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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I struggled rating this story, it was in no way 5 stars but it wasn’t 3 either but in saying that 4 sounds a bit generous. I’m going to settle on a 3.8 stars.

My Life Next Door was a great read. For a contemporary it has all the themes I love.
– Big Family
– Family struggles
– Realistic Sibling interactions
– Realistic parental interactions
– Friendship
– Drug abuse
– First times
– Tragedies

Big Families

Jase is our male love interest. He is part of a huge family. He has the family next door that always has toys on the lawn and half naked children running around and enjoying themselves. Jase is a child of 8 between the ages of 1-20 something and is the middle oldest at 17. The sibling interactions, the baby sitting ,and family scrabbles all of it was such a joy to read.
Jase’s Mum is a god of a woman and the positive relationship she had with her husband and cheery out look on life really added to the happiness of this story for me. I wouldn’t way no to her adopting me!

Family Struggles

Both Sam’s and Jase’s family have struggles, even though they are next door neighbors there problems are worlds apart.
Sam’s mum is controlling, work orientated and a bit distant from her children. She comes off really cold and If I was Sam I would of rebelled a long time a go.
Jase’s Family struggles with money but even through there struggles they’re a tight unit and I couldn’t help feeling worst for Sam. Even though The Garretts don’t have much they have each other and that’s what really matters.

Realistic Sibling Relationships

Sam’s sister Tracy wasn’t really ahhh interested in Sam and growing up with one older sister I could relate to this. Having a sibling but not being close to them is disappointing. You see all the fuzy warm TV specials with super close friendship and then you look at your own non existing relationship and think what went wrong? Really nothing, some sisters and families are just like that and some families are super close. I really liked the true representation of the different sibling relationships.

Realistic Parental relationships

Sam’s Mum is a bitch. I really hated her and one of my favorite moments was when Sam jumped on the Motorbike and her Mum was speechless! I just wish Sam stood up for herself and The Garettes a lot faster then she did.

Friendship

Sam and Nan What is with this name Nan? Nanny? Really?aren’t really that close. Nan is poison in my eyes. She constantly tries to compete and be better then Sam and when measuring herself up and finding it lacking gets angry at Sam for reasons beyond her control. I loved the way issues were handled and shown so honestly especially how friendships can fall apart in those last years of schooling.

Drug Abuse

Tim a lead side character struggles with a multitude of drugs but still managed to capture my heart.

First Times

So many first times. First true Love, first time breaking the rules, first time preparations ;), first time doing the hardest RIGHT thing you’ve ever done.

Tragedies
This book was really fluffy a lot of the way through, to say I was expecting what happened is an extreme understatement. I gasped and yelled and wanted to reach through the pages and strangle the characters.

What I disliked about the book were small and major at the same time. I disliked parts of Sams character and felt like she should of been a bit more take charge than she ended up being, there wasn’t much character growth in her and that was disappointing.

I also felt like we could of had an extra 50 pages the ending was rushed and left a lot of loose ends.

All that being said it was a good summery read and I would recommend taking this one to the beach 🙂

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3.8 out of 5 stars****

In case you don’t know as much as I love a dark and gritty suspense, or a magical and intricate Fantasy I can’t pass up a fluffy contemporary. Any recommendations for summer read especially some under hyped ones I would really appreciate!

What is your favorite genre?