Sophie Reads YA: Huntley Fitzpatrick

ARC Review: The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

10:00

The Boy Most Likely To
Series: None
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Published June 9th 2016 by Electric Monkey

Goodreads Synopsis
Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To find the drinks cabinet blindfolded, need a liver transplant, and drive his car into a house.

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To . . . well, not date her little brother’s baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn’t be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the “smart” choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard . . .
Goodreads

Review
See my reviews of book 1, My Life Next Door/My Life Next Door.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

I'd been waiting to read this book for ages now. It was first published in the US last year, but when I discovered Egmont were publishing the books in the UK, I decided I could wait until then.

A companion to My Life Next Door, The Boy Most Likely To follows Tim Mason, who's life is a wreck, to be honest. He's an alcoholic, a high school drop out, and doesn't really have much going for him. Alice Garrett, on the other hand, has a plan - she's going to get out of town, and become a nurse. When Tim ends up being kicked out of home, and moving into the Garrett's garage, where Alice was meant to move, they butt heads, a lot. It would be a mistake for both of them to fall for one another, but that's just what happens. However, it's not all cute and fluffy, as Tim finds himself facing something - I don't want to spoil - that takes just about everything he has.

When I picked up this book, I was expecting a nice, fluffy read, with some drama chucked in - like My Life Next Door. That wasn't the case. I enjoyed the book, but didn't love it. It was a bit too angsty for my liking. Tim and Alice were wonderful characters, but we saw more of Tim than we did Alice, and I would've like a more even split. I enjoyed how Tim really grew up throughout the course of the book, mainly because of his situation, but it was all for the better.

The Garrett family, whom we all love, were as amazing as ever. With Mr Garrett still recovering from his crash, and Mrs Garrett pregnant, Tim and Alice end up taking more and more responsibility, which throws them together. I enjoyed their romance, but it didn't feel smooth, if you know what I mean. At times, it felt sort of forced, and I didn't enjoy reading it as much as I had Sam and Jase.

All in all, I did enjoy The Boy Most Likely To, but didn't love it. If you've read My Life Next Door, I'd recommend it, but be warned it's not all cupcakes and sweetness - it has some proper strong, angsty moments.

Dates Read:

June 29-30, 2016

Rating
4 Stars

5 Stars

ARC Review: My Life Next Door (My Life Next Door #1) by Huntley Fitzpatrick

10:00

My Life Next Door
Series: My Life Next Door #1
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Published January 7th 2016 by Electric Monkey

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

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, 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?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

I had originally read and reviewed this book last summer, and when I heard that Huntley's book were finally going to be published in the UK, I thought I'd repost said review, with a few re-read tweaks, in order to gather the attention her books deserve!

Wow, just wow! I now understand why everyone seems to love this book so much.

In My Life Next Door we meet Samantha Reed, who seems to have the perfect life. Her mother is state senator Grace Reed, she goes to a private school, has good grades, etc., etc. However, she has always been intrigued by her next door neighbours, the Garrett's. Mr and Mrs Garrett moved in about ten years ago, and have eight children. They are also loud, and messy, and basically everything Samantha, her sister, Tracey, and her mother, aren't. When Jase, the third Garrett child comes into Samantha's life everything changes, mainly for the better. The Garrett's welcome Samantha with open arms, and she becomes like one of the family. Her and Jase fall in love, and everything is wonderful. Until it isn't.

I really loved the dynamics of both the Reed and Garrett families. Being an only children, I related more with Samantha, who seemed to be on her own for most of them time at the beginning. Though the Garrett's may be a slightly dysfunctional family, they all obviously love and care for each other, and would do anything for the family. The way they embraced Samantha was wonderful, and she definitely developed relationships with each member of the Garrett family, mainly Jase, George, and Andy. I did have a slight problem with how she kept her involvement with the Garrett's secret for the first half of the book, though I did understand why, what with her mother criticising them at every turn.

One character it's safe to I hated was Clay. He was a manipulative SoB, who did everything to further his own interests, going so far as to cause a crime later on in the book. He's Grace's new boyfriend, and is running the show in regards to her re election campaign. It was actually because of Clay that Samantha and Jase started talking, so I suppose that's something I should like him for.

With Grace running for re election, Samantha had a lot of time free, which she used to spend more time with Jase, the other Garrett's, and her friends Nan and Tim. Tim was amazing - an angsty, problem ridden boy, trying to overcome these issues, and succeeding. He was really there for Samantha when she was struggling with what was happening towards the end of the book, and I actually preferred him over his twin sister, Nan, as Samantha's best friend.

Jase and Samantha's romance was downright beautiful! It never felt rushed to me. Jase always wanted to be the best for Samantha, and though he had nothing to worry about, he questioned whether he was good enough for her. I honestly could not think of anyone better for Sam. Because of him, Sam came out of her shell, became less bigoted towards the Garrett's, like most of the town were, and questioned what was right and wrong. They both brought out the best in each other, and seemed like a real teenage couple.

As with most YA Contemporary books, something happens that causes a lot of angst, and could have MAJOR implications for the protagonists. I'm seriously glad that there will be a companion novel to My Life Next Door, about Tim and Alice Garrett, so that we can see how everything worked out after the somewhat vague ending of this book.

Nonetheless, I'm so glad I bought this book at Barnes & Noble while in Florida, as it was the perfect summer read. Re-reading the book again, when I received a UK ARC, made me fall in love with the book even more. If you haven't read this already, I would definitely get around to it ASAP. Now that Huntley's books are going to be published in the UK during 2016, you have no excuse not to get your hands on copies of the books!

Dates Read:
June 20-21, 2015
Re-read: September 21-22, 2015

Rating
5 Stars

Huntley Fitzpatrick

Waiting on Wednesday: The Boy Most Likely To (My Life Next Door #2) by Huntley Fitzpatrick

10:00

5 Stars

Review: My Life Next Door (My Life Next Door #1) by Huntley Fitzpatrick

10:00

My Life Next Door
Series: My Life Next Door #1
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Published June 13th 2013 by Speak

Goodreads 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.
Goodreads

Review
Wow, just wow! I now understand why everyone seems to love this book so much.

In My Life Next Door we meet Samantha Reed, who seems to have the perfect life. Her mother is state senator Grace Reed, she goes to a private school, has good grades, etc., etc. However, she has always been intrigued by her next door neighbours, the Garrett's. Mr and Mrs Garrett moved in about ten years ago, and have eight children. They are also loud, and messy, and basically everything Samantha, her sister, Tracey, and her mother, aren't. When Jase, the third Garrett child comes into Samantha's life everything changes, mainly for the better. The Garrett's welcome Samantha with open arms, and she becomes like one of the family. Her and Jase fall in love, and everything is wonderful. Until it isn't.

I really loved the dynamics of both the Reed and Garrett families. Being an only children, I related more with Samantha, who seemed to be on her own for most of them time at the beginning. Though the Garrett's may be a slightly dysfunctional family, they all obviously love and care for each other, and would do anything for the family. The way they embraced Samantha was wonderful, and she definitely developed relationships with each member of the Garrett family, mainly Jase, George, and Andy. I did have a slight problem with how she kept her involvement with the Garrett's secret for the first half of the book, though I did understand why, what with her mother criticising them at every turn.

One character it's safe to I hated was Clay. He was a manipulative SoB, who did everything to further his own interests, going so far as to cause a crime later on in the book. He's Grace's new boyfriend, and is running the show in regards to her re election campaign. It was actually because of Clay that Samantha and Jase started talking, so I suppose that's something I should like him for.

With Grace running for re-election, Samantha had a lot of time free, which she used to spend more time with Jase, the other Garrett's, and her friends Nan and Tim. Tim was amazing - an angsty, problem ridden boy, trying to overcome these issues, and succeeding. He was really there for Samantha when she was struggling with what was happening towards the end of the book, and I actually preferred him over his twin sister, Nan, as Samantha's best friend.

Jase and Samantha's romance was downright beautiful! It never felt rushed to me. Jase always wanted to be the best for Samantha, and though he had nothing to worry about, he questioned whether he was good enough for her. I honestly could not think of anyone better for Sam. Because of him, Sam came out of her shell, became less bigoted towards the Garrett's, like most of the town were, and questioned what was right and wrong. They both brought out the best in each other, and seemed like a real teenage couple.

As with most YA Contemporary books, something happens that causes a lot of angst, and could have MAJOR implications for the protagonists. I'm seriously glad that there will be a companion novel to My Life Next Door, about Tim and Alice Garrett, so that we can see how everything worked out after the somewhat vague ending of this book.

Nonetheless, I'm so glad I bought this book at Barnes & Noble while in Florida, as it was the perfect summer read. If you haven't read this already, I would definitely get around to it asap. August just can't come soon enough, and I hope to see more of Sam and Jase's wonderful relationship in The Boy Most Likely To!

Dates Read:
June 20-21, 2015

Rating
5 Stars