Monday, January 28, 2013

Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
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.

Publishes in US: June 14 2012
Genre: contemporary
Source: library

Buy it: Amazon / IndieBound / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

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Blkosiner's Book Blog review 
     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.

Similar reads: Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker, First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky, The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever wanted to be part of another family?

34 comments:

  1. I'm really looking forward to reading this one and I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it! I think I need to read some more contemporary books to help balance out all the paranormal/dystopians, haha. Thanks for sharing your review!

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  2. I don't think I've ever really wanted to be part of another family (although sometimes there were moments on TV shows that really enthralled me). I'm pretty lucky with how my family is :)

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  3. I just loved this book! I also adored the view into the life of the Garretts and of course the little ones were so cute! Great review! :)

    ~Sara @ Forever 17 Books

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  4. This has been on my to read list for a long time! So glad to hear you liked it!

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  5. I loved this book so much. Tim is probably my favorite character... which was a huge surprise.

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  6. Ooo, I just read this book and loved it! I am so glad you enjoyed it :)

    I always wish i could be a part of someone else's famiyl when I see the family, but then I think - despite all of my family's imperfections, i wouldn't trade them for the world :)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  7. I totally and unexpectedly adored this one, too, and I loved the Garretts so much! They were all beyond adorable. To tell you the truth, contemporary is not really my thing, but in this case, it worked splendidly.
    Great review.

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  8. I've seen this book around a lot of blogs and people's wishlists :) I've kind of wanted to read it, but I don't read too many books in the genre. It sounds awesome though :) Awesome review!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  9. This one looks really cute :3 Will be adding this to my wishlist :) Great review!

    -Laura
    What's Hot?

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  10. Oh no, I can't deal with open endings

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  11. I thought this was a brilliantly sweet read too. I loved the characters, especially little George, and loved how easily the author made me fall in love with the Garretts. I miss them already!

    Brilliant review, Brandi. :)

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  12. George seems very adorable and based on what you're sharing, I think I'll like Mrs. Garrett too. I guess we all have a sense of wanting to belong at various levels but without our existing families, I don't think we'd become the person who we are today. Loved your review, Brandi!

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  13. This one sounds delightful Brandi and you are right sometimes sweet and adorable is perfect for those in-between books. Sometimes I read a few zombie or dystopian novels and need a break, adding to my list!

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  14. I was just thinking how I need to read something like this after a few post-apocaliptic and sci-fi novels. I'm only seeing nice reviews for it.

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  15. Sounds like a good book. I could especially use a summer read after being socked in by winter for so long!

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  16. Not too crazy about open endings either ..there are just times I don't want to imagine ..hehehe! --I've got to get my hands on this book. I've seen many rave reviews.

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  17. I read this book last summer and really liked it. It's one I'll probably reread at some point. The Garretts are such an awesome cast of characters, I want to read more about them!

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  18. I've had this book for months now, Brandi, and still haven't read it! I want to know what the big secret is! I can't believe I've not hit one spoiler. I'm glad MLND worked for you. Lovely review!

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  19. Sometimes you can really use a light read like this one appears to be. I love it when an author can get me asking what I would do in the same situation and when characters can surprise me. Excellent review! I have wanted to be in another family before while I was growing up, but now that I am grown, I couldn't ask for a better son than the one that I have :) Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven

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  20. I heard so many great things about this one so I'm glad you enjoyed it too!

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  21. Definitely! my family is nuts.
    This does sound like it could be good relief from all these weird books i keep reading!

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  22. I have had this one on my Wishlist FOREVER! And you're making me want it even more! It sounds amazing and I'm all about the lighter contemporary books these days. :)

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  23. Oh yay! Isn't My Life Next Door a fabulous read?! Jase is the sweetest and I really adored the way his and Sam's relationship is playing out:)

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  24. I have got to read this book! It has been on my TBR list for awhile and your review makes it sound even more interesting!

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  25. I can't wait to read this one! It sounds kind of like my life growing up, with the loud neighbors next door. ;) And I'm with you on how sometimes you just need a lighter contemporary read after reading so much dystopian and Sci-Fi! Great review!

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  26. I have had this on my bookshelf for awhile, just waiting to be read. I may save it for a guilty summer pleasure read :)
    Tracy A.J.

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