Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Format: eGalley
Age Group: Young Adult
“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?
In all of the books I’ve read, I don’t think there has ever
been a family I’ve loved more than the Garretts. From the beginning, even
before Samantha really gets to know them, I could definitely see why she spent
so much time watching them. Sam lives a very clean and controlled life. Her
mother has very specific ways she wants things to be and isn’t very pleased
when things go outside of her lines. The Garretts are a big family, full of
life and there is always something going on. Jase Garrett introduces himself to
Sam one night and it changes everything. The more time she spends with Jase and
his family, the more she falls in love with them.
There are a lot of characters in this book and Huntley
Fitzpatrick has given them each their own distinctive personality. While
reading I felt like I was really getting to know every character, even if I
didn’t like what was learning about them. A lot of times the younger sibling
characters are sort of generalized in a book and just serve as background to
the story, but the younger Garretts were just as fleshed out and some of my
favorite characters to date. Especially little George, he was such an awesome
kid, I just wanted to hug him.
There is such a contrast between the way Samantha and her
family live, and the way the Garretts live. Samantha’s mother is all about
appearance and order, she wants things a specific way and expects her daughters
to comply. While the Garretts lives are more about doing what makes you happy
and living their lives. I really liked how Samantha fit in with Jase’s family
so quickly. Considering all of the horrible things her mother had said about
them over the years, she might not have
been so comfortable in their world, but it was just one more thing to prove
that she is her own person and not her mother’s clone.
This book tells an amazing story about family,
friendship, tragedy, love and finding out who you want to be. I loved every
page and I can’t wait to go back and re-read it. I am such a fan and I can’t
wait for more books by Huntley Fitzpatrick :0)