By: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Pub. Date: June 14, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Pages: 395
Source: Netgalley
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.
Samantha has always been the good girl. She has always done
what her mother says and she never causes any trouble. When the Garrett's move
in next door, her mother forbids her from talking to them. The Garretts are
everything Samantha's family is not. They are loud, messy, and there are so
many of them (8 children!), but there is so much love in that family. Samantha
listens to her mother, but always watches the family from afar. One day, years
after the Garretts first moved in-Samantha talks to Jase Garrett for the first
time.
I loved the Garretts. Each and every one of them was
interesting. I loved the relationship between all of the brothers and sisters.
When Sam first meets them, she instantly feels like part of the family. That is
how warm and welcoming they were to her. Jase was my favorite though. He was
just such a great person. He took care of his family, and always put his
siblings first. I felt bad for him though because he was never able to do
anything for himself. All of his free time was spent helping his family, from
being the family mechanic to being the babysitter.
The relationship between Sam and Jase was beautifully
written. They were so sweet. Even though they fell for each other pretty
quickly, it completely felt real to me. I loved that through her relationship
with Jase, Sam was able to stick up for herself with her mom, and for the first
time in years, she was able to talk honestly with her mother.
Overall, if you have the opportunity to read My Life Next Door, you should! I am so
happy that I stuck with it because it was definitely worth it!
I really want to read this!! I keep hearing things about Jase :) Great review!
ReplyDeleteFantastic review! I can't wait for my copy to arrive so I can get started on it Thank you for sharing - have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteThis book is _definitely_ on my Wish List. The Garrett family sounds like the kind of family I hope to have someday: big, loud, and close :-) I think I will really be able to relate to Sam, as my family was perfect on the outside but in turmoil on the inside, and when I met Nick and his crazy family, I learned what perfectly imperfect is all about :-) <3
ReplyDeleteI just finished the book. Read it in 2 days. It was such a good book.
ReplyDeleteMy blog - http://bookbloggermom.blogspot.com
The relationship between Samantha and Jase{1} was surprisingly enjoyable, despite the quickness. Interactions with the Garrett's were my favorite part of this book. Side characters were very nicely written (especially Tim, Clay, the Garrett's), because each had their own personalities with flaws and strengths. Even Grace (Samantha's very strict and slightly scary mother) proved to be more complex than I imagined.
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