What I Thought Was True

Seventeen-year-old Gwen Castle lives with her family in the coastal resort town of Seashell, Connecticut. During the summer before her senior year, she takes a job as a personal care companion to help her family make ends meet. Her summer becomes complicated when Cassidy Somers, a wealthy classmate with whom she has a complex past, shows up working as the local yard boy. Their forced proximity leads Gwen to confront their shared history and her assumptions about their social differences. The story follows Gwen as she balances family obligations, work responsibilities, and evolving relationships against the backdrop of a tourist destination where class divisions are stark. Her Portuguese immigrant family, including her young brother with special needs and her restaurant-worker father, plays a central role in her decisions and perspective. This contemporary young adult novel explores themes of truth versus perception, the impact of social class on relationships, and the challenge of reconciling past experiences with present understanding. The island setting serves as both a literal and metaphorical divide between different worlds.

Readers call this a slow-paced contemporary romance that focuses heavily on family dynamics and personal growth alongside the central love story. Many comment on the authentic portrayal of working-class island life and complex family relationships. Readers appreciated: - Realistic depiction of teen relationships and sexuality - Strong sense of place/setting on Seashell Island - Complex family dynamics and character growth - Natural dialogue between characters Common criticisms: - Slow plot progression, especially in first half - Too many secondary characters to track - Relationship development moves in circles - Main character can be frustrating/indecisive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (120+ ratings) "The family dynamics felt real and messy in the best way" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes too long to get moving but worth it for the character development" - Amazon review "Needed editing to tighten up the meandering plot" - Barnes & Noble review

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick A romance unfolds between two teens from different socioeconomic backgrounds who navigate family expectations and summer secrets in their New England coastal town.

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther During a Martha's Vineyard summer wedding celebration, a girl who lost her sister finds healing through a new relationship and family traditions.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler Two best friends embark on a beach vacation where they confront grief, first love, and hidden truths about a shared loss.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen A college-bound insomniac spends her last summer before university in a beach town where she discovers romance with a fellow night wanderer while working at her father's new family's bike shop.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han A girl's annual summer beach house visit transforms when both brothers she has known since childhood begin to see her differently.

🌊 Although set in the fictional Stony Bay Island, the book draws inspiration from real New England coastal communities, capturing their unique summer tourism culture and year-round resident dynamics. 📚 Author Huntley Fitzpatrick worked as both an editor at Harlequin and a teacher before becoming a full-time writer, bringing her understanding of both publishing and young adult perspectives to her work. 💑 The novel explores class differences in relationships, a theme personal to Fitzpatrick who grew up in a small coastal town where seasonal visitors and year-round residents often had very different economic realities. 🏖️ The protagonist's summer job as a personal care companion reflects a common but rarely portrayed occupation for teens in tourist destinations, where elderly care is a significant part of the local economy. 🌟 The book received particular praise for its realistic portrayal of family relationships, especially the complexity of blended families and the responsibilities many teens face in helping to support their households.