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My Life Next Door
by Huntley Fitzpatrick (Goodreads Author)
by Huntley Fitzpatrick (Goodreads Author)
Mimi Valentine's review
bookshelves: wishlist, adorable-favourites, best-of-2012, boys-i-wish-were-real, pure-awesomeness, gorgeous-covers, reviewed, favourites, 5-star
Jul 12, 12
bookshelves: wishlist, adorable-favourites, best-of-2012, boys-i-wish-were-real, pure-awesomeness, gorgeous-covers, reviewed, favourites, 5-star
Rating: 4.95 brilliant, beautiful, breathtaking stars out of 5!
FACT #1: I'm not a contemporary girl. I love paranormal books way more than my realistic ones; worlds that don't really exist enthrall me way more than real ones do. Because those supernatural books are usually more badass, intense, and fun than everyday romances.
FACT #2: My Life Next Door totally voids the first fact!!
Where can I even start with how much I loved this book? How much it took me surprise, grabbed my heart, and wouldn't let go? This is NOTHING like your average contemporary read! It's still sweet and romantic and funny and brilliant. But I thought I had a good guess to what the huge plot twist would be, and boy was I wrong! I didn't expect it at all, which doesn't happen with me and contemporaries very often.
And the cast — I loved every single character! They were all so perfectly, brilliantly, wonderfully written. There's Sam, who I ached for, because she grows up with the pressure to be perfect from a mother who doesn't know the definition of fun. Then there's Jase, and God, I loved him so much! ♥ He wears a leather jacket, drives a motorcycle, and is the boy next door... but he is undoubtedly the SWEETEST book boy I've ever met. Ever. I'm not even kidding!
(I already have our wedding colours picked out. He's seriously WONDERFUL!)
But I can't forget mentioning the entire Garrett family! Made up of eight totally individual children and two adoring parents, the Garretts are my dream family. Loud, fun, hilarious, affectionate. Obviously Jase is my favourite, but George — Jase's adorable 4-year-old brother who watches too much Discovery Channel for his own good — was a close favourite! :')
The humor! The wit! The complexity! This book was funny like I didn't expect, and heartwarming in ways I never imagined. The only reason (and I mean ONLY) that this book gets a 4.95 instead of a full 5 stars is because I felt like the ending didn't wrap up enough.
With one of the funnest contemporary casts of all time, an extremely sweet and beautiful romance, and a twist that will be a surprise, My Life Next Door is undoubtedly one of the best contemporaries of all time — and one of my all-time favourites as well!
BUY or BORROW?: Why are you even thinking about this question?? I bought this book on a whim and it became a favourite. Start saving up your change because this is WAY worth the buy — I'm actually a little tempted to buy two copies!
-Mimi
P.S. My older sister read this book in two days... and she hasn't read another book in six months! Now try and TELL ME that the amazingness of this book is just in my head! x)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
FACT #1: I'm not a contemporary girl. I love paranormal books way more than my realistic ones; worlds that don't really exist enthrall me way more than real ones do. Because those supernatural books are usually more badass, intense, and fun than everyday romances.
FACT #2: My Life Next Door totally voids the first fact!!
Where can I even start with how much I loved this book? How much it took me surprise, grabbed my heart, and wouldn't let go? This is NOTHING like your average contemporary read! It's still sweet and romantic and funny and brilliant. But I thought I had a good guess to what the huge plot twist would be, and boy was I wrong! I didn't expect it at all, which doesn't happen with me and contemporaries very often.
And the cast — I loved every single character! They were all so perfectly, brilliantly, wonderfully written. There's Sam, who I ached for, because she grows up with the pressure to be perfect from a mother who doesn't know the definition of fun. Then there's Jase, and God, I loved him so much! ♥ He wears a leather jacket, drives a motorcycle, and is the boy next door... but he is undoubtedly the SWEETEST book boy I've ever met. Ever. I'm not even kidding!
(I already have our wedding colours picked out. He's seriously WONDERFUL!)
But I can't forget mentioning the entire Garrett family! Made up of eight totally individual children and two adoring parents, the Garretts are my dream family. Loud, fun, hilarious, affectionate. Obviously Jase is my favourite, but George — Jase's adorable 4-year-old brother who watches too much Discovery Channel for his own good — was a close favourite! :')
The humor! The wit! The complexity! This book was funny like I didn't expect, and heartwarming in ways I never imagined. The only reason (and I mean ONLY) that this book gets a 4.95 instead of a full 5 stars is because I felt like the ending didn't wrap up enough.
With one of the funnest contemporary casts of all time, an extremely sweet and beautiful romance, and a twist that will be a surprise, My Life Next Door is undoubtedly one of the best contemporaries of all time — and one of my all-time favourites as well!
BUY or BORROW?: Why are you even thinking about this question?? I bought this book on a whim and it became a favourite. Start saving up your change because this is WAY worth the buy — I'm actually a little tempted to buy two copies!
-Mimi
P.S. My older sister read this book in two days... and she hasn't read another book in six months! Now try and TELL ME that the amazingness of this book is just in my head! x)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
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Comments (showing 1-50 of 66) (66 new)
I am DYING a slow death of wanting to read this book! I hope it's as good as I think it will be :) Sounds like the perfect way to read this book btw!
@A: Awwww, that's no fun! It's not summery in the UK? All the more reason to move to Canada, I guess! ;) We're up to 30 and 40 degrees Celsius here (which is 86-104 in Fahrenheit, I think?) and it's GORGEOUS. I think George is around 4 or 5 and the cutest thing ever!! x) @Jackie: I thought so too ;) This book is living up to my expectations so far, Jackie!! I just can't get enough -- it's so much funnier and quirkier and infinitely sweeter than I expected. I'm glad I bought it! :)
MIMI!! I just finished this book yesterday and LOVED it!! Doesn't it make you wish you lived next door to a boy like Jase? (x <33333
No. :'( It's supposed to be June, but the weather get worse every year. We had like two days of good weather and then it reversed again. 30 degrees! That's sweltering. But I think I'd rather have that. ;) Awwww. And he's watching the Discovey Channel at that age? Awwwwww! I want to hug him!
@Kaylee: I want to marry him. I seriously, absolutely, and totally want to marry Jase Garrett! :') <3 @Elena: I'm already in love, Elena! *swoons* You don't know how happy I am that I bought this -- I will be re-reading it all summer, that's for sure!
@A: Aww, I blame global warming! We've been running on-again-off-again weather too -- I think it's going back to twenties next week. I would hate to be a weather man this time of year LOL x) But YES! I love George. George is life. Gosh, he's just so cute!! *squeee*
Too bad, sis -- he's mine!! (x LOL but I hope you have fun at your grandma's house. Two more exams and you're done for the summer, right? Good luck, Mim! (: <3333
Awww Mimi you have the perfect setting to read this amazing book! I have a feeling we will love this one! Happy reading! :)
I know right. Twenties would be something, especially if it was minus the rain! Lol, I know. But then I find that their forecast is generally wrong most of the time anyway. ;) Awwww, I bet! I want to hug him so badly and I don't even know him! This is your doing, Mimi. :P Or maybe it's the thought of a cute younger brother. Both of mine are...not cute, shall we say.
I'm thinking of buying this one- it looks like the perfect summer read! I hope you end up liking this one, and enjoy the weather! =)
I had put off buying it b/c of the hardback price but now I'm thinking I may have to swing by the bookstore tomorrow :D
Oh my gosh, you guys, I just finished reading it and it was SO GOOD! One of my favourite contemporaries to the dot! I think it's definitely a buy-worthy book because it has a sweetness about it that you just want to read over and over again :') <3
I am Team George all the way! I'm so glad you loved it Mimi! It's definitely one of my favorites this year :0)
Absolutely YES to those of you who haven't read it yet: You need to!! And to those of you that have read it before: TEAM GEORGE, ALL THE WAY! He's just the cutest baby brother ever :') <3
Oh my! I've seen so many good things about this book. And now you too! I look forward to your review, Mimi! :)
Everyone speaks the truth, Eunice -- this book is SO amazing! I didn't expect it to be. But I'm planning out when I can fit a review in for this right now, so hopefully it will be soon :) <3
I already love what you wrote for your review, Mimi! This is not a review book for me either but I just had to get it. I have no control whatsoever!! It looks sooo good! :)
Oh, Rachel, even though it's not a review book, PLEASE read is as soon as you can! I can almost guarantee that you'll swoon off your feet like I did! And besides, sometimes you just need those books in between that you don't have to feel obligated to write a review for, right? ;) <3
I'm really happy to hear that, Amy! It only gets better and better, and you'll only fall more in love with Jase Garrett, I swear! ;) <3
To tell you the truth, this book wasn't really on my radar before I read your review, but about less than a minute ago I went and ordered this book through my school library :D I know you think this book is definitely a BUY and not a BORROW, but I'm seriously broke right now (all the amazing books being released this year have had negative effects on my bank account) & I'd probably have to wait months (a slight exaggeration) before I could save up enough to purchase myself a copy of this book. And considering how excited I suddenly am for this book, I don't think I'd survive the wait ;D
(I already have our wedding colours picked out. He's seriously WONDERFUL!)I hope I'm invited, Mimi! Love your new revised review but I loved the old one too! Seriously, the Garretts were the most amazing family! They were so loving and accepting. I loved that they had so many kids and that the parents were still gaga over each other. I just want to read this all over again. I'm hoping for another book in the same world with Tim and Alice. Maybe we'd get more Jase and Sam too and then the whole "didn't wrap up enough" thing would be taken care of. ♥♥♥
@Rachel: LOL that's A-OK, Rachel -- I totally understand about wanting to buy a book buy not having the money for it. I only recently got a job other than babysitting (Monday, actually!) so I'll have more money, but as bookaholics, there are just too many books you want to buy, right? x) @♥Rachel♥: You're one of the first people on my invitation list, Rachel! x) The very first thing I did when I finished was go back and read all my favourite scenes over again -- like all the ones with George, and Sam and Jase being super-sweet :') AND OH MY GOODNESS YES. A book with Tim and Alice? I think I would pass out with happiness!!
P.S. I love both of your names :') <3
I've done a completely U-turn with this book, from not being interested at all to dying to read it! I can thank all the awesome reviews, including yours. ;) This sounds like my type of romance! I can't wait to meet Jase soon. Maybe I will have to crash your wedding, Mimi. ;)
Mimi, I have to tell you something. Your review...is...FANTABULOUS. I ADORE it. Seriously, your reviews never disappoint. If I hadn't already read this I would be RUNNING to the shops for a copy. Love you and your fab reviews. xx
I seem to be looking more at contemporary books lately, which is weird because I'm more of a paranormal girl too. Aww, Mims, can I come to the wedding? This is a beautiful review, so now I'm dying twice over to read it. ;)
Such a fantastic review Mimi, I remember when you did a wow post for this book and we were both super excited to read it, I'm so so glad that you loved this, what's not to love the Garrett's sound amazing! (view spoiler)
I'm a contemporary girl, and I'm sure I'm gonna love this! Wow. 495 from Mimi? That's a guarantee. <3
You traitor! The other day we're just talking about our terms in sharing Tucker and now you've already picked your wedding colour with another [fictional] guy?! Woah! ----- LOLJK! I loooove you, Mimi! Polygamy is definitely a legal thing here! LOL! I'd probably be thinking of how our child would look like after reading this and meeting Jase! Wahahahah! So many glowing reviews! I seriously can't wait to read this one! Fantastic review! :D
Eunice wrote: "You traitor! The other day we're just talking about our terms in sharing Tucker and now you've already picked your wedding colour with another [fictional] guy?! Woah! ----- LOLJK! I loooove you, Mi..."Polygamy is in no way allowed...so I guess that means I get Tucker after all. :P
@Sam: Yay for total 180s! I feel accomplished and happy and epically excited for you to read this, Sam -- LOL and you have the same name as this wonderful protagonist too! I think it's fate :') This book is calling to youuuuuuuuuuuu <3@Rebecca: Awww, thank you so much, Rebecca! Somehow fantabulous sounds SO much more beam-worthy than fabulous :') But don't downgrade yourself -- your review is totally wonderful too! Or maybe wonderfabulous? LOL x)
@A: Um, A MILLION TIMES YES. If you don't come to my wedding, I would be so upset! LOL I need you to meet my amazing husband so you can give me your big stamp of approval! As long as you promise not to fall in love with him yourself x)
@Jasprit: Right??? I have this theory that only one sibling in each family is meant to be the bookaholic and boy am I glad that it's you! *hugs* LOL although that doesn't stop us from trying to get them to read anyways :') Give this book to her ASAP!
@Best: LOL yes!! I was very indecisive about this rating, but I think this pretty much sums up how much I loved this! ;)
@Eunice: LOL!!!!!!! *dies of giggles* Oh my gosh, my mom just gave me this really odd look when I burst out laughing at my computer (although she should be used to it) -- love you, Eunice! x) I have a feeling I'm already linked with big polygamous marriages and a gazillion book boyfriends... What does this say about my dating life? :')
@Rachel: Thanks so much, Rachel! I'm so happy I'm finally employed -- it's like full-time for the summer and the hours are a lot like school (so I still don't have much time to read and no sleeping in!), but at least now I make money! And have no homework haha ;)
YAY! :D Hehe, I don't know if I can promise that, but I'll do my best. ;) By the way, does Jase actually know you're getting married? Or are you just going to spring it on him? ;P <33
... I have a feeling that the answer is supposed to be, "Yes, of course he knows we're getting married!" but that's kind of a stretch LOL! It's okay -- I think he'll understand when he sees the invitation for his family arrive at his house! x) <3
Yeah, that's the answer one would generally expect. ;) Lol. Of course he'll understand - that he needs to run away as far as possible! ;P Poor guy. Poor guys. They have no idea what they're getting into sometimes. ;) <3
LOL he'd probably skip the running and jump straight onto her motorcycle! You know, I think it's their own faults for being so amazing -- if book boys were terrible, they wouldn't have legions of fangirls ready to bid on their socks x) <3
Tell me about it! Fact 1 suits me very well! Okay, I may give it a try someday. Lovely review, Mimi! :-)
Mims, you have me cracking up right now. ;D But if they were terrible, we'd keep moaning about them. Hmm, I'm sure some of them love the fagirling secretly. ;)
I have a feeling I'm already linked with big polygamous marriages and a gazillion book boyfriends... What does this say about my dating life? :')No worries about that. The same totally goes for me too. Haha! Lots of my friend know how addicted I am to books and how much I gush about the characters so whenever someone would ask about my dating life they'd always say I have lots of boyfriends. However they all just exist in my imagination. OTL
Hmm, I'm sure some of them love the fagirling secretly. ;)
Oh, they absolutely loved it but they wouldn't want to be really involve with us, A! They would just want us to keep gushing and moaning and crushing them. Because most of them seem to be really faithful and loyal to their [official and real] love interests. Although that makes me happy but it wouldn't keep me from daydreaming about them. Which could be really freaky in some levels. LOL! :D
So true. And that makes them even more horribly perfect. *Sigh* I think we should be worried about ourselves. ;)
Aa'Ishah wrote: "So true. And that makes them even more horribly perfect. *Sigh* I think we should be worried about ourselves. ;)"Haha! Yeah! Totally agree! We keep on saying "poor guys" but seriously we're the poor one getting all gaga over some fictional guys! But whatever! It's hard not to love them. Why can't someone like them show up in real life? LOL! But really, you're not a normal book lover if you never at least fell in love in one of the heroes you've read. XD
I meant about our mental state, but that works too. ;) We keep getting broken-hearted, or swooning, one extreme or the other. But you're right, we can't HELP it. Aww, that would be awesome. But too perfect for real life. :'( I think our expectations are too high lol, which is why we can't find them. Haha, so true! :D
Aa'Ishah wrote: "I meant about our mental state, but that works too. ;) We keep getting broken-hearted, or swooning, one extreme or the other. But you're right, we can't HELP it. Aww, that would be awesome. But..."Oh yeah, our mental health, of course. Really, we should actually be worried about that one first. Haha! Right, I'll have to learn not to compare every guy to Daemon, Jace, Tucker, Adam and so many more. LOL! :D
Hehe. Me too, though I have a feeling that's easier said than done. ;) You know, I think it was last year or the year before I was bored, so I started to make a list of every book guy I'd fallen in love with...it was long. And that was only the ones I could remember straight away. Lol. Sad, I know. :P
I'm glad that you're enjoying it already! :) Aww, how old is his brother?