I struggled rating this story, it was in no way 5 stars but it wasn't 3 either but in saying that 4 sounds a bit generous. I'm going to settle on a 3.8 stars. 
 My Life Next Door was a great read. For a contemporary it has all the themes I love. 
 - Big Family 
 - Family struggles 
 - Realistic Sibling interactions 
 - Realistic parental interactions 
 - Friendship 
 - Drug abuse 
 - First times 
 - Tragedies 
 Big Families 
 Jase is our male love interest. He is part of a huge family. He has the family next door that always has toys on the lawn and half naked children running around and enjoying themselves. Jase is a child of 8 between the ages of 1-20 something and is the middle oldest at 17. The sibling interactions, the baby sitting ,and family scrabbles all of it was such a joy to read. 
 Jase's Mum is a god of a woman and the positive relationship she had with her husband and cheery out look on life really added to the happiness of this story for me. I wouldn't way no to her adopting me! 
 Family Struggles 
 Both Sam's and Jase's family have struggles, even though they are next door neighbors there problems are worlds apart. 
 Sam's mum is controlling, work orientated and a bit distant from her children. She comes off really cold and If I was Sam I would of rebelled a long time a go. 
 Jase's Family struggles with money and of course (view spoiler)[ the horrific accident that there Dad was in (hide spoiler)] but even through there struggles they're a tight unite and I couldn't help feeling worst for Sam. Even though The Garrets don't have much they have each other and that's what really matters. 
 Realistic Sibling Relationships 
 Sam's sister Tracy wasn't really ahhh interested in Sam and growing up with one older sister I could relate to this. Having a sibling but not being close to them is disappointing. You see all the fuzy warm TV specials with super close friendship and then you look at your own non existing relationship and think what went wrong? Really nothing, some sisters and families are just like that and some families are super close. I really liked the true representation of the different sibling relationships. 
 Realistic Parental relationships 
 Sam's Mum is a bitch. I really hated her and one of my favorite moments was when Sam jumped on the Motorbike and her Mum was speechless! I just wish Sam stood up for herself and The Garettes a lot faster then she did. 
 Friendship 
 Sam and Nan What is with this name Nan? Nanny? Really? aren't really that close. Nan is poison in my eyes. She constantly tries to compete and be better then Sam and when measuring herself up and finding it lacking gets angry at Sam for reasons beyond her control. I loved the way issues were handled and shown so honestly especially how friendships can fall apart in those last years of schooling. 
 Drug Abuse 
 Tim a lead side character struggles with a multitude of drugs but still managed to capture my heart (view spoiler)[ Seeing Tim leave the campaign for personal values and flourish at the hardware store and AA meetings really warmed my heart. Tim and Sam's moment when Sam confessed was beautiful and I really love there friendship. (hide spoiler)] 
 First Times 
 So many first times. First true Love, first time breaking the rules, first time preparations ;), first time doing the hardest RIGHT thing you've ever done. 
 Tragedies 
 This book was really fluffy a lot of the way through, to say I was expecting what happened is an extreme understatement. I gasped and yelled and wanted to reach through the pages and strangle the characters. (view spoiler)[ As soon as I heard the butt head Clay say reverse and go I knew I just Knew it was one of the Garettes! I thought it would be Jase on his paper route or his older brother on his motorcycle. I wasn't prepared for it to be his Dad. His amazing Dad who loved his family, works hard and is such a sweet soul! AHHH to say I was upset would be down playing it A LOT (hide spoiler)] 
 What I disliked about the book were small and major at the same time. 
 I disliked parts of Sams character and felt like she should of been a bit more take charge than she ended up being, there wasn't much character growth in her and that was disappointing. 
 I also felt like we could of had an extra 50 pages the ending was rushed and left a lot of loose ends. 
 Wow this review is longer then normal, All that being said it was a good summery read and I would recommend taking this one to the beach :)