The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Release Date - August 18, 2015
Publisher Website - Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 432 pages
My Rating - 4.5/5
**received from publisher for review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A surprising, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door—great for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To find the liquor cabinet blindfolded, need a liver transplant, and 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 novel is for readers of The Spectacular Now, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and Paper Towns.

I love companion novels. I love that they allow you to glimpse characters you know and love while allowing you to fall in love with new characters in the process. It's rare, however, when I love a companion novel more than I love the starting book in the 'series'. The Boy Most Likely To is one of those rare companion novels that surpassed my expectations in every way and cements Huntley Fitzpatrick as a must read author for those who love contemporary young adult novels.

The character development is the crux of this novel. It's the strongest, and most fulfilling, element of the story. Tim's transformation from the hot mess we meet in My Life Next Door, to the young man at the end of this novel is staggering and a delight to experience. Characters are Huntley Fitzpatrick's niche and her talent truly shines with Tim. We get complex, messy characters to go with the complex, messy situations she puts them in. The complexities of humans, family dynamics, and feelings are all explored in her novels with great success.

Getting to know more about the Garretts was a pleasant surprise of this novel. Patsy, once again, steals the limelight with her cute attachment to Tim, and her adorable nicname for him (which happens to be 'hon'). Any scene with her is a delight as she provides a light touch of comic relief  that balances out the more heavy plot. This family is so filled with love, and their acceptance of both Tim and Samantha only proves how big their hearts are. Family doesn't always mean blood relatives. Sometimes your family is the one you make for yourself, and Huntley Fitzpatrick embraces this truth in her writing.

Those expecting the swoon worthy romance of My Life Next Door may be a touch disappointed. There is romance in this novel. Tim and Alice have quite a spark, but it's not the focus of the novel the way that Jase and Sam's romance was in My Life Next Door. This novel instead offers up an unexpected love story. One that is too spoilery to fully discuss, but this love story is vital to Tim's character growth, and the plot. This storyline may not be surprising, or all that new, but Huntly Fitzpatrick uses it to great impact.

Alice and Tim share the spotlight with each of them getting to tell their story. This story belongs to Alice as much as it does Tim. Alice struggles with responsibility. After the events in the first novel, Alice feels like she needs to be strong for her family. The weight of that presses down on her as she deals with trying to be everything for everyone. Asking for help is a foreign concept to her, as she doesn't want to impose on anyone else. Seeing her grapple with that, and stealing moments that are just for her was eye opening. I can relate to Alice in many ways, and seeing her realize that she can make herself happy sometimes, instead of sacrificing for everyone else all the time, was inspiring.

This book is a lot of things. It's the book most likely to hold the most unexpected love story. It's the book most likely to make you laugh, swoon and cry. It also happens to be the book most likely to turn you into a Huntley Fitzpatrick fan for life. 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Release Date - June 14, 2012
Publisher Website - Penguin
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 394 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**borrowed from a friend for review**

Here is the Goodreads 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, 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. 

The boy next door. It's a romantic cliche for a reason and Huntley Fitzpatrick showcases exactly why the guy next door can be oh so swoon worthy in My Life Next Door. A novel filled with romance, family, and just the right amount of drama. A sweet, sensitive look at falling in love while finding yourself.

This is the kind of of book that begs to be read at the beach or by the pool. It offers up some quieter sexy moments, and a plot that examines loyalty, morals, and the strength behind doing what feels right in your heart. It's writing offers up a well paced, but leisurely read that is the definition of a summer read.

Both Jase and Samantha are well developed characters. The exist together and apart with their characterization not solely dependent on their romance. Samantha and Jase are both passionate about the people and things they care about. They both have a strong sense of self. While they grew up on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of family life, they fit as a couple. Samantha, in general, was a favourite due to her story arc of learning that her opinions do not have mirror her mothers. It's part of growing up, and something everyone has to struggle with.

The other Garretts are a delight. From George's tendency to see the worst case scenario in everything, and Patsy's adorable toddler speak, they are a vibrant, vivid family that feels full of love. The fact that they love one another is woven into each interaction between them. It's an integral part of each of them and who they are. Family being such a large part of the story, and how involved they were was refreshing. It made the characters feel more their age, and added an extra touch of realism to the story. Each of the older characters has the potential for their story to be told in a companion novel, but it's the family bonds that truly resonates in this story.

Equal attention is paid to the other side characters on the other end of the love story. The people in Samantha's life such as her best friend Nan, Nan's brother Tim, and even Samantha's mother and sister are more than what they first appear to be. Each of them has depth to them and even those who could have been caricatures come out feeling incredibly developed.

She showcases that people are neither all good or all bad. Good people can do horrible things, and 'bad' people can redeem themselves. We're the choices we make, and even if we make the wrong ones sometimes we're more than just that one choice. We have the ability to fix our mistakes, learn from them and make amends. Huntley Fitzpatrick embraces the sheer vastness of what makes up human beings and ensures all of her characters are given that brush stroke with her writing.

Sex positive young adult novels are always a pleasant surprise. The focus on realistic expectations was something that really stood out in this novel. Huntley Fitzpatrick included everything I feel is important when dealing with sex in teen novels. Talk of waiting until you're ready without any pressure, proper safe sex discussions and follow through with decisions being made by both parties, and the notion that your first time may not be perfect but it can be special because of who you share it with. This approach is healthy and encourages discussion which is so important, especially for the age group this novel is marketed to. It doesn't throw around labels or judgement. It just offers up a healthy, realistic take on the subject matter that is so vital to teen literature.

A perfect example of well developed and utilized for both primary and secondary characters. Huntley Fitzpatrick writes them as realistic, complex and layered in the most beautiful ways. A newly discovered favourite in the young adult contemporary genre. If you haven't already fallen in love with her books, this is the summer to do it.