[Review] My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title : My Life Next Door

Author : Huntley Fitzpatrick

Publisher : Dial Books

Published : June 2012

ISBN : 9780803736993

Pages : 394

"One thing my mother nerver knew, and would disapporve 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?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

---

"Need rescuing?"

Samantha always watched The Garretts. She was wondering what does it feel to have such a big family. Her mother apparently despised The Garretts so much. How Mrs. Garretts breastfeeding her daughter. Or how loud the kids are. Having eight children didn't do much to keep the noise down unfortunately.

Being their neighbor for ten years, Samantha just knew the Garretts recently. And she can't help but envy them.

“What’s it like?”
“It?”
“Having happy parents. Together parents. Two parents.”

Her spying was finally over when Jase Garretts introduced himself. And the next thing she knew, she's in The Garretts’ life.

"The Garretts were my bedtime story, long before I ever thought I’d be part of the story myself.” 

But Sam’s life wasn't just about the next door neighbor. There is her mother who right now is kind of hypnotized by some guy name Clay. Or her best friend whom she finally learned what she thought about her. Or that one night, when she must choose to let the truth go out, or keeping it for good.

“Um. So ... Are we going to study?"  "You bet. I'm studying you.” 

“But Ma, I have the power to save her!"

“Who are these people, and why do they think their own opinions are the only right ones?” 

“Maybe if I can just sleep for a hundred years, I'll wake up in a better story.” 

“You're walking along on this path, dazzled by how perfect it is, how great you feel, and then just a few forks in the road and you are lost in a place so bad you never could have imagined it.” 

I think i have a disorientation in book ends. I mean, it happens a lot. My does-it-really-ends feelings. Or is this what you call book hangover?