{Audiobook} Review: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: What I Thought Was True
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Narrator(s): Erin Spencer
Series: stand-alone
Length: 12 hrs 51 mins
Publisher: Dial BFYR
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Source: Purchased Audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. 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.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

I loved this book, and I almost didn't buy it. You see, I read My Life Next Door and I wasn't all that impressed. Maybe it was the hype, I'm not sure. I decided to give Fitzpatrick a second chance and went with the audio for What I Thought Was True.

It was everything I had wanted My Life Next Door to be. I feel like she really stepped up her game with this one. The writing was much better. The Characters were realistic. They were messy. I loved that.

What I loved the most about this book.... was the setting. It's a New England beach town, or I should say Island. But anyway, it's perfect for a Summer read. I listened to this last Spring as we were slowly approaching the Summer, and it def got me in the mood.

Really enjoyed Gwen and Cassidy's Chemistry. There were quite a few swoony moments, as well as a few laugh out loud ones.

It's been a while since I listened to the audio, so I can't remember everything I wanted to gush about. This is what happens when you don't write reviews immediately. Ahh, well, It's a great book. That's the most important thing you need to know. :)

About the Author:

Huntley Fitzpatrick grew up dreamy and distracted in coastal Connecticut. She flourished in a family of bookworms where everyone always had their nose in a book. She kept an exhaustively thorough journal which frightened her boyfriends but has proved very useful in her career as a writer. Her debut contemporary Romance, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, was published in June of 2012 by Penguin-Dial for Young Readers. Now she laughs with and eavesdrops on her six children who provide her with perspective and material. She is represented by the amazing Christina Hogrebe of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Find Huntley:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, Dial books, huntley fitzpatrick, reviews, what i thought was true

{Review} The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick + Giveaway

Title: The Boy Most Likely To
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Series: companion to My Life Next Door
Publisher: Penguin-Dial for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 18, 2015
Source: received for review from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Surprises abound and sparks ignite in the highly anticipated, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door.

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.

I've been waiting for Tim's story pretty much since I put down My Life Next Door the first time. It was easy to see that his character had such potential and that his appearance in that book was only the beginning of his story. The Boy Most Likely To was not quite what I was expecting, not even a little bit, but in being so unexpected, it far exceeded any preconceived notions I'd previously held.

While My Life Next Door was told only from Sam's perspective, the author goes for a dual narrative in this follow-up. Even though I'd read the synopsis way back when I first discovered that this book would really exist, it still took me by surprise that I was reading not only from Tim's point of view but also Alice's. Especially since the narrative slid so easily between the two characters…no jarring chapter headings with each character's name to show the switch in perspective. And Tim's and Alice's voices are so distinctive that it wasn't necessary. The author handled each character's story beautifully and it just flowed so well.

There's quite a lot I'd like to say about Tim's narrative, but considering it all revolves around a twist, it's best I leave it unsaid. It very nearly broke my heart, though. Tim's put himself through a lot, and he's still recovering from all of that, only to be put through the ringer again. But it's that wonderful Garrett clan that comes to the rescue once more, even though they're still dealing with the events from the end of the first book.

I found this book to be just as lovely and genuine as Huntley Fitzpatrick's previous two books. I love that she doesn't use miscommunication as a plot device but rather has her characters speak openly and frankly to one another. They may be facing some serious life decisions and what-not, but there's no bullshit. Oh, also, she's not afraid to let her characters vent through swearing, especially one Tim Mason. ;)

The romance was pretty slow, which was a big reason this book differed so wildly from my expectations. My Life Next Door was pretty swoony, pretty much from the get-go. And while it's obvious that Tim and Alice have some serious chemistry, they both play it cool until they just can't anymore. Alice, because Tim is younger and is still working on getting his act together and she's got a lot on her plate as it is. Tim would have probably charged in like a bull if he'd known his feelings would have been reciprocated, and if it hadn't been for that big twist and the fact that he's trying to be a better man and do things right.

The Boy Most Likely To is more of a coming-of-age story than a romance, probably the least romance-y of Fitpatrick's novels so far. But it's sweet and endearing and tugs on the ole heartstrings in other ways. I'm glad to have finally gotten Tim's story -- along with Alice's -- and I liked revisiting some old friends along the way. I don't normally love companion novels because they rarely live up to the first book for me -- usually because they focus on some extraneous character I didn't really care about in the first place -- but in this case, I needed this story to be told, and I'm glad of how it turned out.

GIF it to me straight:

That is Tim in a nutshell.

Also:

sigh

About the Author:

Huntley Fitzpatrick grew up dreamy and distracted in coastal Connecticut. She flourished in a family of bookworms where everyone always had their nose in a book. She kept an exhaustively thorough journal which frightened her boyfriends but has proved very useful in her career as a writer. Her debut contemporary Romance, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, was published in June of 2012 by Penguin-Dial for Young Readers. Now she laughs with and eavesdrops on her six children who provide her with perspective and material. She is represented by the amazing Christina Hogrebe of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Find Huntley:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Goodreads

hosted by Penguin Teen

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Labels: contemporary, favorite authors, favorites, giveaways, huntley fitzpatrick, must-read, my life next door, penguin, reviews, the boy most likely to

{Audiobook} Thoughts Upon A Second Reading: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

So, last month I participated in the "Blog Most Likely To..." promotion and mentioned that I'd be re-reading My Life Next Door by way of the audiobook. I did and it was awesome. But I expected nothing less. =) This month, we're re-reading What I Thought Was True in anticipation of Tim's story in the follow-up to My Life Next Door. The book isn't related to that companion series, but it's still an awesome Huntley Fitzpatrick novel and more than worthy of a re-read. I reviewed the book back in June of 2012 when I first read it, but I had some further thoughts to add to the conversation now that I'm done with my re-read, er, listen…


Title: What I Thought Was True
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Narrator(s): Erin Spencer
Series: stand-alone
Length: 12 hrs 51 mins
Publisher: Dial BFYR
Publication Date: April 7, 2015
Source: purchased HC, borrowed audiobook from library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. 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.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

My original review can be found here, but below are some other thoughts I had upon my second reading of this fabulous book:

Gwen's crazy, mixed-up family is crazy awesome. Huntley likes to create these really diverse, chaotic family situations in her books and they just feel so genuine. I come from a small immediate family, but our family reunions kind of look something like the everyday for one of the families in her stories.

I love that Gwen is a real girl. She's 17 but she's by no means your simpering virginal waif. She's sarcastic and witty and cares deeply for her family and friends. Gwen doesn't hide from her mistakes, but she is learning from them through a little trial and error.

Even before we knew the big THING between them, I knew Cass was wrongfully cast as the bad guy from the beginning. He's just too sweet to her, too caring and protective, and he is just SO good with her little brother. Jase ranks very high among my book boyfriends, but Cass isn't trailing too far behind.

Huntley is not afraid to go there. Her characters have sex. They talk about having sex. They have serious and honest and open discussions about safe sex. Quite frankly, I haven't read too many novels, contemporary or otherwise, that I can say handle this subject as well as this author does.

The ending was kind of unexpected. Not for Gwen and Cass, but for other, equally important side characters. The author really likes to shake things up. :)

Erin Spencer was a great choice for narrator, and she even shares a name with one of the characters. She's got that Gwen's sarcasm down pat, and she reads with feeling to boot.

As I said in my initial review: I really think Huntley Fitzpatrick has outdone herself in the realistic characters and relatable plot departments. I can't think of another novel that felt this genuine and true-to-life, while at the same time consisting of diverse characters that are far from stereotypical. The writing is spectacular and witty, but I'd expect nothing less from such a talented author. What I Thought Was True is raw and funny, sad and hopeful, and I think that most fans of her previous novel will really enjoy this second book from Fitzpatrick. Now I'm even more anxious for the follow-up to My Life Next Door, which is Tim's story, due out next month!

GIF it to me straight:

I devour Huntley Fitzpatrick books.

About the Author:

Huntley Fitzpatrick grew up dreamy and distracted in coastal Connecticut. She flourished in a family of bookworms where everyone always had their nose in a book. She kept an exhaustively thorough journal which frightened her boyfriends but has proved very useful in her career as a writer. Her debut contemporary Romance, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, was published in June of 2012 by Penguin-Dial for Young Readers. Now she laughs with and eavesdrops on her six children who provide her with perspective and material. She is represented by the amazing Christina Hogrebe of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Find Huntley:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Goodreads

hosted by Penguin Teen

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading!

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Labels: all the feels, all the swoons, audiobooks, contemporary, favorites, giveaways, huntley fitzpatrick, penguin, re-listens, re-reads, reviews, summer, what i thought was true

{Audiobook} Thoughts Upon A Second Reading: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

So, last week I participated in the "Blog Most Likely To..." promotion and mentioned that I'd be re-reading My Life Next Door by way of the audiobook. I did and it was awesome. But I expected nothing less. =) I reviewed the book back in June of 2012 when I first read it, but I had some further thoughts to add to the conversation now that I'm done with my re-read, er, listen...

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Narrator(s): Amy Rubinate
Series: My Life Next Door, book #1 (companion series)
Length: 10 hrs 39 mins
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: March 25, 2013
Source: purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

"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.

My original review can be found here, but below are some other thoughts I had upon my second reading of this fabulous book:

I really, really don't like Sam's mother. I didn't like her the first time I read this book, even in the beginning, but I liked her even less this time around. She didn't give her daughters a chance to be who they were and focused too much on her career and constituency. And I straight-up hated that smooth-talking boyfriend of hers. Slimy slimeballs are slimy.

I adore George to the nth degree. And if it weren't for Jase, he might just be my favorite Garrett. His sweet, childish fear of near-impossible things coming to pass -- black holes and air bubbles in IVs and eating Babe -- was so endearing. And the way he basically proposed to Sam, first on his own behalf and then on Jase's…*sigh*. He might just be the cutest secondary character ever.

Jase is one of the most swoon-worthy boys I've ever encountered in a YA novel. He's responsible. He's a family man. He's respectful of Sam and her boundaries. He's good with his hands, plays football, and has a knack for fixing things. And he's a car guy, rebuilding a classic Mustang on his own dime. YUM!

Sam and Jase are such responsible, drama-free characters and their relationship is one of my absolute favorites. Even after all the books I've read over the past three years. Theirs is not just a summer fling…it's the real deal, and it brings all the swoons and more than its share of feels. Jase works hard and looks to the future, especially where it concerns Sam. And they have frank discussions about things that matter. And when things got really tough, Jase gave Sam a chance to explain, and they worked through it instead of letting it ruin their relationship like so many characters before them.

I am more excited than ever to read Tim's story! I remember seeing such potential in his character when I read this book all those years ago, and it was even more pronounced this time around. He was practically begging for his own book, and I'm so glad the author decided to let his story see the light of day. From my original review: "Tim has substance abuse issues, a poor work ethic, and he’s driving his family crazy. But if you can endure his outlandish behavior and really see beneath the surface, he’s a really nice guy who just needs someone to take him under their wing and help him make some better decisions." And I stand by that 100%, knowing that Jase and his family have already paved the way for a better version of Tim to shine.

Amy Rubinate is a pretty talented audiobook narrator. I've listened to her narrate really sad novels and really uplifting novels, and though her voice doesn't really change, she owns the story with her performance. I loved listening to this book on audio as much as I loved reading it the first time.

GIF it to me straight:

About the Author:

Huntley Fitzpatrick grew up dreamy and distracted in coastal Connecticut. She flourished in a family of bookworms where everyone always had their nose in a book. She kept an exhaustively thorough journal which frightened her boyfriends but has proved very useful in her career as a writer. Her debut contemporary Romance, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, was published in June of 2012 by Penguin-Dial for Young Readers. Now she laughs with and eavesdrops on her six children who provide her with perspective and material. She is represented by the amazing Christina Hogrebe of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Find Huntley:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Goodreads

hosted by Penguin Teen

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading!

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Labels: all the feels, all the swoons, audiobooks, contemporary, favorites, huntley fitzpatrick, my life next door, penguin, re-listens, re-reads, reviews, summer

{Promo & Giveaway} The Blog Most Likely To...

In celebration of Huntley Fitzpatrick's forthcoming The Boy Most Likely To, her third novel and a companion to My Life Next Door, I was asked to participate in Penguin Teen's "The Blog Most Likely To" campaign. There have already been some great entries in this promotion, but when I thought long and hard about which superlative fit this blog best, I knew it would have to do with audiobooks. Thus, we are...

I first discovered my love for audiobooks back in 2011 with SYNC's summer program freebies, but my love only continued to grow from there. Inversely, my bank account only declined once I found Audible's site. C'est la vie. But nowadays, I probably listen to twice as many audiobooks as I actually read because I can listen all day at work, in the car, and while I'm doing chores around the house. The same can't be said for a physical books, no matter how much I wish I could read them all. That's why I use audiobooks to catch up on back-list titles, to listen to those review books I didn't have time for, and to re-read, er, listen to favorites again and again.

In fact, as part of this promotion, we're all re-reading My Life Next Door this month and then we're re-reading What I Thought Was True next month, all so we're prepared for The Boy Most Likely To when it releases in August. Of course, I'll be listening to My Life Next Door. It's narrated by Amy Rubinate, a favorite narrator of mine for her emotional performances.

I freely admit that I push my love of audiobooks onto everyone I can. My sis now listens at her desk. April, my lovely co-blogger and an all-around awesome gal, listens on her commute. And every day I discover more and more people who love audiobooks as much as I do and we get to squee over narrators and agonize together over the wait for an audiobook version to be released. It's kind of the best! :D

Also, did you know that June is Audiobook Month? It totally is! So, if you've never given them a try, there's no better time than now. Especially with a new pair of audiobooks up for grabs for free from SYNC each week!

Anyway, as we gear up for The Boy Most Likely To's release, here's a bit more about the book, and below that, you can enter to win yourself a copy:

Title: The Boy Most Likely To
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Series: companion to My Life Next Door
Publisher: Penguin-Dial for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 18, 2015

Surprises abound and sparks ignite in the highly anticipated, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door.

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.

hosted by Penguin Teen

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy reading!

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Labels: audiobook month, audiobooks, contemporary, discussion, favorite authors, favorites, giveaways, huntley fitzpatrick, my life next door, penguin, promotions, re-reads, read-along, the boy most likely to

Waiting on Wednesday: Soundless & The Boy Most Likely To

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:

Title: Soundless
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: standalone
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: November 15th, 2015

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever..

I need this in my life. For real. I'm about 90 minutes of listening, away from finishing the Bloodlines series, and I'm so freaking sad about that. I've been thinking for the past few days.. what books am I looking forward too? Then I saw a post on FB about Soundless. FATE. :) There aren't too many books I immediately purchase these days, but Richelle Mead's stuff. Automatic one click.





's Pick:



Title: The Boy Most Likely To
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Series: companion to My Life Next Door
Publisher: Penguin-Dial for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 2015

Surprises abound and sparks ignite in the highly anticipated, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door.

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.

Eeek!!! I absolutely LOVED My Life Next Door, and Tim just might have been one of my favorite characters...aside from little Georgie, of course. ;) Tim was a genuinely good guy, even if he didn't always make the best decisions, and I am ecstatic to get more of his story...and Alice's. Huntley Fitzpatrick's third novel is shaping up to maybe be my new favorite of hers. One can only hope, right? =)


What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: contemporary, grabby hands, huntley fitzpatrick, my life next door, penguin, richelle mead, soundless, the boy most likely to, waiting on wednesday (wow)