Lola and the Boy Next Door
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 love it when I have high expectations for a book and it delivers. I sat down with this late in the afternoon and finished it at 1am despite my own resolution to actually SLEEP. That’s when you know a book rocks.
Stephanie Perkins is a sublimely talented author. (If you still haven’t read ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, get thee to a book store pronto!) Her characters are all so full of life. Cricket is possibly the most endearing boy love-interest-type character EVER. He is AMAZING. And that’s not to take anything from Lola because she was such a fresh and original personality to read, it was fantastic.
A total huge bonus was getting to see Anna and Etienne. (They’re still my favorite, but shhhhh, don’t tell Lola. I love her too it’s just that whole “first love” thing, you know? lol)
Let’s just be honest. I recommend Stephanie Perkins’s books to everyone. Seriously everyone. Her writing has that make-you-squirm-in-your-seat realness to it that I can’t get enough of. It really will take you back to how it felt to be a teenager and deal with all these crazy emotions and boys and dads and their ridiculousness.
Just read it. 
Now let’s all gush together. Tell me, did you love it too?
Friday, February 24th, 2012, 7:00 am | 
books, READ IT NOW, reading | 
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February 24, 2012 at 8:12 am
Yep. LOVED IT. I can’t wait for Isla!
February 24, 2012 at 9:38 am
I had the same reactions to both books: I was up until 3am finishing Anna and close to 4am finishing Lola. I can’t express just how much I love these books. After putting down Lola I decided that I wanted to start writing a YA contemporary romance and started in on it right away. I will read anything that woman writes from here on in!
February 26, 2012 at 7:15 pm
I found ANNA to be decent, but absolutely loved LOLA. Mostly because I find Cricket to be the most swoon-worthy boy ever.
February 26, 2012 at 10:53 pm
Yes! I loved this book and will read anything that Stephanie Perkins writes.