My Life Next Door
By Huntley Fitzpatrick

4 out of 5

Samantha has always listened to her mother. Every step of her life, she followed without question. She went to private school, she worked the posh summer jobs, she attended all of her mother's political events, and she stayed away from the Garretts. The Garretts were Samantha's lively next door neighbors. With eight kids, the Garrett's house is always messy and loud and welcoming. In comparison, Samantha's house is a museum. But her mom said no, so Samantha never met her neighbors. But it didn't stop her from watching. She watched for years, until one son, Jase, decided to get to know her. Jase and Samantha begin a relationship, but will it last? Or will the differences in their lives, and Samantha's disapproving mom keep them apart? Or with something much worse, a dangerous secret, tear them apart when they need each other most?

This book, which starts out at just an adorable summer romance turns out to be so much more. Samantha and Jase's romance reminds me a lot of my own relationship, and I found it very easy to relate to the characters. But the other characters were great too. No one was flat. Everyone had so many layers and dimensions, even the baby, Patsy. Every character was full of personality, my personal favorite being George. The emotions and problems that Sam and Jase deal with are very real and they way they deal with them is very realistic. This book is called Contemporary Fiction, and I like it so much that I am planning on reading more Contemporaries. Marry Christmas y'all!