Ashleigh Macro 14th October 2019

Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

A wonderful, heartfelt YA with incredible characters and a dreamy romance.

My Life Next Door Summary

“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?

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My Life Next Door Review

I loved this so much more than I thought I would. Before I started reading, I expected it to be a reasonably thin, fluffy and light novel that I would enjoy but not feel quite so moved by.

Instead, I found myself falling in love with the characters (Jace is an absolute dream) and surprised by the twists and turns in the storyline that I genuinely didn’t see coming.

The Garretts have become one of my favourite fictional families, right up there with the Weasleys, and it’s incredible how much I grew to hate Sam’s mum’s boyfriend Clay. Huntley Fitzpatrick has created some of the most lovable and hateable characters I’ve ever come across.

The only downside is that I felt like the ending left a bit to be desired – I still have a few questions that never got answered about Nan and Tim and Alice and the Garrett family as a whole. I didn’t want to let them go, so I think I was just a bit sad that such a wonderful book was over. For anyone that loves a contemporary YA, I’d highly recommend this one. You’re in for a treat.