28 March 2015

Book Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick


(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Hardback
Publishers: Dial 
Published: 14th June 2012
Pages: 394
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance, 
Main Characters: Samantha, Jase
Date Read: 11th March - 24th March 2015

Rating Given:
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Synopsis:
"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, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.
As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?
A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another. 

I received this a couple of years ago for my birthday but never got around to reading it until now.

Not sure about this cover I do like parts of it just not all of it. I'm not sure that I see Jase in the guy on this cover as he is far too skinny to be him just not how I pictured him. I like the huge fence as it could be in keeping with the story.

I am in two minds about what I think about My Life Next door as there was moments that I really enjoyed but there was a lot of moments that I didn't like. It started off ok and I thought that I was going to fall in love with it but the more I read the more I thought nothing was truly happening, it was just to slow. It wasn't until closer to the end when something huge happened when everything really kicked off. The romance between Jase and Samantha was cute and I loved reading about them together but there was times when I felt sorry for Jase with the way she kept him a secret. I liked that it wasn't just about the romance between Jase and Samantha but also about families and how not every family has the same relationship. The Garrett's was such a cute family and I could see why Samantha was in awe of them especially seeing how Samantha's Mum is. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed as there was things that was left unresolved but I'm hoping with there being a companion novel that some things might be resolved during that.

I loved the Garrett's they where my favourite characters especially George but the rest I wasn't a huge fan of. Samantha was an ok character as she was sweet enough but she didn't have a backbone as she just let everyone walk all over her. Jase was a great character as he was fun but he was also there for everyone that needed him, I loved the way he was with Samantha. I hated Nan she was so selfish and I especially hated the way in which she treated Samantha and at times Tim. Tim I started off not liking at all which I wasn't happy about as I know he has his own book so I wanted to like him but in the end he made up for his behaviour in the beginning.

Overall this book was ok but I would have liked more to happen just so it was more interesting.