Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of A Short History of the Girl Next Door. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Matt Wainwright tells the story of his best friend/unrequited love interest; the whole, unvarnished truth that he was never able to tell her. Despite the fact that he thought Tabby was the perfect girl for him, Matt was hesitant to destroy their friendship if something went wrong. Not wanting to ruin a good thing, he waited too long and lost his chance. After a terrible tragedy, will Matt be able to pick up the pieces of his shattered life?

This debut novel by author Jared Reck is well crafted with interesting main characters and a cohesive plot. Although the subject matter is nothing new, good character development makes Matt and Tabby come to life. Is this the best book in the genre that I have ever read? No, but I felt an emotional connection to the story and how it was realistically portrayed. I look forward to reading more by author Jared Reck in the future and I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy YA realistic fiction.

This book has hit me so hard and left me wrecked. I just... it's so good ;____;
I love everything about this, the story, the writing style, the characters, the plot twist (even though it's really the center plot of this - well, kinda -, it still got me by surprise), the climax, and the ending. There's really nothing that I love more than reading a book that has raw emotion on it, and this book really nailed it.

In a world dominated with negative news and troubled times, this refreshing, hilarious read was exactly what I needed.

So often with YA reads, we expect the characters to be adults and make rational decisions, but it's so nice to see a teen being a teen, silly and growing with every experience. It was such a refreshing read, and I loved Matt, Tabby and the Wainwright family so much. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends!

As I said in a reading update, I am usually all about the quiet, character-driven contemporary stories. But for a good amount of time reading this, I thought it might be too quiet for me.
Matt is secretly in love with his neighbor, Tabby. They've been friends for years, and suddenly she's dating an upperclassman and he's feeling jealous and unsettled. Matt also loves basketball and dreams of making the varsity team.

A huge part of the book is just slice-of-life, with Matt pining and going to school and playing basketball.

Then about ⅔ (maybe?) through the book, there's a pretty unexpected twist. I don't want to say more, but it completely took me by surprise and then the book went in a really different direction. And I'm not sure how I felt about it.

What I loved most about this book were the small details, like the basketball stories and Matt's relationship with his completely awesome English teacher. In the end, it was not entirely my kind of book, but I think many will love it.

I finished this book over a week ago, but I still don't think I will be able to properly articulate how wonderful and painful this book was. This book was such a gut punch, I actually suggested that the book was written by Jared WReck, because he wrecked my heart!

This ARC had an introductory letter written by an editor from Knopf, and she dead on nailed my reactions during this book when she said, "I became a puddle - wiping away tears of laughter on my subway commute, and weeping into my mug of tea at the office as I read the final pages." It was a very emotional read for me, but it was funny and beautiful too.

I would like to start with Matt, because this was his story to tell. I loved Matt. He was such a guy, but he would also play Candy Land with his little brother, while doing voices for all the characters. His voice was authentic and real to me, and his emotions were, at times, quite raw. He made me laugh, and he broke my heart. I liked that he loved so fiercely, and could recognize when he might have wrong. As Tabby's relationship with Branson grew, I could feel Matt's heartache and pain through the pages as he counting down to his friendship with Tabby changing forever. I just wanted to give him the biggest, longest hug I could.

Matt and Tabby shared such a long history. She may not have been a blood-related member of his family, but she was theirs. I thought it was such a special touch that so many of their childhood memories are shared with us. From their first sleepover to when Matt first fell for Tabby. It just amplified how painful the changes in their friendship were, but also solidified how special their friendship was.

Another really special thing about this book was Matt's family. From his mom, the "arts-and-crafts Jedi" to his big hearted grandfather, I adored just about every interaction he had with them. The love they felt for each other was so obvious, and so was the pain they felt for Matt as he was dealing with his out of control emotions. There was this part in the book, where Matt was spending time with his grandparents, an intervention of sorts, and the conversations they shared were so heartfelt and lovely. I was happy Matt had them to help him sort himself out.

One of my favorite parts was when Matt was trying to tell Tabby how special she was to him. He talks about sorting his candy after trick-or-treating. How there was a clear hierarchy, where candy bars ranked the highest, and raisins were the lowest. However, Nerds were outside the hierarchy, because their love for Nerds was so vast and no other candy could quite measure up to the greatness that was Nerds. He goes on to say:
"You're the Nerds, Tabby."
Yeah, I sort of sobbed after that. Terribly sweet.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I am still cry when I talk about it, so I was obviously deeply affected by the story of first love, first heartbreak, love, and loss. I found this to be a solid review and I look forward to reading more stories from Reck.

Matt Wainright has lived in the same cul-de-sac as long as he can remember. His best friend, Tabby, has always lived just across the street. They’re inseparable, and Matt can’t imagine anything ever changing. Except his feelings for Tabby. Matt never saw that coming, and he has no idea how to tell her, but he will. Probably. Until a senior basketball star falls for Tabby, and suddenly everything changes.

Now his best friend is always too busy, and instead of shining on the JV basketball court, Matt finds himself fumbling. Even his younger brother is driving him crazy. Only his favorite class, creative writing, seems to make any sense. Then a tragedy occurs, and Matt can’t make sense of anything, as his life spins out of control and he teeters on the edge of self-destruction.

I was not prepared for this book. At all. I loved Matt’s voice from the very beginning. (With that movie-director voice in his head, of course he’s going to be a writer.) He has grand visions of himself, but his follow-through doesn’t always live up to his hype. This book captures the hope and the confusion of high school, as well as the gobsmacked feeling of first love. I laughed, I hoped, and I cried, right along with Matt. You MUST read this! I’m looking forward to seeing what Jared Reck writes next.

(Galley provided by Knopf Books for Young Readers/Random House in exchange for an honest review.)

I need to start by saying that I absolutely love when contemporary books have male narrators. This book also had many things I like in any type of book, chapters on the short side, and an easy to read writing style that flowed beautifully. All I’m going to say is I did not expect where this book was headed and it made it a much deeper story than I thought I was getting myself into. I changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars for just that reason.
I found it hard to dislike any of the characters in this book. Matt’s sense of humor was just perfect, I laughed so many times throughout this book, because of his witty one liners. He was such a great character. I also found Tabby a wonderful character, she was so sweet.
Overall if you are looking for a fluffy contemporary you will not find it here. You will find a bit of fluff, but this book goes much deeper. I absolutely love this book and the rollercoaster of emotions it brought me. It was in no way predictable, which made me love it so much more.

This book made me have so many emotions. I laughed and cried and oohed and ahhhed! I felt like every twist and turn was going to just blow me away and it did just that. Wonderful book and I can't wait to recommend it to everyone that I know.
Received a free arc from net galley for a honest review

I swear I tried to like the plot, I tried to read the book twice but it really did not work for me. I took without reading the synopsis or any reviews and that was my mistake because I know I do not like book with this idea of loss so strong because I get shaken for weeks. The book is very well written and I love reading romances written by a man, but not without giving chance to all possibilities. I was devastated by the events and was not prepared for what happened to Matt.
Matt and Liam are perfect, we feel on the skin as both suffer and react to the event.
I loved the romantic movies moments in Matt's head and I wanted him to at least have the courage to do what he should have done before everything back down.

A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck is a sweet, hilarious, emotional read.
This unrequited love story takes an honest and unflinching look at the missed opportunities that can haunt us, especially at an age when love can be so confusing and the characters were beautiful, realistic, and so honest. There were some really cute, amazing moments of friendship that I absolutely loved and there were some goddamn heart wrenching moments. And the writing was just perfect - the sadness and the funny moments were balanced wonderfully.

A Short History of the Girl Next Door is a funny, incredible, emotional story. I laughed. I suffered second-hand embarrassment. I cried.

Matt was one of the most wonderful characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about. He can easily be described as the sweet, funny, sometimes awkward, boy next door. I loved having the story narrated from his point of view and from very early on, I had the easiest time connecting with him. It was not difficult to put myself in his shoes throughout the book: I felt all of his frustration, embarrassment, heartbreak, anger, grief, and pain right alongside him. My heart truly broke for him and I’m not ashamed to admit that it made me cry ugly tears. That not-so-little twist that comes almost two-thirds of the way through the book caught me completely off guard, and when I realized the book was heading in a totally different direction than I had been expecting, it was heart-wrenching.

This book was nothing short of amazing and tells a very touching story, one I won’t be forgetting any time soon. A Short History of the Girl Next Door is an impressive debut novel that I highly recommend!

This is seriously one of the best stories I have read in awhile. This is a story about a boy falling in love with a girl. Typical stuff you think? Well your wrong. This book takes so many twists and turns. I can't go into a lot of detail without giving away any spoilers. I can say that if you love John Green's books then you will fall head over heels in love with this book. It is heartbreaking to the point of tears but there are also moments of happiness and love that just make you smile so much your cheeks hurt. The way the main character, Matt, reacts to the things that are happening in his life are so real. I feel that if I was in his shoes I would probably feel and act the same way he does in the story. This book is just all around amazing and I highly recommend everyone to read it. I can see being turned into a very good movie just like The Fault in Our Stars.

A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck
Overview: Matt is starting his freshman year of high school with his sights set on two things: working his butt off at basketball to make it on varsity for his sophomore year and possibly developing his lifelong friendship with his neighbor Tabby into something more. As the world of high school starts to pull them further apart, Matt and Tabby always have each other to return to even when Tabby starts dating senior, Liam Branson, and Matt starts to put up defensive walls. That is, until, they don't, and Matt must grapple with grief and putting a world that has become miserably blurry back in focus. Overall: 5

General Thoughts: When I read the synopsis of this book, something in me said that I had to get my hands on this book, and I was right. While I know very little and care very little about basketball, there was something about this book that made me fall for it. Reck drew me in and made me deeply care about things that I had otherwise no attachment to. He created an impactful depth that made this book so special. I also loved the chapter titles. They are all so Matt and so hilarious.
I love seeing books with great male protagonists, which we don't see enough of in YA, and it also showed a more balanced portrayal of real life by including Matt's family so much in the plot.

Characters: 5 Matt is a great character, and one that made a great narrator. Through the ups and down life throws at him, he stays an authentic character who has strong motivation and justification for his actions. I also love that Matt is a freshman. I find that most YA books are centered on the senior year of high school. This sets it apart from other books as the perspective is slightly different without sacrificing the seriousness or level of the writing. I loved getting to read about Matt and greatly enjoyed his sarcasm and grounded self-deprecation.
Tabby is the other main character of the story and really the catalyst for almost every action in the book, though never in a cheesy, worn out YA cliche way. She is a bright, shining light in Matt's life, and, aside from Trip, one of his few friends. She's known him all his life, and even though they've drifted apart in high school, his constant. This does create conflict where Tabby seems to view their relationship as brother/sister like with his little brother Murray instead of romantic like Matt hopes it will become. I did wonder, though, about Tabby and what else went on in her life and in her head, as we only get to see her through Matt's perspective. I would definitely read this book again from Tabby's perspective.

Plot: 5 The plot is telling the story of a piece of Matt's life, and it does that very well. It encoumpaces all the different facets that make up Matt and is engaging. While I never found anything terribly suspenseful, I enjoyed experiencing their world so much that it prodded me to continue reading. Even over the course of normal actions, there is no dull moment, no filler.

Writing: Reck does a great job with this story. The writing invites the reader into the world and Matt's head, letting him walk around in their shoes without interruption. I found the writing style to feel much like Jennifer Niven's where it is unobstructive, and the beauty come from this story they've managed to create in your mind. This is a strong storytelling method as it is so immersive for the reader. It allowed me to fully understand Matt and his motivations. I also loved how Reck portrayed the stages of grief. It never seemed stilted or like he was following a chart of how people should respond. Numbness spilled into anger then resignation in a beautifully heartbreaking and organic way. I can't wait to see more of what Reck writes in the future.

This book is worth reading, so go read it, but stop reading reviews because they'll probably spoil something. Don't read the description; it'll spoil something. (Those author comparisons… come on, whoever did jacket copy!) If you like YA, go read it.

Okay, that being said, now I will talk about this book in ambiguous terms that jump around the major event that happens a third of the way or so through. No apologies if you're intelligent enough to guess what happens.

So this ends up being a premise I've totally thought about in a different fashion--the idea of who is important to you, but how many other people even know that you're important to them? Who has the right to grieve? Who has the agency to speak after certain events? (I told you there'd be spoilers. There's no way to do this.)

Matt is lovely and so very real and such a great boy character! Am I the only one who feels like boy characters are often one-dimensional in YA lit? I loved the way he interacted with all of his friends and especially with Tabby, and I loved the way that he dealt with the circumstances and lashed out and was vulnerable and real.

While a lot more YA deals with this than proportionally is realistic, I felt like I could see this community reacting and I could see the events playing out. From Matt's parents and family to the way he plays basketball and looks up to his teammates, I felt like Reck had really delved into the personality of every character.

This is so much better than All the Bright Places, and I highly recommend it for those who love tragic YA romances.

It’s been a while since I got a book hangover as big as this one I’m carrying around today. I wanted to stay in bed hugging this book to my chest and re-reading my favorite chapters and occasionally shedding a tear or two—or enough to soak my pillow. But it is my job (not actually a job, but you know what I mean) to tell you what this book made me feel so you can pick it up and experience the amazingness that is reading Jared Reck’s words.

Matt Wainwright has a quiet mouth but an incredibly loud mind. He is quirky, hilarious, creative and a bit of an idiot when he’s hurting. He’s also a victim of unrequited love. He went from loving Tabby as a best friend to loving Tabby in a I-want-to-marry-you-and-be-together-forever kind of way.
Tabby Laughlin lives across the street from Matt. She’s quirky and hilarious like Matt. But she is not a victim of unrequited love. Actually, her love life is doing pretty freaking amazing because she’s dating the lovely, the senior, Liam Branson.
But as I mentioned, Matt a bit of an idiot when he’s hurting and seeing the girl you love with another guy… that hurts a lot.

I cannot believe I found the male version of myself inside a book. I’ve never felt so related to a character until yesterday when I started and finished reading this story. I wish I could jump inside this book and give Matt the biggest, warmest hug because I was him a few years back. Matt is every single one of us who’ve been victims of unrequited love.
Matt’s character is my Nerds (book reference, read it so you know what I’m talking about) when it comes to book characters. Just like Finch from All The Bright Places is someone’s Nerds. Or Ari and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secret of the Universe are someone else’s Nerds.

The storyline is like nothing I’ve ever read. It is incredibly unique and Jared’s voice is just unbelievable. I can’t wait for him to publish more books, I’m sure the next ones will be as fantastic as this one.

Jared Reck’s amazing writing makes you feel every single word in the deepest, darkest corners of your soul. I lived inside this book going through every little thing Matt felt. I laughed out loud, I screamed, I cried until I got a headache and my eyes couldn’t stay open any longer. It is one of those stories that once you read them there’s no going back, you will never ever be able to escape this book. You’ll remember it forever because your heart and mind and soul will never let it go.

I recommend this book to everyone. Because everyone has been a victim of unrequited love at some point. And everyone’s been a Matt.

Just make sure you have a million boxes of tissues, you will need them.

Grab your tissues, Dear Readers. Jared Reck will make you cry either due to laughter or because HE BREAKS YOUR HEART.

Matt and Tabby grew up together, and, over the course of their years of friendship, he's come to care for her. In That Way. By the time their freshman year rolls around, it might even seem like she cares about him, too, at least until Liam Branson, a SENIOR. He's also a basketball star and, unfortunately for Matt, a decent guy. Prepare yourself, because in those small scenes when Matt watches Tabby move further away from him, you will feel so sad.

Matt loves her. Maybe you could minimize it by saying that he loves her in the way that teenagers love someone, but it's more than that. Matt's mother recognizes this, and she even asks him if he wants to be her first love - something that likely will end - or if he wants to be her last love. When you're fifteen, though, all you want is for that person to love you because it all seems like forever.

As the blurb points out, a tragedy occurs, and Matt feels even more relegated, dismissed as if he lacked importance to Tabby. He tries to understand what's happening, and he tries to respond the way he thinks he should, but he loves her. It devastates him that he is not recognized as someone important to her.

If this sounds like a heavy story, understand that it is indeed that, but Reck never makes you feel overwhelmed. He peppers his tale with laugh-out-loud moments, too. So, yes, while you will be sad, you also will feel lighter, happier.

One of my favorite parts of this book is how Reck characterized Matt's parents. They are not painted as your average YA adult, distant and unsympathetic. They understand how their son feels, and they try to guide and help him. Because of them, you are hopeful that Matt will come through all of this and be fine. That he will be happy.

I loved reading this through Matt's perspective. His mind thinks differently from how you might think a YA hero would think, and that's what makes him - and this story - one to love.

When I started reading this book I was not expecting it to get so emotional… It just seemed like a cute contemporary, the classic “I know you since we were babies but, sometime along the way, my feelings changed and you don’t even know…”. It felt kinda meh…

It felt like any sad book of uncorresponded love. So, I was expecting it to end with a “I love you too, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before”. Guess what? This novel is nothing like that! I don’t wanna say too much but this was an extremely emotional book that made me cry my heart out! I won’t tell the why because I entered the book not knowing it and I think it’s the best way.

One thing, just enjoy the cute lovely moments in the beginning! Because it gets VERY tense after that.

It talked about love, friendship, family relations, dealing with problems being them high school ones or major life ones, and about enjoying the moment we are in.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and how realistic it felt. There were some really cute, amazing moments of friendship that I always tend to love, but there were also some heart-freaking-wretching moments. And the writing was just perfect for it! It balanced so well the sadness with funny moments! I loved how it made me cry and yet laugh at the same time… I was a mess.

I also really enjoyed the family aspect of this book. It was lovely and heartwarming and I absolutely loved Murray! He is the cutest! We see their relationship, their history, everything and I loved it! The grandparents were so freaking cool! It made me miss my family…

And last but not least, the title blew me away. I hope it does the same to you… I definitely recommend this book as a cry-worthy and realistic read about friendship, family and love!

M-dub is a fairly funny voice with the unique perspective of a young, insecure jock. It's nice to hear from a sporto who isn't also a total jerk, but the first 100 pages stalled me so often that I nearly walked away. Encouraged by goodreaders, I stuck it out for only mild improvement, but I am glad I read the parts where he learned some important things in oblique ways from his grandfather, and more direct ways from his mother. I would recommend for fans of Jesse Andrews, John Green, Rainbow Rowell, and Lurlene McDaniel.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did! The whole first half was mostly Matt whining in his head about how his best-friend-since-birth, Tabby, didn’t love him in the same way that he was starting to love her. Blah Blah Blah lots of misogyny all around (though thankfully the word “friend-zoned” is never used). But I should not have been so quick to judge! Matt goes through so much growth in the last half of the book and ends up being such a compassionate and insightful character supported by loving family members that don’t put up with his self-centered bullshit. On the surface, this book is clearly about dealing with tragedy, but it has an incredibly universal message about how to not be a shitty person to the people in your life,even (and especially) when you’re hurting, and for that I love it.