Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Release Date: June 14th, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers
Page Count: 394
Source: Purchased
Rating: ★★★★☆

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.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Oh, book. You're that awkward friend in the group I think is really nice but don't have anything to do with until a year or so into whatever social setting we've found ourselves in, when I find out you're AWESOME and then we're best friends forever.

Let's break this down: 

The basic plot is as follows: Samantha's this uptight chick who watches her neighbors in a vaguely creepy fashion until one day she's pulled deep into the madness. I'm not entirely sure why Jase never approached Samantha before that point, years after the Garretts first moved in next door, but I can't say I'm unhappy they FINALLY met because what ensues is a slew of incredible life changing events, both good and bad.

Just to talk about the pacing and plot of the book for a sec: The first, oh, I don't know, 250 pages of this one are pretty slow. I didn't dislike said slowness. A semi-functional, healthy relationship is wonderful to read about, if not a little boring (let's face it, we all thrive on the drama).

But when this book picks up, man does it pick up. I did not even for a second see said twist coming and when it hit me, I was like !!!!!!!!!!!! times a million. I was totally gutted and it wasn't until the very last page with the shaky resolution that I was able to breath again. I think I occasionally forget what REALLY feeling a book is like until it smacks me in the face and I'm just like YESYESYES. And then it all washes away and I have to wait until the next OMFG book comes around to remember again. There's no formula. I can't tell you how it happens. But it's phenomenal and terrible when it hits you, y'know? So I guess the slowness at the start of the book is vaguely forgivable based on the amazingness of the end of this book.

Feels about the plot aside, I'm into Samantha and Jase. They're super cute together and apart. Not to mention Jase deserves all of the hearts. And I adore all of the Garretts and Tim, who make up this delightful supporting cast that not only prop up Jase and Samantha but also all lean against each other in such a delightful way. I'm also really into the Nan plot point. She's the bad best friend with a twist. Which is great because I'm sick of the bad best friend just being bad for the sake of plot point. Nan really represents the fact that people DO drift and that BFFs aren't necessarily always going to BFFs and that's okay. You don't always get closure. Sometimes things just have to end. As for Samantha's mom - she's not just the terrible, awful mom. It's the same way Nan's not just the typical bad best friend. They both have more depth than that, which lends the book additional amazingness.

As for the prose, I think because of how slow the beginning of this book was for me, I sometimes felt like the words were a little clumsy. Like, the flow wasn't quite there. But it was very true to Samantha and Jase's teen-ness. So even though it wasn't how I wanted it, it also wasn't not how I wanted it. Does that make sense? I hope it does, because I have no idea how else to phrase it.

Anyway, I totally adore this book. It had all of the feels, if not all of the pacing and flow-y-ness. It's kind of like how I love The Avengers movie not for the first hour of that movie, but for the last hour of it. The beginning of both My Life Next Door and The Avengers try so hard to explain stuff, and in both cases it's well done, but it's not until THINGS START TO HAPPEN that I'm all like, THIS IS GREAT, TELL ME MORE. That being said, I saw The Avengers twice in theaters and maybe 4 other times after that. So, that bodes well for my future with this book, I would say.

The long and short of it?

Plot: Not sure I get why Samantha and Jase never hooked up before, but I'm ALSO not sure I care.
World Building: A lovely take on a very understated and totally wonderful Romeo and Juliet type story.
Character Development: Love everyone. They all go through this gradual, lovely transition. Even Jase, who's kind of my own personal Boy Wonder.
Prose: A little stiff, but not too problematic.
Would I Recommend This Book?: If you like contemporary with all the feels, this book is SO definitely for you.

Tell me, would you rather be a Garrett or a Reed? And for the really tough question: Who do you love more, Tim or Jase? I know I make it sound like I love Jase more, but I'm not even sure that's true. Be sure to let me know about all of your feels in the comments below!