My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Read in: August, 2012
Format: ebook
Source: Lent from a Friend, she purchased from Amazon.
Star Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis: 

From the outside, Samantha Reed has the perfect life. A brilliant best friend, gorgeous older sister, politician mother. But on the inside nothing is right. Her mom is away with the new campaign manager every night. Her sister sleeps around, and is going to the Grove to spend the summer with her boyfriend. Samantha is seeing less and less of her best friend, Nad. 

But the only constant thing in her life is she watches the Garrett's. She has watched them so long that she can almost put a name to every face..almost. That is until she meets Jace Garrett and everything gets turned upside down.

Prosecution: 

None. 

Defense: 

What a tragic novel! But the author portrayed Samantha and Jace down to a T. Their relationship is picture perfect until one fateful night that throws everything into disarray. The author handled the situation in a way I'd have never thought. Samantha makes some hard choices and my heart broke for her. 

Verdict: 

A gorgeous debut novel set in a picture perfect setting. Samantha goes through the rollercoaster of her first "real" relationship, is accepted into a family she watched from afar for years, and makes a decision that will change her's (and other's) lives forever. Would recommend to everyone who loves YA contemporary fiction.