With only four books read, I feel like I’m incredibly behind in my book goal for the year and then I remember that I drastically cut my goal for 2014. I’m right on track!
It’s been awhile since I’ve recapped my favorite book (or books) at the end of the month, but I want to get back into it and see if I can do it throughout the year. The book(s) listed in these posts are the ones that stand out when I think back to what I read throughout month, even though I most likely enjoyed the other books that I read as well.
For January, that book is My Life Next Door, by Huntley Fitzpatrick. It’s a YA contemporary about Samantha, the daughter of a state senator. Samantha has been watching her neighbors since they moved in years ago, a pastime her mother would seriously disapprove of. Her mother doesn’t like the Garrett’s, because they’re a big family and their yard is always cluttered, so even though Samantha has always been fascinated by them, she’s never tried to meet them. That changes the night that Jase Garrett comes over to say hi. As Samantha falls in love with Jase, she’s welcomed into their family, but in an instant all of that could change.
Where to start with this book? I think I’ll just make a list of the things that I loved:
1. Jase. We’ve seen a trend in fiction lately where the bad boy is the love interest in the story. Okay, so this isn’t a new trend, but I think lately the bad boy has been so tough that I don’t want to root for him and I find myself hoping that the girl will find someone else. Jase isn’t one of those bad boys–in fact, he’s not a bad boy at all. Jase is proof that sometimes the good boy can be just as compelling as the bad boy.
2. Samantha. Is she a perfect character? No, but that’s one of the things that I love about her. She’s hardworking, even if she doesn’t need to be, she’s exploring the world and her place in it, and sometimes she struggles to do the right thing… and I’m glad that she does.
3. The rest of the Garrett’s. I loved how authentic each character in the story was. Fitzpatrick did an excellent job of portraying the different personalities of characters of different ages. George was adorable and Patsy made me laugh and I could go on about each member of that family.
4. First love. Fitzpatrick did a wonderful job of writing two young characters who fell in love for the first time, with all the excitement and nervousness that brings.
This is a sweet, summer romance that gets your heart pumping at the end as you turn pages to find out how things will wrap up.
What was your favorite book from January?
