Book Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

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Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publication: September 29, 2011 (Hardcover)
Pages: 338
Publisher: Dutton (Penguin imprint)
Buy it: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

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.

After reading Anna and the French Kiss, I couldn't believe that Stephanie Perkins could write a companion novel with a relationship as cute and sweet yet sexy as the one between Anna and Étienne. (Okay, I believed in her magical writing abilities. I just couldn't imagine a couple as cute and sweet and sexy as the aforementioned.) Then I met Lola with her crazy fashion sense and Cricket with his mad inventing skills.

Strangely, while the cover of Lola and the Boy Next Door is more whimsical than that of Anna and the French Kiss, this book also has a darker side to it. Rather than the guy being the two-timer, Lola is the one who is indecisive, and with her already having a rock-star boyfriend who is five years older... yeah. We know there are things going on, though we don't see it happening.

That was the main thing I didn't like about this book. I couldn't understand Lola's obsession with Max, her rock-star boyfriend, and her willingness to put up with him. I wanted her to hurry up and realize that Cricket's the one--even though he broke her heart before--that there is such ting as second chances. Cricket is cute, sweet, and sexy in a different way from Étienne. He is the boy next door, the one you love all your life.

I could almost swear that I actually laughed out loud while reading this book. The rest of the time, I had a stupid grin on my face--and was probably giggling every now and then. Stephanie Perkins has a knack for writing books with cute romances and characters that will simultaneously charm and amuse (with personality and wit) everyone who will reads about them.

All you girls beware: you'll be wanting an Étienne or a Cricket for yourselves after reading this book.

My rating: Highly Recommended


(If you like romance-centered books and will be rereading this, it's a KEEPER. Otherwise, I still suggest you read this book!)