentions to sex. It's not erotic or detailed, but there are vague mentions. For older teenagers.

The Wrap-up: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I can't wait to read the sequel about Tim. I just love him.

Love,

Danica Page

Originally posted on my blog: [...]

Before reading this, I had heard so much about this swoon worthy guy, Jase Garrett. I was so excited to read about what sounded like a fluffy, summer-y contemporary. I honestly didn't realize it delves into some heavy duty stuff too! But I thought it was all so well written and I loved reading about these Garretts!

So, Sam has spent most of her life watching her next door neighbors, the Garretts. They have eight kids and their house and yard is in constant chaos. Toys strewn in the yard. Bike left out. They aren't a cookie cutter, neat, white picket fence type family and for that reason, Sam's mother hates them with a passion. Sam's mom is a neat freak to the extreme, keeping their house spotless and trying to keep their images the same as well. When we meet Sam, she is 17 years old and her mother is now running for state senator, which simply ups the image obsession even more. Sam is left on her own devices a lot, in her empty, perfect house and it is that summer that she meets Jase Garrett.

Jase is the perfect boy next door. He is the bar that ALL boys will have to be measured against. He practically defines the term "nice guy". But when you look at him, the phrase "nice guys finish last" really just becomes an empty saying because he is the nice guy of all nice guys and yet will put ALL bad boys to shame. Forever. Because he is perfect. He sees Sam for who she is, accepts her and befriends her. He is such a great son and brother. And he does not have a mean or selfish bone in his body, I swear. Anyway, he and Sam are just so cute together and I loved how this was portrayed very realistically, like a high school relationship would be and there was no overblown angst.

Now the thing I really absolutely loved with all my heart was the Garrett family. Yes, there's eight kids but Huntley Fitzpatrick manages to characterize each one so well! When I was younger, I wished that I had a huge family, with lots of brothers and sisters -- essentially I wanted a Garrett family. They may not be rich (I can only imagine how much money it takes to raise eight kids) but they are rich in everything that matters. George was my favorite, with his crazy, hilarious questions and interesting worries (kids. where do they come up with this stuff? ha). I wanted to just hug all of them.

Anyway. for the majority of the book, it's sweet and wonderful and then all of a sudden you get hit with a lot of craziness! It was sudden and unexpected and hit me like a punch to the gut. This is where the book delves into more serious matters but I loved how things were dealt with. A story of growing up and finding your way that was really well written.

Such a wonderful book with the most amazing characters ever. The only bone I have to pick is the fact that I felt like the ending was too open ended. It just felt like so many things weren't resolved. I guess life doesn't resolve itself nicely but I kind of wish there had just been a liiiittle bit more.

I've never picked up a YA title thinking "Ooh, I bet I'll learn something about parenting."

Never.

Ever.

I pick up YA reads for the same reason my friends watch Glee. The stories offer an escape into the simpler world of teens.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick delivers on the virtuous teen romance and, for a bonus, throws in some to-do and not-to-do's for parents.

The story kicks off with one of best first lines that I've read in a long time "The Garretts were forbidden from the start." Immediately, I thought coven of witches or harborers of terrorists. But, no. To Senator Reed, the Garretts are way more sinister. Senator Reed forbids her daughters, Samantha and Tracy, from interacting with the Garretts because they represent chaos. Senator Reed vacuums her way out the door each day. For herself and her daughters, she's constructed an orderly and seemingly perfect life that's imagined only on photo shopped magazine covers.

Next door, chaos reigns. With 8 kids and 8 kids worth of toys, cars, and bikes, the Garretts are the antithesis to the Reed's antiseptic home. Yet, the chaos beckons Samantha's attention. She studies the Garretts, at a distance, from the roof outside her window until, one night, Jase Garrett joins her on the roof and invites her into his family's disarray.

Samantha sneaks under her mom's radar to date Jase. Their romance trots along innocently until Senator Reed's political ambitions cleave a gulf between the youthful relationship, leading Samantha to have to choose between loyalty and honesty. A choice that proves, sometimes, kids know better than adults.

Parenting tips? Yeah, they're there; laced into the fabric of the story.

First tip: Parents who are involved in their children's day to day lives and who accept the individuality of their children create a circle of trust and respect with their children.

Evidenced by Tim's parents. The Masons parent at arm's reach, ignoring Tim's misdeeds until ignorance is no longer possible. But even then, they fail to involve themselves in their son's life. By contrast, Mr. Garrett treats Tim like one of his own children. He's honest that Tim's messed up, accepts Tim where he is in his life, and guides Tim on how to be better. All actions that Tim's parents could have taken if they weren't afraid to be involved.

Second tip: Kids watch their parents behavior to learn how they themselves should behave.

Senator Reed theoretically represents and safeguards her voters. It's the message the Senator promotes in her campaign. A message that Samantha believes until she witnesses her mom sacrifice integrity for image. Her mom's misanthropic actions leave Samantha wavering over what is ethical and unethical - a path a responsible parent would have boldly drawn for their child.

Young adult blended with parenting tips. I'll take that any day over the average non-fiction guide to perfect parenting. Especially stories, like My Life Next Door, that test how many nights I can go with only a few hours' sleep.

My only disbelief with My Life Next Door was how constantly kind the Garretts' kids acted toward each other. I grew up with 3 brothers. I love them with all my soul, but, boy, did we go at it when we were younger. I don't care how good parents are, siblings argue. It's a fact.

My Life Next Door serves up a sweet summer romance entwined with fables of loyalty, integrity, and family values. A great read for the beach or for a lazy, cozy weekend.

~review by PageCravings.com

**Full review and more at grownupfangirl.com**

This is one the best contemporary YA books I've ever read. The story follows Samantha, the daughter of a newish Senator who raised both Sam and her sister alone when their dad skipped out. They live in the lap of luxury, thanks to her mom's trust fund. Constantly adding additions to the house and refurnishing the rooms already there. Sam's life is full of lifeguarding, studying, and having dinner at the country club every week. But Sam's life is also full of the next door neighbors, the Garrett's - who live nothing like she does. A family full of several kids (seriously, too many for me to remember them all) all with hectic schedules live right next door to Sam, and she watches them (totally creeper style) nearly daily..until one day Jase Garrett comes right up to her window and starts a conversation with her. Sam never could've imagined the kind of luxury she was missing out on until she pretty much becomes one of the Garrett's.

I quickly fell in love with the Garrett's and their crazy lifestyle, probably because I can relate to the table that isn't really for eating - more for storing junk, and to the car with Gatorade bottles floating on the floorboards. Jase Garrett is the epitome of boy next door. He's sweet, he's handsome (swooooon), he's athletic, and he cares about his family. Sam is not your typical rich girl though. She works two jobs (mom likes her to stay busy) and she is honestly a sweet soul. She doesn't bad mouth people and really just wants to help in most situations. So really, they're perfect for each other.

This book covers a lot of the tough stuff. We see Sam, struggling not to miss her mom, while she's dating a new man, all while she's missing her older sister who's heading out to college. We see Jase, struggling to get to college, working several jobs, and taking care of his family any way he can. We see Tim, a friend, who's into some heavy stuff, and trying to get clean. We see love, loss, betrayal, and ultimately, the good that comes out of coming clean and choosing love first. For that, Huntley Fitzpatrick should be applauded. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a dose of reality in their fiction, or just for something a little easier to believe than "star quarterback starts dating nerdiest girl in school" type books. Kudos Huntley Fitzpatrick, Kudos... and thank you for writing such a beautiful story. I can't wait to read the next one.

Buy it most places books are sold, and let us know how much you liked it!

There are a lot of "girl meets boy"/"they fall in love"/"something terrible happens to test that love"/"they fall in love again" stories out there, but this one is wonderfully told and well worth the reading time. Samantha and her sister, Tracy, are "princesses" - their mom is a senator with a trust fund, so whatever they want, they get. Tracy rebels and acts out, so it is up to Samantha to be "the good daughter". But all she wants to do is live in the house next door ... with Garretts. The house with the unkempt yard and the eight children and the parents who hug and kiss on each other all the time. It seems so different from her boring life, so therefore, it MUST be better. Right? For years, Samantha watches the comings and goings of the Garrett household, wishing she could be a part.
And then one day, Jase, the hunky third Garrett child, shows up and invites her in - into the chaotic loving mess of his family and the calm, steady center of his heart.

And thus the love story begins. You will fall in love with all of Jase's siblings: George, the neurotic little boy who sees danger in everything, even ice cream. Patty, the baby, whose first word uttered is "boob" and the second is "poop". And you will see why Samantha falls in love with them too. After all, her sister Tracy is away with her boyfriend for the summer, and her mother is focused on her new boyfriend/campaign manager as she runs for re-election against an unwavering opponent. And Samantha's best friend since the age of 5 is acting weird and hiding a really (really) big secret.

But then something horrible happens - well, actually two horrible things happen (back to back) - and Samantha has to re-examine EVERYTHING. Her love for Jase. Her duty to family. Her loyalty to her best friend. And where does she, her future, her goals, fit into all of this chaos? The author does a great job of making you care about the characters and wanting them to figure it all out. And because it is a book (and not necessarily real life), they do. But maybe not in the way you expect.

Great, great book and I would be interested in reading other books by this author.

Love, love, love. This is why I read YA books.

When it comes to a cute YA contemporary Huntley Fitzpatrick is truly amazing, which is probably the reason I usually look to her when I'm in the mood for a fun romance. The perfect YA summer read.

The highlight of this book is the romance between Jace and Samantha, while it does develop quickly Fitzpatrick does it seamlessly and it doesn't feel like insta-love (even though it kind of is.)

And Samantha was a surprisingly likable heroine! I almost never connect with YA contemporary heroines. No angst from Samantha! Or teenage drama. While the book does have drama but it's real and it makes you feel for the main characters.

And finally the Garrett family, they're everything Samantha's family isn't, they're free spirited, fun and quirky. Not to mention they're are ten of them in all. Needless to say, Samantha's life is about to make a change.

My Life Next Door was another one of those books that was seriously hyped up, so much so that I was terrified of reading it. Contemporary is very hit or miss for me, it’s not my favorite genre and I often don’t love the same books that everyone else does but when Cass & Judith hosted the My Life Next Door readalong I knew this was my opportunity to pick it up and just do it!

I instantly loved Samantha. She was from this picture perfect household on the outside, but in reality, it wasn’t a happy home. Her mother was all about appearances, everything had to be perfect and that included her daughter. On the inside though, Sam was awkward, a bit lonely and just the perfect realistic girl next door. And The Garretts. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I fell in love with this family. I’m not sure you could read this book and not fall in love with them. They were messy, disorganized, chaotic but their family was filled with love and big hearts. George was quite possibly my favorite. Wow, that kid was just too funny. And it’s so sad because he was super paranoid and not meaning to be funny but ohmigosh I loved him. And Jase… well Jase was just sexy, and sweet and affectionate and loved his family dearly.

I loved pretty much all the characters in this book… I felt for them, I cried for them, I laughed with them. The character building was phenomenal. Especially with Sam because she really had to grow up and make a few tough decisions, so there was a lot of growth with her character.

When I went into this I thought My Life Next Door was going to be a light-hearted romance so I was stunned to find out it was so much more than that. There is a heartbreaking accident, a realistic romance and a dysfunctional family. Honestly, there was so much more to this book than I expected!

I could rave and rave about this book for hours, but really… all I have to say is if you haven’t picked this up yet, you really should. Huntley Fitzpatrick is a phenomenal author. I was completely captivated by her characters immediately and I could not put this down. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did, really… it’s worth all the hype it gets!

Every so often, a book comes along that makes you wonder how you've survived this long without having met it. A story that makes you want to call everyone you know at 2:00 in the morning and tell them about the most amazing experience you've had reading it. One that completely draws you in and doesn't let you go until every emotion you have has been played with. You know the type. All of us book nerds do. There have been a handful of these books to enter my life, and MY LIFE NEXT DOOR is the newest addition to the "These books must be easily accessible to me at all times in case I need to reach out and touch it" shelf on my bookshelf.

I'm just going to come out and say this: The summary of this book doesn't do it justice. Please do not read said summary and think, "Huh. Girl falls in love with forbidden boy next door. Interesting." This book is SO MUCH MORE than that. Sure, Sam falls in love with Jase. (The romance is beautiful, guys. Like, cavity inducing sweet. I'm head over heels in love with Jase.) Sure, the romance is a no-no. (Sam and Jase come from families that couldn't possibly be more different from each other. One is a warm, loving family. The other is...not.) But the story goes in a direction that will leave you gasping and wondering just how, heck IF, there will be resolution by the time it ends. I actually had to put the book twice because the tears made it impossible to read.

It's been a long time since I've fallen in love with the secondary characters in a book. You should prepare to include the entire Garrett family on your list of favorite characters. Each one of them will leave a lasting impression on you, especially little George. Sam's friend, Tim, is a complex character that I'd LOVE to learn even more about. Then there's Sam's mother, Grace Reed. I tried, yo. I really, really tried to open my heart to her. It just never happened. And while I didn't love her, she's a character that you'll think back on regularly. THAT'S when you know you're dealing with a top shelf writer. I'm in mad, crazy love with Huntley Fitzpatrick

For those who enjoy contemporary young-adult romance "My Life Next Door" by Huntley Fitzpatrick is a must read. The romance between main characters Sam and Jase is beautiful. It unfolds at just the right pace and with an emotional honesty and intensity that is rare. So many writers can't answer the question, "why do these two in particular fall in love?". This one can. (I admit, I fell a little bit in love with Jase too. If I`d have known a 17 year old like that back in the day I`d have been a total goner.)

Not just a romance, this book is also a smart coming-of-age story as Samantha grapples with complex issues of friendship, family, integrity, and betrayal. The secondary characters were well drawn, both the loveable and the not-so-loveable. The three families depicted- Sam's, Jase's, and Sam's best friend's family were real, each with their own kind of love and their own only-too-real issues.

Still, this book is not without flaw. Was Jase just a little *too* perfect? Where was the resolution between Sam and her best friend? The conflict depicted was adequate, so I was a tad shocked and disappointed by "the incident" 2/3 of the way through. It didn't seem completely necessary and I could see no possible way for both sides to recover from the fall-out. It was a catalyst for some serious character growth for Sam and allowed me to see how Jase handles loss, but I wonder if that could have been accomplished in another way. Still, when a book makes me feel this intensity of emotion I can forgive a flaw or two. There's not much news on Fitzpatrick's website, but I sincerely hope she's putting the finishing touches on another book that can make me feel like this one does. "My Life Next Door" is firmly on my favorites shelf.

My Review
Favorite Quote(s):
"'Shhhh.' He pulls on my lower lip gently with his teeth, then fits his mouth to mine. First so careful, and then so deep and deliberate, that I can't think of anything at all but his smooth back under my hands."
"'Um. So ... Are we going to study?' Jase slides his thumbs behind my ears, rubbing the hollow at their base. He's only inches from my face, still looking into my eyes. 'You bet. I'm studying you.'"
Favorite Character: Jase. He's so cute and sweet and athletic and just all around a good guy.
First Line:
"The Garretts were forbidden from the start."
My Musings: I have to say, I've heard many great things about this book, so I had high expectations. However, this book exceeded them. This is one of the best contemporary romance books I have ever read--it may even be number one. Fitzpatrick created a romance that was both realistic as well as extremely adorable. The characters, Jase and Samantha, go through ups and downs in their relationship, which makes it more relatable.
Samantha Reed is the 'princess', even though she acts nothing like one. Samantha is one of those girls who will do what she's told, and she works hard for and exceeds in the things that she does. Although some had the misconception that she was a spoiled princess who didn't have to work for anything and got everything that she wanted, she was not that at all. She worked hard for the things that she accomplished. Jase Garrett is the cute handyman next door. He's a truly great guy, super nice and polite, as well as an athlete. The thing that stood out to me the most about Jase was his relations with his family. It was amazing to see--er, read-- and I can honestly say that he would do anything and everything for the sake of his family. I loved these two character's relationship. They were both slightly naive, and they figured out romance together. My absolute favorite scene was them going condom shopping together--it showed the relaxed side of their relationship, as well as the innocence.
I liked the other characters in the novel as well, amongst them being Tim and George. George was the cutest little kid ever. He was intellectual and curious, something you don't see often in a four year old child. Tim, Tim was a great character, and I loved seeing him grow and better himself. He turned his life around from drugs and booze, and became a large figure in Jase and Samantha's life.
I have to say, I wasn't expecting the conflict in this story. It was unexpected, and it really put the characters to the test. It created trying times, and it showed everyone's true colors. However, I am very happy with how the novel ended up. It shows that together, you can work through anything, and that honesty is the best policy.
My Life Next Door was a great and fun read. Fitzpatrick created an intriguing tale of first love and family that is a must read for any girl.

My Life Next Door was one of those books I wished I read sooner. I don't know why I didn't pick up this novel sooner because I remember ooohh-ing and awww-ing over the cover (which is gorgeous and so perfect for the novel) when the hardcover released last year. I devoured it quickly and wanted a second helping of more awesomeness even though the entire thing was completely satisfying. I am going to be re-reading this one for sure!

My Life Next Door followed Samantha Reed who lived next door to the Garretts, a large (eight kids and counting), loud, boisterous, affectionate family. Samantha's family is the complete opposite of the the Garretts. Samantha and her older sister were raised by their mother Grace, a Stepford-wife type of lady who makes lemonade with special ice cubes with little lemon peel and mint frozen in them made out of lemonade, who vacuums her already spotless house as a form of relaxation and always turned her nose up and disapproved of the Garretts. But Samantha couldn't help but be fascinated by the family and she watched them from her balcony over the years.

Then, Jase Garrett climbed up her terrace one summer evening and changed Samantha's perfect but gray world to one of color.

With her mother busy with her reelection campaign and Clay Tucker (her new boyfriend/campaign manager) and her sister away for the summer, Samantha and Jase grew close and fall in love. Soon, Samantha was spending a lot of time with the Garretts, who welcomed her and quickly made her one of their own. But just when things couldn't be more perfect for Samantha and Jase, the unthinkable happens--Grace is involved in a hit-and-run accident and Samantha must make an impossible decision between her beloved Garretts and her mother's dreams and ambitions.

All of the **feels** in My Life Next Door--it was fantastic! I loved Samantha's character. I really connected with her and was there with her the entire novel. I fell in love with Jase along with her--he was smart, funny, handsome, hardworking, he loves his family and so very sweet and thoughtful. He was the perfect boy (and if I have one tinny tiny issue with this novel, it was that he was too perfect). The way Samantha and Jase's relationship developed with mutual respect and love was just too lovely and swoon-y for words. I absolutely loved it!

Besides Samantha and Jase, the secondary characters were wonderfully fleshed out as well. I enjoyed meeting the Garretts (the little kids were hilarious!), Samantha's best friend Nan and her twin brother Timmy had an interesting secondary plot line and Clay Tucker was perfectly odious and Grace was a complex character (I wanted to hate her but I can't completely bring myself to).

The novel was Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel and I detect no debut novel awkwardness--it was superbly written with depth that you do not always find in YA contemporary novels. For me, My Life Next Door is right up there with Anna and the French Kiss (Perkins) in terms of characters, romance and writing--if you liked Anna or reading contemporary YA in general, this novel is a must-read. And the release of the paperback edition was timely because My Life Next Door is the perfect summer beach read.

I urge high school-aged teens* and adults to read My Life Next Door this summer. Run to your nearest bookstore or library and pick up your copy. This book cannot be missed!

Originally posted on Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks: http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com

This book served as an excellent summer read. I read it on vacation and couldn't have chosen a better book! It's one of those stories that would be perfect for a book club, it's definitely one to discuss with others. The thick plot and complex characters give you something to think about. It's more than fun and flirty, it delves deep into an evolving story about growing up.

The great thing about this book is that almost all the characters and likable, even the ones that your not supposed to like. Samantha is labeled as a rich girl used to getting what she wants, but she was so much more than that (and she was also nothing like that in her own eyes). She's worlds away from her own family and life. She's unhappy in the controlling environment and tired of straight lines and pressed clothes. Ever since she was young and the rambunctious-ever-growing Garrett family moved in next door she has been fascinated by them, and unbeknownst to Sam one of the Garretts' has also had his eye on her. Jase is an amazing book boyfriend. He's sweet, caring, and great with the little kids of his family. He's torn between being a man in his house and a child in his family. The responsibilities that fall upon all of the Garrett's are large and consuming, but he does a great job being a teenager as well. Just an all around excellent cast of personalities and minds!

I absolutely adored every member of the Garrett family, they all touched my heart. But, 4 year old George is definitely my favorite member!

"Is Jase already gonna marry you?"
I start coughing again. "Uh, No. No, George. I'm only seventeen." As if that's the only reason we're not engaged.
"I'm this many." George holds up four, slightly grubby fingers. "But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family."
Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. "George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on."
George backs out of the room but not before saying, "His bed's really comfortable. And he never pees in it."

Family is probably the largest theme of this book. Two characters that I would love to read more about are Sam's older sister and Tim!

What begins as an easy going and relaxing Sarah Dessen-like beach read becomes complex and deep as the story progresses. Ideas of morality and owning up to your mistakes are constant themes as this young woman is tested and forced to choose between the love for her family and the love of a new one. This book is inspirational and beautifully written, unfolding with surprise favorite characters and friendships that were very unexpected. I took a lot away from this book and look forward to more by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

If you're looking for a book about first love with an emotional back story, family drama, and so much more then My Life Next Door will rock your world! When going through the goodreads page I realized that a lot of my friends have read this one and almost every single one gave it 4 or 5 stars! That's how great it is and it's not just me that thinks so!

My Life Next Door is not your usual YA romance if only for the fact that the romance doesn’t take over the whole plot. It was rather refreshing in that respect.

Living next door to the Garretts her whole life, Samantha Reed has never once talked to family. Her mother looks down on their neighbors because they are a large family, something Grace Reed never wanted to be apart of. But one summer night before her senior year, Jase Garrett surprises Samantha and the two start a relationship.

I really loved this book. I cannot think of one bad thing to say about it. Samantha and Jase are great characters. They’re both 17 but act mature for their age. Her family is completely nuts- her mom a state Senator and her older sister a partier. Jase comes from a stable but large family. Everyone loves each other and they are just trying to make ends meet.

Samantha’s relationship with Jase is so sweet. The two take their time to get to know one another. Yes, they have some hiccups because she never really told anyone she was seeing him, but they make it work. They don’t fall in love immediately which I cannot tell you how much I loved. They do have an intimate relationship but it was all super sweet.

There are moments where you want to laugh, yell and cry. But throughout it all you’ll fall in love right along with Sam and Jase.

More of my reviews can be found on my blog @ http://littlepiecesofimagination.blogspot.com/

Wow. Just wow! I believe I loved every single second of this book and I read it in two nights. It was thrilling, sweet, amazing, fun, sad - it had every emotion I want and expect from a book. Even though there were some parts that were a bit slower than the others, it was still a fantastic read and if the author writes a sequel or a story about Tim (or, let's say, Alice?) someday, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat.

The only thing I did not like was Nan, Sam's best friend. I'm sorry, but she was just.. Yeah. I was not her biggest fan. I bet there are people who didn't like Clay either, but I think he was awesome because he was that type of a character you love to hate, so in a way I did like him. That being said, there wasn't anything else I did not like, so let us continue with the good parts of this story, shall we?

Sam. Nan thinks everything comes easily for her; however, it doesn't. She's a freaking teenager and about to start her senior year in highschool, but since her mother is the Senator, she has to be polite, nice, well behaved etc and cannot enjoy her youth that much. Her mother has already gone trough pareting her older sister Tracy, so she doesn't want Samantha to do anything stupid and expects her to behave like an adult, because her elections and image are the most important thing to her. Sam really seems like a ghost in her own house and in her mother's life unless it's about presenting their family of three on television or going to important meals. There were two things I liked about her the most: firstly, she likes to swim (one of my favorite hobbies) and, secondly, she tries her best to make everyone feel good and happy.

She's watched their next door neighbours - the Garretts - for years, but has never approached them. During one night, while she's at her rooftop, one of them comes to say hello. His name is Jase an he's this awesome gifted guy who's good at everything. Jack of all trades! He's a sweet, caring, fun, hard-working guy and his family is everything to him. Jase is very rational and down to earth. He would be a great guy to be friends with and, what's more, he's ridiculously good-looking.

These two adolescents grow to love each other and everything seems like a fairy tale. Until it isn't. Almost everyone in town, including Sam's mother, points their finger at the Garretts due to their huge family. I liked their family. It was a bit chaotic, but it was a family and it's more than you can say about Sam's relationship with her mother. It's not like they don't get along, it's just that she doesn't seem to enjoy her life at home as much as she enjoys it at the Garretts. Anyway, it's all lovey-dovey at the beginning and it's not until towards the end of the book you start to wonder that there must be something happening real soon. And BAMM!! It happens.

So.. The question is: how do they get trough this horrible situation? How would you act if you had a big secret to hide that's not yours to tell, since you weren't the one at fault, but it affects the people you love the most? What would you do if you need and want to tell the truth, but it could send someone very important to you to jail? What would you do if this secret tears you apart from the one person you trust the most?

It was a really, really good book and I'll probably read it again someday. I definitely recommend this book. You should read it because of George, Jase's little brother, and Tim, Sam's childhood friend and Nan's brother. You should read it because of this beautiful love story between these wild young hearts. What a great story!

Excerpts:

"Why would I need rescuing? This is my house, my roof."
"I don't know. It just hit me, seeing you 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."

"Samantha and I are going upstairs to, uh, feed the animals." Jase grabs my hand.
"Is that what they call it now?" asks Alice languidly.

"It'd be good if you'd stop apologizing right about now."
"It's about all I've got to fix things."

I just want to say something. I am not a fan of contemporary. I usually prefer fantasy or dystopian over realistic fiction. However, this book makes the rare list of contemporaries that I love. There are a very few authors that I like that fall under the contemporary category. They are Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Dessen, Courtney Summers, and John Green. It is hard not like those authors. They write just so many wonderful books. Now I can say that My Life Next Door ranks right up there with the best.

My Life Next Door tells the story of Samantha Reed. She is the daughter of the State Senator and has a very upscale lifestyle. For years she has watched the next door neighbors; the Garrets. They are everything her family isn't, with two adoring parents and eight kids. When Samantha starts to get into a serious relationship with one of the boys, Jase, she starts having the best summer of her life. Until an accident that involves her family and his causes her to make one of the most difficult decision she has ever had to face.

I wasn't too sure how I was going to feel about this book. I had heard so many positive reviews that I started to get excited for it. The world that Huntley Fitzpatrick sets up is just amazing. I could picture everything so vividly in my mind like a movie was playing. The characters were also just as good. Each one had their own unique and different personality from the rest. Jase and Samantha have such good qualities and they brought out the best in each other. I was so in love with the Garrets, if I had to pick my favorite besides Jase, it would either be between George or Andy. George was just so cute and adorable and Andy made me laugh so many times talking about her boyfriend and kissing. However, the only one that I didn't really like was Alice. I know that she was just looking out for Jase and all, but I just didn't like her that much.

The relationship that Samantha has with her mother was so sad at times. Her mother was hard to take and her boyfriend, Clay Tucker, was even worse. I found myself annoyed with them for most of the book, which was the point. Samantha also has two friends, Nan and Tim. They are twins and basically complete opposites. There were times that I was annoyed at Tim and Nan. I really Nan and wish there would of been more closure with her. I understood why Nan got mad at Samantha at the end. While I loved Samantha; Nan was totally right about her having a somewhat perfect life. Tim showed a lot of character development throughout the story. He was just this crazy pothead dick, but actually turned out to be an alright likable guy at the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I can easily seeing this book being one of my favorite 2012 Author Debuts of this year. However, I wish there would have been more closure with her mother and Mr. Garret. There are some loose strings but not enough to take away from the ending. I felt that the ending was perfect between Jase and Samantha.

This is one of the best contemporaries I've ever read. Normally I like a dramatic plot, either paranormally driven or tragically driven. This plot, however, is mostly happy, and when I finished the novel, I was left with a content feeling. This is very much a feel-good book. There are ups and downs, and a dramatic build-up at the end that kept me on the edge of my seat, but overall, this novel just made me happy. I'd recommend My Life Next Door to anyone who wants to read a relaxing, feel-good summer story.

There are a lot of characters in My Life Next Door. Jase's family alone consists of eight children and two parents. Additionally, Samantha has a sister, a best friend, the best friend's brother, a mother, and the mother's boyfriend is integral to the plot as well. However, it wasn't hard to keep the characters straight because Fitzpatrick managed to create an insane amount of unique, well-developed characters. Each character has his or her own quirks and stands out. Furthermore, the characters are believable, flawed, and easy to relate to. I could understand everyone's motivations but Clay's (the mother's boyfriend). Also, Samantha, the narrator and leading character, grew so much throughout the course of the novel. She made plenty of mistakes along the way, but in the end, she was better for it. I found that I cared about her, her family, and her friends, and wanted the best for everyone.

Samantha is a likable character, and she tries very hard to do the right thing. From the outside looking in, it seems that she's had an easy life. In many ways she has, but people sometimes resent her and judge her harshly for this. Jase, however does not. Jase's family, the Garrett's are constantly struggling financially. He never seems to resent Samantha, though. He is the perfect love interest because he's caring, compassionate, and responsible. He's a hard worker and an all around good person. He does have his flaws, as everyone does, but they are few and far between. He really cares about Samantha and wants to do what's best for her. It's impossible not to root for them to overcome their obstacles and remain together.

The plot is interesting, but not intense. I never once got bored, but the first 70% of the book is just establishing Jase's and Samantha's relationship. Things are not rushed with them and there is no insta-love (thankfully). The relationship develops at a natural pace, and the reader gets to observe all of the milestones. Because of the relationship's pacing, it comes across as believable and healthy. Also, the focus on Sam and Jase's relationship allows the reader to see how Samantha changes because of Jase. When the suspenseful scene begins, it's almost impossible to believe. However, Samantha and Jase needed to be tested. It wouldn't have been much of a novel without a huge obstacle to overcome, right? Nevertheless, I was extremely worried about how things would turn out.

There is some swearing in the novel, and people do have sex (though the scenes are not graphic). Also, there is drug use and underage drinking done by some of the characters. However, the novel does not glamorize any of these things, and especially with the drug use, it shows how drugs and alcohol can ruin lives. The only reason I mentioned these things was to give you guys an idea of what to expect. I know everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to what they read. None of the stuff bothered me, but I'm pretty liberal. And as I said, nothing was glamorized, graphic, or trashy.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to pretty much anyone. My Life Next Door is one of those books that leaves you feeling content after you read it. The story is touching and the characters are well-developed. I read this book in one day, even though it's close to 400 pages long, and I wasn't bored once. If you want a fun summer read, then pick up My Life Next Door. You won't regret it.

I have no idea why I have waited so long to read this book. I had heard amazing think about it, and it definitely lived up to the hype. It was all around astounding and wonderful.

Samantha is a good girl, with perfect grades and she never gets into trouble. With a seemingly perfect home life with her mother being a senator, she has always wanted more love and rightness from her family. After watching her rowdy neighbors with loving parents, she meets one of the Garrett children, Jase. Sam finds herself making excuses to spend all her time with Jase and his sweet family. After tragedy strikes, Sam must make a choice between the family she has grown up with and the friendly family she has recently discovered.

I really liked Samantha, most of the time. She was really sweet, and I am glad that her mother's values did not affect her. She was crazily well-rounded, excelling in academics and athletics. She always finds the best qualities of a person and does not give up when all is seemingly lost. There is one point in the book where she does make me mad because she takes too long to come to a very obvious decision. Other than that, I found her to be a pretty awesome protagonist.

Jase, my new book boyfriend. He is beyond sweet and caring, This boy does not have a selfish bone in his body at all. Although I have it bad for bad boys, there is definitely a lot to be said for the good boys. He is very hunky, thanks to the hard workouts for football he does. He gets along and takes care of his younger siblings so well; it's inspiring to watch. He is kind and considerate with everyone and their feelings, and he just loves with his whole heart. I honestly can't say enough good things about Jase.

The whole Garrett family was perfect. Every child was integral to the family and how they connected together. My favorite was cutie pie George. It was great to see a family in YA that was not broken or dysfunctional. Their parents clearly loved each other and each of their kids unconditionally. I felt that they did not deserve the hatred of stupid people; they are too good of a family for that. Another character I loved was Tim. At first he annoyed the mess outta me, but he definitely redeemed himself after hanging out with the Barretts. I guess that family impacts anyone it touches. His sister, Nan, was the exact opposite. I liked her to begin with, but then she got a permanent spot on my people-I-don't-like-in-this-book list. But who tops that list is Sam's mother and boyfriend Clay, more specifically Clay. Her mom wasn't that bad in the end, but Clay was just a political climber.

The plot was intriguing and exciting, and I was hooked from the beginning. There were many things that I didn't expect, which I always enjoy. I thought the writing was cute and being inside Sam's head was funny and interesting. The romance was so sweet and adorable. Jase was exactly what Sam needed to break out of her shell and let loose. It developed at a nice pace, and it didn't feel rushed at all. It just felt right and natural.

Between a perfect romance and an exciting plot, I couldn't put this book down; I read it in one sitting. Jase is pretty much the most perfect boy ever and this book will be on my mind for a while. My only regret is that I wish I had read it earlier.

Favorite Swoon-worthy Quote: "Oh my God," Jase whispers. "It's like I've just gotta...I can't help myself...I-" He hooks his index finger into the waistband of my shorts, moving me closer. His lips descend on mine, familiar now, but more and more exciting.

Rating: 5/5 Tar Heels!

Originally posted on my blog: Perks of Being a Bookworm

I think I'm feeling a bit let down by this book. I had some pretty high expectations and I was so happy with the first half and the characters were so great, with the exception of Samantha's mom of course that woman got on my last nerve, but I was so happy in the land of good books. I quite literally got about halfway through and turned a page and crap! The very next page was ripped straight down the middle vertically. I had half a frickin page. (Now I think, looking back, maybe that was a sign.) Lucky for me, I sent in an email just asking, since I was pretty sure I was either past return date or super close, if I could get a replacement book. The wonderful people at Barnes & Noble ♥ replied by sending me a shipping receipt email. So awesome! My one and ONLY issue I had with them and it wasn't even an issue. Anyway!

I was so excited to get back to Jase and Samantha's story. When I had to stop, everything was in that really great blissful spot. I mean I knew something had to happen eventually and I even knew what was going to happen to pull the rug out from under me. I think part of my problem was I just got so attached to the Garrett family, that the thought of something happening to any of them just broke my heart. They were such awesome people, especially little 4 year old George. I adored that boy and every scene he was in I just wanted to reach into the book and snuggle him!

Even as prepared as I was, the way everyone in the Reed family handled it was seriously inexcusable. I feel it the most with Samantha, I expected it from her mother. And then...it just kind of ended. It was like this big huge life altering thing happens and then once it's all out in the open it's just over, and I'm left sitting here thinking "Umm...that's it?" Had there been a more substantial ending I'd be sitting here singing it's praises and feeling more satisfied. As it was, I don't necessarily dislike the book I loved a good portion of it and it was worth reading, almost for the Garrett family alone!

Rating: 4

The Low Down: Ten years ago, the Garretts moved in next door. As soon as Samantha Reed's mother, Grace, saw them, she said: "I hoped we could have avoided this." "This" is lots of kids, toys in the front yard, and the grass not mowed regularly. Chaos. The Reed household is perfect: twice-daily vacuumed carpets, lemon rind in the ice cubes, clothing stored by color. Perfection. Mom didn't approve of the Garretts, so they were off-limits. And since Samantha and her sister, Tracy, went to private school, their paths never crossed.

This doesn't mean that Samantha isn't addicted to watching this family in secret. Long ago, she discovered a ledge outside her window where she would sit and think and gaze at the stars - and the Garretts. She knew all of their names, took in the controlled bedlam, watched the love expressed. Samantha's dad left when she hadn't even been born yet, and her sister, Tracy, was only a year old, so her world is a bit different from that of the next-door neighbors, though her mother's trust fund means they do more than fine.

Then Samantha meets Jase, and her world is changed as she is immediately drawn into the warm and loving gravitational pull of the Garretts. Is this what a family is really supposed to be like? Suddenly, everything starts to change: Tracy is gone all summer working on the Vineyard; Grace comes home with a new campaign manager-slash-boyfriend; Samantha's best friend, Nan, has a secret that may sink their friendship; Nan's twin, Tim, is continuing on his path of self-destruction. Worst of all, there is an event so horrible, it threatens to not only ruin her mother but ruin a family as well. Will Samantha have to sacrifice what she wants for the greater good?

Best Thang `Bout It: Sometimes when books have too many threads, a reader can get lost or all the different stories never gel or come together. There are several issues going on in this story - each of the main characters has something going on that makes the book deeper and more resonant. Everything comes together and nothing gets lost or short-shrifted. This book feels like how real life is.

While I really love the main romantic leads, my other absolute favorite is Tim. Screwed-up, ballsy, addicted Tim. He's an irreverent, cocky, swaggering smartass with a heart of gold. Many of the best lines are his. I am so glad the author doesn't shy away from his 3D personality that jumps off the page; instead, she throws him in the reader's face just as he is: f-word, smoking, drinking and all. He needs a big skweenchy hug and a time machine where he can go back to be born to parents who deserve him.

I also adore Jase's littlest brother, George, who worries. A lot. At the beginning of the book, he's gotten up from his nap. He wet the bed, having a nightmare about black holes, and he comes downstairs in only a t-shirt. He takes a liking to Samantha, and says: "I might marry you...Do you want a big family?" When she's trying to figure out how to answer, Jase, who has just re-entered the room, responds: "George, it's usually better to discuss this kind of thing with your pants on."

While the seriousness of the topics here can't be denied, it's the humor, devotion and love make us care.

The Only Thing Was: There was some serious stuff happening, and while it's true that it seems that politicians can almost get away with murder, I don't know if the ending was truly realistic. I liked it, for sure, and it seems to be true to the personalities of the people involved, but still...

The Bottom Line: You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll read it again as soon as you finish it.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick was published June 14, 2012 by Dial Books. Ink and Page picked this book up from the library, so no one had a choice about whether it was reviewed.

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction Romance
Ages: 14 and up
You Might Want to Know: As mentioned, there is liberal usage of profanity. There are also sexual situations.

My Life Next Door
By: Huntley Fitzpatrick

With summer creeping closer, my interest in books begin to shift. I start looking for fluffy reads with easy plots and a setting that matches the upcoming season. My Life Next Door Did not disappoint.

This book follows the life of Samantha, a 17 year old girl living in Connecticut. Her mother is the senator and has raised her family to live precisely and organized. The chaos of her neighbors were a unwanted disturbance that Samantha's mother looked down on, resulting in a 10 year silence between the neighbors.

This summer is different though when, Samantha runs into one of the neighbor boys and falls completely into their chaotic world. This book follows the pair through the summer in the most enticing and compelling way.

The contrast between the two families is evident but Samantha and neighbor boy Jase simply fit together.

So, this might be a fluffy, romance story, but it is the best fluffy romance story to immerse yourself in for the upcoming summer season. For once this teen romance doesn't focus on the love triangle trope. something I am utterly thankful for, and gives a whole lot of other drama that is more relate-able. (Because let's be honest most of us have a hard time getting one boy to like, and rarely are faced with 2)

Unabashed drama is still a plenty though in this book. Drugged out friends, relationships and the world of sleazy politics drive this story forward. I was captivated the entire time and was sad to see it end.

This book is considered YA but the profanity and realistic tone of the novel makes it feel much more adult then it's target audience. This was a good book to get me back into the swing of reading and ready myself for more light summer reads.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly and would give it 5 out of 5 stars.

While she has spent plenty of time spying on the Garrett family from the balcony of her second-story bedroom, Samantha has never met any of their eight children during the ten years they have lived next door. But that all changes when Jase Garrett--handsome second son and fixer of all things human and otherwise--climbs the trellis to the roof one night and discovers her secret.

Samantha's older sister, Tracey, is heading off to spend the summer on Cape Cod, leaving her home alone with her mother. Only her once stay-at-home, single-parent mother has reentered the workforce and has a
new boyfriend--a man who uses people for his own gain.

As Samantha's romance with Jase develops, she becomes more and more entangled in the lives of the boisterous Garrett family. But keeping her relationship with Jase from her disapproving mother is the smallest part of Samantha's problems. Her best friend, Nan, has allowed her ambitions to take over her sense of loyalty, and Nan's brother, Tim, has a serious substance abuse problem. But when Samantha's mother does the unthinkable, and her mother's boyfriend tries to cover it up, Samantha must choose between her own family and the rambunctious crew next door she has grown to love.

Including all eight of the quirky Garrett children, My Life Next Door has a cast of interesting characters that drives this simple plot forward. Central themes are substance abuse, friendship loyalty, and honesty in terms of doing the right thing when faced with incredible odds. Strong first person point of view. 4.5 stars for me

I got easily absorbed into the story. I thought I knew what the unthinkable thing might be but I wasn't even close.

I liked Samantha. She was easy to relate to and real. And Jase was your typical great guy-next-door. They really were just the perfect couple.

Even the side characters were great. I wanted to hate Tim, I really did. He was a complete screwup and seemed like such a loser. But he always seemed to redeem himself. And he really wasn't such a bad guy. I also loved all of Jase's family. The little kids were so cute and funny and his parents were just all around great.

I liked how Samantha handled the secret. Yes, not ideal at first but she came around and did the right thing.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Boy Most Likely To, which is all about Tim and Alice.

Ever since I first heard about it, I just knew this book would be fabulous. I'm not even sure why, since the description doesn't sound that special, but I'd been getting "Read me! I'm awesome!" vibes from My Life Next Door. Add to that the gorgeous cover and all the swooning reviews it's been getting, and I was sure I was in for something special when I opened the book. And while I did have a few smaller problems with the story, the characters and everything the book ensure My Life Next Door is going straight to the favorites shelf.

Huntley Fitzpatrick's style is great. It's not overly ornate or the most beautiful writing I've ever read, but it's perfect for this story. Her writing made it so easy to get lost in the story; it made the characters come to life. It's the kind of writing that reads incredibly quickly; you don't even notice the time passing while you're reading because you're so absorbed in the story. If I hadn't been reading together with Racquel, I probably would have read My Life Next Door in one sitting - it's that kind of book.

The characters are what make this book so special. The cast of supporting characters is relatively large, but that doesn't mean any of them are underdeveloped. With 8 kids, I thought I'd have trouble telling the Garretts apart, but that is not the case at all. Jase is swoonworthy, the perfect love interest. Racquel criticized that Jase is too perfect, but I didn't really see it that way - I couldn't get over how much I loved him. And George - oh, George. He is the single most adorable kid the (fictional) world has ever seen. I know it's easy to get a lot of people to love little kids as book characters, so me loving George might not mean that much. But even though I'm not always convinced by little-kid-cuteness, Huntely Fitzpatrick totally got me with George. Those two characters are the obvious choices, the ones everyone will love, but that doesn't mean the rest of the Garretts are any less interesting. Alice, Andy and Patsy are all made of awesome, and I would have loved to see even more of Joel. Each member of the Garrett family, including the parents, has a distinct personality - they feel less like fictional characters and more like people I know in real life. Then there's the non-Garrett secondary characters, out of which my favorite would have to be Tim. In the beginning, I was fearing him to be some kind of stock character, the necessary bad-boy-ish, "show the kids how drugs can mess up your life" kind of character, but that is so not the case. Tim has his own story to tell, and I love that he got to play such an important role in My Life Next Door because he is complex and awesome and I just loved reading about him.

The only character I wasn't completely in love with, sadly, was Samantha. She's not a bad character, but she felt a little flat to me. I wanted her to show more emotion, more personality, in quite a few scenes. I get that's kind of the point, but her Little Miss Perfect attitude annoyed me a little. Sam is beautiful, smart, always does the right thing, and has an endless number of talents, including being a great swimmer, knowing everything there is to know about astrology, and having a way with the younger Garretts. I want characters to have flaws, to show weaknesses and insecurities, and I didn't get that from Samantha. That's not to say I didn't like her at all - I didn't have huge issues with her, and it didn't take much from my overall reading experience. But I didn't love Sam like I wanted to.

I've heard a few people say they didn't like the big twist, but I for one loved it. I did not see it coming at all, and the set-up is definitely original. I love how this twist put all of Sam's relationships to the test - it was great to read about how each storyline was affected by this. I especially liked Sam's relationship with her mom during this time - it had felt a little flat to me in the beginning, but the problems they have towards the end of the book really made me understand their relationship.

One storyline I did not like as much is Sam's friendship with Nan. I can't say too much about that without spoiling anything, but I really wish that would have been developed more. The changes in their relationship felt drastic and a little unrealistic to me, and I would have preferred a more subtle and nuanced way of developing the issues these two have.

But despite all those other storylines, My Life Next Door is, at its heart, a romance. I hadn't read a straight-up romance for a while, and this book definitely filled that void. In the beginning, I was fearing insta-love - I found it a little strange how Jase and Sam had been neighbors for so long without ever seeing each other, and how suddenly, when the story starts, they see each other all the time. But once I got over that, I loved Sam and Jase together - I was so wrong for thinking it was insta-love in the beginning. The way the author developed Sam and Jase's relationship is honest and real, and I loved watching their feelings for each other grow.

I know I said quite a few negative things in this review, but really, that's not really what I felt while reading. What I felt was that super-awesome-book-feeling - you know, the one where you're just so happy while reading because a book is exactly the way you want it to be? That feeling is what really stuck with me and made this book so special. I'm sad to have to say goodbye to these characters - I keep hoping for an announcement that there will be companions to My Life Next Door, that Alice, Joel, Andy, Tim, and all the rest of them will get their own stories. But either way, I loved this book, and I'll be reading whatever Huntley Fitzpatrick publishes next, whether it includes these characters or not.

(Insert a sigh of contentment here)

That sound you just heard is exactly what you will be doing once you finish My Life Next Door. I have been seeing this book around Goodreads for a few months and I finally made the decision to read it. I only wish I had made this decision sooner!

There are so many loveable characters involved in this story. However, there are also some pretty down right evil characters as well.

Samantha has lived a sheltered life and you could say she comes from the 'right side of the fence'. She has a sister who is just a bit older than she is and they live with their Mom, Grace. Their father walked out when Grace was pregnant with Samantha. To say that Samantha's mom has issues is a bit of an understatement. For example, she is obsessed with the vacuum cleaner. When they leave the house she goes behind them to ensure that the carpet is vacuumed (the lines of a freshly vacuumed carpet must always be viable) and this is repeated several times a day. However even with these little 'quirks' her mom has managed to become pretty successful, the help of her own trust fund helped tremendously I would assume. She entered into politics and managed to become a Senator in their state of Connecticut. Grace likes things controlled, orderly and neat.

Enter the Garretts. They move into the house next door when Samantha is seven. From the moment they move in it is clear to Samantha that she is not to socialize with them. They are a large family and her mom wants her and her sister to have nothing to do with them and she is always making rude and snide comments about them. However, Samantha finds them fascinating and has always found herself watching them.

The Garretts have eight children (five boys and three girls) and they are Joel, Alice, Jase, Andy, Duff, Harry, George, Patsy.

I loved every single brother and sister in the Garrett family. I loved them and I loved their parents who are two of the most caring and loving parents ever. With a family this large they obviously struggle with money but to be honest looking in you would never know it. The kids all play instruments, they go to sailing camp, science camp, etc... it is obvious that Mr and Mrs Garrett would do anything for their children and they do everything they can to help them make each of their dreams become a reality.

My favorite of the children (well, other than Jase) is George. He is so cute and adorable... he is the kind of kid you just want to pick up, hug and squeeze their little cheeks. He is a walking talking encyclopaedia and everything scares him. He is worried about black holes, bacon being made out of Wilbur or Babe, Eskimo Pies being made out of actual Eskimos and so on. There were many times that I laughed out loud at something that little George had to say, he was in fact cuteness overload.

"Did you know that in space it's very, very cold? And there's no oxygen? And if an astronaut fell out of a shuttle without his suit he'd die right away?"

I'm a fast learner. "But that would never happen. Because astronauts are really, really careful."

George gives me a smile, the same dazzling sweet smile as his big brother, although at this point, with green teeth. "I might marry you," he allows. "Do you want a big family?"

So for ten years Samantha watches them all from a far. Then one day it all changes and she meets Jase. I absolutely loved their unfolding romance. They are both so sweet and everything is new for the both of them which was lovely. Usually you will find that one or the other person is experienced so you are never able to see how a first love can be viewed from both people. There were so many sweet and romantic scenes and I promise you that you will fall in love with Jase. There is no question about this at all. It was refreshing to have a boy who was so sweet and kind all the way through the book. I am not saying I don't love a good bad boy and they do have their place in the Young Adult genre but Jase is in a league all his own. Never once did I not trust him or find myself questioning his actions. He was thoughtful and respectful the whole time... Honestly I just loved him.

Two other side characters are Samantha's friend Nan and her brother Tim. There are a lot of revelations in My life Next Door and I think one of the biggest one came from these two. I hate spoilers so I will just say that I am happy with how this storyline ended up.

I really just want everybody I know to read this as soon as possible so that I can gush about it with them. There is a lot of growing up that happens from page one all the way to the end and it was a joy to read. This was the first book by Fitzpatrick that I have read but I will be on the look out for others because she has done such a beautiful job with this story.

"In movies, it's all beautifully choreographed, set to an increasingly dramatic soundtrack.

In movies, when the boy pulls the girl to him when they are both finally undressed, they never bump their teeth together and get embarrassed and have to laugh and try again.

But here's the truth: In movies, it's never half so lovely as it is here and now with Jase."

Christine
Rainy Day Reads

I had been hearing great things about My Life Next Door for a long time before I decided to give it a go. I'm not much of a fan of contemporary YA fiction, so I didn't go into it thinking that I would actually enjoy it. Thank goodness that I was wrong in my assumptions, because My Life Next Door was pretty great.

I loved how the story is about a girl who watches the large family living next door, which her mother has forbidden her from interacting with. There were just so many things that could happen with a plot like that. I think that the author did a great job with it. I was just as captivated by the Garretts as Samantha was. They were an interesting bunch!

The characters were very fun to read about. There were so many and I was surprised that they were each given enough of a role in the book, so that I ended up "knowing" them. I learned about their personalities and what they were really like. I felt that this was one of the most important things in this book. Since Samantha had been observing them for years and spent so much time getting to know each one of them, it was great that the author made that distinction when introducing the characters in the story. They were all very different and it was easy to just think of them as "individuals" rather than just members of the Garrett family.

Of course, one of the main parts of the story is Samantha's relationship with Jase Garrett. I loved Jase and Samantha. They were genuinely in love and were just such a great couple. Their relationship was developed very nicely right from the beginning. There was no insta-love and I just loved the problems that they ended up facing and how they just pushed through all that. It was all very well written.

I actually ended up liking the book a lot. It could have easily been one of my favorites, what killed that for me was the ending. I don't want to give too much away, but I'll just say I felt that the ending was rushed. Samantha ended up giving a short summary of what ended up happening, rather than walking the reader through the events. It just didn't live up to the rest of the book and I was disappointed. Overall, the book was great, I just wish the ending had been better.

My Thoughts:

I have been waiting to read this book for a while, so when i finally got a hold of it, i devoured it in one sitting. (which i do with all my books..well..the good ones). It has taken me a while to review this. sorry. I had to sort through it in my mind. then i waited too long and it's not too fresh in my mind but i am going to tell you what i thought.

I know that in order to have a story, any story, there has to be some kind of conflict. Whether it be internal or external or whatever. I was surprised by what the actual main conflict in this book turned out to be. I am not exaggerating when i tell you I DID NOT EXPECT THAT AT ALL.

You go into this book thinking it is only going to be a lighthearted love story with a Romeo and Juliet vibe. The Author, however, has other plans for you.

I am going to focus on the Romeo and Juliet angle first. I love love loved Jase Garrett. He was not a bad boy. He did not play games. he was a GOOD GUY. He loves animals. He is like Shrek. The kid has layers. ( I feel awkward calling him a man..because i am nineten and ...he seems like a kid. i dunno. kid sound weird too.. eh) The boy has layers. (better). He sees his beautiful recluse neighbor watching his family from her tower (couldn't help it) and just decides to go for it.

Samantha is a very like-able character as well. She knows her mom doesn't like the Garrets. Her perfect mom who always drilled into her and her sister to do the RIGHT thing. Samantha can't help herself and hangs out with the neighbors and finds herself falling in love- with the entire family. As her relationship with her mother deteriorates, she becomes closer and closer to the wild family she had seen for so many years, but never really known.

In other news, this book BROKE MY HEART. I am not going to divulge what did it. But let me tell you this. Samantha is put into a desperate situation that no one should EVER be in. My heart hurt for her . I mean, she is seventeen and her whole world is turned on it's head. She has to question everything she had been taught. She has to be more courageous than any seventeen year old should ever have to be and she has to make a choice- one that is no where as easy as you might think.

This story has certain elements in it that you would not expect to find in a book written for a young adult audience. I mean, wow. The depth of heartache and the Politics were like... a slap in my face. A carefree, lighthearted, romeo and Juliet puppy love story? Oh, Ryan, if only. You are so naive.

If you are in the mood for a book full of animals, sweet teenage boys, and more than one family full to the brim with family drama....this is the read for you. I loved this book.

This book has received a lot of praise and, as a lover of contemporary, it always makes me happy to see non-contemporary fans fall for one. Of course, I had to check this book out for myself!

For years, Samantha Reed has watched the Garrett family, growing to contain eight children to the dismay of her single mother who laments their mess and noise. Still to Sam, it looks spectacular, the kind of life she'd prefer to her sterile spoiled life. One night to her surprise, while she's spying on the Garretts, she is greeted by the third-eldest child, Jase who brings her over and introduces her to a whole new kind of life as they begin a romance.

Parts of this plot strongly reminded me of Sarah Dessen's excellent The Truth About Forever. We have privileged daughter who tries to live up to her mother's expectations including the boring jobs that send out the right image while daughter ends up taking a fun job that opens her up in new ways. However suffice it to say that Jase is no Wes (sa-woon) as Jase doesn't seem to have any flaws (such as a bit of a temper which would have been totally justified at one point) and his "perfectness" is exactly what I dislike most about him. Still he is a good guy rather than the bad boy so I give him points for that.

However as the book progressed, some concerns niggled at me. First the Reeds are quite wealthy while the Garretts are not. Yet they live right next door to each other. How did the Garretts afford that house? Did they inherit it somehow? Have they really been able to keep up with the property tax? Why didn't Mrs. Reed move? This isn't normally something I'd pick at but the fact that they live next door to each other is the main plot contrivance so I feel like it's fair game.

Next why does Sam have a sister? Personally I loved Tracy and would have liked more of her but she spent most of the book away. On the one hand, she serves as an example of what standing up to their domineering mother looks like; but on the other hand, if she didn't exist, it would have made even more sense for then only child Sam to long for what the boisterous Garrett family has.

Third, I was very displeased with the resolution of Sam and Nan's ruptured friendship. Namely because there wasn't any. There were cruel words, hurt feelings, and then that was it. Their long-standing friendship was dissolved. I guess it's okay because now Sam has Jase and a boy can totally replace your best friend of 12 years-note the sarcasm. I started out the book really happy that Sam at least had one friend and was very disappointed with how this was handled.

Lastly was a sudden plot twist near the end involving Sam's mother. It came out of left field for me and just seemed to be used to add some drama to shake up the book. I understand a book needing that jolt but this particular choice didn't sit well with me. And related to that, I found the ending of the book way too ambiguous. Don't worry, romance fans-that part is stable but for everything else, I wanted to know more.

Warning: Extreme language (one character who didn't make it into this review swears a lot and it made me wince every time), drugs, and sexual content probably make this a better read for the older end of YA.

Overall: A strong start but too many loose threads left me dissatisfied by the end.

Cover: Very cute-love the bright summery yellow as this book takes place over the course of one summer.

My Life Next Door is a great read. I liked Samantha as a main character, and I could feel her need to belong. She watches the Garretts, a loud and loving family next door, until she surprisingly gets lured into their life and discovers what her family seems to lack.
I love the life portrayed by the Garretts, lots of noise, talking to one another, depending on each other, and the love that makes a house a home. Mrs. Garrett has the patience of a saint and is the mother that I hope to be. Jase is smart, funny and the more I read about him, the more I liked him. And youngster George is so concerned about life and just wants to be reassured. He says the cutest and funniest things, and makes me want to hug him. I like it when children are featured in books, and Ms. Fitzpatrick writes them wonderfully as she does the rest of the characters in the book.
Tim and Nan were also great characters. They never failed to surprise me and they added real life and depth to the story. Tim went through such a transformation and that is exactly what I love to read about. I was sad at the direction that Nan and Sam's relationship took and I think that there should have been some resolution there.
My Life Next door was exactly what I needed after a streak of darker contemporaries and then some dystopias. It was light at the right times, gave me the feel of summer that I am def. not getting here in real life, and it featured the family.
It was not all light though, it deals with some pretty heavy issues in between the sweet romance between Samantha and Jase. Some issues that I didn't know what I would have done in Sam's place. And the thing that makes Sam's world fall out from under her feet? Something that I never saw coming! My only real complaint is that the story is left pretty open ended, and this is one where I wanted to know exactly what happened with the characters.
Bottom line: Superb cast of characters and a sweet romance in this summery feeling contemporary.

Okay, was this book perfect? Hells no! There were elements I felt could have been better handled, so it's probably better rated as a 4.5 star book, but I'll get into that later.

Here's why I lovingly stroked and petted and hugged and, yes, eventually kissed this book. Huntley Fitzpatrick creates the most awesomest awesome characters ever! Seriously, no joke. Our MC, Samantha, is so relateable and vulnerable and true, I felt as though she encompassed bits of every girl (myself included) I had ever known during my high school years. Sure, she's rich, so maybe we can't all relate to that, but she's flawed in the right ways and never entitled. Her family dynamics are, well, complicated and tense. It stands to reason that these dynamics are mirrored in Samantha's relationship with her best friend, Nan. To steal a line from The Perks of Being a Wallflower, we accept the love we think we deserve. And very shortly into the novel we begin to understand that the relationship between Sam and Nan is less than balanced.

Jase, the boy next door, is so swoon-worthy I wanted there to be a sequel, just so I could read more about him. But it's not about the sinewy muscles or the Ken doll good looks, though it doesn't hurt that he's smokin' hot. No, it's more than that - Jase is as genuine a human being as I've come across in my many years of reading. He is kind and thoughtful, he is smart and capable and loving. He is all the things missing in most love interests these days. There's no angst, no bad boy swagger, no I-hate-you-love-you attitude, just simple honesty and tenderness. Just what a first love should be. And, yes, this book is all about first love and coming of age.

This time, I don't want to write a review full of spoilers. This time, I don't think I could adequately do a book justice by trying to dissecet its many elements. This time, I want to leave these discoveries untouched. Nope, this time, I want only to speak to the thematic aspects. To be precise, this is a story of first love and much of the book focuses on the evolution of the relationship between Samantha and Jase. So, if you're not into that sorta thing, check out now. What the author has chosen to do, and wisely IMO, is spend a huge portion of this book delving into the lives and psyches of these characters. Certainly there are a few minor plot threads snuck in there, but the foundation is the fledgling love story. It isn't until three-quarters of the way through the novel, and it's fairly long, that an tumultuous story arc emerges. This sort of conflict is necessary, even in a simple love story, as it further defines and solidifies the relationships of this ensemble.

There are obvious standouts in this book. Sam and Jase, as I've mentioned, are two of my favorite characters of recent times. But this book is rich with voices. Tim, Nan's older brother, is a wonderfully hysterical addition and brings with him both drama and levity. The Garretts, yup the whole family, are fantastic. Each has an individual voice and the little ones are so charming and funny, one can't help but love them. This is yet another area in which Huntley Fitzpatrick shines. The characters she creates are unique and engaging and realistic, it's almost like being up on Samantha's roof (where she sat and watched life happen without her for so long) with her. Not once, during the entire read did I confuse a single one of the Garrett's eight children. Bloody brilliant. Grace, Sam's mom, and Clay, Grace's political aide, are also wonderfully crafted and exceptionally executed. Every line Clay uttered, ever slimy, selfserving remark was perfectly placed and demonstrative of his contempt and malefeasance.

Now, onto the stuff that hacked off half a star. There were times, though only a few, during which I felt Jase's reactions to events/situations seemed a bit too mature and evolved for his seventeen years. Though these were few and far betweem, they were during moments when a freak out would have been totally expected and reasonable. I just don't see a teenage boy reacting so indifferent. It's a niggling little issue, but one which plays a major part in the storytelling so it matters.

But, regardless of this slight bump, it's a book I strongly recommend with one little caveat. This novel is teeming with expletives and there's a rather tasteful but explicit sex scene (and I mean explicit by Y/A standards, not adult). So I'd suggest the sixteen and older sect.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick is one of many amazing debut novels of 2012, and in my opinion, one of the best YA contemporaries of the year. This book made me feel so much - I fell in love, I laughed, I cried, I swooned, it made my heart ache, and it made me happy and angry and everything in between. It was sweet, funny, sexy, romantic, and real.

I really connected with Samantha. I felt everything she felt - the disappointment, uncertainty, love, hurt, anger. She was such a great character - so genuine and relatable. And I absolutely adored Jase. He was so calm and unflappable and he really saw Samantha when so many other people - including her own family - overlooked her and took her for granted. I admired his love and loyalty to his family, and his willingness to do anything for them. The Garretts were the best thing to ever happen to Samantha - she fit in with them, and they loved her, accepted her, and needed her.

Besides Samantha and Jase - who are easily two of my favourite characters ever - the secondary characters really made this book, whether you loved them or they made your blood boil. Jase's siblings were great, especially George and Patsy, the youngest two. They were absolutely hilarious, and whenever they were in a scene, I was laughing out loud. Although Nan, Samantha's `best friend' made me really angry, I loved Nan's brother Tim. He was proof that sometimes screwed up people just need a second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) chance to get things right. I loved that he really came through for not only Samantha, but also for Jase and the Garretts after a rocky beginning, and a stretch of being a not-so-great friend. He's someone I'd love to see more of...maybe in a companion novel? *hint hint Ms Fitzpatrick!* ;-)

I disliked Sam's mother from the beginning - she was such a hypocrite, claiming in her political campaign that family was the most important thing, and yet she neglected and mistreated her own family. I literally felt my blood pressure rising through the last quarter or so of the book when things got really bad with her mom. I'm a slow reader, but I was zooming through the pages, hardly able to turn them fast enough to see what happened next. I couldn't imagine how it was going to resolve, and I loved that added tension and depth.

My Life Next Door isn't just about romance. It's about friendship, family, loyalty, second chances, truth, and life. Lovable characters, a great plot and subplots, a swoonworthy romance, and excellent writing make this book a must-read for fans of contemporary young adult fiction.

My Life Next Door is about Samantha, a typical good girl who gets good grades, whose mother is a state senator in Connecticut. Her mom is uptight and snobby, though she tries to come off as a regular person to her constituents. She also expects her daughters to be perfect, though Sam's sister, Tracy, went through a rebellious phase that put even more pressure on Sam not to screw up. Part of not screwing up is staying away from the loud, large family next door, the Garretts. Her best friend is Nan, who has a stoner brother named Tim who seems to be in a downward spiral that no one can stop.

What her mom doesn't know is that for years Sam has sat on the roof outside of her window watching the Garretts everday family life, which is so much different than her own. One of boys, Jase, ends up catching Sam while she's watching them and they strike up a conversation. One thing leads to another, they become friendly and it's obvious that they both like each other. Sam gets to know and love Jase's family without her mother, who's in the midst of a re-election campaign and has her eyes set on bigger things politically, finding out. Her mom's not just distracted by the campaign, but also by campaign guru Clay Tucker, who has worked on national campaigns and who Sam sees for the first time when he's in a lip lock with her mom.

This was one of the first YA contemporary books I read, and it definitely made me interested in reading more in the genre. Sam was a very likeable character, though I did want to smack her once or twice at the end. Jase is just great. He's a nice guy, he loves his family and he's very loyal. He's what I think most girls (of any age) would like their boyfriend or husband to be like, but he's not over the top perfect, he's just a very decent guy. I'm not usually into books with kids, but I loved the whole Garrett family and some of the things the Garrett kids did and said cracked me up.

The only problem I had with this book was the twist near the end. I just thought it was a little too forced and improbable. I get why the author did it, to shake things up, but felt it was a bit over the top. Having said that, I still loved this book and would highly recommend it. One last comment about this book. I loved Nan's brother Tim, even from the start. Yes, I wanted to crack him upside the head and tell him to get his shit together, but he was just so snarky I felt myself liking him and hating him at the same time. He ended up possibly being my favorite character and I'd like to request a companion novel with Tim as the main character!

First Thoughts
Loved the cover and over the summer I heard nothing but good things about this book, and the blurb intrigued me.so why not?

My Thoughts
I actually liked this book way more than I originally thought. This is a next door romance that is a little different than the average girl next door story. But different in a god way!

Samantha is a pretty normal Teen. She is about to enter her senior year of High School, she has a job, great friends and good grades. Everything in her life is in order. Her sister is going off to college soon, and her mother is up for re-election in office in their town. Her mother basically controls everything Samantha can do and who she can do it with. One of her mother's rules is to stay away from those Garrett's next door. To her they have in ungodly amount of children and don't keep their yard in order, and for those reasons alone they are bad news. But one thing her mother doesn't know is that one of Samantha's favorite things to do is sit of her terrace and watch the garrets. After years of watching them from a far, Jase climbs onto her terraces and starts a conversation. From there thing go from good, too bad, to worst.

First off I'm so in love with Jase it's not even funny. He was so sweet and always the gentleman. He helps baby sit for his mom, and loved being a big brother. He brought Samantha into the garrets hectic life and she fell in love with them as they did her. The Garrett's as a whole where amazing! I come from a home where I am the only child so the big family thing was so cool to me and I loved the way they interacted with each other. No one in the family had similar personalizes and it made it that much more enjoying to read. They were all so real and very relatable. George and baby Patsy were hilarious with a capital H. I might not have liked Sam all of the time but the garrets could do no wrong.

Favorite thing George says
"George gives me a smile, the same dazzling sweet smile as his big brother, although, at this point with green teeth. "I might marry you," he allows, "Do you want a big family?"

I start to cough and feel a hand pat my back.

"George, it's usually better to discuss these kinds of things with your pants on." Jase drops boxer shorts at George's feet, then sets Patsy on the ground next to him.

"Is Jase already gonna marry you?"

I start coughing again. "Uh, No. No, George. I'm only seventeen." As if that's the only reason we're not engaged. "I'm this many." George holds up four, slightly grubby fingers. "But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family."

Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. "George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on."

George backs out of the room but not before saying, "His bed's really comfortable. And he never pees in it."

Back to the Review
Sam's mother, Grace was HORRIBLE! I hated her she is the worst character in history. She shouldn't have been allowed to have children. Plus she is so JUDEMENTAL! She looks down on anything that isn't perfect so of course the Garrett's were at the top of her hate list. Sam just had sucky people in her life before she came into the garrets life, her best-friend (Nan) and everyone else.

One character that got my attention was Tim is character really developed from the beginning to the very end.This book goes from sweet romance, funny, to very serious, and changes the whole pace and dynamic of the book! The only thing I hated was the ending I felt it was so abrupt. I was searching for more pages but there weren't any :(

With all that said and done, this was pretty good. I laughed,I almost cried, I fell in love with some characters, and hated other's. It had everything I could ask for in a contemporary fiction.

Soooo...there's no new Dessen this year. There's no new Perkins this year. What's a girl to do? Go trolling for new contemporary YA of course! And while I did find some lemons, I did find some good ones including My Life Next Door from newcomer Huntley Fitzpatrick. While Dessen and Perkins are my equivalent of the YA holy grail, Fitzpatrick was definitely up to par and filled the gaping hole that they left in my heart by taking the year off. The writing style isn't the same - she's not a copycat or anything - but the essence is still there, that perfect essence of the teenage girl's mindset. It seems like it wouldn't be difficult to capture it seeing as how so many YA authors were once teenage girls themselves, but so many people miss the mark. Not Fitzpatrick!

Sam is our heroine in this book and she has the perfect mother and sister, while she feels anything but. The typical black sheep storyline although there's more to it. Because she feels less than perfect, however, Sam covets what she doesn't have, which just so happens to be what her next door neighbors happen to have - a loud, happy family. Since they moved in next door, she's always been interested by them and as things get worse at home, she grows more and more interested in the goings on in the Garrett household until one night one of the Garretts ends up at her back window.

Before we know it, Sam has grown up and faces some tough choices. We learn that her mother and sister are even further from perfect than she is. Sam learns that everyone is human and what it means to make the right choice and the hard choice. It's a great read because it stays interesting and while it does have its `fluffy' moments it does hit on some serious notes. I don't want to give anything away but there's definitely some ups and downs in it, but it all contributes to Sam's growth. It's great - the reasons she has to grow up suck, but it's great.

Sometimes perfect needs a little bit of messy. Wealthy, beautiful, and popular, Samantha Reed leads the perfect life. But compared to the Garretts next door, her life is dull. Every day she spies on them from her bedroom balcony, until one day Jase Garrett climbs up and stops by for a talk. A fateful meeting that changes everything in Sam's life as she and the boy next door fall in love. Then tragedy strikes and Sam faces the hardest decision ever. Will she be strong enough and choose to do the right thing?

Huntley Fitzpatric's My Life Next Door is a whirlwind of romance, a story that will tug at your heart, break it, and rebuild it again.

Samantha was an interesting character to read. I saw her as a bit timid and fearful of stuff, kind of a pushover with her mom and sister. Her mom is the state senator and she insists on having everything perfect; a perfectly clean house, a perfect outfit, and perfect daughters. Sam's older sister Tracy doesn't roll with that, she's a rebel. Samantha is thinking maybe rebel is not such a bad thing. Then she meets the Garrets, and the change is evident. She turns into a take-charge kind of girl, she's helpful and funny. I loved the banter she got going on with Jace sometimes.

Jase was perfect. He was caring, loving, cute, hot, attentive, just overall amazing. But a little too perfect for me. I mean, I couldn't find any fault in him, and that's just not realistic. Sam and Jace times on the roof, in their rooms, out on the beach, were again perfect. A little bit of romance with a dash of teenage hormones and a whole lot of heartfelt words. Even with all the time they spend together, Jace starts feeling left out of Sam's life. He was totally right in calling her on it, and I like that she accepted being wrong.

The Garrets are my favorite family ever: Joel, Alice (rock on!), Jase (<3), Andy, Duff, Harry, George (cuteness overload), and Patsy (love her vocabulary). George was just hilarious with his endless facts of horrible things that could happen to a human being in different situations. I love how everyone always struggled for an answer that could make him calm down. And then Alice so protective of her brothers and sister, while still being the rebel of the family.

Tim is also other characters worth mentioning. At first, I didn't get why their story was important, but then things pick up speed and clear up. I really did like Tim by the end, but I don't think someone who's addicted to controlled substances and alcohol can heal that quickly. Sure, he struggled but not as much as I would expect someone like that to struggle. I'm thinking it had to do with the AA meetings that Mr. Garrett required of him, but I don't know. Also, it bothered me that they took so long to get him some help.

The ending had a horrible surprise. I think I started hyperventilating and everything with the news-bomb that was unleashed. After that, a lot of cursing ensued. Sam finds herself all alone, but I couldn't find it in me to feel sorry for her. She brought it onto herself, and she needed to atone. Lucky for her Jase is a saint. Not sure I'm completely happy with how the families solved their issues, but I did like how Sam and Jace resolved theirs. This is one amazing debut by Huntley Fitzpatrick, and I'll be looking forward to anything she releases next.

I really enjoyed the balance of My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. It has the perfect blend of sweetness, tension, humor, and sorrow to keep the reader engaged.

My Life Next Door centers around the relationship between Samantha Reed and Jase Garrett, next door neighbors who have never really had a neighborly relationship. See, the Garretts have eight kids and all the chaos that goes with it, and Samantha's mother is a keep-up-appearances perfectionist. Samantha is secretly fascinated with the Garretts. Their life might be messy and crazy, but there is genuine love and affection in their house; something Samantha doesn't see a lot of at home. When she and Jase begin dating, Samantha keeps it from her mother, convinced that she wouldn't approve of her daughter dating "one of those Garrretts."

The protagonists Samantha and Jase are really just adorable. Jase is a compassionate, responsible guy, and Samantha cares deeply about making the people in her life feel happy. The tenderness of their relationship is really sweet. They trust each other, put effort into being a team, and solve their problems together instead of keeping it to themselves.

Samantha's relationship with her mother is another important aspect of the book, as she learns to separate from her mom and form her own adult identity. In the beginning of the book Sam lives under her mom's thumb. As with every teenager, there is the inevitable struggle between things she can handle and things she can't yet, the parent that wants her to stay young and the urge to grow up, etc.

Jase's many siblings add dimension and humor to the book. The eight kids aren't just placeholders; they're fully fleshed-out characters with unique personalities and roles. My favorites were George, the four-year-old worrier, and Alice, the badass nursing student.

On a thematic level, My Life Next Door is about accepting lifestyles that are different from your own and doing the right thing even when it's hard. This is something that Mrs. Reed struggles with, and Samantha struggles by association. She is torn between what she objectively knows is right and wanting to protect her mother.

My Life Next Door has a satisfying ending that gives the best solution to each of the characters. It was really nice to read a a book that stands so well on its own, since it seems like every book these days has to be part of an unnecessarily drawn-out trilogy. Give My Life Next Door a read if you're in the mood for a moving, sweet contemporary romance. It won't disappoint.

Samantha had always watched the Garrett's, her new neighbors. Well, her new neighbors 10 years ago anyway. She was enthralled with the chaos that came with a family of 8 children and 2 parents that are so wonderfully and obviously in love. A family always smiling and working together. They were so close in distance, yet so far from her own reality. She lives with her vein, self-centered congresswoman mother who acts like a controlling robot and her beautiful but mostly absent sister. There's no room in her life for error or teenage drama. Just Sam with her opinions & humorous thoughts often kept to herself.

When Sam finally meets Jase after watching for 10 years, it was priceless. I just sank down in my cushions and knew that he would save her from her life.

`In addition to the sun-streaked, wavy chestnut hair and even white teeth, Jase Garrett has green eyes, and one of those quirky mouths that look like they are always about to smile. Plus this steady-on, I-have-no-problem-looking-you-in-the-eye-gaze. Oh my.'

By her second conversation she knew she had it bad, and not just for Jase but for the whole Garrett family. She had finally found people that showed affection and proved that life wasn't about what you had but who you had surrounding you. I adored little brother George.

"Is Jase going to marry you?"
I start coughing again. "Uh. No. No, George. I'm only seventeen." As if that's the only reason we aren't engaged.
"I'm this many," George holds up four slightly grubby fingers. "But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family."
Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through the proposition. "George. Beat it. Discovery channel is on."
George backs out of the room, but not before saying, "His bed's really comfortable. And he never pees in it."

If Sam wasn't working one of her 2 summer jobs pushed on her by her crazyass mother, she was hanging, getting to know & babysitting her neighbours, having romantic swoonworthy moments with her gorgeous sweet boyfriend Jase, she was trying to work out how to save her best friends brother Tim from himself and working out what the right thing to do, even if it harms more people than it does good. Life wasn't as easy for Samantha as it would appear from the outside.

This book had everything. An honest sweet romance, humor, friend drama ahoy (Tim was one of my faves), and family drama that delivers a bucketload of disappointment, pain and angst.

I loved this book and would recommend everyone have a read. It was beautiful and I can absolutely see the stuff this book is made of going on in the real world. I would have loved an epilogue, but was happy enough to let my imagination run wild.

Well done Ms Fitzpatrick. I'll have me some Jase :D

Oh the sweet adorableness of this book; it is the exact reason why I'm so in love with young adult books! My Life Next Door was the PERFECT summer read and it's definitely a story I will remember for a long time thanks to the brilliant set of characters, the sweet romance, and the astonishingly accurate way Huntley portrayed the whole "big family" thing.

When the story starts, we get to know Samantha who is pretty, wealthy, and living in a seemingly perfect life that isn't so perfect. With no father figure, an extremely controlling not to mention work-a-holic mother, and the insane amounts of vacuuming this girl puts up with, no wonder she is so sick of the perfect act. Sam is a character you could easily relate with. She faces the pressure of her mom's perfection. She finds herself striving daily to over excel in everything that she does. Even though she may come across as cold and sheltered at the beginning, little cracks of the wonderful Sam began showing through throughout the book.

Sitting on her roof, watching the large & eccentric family next door, and wishing she was there rather than at her own house; it was her only solace when things at home got too much to handle. Or at least it was her only solace up until the second she found herself in the middle of their crazy big family.

Jase Garrett. The unbelievably good looking, sweet, kind, good-natured boy next door changes Sam's life in just a few minutes. It doesn't take long for her to be swept up in the crazy-beautiful mess AKA The Garretts.

Meeting the Garretts is one of the simple pleasures in life. It is safe to say that I genuinely adored each and every single one of them. Their house may be a mess and more than slightly chaotic but there is so much joy and love in that family. There is always something going on, some mess to clean up, some minor catastrophe to fix, or some slightly naked child to dress, in short there was never a boring minute. It did not come as a shock to me that Samantha watched this family every day for years, there was always something different going on.

When she was thrown into the lives of the Garretts, one in particular caught her fancy. Sure her relationship with Jase started out as friendly but it did not take very long for their attraction to one another to ignite. Everything about these two being together was so believable. I got goose bumps when they first kissed, I smiled like a goon during the romantic moments, and you better believe I fell head over heels in love with the two of them together as a couple. I felt like their romance was moving so sweet & slow while also being perfectly swoon-worthy & fast at the same time. There was such a good balance throughout the whole thing. Sam was supportive of Jase and his entire family, Jase was caring of Sam when it seemed like no one else was there.

Now let's talk about the family that takes up so much of this book. Each and every Garrett will forever hold a special place in my heart. As someone who comes from a rather large family, I know all the ins and outs of being one of many kids. I know how you can all be so similar yet so different at the same time. The Garretts are the PERFECTLY IMPERFECT fictional, big family. Huntley also has a large family so she really knew how to write those hilarious, wacky moments that added so much humor to the book. There was a wonderful mix of quirky, fun characters to really add life to this story.

As you can probably tell, My Life Next Door is an absolute delight. There is so much sweetness, quirkiness, and love throughout the pages of this book. I loved the family aspects that are touched upon, how the main characters balanced each other out so well, and let's not forget the Garretts! If you haven't already picked this book up, I suggest you do so!

Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel is a knockout. If this book is any indication, she is going to be one fantastic author!

My Life Next Door is a romance. It has one of the most beautiful, real love stories I have ever read (think Anna and Lola.) That, however, is only a small part of the story. The bigger part is a story of growing up, a story of friendship, and a story of family, both Samantha's and Jase Garrett's.

Samantha's family may seem like the perfect one, in the beginning, but it quickly proves different. The Garretts are the real perfect family although they are better classified as perfectly imperfect. There are two relatively young parents and eight children from the ages of twenty down to one. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett, Joel, Alice, Jase, Harry, Duff, Andy, Patsy, and George are all wonderful characters. George is a sweet, inquisitive little boy. Patsy is the cutest little girl with an obsession with boobs. Joel is a good bad-boy. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are fabulous parents and very much in love. Harry and Duff are two funny little boys. Andy is a 14-year-old girl going through trials and tribulations with her first boyfriend.

Then there is Jase. Sweet, sensitive, sexy, wonderful Jase. There really are no flaws with this boy. As for the honorary members of the Garrett family, Samantha and Tim, they are just as great. Samantha is shy ans scared of going outside her comfort zone but she wants to explore her feelings for Jase (and his wacky family.) Tim has more problems than anyone should possibly have but he has some surprisingly wise moments. The rest of the cast of characters, Grace Reed, Tracy Reed, Flip, Clay, and Nan were minor characters but they were still remarkably well-developed and thought out.

The story starts off as a typical coming-of-age story but it doesn't stay that way. It is a surprisingly fast-paced contemporary novel and while the real shocker doesn't come until close to the end that doesn't mean the story isn't gripping from the start. Readers will be captivated by the romantic dynamics, the family dynamics, and towards the end, by the tragedy that rocks both worlds.

Overall, My Life Next Door is one of the best contemporaries I have ever read, right up there with Sarah Dessen, Susane Colasanti, and Stephanie Perkins. If I could give this book a higher rating, I would.

Let me tell you that I would recommend this book to anyone.

I didn't just like this book but I loved it! It was a sweet summer read. The author has written My Life Next Door gorgeously. The characters, the plot, their sweet romance, the writing, everything about this book was beautiful.

Samantha was a really good character. She was rich but never acted snobby. She was sweet and mature. Rare combination for a female characters in books. I loved the Garrett's family. There were so many kids and I loved each one of them. But I thought Jase was special. He was a sweetheart. I fell in love with him myself. Jase and Samantha were adorable together!

Jase's parents were nice to welcome Samantha to their family. One thing bothered me was how they had another baby. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about choices and babies. It was just that I felt like they already had 8 children and they were poor. It wasn't fair for the other children because they couldnt have enough money for all of them. That's all.

I will always look out for this author future books. My Life Next Door truly has warmed my heart.

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 as well as sickeningly sweet- in the best kind of way of course!

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-

Samantha has known one thing since the Garrett family moved in next door--her mother was not pleased. She's been told to stay away from that disorderly bunch, but that never stopped Sam from silently watching them from just outside her bedroom window. When one of the older siblings, a boy named Jase, introduces himself after more than 10 years of being neighbors, Sam is thrown into a complete new world where she feels wanted, relaxed and like she finally fits in. She's found a home with this new family, but when it comes down to it, will she be able to choose between right and wrong?

I knew that My Life Next Door was the book for me the moment I heard about it. I waited for months to get my hands on it and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. I fell head over heels for the characters, especially Samantha and Jase and the romance that blossoms between them. It's safe to say that most aren't going to like Sam's mom just by reading how judgmental and how perfect she constantly has to try to be, but if you dig deep, you'll find compassion. There will be more characters that the readers will learn to despise, but the Garretts stayed true to themselves the entire journey.

What I loved about that large, chaotic, fun and completely close-knit family is that they welcome just about anyone. They turn the other way when someone voices one of their rude opinions and they don't let anyone stop them from being happy. Sam has known a very small family of just her mother and older sister, and just as her sister's leaving for college and her mother's spending more time in politics, she needs something like Jase's family. As it turns out, they need her too.

This story has to be one of the best contemporaries I've read all year. Not only is it filled with a steamy romance and a swoon-worthy boy, but it doesn't stray very far from its main and most important topic--family. Sam learns what it's like when her nearly-perfect life takes a turn and crashes, leaving her to pick up the pieces. She's faced with a very hard decision between honesty and betrayal and at least one of her families will have to suffer no matter what. My Life Next Door is what I call a perfect debut.

(Review from thehollowcupboards.blogspot.com)

I have always been the biggest sucker for young adult books. Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, is certainly no different. An endearing story of first love, Fitzpatrick is skilled at tugging on those heartstrings and making sure you wish you were 17 again.

From the day that the Garretts moved in next door, Samantha Reed was fascinated. They were everything her family was not. While her mother thrived with control, perfection and cleanliness, the Garretts were messy, loud and chaotic. And while her family is perfect, Samantha realizes that the Garretts just might be perfect for her. She has always been the person to try to hold everything together, but what happens when she can't anymore? Everyone she knows is dealing with some sort of crisis and needs her help with something --- her best friend, Nan, reveals a big secret that could affect Nan's future; Nan's brother has serious drug problems; and Samantha's mother is dating someone new. And then there's Jase, who doesn't really want anything, except for Samantha.

Samantha always watched the Garretts. Little did she know that Jase watched her, too. When Jase finally decides to speak to her, it changes everything. There is just one fundamental issue --- Samantha's mother, who is running for re-election, hates the Garretts. So when things between her and Jase become serious, Samantha decides to keep her relationship with him --- and the rest of the Garretts --- a secret from everyone important to her, until she can't anymore.

A tragedy strikes the Garrett family, and Samantha's world is turned upside down when she realizes that she has a bigger part in it than she ever imagined. Now she has to make the choice between the family she was born into and the one that invited her into their home and lives. Will Samantha protect her mother, who has always been more concerned with herself? Or will she do the right thing for the boy she loves?

A beautiful cover is only the beginning of a long list of amazing things about this book. MY LIFE NEXT DOOR is arguably one of the best young adult novels out there. A reminiscent vibe of Sarah Dessen, it makes for the perfect summer --- or really, anytime --- read. The witty writing, (mostly) likable characters and consuming storyline make for an enjoyable reading experience throughout. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down, and that is certainly not a bad thing. You might just find yourself falling in love with Jase, too.

Reviewed by Leah Schiano

For years, Sam had watched the Garrett's from her bedroom next door. They're life was so opposite from the one she led. Sam has the perfect trust-fund mother who currently is a congresswoman, and the beautiful older sister always out with her latest conquest. It's just the three of them, as Sam's dad left while her mother was pregnant with her. The Garrett's always had a lot going on with eight children: five boys and three girls. They were the type that always had the toys lying about in the front yard, comings and goings at all times, loud pool antics and sports playing in the front drive. In contrast, Sam's family has nothing out of place. Her mother even makes sure to vacuum any trace of footprints out of the carpet before they leave. It was an unspoken command to stay away from the Garrett's. But day after day, Sam found herself drawn to watching them until one day one of the sons, Jase, climbs up and talks to her. From then on Sam is tied inextricably to the Garrett's, but most of all to Jase. When tragedy strikes their families, Sam's loyalty to her family and the Garrett's is put to the test.

I fell head-over-heels in love with the Garrett's. Their open love and affection they show to each other as so inviting. Acceptance and love come in large amounts in the Garrett home, something Sam has been lacking in her life. She falls not only for Jase, but for the whole family, and they fall for her. Little four-year old George seems to fall hardest, besides Jase of course. He is so cute with his affinity for random facts, National Geographic Kids, and his constant worry over what might happen. He loves Sam instantly, calling her Super Sailorgirl because of a waitressing outfit she comes home in one day. But that's what she is to him, a super-hero, always able to calm him down, and find a good reason why he doesn't need to worry. She is drawn to this family and helps without being asked, it just comes naturally for her. Like with all the helpful dating tips she sends Andy's way. Or just watching baby Patsy so that her mother could have some free time. Sam finds that she fits in right away. I think she craved to be part of their obviously affectionate family from the start.

I loved Jase, he is the product of a loving family, able to give love so freely himself. He's all about care and thinking about other people. The way he helps with his younger brothers and sisters, without even thinking, or being told to, is so touching. The romance between Jase and Sam is one you could imagine lasting for years, and there were lovely swoony scenes between them that had my heart all a-flutter. Here's a quote from Jase, in the beginning of the story that made my knees go weak:

Jase's green eyes meet mine, then his lashes lower. "I guess I like things that take time and attention. More worthwhile that way." I don't know what it is about this that makes me blush, but something does.

Sam's mother, Grace, was a piece of work. Vain, self-centered, and judgmental, this is a woman who should've never had kids. She looks down her nose at the Garrett's, saying there's one in every neighborhood: messy, too many kids, yard full of neglect and children's toys. Her mother is concentrating on her re-election campaign instead of her girls. She only seems concerned at making sure their lives are lived in a way that optimizes them as a campaign tool. Especially now that she has Clay, her new campaign manager and boyfriend. He's younger, charming and has Grace wrapped around his finger. Sam doesn't even recognize her mother and doesn't care for the effect Clay has on her. I felt very sad for Sam to have been raised by this woman.

This was a brilliant debut for author Huntley Fitzpatrick. I was riveted from the start of this lovely, touching and heartbreaking story. I would love to see another story revolving around Tim and Alice! That would be entertaining. I will certainly be picking up anything else Ms. Fitzpatrick decides to write.

Sweet baby, can I just please fangirl for a moment and tell you guys how much I loved, loved, LOVED MY LIFE NEXT DOOR? As far as summer reads go, it doesn't get much better than this. There's a bit of everything for even the most picky readers. It has the perfect amount of romance, a little bit of drama to keep you on your toes, the most wholesome characters you will ever meet, and also the worst.

From the very beginning, you get a very clear picture of what each character is about. Samantha is the good child who is dying to break loose, wanting to have fun but not exactly knowing how. Tracy (her sister) is the wild child and isn't afraid to express it. Their mom...uptight state senator who, let's be honest, is more than a bit selfish and self-centered.

Then there are the Garretts. While some characters may stand out more than others (Jase, Alice, put-some-pants-on George, and even boob/poop little Patsy...boob!), each of them still have their own personalities and rolls to play. This is one of the many things I loved about this novel. None of the characters were similiar enough to get confused with another. The author brought them all to life as if the Garretts were have always been your neighbors. I felt like I knew them personally and in all honesty wish I did. Yes, I didn't like Grace (aka Samantha's mom) nor Grace's "manfriend"...nor Samnatha's supposed best friend for that matter, but I did love every single one of the Garretts as well as Tim.

TIM! How fun was Tim? Seriously loved this kid. He's flawed, but so, so funny and just an overall riot. If it wasn't for Tim, the story wouldn't be as entertaining as it was. Needless to say, he was definitely one of my favorite characters, awkwardness and all.

ROMANCE! Yes, pleaaaase! Let's talk about the romance. Sure there's a lot of lust but OH MY GAAAAAAWD, it was so good. I loved how Samantha and Jase's relationship progressed from strangers who watch each other, to semi-friends, to more than friends, to more than more than friends, to...you get my point. I loved how Jase watched Samantha's every move and thought before speaking. He was incredibly observant and oh so sweet, making my heart melt into a puddle of puppy love goo. What I wouldn't give for a Jase Garrett of my very own.

Now, I will say that there is an incident in the book (as stated in the summary) which aggravated me to no end. When it happened, it was sudden (as it should be), but everything that happened after felt so rushed. I didn't like how any of the characters reacted to the situation, and it tore me up inside. The worst was Grace and her manfriend. They must not have a soul because neither of them grew nor even cared to fix their wicked ways. Okay, Grace did a bit but even so, it wasn't enough. Blah! Frustration is just pouring out of me just thinking about it.

Overall, I devoured every page of MY LIFE NEXT DOOR. My very so fabulous friend Hannah asked whether or not she should buy it, and in a very unladylike, almost animalistic nature, I replied "_____ YEAH!"(use your imagination). I really could go on and on, but it looks like I already have. Just buy the book and read it, for my sake and for your's.

I've already mentioned this to a few people, but My Life Next Door is TOTALLY reminiscent of Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever - which is not only my favourite Sarah Dessen book (seriously, I'm such a fangirl) but one of my favourite books of ALL TIME.

So just picture my epic excitement when I pick up this highly anticipated new contemporary YA release only to discover that it completely reminds me of one of my FAVOURITE books. But yet still different enough to stand all on its own. My Life Next Door is one of those perfect summer reads that will leave you itching for a reread as soon you've finished it.

Reasons to Read

1.One of the best, most realistic romances I've ever read:

Huntley Fitzpatrick seriously blew me out of the water with her portrayal of Jase and Sam's relationship; I LOVE that we don't spend hundreds of pages agonizing over whether they'll get together or not. I adore how strong and trusting and open they are with each other; they really want to build on a strong foundation for their relationship, and they put effort into figuring things out and trying to work together. It's beautiful and flawed but so real, and something that many people could actually aspire to. And Jase is just such a sweetheart- so reasonable and thoughtful, and Sam is so quietly strong and brave in her own way. They just MESH and I love them. And I think you will too!

2.Plus, that romance? SA-WOON:

(If you don't get that reference, you really need to read The Truth About Forever ASAP.) I hesitated making TWO of the reasons worth reading this about the romance, but Huntley does steamy well - yet still kind of awkward and sweet, all rolled into one.

3.A gorgeous story about growing up:

Here's what's really key about the book though, is how much Sam changes and develops over the course of the novel. Much like Macy (in Truth About Forever), Sam is perfectly put together, organized, driven, and lives directly under her mother's thumb. But of course this isn't enough and she's longing for something more. So something has to change, something eventually has to give and conveniently enough, the Garrets next door are complete opposite from her own family. Sam learns so much about growing up and what happiness and love means - and not easily, either, mind you. They're hard lessons for her and those around her to learn but it's incredibly touching & ultimately, unforgettable.

Most importantly though, is this idea of acceptance and appreciating or tolerating something different from your own norms. And how poignant that theme is - and at such the right time as well. The Garretts and the Reeds are completely different - but as Sam learns, that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

My Life Next Door doesn't QUITE hold the same charm that The Truth About Forever does, perhaps partially because of nostalgia on my part and partially because I think some of the secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. And I wasn't entirely sure about how I felt with the conclusion; in some areas, I thought it was just right and ideal, but in others it didn't feel quite whole and rather unresolved.

But this is a remarkable contemporary, a perfect summer read of change and transition that is sure to be loved by many readers for a very long time. <3 Sam and Jase's feelings are utterly contagious, much like the rest of this book!

E-galley received from publisher for review.

My Thoughts: Seriously, this book was so fantastic!!!

We are introduced to Samantha whose 17 years old. She lives with her mother who is running for senator and her older sister. She also has a best friend named Nan and she has a brother named Tim.

Than there are the Garretts. They are a huge family who live next door. They have lived next door for most of Sam's life but she has went to the private school and their family has been at the public school so they haven't ran into each other. But Sam has watched the family from her rooftop. One day, it all changes when Jase Garrett climbs up and talks to her.

From there a whirlwind relationship begins. Through the swimming, the cuddling, the family interactions, I fell madly in love with Jase and their relationship was so beautiful and wonderful and amazing.

But everything isn't perfect. Sam is faced with a big decision she has to make. It isn't easy and she wants to make the right one, but someone will get hurt.

We get to experience Sam's first time, we get to experience her relationship with her best friend, and all while she is falling in love with the boy next door, literally.

I don't want to say much about My Life Next Door, because I want you to experience it... This is one of the best debuts I've ever read. It was everything a contemporary is supposed to be. This rates up there on the scale that Anna and The French Kiss did for me.

My Life Next Door is freaking amazing! Beautiful. Awesome! Fantastic. I bet this makes my top 10 favorites of the year.

And Jase is so dreamy. He it HOT, sweet, sensitive, why can't all boys be like him?

Overall: OH MY GOSH! Read in two sittings! Wanted to read in one, but it got to be too late at night and had to stop! My Life Next Door should be on your TBR pile for 2012, no doubt about that.

My Life Next Door was a ray of sunshine mixed with hot chocolate and heart shaped candies. Truly a wonderful novel and I loved every page of it.

Cover: Love! Love! Pretty! Love the scenery, love the way they are kissing.

What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
______
Taken From Princess Bookie

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Genre: Contemporary | Coming of Age | Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: June 14, 2012
Print Length: 400 pages
Format: Print
Source: Local Library
Review Date: April 25, 2013
Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Mini-Review

I really liked this one! It is a great coming of age story with a sweet romance at its core. Like many YA novels there is moral to the story. Basically, to do the right thing no matter how hard it may be.

Samantha is a 17 year old "rich girl" whose mother happens to be the state senator. Jase is her "not rich" next door neighbor. He is 17, and the third of eight Garret children living next door. She has watched them from afar for years with envy, but has never met them. Jase has noticed. They finally meet and fall in love, but there are many obstacles in their way. And, one tragedy that will make Samantha have to choose between her family and Jase's.

I definitely recommend this book to lovers of YA. It was unique and funny at times; but was also emotional, with parts that were tragic and full of secrets and lies. It has political undertones, with Samantha's mother being a senator, but it does not take away from the story (if you don't like that sort of thing).

Happy Reading!
StacyHgg
bit.ly/BooksUnhinged

I really enjoyed the balance of My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. It has the perfect blend of sweetness, tension, humor, and sorrow to keep the reader engaged.

My Life Next Door centers around the relationship between Samantha Reed and Jase Garrett, next door neighbors who have never really had a neighborly relationship. See, the Garretts have eight kids and all the chaos that goes with it, and Samantha's mother is a keep-up-appearances perfectionist. Samantha is secretly fascinated with the Garretts. Their life might be messy and crazy, but there is genuine love and affection in their house; something Samantha doesn't see a lot of at home. When she and Jase begin dating, Samantha keeps it from her mother, convinced that she wouldn't approve of her daughter dating "one of those Garrretts."

The protagonists Samantha and Jase are really just adorable. Jase is a compassionate, responsible guy, and Samantha cares deeply about making the people in her life feel happy. The tenderness of their relationship is really sweet. They trust each other, put effort into being a team, and solve their problems together instead of keeping it to themselves.

Samantha's relationship with her mother is another important aspect of the book, as she learns to separate from her mom and form her own adult identity. In the beginning of the book Sam lives under her mom's thumb. As with every teenager, there is the inevitable struggle between things she can handle and things she can't yet, the parent that wants her to stay young and the urge to grow up, etc.

Jase's many siblings add dimension and humor to the book. The eight kids aren't just placeholders; they're fully fleshed-out characters with unique personalities and roles. My favorites were George, the four-year-old worrier, and Alice, the badass nursing student.

On a thematic level, My Life Next Door is about accepting lifestyles that are different from your own and doing the right thing even when it's hard. This is something that Mrs. Reed struggles with, and Samantha struggles by association. She is torn between what she objectively knows is right and wanting to protect her mother.

My Life Next Door has a satisfying ending that gives the best solution to each of the characters. It was really nice to read a a book that stands so well on its own, since it seems like every book these days has to be part of an unnecessarily drawn-out trilogy. Give My Life Next Door a read if you're in the mood for a moving, sweet contemporary romance. It won't disappoint.

Samantha had always watched the Garrett's, her new neighbors. Well, her new neighbors 10 years ago anyway. She was enthralled with the chaos that came with a family of 8 children and 2 parents that are so wonderfully and obviously in love. A family always smiling and working together. They were so close in distance, yet so far from her own reality. She lives with her vein, self-centered congresswoman mother who acts like a controlling robot and her beautiful but mostly absent sister. There's no room in her life for error or teenage drama. Just Sam with her opinions & humorous thoughts often kept to herself.

When Sam finally meets Jase after watching for 10 years, it was priceless. I just sank down in my cushions and knew that he would save her from her life.

`In addition to the sun-streaked, wavy chestnut hair and even white teeth, Jase Garrett has green eyes, and one of those quirky mouths that look like they are always about to smile. Plus this steady-on, I-have-no-problem-looking-you-in-the-eye-gaze. Oh my.'

By her second conversation she knew she had it bad, and not just for Jase but for the whole Garrett family. She had finally found people that showed affection and proved that life wasn't about what you had but who you had surrounding you. I adored little brother George.

"Is Jase going to marry you?"
I start coughing again. "Uh. No. No, George. I'm only seventeen." As if that's the only reason we aren't engaged.
"I'm this many," George holds up four slightly grubby fingers. "But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family."
Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through the proposition. "George. Beat it. Discovery channel is on."
George backs out of the room, but not before saying, "His bed's really comfortable. And he never pees in it."

If Sam wasn't working one of her 2 summer jobs pushed on her by her crazyass mother, she was hanging, getting to know & babysitting her neighbours, having romantic swoonworthy moments with her gorgeous sweet boyfriend Jase, she was trying to work out how to save her best friends brother Tim from himself and working out what the right thing to do, even if it harms more people than it does good. Life wasn't as easy for Samantha as it would appear from the outside.

This book had everything. An honest sweet romance, humor, friend drama ahoy (Tim was one of my faves), and family drama that delivers a bucketload of disappointment, pain and angst.

I loved this book and would recommend everyone have a read. It was beautiful and I can absolutely see the stuff this book is made of going on in the real world. I would have loved an epilogue, but was happy enough to let my imagination run wild.

Well done Ms Fitzpatrick. I'll have me some Jase :D

Oh the sweet adorableness of this book; it is the exact reason why I'm so in love with young adult books! My Life Next Door was the PERFECT summer read and it's definitely a story I will remember for a long time thanks to the brilliant set of characters, the sweet romance, and the astonishingly accurate way Huntley portrayed the whole "big family" thing.

When the story starts, we get to know Samantha who is pretty, wealthy, and living in a seemingly perfect life that isn't so perfect. With no father figure, an extremely controlling not to mention work-a-holic mother, and the insane amounts of vacuuming this girl puts up with, no wonder she is so sick of the perfect act. Sam is a character you could easily relate with. She faces the pressure of her mom's perfection. She finds herself striving daily to over excel in everything that she does. Even though she may come across as cold and sheltered at the beginning, little cracks of the wonderful Sam began showing through throughout the book.

Sitting on her roof, watching the large & eccentric family next door, and wishing she was there rather than at her own house; it was her only solace when things at home got too much to handle. Or at least it was her only solace up until the second she found herself in the middle of their crazy big family.

Jase Garrett. The unbelievably good looking, sweet, kind, good-natured boy next door changes Sam's life in just a few minutes. It doesn't take long for her to be swept up in the crazy-beautiful mess AKA The Garretts.

Meeting the Garretts is one of the simple pleasures in life. It is safe to say that I genuinely adored each and every single one of them. Their house may be a mess and more than slightly chaotic but there is so much joy and love in that family. There is always something going on, some mess to clean up, some minor catastrophe to fix, or some slightly naked child to dress, in short there was never a boring minute. It did not come as a shock to me that Samantha watched this family every day for years, there was always something different going on.

When she was thrown into the lives of the Garretts, one in particular caught her fancy. Sure her relationship with Jase started out as friendly but it did not take very long for their attraction to one another to ignite. Everything about these two being together was so believable. I got goose bumps when they first kissed, I smiled like a goon during the romantic moments, and you better believe I fell head over heels in love with the two of them together as a couple. I felt like their romance was moving so sweet & slow while also being perfectly swoon-worthy & fast at the same time. There was such a good balance throughout the whole thing. Sam was supportive of Jase and his entire family, Jase was caring of Sam when it seemed like no one else was there.

Now let's talk about the family that takes up so much of this book. Each and every Garrett will forever hold a special place in my heart. As someone who comes from a rather large family, I know all the ins and outs of being one of many kids. I know how you can all be so similar yet so different at the same time. The Garretts are the PERFECTLY IMPERFECT fictional, big family. Huntley also has a large family so she really knew how to write those hilarious, wacky moments that added so much humor to the book. There was a wonderful mix of quirky, fun characters to really add life to this story.

As you can probably tell, My Life Next Door is an absolute delight. There is so much sweetness, quirkiness, and love throughout the pages of this book. I loved the family aspects that are touched upon, how the main characters balanced each other out so well, and let's not forget the Garretts! If you haven't already picked this book up, I suggest you do so!

Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel is a knockout. If this book is any indication, she is going to be one fantastic author!

My Life Next Door is a romance. It has one of the most beautiful, real love stories I have ever read (think Anna and Lola.) That, however, is only a small part of the story. The bigger part is a story of growing up, a story of friendship, and a story of family, both Samantha's and Jase Garrett's.

Samantha's family may seem like the perfect one, in the beginning, but it quickly proves different. The Garretts are the real perfect family although they are better classified as perfectly imperfect. There are two relatively young parents and eight children from the ages of twenty down to one. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett, Joel, Alice, Jase, Harry, Duff, Andy, Patsy, and George are all wonderful characters. George is a sweet, inquisitive little boy. Patsy is the cutest little girl with an obsession with boobs. Joel is a good bad-boy. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are fabulous parents and very much in love. Harry and Duff are two funny little boys. Andy is a 14-year-old girl going through trials and tribulations with her first boyfriend.

Then there is Jase. Sweet, sensitive, sexy, wonderful Jase. There really are no flaws with this boy. As for the honorary members of the Garrett family, Samantha and Tim, they are just as great. Samantha is shy ans scared of going outside her comfort zone but she wants to explore her feelings for Jase (and his wacky family.) Tim has more problems than anyone should possibly have but he has some surprisingly wise moments. The rest of the cast of characters, Grace Reed, Tracy Reed, Flip, Clay, and Nan were minor characters but they were still remarkably well-developed and thought out.

The story starts off as a typical coming-of-age story but it doesn't stay that way. It is a surprisingly fast-paced contemporary novel and while the real shocker doesn't come until close to the end that doesn't mean the story isn't gripping from the start. Readers will be captivated by the romantic dynamics, the family dynamics, and towards the end, by the tragedy that rocks both worlds.

Overall, My Life Next Door is one of the best contemporaries I have ever read, right up there with Sarah Dessen, Susane Colasanti, and Stephanie Perkins. If I could give this book a higher rating, I would.

Let me tell you that I would recommend this book to anyone.

I didn't just like this book but I loved it! It was a sweet summer read. The author has written My Life Next Door gorgeously. The characters, the plot, their sweet romance, the writing, everything about this book was beautiful.

Samantha was a really good character. She was rich but never acted snobby. She was sweet and mature. Rare combination for a female characters in books. I loved the Garrett's family. There were so many kids and I loved each one of them. But I thought Jase was special. He was a sweetheart. I fell in love with him myself. Jase and Samantha were adorable together!

Jase's parents were nice to welcome Samantha to their family. One thing bothered me was how they had another baby. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about choices and babies. It was just that I felt like they already had 8 children and they were poor. It wasn't fair for the other children because they couldnt have enough money for all of them. That's all.

I will always look out for this author future books. My Life Next Door truly has warmed my heart.

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 as well as sickeningly sweet- in the best kind of way of course!

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-

Samantha has known one thing since the Garrett family moved in next door--her mother was not pleased. She's been told to stay away from that disorderly bunch, but that never stopped Sam from silently watching them from just outside her bedroom window. When one of the older siblings, a boy named Jase, introduces himself after more than 10 years of being neighbors, Sam is thrown into a complete new world where she feels wanted, relaxed and like she finally fits in. She's found a home with this new family, but when it comes down to it, will she be able to choose between right and wrong?

I knew that My Life Next Door was the book for me the moment I heard about it. I waited for months to get my hands on it and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. I fell head over heels for the characters, especially Samantha and Jase and the romance that blossoms between them. It's safe to say that most aren't going to like Sam's mom just by reading how judgmental and how perfect she constantly has to try to be, but if you dig deep, you'll find compassion. There will be more characters that the readers will learn to despise, but the Garretts stayed true to themselves the entire journey.

What I loved about that large, chaotic, fun and completely close-knit family is that they welcome just about anyone. They turn the other way when someone voices one of their rude opinions and they don't let anyone stop them from being happy. Sam has known a very small family of just her mother and older sister, and just as her sister's leaving for college and her mother's spending more time in politics, she needs something like Jase's family. As it turns out, they need her too.

This story has to be one of the best contemporaries I've read all year. Not only is it filled with a steamy romance and a swoon-worthy boy, but it doesn't stray very far from its main and most important topic--family. Sam learns what it's like when her nearly-perfect life takes a turn and crashes, leaving her to pick up the pieces. She's faced with a very hard decision between honesty and betrayal and at least one of her families will have to suffer no matter what. My Life Next Door is what I call a perfect debut.

(Review from thehollowcupboards.blogspot.com)

I have always been the biggest sucker for young adult books. Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, is certainly no different. An endearing story of first love, Fitzpatrick is skilled at tugging on those heartstrings and making sure you wish you were 17 again.

From the day that the Garretts moved in next door, Samantha Reed was fascinated. They were everything her family was not. While her mother thrived with control, perfection and cleanliness, the Garretts were messy, loud and chaotic. And while her family is perfect, Samantha realizes that the Garretts just might be perfect for her. She has always been the person to try to hold everything together, but what happens when she can't anymore? Everyone she knows is dealing with some sort of crisis and needs her help with something --- her best friend, Nan, reveals a big secret that could affect Nan's future; Nan's brother has serious drug problems; and Samantha's mother is dating someone new. And then there's Jase, who doesn't really want anything, except for Samantha.

Samantha always watched the Garretts. Little did she know that Jase watched her, too. When Jase finally decides to speak to her, it changes everything. There is just one fundamental issue --- Samantha's mother, who is running for re-election, hates the Garretts. So when things between her and Jase become serious, Samantha decides to keep her relationship with him --- and the rest of the Garretts --- a secret from everyone important to her, until she can't anymore.

A tragedy strikes the Garrett family, and Samantha's world is turned upside down when she realizes that she has a bigger part in it than she ever imagined. Now she has to make the choice between the family she was born into and the one that invited her into their home and lives. Will Samantha protect her mother, who has always been more concerned with herself? Or will she do the right thing for the boy she loves?

A beautiful cover is only the beginning of a long list of amazing things about this book. MY LIFE NEXT DOOR is arguably one of the best young adult novels out there. A reminiscent vibe of Sarah Dessen, it makes for the perfect summer --- or really, anytime --- read. The witty writing, (mostly) likable characters and consuming storyline make for an enjoyable reading experience throughout. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down, and that is certainly not a bad thing. You might just find yourself falling in love with Jase, too.

Reviewed by Leah Schiano

For years, Sam had watched the Garrett's from her bedroom next door. They're life was so opposite from the one she led. Sam has the perfect trust-fund mother who currently is a congresswoman, and the beautiful older sister always out with her latest conquest. It's just the three of them, as Sam's dad left while her mother was pregnant with her. The Garrett's always had a lot going on with eight children: five boys and three girls. They were the type that always had the toys lying about in the front yard, comings and goings at all times, loud pool antics and sports playing in the front drive. In contrast, Sam's family has nothing out of place. Her mother even makes sure to vacuum any trace of footprints out of the carpet before they leave. It was an unspoken command to stay away from the Garrett's. But day after day, Sam found herself drawn to watching them until one day one of the sons, Jase, climbs up and talks to her. From then on Sam is tied inextricably to the Garrett's, but most of all to Jase. When tragedy strikes their families, Sam's loyalty to her family and the Garrett's is put to the test.

I fell head-over-heels in love with the Garrett's. Their open love and affection they show to each other as so inviting. Acceptance and love come in large amounts in the Garrett home, something Sam has been lacking in her life. She falls not only for Jase, but for the whole family, and they fall for her. Little four-year old George seems to fall hardest, besides Jase of course. He is so cute with his affinity for random facts, National Geographic Kids, and his constant worry over what might happen. He loves Sam instantly, calling her Super Sailorgirl because of a waitressing outfit she comes home in one day. But that's what she is to him, a super-hero, always able to calm him down, and find a good reason why he doesn't need to worry. She is drawn to this family and helps without being asked, it just comes naturally for her. Like with all the helpful dating tips she sends Andy's way. Or just watching baby Patsy so that her mother could have some free time. Sam finds that she fits in right away. I think she craved to be part of their obviously affectionate family from the start.

I loved Jase, he is the product of a loving family, able to give love so freely himself. He's all about care and thinking about other people. The way he helps with his younger brothers and sisters, without even thinking, or being told to, is so touching. The romance between Jase and Sam is one you could imagine lasting for years, and there were lovely swoony scenes between them that had my heart all a-flutter. Here's a quote from Jase, in the beginning of the story that made my knees go weak:

Jase's green eyes meet mine, then his lashes lower. "I guess I like things that take time and attention. More worthwhile that way." I don't know what it is about this that makes me blush, but something does.

Sam's mother, Grace, was a piece of work. Vain, self-centered, and judgmental, this is a woman who should've never had kids. She looks down her nose at the Garrett's, saying there's one in every neighborhood: messy, too many kids, yard full of neglect and children's toys. Her mother is concentrating on her re-election campaign instead of her girls. She only seems concerned at making sure their lives are lived in a way that optimizes them as a campaign tool. Especially now that she has Clay, her new campaign manager and boyfriend. He's younger, charming and has Grace wrapped around his finger. Sam doesn't even recognize her mother and doesn't care for the effect Clay has on her. I felt very sad for Sam to have been raised by this woman.

This was a brilliant debut for author Huntley Fitzpatrick. I was riveted from the start of this lovely, touching and heartbreaking story. I would love to see another story revolving around Tim and Alice! That would be entertaining. I will certainly be picking up anything else Ms. Fitzpatrick decides to write.

Sweet baby, can I just please fangirl for a moment and tell you guys how much I loved, loved, LOVED MY LIFE NEXT DOOR? As far as summer reads go, it doesn't get much better than this. There's a bit of everything for even the most picky readers. It has the perfect amount of romance, a little bit of drama to keep you on your toes, the most wholesome characters you will ever meet, and also the worst.

From the very beginning, you get a very clear picture of what each character is about. Samantha is the good child who is dying to break loose, wanting to have fun but not exactly knowing how. Tracy (her sister) is the wild child and isn't afraid to express it. Their mom...uptight state senator who, let's be honest, is more than a bit selfish and self-centered.

Then there are the Garretts. While some characters may stand out more than others (Jase, Alice, put-some-pants-on George, and even boob/poop little Patsy...boob!), each of them still have their own personalities and rolls to play. This is one of the many things I loved about this novel. None of the characters were similiar enough to get confused with another. The author brought them all to life as if the Garretts were have always been your neighbors. I felt like I knew them personally and in all honesty wish I did. Yes, I didn't like Grace (aka Samantha's mom) nor Grace's "manfriend"...nor Samnatha's supposed best friend for that matter, but I did love every single one of the Garretts as well as Tim.

TIM! How fun was Tim? Seriously loved this kid. He's flawed, but so, so funny and just an overall riot. If it wasn't for Tim, the story wouldn't be as entertaining as it was. Needless to say, he was definitely one of my favorite characters, awkwardness and all.

ROMANCE! Yes, pleaaaase! Let's talk about the romance. Sure there's a lot of lust but OH MY GAAAAAAWD, it was so good. I loved how Samantha and Jase's relationship progressed from strangers who watch each other, to semi-friends, to more than friends, to more than more than friends, to...you get my point. I loved how Jase watched Samantha's every move and thought before speaking. He was incredibly observant and oh so sweet, making my heart melt into a puddle of puppy love goo. What I wouldn't give for a Jase Garrett of my very own.

Now, I will say that there is an incident in the book (as stated in the summary) which aggravated me to no end. When it happened, it was sudden (as it should be), but everything that happened after felt so rushed. I didn't like how any of the characters reacted to the situation, and it tore me up inside. The worst was Grace and her manfriend. They must not have a soul because neither of them grew nor even cared to fix their wicked ways. Okay, Grace did a bit but even so, it wasn't enough. Blah! Frustration is just pouring out of me just thinking about it.

Overall, I devoured every page of MY LIFE NEXT DOOR. My very so fabulous friend Hannah asked whether or not she should buy it, and in a very unladylike, almost animalistic nature, I replied "_____ YEAH!"(use your imagination). I really could go on and on, but it looks like I already have. Just buy the book and read it, for my sake and for your's.

I've already mentioned this to a few people, but My Life Next Door is TOTALLY reminiscent of Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever - which is not only my favourite Sarah Dessen book (seriously, I'm such a fangirl) but one of my favourite books of ALL TIME.

So just picture my epic excitement when I pick up this highly anticipated new contemporary YA release only to discover that it completely reminds me of one of my FAVOURITE books. But yet still different enough to stand all on its own. My Life Next Door is one of those perfect summer reads that will leave you itching for a reread as soon you've finished it.

Reasons to Read

1.One of the best, most realistic romances I've ever read:

Huntley Fitzpatrick seriously blew me out of the water with her portrayal of Jase and Sam's relationship; I LOVE that we don't spend hundreds of pages agonizing over whether they'll get together or not. I adore how strong and trusting and open they are with each other; they really want to build on a strong foundation for their relationship, and they put effort into figuring things out and trying to work together. It's beautiful and flawed but so real, and something that many people could actually aspire to. And Jase is just such a sweetheart- so reasonable and thoughtful, and Sam is so quietly strong and brave in her own way. They just MESH and I love them. And I think you will too!

2.Plus, that romance? SA-WOON:

(If you don't get that reference, you really need to read The Truth About Forever ASAP.) I hesitated making TWO of the reasons worth reading this about the romance, but Huntley does steamy well - yet still kind of awkward and sweet, all rolled into one.

3.A gorgeous story about growing up:

Here's what's really key about the book though, is how much Sam changes and develops over the course of the novel. Much like Macy (in Truth About Forever), Sam is perfectly put together, organized, driven, and lives directly under her mother's thumb. But of course this isn't enough and she's longing for something more. So something has to change, something eventually has to give and conveniently enough, the Garrets next door are complete opposite from her own family. Sam learns so much about growing up and what happiness and love means - and not easily, either, mind you. They're hard lessons for her and those around her to learn but it's incredibly touching & ultimately, unforgettable.

Most importantly though, is this idea of acceptance and appreciating or tolerating something different from your own norms. And how poignant that theme is - and at such the right time as well. The Garretts and the Reeds are completely different - but as Sam learns, that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

My Life Next Door doesn't QUITE hold the same charm that The Truth About Forever does, perhaps partially because of nostalgia on my part and partially because I think some of the secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. And I wasn't entirely sure about how I felt with the conclusion; in some areas, I thought it was just right and ideal, but in others it didn't feel quite whole and rather unresolved.

But this is a remarkable contemporary, a perfect summer read of change and transition that is sure to be loved by many readers for a very long time. <3 Sam and Jase's feelings are utterly contagious, much like the rest of this book!

E-galley received from publisher for review.

My Thoughts: Seriously, this book was so fantastic!!!

We are introduced to Samantha whose 17 years old. She lives with her mother who is running for senator and her older sister. She also has a best friend named Nan and she has a brother named Tim.

Than there are the Garretts. They are a huge family who live next door. They have lived next door for most of Sam's life but she has went to the private school and their family has been at the public school so they haven't ran into each other. But Sam has watched the family from her rooftop. One day, it all changes when Jase Garrett climbs up and talks to her.

From there a whirlwind relationship begins. Through the swimming, the cuddling, the family interactions, I fell madly in love with Jase and their relationship was so beautiful and wonderful and amazing.

But everything isn't perfect. Sam is faced with a big decision she has to make. It isn't easy and she wants to make the right one, but someone will get hurt.

We get to experience Sam's first time, we get to experience her relationship with her best friend, and all while she is falling in love with the boy next door, literally.

I don't want to say much about My Life Next Door, because I want you to experience it... This is one of the best debuts I've ever read. It was everything a contemporary is supposed to be. This rates up there on the scale that Anna and The French Kiss did for me.

My Life Next Door is freaking amazing! Beautiful. Awesome! Fantastic. I bet this makes my top 10 favorites of the year.

And Jase is so dreamy. He it HOT, sweet, sensitive, why can't all boys be like him?

Overall: OH MY GOSH! Read in two sittings! Wanted to read in one, but it got to be too late at night and had to stop! My Life Next Door should be on your TBR pile for 2012, no doubt about that.

My Life Next Door was a ray of sunshine mixed with hot chocolate and heart shaped candies. Truly a wonderful novel and I loved every page of it.

Cover: Love! Love! Pretty! Love the scenery, love the way they are kissing.

What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
______
Taken From Princess Bookie

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Genre: Contemporary | Coming of Age | Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Release Date: June 14, 2012
Print Length: 400 pages
Format: Print
Source: Local Library
Review Date: April 25, 2013
Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Mini-Review

I really liked this one! It is a great coming of age story with a sweet romance at its core. Like many YA novels there is moral to the story. Basically, to do the right thing no matter how hard it may be.

Samantha is a 17 year old "rich girl" whose mother happens to be the state senator. Jase is her "not rich" next door neighbor. He is 17, and the third of eight Garret children living next door. She has watched them from afar for years with envy, but has never met them. Jase has noticed. They finally meet and fall in love, but there are many obstacles in their way. And, one tragedy that will make Samantha have to choose between her family and Jase's.

I definitely recommend this book to lovers of YA. It was unique and funny at times; but was also emotional, with parts that were tragic and full of secrets and lies. It has political undertones, with Samantha's mother being a senator, but it does not take away from the story (if you don't like that sort of thing).

Happy Reading!
StacyHgg
bit.ly/BooksUnhinged

I think I fell in love with this book! The entire story stole my heart from beginning to end! It shows that love can win in any circumstances! This is the BEST contemporary's I have read this year. The characters are easy to connect with and we all go through this stage. I loved the plot, characters, the romance between Sam and Jase. I was very excited to read this book when I first saw the cover because it really one of my top favorite covers that I could stare at all day. My Life Next Door was dramatic with its ups and downs and left me wanting more of Sam & Jase's story. This is the perfect summer read! Its a definite re-read!

Throughout the entire novel which is told from Samantha's 's point of view, which was really well written. I loved how she described this summer and to even finally meet her HOT next door neighbor Jase and his big family which consists of altogether 8 children + 2 parents. I loved their family dynamic because sometimes it would sound like my family but with 4 less kids. From the first moment we meet Jase Garrett is the falling in love moment because he is handsome and would do anything with Samantha. It was adorable reading about them and the progress of their relationship throughout the entire book with their ups and downs. Jase is down to earth, friendly, protective, loves animals and sexy in his own way! The Garrett family is one everyone can connect with because many families now a days have big families. I loved all the children! George was soo cute!!

Sam is very independent and doesn't rely on her mother for anything in the book, until near the end. I found Sam mother to be stuck up and her initial reaction of when the Garrett's first move in 10 years ago still is there. Compared to Sam who used to look out her window and want to be a part of the craziness. Compared to her family which consists of her sister Tracy and her mom. We also see Samantha's moms boyfriend Clay who also is in the novel. It was up to date with all the events that were going on during the summer it takes place and the scene was perfect to imagine. I was on the edge during some of the book and it was worth it because it is a AWESOME book!! Huntley Fitzpatrick is one talented writer who knows how to create a memorable book for young adults because this one is the perfect read.

The plot was great, it was never boring and I loved how Huntley shows that beginning of Samantha's and Jase relationship, there isn't the insta-love, it developed at a normal pace which every couple does grow through. It was romantic how Jase and Samantha fell in love. Their relationship allows us to see also the changes that come along the way once Samantha meets Jase, he has opened up the world to her. As the obstacles come into place Samantha and Jase's relationship is tested at the hardest times. It was emotional at times but I was rooting for these two to come together. These two are soo cute!! As rating the novel there is not many swearing and there is a little sexuality (not graphic) and some other things that teenagers do on weekends.

I love the writing! Huntley is by far up on the list of favorite writers, she is soo sweet and friendly, I would love to meet her. My Life Next Door is brilliant and I know its one book that I will re-read over and over again!! I am looking forward to Huntley's future books. I recommend this book to anyone!! I was very happy with the end. Characters were amazing and the plot was very well developed! With this book you can read it in one day. Perfect summer read and you will also love this book! Be sure to buy this one!!

Yes, the exclusive 5-star rating. I know. This hardly happens. But here it is.

I started this book because I've heard so many good things about it. I have a zillion review books lined up, but I've been reading fast, and my library was going to snatch it away from my ereader. I'm just so glad I did. This book was such a roller coaster. It didn't make me cry, but it made me smile and FEEL. A LOT. It reminded me of my own past for a while, and I was worried for Samantha for a while, but Jase is not my ex-husband, so I needn't worry. Thank goodness for Samantha. But it wasn't all without tragedy. That's where the roller coaster sets in. Ayeee.

It starts out on a bit of a sad note, really. Samantha's mom is pissed about the new family moving into the house next door because they have a ton of kids who only bring trouble and messes with them. For 10 years, Samantha watches the forbidden family like they're her favorite TV show. She wouldn't dare break her mother's rules. The rebel role is all for her sister. Until the day Jase notices her and welcomes her into the Garrett home. And a home for Samantha it is. She falls right into place there, and it changes everyone forever.

When the bad stuff starts happening, you absolutely can't put the book down. You have no idea one way or the other how this is all going to go down. The predictability goes out the window when the bad stuff happens. And that part made me happy. I know it's an unfortunate event, but it tests ALL of the characters in the book. And I had no clue how it would all work out. It's such a challenge for everyone in the novel, and that's not something you see very often.

All the characters popped for me. Even the kids in Jase's family stood out. They were all different, had their own personalities and quirks. It was great fun to read this one with all the fab characters. One of my favorite characters turned out to be Tim! Just read it to find out why, because he certainly shows up acting like a giant a-hole. And Jase. Oh Jase. Samantha and Jase are hot on the pages. HOT. And I'd like to punch Clay in his face. Doucheface. Gah! Such passion for this book. READ IT!

My Life Next Door has been one of my most anticipated contemporary titles of 2012. Who doesn't love the boy next door kind of story? how many countless movies have we watched that have a hot neighbor that the protagonist ends up with? This cute set up will be the perfect contemporary and summer read. It didn't disappoint. This book reminded me a bit of Cheaper by the Dozen and Mine, Yours, and Ours with the big family of the boy next door!

The story revolves around Samantha, an only child with a one parent family, her mother. Her mother is a cliched workaholic. She is actually the senator of their city. However, the next door neighbors, are a family of eight kids along with a father and mother. Somehow Samantha's mom never liked them and said 'They'll bring down the value of the house' since apparently big families are shunned upon nowadays. However Samantha has always been fascinated by the Garretts and always tries to figure out who is who. However the barrier is finally broken when Jase Garrett starts talking to Samantha.

The romance between the both wasn't fast paced, however it isn't for young readers. They were funny together, I loved Jase's personality and how he lights up a room. I also LOVED his family! I might not come from a big family, however I have a TON of cousins. Around 50 just on my mom's side, so I know how crazy it can get with family gatherings and just how FUN it is! Samantha is so.. awestruck by the commotion, the noise, the joy, laughter, and just feeling of belonging you get from big families. I have to point out, I loved George, Jase's three year old brother. He cracked me up so much, I just wanted to laugh like a lunatic!

However the interaction between between Samantha and her mom were just so.. cold. Also her new boyfriend didn't help matters. He made me grit my teeth and wanting to skip over his parts. Howevever everyone in the end got what they deserved and I totally loved the ending. I just wish there could be a companion novel of "the everyday life of The Garretts". I would totally buy it!

This is a story about first love, friends, relationships and family, all added together to give its reader a very lovely, heartwarming, and fantastic story that will leave you wanting more even though it is a stand-alone.

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garrett's. All the time."

I've been highly anticipating reading this book since I saw it on goodreads last year and put it on my to-be-read list and my `highly anticipating read' shelf. Yes, I have a shelf named as such.

The first thing that grabbed me was the summary. I'll say that most of the time it's the gorgeous covers of books that catch me but more and more lately I've been taking note of the summaries and whether they grab me or not. This definitely did! And I was lucky enough to get my greedy little hands on an ARC.

I'll honestly say that this is one of the best YA contemporary books that I've read in a long time and most likely the year.

Yes, I'm not gonna lie. This was such a great book for me. The main character Samantha has lived next door to the Garrett's for a little over ten years and she has watched their lives go on from the balcony of her bedroom. She's imagined what it would be like to be a part of their lives from afar because perish the thought that her mother, the wanna-be senator, finds out that she's cavorting with THOSE people.

The Garrett's are such a chaotic, loving, amazing family. But they've always been known as the family that has too many kids. Mr and Mr Garrett have eight kids. And I loved them all, especially the little ones, like Duff, Harry, George and adorable, little Patsy, whose first words were "Poop" and "Book", respectively. But they're so down to earth and such great and caring parents.

So one night as Samantha watches them from her perch outside her bedroom window, Jase, the Garrett's seventeen year old son, joins her for the first time. Sigh. This is the start of a beautiful friendship and soon-to-be relationship between Samantha and Jase.

Where Samantha is this somewhat reserved and kind of preppy, due to her upbringing. Jase is sweet, caring, responsible, and such a great role model for his younger siblings to look up to...

What I really loved about this story was that there wasn't any insta-love, no love triangle, and Jase, he was a pretty awesome, down-to-earth, and super normal guy. He wasn't broody or possessive or bad. He was... gasp... normal!

Who would have thought, huh?

He and Samantha develop this great relationship, even though she's a little overwhelmed by his huge family. And Jase is accepting of Samantha's friends and even her mother's awkward and unwelcoming behavior.

So when tragedy strikes, and Samantha feels like she's lost it all, will Jase's love for her be able to stand up to this kind of test? I most definitely had my doubts, but I was hoping for an HEA, so even though my mind was saying, logically, that this couldn't be this way, my heart was saying that shit happens and it's how we deal with it that shows the world what kind of person we are, and that sometimes love can get us through the tough times.

My only problem with this book was Samantha's mother and her attitude, and the fact that after everything, even though she seemed somewhat subdued, it's like she hadn't even changed her ways for the better. But I guess that sometimes you just can't teach and old dog new tricks.

So in closing, I will say that this is definitely a book that people need to add to their summer reading list!

My favourite YA contemporary debut novel for 2012.

Hands down.

Sometimes I feel like I read so much so fast, it all blurs together. I overlap characters and plots in my mind until they all make up one singular (albeit twisted) story. Thankfully My Life Next Door is that book that just completely stands apart from the rest. From the very first line, Huntley Fitzpatrick sucked me into her story and I was powerless to stop from falling in love with it.

There is just something so incredibly vexing about Samantha. I loved her character from the jump. She's strong, but still has that insecure, teenage vulnerability that makes her so real. She's misunderstood and perfectly imperfect.

Jase and the Garretts are everything you ever wanted your family to be. They're messy, loud, loyal, loving, and understanding. I wanted to crawl into this world for no reason other than being a Garrett. I wish there was a webcam in their house to watch this family interact. They're far from perfect, but they're fun. Fitzpatrick's true gift (aside from masterful storytelling) is her ability to create these wholly unique characters and bring them to life.

I am a sucker for a good romance this book has it in spades and then some. Not only is it swoon-worthy romantic, it's also cute and angst-ridden. Samantha and Jase don't magically get their happily ever after. I think that's what I appreciated the most--the realistic way these two were written. Especially when they broached the idea of sex. I cannot than Fitzpatrick enough for making it all sweet and perfect. It was awkward and amusing to watch them flounder around a bit.

This is that book where I not only had the ebook, but then I hurried to get a finished copy and quickly passed it off into the hands of my friends. It's that good. One of those books you can't love in secret. My Life Next Door is the book I force into the hands of friends and family because I know they'll adore it just as much as I have. So far I've given it to three friends and they have each devoured it in less than 48 hours.

I know that in a review, 'I loved it!' is an over-used phrase but in this case, I really really did love it. I added My Life Next Door to my my wishlist way back in November, 2011, that's how long I've wanted to read this book! Like most girls, I'm a sucker for YA Contemporary so its no surprise that I was dying to get my hands on this. I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed, in fact, I'm far from it. My Life Next Door swept me off my feet. Really. It's one of the rare novels that made me go through a whole range of emotions and had me rooting for all the characters, even the ones that seemed annoying on the surface.

This novel tells the story of..well, a lot of people but it's told from the POV of Samantha Reed, a 17 year old girl who's raised by a single mother. All her life, Sam's followed the rules and tried her best to please her mother, which was pretty hard since her mother's one of the most judgmental people out there, but there was one thing Sam has kept from everyone, especially her mother - she watched the Garretts, all the time, for years.
The Garretts were everything Sam's mother disapproved of - loud, messy and too many kids to count - and yet, they were the reasons Sam was fascinated by them.

Most young adult contemporary novels are repetitive, especially with the 'boy-next-door' romance but there wasn't a single cliche moment in My Life Next Door. Huntley Fitzpatrick has the amazing ability to create wonderful, vivid, realistic and lovable characters. Sam's different from most protagonists - she's strong, calm and sure. I think this is probably the first time I'm attached to all the characters mentioned in a novel.

The Garretts are amazing, especially George! I guess it goes unsaid that Jase is absolutely drool-worthy and so is Tim,in his own bad boy way. The best part for me were the scenes between Sam and Jase, I got butterflies watching them fall in love, especially during certain toe-curling moments.

The fantastic characters and the wonderful writing are what drive this book. The novel's filled with believable characters and every reader would be able to relate to at least one of them. There were so many quote-worthy sentences, which I always look for in a book! Everything about My Life Next Door was unique and I absolutely can't wait to read more books by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

Samantha lives next door to a rather large family, the Garretts. Several brothers and sisters and a very tight knit family that Sam has watched from her balcony for years. Compared to her own family which is dysfunctional in that her mother is a state Senator and a Republican -ew- and her sister is a bit of a wild girl that spends most of her time away from the house and with her boy toy of the week.

Then Sam meets one of the Garretts, Jase, and the two start dating. Sam becomes part of the Garrett household through not only dating Jase, but baby-sitting the younger Garrett kids once in a while.

The romance between Jase and Sam is sweet and innocent. They both deeply care about one another and become each others support and best friend.

Then, one night while leaving a fundraiser with her mother, Sam falls asleep in the back seat and wakes up abruptly when her mother slams on the brakes. Her mothers young boyfriend, not to mention her campaign manager, tells her to leave immediately and to forget what happened.

Sam connects the dots later when the following day Jase's father is in the hospital due to someone having hit him with their car. A hit and run. The Garretts, struggling as they are, struggle all the more with pending hospital bills on the horizon.

When Sam finally gets around to confronting her mother over what happened, her mother - and her creepy boyfriend - scare Sam into keeping her mouth shut.

This is when I started to get annoyed.

Sam spent so much time wondering what she should do about what her mother did that it got really annoying. She could see how much the Garretts struggled financially and to keep what her mother did a secret for as long as Sam did annoyed me. Her mother HIT A MAN and then DID NOTHING. I kept waiting for Sam to grow a backbone and say something already and when, instead, she broke up with Jase, I wanted to hurtle myself in the book and hit her.

I understood that it was not so black and white since her mothers whole campaign and career would be at stake, but to lose her sense of right and wrong to the point that she would just shrug off what she did was irritating.

When Sam confessed to Jase, finally, I thought he forgave her a little too easy. I thought he should have been a little more pissed that she took so flippin long to tell him.

All in all I did like this book - especially her bff's brother, Tim, a druggie and alcoholic trying to get his life together. And I enjoyed that Sam's mother, even after confessing to the Garretts didn't do this complete 180 and become a nice person. She stayed a bitch, but a bitch that at least did the right thing by confessing.

I also like that Sam and her bff, Nan, didn't make up and become bff's by the end of the book. Nothing was wrapped up in a neat package with a bow on it. I am usually one to like that sort of thing, but in this instance it worked rather well. It was true to life in that sense.

Finally got this from the library! This book was a really great read - I was surprised at how much I liked it! When I found out that this was a debut novel, I was even more surprised. I don't know why, but I was.

My Life Next Door is absolutely fantastic. Every single one of the characters is believable and real and likable in some way. Samantha (the main character) lives with her politician mother who is snobby and really hates their next door neighbors - the Garretts - who are a loud and loving family with eight children.

Samantha has always watched the Garretts from her window and envied their lifestyle. She eventually meets Jase Garrett and the two fall in love. Their whole relationship was just so... REAL. I can't think of a better way to describe it. I get so tired of reading about insta-love between teenagers, or the whole "you're a drug to me" unhealthy relationships that are so common in YA these days. It was just so refreshing to read something that I could actually see happening in real life.

Although the romance between Samantha and Jase is a major part of the book, the big themes seem to be the growth of Samantha as a person, and the evolution of her relationship with her mother. Both of these are fascinating to watch unravel and grow as the story progresses.

My biggest complaint about this book has nothing to do with the writing, the author, the story, or the characters. It's with the publisher. I would have purchased this book if the e-book had been reasonably priced (which is about $7.99 max for me when it comes to an author I don't know). $10.99 for an e-book is ridiculous! Thankfully, I was able to check it out from the library and I'm so glad I did! Highly recommend this book!

Samantha's watched her neighbors regularly from next door, because they seem to have the perfect life. A large family that seems to care about each other, instead of one that's a bit cold and controlling. She knows her mom would hate her interest, but what could it hurt?

I'm sure everyone's had one of those "what if.." thoughts, Samantha's is wondering what living in a huge family so different from hers would be like. Samantha's mom was honestly one of the most annoying adult figures I've read in a book. I vaguely got where she was coming from, but her views and thought process are so far removed from my own I just don't get it.

The entire Garrett family I loved! I can see why Samantha was obsessed with them. They were always on the move and obviously having fun. I always envied those large families, to be honest. Something about always having someone to talk to! Luckily, Samantha connected with Jase early on - aww, Jase! He's too adorable.

After a tragic event, things changed quickly and my heart broke for Samantha. Without spoiling the "event", this is one instance that I honestly could see why she was unsure of what to do. It was also one I don't know what I would have done!

I loved every second of My Life Next Door. It is one contemporary book that I feel like it might appeal to readers who typically don't enjoy the genre. There is a romance story line, but it goes heavily into family and doing what is right. Fitzpatrick's debut is beautifully crafted in a way that it's impossible to put down!

I received My Life Next Door from the publisherin exchange for my honest opinion.

My Life Next Door is one of those books that starts out as one thing and turns into something even better than you could have imagined. From the outside, it is a touching YA romance with many romantic gestures and a lot of trellis climbing. A little more than halfway through the book something happens that turns everyone's world upside down and our wonderful protagonist, Samantha, is faced with a terrible decision. On top of that decision, Sam is also faced with a lot of disillusionment regarding friends and family. Her relationship with Jase alters her view of many things in her life, including the realization that doing the right thing isn't always the easiest path, but it the most worthwhile.

Sam's character development over the course of this book was a joy to read. She transformed from an "obedient" daughter of a driven and uptight single mom, to a young woman who is forced to make a very tough choice. In a way, it's as if the Garrett family wakes Sam up to the possibility that there is no limit to love and no obstacle that can't be overcome by love, both romantic and familial. Of course, one of the things you will hear about this book is Jase. Jase might be Jay's (The Body Finder) new competition for best YA boyfriend. He is grounded, handsome, understanding and exactly the kind of guy everyone wants to date. (If anything, this book might be setting up many real life guys for a hard act to follow.) Even as perfect as he may seem, Sam and Jase still have a lot to teach each other and the evolution of their relationship really made the book the amazing read that you keep hearing about. My Life Next Door was a wonderful and sweet story that drew me in so completely that I read the book twice in a row because I was simply not ready to leave its pages.

Everyone always wonders what it would be like to be part of another family and Samantha Reed had always wondered what it would be like to be a Garrett. The Garretts are completely different from the Reeds. The Garretts are loud, messy and affectionate. The Reeds are clean, quiet, and introverted. Samantha has watched the Garretts from her rooftop perch for years but one day Jace Garrett climbs up and joins her and everything changes. Samantha and Jase begin to form a romantic relationship and they experience the trials of a first love. Jase's family embraces Samantha but Samantha does not tell her family about him. Samantha's mother has never liked the Garretts and would be appalled to learn her daughter was dating one.Just when Samantha feels life is about perfect something happens and her life is changed forever.Samantha must choose a family to help or she must choose to finally help herself. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick was a compelling début about family, love and how sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing to do. The Garetts are the type of family that may not be perfect on paper but they are the type of family that is so real and so loving you find yourself wishing every family could be just a bit like them. It took me awhile to like Samantha but as I read more I grew to really like her character. Jase is a great guy and his and Samantha's relationship is a great example of a healthy relationship. All the character in My Life Next Door are realistic and captivating and I could see My Life Next Door happening in real life. My Life Next Door is the perfect summer read and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary romance .

My Life Next Door is a sweet, although somewhat harsh, look at a young girl's life.

It's a story not JUST about a relationship with the neighbor-boy, but a story about a relationship (or lack of relationship), that a girl has with her mother, as well.

Samantha Reed's mother, is an independant woman raising two girls and as soon as the Reeds move in next door, she's quick to show her disdain. They are overrun with children. Their house and yard is not the tidy place that SHE keeps. There's a line drawn for Samantha. So, she watches them. For years.

When Samantha is older and her mother decides to run for public office, therefore keeping her from home more, Samantha has a chance run-in with Jase from next door. He's friendly, kind, a little flirtatious, and HANDSOME. He is her undoing.

At this point things change for Sam.

I'd like to say that her mom comes to terms with their relationship, right away, and they all live happily-ever-after. But, there's so much more to this story.

Samantha's mom's new boyfriend--who also seems to be running the campaign--enters the picture and things just get all crazy from there.

My Life Next Door is, at its core, a beautiful love story, that shows the reader that no matter the obstacles (and there are some MAJOR obstacles, here!), if true love is meant to be, then it will be.

I loved every page of this book. I had such a difficult time putting it down. It was original and intense. And I'm eager to read more from Ms. Fitzpatrick.

My Rating: 4.5/5

My Life Next Door is a fun, sweet, YA Contemporary Romance that focuses on the developing relationship and first love of Samantha and Jase. Fans of the YA Contemporary Romance genre, Katie McGarry, Sarah Dessen, and Susane Colasanti will definitely enjoy this offering. I know I read it in only one day and I cannot wait for more!

Highlights

I really enjoyed the focus on family, friendships, and first love. I loved the romance between Samantha and Jase - getting to experience their first "love", it was heartwarming and feel good - it just made you want to smile. The romance was fun and sweet, I was definitely in love with the Garrett family - I always wished I had a big, loving family and it was so great to read about them. I was definitely intrigued by them and wanted to see and hear more about each of the members - especially little George!

I think one of the strengths of the story was the interesting and varied characters. Whether I liked the characters or not, I found them intriguing and was eager to learn more about them and their backstory. I even found myself surprised by Fitzpatrick's ability to change my mind about a character - to expand upon a character and describe their growth and mold that character I didn't think I would like into one I looked forward to reading about. I obviously enjoyed George, Jase, and Sam - but surprisingly enough I was also intrigued by Tim! I liked that Sam wasn't necessarily "typical" - she was intelligent, observant, quiet, reserved and calm. I also enjoyed Jase for being this amazing person: level-headed, sweet, respectful, caring, and above all interesting.

One thing that I really enjoyed was reading about the relationship between Sam and her mother and hearing about her home life. I think the personality of her mother and their tense relationship is one many might be able to relate to. I always find it enjoyable in literature to see a variety of parenting styles and relationships between families. Not everyone comes from a perfect home, and I liked the contrast to the families in the story - nothing was "perfect" on either side and their were ups and downs for both sides.

Wishes

While I very much enjoyed the story, there are a few things I could say I wished for during it. One thing I would have liked to see would have been a little more of a focus on a functional friendship - it would have been a nice touch to see that either Sam or Jase had a good friend outside of one another. However, that's more of a nitpick.

I did struggle with the main climatic episode of the book - it was very hard to read and wrap my head around, especially how certain characters dealt with it. (I won't say too much, I'd rather be vague than give away too much.) The climax of the story was very dramatic, but I think I would have preferred a different situation as the climax of the story. The storyline for me was a bit hard to take and wrap my head around or think how the characters could move on from. Maybe I wouldn't feel that way as much as I do, but the story was left rather open-ended and unresolved for me on a number of levels. Although, this might have to do with the fact that it appears there will be a second book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story - the flow was great, the characters fun, the story intriguing. I would recommend it to a friend, and I will definitely be picking up the next one in the hopes of getting some more answers! Despite my nitpicks, I read this book in one day - it held my attention and it left me feeling a bit adrift: I wanted more! Immediately! So if you haven't had the chance, I'd say definitely give this one a try.

Recommendations:

What Happened To Goodbye - Sarah Dessen
Stealing Heaven - Elizabeth Scott
Dare You To - Katie McGarry
Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
When It Happens - Susane Colasanti

Rating -

4 out of 5 - Liked it a lot, definitely worth the read - I know I'll be reading more by this author!

Huntley Fitzpatrick has a beautiful story to tell, and it's one of the most fantastic coming of age tales I've read. A story of a first love, made of all the stuff first love should be. Hot, passionate, forgiving. A girl, at odds with her mother, her best friend and her attempts to figure out how to handle a crisis. Inside these pages, you'll find love, courage and acceptance in places you'd never expected.

A few months ago, My Life Next Door showed up on my computer screen with it's gorgeous cover and gushing reviews. I was hesitant to pick it up, I mean the last time a book like that came along? I DNF'd. And I so badly wanted to love this one. Fortunately? The reviews were right and I was absolutely not disappointed.

It's rare that I find characters in a book that I feel such a strong connection with, like I do with Jase and Samantha. (And the rest of the cast for that matter!) I was a bit nervous about insta-love, but it wasn't that way at all. Sure, Samantha and Jase just met, but there is a depth to their romance that just makes you swoon! And her best friend, Nan? May be the only character I don't care for - but that story line works itself out in a way that pushes the storyline along.

I feel like I could gush on and on about this one, but guys? Just go grab it and read it for yourself! Clear your calendar, because My Life Next Door is without a doubt, my favorite YA read of 2012! Fans of Jessi Kirby and Stephanie Perkins will find themselves head over heels in love with Huntley Fitzpatrick and her writing.

It looks like Samantha Reed has the perfect life--proof that looks can be deceiving. Her mother, who is a senator and running for re-election has always liked everything in her life--and by extension, her daughter's lives--to be a certain way.Their family home looks more like a show house, she expects nothing but the best grades and every thing should be done with the "perfect family" image she feels her constituents expect in mind. One evening while Samantha is outside her bedroom window on the ledge--after a strange encounter with her mother's new campaign manager--contemplating and watching the Garretts (the next door neighbours and family of ten), Jase climbs into her life. Samantha slowly starts to live her life instead of existing in her mother's.

I thoroughly enjoyed every page of My Life Next Door. I love being able to sense a difference between the Samantha we meet in the beginning and the one on the last page. The relationship between her and Jase is one of the most realistic I've read. It develops and doesn't just happen. Fitzpatrick writes a teenage relationship how it could honestly progress and not an edited version where they have the mind and feelings of someone their age, but don't feel genuine in certain aspects.

Like Samantha, I never saw the twist and difficult decision she has to face coming. Difficult doesn't begin to describe the situation and position she's put in, but then you find out that the major plot has a another twist of its own--raising the stakes that much more.

This debut is a touching and true story about more than first love that ably captures the teenage voice. It's proof that you don't need any supernatural elements to be completely riveted. I can't wait to read what Huntley Fitzpatrick has in store next.

I think fans of Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits would enjoy this.

In the book, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick, it is seen that the Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Samantha Reed, a seventeen year old girl has always seen to be spying on the Garretts to see what the Garretts were up to, and she always had the perfect view of them from her balcony. Samanthat was the girl that her mom never had to worry about, while her sister, on the other hand, had gone through problems before with drugs and hanging aroung the wrong crowd. Samantha feels alienated becasue her mom is busy campaigning and is never home. Samantha's mother is strict and did not like how the Reed's lived. They were messy, unorganized,loud and there was always something going on with them, so Samantha's mother never approved of the Reed's so Samantha alwyas had to keep it a secret that she was watched them from her balcony. Sometimes Samamtha even wished she was a Reed because of how much stress she is under with her mom being a perfectionist. She sometimes wish she was a Garrett or at least talked to a Garrett, and she got her wish. One night, Jase Garrett comes her way and changes everything. As the two start becoming friends, they notice that they fall madly in love with eachother, and Jase family makes Samamntha one of their own. Allowing her to babysit the kids and is welcomed anytime at the Garretts household. Throughtout the novel, Samamntah keeps her romance with Jase a secret in fear that her mother will find out about them. Then when everything is going just right for Samantha the unthinkable happens, and Samantha's life turns upside down. She then has to make an impossible decison that will change her relationship with her family, the Garretts and herself. This book is a great book to read and keeps you interested. Fitzpatrick does a great job of making this story effective and interesting, that makes you not want to put the book down, and keep reading until the end.

PG13/R
Violence: none
Language: some swears, including deity; 30+ FBombs; some crass talk
Sex: moderate heat - descriptive kissing, peeled off shirts, lips on breasts. The H and h buy condoms together, then we wait for them to have sex.
BUT, the story was very compelling. I was really drawn in by the h's life and the juxtaposition drawn between the "morals" and "societal worthiness/contributions" of her family and the H's family. That was really well done.

I returned my copy for content. Those FBombs are deal breakers for me on my Kindle, and I don't love reading about teen sexual exploits.

I had a hard time rating this book because there were parts I really enjoyed and then there were the parts that I really didn't like and also the parts that made no sense. The beginning of the story was slow and dragged. It didn't hold my attention at all and in fact, I left it in the car and only read it when I was at lunch alone for something to do since I had no one to chat with.

About the middle, it picked up and got interesting. The problem then was the unbelievable parts. Samantha turned from a character I liked to one I didn't and she really wasn't redeemed in my eyes at all. As to her boyfriend, he was way too fast to forgive her first for what her mother did and then for how she hurt him- seemed unrealistic to me. The mother was awful through the whole thing and I have no idea how her daughter turned out to have a conscience at all with that woman as her only parent.

I was disappointed as I think the story could've been something more than it was but it didn't live up to its promise.

I couldn't put this one down! I absolutely loved Sam and Jase's story, and can't wait to read more from this author. Her portrayal of teenagers and of family life were spot on. At no point in reading this one did I experience a moment of "hang on, that just doesn't make sense. What is he/she thinking?", which unfortunately has been rare in the books I've read lately. What a refreshing change--characters who act like 100% real people!

The main conflict of the story did seem to occur a bit late in the novel, which almost gave it a before/after feeling; but overall it was just so well written that it really didn't detract from the novel for me at all. Still couldn't put it down...now I had to see how Fitzpatrick could possibly bring it all to a satisfactory conclusion. For a while there it was pretty touch and go...

Reading about the family next door was one of my favorite parts of this novel. I completely understand why Samantha spent so much time watching them from her roof. As much as I loved the main characters of this novel though, (and I did love them) I have to say that George steals the show (followed closely by Patsy--how can you not love a child whose first words are "boob" and "poop"?). I especially loved Samantha's--and later Tim's--quick answers for his questions and concerns. Just remember, people--only bad pigs are made into bacon. You know, the ones with no souls. Like the animals who don't talk in Narnia. Which is good, since George really likes bacon. :-)

Samantha Reed, the seventeen year old daughter of a senator, has watched The Garretts, the loud, messy, huge family next door her whole life. Her mother hates the Garretts. She thinks they are a repugnant, irresponsible mess that brings down property value. Samantha thinks they are perfect. Samantha and her sister were forbidden from having anything to do with the Garrett family until...

Samantha finally meets Jase Garrett and they fall deeply in love. Sam helps out with babysitting his many siblings and loves being with his wild family. She keeps her relationship with Jase and his family from her mother. Her mother is too busy with campaigning to notice all the time she spends with the dreaded family next door. Something horrible happens and threatens her relationship with Jase. She finds herself torn between doing the right thing for the man and his family who she has grown to love and making the impossible decision that could destroy her own family.

This book was so hard to put down. I really loved George who is Jase's little brother. He was absolutely adorable and so funny. I also loved that Jase and Sam were very mature for their age and it was refreshing to read a YA with a mature H/h. I absolutely loved the romance between Jase and "his Sam." I loved seeing it progress from an unlikely friendship into a serious love affair. Their story kept me captivated until the very last sentence.

Full review posted on http://myriadinklings.wordpress.com
Honestly, I wanted to love this book, I really did. I hated that I didn’t love it. However, I honestly couldn’t. I felt like it wasn’t until maybe chapter 25-ish that I felt truly invested into the plot. There was no hook at the beginning. Once it got into Jase and Samantha’s relationship, I felt like it was more enjoyable, but their story is a tad unrealistic and a bit cheesy (which is expected from a YA romance, I know). The dynamics of the different relationships, Gracie and Clay, Nan and Samantha, etc. It just didn’t work for me. It was a light summer read, although its not summer right now. Unfortunately, I felt like it wasn’t the book for me and gave it a 3/5 rating.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Samatha watches as the new neighbors arrive and over the years they seem to multiply. She lives next door with her mom and sister. Her mother gets a new boyfriend and she escapes to her roof and watches the stars. One of the boys next door climb up and they start hanging out.
They become very close as time goes on and they contemplate having sex together. They've thought of all different things prior to the physical act. Her mother is so into her political campaign that she hardly even knows her daughter any more.
Jase is buy working out for a football scholarship and working on cars and motorcycles. She brings him over to meet her mother in hopes they will become friends.
They have experienced a bit just not gone the whole way and find it so hard to not go all the way.
Love that his father has a talk with him about being responsible.
She also doesn't know what to do with her friend who she finds out something that isn't right...
When she confides in her boyfriend about the car accident that could ruin her mothers career he tries to help her. So many tough decisions...

I'm on a YA streak lately and thought this book sounded great. And it was great, I really liked it and I highly recommend it. But I found myself, without spoiling anything, really frustrated waiting for the big life-changing shakeup to come along. The author spends so long giving us background on all the characters and letting us get to know them so well, which was all wonderful and I really enjoyed that part. Then the big life-changing shakeup comes and it all wraps up rather quickly. I kind of felt like the characters I had gotten to know and care about were being short changed.

Plus I found myself barreling through the first part of the book waiting for the thing to happen, which almost made me anxious? I had just come to care so much about Samantha and Jase and their families (well, maybe not Samantha's) that I was just so worried about what would happen to them. At various points I thought it was coming up and I was creating worst-case scenarios in my head. But I might just be crazy!

Bottom line, it's a very good story, very well written, and I'm excited to read more things from Huntley Fitzpatrick. I just hope they have a slightly different story arch.

Samantha is a girl with it all, a wealthy family consisting of her, a politician mother and an older sister. Jase is the boy next door with a life as different from Sam's as you can imagine, he has seven siblings, attends public not private school and while chaotic, his life is happy. Although living next door for years when these two really meet life changes. Young love is often thought of as sweet, innocent and easy. If only easy existed for these two. Sam's mother turns up her nose at the entire Garrett family and Sam hides her relationship with Jase as it grows. But Sam and Jace have something real and Sam has gained some feeling of belonging in the walls of his home.

But when Samantha's mother hit's Jase's father with her car and flees the scene before Sam realized it, things take a rough turn. Being a strong female lead Sam chooses to tell the truth, until the evil Clay, her mothers campaign worker and boyfriend blackmails her into ditching Jase and keeping the secret or risking even more hurt to his families business. It is a tough road to be on, making choices between right and wrong, family and love. One that every teenager faces in some small way. Samantha makes choices I am proud of and this rounds out this story in a solid way.

My Life Next Door is about the prim and proper Reed family and that loud and messy Garrett family. Seventeen year old Samantha Reed was told (by her snobbish mother) from the start not to ever talk to the crazy Garrett family and keep to herself but Samantha couldn't resist watching the Garrett family from her balcony. She watched the Garrets rambunctious family grow larger for years until one summer evening Jase Garrett climbs up the Samantha's terrace and everything changes.

Ooooh I loved this book! It was so sweet, funny and sad at the same time. The characters were fantastic. The Garrett family was the glue that held this book together. I loved their family, especially George! The romance was sweet and Jace is very swoon-worthy. Sam's best friend Nan and her brother Tim were a great addition to the book as well.

I was honestly very surprised to find out that My Life Next Door is Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut novel. It was perfectly written and I really became engrossed in the book. An amazing read!

I hope to read a lot more from Huntley Fitzpatrick!

The quintessential summer read, My Life Next Door nicely presents a cast of characters it's hard not to fall for. Samantha Reed has spent her life perched on her roof, watching her next door neighbors, The Garretts. They are a bustling, loud, chaotic and loving family and they are essentially everything Sam's family is not.

Apart from being a brief synopsis of the story, that also sums up how I felt while reading this book. I felt like I was perched up on a roof somewhere, just watching the Garretts, falling in love with their family. And there is a lot to like there. Huntley Fitzpatrick's strength in her debut novel was in creating the Garretts. Each of them are unique and believable and little George Garrett really store my heart.

I really liked our protagonist, 17-year old Sam. I've read complaints in reviews that say she doesn't have a backbone, which I find to be mostly true. She doesn't, but I think that's the point of the story. It's her character flaw. I liked it because 1.) it made sense for Sam. She grew up in a very controlled environment, thanks to her mother. Time was controlled and monitored, all activities were controlled and monitored and they are a well to do family. That the product of all this would be a little just a bit cowardly? Makes sense. and 2.) Sam has lots of positive attributes to balance this out. She's smart and responsible and she appreciates other people. She tries her best in every situation she found herself in.

Even with the high drama turning point in the story, and all the teenaged romance, I loved that this book was light on the teenaged angst. Jase and Sam felt like real 17-year-olds, not some overly dramatic book version of 17-year-olds.

If Fitzpatrick's strength is in her characters, I think she faltered just a bit in plot. When we meet Sam, she's been observing her next door neighbors for most of her 17 years. On this particular night, though, she's approached by Jase Garrett. It felt a little forced and unnatural. Why ignore the girl next door for 17 years and then decide to walk over? I suppose I just wish there were a more solid inciting incident.

The middle portion of the story nicely showed the development of Sam's relationship with Jace and the Garretts. The big conflict was quite the coincidence and just added to the growing list of contrivances.

Over all though, a smooth read and a strong debut from Fitzpatrick.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick was one of those addictive kinds of contemporaries. The kind that suck you in and then toss you around and leave you feeling raw and emotional, but strangely fulfilled.

For the most part, My Life Next Door is adorable boy-next-door romance, but factors outside of the characters control bring the heavy down real hard on Jase and Samantha. It was hard to read at times because the side characters were just so... Ugh! I swear, I would have been slapping people left and right if I was Samantha.

What starts out as a fun read, gets a little dark and frustrating in the middle, but that only adds to the drama and emotion of it all. And I'm very happy to say that I absolutely fell in love with Huntley Fitzpatrick and will be buying many books from her in the future.

This was one of the best books I've read in a while; definitely a perfect summer read! I'm quite certain that every girl dreams about falling in love with the boy next door. It never happened to me, but this book makes up for it! The relationship between Jase and Samantha was amazing, but what really impressed me was the development of all the other characters! I felt as though I really got to know both families quite well. I liked all the little details thrown in here and there, like Andy's first date, all of George's questions, the crazy lemonade, the talking stick, etc. I also have to give Huntley Fitzpatrick mad credit for the scene where sex is used to ease emotional pain. I am usually not a fan of this, but that scene was perfect. It was incredibly vulnerable and written in a beautiful way. The entire book was very realistic. Life is messy regardless of what kind of life you live! I loved watching Samantha and Jase's very different worlds come together!

For full review on blog: [...]

4.5 - 5 stars

"One thing my mother never knew and would disapprove of most of all was that I watched the Garretts. All the time. [...] The Garretts were my bedtime story, long before I ever thought I'd be part of the story."

Story:
Samantha doesn't have the easiest life. Her mother is in politics, as well as a bit of neat and control freak, she vacuums the floor every day - twice - she sets an eleven o'clock curview for summer holidays and organizes her daughters' summer scedules so they don't was too much time on trivial things. Apart from that there has been a weird tension between Sam and her best friend and she has no clue how to fix it.
Enter the Garretts, her next door neighbors. They are everything her familiy isn't - loud, happy, sometimes a bit out of control, but always affectionate with each other. Sam watches them from afar, imagining a life she has never known, but then, one night, Jase Garrett visits her on her balcony and changes her life in a way she hadn't even dreamed of.

"The Garretts were forbidden from the start. But that's not why they were important."

I'm not even sure why, but the beginning of the book, just those two sentences, made a huge impression on me. A wealth of meaning is burried in there and you know there are complicated, but beautiful things ahead of you. And boy, have I been right on the money with that prediction....

This was such a touching book about growing up, falling in love and making choices that will effect the rest of your life.
I found myself smiling happily so often wihle reading this book, which honestly suprised me. After reading the synopsis I kind of expected a drama and angst-filled story, but even though there is quite a bit of drama it's still a very positive book.

Samantha and Jase were a wonderful pair. I'm not sure where to start without ending up gushing and rambling, but let me just tell you a bit about those two.
The author really took her time with developing the relationship between Samantha and Jase - which I LOVED. But then I checked and realised that I had only finished a quarter of the book when they started getting serious - it had felt like so much more. But not in a why-isn't-there-some-interesting-development way, but simply because I was so completely engrossed in the story.
They were friends long before they became a pair and I wasn't in a hurry to see them together because I just knew that they would be great together and getting there was a rewarding journey on its own.

"Maybe he isn't attracted to me at all? Maybe he just wants to be friends? I'm not sure I can pull off being just friends with someone whose clothes I want to rip off."

It was just so entertaining to watch them, but particularly Samantha stumble along, unable to keep her thoughts in check. Especially since she was so shocked and suprised by herself. She was a nice girl - not the boring, timid version - just really nice. She was funny, a real smartass, loyal and had a solid moral code.

"But I like beeing Sam. I like being Jase's Sam. It sounds relaxed, easygoing, competent. I want to be that person."

Jase was such a sweetie (and a hottie!). He got this amazingly relaxed, but competent attitude - I guess that's the way to cope if you have seven silblings - and his straightforward and no-nonsense personality made me smile more than just once. He was extremely loyal to his family, responsible with his younger brothers and sisters, but at the same time he had an easiness to him that made it impossible for me to do anything but love him.

"Wow. I've never met a boy, at school or anywhere, who cut through the small talk so quickly."

To me it felt as if Jase and Sam just found each other, like two puzzle pieces finally fitting together - they were just that in sync.
I just adored how they were so obviously good for each other. Jase (and his delightful family) brought some much needed lightness and affection into Sam's life, while she kind of grounded him, like he was finally able to stop looking for something just out of his grasp.

But what I loved most about this book were the Garretts - the whole rowdy bunch of them. Joel, Alice, Jase, Harry, Duffy, Andy, George, Patsy the baby, as well as their loving parents. Just reading about their warming interactions within the family as well as with Samantha left me feeling extremely content, if still a bit envious.
But while there was so much love going around, I really appretiated that it wasn't all just roses and butterflies. The author also wrote about the problems with big families like that - money, ensuing chaos, little privacy and the lack of attention the individual sometimes gets within such a crowd.

"They are the best thing I've got, but they can be a little" - he pauses, as though searching for a definition - "overwhelming."

In stark contrast to that stood Sam's mother, Grace, senator and control freak.

"The longest conversations I have with her are by text, as she let's me know she's at a cookout, clam broil, ribbon cutting, fund raising harbor cruise, union meeting... whatever. She even falls behind on her vacuuming, leaving Post-it notes directing me to pick up the slack."

This describes her pretty well. All that's missing is the drama she loves to heap on her daughters. Like when she told them they couldn't miss a step and cause her stress or they would ruin her campaign and ruin her life.
She was responsible for the big blow-up in the final stages of the book and it was just so frustrating I wanted to shake all the parties involved (especially Samatha and her mother). There was no excuse for her mother, but then I started to think and realised that it was such a hard, almost impossible situation for Sam. She had to choose between her family and her first love. I was satisfied with the final conclusion, though. Not everything was clear-cut, there were some shades of grey, but Samatha stood up for what she really wanted and reading about it felt just great and uplifting.

A wonderful book that exceeded all my expectations - positive, wildly romantic and full of rewarding moments.

Samantha Reed's life is carefully controlled by her mother, Senator Grace Reed. While on camera, the Senator talks up the importance of family, but in reality, she wants nothing to do with the family next door - the one with the 8 noisy kids and the messy yard, the one Samantha has been watching from the rooftop seat just outside her bedroom window for the past ten years, secretly, she thought until her next door neighbor, Jase, climbs up the trellis one night and introduces himself.

I adore this story!!! Aside from wanting to slap Samantha's mother with a rotten mackerel, My Life Next Door is a contemporary YA coming-of-age romance that's swoonworthy, sweet, tender, extremely well-written, funny and did I mention incredibly swoooonworthy?!!!? There are moments of "NOOOOOOOO!" and "What-a-schmuck!" to balance the sweet tender swoony stuff, and it all weaves itself together into 394 pages that I devoured in less than 24 hours. Now I want to buy the Reeds house and move next door to the Garretts myself!!

What do I think? I haven't *felt* or *hurt* this much since finishing a novel since Harry Potter.

This novel has little quips that make you go wow, that's what happens to me! and makes you laugh when you probably shouldn't and when you should. But most if all it made me believe so much this surely can't be a little made up story.

This novel is powerful and reminiscent of life. It's so deep in its meaning I dare you to put it down or think it merely fiction. What a masterpiece.

Fav quotes
[from little brother talking of big brother to girlfriend] "His bed's really comfortable. And he never pees in it."

"It's like Tim's drowning and they're worried about the color of his swimsuit."

"I'm not sure I can handle being friends with someone whose clothes I want to rip off."

This was a fun read. I liked the Garrett family a lot, loved how they were a big family but not portrayed as the weird ones in the story. The people in the story who made comments about them, or gave "advice", were horrible and I loved the way Mrs. Garrett handled herself with them - I don't know if I could have behaved the same way.

If you enjoy contemporary novels you'll probably enjoy this book.

Content: strong language (lots of f-words especially), talk of having sex, a scene where characters had sex (not very detailed but not something I like in YA books)

I won this at a Writer's Conference. I read all the latest and greatest in YA fiction, and this was a breath of fresh air. Great characters (love Samantha, Jase, and Tim--so, so funny), although I would have loved a little more about the relationship with Nan. But this book was funny, romantic, heart-breaking, AND not unrealistic. There are awesome boys like Jase out there. I know. I met mine at 19 and ended up marrying him.

I highly recommend this as a beautiful love story with interesting characters. Probably would say it might be a little mature for middle schoolers. If you're a parent, you may want to read it first to make sure it's appropriate for your particular kiddo. It would definitely make for some great conversation material with your teen daughter.

Cheers for Huntley Fitzpatrick. I'll be looking for more from you!

For Sarah Dessen fans out there, this is a book you will love! This book gets classified in the "I couldn't put it down," section! It grabbed my attention from the start, and never let me down or disappointed me! Samantha, the main character, was so likable that I hurt when she hurt, I fell in love when she did, and I rooted for her in the deepest and darkest times!

Samantha is the good daughter. The daughter that doesn't cause any problems. The daughter that mom, the state senator, can count on to always do what she's told and be at her best. So when Sam falls for the guy from "the wrong side of the tracks," that lives next door, Samantha learns to find her own voice and her own place in their family. Then just as true love is blossoming and Samantha has come out with her relationship with Jase, the most unthinkable happens. It's at this point in the book that I just wanted to crawl into the pages and be there for Samantha! Samantha faces some tough decisions, battles through ultimatums, but in the end, good overcomes evil!

My Life Next Door was one of the lovely books I brought on vacation with me this summer. I remembered reading a ton of raving reviews of this book and thought it would be the perfect poolside read... and it was! I took this book everywhere with me for 2 days in Mexico. Even when I went in the pool to cool down, I had to take it with me and hide in the corner (to prevent any book damage, of course.)

Has anyone seen the movie Cheaper by the Dozen? Well if you watch that movie, subtract a few children, imagine the family being 10x more fascinating and endearing, and use "the girl next door" type of character for narration, you'll have My Life Next Door. While My Life Next Door isn't the most action-packed read, I was still finding myself flipping the pages as fast as I could.

I found myself rather obsessed with the mesmerizing characters that Fitzpatrick thoughtfully created. The whole Garrett family is so hilarious that I found myself laughing out loud quite often while reading about them. I typically don't show any emotion when I'm reading a book, unless I'm reading something sad (cry baby alert!), but I completely wore my heart on my sleeve during this adventure--I couldn't help it!

The main character, Samantha Reed is pretty much perfect, not in the annoying way though! Samantha isn't like most teens I read about in YA. She's very level-headed and wise beyond her age. Oh... and Jase? He is also perfect. He's even more perfect than Samantha. Jase is amazing and everything any girl could ever want in a guy. He's sweet, funny, and has officially made it into my top 5 list of book boyfriends.

I won't spoil anything for you guys, but I do need to say that there is something that happens towards the end of My Life Next Door that is a bit somber, but realistic and very appreciated. Huntley Fitzpatrick knows how to write a book. Scratch that! Huntley Fitzpatrick knows how to write a freaking good book. If you enjoy a fun and tender contemporary, then definitely pick this one up. I couldn't recommend it more.

This is a great Young Adult novel! It draws you in and you become very attached to the characters. The Garretts were very likable, especially little George. Jase was so sweet and I loved when he interacted with his younger siblings. He's just a great guy. I was very happy to see Samantha step out of her mother's shadow and stick up for herself. In the beginning of the book Samantha was one of those people that doesn't want to rock the boat but by the end she'd really grown. Nan is probably the worst friend ever and I didn't like her from the start. It's a bit funny that Tim ended up being a better friend to Samantha than Nan. The ending didn't leave you hanging but when I grow attached to characters, like I did these, I'd like to have seen where the ended up 5 to 10 years down the road. Overall, this is a great fun read and don't hesitate in picking it up!

I really enjoyed this book. Even when things got bad there was still an air of positivity.

Love the Garrett family. George and Patsy stole the show. Jase is good to his core. The book ended happier but I would love to know more about him and Sailor Supergirl. I know the next is about Tim but maybe they will play a big part.

Jase is just so good that him and his dad helped to turn Tim around. Tim really stepped up to help the Garrett family out.

I think I would give this book 3.5 stars. I liked the book, and I have been waiting a long time to read it, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. :-\ I wish that things hadn't been so crazy with me, so that I could have read it in a week or so, instead of taking over a month to finish it. Even so, I think that the story was rather slow going and the pace could have been sped up. In the synopsis (which seems to have changed some since the first time I read it forever ago - I'm pretty sure originally it focused on the fact that Sam's mom's political career is in jeopardy because of something that happens), it seemed like most of the book would be dealing with whatever big thing happened with Sam's mom. So I kept on waiting for something to happen, and it didn't happen until close to the end of the book. Not that there weren't conflicts and problems (Tim's addiction, Nan's issues, the Garrett's store, Clay), but I knew none of that "stuff" was the big "something". I also felt like some major things were left unresolved. I know that there is a second book that focuses on Tim and Alice (which I think will be a good storyline - I really like Tim and his sarcasm), but I feel like there should have been more "closure" with Nan and Sam's friendship and Nan's other issues (what happened with Daniel? that storyline just kind of dropped). Or Clay and Sam's mom, what happened with them after everything came out? Did he really just leave her high and dry? What about Mr. and Mrs. Garrett? What about Tracy and Flip? How did Tracy react to all of this (another good storyline for another book)? Maybe it was just because I knew that the next book will be focused on Tim and Alice, but I felt that element of the story was "fleshed out" enough that I didn't feel "hanging" at the end. Maybe there will be another book that will focus on Nan and have the Garrett's and Sam's mom sprinkled in to fulfill my need to know what happened to them.

One of the best parts of this book is the Garrett clan. I LOVE them ALL! They all have such great personalities. As a teacher, I can TOTALLY relate to all these kids and their unique personalities, as well as having families that have come through my school with LOTS of kids.....and then surprise, "we're going to have another baby". :-) I loved George! SO funny! And Patsy....boob. And poor Andy an her first love. I loved the way Jase saw his family and how he grieved for his mom and how people would look at her and their choice to have so many kids. I loved seeing through Jase's eyes how he loved each one of his siblings and was excited each time another Garrett was "on the way". I loved the way Mr. and Mrs. Garrett were portrayed. A husband and wife, still madly in love with each other (their example of love is why Jase was so sweet to Sam). There were so many elements to this whole family dynamic, and they were so wonderful to read. Then in contrast, Sam's house (not really a home - the Garrett's live in a "home" and the Reed's live in a "house"). I thought it was sadly wonderful the way the author had Sam's mom vacuuming all the time. What a great way to symbolize/illustrate the stark differences in the two families. I loved Jase and Sam's relationship. It was so real and lasting. Which brings up another great comparison, Sam and Jase vs Nan and Daniel. It's been awhile since I was a teenager (almost 20 years to the day since I graduated from high school), but so many high school relationships are like Nan and Daniel, or Sam and the other two guys she dated (I can't remember their names). Sometimes in high school, there are kids lucky enough to have what Jase and Sam have, I real relationship. A relationship that is not based on sex or pining for someone, but a relationship based on friendship and a mutual love and respect of one another. This kind of relationship can only happen between two mature people. This kind of relationship will last. I can TOTALLY see Mr. and Mrs. Garrett starting their relationship in high school the same way.

So anyway, I was planning on just writing a short and sweet review, but yet again, I seem to have rambled on and on. Oh well. :-)

A beautifully written YA. I love that this is a truly character driven novel with wonderfully developed characters. Samantha is a seemingly perfect girl who has it all together and a Jase is the boy next door. Although these may seem like classic stereotypes, these characters are so much more. They find each other and grow together. I loved that this presented two very mature teenagers who aren't stupidly making mistakes, but young people who genuinely care about each other, even in times of crisis. My one complaint is the ending. Although not bad, it didn't tie everything up like a stand alone novel should. A lovely read.

Land of the Unaltered (Confederation Chronicles)

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

I loved this book! While there were a few very annoying characters, not a surprise in YA books, most of them I really loved! I loved the Garretts. As much as I loved Jace, George is my favorite Garrett, I want him for myself. He is just to adorable! Samantha can have Jace. I want Tim. I didn't like him at first, but by the middle of the book, I was in love!

While I wasn't a huge fan of where the story was going, I still enjoyed My Life Next Door because of the amazing characters. Since there are so many Garrets, plus Samantha's family, there were quite a few
characters in this book, and the author did an amazing job giving them all different personalities that made them all feel real.

I'll definitely be looking forward to another book by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

I honestly enjoyed reading this story. It really is a great debut and I will definitely read other books by Huntley Fitzpatrick. But... I typically like to read a more action packed novel but I knew this wasn't one going in. I am giving this story a 4 and not a 5 because I couldn't completely buy into the crisis of this novel. I believe this story was meant to be a coming of age story meant to connect with teen trials of today, which it certainly does to an extent. The crisis though... what would the odds of that situation actually happening? I personally needed a better set up to have bought into this. This was the only disappointment I had with the plot and is not a big enough issue not to read this novel. I imagine most won't even notice or care about the "odds."

4.95 stars!!!!
LOVED this book all the way until I got to the end..
I feel like I was left hanging... Kinda hoping for a part 2...soon?

-With that said, it was an excellent debut novel!!
-Love the cover!
-Loved that I connected with the characters so quickly!! Lessons on friendship, loyalty & family :-)
-Love the realness of Jase & Sam's relationship, and loved falling in love at the same time they did **swoon**
-Loved Tim's character, love how he turned himself around and actually began to think of others instead of himself

Only con: besides that it ended too abruptly for me, wish we could get more on how things end with Sam & Nan, unless that's another story ;-)

Great read!

Samantha has spent the best part of her life star gazing and wishing her regimented lonely life was more like that of the Garrett family next door. From her perch on the balcony she sees mess and chaos. They're noisy but rich in what matters most...love.
These neighbours totally stole the show,particularly little George who had me smiling whenever he made an appearance, but Rebecca failed to become real for me and I was unable to care about what happened to her. Jase, conversely was always decent and thoughtful. I would have liked the story more had it been written from his pov.
I found the romance tender and believable, but the ending a let down. Too abrupt and without satisfying resolution.
Overall I enjoyed this book: entertaining, tender and lovely touches of humour with Jase's younger siblings.

I was so happy that the problem was resolved, but felt extremely indignant when Sam never even THINKS about Nan all too much, if that were my best friend I would run to the ends of the earth to make up with her. It's just not realistic, as far as a rich girl-hot boyfriend-trust fund/senator mom goes, but whatever. Loved Jase, his family, and the atmosphere of Stony Bay, but felt the ending rushed, abrupt, and slightly un-resolved. But by all means do buy this book, as it is very well written, and has a plot setup of complete potential, but if you are slightly bothered with books that push you off the cliff into oblivion, instead of a cliff hanger, then don't. Save your self the little anxiety attack that I had when I turned the page and found the acknowledgments.

I really enjoyed this book. I usually don't read young adult books, but this one kept me till the end. The story is great and we all know families like the ones in this story. I would definitely recommend this book.

4.5 stars :)

Cute cute cuteee!! Realistic relationship! Where can I find myself a Jase??

My Life Next Door was a lighthearted novel, no love triangle and no queen B. This book was a trip down memory lane. Sam's upbringing was scary similar to mine, the neat freak mom who hovered over EVERYTHING! (guys, I love my mother dearly but when I graduated college I had a 11 o'clock curfew??)

This was refreshing, realistic (can there really be a Jase out there somewhere in our world?), and honest. I highly recommend this book!

I enjoyed the ending of this book. The biggest problem is that the first 250 pages were extremely slow going. Just a bunch of fillers and extra boring details that seemed to repeat themselves. Most of the novel was predictable, but the love aspect was charming. The main characters Jase and Sam were relatable to real teenagers. Overall a decent romance with a little bit of tragedy.

This book was so slow that I almost stopped reading it before it finally went somewhere. The main characters were just alright, I did not love them or hate them. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and feeling much of anything towards them. I did not feel a connection between the two characters and I felt like they rushed into a sexual relationship without a connection other then lust. So this one was just okay and I am not interested in reading the next book the author wrote.

Loved it.

If I could only use two words to describe how I felt about this book, those two would be it, loved it.

Yes, I plan on going a little fan girl on this one because it deserves it, it was just that great. Mind blowing even.

It exceeded all of my expectations and then some.

I fell in love with the whole Garrett clan, every single one of them. I wanted to be there with them and give cute little George a great big squeeze!

Jase, oh goodness Jase. Such a swoon worthy boy, in fact if I had book boyfriends, he would be it. I could completely claim him I think.

I really liked Sam too. She wasn't what I thought she was going to be and I had a lot of fun watching her grow into her own through this book and finally get a backbone and become who she was meant to be.

The only thing keeping me from giving this one 5 stars is that the "incident" was a little strange and it seemed like it was all resolved a little too neatly in the end. It focused on the incident so much and then..kind of nothing. I wish it would have elaborated just a little more on it all. And what happened with her friend, well that wasn't really resolved either. I wish there would have been a little more there as well. I don't want to give anything away because this truly is a book you need to experience for yourself.

Other than that, this was a fabulous read from a debut author and I will definitely be checking out her books in the future.

I might very well be they only person that didn't entirely enjoy My Life Next Door. I started reading this because my spring break is coming up & I thought what better way to start of my week than with a sweet, happy contemporary read. You should know that I'm a pretty easy reader to please. By the end of any book I'm always somewhat happy. That, my friends, is not the case with My Life Next Door.

I can't even begin to tell you how flawed this story is. We have Samantha & Jase who have lived next door to each other for over ten years. In those ten years never once did they ever cross paths. But, that might have to do something with Samantha's mom. Mrs. Reeds has always kept Sam very sheltered & has told her to stay away from the Garrett's; the next door neighbors. (Who happen to be the only reason as to why I didn't give up on this story.) One night Jase happens to climb up to Samantha's balcony & they start talking. Over the course of the summer they get to know each other, fall in love, etc.

No real depth is added to My Life Next Door until the very end. Fitzpatrick didn't only throw in one, but two sub-plots-- Both could have been handled so much better. Especially since one of them had so much potential. So many issues are left unresolved by the time you get to the last page that once you're there you think to yourself REALLY!?! This is Fitzpatrick's debut novel so there is a lot of room for growth.

This book has been on my to-read list for a long time, and my only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. Samantha's next door neighbors, the Garretts, are everything her family isn't, and she longs to be one of them. The heart of the book resounds with serious themes, yet Huntley Fitzpatrick does funny in a fantastic way. Some of the dialogue made me laugh so much I had to wait for the book to stop shaking before I could keep reading. The cast of characters was so interestingly flavored that I didn't mind that the plot simmered a bit slowly at the beginning. While Jase was maybe a little too perfect, I don't mind my book boyfriends that way. Tim (one of Samantha's friends) and George (one of Jase's brothers) were wonderful for comic relief. I especially love when four-year-old George acknowledges to Samantha, "I might marry you," and when recovering-addict Tim, upon hearing the revelation of Samantha's horrible secret about her mother, responds with "I picked the wrong day to give up amphetamines." Both of these one-liners are just the tip of these two funny bones.

I just finished this book, and I absolutely loved it. I have not really read any worthwhile YA books in a long time and I was about ready to write the genre off in its entirety. I am so, so glad I gave this book a try. I finished it in less than 24 hours, and I have 2 young kids, so that's saying something!

The characters are well drawn, the story's pace is perfect, and there is zero sappy, saccharine sweet lovey-dovey crap. Also, the romance is not obsessive or unhealthy, unlike so many other YA books out there. Word of warning to the parents out there, though, there is sex (not that it's described, but it happens), so I don't know if I'd buy it for my 13 year old daughter (if I had a 13 year old).

Well worth the read, and I look forward to this author's next book!!

The story is full of excellence-from the well thought out characters to the believability of the plot. The emotions of the teens are sure as each experiences the highs and lows of life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I came across Huntley Fitzpatrick's debut young adult novel "My Life Next Door" totally by accident. By "accident," I mean it was handed to me for free at a Harry Potter convention because I had the same birthday as the literary agent running a panel on query letters.

I'm normally not huge on realistic fiction apart from murder mysteries, and in murder mysteries the realism is sometimes debatable. But the first weekend of my second year in college found me in my apartment, bored out of my mind and staring at the forty-odd books I had brought with me. I still have no idea why I pulled out My Life Next Door, but I'm glad I did.

The novel is told from the point of view of Samantha Reed, a seventeen-year-old girl whose mother, a Connecticut state senator, is determined to cram as much as possible into the summer before Samantha's senior year of high school. Between shifts at a local breakfast diner, lifeguarding at a country club, and taking practice SAT tests, Samantha is introduced at long last to Jase Garrett, her next-door neighbor.

Samantha's mother has never approved of the loud, messy, continually growing Garrett family, but Samantha has watched them from afar for years and is intrigued by how different they are from her own single-parent home. Jase and Samantha fall head over heels for each other as the summer stretches on, even while Samantha continues to hide her involvement with him from her mother--even from her best friend, Nan. When a tragic accident strikes the Garrett household, Samantha is thrown into the middle of it, and everything from her relationship with her mother to her relationship with Jase is tested.

I really enjoyed how Huntley Fitzpatrick wrote Jase's character. It's rare to come across a love interest in a young adult novel who isn't undead, unlikable, or unable to stay away from the girl he's chosen to fall madly in love with. Jase has a life apart from his relationship with Samantha, and that was extremely refreshing.

The realism of the life issues--worries about paying for college, embarrassment over buying condoms at a drugstore, the strain a family accident can have on those involved--was also handled very well. Fitzpatrick seemed to hit the nail on the head when it came to writing about real teenagers and not an adult's poorly-remembered version of what the teen years were actually like.

I do think the book could have been improved with a little condensing. The Garrett family tragedy, heavily hinted at in the book summary, doesn't occur until the last third of the novel. Since Jase and Samantha develop a relationship quickly, there's a large chunk of story in the middle that seems stuck in a low gear. I would have liked to see Samantha's relationship with Nan develop more, too. They fight in the second half of the book over a huge secret Nan's been keeping, and nothing to that end is ever resolved.

Despite that, however, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. For something quick to read the week before classes started, it was a good pick. Bigger fans of contemporary young adult authors like Sarah Dessen would probably feel right at home reading "My Life Next Door."

I LOVED this story. A simple premise: wealthy girl who lives the seemingly perfect life- but couldn't feel further from lucky- falls for the "boy next store" from the loud, large boisterous family that most people- including Sam's mom- chastise for their "irresponsible ways." Yet Sam & Jace are perfect together. And his family is everything Sam has ever envisioned a family should be-- loud, chaotic, accepting and loving.

I loved that this book didn't spend the entire length of the book building up the relationship between Sam and Jace... making you wade through 400 pages just for a "tender kiss on the lips." But their connection was still realistic and fulfilling, and you were able to see them stumble through the ups and downs of a first serious relationship. The only thing I didn't love was the lack of resolution between Sam and her friend Nan at the end of the book. However, I loved the other secondary characters so much that it almost canceled that out. Each member of the large Garrett family is so unique and well-defined and provide lots of comic relief. Tim was great too! While Sam definitely comes across as the perfect "girl next door" it was Jace who was I just adored. Don't we all crave an honest, good, hard-working guy who also loves his family?? Jace is all of those things in more! I can't say enough good about him.

All in all, probably my favorite read of summer 2012!!

I just finished reading this book and loved it, I couldn't put it down, and I didn't want it to end, ever. In the first part of the book I thought that Jase would be my favorite character but in the end it turned out to be Tim, and the evolution of his character really gave the story something sweeter to it, although I wish that the author had delved more into what caused Tim to turn to drinking and drugs at 12 years old. Having effed up parents can't be the reason for something as hardcore as that. I would say that this oversight, and the sex (this book is written for teens and maybe I am too old and uncool at 29 but I would not be happy with my teen-aged child reading a book in which it is written as an expectation that they would have sex at 17) are the only two blots on an incredibly wonderful story. I hope that this gets made into a movie; God only knows that if the crap found between the two covers of Twilight and 50 Shades was made into movies, a story as amazing as this could easily fill the theaters. I loved this author's writing style, she pulled me deeply into the story and made me feel intensely the entire time I was reading. I wanted to know the Garretts in real life, I wanted to pick the children up and hug them and I wished that I could walk over to their house and have dinner with them. I can't imagine how the author would write a sequel to this story, but I want her to because I want to spend more time in a world where Jase and Sam exist. I cannot wait for this author's next story.

The cover of the book, My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick is what caught my attention of this young-adult romance book. I could not put the book down and read it within 24 hours. It's one of those books that you just fall in love with the characters.

Read more of my review at:
http://authorscreateireview.blogspot.com/2015/07/my-life-next-door-by-huntley-fitzpatrick.html

This book, overall, was just plain adorable, though there were a few parts that I wish would have been highlighted more. First off, I wanted to know what happened to her and her best friend (Nan) at the end. The last time they spoke in the book, they left off on bad terms, and Nan was never really mentioned again. In the epilogue scene, or at least during some point near the end, I wish the narrator would have said something about her relationship wit the girl who was her best friend for years. Also, I would have liked to have found more about Mr. Garrett's health situation. It was the main focus at the end of the book, but it just kind of left off that part at the end, so we're left wondering where he is now and how the family as a whole is recovering. Despite all of that, it was still a really cute book, in terms of romance and family love. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted a love story to read.

Samantha Reed has always been fascinated by the Garrett's, who live next door. Her own father left when she was a baby, and her sister Tracy was only a toddler, leaving her mum to raise them alone in a big, imposing house with perpetually vacuumed carpets and fresh-made lemonade always in the fridge.

By contrast, the Garrett's are a large family who always seem to have a baby just born or on the way. Mr and Mrs Garrett are always kissing one another in their backyard, and all the siblings seem to lead vastly different lives while being close-knit.

Samantha knows all this because she watches them - the Garrett's - "those Garretts", as her mother calls them. She's fascinated by their lovely, messy lives that she watches from a distance ... until the day one of them approaches her. Jase is the second oldest, with a beautiful smile and generous soul. Over one summer Samantha gets closer and closer to him, and his generous family.

But this is also the summer that Sam's mother goes into over-drive trying to win the town elections, going so far as to bring in a Washington big-wig to call the shots for her suddenly very conservative campaign. It's the summer that Sam and her best friend Nan decide they have to save Nan's brother, Tim, from himself. And it's the summer that Sam falls in love for the first time ... and has to choose between family and morality, right and wrong.

`My Life Next Door' was the 2013 debut young adult novel from Huntley Fitzpatrick.

Oh my gosh; I've been hearing a lot about this book! For a little while there it was all anyone could talk about, and I saw this cover popping up on numerous book review blogs ... which pretty much guaranteed that I'd wait for the hype to die down before seeing for myself what all the fuss was about. And, while I do get it, I've got to say I wasn't as swept up in this book as so many other people seemed to be.

Fitzpatrick, I will say, is very good at setting the scene. We have Samantha settling in for a long, boring summer with her sister Tracy vacationing with her latest tennis-player boyfriend, and Sam either stuck at home or one of her two jobs while her mother goes into over-drive with her new political campaign. Sam's friends also seem set to abandon her for the summer - Nan is studying hard in preparation for college selections, and Nan's older brother Tim (once Sam's closest friend) has been kicked out of school and seems on his way to trouble, getting high every day and losing every job within a week of starting.

Sam seems a lonely sort of girl - having been raised by a single mother who never seemed very at ease in the parental role, Sam's mum is cleaning obsessed (verging on OCD) and now career-driven since being elected to local council. Here, Fitzpatrick lays a wonderful contrast to Sam's solitary life in a big, clean house - with the Garrett's who live next door in constant chaos, and with so many children that strangers often comment that they "must be Catholic" (they're not, Mrs Garrett just loves babies). Sam has long been fascinated by the Garrett's who live next door, because she has a perfect view of their backyard from her bedroom window perch.

The first half of this (rather long, at 394-pages) book is all about Sam entering into the world of the Garrett's, having been introduced by second oldest boy, Jase. And this is a lovely introduction to this family that Fitzpatrick writes with tender comedy, particularly around the toddlers of the clan;

I enjoyed getting to know the Garrett's as much as Sam does, truly. They're a delightful family, although I was a fair way into the book when I started wondering what, exactly, made them so interesting? ... They don't exactly present conflict. Big they may be, but they're a very functional and loving family who don't seem to have cares beyond an annoyance for perfect strangers commenting on their sheer size (and questioning why Mr and Mrs Garrett don't stop with the baby-making). Sure, there's oldest sister Alice who's studying nursing and has a reputation as a heart-breaker. Joel is the oldest brother who rides a motorcycle and has scored a full sport scholarship. But we spend so much time seeing the Garrett's through Sam's eyes, and beyond understanding why they hold so much fascination for *her*, as a reader I didn't really know where the story was going with them as the focus...

On the other hand, Sam's life is full of drama. There's her ex-best friend Tim who has suddenly gone off the rails and can't seem to find his feet, no matter how much everyone tries to help him. He's witty and bitter, heaping out doses of sarcasm that belies how really scared he is to be this directionless. I thought he was wonderful and intriguing, and I'm so glad Fitzpatrick has a book coming out based around Tim, called `The Boy Most Likely To' set for 2015 release: "Why do all the hot girls want the jocks and the good boys? We losers are the ones that need you."

Then there's Nan - a real stress head who is concerned by her college prospects and her brother's welfare, and whose friendship with Sam starts to warp when some harsh truths and jealousies are revealed.

There's also Sam's mum, who is campaigning for re-election with the help of a sleazy (younger) Washington man who seems to have cast a spell on her. Suddenly Sam's mum is scary-driven, and her conservative politics are starting to concern Sam - from her stance on migrants to same-sex marriage. I would have actually liked more about how clashing ideals between Sam and her mum was impacting their relationship ... but what's offered with this story is strong enough as is, and had me fascinated.

By contrast, the Garrett's are just sort of - there. Sure, Jase is lovely and Fitzpatrick certainly scores points for writing a tender romance for Sam, complete with realistic sexual encounters. But where's the interest with this family?

... And then just as I was thinking that, something shifts in the second-half of the book. It actually read like Fitzpatrick realised she was writing this lovely, ho-hum book about a girl who becomes entwined with this big, happy family next door, and while that's great, it does not an interesting story make, so she decided to BAM! throw some serious obstacles in the way. It read a bit outlandish to me, and was a jarring contrast between the first and second halves of the book.

All in all, I thought this was a nice story. The Garrett's are nice, Sam is nice and her romance with Jase was nice. But the real meat of the plot for me came from Sam's relationship with her mum and secondary character Tim's battles with himself. The sudden plot about-turn in the second half certainly read like someone who realised her story up until then had been fairly `nice' but uneventful. I'll definitely read Tim's story, `The Boy Most Likely To' but `My Life Next Door' was only okay for me, nothing groundbreaking.

2.5/5

The writing was 5 stars. The characters were great. I loved Sam and Jase. It was even fun to read the characters you didn't like. I absolutely loved the story until about 75% through and then the big twist happened and it just didn't go the way I wanted. It became hard for me to read. I gave it 4 stars because I really loved it up until that point. I would say it's worth reading if you like YA contemporary romance.

it was really refreshing to read a book about smart, realistic teenagers who didn't sound like idiots when they talked and who had real problems to deal with. The issue of what makes a life happy and how family influences the hard decisions we all have to make at some point was beautifully discussed. The romance between the two main characters unfolded slowly and was the kind you wish you could have at that age. I loved the family dynamics in both families, too. No one was a cliche and everyone was believable. It's so rare in a YA book. This one was really special.

A must read if you are into romance. Chick lit or whatever its called. This book was absolutely amazing!!! I heard two girls talking about it and figured I'd check it out. Sure enough I was hooked. She did an amazing job with the characters!! I would definately suggest this book to others. I am definately going to get her other books to.

I decided to get this book because it was a romance, but I was a little wary because it was from an author I had never heard of before. After reading this book, I immediately told my bestfriend about it and then she read it and LOVED it too. We both proceeded to buy the Authors other books as well. This is the perfect romance book with a hint of mystery and a twist!!!! LOVE

I picked this looking for a light and easy read. I was pleasantly surprised to have found a well written story filled with believable and charming characters treated with insight and occasional humor. As soon as I finished, I checked out the next book and enjoyed that one too.

After late night reading and analysis, without giving the plot or story away...Here are reasons to read if you're 13-14 or older: Funny (leaves you wanting more chuckles or smiles from luminescent, esoteric moments tossed with mundane yet pebble smooth--it is soooooo this way humor)! Eclectic, vivid. Home, neighborhood and work descriptions. Tender and gotcha teen details...Independent-minded people who dwell, think, value, ponder, share, are very active outdoors...dream, pause, decide, evolve and act in resolutely human ways--they have all hues and scents of character, spirit, drive, balance (the main teens almost more than some grown ups). Ample filling and dosing of practicality and longing from people growing up, blended with groggy, innocent and clear intuition, discovering personal truth and piles of compassion. Some run of the mill and goofy, sticky political excitement, cool and warm degrees of questioning and challenging boundaries and others' logic, motivation and actions. Parents who clearly make us think about what it is to parent...(and to be the recipient of parenting)...To feel and be extra human, fallible, quirky, everyday parents. Even to consider what it is to be a whole parent when kids are falling for each other and in love or friendship. Parents morph--some keenly aware, and those that are temporarily clueless. Lots of chance to reflect upon family connections and house rules in general (fair vs. unfair, order vs. chaos) and friendship responsibilities/roles. Definitely stretches our imaginations and broadens our usual ideas of personal character and daily choice in a zany, quirky, problematic,seemingly impossible,foggy yet understandable, sad and empathic way. Challenges who we choose to become throughout life's growing-up course...Young children who are very honest and funny---come as they are---, yet fragile and simultaneously strong and lovely...Teens who are figuring things out exchange by exchange and assimilating...weighing preferences, ideas, hobbies, professions, chances, habits and typical pros/cons and rights and wrongs of circumstance...While everyone's sizing up the universe and learning the essence of being accepting and relatively centered...trustworthy, with some integrity. These characters we want to hear more about-their busy yet developing lives...more daily family tidbits and snafus, minute to minute childhood morsels and ordinary and extraordinary inklings of romance and work and vacuuming the home moments. A local summer book iced-spritzer with nectar...by a Massachusetts author who tells it like it is, or could be...while presenting what-if coastal relationship possibilities...

I really didn't know anything about this book going in so my intial thought was Sam (it's from her pov) is going to fall in love w/ a couple of the brothers from next door and it will be a love triangle like The Summer I Turned Pretty. I was wrong. This book is about how Sam fell in love with a boy and then the boys' entire family took her in as their own. I loved reading about Sam & Jase. I wish there was more of that and less of Sams' mothers political run.

Just because your rich doesn't mean your life is perfect. Samantha learned that through watching her neighbors on her balcony. Her mom is controlling and is involved in politics which Sam hates. When she meets Jase, her neighbor along with four other kids, her world is flipped upside down.

A warm and comfortable contemporary romance with a refreshing storyline: a nice girl from a tidy two teenage children and one parent household falls in love with the guy next door - and his whole big, messy family. That's a great premise for a contemporary romance and conveys a healthy message about family life... even if the story was rather more typical in other respects.

It's with regret that I came across those other aspects... the rather abundant profanity, the emotional inevitability of a teenage couple sleeping together once they determine they're in love (with quite a bit of description), the casual references to the sister's sex life and need for birth control, the abandoned wife who finally starts to date again, the labelling of abstinence as Catholic guilt and fear of intimacy, and even the fact that the large family is synonymous with messy house and yard, while the single mom is a cleaning-freak who vacuums multiple times a day. Perhaps these last points mean well, but stereotypes can tend to offend.

Great premise though...

This beautifully written YA contemporary romance is a treasure. A rich, sensitive story with incredible depth combined with humour, shines the light on two very different families. One for my favourite’s shelf.

This book is a must read! Couldn't put it down. There were twists and turn and it was a real page turner! I'm only 13 so I definitely want to experience a love and bond and romance like the one Samantha and Jase had. Every single part of the story was realistic! The characters, the situations, the Garrets, and Sam and Jase's relationship. The hit and run situation was VERY unexpected. Jase's whole demeanor throughout him and Sam's relationship gave me butterflies and made me smile! If you're a sucker for romance, family, and conflict this is the PERFECT book for you! Take my word for it!!!

I might very well be they only person that didn't entirely enjoy My Life Next Door. I started reading this because my spring break is coming up & I thought what better way to start of my week than with a sweet, happy contemporary read. You should know that I'm a pretty easy reader to please. By the end of any book I'm always somewhat happy. That, my friends, is not the case with My Life Next Door.
I can't even begin to tell you how flawed this story is. We have Samantha & Jase who have lived next door to each other for over ten years. In those ten years never once did they ever cross paths. But, that might have to do something with Samantha's mom. Mrs. Reeds has always kept Sam very sheltered & has told her to stay away from the Garrett's; the next door neighbors. (Who happen to be the only reason as to why I didn't give up on this story.) One night Jase happens to climb up to Samantha's balcony & they start talking. Over the course of the summer they get to know each other, fall in love, etc.

No real depth is added to My Life Next Door until the very end. Fitzpatrick didn't only throw in one, but two sub-plots-- Both could have been handled so much better. Especially since one of them had so much potential. So many issues are left unresolved by the time you get to the last page that once you're there you think to yourself REALLY!?! This is Fitzpatrick's debut novel so there is a lot of room for growth. - Andy

this book has a great conflict where the main character has to decided wether to do the right thing or not. the story is good, though i dont think kids in real life would make the choices they do in this book. still a great read.

I borrowed this book from the library ( sorry the store!). It is a classic rich girl and poor boy romance with a twist but what I like best is that itis romantic and doesn't need to include sex to make it a great book.

To say that this was my most anticipated book of the summer would be an understatement. I was frothing at the mouth to read this book, and I can't tell you how pleased I am to say that it lived up to everything I hoped it would be, and more. I absolutely could not put this book down, and I was so sad when it ended. I just wanted more, more, more.

The Characters:
I couldn't get enough of these characters. I want to be best friends with Samantha and I want to date Jase. Always an indication of a winning book. I found each of these characters so well fleshed out that I felt I knew them. What I was particularly impressed with was the development of the secondary characters. The author really did a good job of letting you know exactly who they were, what their motives were, and yet I wanted to learn more about them. I think each of them was so well developed that they could almost carry a book by themselves. Not only that, but I would read that book.

The Plot:
I found everything to be completely believable. There was really no suspension of disbelieve happening in this one. Some parts made me happy, other sad, but never once was I annoyed by a direction in the story. Nor did I ever get lost and have to try to figure out where I was within the story.

The Pacing:
This is always a big deal for me, and this book passed the pacing test with flying colors. The story moved at the perfect pace. I never once got bored, and I always was anticipating what would happen next.

Bottom line:
Too often Sarah Dessen's name gets tossed around to describe another book or another author. Inevitably I am always disappointed because they are never anything like Sarah Dessen and only wish they could be as great as her. Not this time. The writing and the story was very Dessen-ish, and yet still totally new and fresh. I can't wait to see what Fitzpatrick comes out with next. This is a book I can read 50 more times and never get tired of it. I still miss these characters like I do with any great book. One of the best books I have read this year.

After many years of reading YA, I've come to the conclusion that anything will get published that will get teens reading. Reading for the sake of reading is the goal and anything else does't matter. There is no loftier goal than getting kids to read, so we must get down on their level so they will read it. What a sad state of affairs.

Although slightly slow moving this book is great. The story line seems like you know what will happen next. But you will wind twists and turns that will in the end surprise you. As well there are funny parts that you can't help but laugh at. So overall its great. Just keep in mind at least for me it was written in a way that made it move slowly.

I'm on love all over again, I want that perfect well mannered good natured country boy!! All girls want that love!!
(This review is written by my 15- year- old granddaughter, as we share an account)

This beautifully written YA contemporary romance is a treasure. A rich, sensitive story with incredible depth combined with humour, shines the light on two very different families. One for my favourite’s shelf.

This book is a must read! Couldn't put it down. There were twists and turn and it was a real page turner! I'm only 13 so I definitely want to experience a love and bond and romance like the one Samantha and Jase had. Every single part of the story was realistic! The characters, the situations, the Garrets, and Sam and Jase's relationship. The hit and run situation was VERY unexpected. Jase's whole demeanor throughout him and Sam's relationship gave me butterflies and made me smile! If you're a sucker for romance, family, and conflict this is the PERFECT book for you! Take my word for it!!!

I might very well be they only person that didn't entirely enjoy My Life Next Door. I started reading this because my spring break is coming up & I thought what better way to start of my week than with a sweet, happy contemporary read. You should know that I'm a pretty easy reader to please. By the end of any book I'm always somewhat happy. That, my friends, is not the case with My Life Next Door.
I can't even begin to tell you how flawed this story is. We have Samantha & Jase who have lived next door to each other for over ten years. In those ten years never once did they ever cross paths. But, that might have to do something with Samantha's mom. Mrs. Reeds has always kept Sam very sheltered & has told her to stay away from the Garrett's; the next door neighbors. (Who happen to be the only reason as to why I didn't give up on this story.) One night Jase happens to climb up to Samantha's balcony & they start talking. Over the course of the summer they get to know each other, fall in love, etc.

No real depth is added to My Life Next Door until the very end. Fitzpatrick didn't only throw in one, but two sub-plots-- Both could have been handled so much better. Especially since one of them had so much potential. So many issues are left unresolved by the time you get to the last page that once you're there you think to yourself REALLY!?! This is Fitzpatrick's debut novel so there is a lot of room for growth. - Andy

this book has a great conflict where the main character has to decided wether to do the right thing or not. the story is good, though i dont think kids in real life would make the choices they do in this book. still a great read.

I borrowed this book from the library ( sorry the store!). It is a classic rich girl and poor boy romance with a twist but what I like best is that itis romantic and doesn't need to include sex to make it a great book.

To say that this was my most anticipated book of the summer would be an understatement. I was frothing at the mouth to read this book, and I can't tell you how pleased I am to say that it lived up to everything I hoped it would be, and more. I absolutely could not put this book down, and I was so sad when it ended. I just wanted more, more, more.

The Characters:
I couldn't get enough of these characters. I want to be best friends with Samantha and I want to date Jase. Always an indication of a winning book. I found each of these characters so well fleshed out that I felt I knew them. What I was particularly impressed with was the development of the secondary characters. The author really did a good job of letting you know exactly who they were, what their motives were, and yet I wanted to learn more about them. I think each of them was so well developed that they could almost carry a book by themselves. Not only that, but I would read that book.

The Plot:
I found everything to be completely believable. There was really no suspension of disbelieve happening in this one. Some parts made me happy, other sad, but never once was I annoyed by a direction in the story. Nor did I ever get lost and have to try to figure out where I was within the story.

The Pacing:
This is always a big deal for me, and this book passed the pacing test with flying colors. The story moved at the perfect pace. I never once got bored, and I always was anticipating what would happen next.

Bottom line:
Too often Sarah Dessen's name gets tossed around to describe another book or another author. Inevitably I am always disappointed because they are never anything like Sarah Dessen and only wish they could be as great as her. Not this time. The writing and the story was very Dessen-ish, and yet still totally new and fresh. I can't wait to see what Fitzpatrick comes out with next. This is a book I can read 50 more times and never get tired of it. I still miss these characters like I do with any great book. One of the best books I have read this year.

After many years of reading YA, I've come to the conclusion that anything will get published that will get teens reading. Reading for the sake of reading is the goal and anything else does't matter. There is no loftier goal than getting kids to read, so we must get down on their level so they will read it. What a sad state of affairs.

Although slightly slow moving this book is great. The story line seems like you know what will happen next. But you will wind twists and turns that will in the end surprise you. As well there are funny parts that you can't help but laugh at. So overall its great. Just keep in mind at least for me it was written in a way that made it move slowly.

I'm on love all over again, I want that perfect well mannered good natured country boy!! All girls want that love!!
(This review is written by my 15- year- old granddaughter, as we share an account)

Honestly, I thought I'd hate the book. But boy, was I wrong. This book is amazing. I bought it two days ago and i am already done with it. I could not stop reading it. I was displeased with it and I felt like I was in the book. My bond grew with Jase and Sam. I am so glad I found this book. It is a must read!!!

I'm trying to figure out why this book has so many 5 star reviews. I don't think it's worth the $10.99 or the 5 star reviews. The character development in the story was HORRIBLE. The book flip flopped and there was no division as to where a new thought began. I did like the character of Jase, as well as his whole family. I didn't like Samantha to start off with but towards the end she was likeable. The story line mostly focused on her mother's campaign and although it was an important aspect of the book, the relationship between Jase and Samantha didn't really develop. I don't think there was a lot of chemistry and the way she treated him when the "crisis" occurred wasn't right. You don't do that to someone you "love" especially when they're going through a hard time.

I don't know if there's a sequel but if there isn't, WTF? We don't know what happens with Jase's dad, with Sam's relationship with Nan, with Jase and college, with Sam's mom.. did they move? WTF??! Too many open ended conclusions.

I couldn't put this book down. Poetically written. It's a sweat and beautiful story of first love, family, betrayal, and loneliness. Every emotion is deeply felt through words. This is a book I'll definitely want to read again in a few years.