My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Publication Date: June 14, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 395
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, 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.

Review: Wow, Sophia actually finished a book. Who'd have known, right? Well, I'm finally on Thanksgiving break, and so I actually have time to read now. Lord knows I've been too busy for young adult books now that IB has taken over my life. I'm so, so sorry for the lack of activity on the blog. But oh, well. To the actual review!

   I remember being super excited for this book because Katie from Katie's Book Blog compared the level of awesomeness to Anna and the French Kiss. And since AatFK is basically my favorite contemporary ever, you can imagine how high my expectation were. Which is why I was so sad when I started the book and felt... empty. I didn't connect well with Samantha. She seemed sort of detached to me. Her voice wasn't very strong in my head while I was reading and that made me lack invested emotions in the book. The first half of the book was almost boring to me, which left me so disappointed.

   However, once the I got to page 280 or so, I got so absorbed into the story. The plot twist took me completely by surprise and I couldn't stop reading. I wondered why the whole book couldn't be like the last quarter. It was intense, emotional, and some scenes honestly brought tears to my eyes.

   I felt like Jase and Samantha's relationship moved too fast, though I did believe there were genuine feelings for each other. I really like how they dealt with sex. It wasn't a split second decision in a hazy moment of lust. Instead, they talked about it and went shopping together for the necessary things, which was nice to read about.

   Although the last quarter of the book was really amazing, the uneventful first half did detract from my enjoyment of the book. My Life Next Door is a wonderful debut that slowly simmers with the feelings of first love and questions the border between family and morals.

   3.5 keys.

Blog Tour: Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Giveaways!

Publication Date: November 6, 2012
Publisher: Spencer Hill
Format: ARC
Page Count: 331
Synopsis: "History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "
Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden. 
If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome. 
But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed. 
Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

Review: The amount of awesome in this book surpasses the expectations I had. Deity has to be my favorite book in the series so far!

   I just can't express how much I love this book. Alex is such a kick-butt and relatable heroine. You can't help but feel for her and sympathize with her. With each book, Alex is just climbing her way up on my "favorite heroines" list. In fact, I think the only person in front of her is Tris from Divergent.

   In Half-Blood and Pure, I was all for Seth. I loved him. And then Deity came along, and I wanted to chop his head off (for reasons that will be left unsaid--no spoilers here!). Seriously. On the other hand, I fell in love with Aiden all over again. Alex and Aiden really developed their relationship in this book and as a reader, I basically melted into a puddle every time they were together.

   The plot in this book is intense, as usual. The last quarter, specifically, was particularly nail-bitingly crazy. And the ending? I was left with my mouth hanging open. I was confused and angry and sad and dying for the next book!

   Deity is an incredible and crowd-pleasing installment to the Covenant series with its addictive prose, lovable characters, and jaw-dropping twists in the insane plot. I am positively dying for Apollyon.

   5 keys.

   P.S. This book is released on my birthday! My birthday book. <3>

Now, are you guys ready for some super awesome giveaways? Two are hosted by the host of the blog tour, Valerie from Stuck in Books, and one is hosted by the publisher, Spencer Hill Press!


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