My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Release Date: June 14, 2012

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

"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.

With this winter feeling like it's never going to end, I needed a little pick me up and decided to start binge reading some summery contemporary books. I have so many on my shelves that just called out to me and I just needed something to make me forget about the cold and piles of snow sitting outside. And so I finally picked up Huntley Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Door. And the first thing that went through my mind as I was reading: Why didn't I read this before?! So yeah, I loved it.

Samantha Reed has spent more time than she should have sitting on her roof, looking over the fence and watching the Garrett family. The Garretts couldn't be more different from Samantha's own family: they're loud, they're messy and they're caring. Samantha always thought she would only get to observe the Garretts from afar, that is until Jase Garrett climbs up the rose trellis and joins her on her roof. Before long, Samantha can't remember what life was like before Jase and the Garretts, but she knows her mother would never approve. But when the worse happens, Samantha doesn't know who she should be loyal to anymore. Should she protect her own family, or should she help the family that's embraced her?

Um, why did I not read My Life Next Door until now? WHY?! To say I couldn't put this book down would be a major understatement. Every spare second I had was spent reading this book. I just couldn't bring my self to stop. There was just so much to love about this story that nothing I ever say about it can possibly do it justice. But I'll try. This story completely sucked me in. Right from the start I was drawn in, wanting to know all that I possibly could about the Garretts, wanting to see what would happen between Samantha and Jase. It was just everything I love in a good contemporary story. The whole time I was reading, I just had this big smile on my face. That is until Huntley Fitzpatrick threw in a twist and all of a sudden I was cursing at the book (while still loving it of course). But even through the cursing and worrying about how the story could possibly recover from this, I couldn't stop reading and loving the story. And a lot of it had to do with the characters themselves. If I'm being honest, I couldn't not fall in love with them. Not falling in love with them just wasn't a possibility.

So, the characters. I can't even begin to explain how much I loved them. Right from the start I loved Samantha. I could see just how much she longed to have a life like the one she saw next door. It wasn't so much that she was missing out on anything when it came to material things. But as much as she had everything she could possibly need, she didn't have what she wanted it. And Jase was able to give her that. And I'm not going to lie, within two pages, I was completely in love with Jase. And what did it for me was the way he treated Samantha and seeing just how much he cared about his family. I really can't put him into words. All I can say that is that he was perfect in all the ways that matter. As much as I loved Samantha and Jase, there were so many characters to love in this story, some of them even going so far as stealing the show in some moments. George, Jase's little brother, completely melted my heart any time he opened his mouth. He was just so adorable. And then there was Tim, who completely took me by surprise. I had completely written him off at first, but then he sort of came out of nowhere and, I'll admit, I may have been a little bit in love with him by the end. 

I absolutely ADORED Huntley Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Door. This book was so much more than I hoped and thought it would be. It's also made me that much more excited to read Huntley Fitzpatrick's next book, What I Thought Was True. And of course, if you haven't already, don't make the same mistake I did and pick up My Life Next Door as soon as you can. It will be totally worth it. 

Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend (Legend #1)

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. 

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths--until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth that what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

I remember when Marie Lu's Legend came out a few years ago, everyone was raving about it. And as much as the story interested me, the hype was too much and I ended up staying away. But then it was chosen for book bloc and I'm happy to have finally been forced to read Legend, because I loved the story.

Day has been living on the streets since failing his Trials when he was 10 years old. His family has spent the last 5 years thinking Day is dead, but without them knowing, he's been taking care of them. But living on the streets, Day has come to be known as the Republic's most wanted and most dangerous criminal. June has always had everything she's needed growing up in one of the richest sectors of Los Angeles. As a prodigy, June's been groomed to work at the highest levels of government. But when her brother is killed in suspicious conditions, June starts to question everything she's ever been told by the Republic. When her path crosses Day's, June becomes even more convinced something else could be going on. But figuring out what really happened on the night her brother was killed means June has to trust the one person she's been conditioned to think is the enemy. Can June let go of everything she knows? And after being along for so long, will Day be able to trust someone else again?

As much as I had heard about Marie Lu's Legend, I really had no concrete idea what it was about. I knew it was dystopian, but that's pretty much all I had to go on. So when I started reading, I had no expectations or pre-conceived notions about the book. I went in with a completely open mind. And this story wasn't what I would have expected. The world that Marie Lu imagined was so interesting, and I loved finding out more about it. Also, I don't know if I'm alone in this, but the whole time I was reading, I couldn't help but draw parallels between this world and the American Civil War. And even if it was all just in my head, the history nerd in me loved it. But Legend had more than just its world working in its favour. The story in and of itself captivated me. Because of the alternating points of view, I kept flipping the pages because I just wanted to know what would happen next, or even just what was going on. And it kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had part of it figured out, the point of view would switch and I would find myself guessing all over again. And if you keep me guessing the whole way through, then you've got me hooked.

June and Day were both interesting to read about and it was great seeing this world through both of their eyes. Each one came from such a different place. June had always had plenty of everything and access to just about anything…at least whatever the Republic wanted/let her access. Day on the other hand, had been taught to distrust everything and everyone in the Republic from an early age. On the surface, the two could not have been more opposite, but when you dug a little deeper, they actually had a whole lot more in common than I would have originally thought. And maybe for that reason it's why I wanted them to trust each other, and work together because that would make them stronger. What I liked most though, was that their relationship wasn't focused on romance, but more on them trying to find a way to fight back against the Republic. So all that to say that I'm looking forward to seeing how this will evolve in the next books.

I really enjoyed reading Marie Lu's Legend and I'm a little stupid for having waited so long to read it. But now that I have, I can't wait to keep going with this story. On the plus side, since the whole trilogy is out, I won't have to wait to read the next books! 

Cover Reveal - Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

It's Time!! The STONE COLD TOUCH cover is here!

We cannot wait to share the cover for Jennifer L. Armentrout's STONE COLD TOUCH with you all! STONE COLD TOUCH is a young adult paranormal romance by Jennifer L. Armentrout and is the second full-length novel in The Dark Elements Series being published by Harlequin Teen. You'll want to add this to your TBR pile ASAP. Check out this amazing cover!    

Isn't it awesome?! You can Pre-order it right now!

**Amazon** **Barnes & Noble** **iTunes** **Kobo**

STONE COLD TOUCH Synopsis: 

Every touch has its price Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could. But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay… 

"Constantly entertaining...the narrative sizzles with as much tension as romance." —Kirkus Reviews on White Hot Kiss

And...Don't forget to check out the first book in The Dark Elements Series,

WHITE HOT KISS!

ABOUT WHITE HOT KISS:

One kiss could be the last. Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

**Amazon** **Barnes and Noble** **BAM** **iBooks** **IndieBound** **Kobo** **Walmart**

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

The Dark Elements Series Website

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads

STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads

WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday (82)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
BREATHE, ANNIE BREATHE BY MIRANDA KENNEALLY

From the best-selling author of Catching Jordan comes a brand new contemporary YA you won't forget. 

Eighteen-year-old Annie Winters can barely run a mile without wheezing. Still, she's training to run the Music City Marathon in October. That's only seven months away. Running is so not her thing, but she has to finish what her boyfriend started…before he died.

Annie feels guilt that she's still alive and blames herself for his death; she has to do this to honor him. Plus training gives her something to do, it's a distraction. So is Jeremiah Brown. He's an adreline junky who runs marathons backwards. He flirts with Annie on the trails and it makes Annie feel alive and happy and guilty all at the same time. She wants to race into his arms and print in the opposite direction--because loving is a risk she's not ready to take again.

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE Miranda Kenneally fangirl. Every book of her's that I read just makes me love her even more and those books are among my all-time favourites. So really it shouldn't be a surprise that I'm beyond excited at the prospect of reading Breathe, Annie, Breathe (this excerpt might also have had something to do with it). At any rate, July just can't come soon enough so I can get my hands on this book! 

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally will be published July 1, 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire.

My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

Title: My Life With the Walter Boys

Author: Ali Novak

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: March 1, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Jackie Howard does not like surprises. Chaos is the enemy! The best way to get her successful, busy parents to notice her is to be perfect. The perfect look, the perfect grades--the perfect daughter. And then…

Surprise #1

Jackie's family dies in a freak car accident.

Surprise #2

Jackie has to move cross-country to live with the Walters--her new guardians.

Surprise #3

The Walters have twelve sons.

(Well, eleven, but Parker acts like a boy anyway)

Jackie is now surrounded by the enemy. Loud, dirty, annoying boys--who have no concept of personal space. Okay, several of the oldest guys are flat-out gorgeous. But still annoying. She's not stuck-up or boring--no matter what they say. But proving it is another matter. How can she fit in and move on when she needs to keep her parents' memory alive by living up to the promise of perfect?

I'm always on the hunt for a good, light and fun contemporary story. When I first read the description for Ali Novak's My Life With the Walter Boys, it sounded like just that. I got sucked into this story right from the start. My only wish is that the story wouldn't have ended because I was just that into it.

Jackie Howard never thought she would have to leave the comfort of New York City. But when her family dies in a freak car accident, she finds herself moving to Colorado to live one of her mom's childhood friend's family. Life with the Walters is nothing like Jackie thought it would be. For starters, she never thought she would be sharing a house with eleven boys. Sure, they might all be gorgeous, but that doesn't mean they aren't annoying, loud, messy and have no concept of personal space. But living with the Walters, Jackie starts to realize that it is possible for her to continue living her life, even while grieving her family's death. But navigating life with the Walters is more complicated than she could have ever thought.

I love contemporary stories that allow me to just get lost in a story and enjoy every moment of it. That's exactly what Ali Novak's My Life With the Walter Boys did for me. Right from the start, I found myself getting sucked in to the this story. I loved the idea of reading a story about a girl living in a house with 11 boys. I have one brother and that sometimes got intense so I can only imagine what it would have been like to live with 11 boys. But beyond just the measured chaos this brought to the story, My Life With the Walter Boys was just a fun story. Sure it has its sad moments, especially when Jackie has to deal with her grief, but more often than not, Ali Novak's story put a smile on my face, that's if it wasn't making me full on laugh. There were just so many humorous situations in this story, which is to be expected when you're dealing with 11 boys ages 21 to 5 crammed in one house. And that's really what made me love this story so much. Even though there were so many of them, each one of the characters was memorable and I loved reading their stories. My only concern is where the story ended. I loved the ending, but as soon as I flipped over the last page, I started wishing and hoping for a sequel. Because I need one. Badly.

I loved reading this story form Jackie's point of view. Jackie was someone who had never really interacted with boys before the start of this story. Often, this meant she had no idea how to navigate a lot of the situations she found herself in. And I loved her awkwardness around some of the boys, especially with a certain Walter boy. More generally though, I loved how she had completely different relationships with each one of the boys. As much as I loved seeing her intact with Nathan and Danny, the majority of the story focused on her interacting with Cole and Alex. I have to admit that this love triangle of sorts made parts of the story a little awkward. But even with the awkwardness, I loved reading about Alex and Cole. The two brothers couldn't have been more different and each one brought something to the table. Alex was more subdued, and if I'm being honest, he's probably the type of person I would gravitate to in real life. But there was just something about Cole that drew me in. I feel like I never really got to the bottom of who he really was. I can only hope that any sequel would revolve around him. I would read that in a heartbeat.

I really loved reading Ali Novak's My Life With the Walter Boys. This is the kind of fun and light-hearted story that makes me love contemporary so much. If you are looking for a fun story that will allow you to escape your own life for a few hours, then My Life With the Walter Boys is the book for you.