Authors Like Huntley Fitzpatrick (3 Book Recommendations)

In the seaside region of Connecticut, Huntley Fitzpatrick spent her childhood daydreaming about other things. She thrived in a family where everyone else constantly had their head buried in a book.

Authors Like Huntley Fitzpatrick (3 Book Recommendations)

Fitzpatrick’s first work of contemporary romance, titled “My Life Next Door”, was released by Penguin-Dial for Young Readers in 2012.

This instantly became a classic and one of her most loved works, though she went on to write 3 more books in the YA romantic genre.

For those who grew up on Fitzpatrick’s work, finding similar books that match up to this high standard of work can be difficult.

Luckily though there are many authors who you’ll love if you enjoy any of Fitzpatrick’s novels.

For the YA or romance lover in all of us, here are some of the best authors to try after working your way through Huntley Fitzpatrick’s books (see also “Authors Like Simone Elkeles“).

If you love Huntley Fitzpatrick’s “My Life Next Door” or any of her other books, then you’ll love the works of similar authors Sarah Dessen, Morgan Matson, and Miranda Kenneally.

Read here to find out which books you need to check out.

Books By Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Life Next Door

My Life Next Door

A romantic novel published in 2012 by Huntley Fitzpatrick. It centers on a flirtation that takes place during the summer between two teenage neighbors, Jase Garrett and Samantha Reed.

When Samantha is little, the Garrett family moves into the house next door to the Reed family, and here is where the story begins.

The Garretts have eight children and live in a house that is roughly the same size as the one that Samantha, her sister Tracy, and her mother Grace call home.

The Garretts are a chaotic family. Grace is opposed to the Garrett family moving in because she believes it will bring down the value of the home.

After Samantha’s mother forbade her daughter from socializing with Jase’s family, the couple decided to keep their relationship a secret to protect their very different familial and economic backgrounds.

Samantha manages her complicated childhood friendships, summer jobs, and her mother’s new lover in addition to her covert relationship with her childhood sweetheart in this heartwarming and sometimes heart-wrenching tale.

What I Thought Was True

What I Thought Was True

The summer when Cassidy Somers works as the yard boy on Gwen Castle’s island home is the first time that Gwen Castle has ever wished to leave her island home.

She comes from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who make sure the island’s summer residents are pleased, and he is an affluent boy from Stony Bay, which is just on the other side of the bridge.

Gwen worries that a life of cleaning houses will be her destiny as well, but just when it seems as though she’ll never escape her history — or the island — Gwen’s father gives her some unexpected advice.

Gwen spends a magnificent and restless summer trying to reconcile what she believed to be true about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself, with what is.

During this time, sparks flare, and hidden histories are revealed.

Just from the two books above, it’s clear that the biggest themes running through Huntley Fitzpatrick’s books are YA, romance, and the themes of family entrapment and dreams of escape.

Authors Like Huntley Fitzpatrick

Sarah Dessen

Author of more than a dozen books aimed at young adults, Dessen is one of the most well-known names in the genre (see also “Authors Like Stephanie Perkins“).

That Summer” was the title of her debut novel, which was released in 1996. Since then, she has over a dozen additional novels and novellas that she has published.

Soon after the announcement that Netflix has optioned three other novels for adaptation, her teen romance “The Rest of the Story” made its premiere at No. 2 on the New York Times YA bestseller list.

The Rest Of The Story

The Rest of the Story

After Emma Saylor Payne’s summer plans are canceled and her father scrambles to find a solution before he leaves the country, the narrative centers on Emma Saylor Payne and her summer spent with her mother’s family.

She had no other choice but to spend the summer with her maternal grandmother, whom she had not seen since the burial of her mother many years before.

Emma Saylor is unable to recall a great deal about her mother because she was only ten years old when her mother passed away. However, she does recall some of the stories that her mother would tell her about a large lake.

When Emma Saylor finally visits the lake, she discovers that her mother’s stories do not provide the full picture.

There are two different towns on either side of the lake; her mother spent her childhood in the more economically disadvantaged North Lake, while her father vacationed at the more affluent Lake North resort.

With the assistance of Roo Price, the kid who was her best friend when she was four and was at the lake for the first time, she discovers more about her past and can reconcile the two views that she has of herself.

During the summer, she makes contact with family and old friends that she hasn’t seen in years, discovers new information about her background, and makes the connection between her imagined mother and the real one.

Pros

  • Thought-provoking and well worded
  • All characters are very well written and fleshed out

Cons

  • Kind of an immature writing style but this can be forgiven as its aimed at older teens and YAs

Themes: Young Adults, romance, heartache, family life, and slight mystery

Morgan Matson

Morgan Catherine Matson, is an American novelist who you may know better than Katie Finn, as she published under this name for many years.

Many of her works have been featured on the NY Times bestseller list, and her novels are popular with both younger and older adults.

Take Me Home Tonight

Take Me Home Tonight

Kat and Stevie, who are inseparable best friends, are both involved in the theater, and they are complete opposites.

Tonight, they have sneaked into New York City for the night. They have every detail worked out in advance.

They will go to a play, eat at the city’s trendiest restaurant, and experience the very best there is to offer. What could go wrong here?

They haven’t even stepped off the train before they had to cope with broken phones, tense situations with their families, and unexpected Pomeranians.

Over the next few hours, they will be forced to contend with former loves, poor theater, and cab drivers that are unhelpful.

On the other hand, there are cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry washing to deliver, and the best museum in the world to investigate.

During a crazy night in the city that never sleeps, Kat and Stevie will each receive a wake-up call regarding their friendship as well as the decisions that they have made, and figure out in the end what it is that they want to do with their lives.

Pros

  • Somewhat connected to other books so the world-building is pretty easy
  • Uses real places/settings/musicals
  • Full of fun plot twists and turns

Cons

  • As it’s slightly connected to other works, you may get a bit confused
  • Admittedly not as good as her other books

Themes: YA romance, friendship, families, and a classic slice of life

Miranda Kenneally

Though not as well known as other YA authors, Miranda Kenneally has written one of the best books in the genre, Catching Jordan.

Though it hasn’t received as much critical acclaim as others on this list, it has been enjoyed by teens for years as one of their first introductions to the romance genre.

Catching Jordan

Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks, 1)

Jordan Woods, a tomboy who’s a senior in high school, has everything mapped out.

She is the finest quarterback in the state, and she has high aspirations of being recruited by the University of Alabama to play football in the upcoming season.

However, Jordan’s ambitions are put at risk when the incredibly attractive Ty Green moves to the area.

Not only does Ty cause Jordan to lose her concentration, but he is also a standout quarterback, and college recruiters have begun to show a lot of interest in him.

Pros

  • Shows a teenage girl as a star football player who can hold her own against the guys
  • Displays realistic relationships
  • Has a lot of poetry included

Cons

  • Relies too much on sensual aspects of relationships
  • The men in the book don’t treat girls in the best way, and this never really gets resolved

Themes: Classic YA themes, high school life, romance, feminism.

Summary

Any of the above books will be your perfect next read if you’ve loved anything by Huntley Fitzpatrick.

While Fitzpatrick may no longer be with us, her works live on through her writing, and you should give her books a try if you have the chance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Books Did Huntley Fitzpatrick Write?

Over her career, Fitzpatrick has written 4 books.

What Were The Main Themes In Huntley Fitzpatrick’s Books?

Fitzpatrick was a big fan of YA romance novels, and so much of her work was written in this genre.

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Anna Davis