Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
8:00 AM
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: October 4, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 338
Source: Bought
Overall: 4.5 Stars
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 Thoughts:
Why can't all romantic contemporary novels be just like one written by Stephanie Perkins? With such ease, she seems to effortlessly weave swooning romantic tales that melt your heart while still tackling family issues in a coming-of-age story. And even without hearing all the amazing praise for Lola and the Boy Next Door, I already knew I would be falling in love with the novel because I completely adored Anna and the French Kiss!
As soon as I began reading Lola and the Boy Next Door, I knew there was no way I would be putting it back down. My eyes were instantly glued to the page, drawn in by Lola's bright personality and the eccentric creativity she poured into her outfits. On the outside, she comes across as very confident and sure of herself, but on the inside, she still has her doubts and insecurities. Cricket was sweet and kind, but he's also rather shy and slow in making decisions as he puts a lot of thought into his actions first. He has his own cool sense style that totally complements Lola's... and it was also definitely one of the signs that meant they should be with together!
But these two also have a complicated history filled with misunderstandings that have kept them apart, adding tension to their once tight friendship. There was a certain vulnerability in Lola and Cricket which appeared whenever they were together, so I really enjoyed seeing them offer support to each other when it was much needed. I loved how Cricket was trying to make up for what he done in the past by not letting the girl of his dreams get away again, but it took awhile for Lola to finally come to her senses....
I was ridiculously happy whenever Anna and Étienne appeared in the novel! I just love those two so much... and as soon as they were first mentioned, a smile lit my face. Perhaps because the novel lacked the magic of a Paris setting this time around, but there was still something missing about the novel I can't quite put my finger on... So, I'm still favouring Anna and the French Kiss more than Lola and the Boy Next Door! While Lola and Cricket are an adorable couple, I still loved seeing Anna and Étienne finally be together more, I guess.
Stephanie Perkins sure knows how to write perfect love stories that absolutely leave you swooning! Lola and the Boy Next Door was an awesome companion to one of my absolute favourite novels and I loved how the characters seemed to once again leap right off the pages! I can't wait to read the final companion novel, Isla and the Happily Ever After, when it's released next year!
6 comments
Beautiful review. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I need to get myself a copy ASAP!!!
ReplyDeleteEnter my international giveaway for EVE!
http://seeitorreadit.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-eve-by-anna-carey.html?s
I'm glad you liked it so much! I'm in the middle of it, like right down the middle. :P I got distracted reading other stuff but I plan to finish it this weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I was surprisingly happy when Etienne and Anna appeared. I liked them more than int heir own book, LOL
:D awesome review, dear!
I so agree with you. Lola looks like she's got everything under control, but she doesn't. She's barely hanging on, with her parents hating Max and her "mom" all messed up and working on her huge Marie Antoinette dress. Cricket and Calliope coming back was the figurative 'straw that broke the camel's back.' :)
ReplyDeleteCan you believe I still haven't read this one? Just reading your review makes me ridiculously happy so my reaction to Lola I'm sure will be exacerbated. I'm probably going to end up reading this over Christmas break because the only things these days I seem capable of reading are my textbooks.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the perfect read to cheer you on a rainy day, and I liked Anna a lot. :) Great review!
ReplyDeleteHoly fried butter on a stick, if THIS is what Stephanie Perkins brings to the table as second helpings, I don’t think my heart can survive a third attack with Isla later this year! Although it is not a direct sequel to Anna and The French Kiss, Lola and The Boy Next Door carries the same scorching intensity and introduces a whole new set of characters to fall in love with.
ReplyDelete