Can't Ignore the Boy Next Door

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Songs for this Read: With You Around (Acoustic Version) by Yellowcard, Only Me When I'm With You by Taylor Swift, My Favourite Thing by Tonight Alive

Official Summary: The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

      This is not the typical lighthearted summer read I thought it was going to be. The plot seems a bit tired and used at first, the whole story with the girl who keeps her "wrong side of the tracks" boyfriend a secret and lives in two worlds her friend/family and then her boyfriends world. There was a lot of tension and at times the situations can get down right frustrating, but not in bad way. While I wasn't blown away with the character development,I was impressed by the evolution of the character Tim. I loved seeing Tim grow from this stoned bum to a really lovable character.
        Overall I was pleasantly surprised by "My Life Next Door" it was not a shallow read and had some great twists in the end there. I fell in love with the Garrett family, especially the little ones. In the end there was still some closure I was lacking, there were a lot of issues brought up throughout the book that were never hit again. This probably wouldn't have bothered me as much if the ending hadn't been quite so abrupt.



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Something Out of Nothing

Callum & Harper by Fisher Amelie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Songs for this Book: Drift Away by Move Out West, Everywhere by Michelle Branch, Only Fooling Myself by Kate Voegele,  Please Don't Go by Barcelona (duh!)

This book was equal parts charming, breathtaking, frustrating and heartbreaking. The writing its self was really lovely. The grammar, at times, left something to be desired, but it didn't distract too much from the story. Harper and Callum are intoxicating narrators. Their voices are so strong and both so witty and real. This is just one of those book that no one will ever really get until they read it themselves. I could give you a very lengthy summary of this story and let you know how it all plays out but there is some kind a poetry to the words in this story that really make you fall in love with it.

Harper and Callum are two lost souls failed by the foster system. Having turned 18 they have been kicked to the curb. One fateful day they find each other instantly feel as though they have found a missing piece of themselves. Callum takes Harper under his wing as he has been on his own a little longer than her. Each night fighting for a bed to sleep on. These two seem to have to worst luck ever, with robbery, stalkers, arson, brooding hidden love, and a knack for always getting interrupted at critical moments. But together with dear friends along the way they form a big misfit family. More family than either of them has ever had.

 I must say, the beginning is my favorite, when these two first meet there is such an innocence to their relationship, but they grow some much as characters as the book progresses over several years. Its the young innocence that pulls you in and the growth and maturity of themselves and their relationship that keeps you turning pages.
Its honestly a great read, its indie label is a bit off putting to some, as I was at first, but It will make you laugh and smile and wave your arms around in anguish, and if you're anything like me, you will love every word of it.



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Belong. Long To Be.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Songs for this book: Over You by Miranda Lambert, Concrete Girl by Switchfoot, Back to the Start by The Summer Set



The pages of this book are laced with sadness. An it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. Sometimes it makes me cry, and I can't tell if it's because I am so saddened by it or if it is just so beautiful I can't handle anymore. I can't put my finger on it but every word I read about Webb and Tate and narnie give me chills and I this feeling some where between being wonderstruck and utterly disheartened.
You know how in "Because of Winn-Dixie" they describe the candy as melancholy? This book is like that. You don't know how such a thing and elicit such an emotion but you know that it does, and something about this unknown feeling is so beautiful that you can't contain you emotions and you cry. Those candies made people cry, the irony being how can something as sweet and good as candy make a person cry? In this case the irony is how can something do basic as symbols in a page stir such strong emotions in a person?
I can't say I know the answer or that I ever will but I'm glad I know enough to ask the question because the feeling I get reading this book is something that will stay with me forever.



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