Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpartrick

Grade: 4 Butterflies
Name: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Source: The Library
Publisher: Dail Books for Young Readers
Pages: Hardcover, 394 pages.

Goodreads summary

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.

    I've been meaning to read this book for a while now, because I've heard amazing things about it. However, I was stalling for a while, because I was afraid that Samantha would be a spoiled rich brat. And her relationship with Jase changes her for the better. I was so glad that this book was nothing like that. This story I feel is so much more than just a love story. It's about changing, losing old friends and reconnecting with others. Its about when the lines between good and bad are blurred what do you do? It was great! I enjoyed it and I can't wait for the author's new book to release.

    However, why its getting 4 Butterflies, is because in the beginning I felt so distant with the main character. I loved the plot and wanted to get into it, but the distant with the narrator prevented that. However, throughout  the book that distant slowly went away and by the half way mark I was in the head of Sam and was loving this book.

    Like I said I loved how this plot wasn't just a love story. I loved how Sam's relationship with Tim and Nan changed over time. I loved the last thing with her Mom. Throughout that ending I was chanting in my head, "do the right thing, do the right thing". I loved how it was dealing with issues and trying to get over them. You have to read it for yourself to realize how dynamic it was.

    One of the best things in this book was the character development. I loved all of these characters, they felt so real. The author did the character development so flawlessly. I was routing for Tim and Sam and I wanted Nan to just go away. I loved how the author showed with Nan that not all character development is for the better. Sometimes people turn nasty.

    Last but not least I loved the relationship Between Jase and Sam. I thought it was so sweet and they where perfect for each other. I loved how it felt like it developed so naturally. I also liked how the author didn't go for the bad boy good girl relationship I thought so was going to do. I loved how Jase was a bit goofy and the goofiness was so much like Sam's little bit of goofiness.  I just loved it their relationship!!

    All in all, I really liked this book. It was such a sweet love story, with great characters and a very real plot. I would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporaries and light reads.

This book got....

 4 Butterflies

Beloved, This is a really good book.

Recommend if you like: Love stories, Contemporaries, and light fun books.



Happy reading.