Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Pages: 338
Genre: Fiction
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. [via GoodReads]

I shall start this review with a warning… this is a gush-fest. Fan girl sighing, squeeing and high-fiving will follow… enter at your own risk.

Stephanie Perkins is my hero. Yes, Anna and the French Kiss was phenomenal – still one of my favorites. And yes, I do gush about it to random strangers at book stores and have even forced one or two of them to grab the book and rush to the nearest cashier. I can’t always say its to buy the book or to call security, but whatevah. With that said, and, of course, needless to say, I was uber excited when I heard about Lola and the Boy Next Door. But even though I was convinced it would be just as wonderful as AatFK, I always have that little nagging at the back of my mind that maybe it won’t be as good as the awesomeness that its predecessor was. Well, let me tell y’all, you have nothing to fear!! It was AHHHH-mazing!

Lola was as quirky and endearing as they come. I loved everything about her. Her fathers, her wonderful sense of style (the dresses, the wigs, the stockings and shoes… le sigh), her rocker boyfriend and yes, especially, the boy next door, Cricket. Love the name *high-five, Stephanie Perkins.* Cricket was everything a girl dreams of… at least, a girl like me (when I was younger of course). He was awkward, sweet, funny, and so lovable. I loved them individually and together.

While AatFK had more of a fairtytale feel to it, Lola’s had a more “real” vibe going. These characters may sound perfect, but if anything, they are perfectly flawed. They’re not perfect, they don’t have all the answers, and while I did have a goofy grin on my face for the most part, there were some moments that had me at the brink of tears.

Lola and the Boy Next Door was everything that I could have asked for in a book. I have not one single complaint (well, maybe that it ended – le sigh). Oh, and did I mention the many cameos that Anna and Etienne make… yep, they’re there too (squee!). I loved it! I think you will too.

My Rating: