Posted by Lauren in Book Reviews, Contemporary, Featured | 14 Comments
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Dutton
Release date: June 14, 2012
Pages: 395
Summary: Samantha’s mother has always disapproved of the Garrett family. They have too many children, too messy of a yard, and not nearly enough organization—plus, they live next door. Samantha, on the other hand, has always been fascinated with the Garretts. When she finally meets one of the Garrett boys by chance, she realizes what she’s been missing, and discovers that she doesn’t share her mother’s opinion of them.
My thoughts: Huntley Fitzpatrick is the next big voice in contemporary YA, I can just feel it! My Life Next Door is, hands down, one of the best pieces of realistic YA I’ve read in a while. A big part of this love is due to the fact that while reading, you feel like you’re actually a part of the story—you’re so fully immersed that you don’t even feel like you’re reading words on a page. There’s something about Samantha’s voice that is connecting, that enables Huntley Fitzpatrick to bridge the gap between mind and page.
The honest storyline is fantastic, with twists that take the characters in unexpected directions. My Life Next Door is just like life: unpredictable and not always happy. But the happy parts of the novel are definitely the best. The romance, specifically, is the kind that’s sweet and heart-warming to watch evolve. I love the way Fitzpatrick handles the development of love between Samantha and Jase—it feels just right.
Though the story is near perfect, with its many moments of thought-provocation, the characters are what make My Life Next Door an absolute gem. The cast is quite large (consider the fact that Jase has seven brothers and sisters), but every single character stands out. By the end of the book, you’ll be able to say something about each of Jase’s siblings. About his parents. About Sam’s friends. Because they’re all unique, funny, and memorable. My favorite of all the characters (aside from the main two) would definitely be Tim, Sam’s drug-addicted acquaintance who turns out to be the most hilarious and quick guy on the planet. Fitzpatrick’s attention to even the smallest of characters is amazing.
If you like teen fiction, you absolutely must pick up My Life Next Door. I promise you’ll love it—it’s impossible not to!
5/5 stars
For those who like: romance, family drama, laughs
Source: received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
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CAN YOU FEEL THAT? I’m so envying you right now, Lauren, from a VERY LARGE DISTANCE. But it’s there, bright and ugly and pathetic. Because I really want to read this book *cries*
STILL. You’ve made this book sound THIS much more amazing so I think I’m going to have to beg my momz to buy it for me, yo. Let us pray. Seriously, cross your fingers for me.
a. knight @ paranormal indulgence recently posted..Hotly Gratifying: 5/28 – 6/3
I’m glad you liked My Life Next Door! Don’t you love it when you are sucked into a book like that? When it happens to me, it reminds me of why I read. And I’m glad the characters are so unique and memorable. I’m so excited to read this one!
Kapri (Book Fanatics) recently posted..Book Haul and Week in Review (92)
Great review! I really want to read this book and I can’t wait until I get a copy! I love it when contemporary authors start off with a bang because then it’s so much easier for me to pick up their next book! This book sounds so awesome!
Crystal @ Elegantly Bound Books
Crystal @ Elegantly Bound Books recently posted..Review- The Immortal Rules
This sounds great! I just requested it from NetGalley–thanks for sharing your review!
MrsReaderPants recently posted..Review: Shadow and Bone (Bardugo)
Wow this looks really sweet. I can’t wait to read it!
I love books with great characters. My Life Next Door is a book that I will likely enjoy. I cannot wait for its release date!
Tim was one of my favorites too. He was a surprisingly complex character!
Great review, Lauren! Glad you loved this one :)
YA Book Queen recently posted..The Right & The Real by Joëlle Anthony
That sounds great! I’d probably grab this at the bookstore for the gorgeous cover alone. :-) It looks summery and perfect.
Wow, you just made me SO excited to read this! I love it when authors can create truly distinct and interesting characters – main and side.
Aylee recently posted..Waiting On Wednesday: Simon & Schuster Summer 2012 Catalog
I love when a book can capture you like that. It sounds like this is an absolutely amazing book. Great review.
Amy @ Book Loving Mom recently posted..Review: Surrender (Possession #2) By Elana Johnson
This book sounds sooo good. It seems like such a cute summer read. I love contemporaries with sweet romances, I think this may be one to add to my ever growing list.
Great review. :)
Kris @ Library Girl recently posted..Please don’t make it personal.
DEFinitely looking forward to reading this one!! Great review – covered all the points and subjects I wanted to hear about. I’m excited to delve into this romance!
Sierra @ Yearning to Read
Sierra @ Yearning to Read recently posted..Mythology VS Fairy Tales
Lauren, your reviews are fantastic, I feel like I have a great sense of what this book is about. I LOVE contemp YA so this was already on my to-read list but now I feel like I need to stop everything and get myself a copy!
VeganYANerds recently posted..Jane by April Lindner
Great review!
I was thinking of reading this next but I read “All These Lives” and “Breaking Beautiful” and they bummed me out so I skipped a contemp this week and went with a paranormal instead. Cause at least those have comic relief LOL!
Marie recently posted..Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday