The first
thought that crossed my mind after finishing this book was DISAPPOINTMENT
EVERYWHERE. The main reason I wanted to read it was I just finished Anna and
the French Kiss and, for some unknown reason, I imagined My Life next Door
would be as great as Anna, just because both of them where contemporary
romances. What a mistake.
The story
follows Samantha, a teenage girl who seems to have everything a girl would
want: beauty, money, good grades and a way too perfect mom, who happens to be a
politician. Yet, Samantha is not as happy as everyone thinks she is. Her mother
is distant, strict, not at all affectionate and seems to never be at home.
However, in order to escape this life, Sam seeks refuge in stalking her
neighbours: the Garrets. Every night she watches them from her rooftop perch,
wishing she belonged to a family like that. Yet, one night, one of them, Jase
Garret, climbs up next to her and changes everything. The problem is: Sam has
to hide Jase from her mother and sister since his family is all what Grace Reed,
Sam’s mom, hates: a noisy, overcrowded family who are messy, but lovable.
The problem
with this book was, I think, I expected too much of it, I had very high
expectations which, of course, were not fulfilled. For you to have an idea,
what I did not like about this book was:
1- The writing style. I couldn’t
connect with it. It was untidy and not beautiful at all. That, I think, was the
main problem. If you don’t like an author’s writing, it’s less likely that
you’ll enjoy a book. Of course this is very personal, so despite my not liking
it, it does not mean that you’ll feel the same way about it.
2- They fall in love with each other
too quickly, it doesn’t feel real. I understand the fact that they’re
teenagers, but the love they feel is too deep for just having spent only a
couple of months together.
3- The drama with Sam’s mother. Oh my
God, the drama. It upsets me just to think about it. (I’ll not say anything
else since I don’t want to spoil you, though.)
All these things been said, I must add: this
is a fun and refreshing love story, something nice to put your hands on after
reading a George R. R. Martin book, which is full of misery. The book keeps you
entertained enough, yet I can’t assure you that once you finish it, you’ll feel
light-hearted and happy or that you’ll think about it for a while. A good,
slow-paced and well-developed story, yet easy to forget and it’s definitely not
in my reread list.
