Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola and the Boy Next Door
by Stephanie Perkins

Publication Date: September 29, 2011

Summary:  Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. 

 My Review:  5 out of 5 stars

After reading several paranormal or dystopian novels, I was a little surprised at how much and how quickly I fell in love with Lola and the Boy Next Door.  I’ve heard a lot of great buzz about this book, so when I had the chance to get an ARC it jumped on it.  Now I can’t wait to read Stephanie Perkins’ first novel Anna and the French Kiss.

Lola is so unique and has a refreshing and real voice.  She is not worried about how she looks like most high school students, though she takes great pride in what she wears.  It’s a strong person who can pull off outfits like Lola, even though she may not realize how strong she is yet.  I think her story is on girls of all ages can relate to.  There is always a battle between the “bad boy” and the “boy next door” and I love the journey that Lola traveled to finally realize which one was the true “one” for her.  

Then there is Cricket, the boy next door.  Well, I think he is a nice contrast to Lola’s boyfriend.  They are like opposite ends of the spectrum.  They are both college aged and have the hot older guy thing going for them, but they see and treat Lola differently.  While Max, Lola’s boyfriend, has some things going for him, it wasn’t long into the book before I found myself fully pulling for Cricket.  

I’ve been one to root for the bad boy, and this time, I was rooting for “the boy next door”.  The family dynamics in Lola’s life is one that I have not seen before in a lot of books and though it was done tastefully and brought a whole different dynamic to the story.  I loved the conversation between the characters and the mood throughout the book.  Lola’s journey to discover her true feelings for her boyfriend and the boy next door is an honest journey that I’m sure everyone has been through on some level. 

There have been few books that I have read, when once I finished them I wanted to pick it back up and start it all over again.  This is one of those books!  I is such a sweet, fun, charismatic book that I can’t smiling when I think about it.  I highly recommend you give Lola and the Boy Next Door a try, I’m sure you will fall in love with Lola and Cricket just as I did.  It's awesome!!!