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A review by namjhyuns
The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick
4.0
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick is one of my all time favorites books. It belongs to the Young Adult genre but I have never really think about it under those terms, it comes automatically to me to think about as an excellent book. Point. Because while its two leads are teens, the book is about family, the decisions and people that defines as adults.
It's only natural that Huntley Fitzpatrick's third book brings us back to the Garrett family and the world they live in through Tim's eyes. Especially because if someone needs to learn how to be part of a family, it's him. But with a twist, because now we get a double POV. The story is told by Tim and Alice Garrett, meaning we get to see first hand what it means to be a Garrett, their worries and good times.
Fair warning, you can easily read this book as a stand alone but I think it's better to read My Life Next Door first so you can fully get the entire picture of what it's been told subtly or as a reference to the previous story.
At the end of My Life Next Door, Tim was already showing signs of great character and in The Boy Most Likely To, he proves us all that he truly is a good and decent person who has made wrong choices but it's trying. Tim is always trying to be better, to come clean (in every way and meaning of the word) and be there for the people he loves. Putting Tim in the position to become an adult quickly due to certain circumstances, to care for someone who can take care of himself, made his decisions more mature and less selfish with each day that passed by.
There's a moment close to the end when Tim finally realizes his father has nothing to offer, not what Tim wants from him at least. Ultimately their priorities and choices lay in different places. It's a sad moment but also liberating, I think, for Tim. He can finally understand he needs to keep going, let go of the pressure to be someone he simply it's not and can't be to keep the peace in his family. He needs to do what makes him happy. And he can't expect from his father what it's not there more than his father can't expect for him to be the son he wants.
Tim and Alice are such an amazing team. He is better with her around and he shows signs and moments of the kind of adult he is becoming; and Alice needs Tim to remind her she's still just a 19 year old, not a 30 something woman who must take care of all her siblings. She was shouldering too much and really didn't have to. I admire her for been there for her family when it mattered but it was time for Alice to remember she has to live, study, fall in love, go into the world and make her own choices on how she wants her life to be.
The cameos from other characters like Sam and Jase and the rest of the Garretts was wonderful. I even enjoyed Nan's, even when I still don't like her but I now understand her better. On the other hand, I didn't think I could detest Sam's Mother more... I was wrong. I will leave it at that, but let me tell you that if I lived in this entire fictional world and Tim decided to be my friendly senator neighbor who actually helps people, he's got my vote.
Another beautiful crafted story with lots of heart from Huntley Fitzpatrick. I don't know what she's working on or even if she's working on something right now, but this is an author that will always have my attention. Boy Most Likely To is definitely a must read!
It's only natural that Huntley Fitzpatrick's third book brings us back to the Garrett family and the world they live in through Tim's eyes. Especially because if someone needs to learn how to be part of a family, it's him. But with a twist, because now we get a double POV. The story is told by Tim and Alice Garrett, meaning we get to see first hand what it means to be a Garrett, their worries and good times.
Fair warning, you can easily read this book as a stand alone but I think it's better to read My Life Next Door first so you can fully get the entire picture of what it's been told subtly or as a reference to the previous story.
At the end of My Life Next Door, Tim was already showing signs of great character and in The Boy Most Likely To, he proves us all that he truly is a good and decent person who has made wrong choices but it's trying. Tim is always trying to be better, to come clean (in every way and meaning of the word) and be there for the people he loves. Putting Tim in the position to become an adult quickly due to certain circumstances, to care for someone who can take care of himself, made his decisions more mature and less selfish with each day that passed by.
There's a moment close to the end when Tim finally realizes his father has nothing to offer, not what Tim wants from him at least. Ultimately their priorities and choices lay in different places. It's a sad moment but also liberating, I think, for Tim. He can finally understand he needs to keep going, let go of the pressure to be someone he simply it's not and can't be to keep the peace in his family. He needs to do what makes him happy. And he can't expect from his father what it's not there more than his father can't expect for him to be the son he wants.
Tim and Alice are such an amazing team. He is better with her around and he shows signs and moments of the kind of adult he is becoming; and Alice needs Tim to remind her she's still just a 19 year old, not a 30 something woman who must take care of all her siblings. She was shouldering too much and really didn't have to. I admire her for been there for her family when it mattered but it was time for Alice to remember she has to live, study, fall in love, go into the world and make her own choices on how she wants her life to be.
The cameos from other characters like Sam and Jase and the rest of the Garretts was wonderful. I even enjoyed Nan's, even when I still don't like her but I now understand her better. On the other hand, I didn't think I could detest Sam's Mother more... I was wrong. I will leave it at that, but let me tell you that if I lived in this entire fictional world and Tim decided to be my friendly senator neighbor who actually helps people, he's got my vote.
Another beautiful crafted story with lots of heart from Huntley Fitzpatrick. I don't know what she's working on or even if she's working on something right now, but this is an author that will always have my attention. Boy Most Likely To is definitely a must read!