3.5 out of 5 '"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.' |
This is a typical 'unauthorized' romance, basically, Samantha lives at home with her uptight mother and sister and next door to the large, rowdy family in town; with kids running about and the mother always pregnant. Samantha can't stand the suffocation of her life, and after watching on of the eldest sons for years, decides to introduce herself (accidently) one night. And not only does a romance spark, but a mutual respect for the other one's lifestyle. Samantha no longer sees the Garrett's as rowdy, uneducated people; but a loving family full of warmth, where her own is cold and non-existent. And Jase no longer see Samantha as an uptight Mayor's daughter, but a quiet girl determined to make her own mark and break away from expectations.
I really just loved the ease with which I could read this, there wasn't any super difficult situations and despite and unforeseen climax and troubling revelation, there wasn't really and OMG moments. In some books I'd like it, but as an easy, flowy romance; I truly enjoyed this book. I really loved being semi-introduced to Jase's various siblings and seeing how they impacted Samantha and her views, especially towards her mother who constantly is reminding her how horrid they are, and their views start to drift further apart.
I loved the writing style in this book, and although it maintained a very YA vibe, it was kept sophisticated and almost other-worldly in comparison with today's youth. This reflects Samantha's old soul and sort of mature vibe she carried. I loved Jase as a character as he was just so real, there wasn't this unreal vibe about him having all the right lines or perfect body or perfect past; he was a true teenager who had worries and fears and insecurities and made him that much better to read about as we can really see how Samantha impacted him and in return how he impacted her.
For an easy, cutesy, flowy read; this is perfect, it can be put down and picked back up at any point. I really enjoyed the easy with which it read, but didn't follow a particular structure making it unique from other books and not in any way boring.
Enjoy :)
Hayley xx