The Girl Next Door

by Selene Castrovilla

Two teens are forced to make some very grown-up decisions when one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer, twisting them into an unpredictable nightmare. Best friends since toddlerhood, Samantha and Jesse grapple with the realization that they are actually in love. What now? Beautifully written while handling a very heavy topic, Castrovilla addresses the universal question: In a world where the worst can strike at any time, how can we ever feel safe?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Illness, Teen, Fiction, Grief

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Hi everyone! I'm a lifelong book lover, and when I was a kid, books saved my life. I was so lonely, but when I held a book and travelled to the place where those characters lived, I was somewhere else, where I had friends. I recently encountered a character like me, Abigail, in TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED by Chelsea Sedoti.
Isn't it exciting to find a piece of yourself in a book?

There's a piece of myself in all of my books, no matter the genre. Yes, I write in several genres, much to the dismay of my editors and, often, to myself. But I love literature, and my muse cannot be confined to one type of story. And no matter the "label", all books have humanity in common. I write about humanity. I want to understand the un-understandable. I want to explore dark thoughts and darker intentions. I want to know why people hurt each other.
And while the rational part of me knows this is impossible, the irrational writer part of me keeps trying, one manuscript at a time.

My goal is to connect with your hearts!

Please visit https://linktr.ee/selenecastrovilla.

Reviews

[Katie (Kitkatscanread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Received from the author in exchange for an honest review)

What a beautiful, amazing emotional story of dealing with cancer and loss.
The characters were so amazing, and the bonds between Jesse and Sam were so strong, it felt real.
You could see the love they have for each other.
It was very gripping and I loved it.
I was emotionally tied and I completely recommend this book.
This is another book that's made me cry.

Full review: http://kitkat1242.blogspot.co.uk/2013...

[Alba BookPics · Rating 5 out of 5]

~"Death can never rob us of the love we give away"~



If that first quote there doesn't strike to your heart and doesn't even twitch your heart then nothing ever will...

Grace girl! again can't thank you enough for encouraging me to read this book.

And just so you know... this is the second book of Selene I read AND a signed one so...yeap I'm in heaven allright!

I read earlier in another book how someone thought how it was so much better to feel angry, anger, resentment,etc. Instead of sadness and pain.

Well I agreed while reading that other book...but yet again Selene managed to strike right through all my shields and barriers and went to the heart and soul.

Samantha isn't just another YA character out there... is a girl that can be very well any of ous out here in the real world with the real problems and the real tears beeing shed for real best friends that are slipping through our fingers and taken away from us by any kind of sikness... this book right here... is real, raw, sad, and cruel. Nevertheless, is passionate and amazing in a way that only Selene has managed so far.

Jesse, where to begin? He's a guy, he's sick, he's tired, he doesn't know where his dad is, he doesn't want to do anything with anybody but Sam but still feels alone and lonely even with her always by her side. Is painfull to watch but you can never get away from it...not even in the most heart-wrenching scenes between the 2 main characters...you just can't...you completely fall in love with this two and I promise you they will stay with you long after finishing this reading.

I cried, the hard ugly nasty way...and I'm not ashamed of it...I am again gratefull to Selene for not being afraid to write about this and have the courage to end it as it would end in real life...even if I didn't like it... it's real...it happens...we all have to deal with it one way or another.

Surrendering doesn't mix with giving up.

My Feelings--

I was a DISASTER, there's no other way to put it...my heart was shredded to pieces once, twice...I lost count...but since the very first line of the book till the very last period...I was a complete mess.

I always tend to find some pieces of myself in the characters of each and every book I read and this, believe me, was no exception.

You know I also cry tons while reading...this book gave me a very bad case of puffy eyes and snotty nose.

So after reading this and crying myself to sleep I came to different conclusions as to what I'd do were I in Sams possition...So, I made this promise to myself and mom/dad even if only in the darkness adn the loneliest hours of the night. For you both I'll try; I'll try to let go of the anger so I don't miss and pass on all the beauty and love that's constantly around and sorrounding me.

It was hard understanding such a difficult character as Sam...but again.

Love can move more than mountains, even when you think there isn't an ounce left in you to give...love doesn't run out, doesn't go to waste, isn't selfish, and can speak more than words.

Life is hard, it passes, it ends, it's good while it lasts, and we have to make the best of it while we have the gift of it.

Death, whether we see it coming, feel it, witness it, is death all the same. It can be hard, cruel, and can strike when you less see it coming.

Hope comes with love and patience, hope can always restore even the darkest heart and mind. Hope is the last thing that needs to be lost. Hope is light.

And friendships, promises, time...all this plus the others combined can result in the saving of a person's soul, make her/him sane and giving her/him the strength when they think all is lost. You can do it, you're not alone NEVER, you have time, love, the strength and the means and You can go on... not even death and it's darkness will last forever... enjoy while you can, live at your fullest and be strong for those who think they can't be.

Sorry...got carried away... in the end another piece of art from Selene...thanks for writing and giving us the chance to enjoy it.

5/5~it deserves more than this...~

[Books and Literature for Teens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the concept of the story in The Girl Next Door was genuine and heartwarming, I did not enjoy reading it. There was something that was blocking my metal capacity to even concentrate on what was going on. Even when I did finally pay attention, the plot was–to put it bluntly–boring and uneventful.
Sam, the main character and narrator of the book, is trying to "save" her friend (and later more) from dying. Although Jessie might have accepted his future, Sam is unwilling to give him up. It was a touching, sad story, and the ending was probably the best thing that ever happened in the book, but I couldn't help but feel there was a lot missing. There was no in-between things happening with the climax. Everything revolved around Jessie's illness and Sam's life did too. The entire plot went in circles and followed a pattern of events; you never got to really hear about Jessie and Sam's life before his illness. I also did not like the fact that the author kept throwing in religion but never really got anywhere with it. What is the use of mentioning something if all you do is ride the fence. In short, that part of it was rather confusing.
Overall, the idea of the story was good; I just felt like there was something was missing, perhaps the characters were a bit too incomplete.

➲Recommendation: It's okay to read a story of loss once in awhile but The Girl Next Door might not be the one to choose first. Because it wasn't a terribly unenjoyable book (it just didn't suit my tastes), I must take in consideration of those who just might enjoy this book. My suggestion would be to borrow and skim through it. It's a very short book and the whole plot is pretty much presented in the first couple of chapters. I wouldn't recommend purchasing it at all until you've read it. Please note, I would not recommend to young teens as it deals with mature situations, sexual scenes, and language. Ages 16+ (PG-13).

This Book is For: Older teens who like stories of loss.
This Book is Not For: Younger teens or others who are not interested in its themes.

Content: For a book that suppose to be about love, loss, and life, it sure had a lot of things that weren't very "touching". The language for instance was on the verge of being explicit, there was more than one sexual scene, and a ton of sexual remarks.

The Last Straw: If an author wants to write a story of love, why can't it be appropriate for all ages to enjoy?

|Pages: 237|Publisher: WestSide |Published: April 2010|Price: Hard. $16.95|
|Genre: Contemporary fiction, romance, drama, loss|
|Age Group: YA, ages 16+|Content: PG-13|
|Enjoyed It: 2/5|Content: 1/5|Cover: 3/5|
|Overall: 2/5|

Courtesy of booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com

[Jen Halligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl Next Door is a story about two best friends that grew up living next door to each other, Samantha and Jesse. Their story is about love and loss, and learning to let go. They’re forced to pack in a lifetime of love and experiences into a short period of months, as they face cancer, together.

I admit I wouldn’t have picked up The Girl Next Door on my own. I tend to shy away from books that I know will make me sad. Though I definitely shed some tears while reading, by the ending I felt hopeful, and I’m so glad I read this novel.

I appreciated this story being told from Sam’s perspective -- the close friend, girl friend, and caretaker for Jesse. I loved Sam’s relationship with her mother. She recognized her daughter and Jesse were in a unique situation and supported them. She was present, and there for Sam to turn to whenever she was needed. Jesse’s relationship with his mother, Gwen, was complicated and realistic.

This novel reminded me to never take life for granted, that something can happen at any time, and that every moment should be lived to the fullest. I look forward to reading more from Selene Castrovilla!

Note: I recommend The Girl Next Door for mature teens and adults, due to sexual scenes and references.

*4.5 stars*

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of love and loss, pain and healing, The Girl Next Door is an arresting read that carries its own black cloud. Launching right into the pain aspect of the story, the book opens after Jesse’s cancer has ravaged his body. Enduring another round of chemo, Sam wakes up to hear him throwing up- again. The situation set up in this book is highly distinctive, as Sam stays with Jesse every night despite his mother’s disapproval to ensure Jesse doesn’t die alone.

Sam’s character changes dramatically throughout the book. Coming off initially strong, her fears and weaknesses are exposed as the story progresses. Flashbacks to the kids she and Jesse used to be are also prevalent, bringing to light how much has changed on account of Jesse’s rapid digression. Sam is a highly flawed character but also holds plenty of strength and an empowering strength that is refreshing and memorable. Her story is painful but endearing, her character empathetic and struggling.

Jesse is as radically shifted as Sam, a host of different personalities mixed within one boy and his daily state of health helps determine how weak or strong he is. Struggling with knowing he has just months to live and not even eighteen yet, seeing Jesse through Sam’s eyes is a very rough part of this book to stomach. She loves him as the boy who lived next door all her life- her best friend and confidant. But as they spend more time together, the love she’s held for him as more than friend is slowly returned, taking the entire situation to a new level. Jesse’s character comes out strongly, showing just how intensely he can love but his desire to live is tarnished by the near constant pain he lives with.

Jesse’s prognosis is not good and no matter how great things seem to be going, the weight of the cancer is always present. Throughout the book, the reader will be wondering if Jesse will be that 4% to survive although no one has yet survived his particular kind of cancer. With everything stacked against him, Jesse still fights even when it seems hopeless. Though this is a tale of first love, there is no promise of a happy ending. As things progress, Sam’s own mental state and ability to handle the situation is brought into question, casting a dramatic and heartbreaking light on an already dark tale.

A small but well developed cast of characters, a brave but heartrending set up, and lithe writing make The Girl Next Door an emotional but striking read. Intermixing several elements, there is a beautiful mix of life and death, happiness and pain throughout the book. Teenage love and lust play a large part in this book but it is cast in a different light given the seemingly hopeless scenario. The related situations are handled maturely and fluidly, adding to the story overall. Decisions and actions that would be deemed objectionable in a different situation take on a new form and the entire plot plays out in a surprising, stunning manner.

The final outcome is written exceptionally well, the entire story and last words reverberating for days after the book is put aside. The way Jesse’s condition affects not only him but those around him is portrayed, as is both his and Sam’s fight and desperation. This is a very moving and emotional read and a beautiful example of how one diagnosis can tear a world apart.

[Dafina]

This book was so good and so sad!!!!! It was about a girl named Samantha and a guy Jess who had cancer and only limited time until he would die. They had been best friends ever since, but Sam always had a thing for Jess, and she stayed by him the whole time he was sick with cancer. And that's when Jess realized that he has always loved Sam also, but just didn't realize it until now. So even though he had limited time only they started going out, and made the best out of it. Although something does happen to Jess at the end, the fact that Sam was able to express her emotions to him, and he to her, she at least said what she had in her mind and didn't hold it in. This book taught me to love and care for what you have, to not care bout what you don't have but for what you do got. Because once they're gone you'll start missing it. The themes in this book were, relationships, family problems, love, death, sickness, lost.

[Olyvia Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a teenage boy, Jessie who is suffering from a rare type of cancer. This type of cancer was said to only have a 4% of living from it. His best friend, Samantha who eventually turns into his wife, is always hoping for the best. She had always told Jessie to believe in the 4% chance of living. This book would be a great read to someone who likes romance and fighting for their life.
I really enjoyed reading this book and visualizing so much from this book. I liked how the author expressed how much Samantha loved Jessie and always believed in the good out of everything. The author, Selene, is a wonderful writer when it comes to detail. Every page had so much detail, from the sounds of Jessie moaning in the hospital to the creeping sound of an opening door. This book has inspired me to never give up on anything, just like Samantha and Jessie did.

[Maggie Desmond-O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes an author captures me with their style without quite capturing me with their story...which is pretty much what happened here. To be honest? I thought that this novel wasn't fleshed out enough, was too whiny in tone, too singular in its focus, and not very believable. But the concept and prose held a LOT of potential, and I'll definitely be picking this author's work up in the future.

Sam annoyed me right off the bat. First of all, I couldn't get a handle on what was going on in her head, ever. She seemed obsessive and irrational; one of those characters that you just shake your head at and weep. Secondly, I couldn't understand why her parents and teachers didn't intervene a little bit more. There were ways Sam could have expressed how she was feeling in a much more reasonable fashion, in my opinion. And highlight to see spoiler: Sam's mother just lets them get married? Just like that? No problems? I'm pretty sure my mother would be sympathetic, but marriage would have been a no way, no how kind of move. That whole part of the book just smacked of Breaking Dawn, and not in a good way.

It took a little longer for Jesse to get on my nerves, but get on my nerves he did. Actually, I thought the strongest part of the story were Sam and Jesse's mothers. They were flawed, believable characters that nevertheless went out of their way to support their children, and I'd really like to see more of that in YA. I understand that part of growing up is growing away from your parents, but there are some parents who are pretty good at understanding where you're coming from. (Actually, Sam's mom reminded me of the mom from If I Stay, which was awesome. Sam's mom is definitely earned herself a place on my top YA moms of all time list.)

My biggest problem with this book the S-E-X. Not to get all juvenile on you guys here, but it got just plain icky after awhile. You could not go TWO PAGES without some kind of "scene". In other words, not the kind of book you want to be reading on the beach with your grandparents constantly looking over your shoulder and asking whether or not it was any good. I literally went so far as to hide this book under my bed while I wasn't reading it in case my dad decided to check up on why I was acting so secretive about it, which means that of course my sister found it and demanded to read it when I was finished. She came to the same conclusion, which was "Um, no.". I don't have a problem with teen sex (in fact, I think it's tiptoed around far too much in YA), but in this novel, the context was more like that of 20-somethings than 17-year-olds, which is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine.

I actually think this book would have been better if it had been about 20-somethings, period. I could have gotten into it a little more. Still, there were places where it absolutely broke my heart regardless, and I'm sure that many people less cynical than me would adore this book for a good bittersweet romance. Heck, despite its problems this book was still way better than a Nicholas Sparks novel in my humble opinion, and I am excited to have gotten the opportunity to review it. It's raw, dark, bitingly funny, and honest; all excellent qualities for a story to have

All in all, this book was touching and achingly sad, even if it reached a little at times. I'll even admit I did get a little sniffly occasionally. The New York City setting was spot on (hey, I've been there now, so I'm entitled to say that!) and the adult character development right on the money. I was left a little disappointed by the ending, but I think Selene Castrovilla is one to watch in the genre - I know I'll be keeping tabs!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so sad, one of the most morbid YA books I've ever read... I couldn't put it down, and I wanted Jesse to live, so that he and Sam could have their happily ever after. It doesn't always turn out like you expected.

**SPOILERS!!**
I thought it was funny that one of the first things Sam wanted to do for Jesse when he found out he was more than likely going to die was to have sex with him. To take his virgin card and give him hers, so that he didn't die a virgin and she could fill out some fantasy that she had of them being together at some point. But there time was short and so I guess she thought she'd make the best of it. And that was the beginning of, well, the beginning. Jesse finally starts to live again because he's falling in love with Sam.

This book kept breaking my heart over and over again. When she first told him that she'd loved him forever and he was only just starting to love her, and she stormed out and he nearly died trying to get to her next door just to apologize. When she caught him with that whore kissing him in his bed, I cried. I really did, and I would have done the same exact thing as her: run away. After all she did for him, there's nothing really to say when you see something like that. But what surprised me is that when he found her, he asked her to marry him. She deserved it. That's all I could think, was that she deserved it more than anyone.

I loved the little brother. Drag queen in the making, definitely. But he was the little comic relief... There wasn't much, but he was it. And Sam's mom was so entertaining. She would have been a romance novel writer. But she was very understanding and compassionate because she'd been there in a way, with her husband who died in the trade center. Unlike Jesse's mother who annoyed the hell out of me. Just get over yourself and focus on your son, you witch! I don't care what problems you have. When your son is dying, you're there for him!

I knew somewhere deep down that he was going to die, but I didn't want to accept it. Even though the story leaves you off with him still being alive, he's in so much pain that it's going to happen soon. I cried at the end, nearly sobbed. I can't even imagine how that feels like, and just reading hurt beyond imagining. If you want to read a great story about death, this is it. I loved this book as much as I hated the way it made me feel. But I won't read it again, because of how truly depressing it was. It was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but in the end it only made me cry.

[CCAM&GZM · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the title "The Girl Next Door" (have been a while since I signed up for the tour and I forgot the book’s subject) I said to myself that’s OK, I was in the mood for something light, perhaps funny, because, isn’t it, usually this kind of title makes you think about that. How wrong I was! If somehow you’ll skip the dedication, the first lines will remove any doubt.

"Jesse’s dying. The doctors are 96 percent sure of it. They even have a time line: seven months."

Ops! I wondered if I really want to read the book. The obligation to the tour compelled me to keep reading, but what made me read it to the end was the author.

The Girl Next Door is a book that arouses emotions. Not only awakens them, but simply shatters you - of course each of us perceive and process the information differently, but I do not think that are too many people who can remain indifferent to the emotions, feelings and tests that Jesse and Sam must go through. Selene Castrovilla has caught their essence and has convey them very well so, through Sam’s eyes and thoughts, you, the reader, will feel them all acutely: the desire to fight and the surrender, hope and despair, solace with the fate and revolt, the evolution from the friendship to love and the uncertainties that come with them, guilt and despair, and everything even the acceptance of the decision of the one you love.

“But you said you didn’t want to die—”“I don’t, but I’m going to. I know it, Sam. Don’t ask me how, but I know it. And that’s okay—I accept it. But I’m also grateful for each moment I have, and I want to enjoy them.”

Everything that happens between Sam and Jesse is not forced, it is motivated and gains legitimacy on the way. Sometimes it is so painful to read that only the shred of hope that the author manages to maintain to the end and you desperately hang on it will make you go ahead.

The Girl Next Door subliminally highlights the need and the importance of relationships within a family, gives back to the marriage the sacredness and the significance that seems to be lost in time, and will provide you the opportunity to re-evaluate your own life and make you not only live, enjoy every moment, but to cherish one and all.

"I’ll love you from the heavens
for eternity,
Evermore."

Read the book, cry for them, live and love for them and for you!

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Are you a fan of Lurlene McDaniel? If so, then don't hesitate to pick up THE GIRL NEXT DOOR by Selene Castrovilla. This is a heart-wrenching novel of young love.

Sam(antha) and Jesse live next door to each other in a New York City apartment. They've lived next door ever since they were toddlers. They're best friends. And now, Jesse is battling a rare, terminal form of lymphoma. His prognosis for a cure is an optimistic 4%.

Sam has always been in love with Jesse. But she's stood beside him as he became popular and winning at any sport he played. And she watched as he dated Ms. Perfect Cindy Evans. But they've remained friends. And now, as Jesse battles for his life, Sam is the only person he wants near him.

Jesse's mom avoids him and anything to do with his illness. Sam is there by his side as he struggles through debilitating chemotherapy and nausea. She went from being an honor student to practically failing out. She can't concentrate on school, only wanting to be with Jesse twenty-four hours a day.

As the story progresses, Jesse battles with his anger over his illness and loss of the life he loved. Sam struggles with her guilt and grief. Not only is she watching Jesse disappear in front of her, she is still mourning the loss of her father.

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is a tear-jerker of a novel in the same vein as most of Ms. McDaniel's work. Ms. Castrovilla portrays the honest struggles of two teens dealing with issues that even those much older would have a hard time coping with. Both Jesse and Sam are hurting, but through it all, they know that they have each other to lean on.

The story contains some mature content, dealing with some frank sexual situations. But the story is not repulsive. Quite the contrary. The situations are used to showcase the point of how fleeting life can be, and how one must live each day to the fullest while one can.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

June 14, 2015: Third read in under five years, must be something special. The review below holds up, but the older I get, the less I mind their physical relationship because it's ultimately such a powerful love story. Sam and Jesse make me cry every time over how they become each other's whole world, and they keep me coming back to their story like few other book couples can. I have to upgrade it from 4 to 5 stars for that.

May 20, 2012: I hate how their romantic relationship starts, because considering that when we meet them she's already sleeping over in his room and is never anything less than the most important person in his life, there seems to be no reason they couldn't have forged this relationship with all the steps in proper order. It cheapens the effect of the love story. I also don't like how sex-focused this story remains throughout, because a couple of mentions would be organic, but this goes back to the well often enough that it makes me think, in absence of the main plot, there would be nothing noteworthy about this book apart from the hundreds of other bland contemporary YA love stories.

But it does have that main plot. And that is what makes this book worthy of multiple readings (something I personally almost never do), and which would have made this a 5-star book without the above paragraph. The characters are vivid - I certainly fell in love with them - and the difficult to capture first person POV is extremely strong. If you want heartbreak, this book has it in spades. It's the Lurlene McDaniel effect, without the drugstore-romance-novel-quality stigma attached. It remains one of the best cancer stories in YA, and it's a book that's stayed with me for months.

[Princess Bookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts: I always tend to like these kind of stories. When I first saw this one in people's mailbox posts, I automatically knew I had to read this. It reminded me a bit of His Eyes by Renee Carter which I really loved. We meet Jesse and Sam. They grew up with each other and have been best friends since they were little kids. Jesse had another friend Pete and a girlfriend Cindy. Than he got sick and things went downhill fast. He was diagnosed with cancer and the only one he could stand to be around was Sam, because Sam really knew him and they had always been around each other. Sam started to stay with him all the time, even staying the night. Jesse started going through treatments while Sam stood by him.

Jesse and Sam started to get closer and closer, and became more than friends.

I won't spoil this novel but I just want to say a few things. First off, when someone gets sick, its hard. Jesse was going through so much pain, but so was Sam. They both knew he was going to die and all that they had was time. Time to spend with each other and try to enjoy their last moments together. Second,there were so many times I wanted to cry, and so many times I felt proud of both Jesse and Sam for being so strong. If you want to find out what happens, read the book.

Overall: Really liked it. I especially Jesse and Sam's first time. Thats about how it goes too! Really good book!

Cover: I've seen two different versions of the cover but they are both cool.

[Just a person · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a type of story that I love and devour. The main characters Sam and Jesse are well written, and the plot is well paced. I am able to understand where Sam is coming from and it is an adventure to watch how they deal with these life altering circumstances.
Their relationship is touching and though I would only recommend this for older teens and adults because of sexual references and action (which seems a bit excessive to me at times which is why I deducted a star), it is feasible that it could really be two teens dealing with emotions, hormones, and a tough hand that life has dealt them.
I like that Sam's mom is loving and understanding. She realizes that this is a unique situation and supports her daughter and her and Jesse's love. She is present and trying her best. I also like that though Jesse's mom has a terminal child and a husband that left her, she is finally able to break through her own pain and sorrow and finally be there for her son. It is a difficult road for her to get there, but at least it is not a case of a completely absent parent. Maria is also a great addition- adding extra support for Jesse, and some humor thrown in.

[Lori Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make sure you have a box of tissues handy for this one! The Girl Next Door by Selene Castrovilla is an endearing tale that follows two teenagers as they struggle to understand the effects of cancer, relationships, and themselves.

Sam is the girl next door, you know the cultural stereotype--wholesome, average, not your girly-girl type! But when 17-year old Sam is right there every step of the way for her best friend, Jesse, he begins to see her in a different light. Only thing is--he has a rare, treatment-resistant form of cancer and his odds of survival aren't good.

As Sam helps Jesse with his struggle, Sam must overcome her own fears and discover who the real Sam is along the way.

Anyone who has watched a loved one suffer through illness will relate to this story. As if there's not enough to deal with as a teenager, this poignant novel brings home the message that "Death can never rob us of the love we give away."

[Cheryl-Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt like the characters fell flat. The content issues (particularly teenage sex but also the language) were a big turn off. I felt like in this book it was like someone saying "what would you do if you had only 6...or 10 months left to live." The answer being ignore and shut out all my old friends and sleep with my next door neighbor. I get that Jesse felt awful from the chemo a lot of the time but really? Shouldn't some parents have been dealing a bit more with the deep issues going one here? But of course he comes from a somewhat dysfunctional home. Anyway, just couldn't stomach it- skimmed the second half. Would never want my teen to read this book

[Robyn]

This one just moved to the top of my I-simply-must-have-this-book-or-else list based on the description alone. It sounds moving and heartbreaking and wonderful, and I WANT IT NOW!!! Please. (:

[Utopia-Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching novel, indeed.

[Sarah Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl Next Door is a very good book but it is very heart wrenching. You fall in love with the charters so fast that you don’t want anything bad to happen to them. But when something does happen you feel more sad then they do. You read the first page of the book and your so far in you can't get out. This is a very romantic and sad book. I would rate The Girl Next Door 10/10 because of how much detail is in it. It feels like you are in the book as one of the characters too. You hear their thoughts and see how that plays out so much that you feel like your that charter. This book is a very good book if you want to cry. I would not read this book if you are under 12 because there are some pretty graphic parts, But it makes the story real. If you are mature then you may be able to read this book younger than that but I would say 12 and over. I feel like the older you read this book the more it will make sense to you. The more you will relate to the charters and if you do that in this book you are going down a very steep roller coaster of emotions.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took way longer than it should have. I hate reviewing negatively on such a heavy topic, but this book wasn't it for me.

I was expecting more. I was annoyed at Sam throughout almost all of the book. Maybe that was the point - maybe it was supposed to be that way because she was dealing with so much. I just had bigger expectations for this book than it ended up deserving.

Sam is in high school. Her best friend, Jesse has a rare, terminal cancer. Sam is basically living in Jesse's bedroom - as friends. Gwen, Jesse's mom doesn't seem to care about him. We find out later she actually does, just doesn't know how to show it. Sam's mom isn't phased when she admits that her and Jesse are sleeping together. I do understand where the author was going with this, but I definitely wanted to quit reading several times. Not my cup of tea, I guess.

[Kierstyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, although I hate the ending. Don't worry, I won't spoil it for you.
But along with the summary that it gave, it's too young people that had to make grown up decisions. Samantha and Jesse were just best friends since she moved next door when she was around two. But after Jesse got sick things changed fast. Samantha moved in with him because he was scared that he might die alone, and Samantha was the only person that he would talk to about anything. Then things happen and Jesse and Samantha started dating. It's really tough on them. Samantha then gets scared of losing him permanently.

[Makenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a favorite. In it, a girl named Samantha (Sam for short) lives next to a boy named Jess. They've been best friends forever and Sam has always had a little crush on Jess. But, when Jess gets diagnosed with cancer both of their worlds get flipped upside down. Sam is the only one that is with Jess 24/7 because he is afraid to die alone, not even his mom will stay with him. The two slowly began to fall in love. This is why I love this book because it tells their journey as a couple and how jess deals with Cancer. They both accept whats gonna happen and they try their best to live every day to its fullest.

[Hernandezcarmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good it showed a lot of emotion and the hurt a teenager can go through when losing someone they care about especially your best friend to cancer but throughout the book Sam starts liking her best friend

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review originally posted on TotalTeenFiction as part of The Girl Next Door Blog Tour.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from A Book and a Latte PR in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour.

The Girl Next Door tells the story of Sam, whose best friend Jesse is dying of cancer. With time ticking away, the two of them must tackle their feelings for each other and make the best of the time they have together.

Now I'll admit, I love a sad book. I know some people can be put off about books which are going to tug at your heartstrings and turn you into an emotional wreck, but books that move me and tackle real, dark subjects are always high on my list. And The Girl Next Door is a sad book. The opening few chapters are quite bleak, and once I read that the main character Sam's dad is a 9/11 victim on top of the fact that her best friend is dying of cancer I was nervous. I knew this was going to be a tough book to read, but instantly I felt for the characters and the situation they're in and was able to get wrapped up in a powerful, emotional and heartwarming read.

The book is told from Sam's point of view, so we get to see how she deals with the prospect of losing her best friend. I liked that nothing was sugar-coated, and that we get to see the real low points of Sam's struggle. As well as tackling Jesse's cancer, the author has also taken on the issue of depression with Sam getting help to deal with her feelings about Jess dying. I was really glad to see that subject approached, and it made me really sympathise with Sam and what she is going through as well. I think it proved that sometimes you have to look after yourself and be selfish! I could relate personally to that situations, as I've been ill myself (although thankfully nothing as serious as cancer) and those around me have also felt the blow of having to live with and care for someone with a chronic illness. It's something that affects everyone.

But the book definitely isn't all bleak! At the end of the day it's a love story, and Sam and Jess have some incredibly sweet moments. I loved their little heart-to-hearts as they discuss their feelings for each other and the future, and their "seize the moment" attitude was something that really resonated with me. I always love a good friends to more-than-friends story. You can tell that Sam and Jess already have this amazing chemistry and trust between them. Plus there's some steamy scenes between the two of them. Jess is scared of dying a virgin, and so there's a fair few sex references/scenes in there. I thought they were really well done and it was so sweet seeing their relationship develop and the two of them really making the most of the time they have together.

One of the book's real strengths was definitely the characters. I loved Sam's mum who's a writer, and Maria, Jess's crazy housekeeper. Plus Sam's little brother Ted was adorable! He dresses up in his sister's clothes and plays with dolls. I want to see more characters like Ted who break the mold and are accepted for who they are. I also thought the strained relationship between Jess and his mum Gwen was a great plot line. She's really struggling to cope with Jesse's cancer and the two of them have never really been close. Seeing them facing some challenging circumstances really allowed the two characters to develop.

The Girl Next Door is quite a quick read, but the story and the characters really root themselves in your brain. I think you really come away from the story with an appreciation of life and those around you, and it makes you want to seize the moment and look out for yourself. Yes, it's sad, but there are some lovely uplifting scenes to balance it out. The writing was brilliant, and I'd definitely be interested in reading more by this author.

Find more books like this at TotalTeenFiction!

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Also posted at Oops! I Read A Book Again*

Thank you to Jennifer of A Book and A Latte - PR and Selene for the review copy. This in no way affected my views of the novel.

Beware that this is an emotionally draining novel. Sam and Jesse have been best friends since they were toddlers. Jesse is then diagnosed with a terminal cancer now that they're seventeen. Jesse's a senior and he's popular, dates the prettiest and most popular girls, star of the football team. He has everything until his life turned upside down as he was told he had only months to live. Sam, who've always loved Jesse, stands by him through all of his ordeals. With a ticking bomb looming over them, Jesse realizes that he has always loved Sam. The novel now tackles Jesse's impending death and how the both of them will deal with it.

See? This is a sobfest. This is like every Korean and Japanese sob movie ever. But even if you might consider this a cliche set-up, I still suggest you read this novel. It was beautifully written, with so many quotable passages and dialogues and actions that will grip and squeeze your heart. It will extract all of your emotions, put it in a platter and play with it. I love best friends-to-love romance so much that it pains me that they don't have forever.

With Jesse getting weaker and weaker and their love getting stronger, issues arise. How Sam deals with it, how Jesse deals with it, how Sam's family deals with it and how Jesse's family deals with it. There were heart-wrenching moments and scenes where family love shone through, especially scenes with Jesse and his estranged mom, Gwen. That's the thing I love the most about The Girl Next Door. Love overflows in every single page in this novel. Even with just Sam holding Jesse's hand, you can feel the love. When Maria, Jesse's housekeeper, cleans his room, her love for him is palpable. It's saddening that it takes a sickness for you to see things in a different light but like they say, it's better late than never.

I did have some issues about how convenient some parts were or how rash but I guess I haven't loved someone as much yet so I don't understand. Sam and Jesse also felt like real teenagers, which was a great accomplishment of the author for me. They were facing such a serious conflict but they're on the cusp of maturity and it showed that they're not kids but not yet adults. Moreover, I love Maria and Sam's family so much. I actually even like Gwen.

While incredibly heartbreaking, Sam and Jesse did made my heart flutter from the sweetness as well. I guess when you're dying and the person you love is dying, every moment is gold and everything is heightened. While they also deal with jealousy and Sam feeling worthless and guilty, they eventually got through with it together and even closer.

The Girl Next Door is a lyrically melancholic novel about two teens loving and making the best out of their short time together. It will make your heart hurt and it will also make you smile and you will feel like you've been through so much hardship after reading this book. The Girl Next Door shows us how sometimes, it takes death to wake people up for them to truly see and appreciate their surroundings and to fully realize who they love.

[S.A. Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional, and at times, sweet story about one teen's battle with cancer and struggle whether to keep fighting through the gentle eyes of his best friend and soul mate.

My stomach quivered at the thought of writing down my observations of this story. Not because I didn't have an opinion or recommendation. It was what happened to me as I read this endearing tale about Samantha and Jesse--two teens dealt a crappy hand of fate that most of us would shun and run from. They handled it with grace and dignity, but also rawness and pain. They bled before the reader and fought and cried and laughed and ... eventually, hoped. Even though they both knew the slimmest sliver of hope was available to them.

The story is written from Sam's point-of-view. She's conflicted, for numerous reasons. Her BFF, who happens to be the boy-next-door (making her the-girl-next-door aka title of the book), has been her playmate since before she can remember. Actually, she does remember an elevator incident when she and Jesse were two years old. But you'll have to read the story to find out about that.

As the story progresses, Sam gives Jesse worth, value. She's a young caregiver, a silent-suffering-servant, who selflessly cares for Jesse. He's what most guys want to be at age seventeen: bright, handsome, fit, and a great athlete. He's really a man in the making. But the diagnosis of cancer erases all of that like a tsunami hitting a delicate sandy beach, and yes, pretty much wiping me out too.

Sweet and caring scenes reveal a deep connection of friendship that has always been between Sam and Jesse--a gem among stones. But there relationship is not without hurdles. As Jesse tries to find peace in his plight, Sam contemplates belief and how different people concentrate on different faiths. (She's suffered her own losses in her family life.) She wonders lots of things I believe conflict young adults, as well as adults. I enjoyed how Castrovilla explored both sides of both main characters' inner struggles--interior emotions through action. The dialog was refreshingly real and honest, most passages plunking my heart strings with increasing intensity.

One of my favorite parts of the book is the involvement of both teens' mothers. The contrast in relationships between Sam and her mother, and Jesse and his mother is a great parent/child analysis in play. And it could have been fathers; it wouldn't have mattered. It was nice to see a parent involved and both types of dynamics examined. Ooh, and Samantha has a little brother to die for. He's hilarious--a drag queen in the making. His character gave a diversity to the story, as well as a break from the serious health subject a hand.

Honestly, there is just too much to say about the emotional value and span of this story. Just read it.

[Lawral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl Next Door is the more grown-up version of those really sad books everyone reads for a while in junior high. Death is more than a possible ending for this book; it is practically the setting and a main character as well. Jesse and his mother are, of course, consumed by Jesse's sickness, but so is their housekeeper Maria, Sam, and Sam's mother and little brother. Sam especially. She starts to fail out of school, she moves into Jesse's room, and she lets everything that is not Jesse fall to the wayside. She desperately wants Jesse to live, but she knows that it's very possible that she has years and years to catch up on things like high school while she may only have months (if she's lucky) to spend time with Jesse.

It is unbearably sad.

More sad than the situation itself is the way that Sam deals with it. She truly becomes a shell of herself, her sole purpose to make Jesse as happy and as comfortable as possible. The prime example of this, and one that causes more than a few problems for both Jess and Sam, is that she crawls into bed with him based on nothing more than her lifelong crush and Jesse's wish to not die a virgin. He doesn't fall in love with her until afterward. With that kind of a set-up, of course she doubts Jesse's feelings for her! She's available and willing to put out (and make sandwiches and clean when he pukes them up later) all the time. Even though her doubts linger for a whole lot of the book, Sam never backs up, sets boundaries, or ASKS Jesse about his feelings for her. She just clings to him all the more. When her mother finally notices that Sam has gone to the bad place over Jesse and over Jesse's illness and makes Sam see a therapist, Sam won't even go to his office without Jesse.

Sam's so desperate throughout the whole book, not only to have Jesse live but to be Jesse's whole life the way he has become hers. To be honest, it made me uncomfortable. I wanted for someone, her mom, her therapist, Jesse, to make Sam see that she needed to be her own person in order to survive when Jesse may not. They all tried, but it never really sunk in. Even when things start to get a little bit better, Sam is still all about Jesse. Their relationship becomes more healthy than it is in the beginning, but Sam is never just Sam.

Still, I don't know that teen readers will have the qualms about Sam that I do, and even with my worry for Sam and discomfort over the way she was portrayed, I was totally sucked into this story. I cried. And I would have eaten this book up when I was in junior high/early high school. It is a really good sad story.


Book source: Review copy from publisher

[Ashley Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going into this book, you know what’s going to happen. I had not a single ounce of doubt how this story would end – but I won’t tell you if I’m an optimistic person or a pessimistic person. Just know that I was right.

Regardless, this isn’t a book to pick up if you’re already feeling down. There’s a lot of emotion running around here. This book follows the story of Sam as she deals with her best friend’s diagnosis with cancer. It’s certainly not the first time this idea has been written but what I found very unique was how much emphasis is placed on Sam’s struggle, and not the struggle of Jesse, the boy with cancer. Don’t get me wrong, the cancer part is important too but a lot of effort is spent on the reader understanding the effect it has on Sam – and I like that. It was a perspective I wasn’t anticipating and it was one that made it easy to relate to. I think we’ve all felt guilty in one way or another when we feel “selfish” over having an opinion about someone else’s struggle.

There are a lot of things about this story that are good. It’s all focused on character development, after all, and I like that the development, at least for Sam, isn’t linear. She makes one decision and then something will come by and knock her down and she’ll have to make the same decision over and over again. It’s all very interesting to see. A lot of the struggle is real – she ignores advice some of the emotions are quintessential 17 year old emotion. There’s unfounded jealousy and seemingly overzealous sexual urges that at first made me say “really?” and then I remembered my own emotions at 17 years old and though, “Oh yes, that’s pretty legit.”

Still, this book didn’t make it above 3 stars. To a certain extent it was too long. I got desensitized. There really wasn’t anything else, aside from a little jealousy, in this story to distract from the sadness. Because of this some of the emotional parts just didn’t ring with me because I was just so used to it. I teared up a couple times but I think I was too prepared for a lot of it, and some of the conversations just felt forced, or like they came too soon. I don’t think the bubble was popped on the high emotion enough. I needed to be let down so I could be brought back up again.

Overall, if you like books with a high level of emotion like The Fault in our Stars or If I Stay I think you’ll find Castrovilla’s The Girl Next Door appealing.

This book was presented to me as part of the Author Alliance.

[Ethan Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review and more available at: http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...

*****

My Thoughts:

You guys may remember last fall when I devoured Melt, the heartbreaking story of love and acceptance by Selene. It cut me like a knife, but I wanted more. I was so excited to meet Selene at UtopYA and when I expressed those thoughts, she recommended I check out this novel, and boy, I sure am glad she did. You ever read one of those books that punches you right in the feels, but you love it anyway? This was one of those novels.

I'll try to keep this one short and sweet, just as the book itself. Clocking in at 240 pages, this book was a quick read for me, I devoured it in one sitting. It's quick paced and very easy to follow along. Just settle in and get ready for a feels-worthy trip down Selene Castrovilla-lane.

The Girl Next Door follows the tales of best friends Jesse and Samantha who, through years of trials and now terminal cancer, finally discover their love for one another. To say it's touching doesn't even begin to describe it. Castrovilla does a phenomenal job of telling more story than her words let on. The entire novel is full of allegories and reflections on life itself. It's one of those reads that will both cause you to reflect on your own life, and appreciate all the living things just a little bit more. My heart was warmed for the entirety of those 240 pages.

Sam and Jess are amazingly written characters, definitely not without their flaws, but they were great to get to know. I will admit that I couldn't relate too much to their lifestyles, but that was okay, because their struggles were universal. I think that most every reader could find a way to relate their story to that of Sam and Jess'.

If you are a fan of the work of John Green, I highly recommend you give this novel a try. As Selene pointed out to me, this novel could be compared to TFiOS, but it's so much more than that. Castrovilla makes her mark on the YA contemporary world with this incredible read and I hope she never lets go.

Every page of this awesome story left me asking for more. The plot was gripping, the characters were well-developed and written to perfection, and the settings and emotionally reflective backdrop to the entire novel made it so memorable. An awesome 4-star read from me. Anyone looking to catch some feels should definitely add this one to your TBR, you will not be disappointed!

*****

[Kazh · Rating 4 out of 5]

(View this review on My Library in the Making.)

I've always been a softie when it comes to terminal illnesses in books and movies, which is why I try to avoid those as much as possible. This is the reason why I haven't read John Green's The Fault in Our Stars yet, and until now, I'm still not sure what compelled me to read The Girl Next Door. Not that I regret it.

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful writing. Selene Castrovilla knew how to gut-punch with just a few words, and with this story she's telling, she sure hit me more than once. But it wasn't all sad. The dry humor in this book, particularly Sam's and her mom's, had me laughing out loud a lot of times.

Mom sighed. "Is this my punishment for writing smut all these years? If I switch to Christian writing, will things be different?"

"Only with your royalty checks."

Jesse's initial sarcasm also made me snort very un-lady-like, even though I knew it was brought about by his helplessness.

As is the usual case with terminal illnesses—or any illness, for that matter—the sick person isn't the only one who suffers. Sam might as well have been dying herself. She definitely couldn't hold back her emotions well, and I hated how she would often get selfish and even more depressed than Jesse. But turns out she actually had deep-seated issues of her own, so I just felt for her in the end.

One of my few qualms with this book was how there wasn't a lot said—or, rather, showed—pertaining to their friendship because when the story opened, Jesse already had cancer and Sam was already sleeping in his room. But their romance? Oh, it was there, alright. Theirs was a sad, beautiful, tragic love affair, and I'd be damned if I say I didn't root for them to live out the rest of their young lives together, for Jesse to beat his cancer.

Just when I thought I'd survive this without the waterworks, the dam broke. The book was beautiful in its entirety, but the ending particularly even more so. Until now, almost a day after finishing it, I'm still telling myself that my tears were happy ones.

MY FAVORITE PART was

"I want you to hold me just like this—I want you to hold me when I die."

*SOBS*