Review - What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: What I Thought Was True

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Pages: 418

Publisher: Electric MonkeyRelease date: 11th March 2016

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Gwen Castle has never so badly wanted to say good-bye to her island home till now: the summer her Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, takes a job there as the local yard boy. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

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My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Egmont Publishing and NetGalley*

Gwen Castle is worried that she'll be stuck on her home island, Seashell, for the rest of her life, just like her parents.

Her thoughts are thrown in another direction when Cassidy Somers, a rich kid that Gwen has a complicated history with, gets a job on the island as a local yard boy.

Can Gwen let the past be the past?

Will she have a drama-free summer?

I've come to expect enjoyable reads from Huntley Fitzpatrick and What I Thought Was True was no exception.

Gwen was a really likeable protagonist. She was relatable and believable - she made mistakes just like the rest of us but she could have done with thinking certain things through a lot more.

I liked a lot of the other characters like Cassidy, Uncle Ben and Viv.

One of my favourite things about Fitzpatrick's books is that they're very family orientated. It's refreshing to see children get on with their parents and grandparents, instead of them having bad relationships which seems to happen a lot in books nowadays.

I enjoyed the writing style which was engaging and easy to follow.

The plot was interesting but nothing that happened surprised me.

Overall this was an enjoyable read.

 

Review - The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: The Boy Most Likely To

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Pages: 434

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Release date: 11th March 2016

Blurb from Goodreads: 

 

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To:
- find the liquor cabinet blindfolded
- need a liver transplant
- drive his car into a house

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To:
- well, not date her little brother’s baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn’t be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the “smart” choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard.

Then the unexpected consequences of Tim’s wild days come back to shock him. He finds himself in a situation that isn’t all it appears to be, that he never could have predicted . . . but maybe should have.

And Alice is caught in the middle.

Told in Tim’s and Alice’s distinctive, disarming, entirely compelling voices, this return to the world of My Life Next Door is a story about failing first, trying again, and having to decide whether to risk it all once more.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

 My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Egmont Publishing and NetGalley*

 

Tim Mason's life is a bit of a mess - he's a recovering alcoholic, ex-druggie and his dad has just given him an ultimatum.

Alice Garrett never thought she would date a friend of her younger brother, but she's drawn to Tim, despite being scared of letting him in.

Then Tim receives some shocking news, something that might push Tim and Alice apart.

Can Tim stay sober and clean?

Can Tim and Alice last?

As a fan of My Life Next Door, I was intrigued to read the companion novel, The Boy Most Likely To, especially seeing as both Tim and Alice were characters I liked.

I was glad to see that Tim was trying to turn his life around and I was rooting for him.

We got to see a different side to Alice which I enjoyed.

I liked how relatable and real both Tim and Alice felt.

It was nice to read the scenes with Sam and Jase who were characters I loved in My Life Next Door.

The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the writing style but I guessed what was going to happen and I wasn't gripped.

Overall this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.  

Review - My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door

Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Pages: 316

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Release date: 7th January

Blurb from Goodreads:

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

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.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

 

My Review:

 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Egmont Publishing and NetGalley*

3.5/5 stars

Samantha Reed lives next to the Garrett family. Where the Reed family is small, quiet and organised, the Garretts are loud, messy and there are many of them. Samantha has been watching them for years but has never interacted with any of them - her politician mother, Grace, can't stand the Garretts.

One night Samantha meets Jase Garrett. The two soon fall in love and Samantha is drawn into the Garrett household.

Then a terrible accident changes everything, leaving Samantha with a tough decision.

Can Samantha and Jase's relationship survive?

My Life Next Door was a sweet, family-orientated read.

Samantha was a relatable and likeable protagonist. I felt sorry for her - her mum didn't spend much time with her (too busy with her campaign) and expected Sam to do things instead of asking her to do them.

I didn't like Nan, Sam's best friend. She wasn't very nice to Sam and was jealous of her.

Another character I didn't like was Sam's mum, Grace. She was so focused on her career that she didn't realise how lonely and isolated Sam was. Grace also tried to plan every second of Sam's summer holidays even though she was seventeen and responsible enough to look after herself.

I loved Jase and the Garretts, especially George - he was so cute! Jase was sweet and considerate.

The plot was interesting and held my attention. I liked that family was such an important part of the story.

I could understand why Sam did what she did after the accident and I was glad that there was a happy ending. Several things were left unfinished but hopefully they are dealt with in the companion novel.

Overall this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.