Standalone Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Megan @ bookslayerreads. Standalone Sunday was created to let others know about all the standalone books you have loved, but maybe don’t get the attention they need. Megan created the banner as well and anyone joining in can use it too.
I'm always going to love series, and getting three or four books to fall in love with characters and get the development they deserve. But sometimes, after reading a particular heavy series that would crush you emotionally (looking at you, Sarah J Maas) I love to read a stand alone book that has its issues solved in one book and always ends happily ever after.
The book I'm going to focus on today is called My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick.
Synopsis:
"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?
A transporting 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, 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.
Review:
One of my favourite things
about contemporary books is the relatability in them. The main
character is someone completely ordinary. She doesn’t have any special
powers, doesn’t live in a world full of people with special powers or
different species and doesn’t meet someone with special powers. Due to
her ordinariness, this makes her even more compatible with the reader.
It’s much easier to close our eyes and picture ourselves in her shoes,
thinking the same things, making the same decisions, falling for the
same person. She’s totally relatable.
Our main character this time is Samantha. She comes from a household that is very structured. Her mother is a perfectionist with a touch of OCD – the kind who vacuums three times a day and takes out the duster if she sees a speck on the mantelpiece. She makes sure that Samantha’s life is just as structured by creating a rota that keeps Samantha busy with jobs all throughout the summer.
Next door are the Garrett’s. They’re everything Samantha’s home is not – noisy, boisterous, messy, out of order, full of life. Eight kids, no structure, just a lot of laughter. Samantha is fascinated by her neighbours, but it’s not until she starts talking to Jase, Garrett number three, that her summer begins to change in every way she never possibly imagines.
The romance is everything first love should be – it’s adorable, clumsy, awkward, and full of hope for the future. There’s no telling they’ll last forever but you hope they will.
“We lie back, hand in hand, look out over the ocean, and watch the sun rise over the roof of the world.”
Spending time with the Garrett’s makes Samantha realise the important things in life – how important family is, and discovering just how far you’re willing to go to protect them, even if you’re unsure if they’ve done the right thing.
I would recommend this book to those looking for a nice, easy read with mature, likable characters that will make you laugh out loud more than once. It has a story that will make you think with good morals and can incorporate into your own life. It also has the best four-year-old in existence called George. He by far had the best lines and I smiled every time he appeared. Read this book for him alone. I will finish with two of my favourite quotes from him:
“Is Jase already gonna marry you?”
I start coughing again. “Uh, No. No, George. I’m only seventeen.” As if that’s the only reason we’re not engaged.
“I’m this many.” George holds up four, slightly grubby fingers. “But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family.”
Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. “George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on.”
George backs out of the room but not before saying, “His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.”
“I might marry you,” he allows. “Do you want a big family?” I start to cough and feel a hand pat my back.
“George, it’s usually better to discuss this kind of thing with your pants on.”
Our main character this time is Samantha. She comes from a household that is very structured. Her mother is a perfectionist with a touch of OCD – the kind who vacuums three times a day and takes out the duster if she sees a speck on the mantelpiece. She makes sure that Samantha’s life is just as structured by creating a rota that keeps Samantha busy with jobs all throughout the summer.
Next door are the Garrett’s. They’re everything Samantha’s home is not – noisy, boisterous, messy, out of order, full of life. Eight kids, no structure, just a lot of laughter. Samantha is fascinated by her neighbours, but it’s not until she starts talking to Jase, Garrett number three, that her summer begins to change in every way she never possibly imagines.
The romance is everything first love should be – it’s adorable, clumsy, awkward, and full of hope for the future. There’s no telling they’ll last forever but you hope they will.
“We lie back, hand in hand, look out over the ocean, and watch the sun rise over the roof of the world.”
Spending time with the Garrett’s makes Samantha realise the important things in life – how important family is, and discovering just how far you’re willing to go to protect them, even if you’re unsure if they’ve done the right thing.
I would recommend this book to those looking for a nice, easy read with mature, likable characters that will make you laugh out loud more than once. It has a story that will make you think with good morals and can incorporate into your own life. It also has the best four-year-old in existence called George. He by far had the best lines and I smiled every time he appeared. Read this book for him alone. I will finish with two of my favourite quotes from him:
“Is Jase already gonna marry you?”
I start coughing again. “Uh, No. No, George. I’m only seventeen.” As if that’s the only reason we’re not engaged.
“I’m this many.” George holds up four, slightly grubby fingers. “But Jase is seventeen and a half. You could. Then you could live in here with him. And have a big family.”
Jase strides back into the room, of course, midway through this proposition. “George. Beat it. Discovery Channel is on.”
George backs out of the room but not before saying, “His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.”
“I might marry you,” he allows. “Do you want a big family?” I start to cough and feel a hand pat my back.
“George, it’s usually better to discuss this kind of thing with your pants on.”
***
God, I love this book. It's become one my re-readable books that I've reread lots of time and am not going to stop any time soon. If you haven't picked it up yet, what are you waiting for?
What stand alone book is your favourite? Or do you read them at all? Have you read this one? Let me know in the comments below!
Great review! I have been eyeing this one, but haven't read it yet. I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the recommendation. It sounds like a really good book! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favourite stand alones, I love it! Definitely check it out; you won't regret it! And thanks so much :)
DeleteOoooh, this book sounds really neat! I just finished a standalone romance, and I'm crazing another one right now, so I'll definitely be looking this one up! :D
ReplyDeleteOh yay! I know you're not big into contemporary books so I really hope you enjoy this :)
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