A Review for My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Posted by Jess

Release Date:  June 14th, 2012

Finished Date: 1st August 2012

Publishers: DIAL

Source: Bought 

Format: Kindle edtion

Pages: 400
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US 

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

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“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

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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?

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A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

The Review: Pretty awesome book.

I'd wanted to read it for a while and I finally got around to it a few weeks ago. It was a fantastic summer read. I absolutely whizzed through this book. I just couldn't get enough of it. It's a fabulous story with real life issues around our main protagonists Jace and Samantha.

Samantha is the rich Senators daughter, who live next to the big family called the Garretts. Samantha isn't supposed to talk to the Garretts....ever according to her mother because "they're not good enough" in her eyes. But that doesn't stop Samantha from looking over at them everyday for 10 years and finally striking up a conversation with the 3rd eldest son, Jace. Jace is amazing. He's so swoon worthy he makes you melt. Their relationship was beautifully written, starting out as a friendship which quickly bonded into romance. Both of these characters are very easily likeable and you'll be rooting for them from the get go.

The story is fast paced and won't leave you bored. Huntley inserts some real life issues into this story and has our characters handle it all very well. It was extremely well thought out, and it felt like a movie playing out in my head all the way through.

I can't say I cared too much for Samantha's mother. She wasn't a very likeable character but I think that was the point. I barely had any sympathy for her and most of the time I just down right wanted to hit her over the head! She was so up herself. I realise most of it was for show being the senator but the way she treated Sam and the way she judged the Garretts wasn't necessary at all. She's the downfall to this book. I generally prefer parents in contemp romances to be fun and kookie in some way. This parent...so wasn't. Pretty much where 1 star dropped for me.

I must just make mention of George and Patsy. The youngest (I mean like babies) of the Garrett family, they are like the CUTEST kids ever. I mean like ever in books I've read so far. I've always loved books where we have a younger sibling that's so fun and cute, but to get two? Simply awesome. They'll have you 'awwwwwwww-ing' in your seat.

This is one of the first books I've read by Huntley Fitzpatrick and I believe it's her debut novel, but I plan to read more from her when she publishes more. She mostly definitely has a knack for telling a good story with real issues, and making the guy completely drop dead gorgeous that you'll be sighing in your seat.

If you're looking for something fun that tackles with real issues then definitely pick this up. Simply wonderful first novel. I wish I could read more from the Garretts and Samantha.