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Publisher: Dial Books
Release Date: 14th June 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Summer, Romance, Family
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Source: Bought
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"
Review
My Life Next Door is one of my favourite contemporary’s that I’ve read so far this summer and is a strong debut novel. I loved that this book instead of focusing on just one topic tackles lots of little ones the ones that pretty much every girl goes through as she grows up. My Life Next Door was a bundle of bittersweet learning curves all mixed in to one long hot summer.
Samantha is a heroine with a lot going on. Despite coming from a wealthy family with a mom working in politics, Samantha doesn’t take money for granted and is juggling several jobs this summer all whilst trying to support a friend with alcohol and drug addictions, her best friend whose growing increasingly more distant, and no one being around at home lately with her older sister making plans for the summer with her boyfriend and her single mother spending more and more time at work. During those first few lonely summer evenings Samantha watches from her roof her next door neighbours the Garrett family a noisy, messy and affectionate brood of eight ranging from all different ages and personalities, and their parents Mr and Mrs Garrett who are still very much in love. Samantha longs to be one of them as they are so different to her own family, and then one evening Jase Garrett climbs up to join her on her rooftop perch and through their budding summer romance introduces her to his charming if chaotic world.
The Garrett family completely stole the show in this book. Every single one of them has a distinct personality that’s different from their siblings and like Samantha I felt welcomed into their home and quickly became part of the family. The Garrett’s are the complete opposite to Samantha’s family, the house is lived in and although their not wealthy in money they are wealthy in love and I think that’s why Samantha’s initially so drawn to them. I loved the different personalities and closeness to this vibrant family and especially loved little George who is pretty much the cutest kid ever!
Jase and Samantha have the sweetest summer romance, the kind that every girl dreams of having, and I adored them both as characters. Samantha’s a really kind, generous, hardworking, girl who despite her privileged upbringing isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty and is always willing to help others out and would much rather have her mom around more than the materialistic things that her mother’s job means they can afford. Jase was the ultimate boy next door sweet, kind, affectionate nothing is ever too much trouble for him and the way he respected and helped his parents and would be so loving and playful with his younger siblings really melted my heart. Jase is perfect first boyfriend material and his and Samantha’s relationship was such an accurate take on first love.
I absolutely loved everything about this book and think that if you love summer contemporary’s My Life Next Door needs to be on your reading pile this summer. Because this book covers a range of topics there’s something to offer everyone, it has the sweetest romance, loveable characters and the timeless moral of standing up for yourself even if it means standing against someone you love. I couldn’t get enough of the Garrett’s and this gorgeous summer romance and you won’t be able to either!
