My Life Next Door - by Huntley Fitzpatrick (Paperback)

About the Book

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, 17-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, when Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything.

Book Synopsis

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

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she were one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her trellis and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family embraces Samantha, even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then, in an instant, her two worlds collide in an unthinkable tragedy that leaves Samantha reeling and wrestling with an impossible decision--one that no one could have seen coming, and that no one but her can make.

A dreamy, enthralling summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the last page is turned, and that asks, which way do you turn when your heart pulls you in opposite directions?

Review Quotes

★ "Excellent . . . Movingly captures the intensity of first love [and] the corrupting forces of power. . . . As the lines between villains and heroes shift, readers will be reminded how "right" and "wrong" choices are rarely crystal clear." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Samantha and Jase have chemistry that crackles: it's the novel's tender, awkward, sexy, dizzy-happy portrayal of first love that really makes it soar." --The Horn Book

"A teen romance [that] feels like something bigger." --The Guardian

"Serious swoonsville." --iHeartDaily.com

"A summer romance with depth."--The Boston Sunday Globe

"The characters are dynamic and realistic. Strong narrative pacing adds to the whole sun-kissed package, which is on par with authors such as Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti." --School Library Journal

"An almost perfect summer romance [that] will have every girl who reads the novel wishing for a Jase of her own." --Kirkus Reviews

"Fitzpatrick perfectly captures the heady joys of first love while still dealing with everyday realities" --VOYA

"Jase and Samantha have a heart-warming romance every girl will envy." --Simone Elkeles, New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series

"A wonderful read that will connect with your heart--guaranteed!" --Lurlene McDaniel, bestselling author of Heart to Heart

"One of the best books I read this past year. . . . Wonderful, uplifting and beautifully written." --Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

*Best First Book Finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards*

About the Author

Huntley Fitzpatrick always wanted to be a writer. She grew up in a small, coastal, Connecticut town much like the Stony Bay of her novels, My Life Next Door, What I Thought Was True, and The Boy Most Likely To. After college she held multiple jobs across publishing--including as an editor at Harlequin, where she worked with a variety of romance authors--and, ultimately, embarked on a writing career of her own. Before her death in 2022, Huntley was a full-time writer, wife, and mom to six children, living on the coast of Massachusetts. She brought the world three critically acclaimed, utterly transporting young adult novels about love, friendship, family, and coming of age. My Life Next Door is considered a modern YA romance classic, and its characters reflect Huntley's deep love for her family, who were everything to her.