Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins.
Publisher: Dutton Books.
Pages: 338.
Release Date: September 29, 2012.
Source: Purchased.

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.

I don't think it's possible for me to love any other character more than I do Anna Oliphant but Stephanie Perkins really pushed it with Lola. Lola and the Boy Next Door was a perfect companion for Anna and the French Kiss, filled with the same charm and drama and romance and general cuteness as its predecessor.

Lola is so different from Anna but I couldn't help but love her just the same. Her crazy costuming was so fun to read about but I loved that it served more purpose than just being a particular hobby of hers. Lola really is discovering who she is in this book and Stephanie Perkins totally brought it to life in a hilariously entertaining and ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE way.

Cricket, Cricket, Cricket. Be still, my heart. I use this word a lot when speaking about Stephanie Perkins and her characters but Cricket is the epitome of adorableness. I admired how shy and reserved he was because paired with Lola, the two were just - pause for dramatic effect - ADORABLE. Their relationship had me squealing and giggling until my brain just melted from the cuteness overload. BUT if you're thinking "She's making this book sound way too cutesy for me," STOP. Because it is so much more than that. Like I said above, Lola goes through a bit of an identity crisis and her downfall is a perfect dose of dramatic for the book; enough to make me feel for her but not so much that it drags the entire story to a darker tone.

And there was Anna and St. Clair! My favorites were back and they had bigger parts than I had originally thought! That is so amazing. I'm hoping Lola and Cricket play some role in Isla and the Happily Ever After!

Overall, it's a Stephanie Perkins book. What more do I need to say? Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door are perfect for not only contemporary lovers, but also for anyone who just wants to smile. I definitely recommend!

Other reviews for Lola and the Boy Next Door:
Frenetic Reader.
Chick Loves Lit.
The Book Cellar.
Waking Brain Cells.