Lola and the Boy Next Door: a book recommendation
5 out of 5 stars.
I don’t read much contemporary YA. I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t usually appeal to me. And then there’s Stephanie Perkins’s contemporary YA–it falls into its own category of awesome…and trust me, Lola and the Boy Next Door is definitely AWESOME.
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.
Um, let’s just get this straight: Cricket is wonderful. I am so in love with him, it’s not even funny. What is funny is how much Cricket reminds me of my Frenchman (that also probably explains why I’m in love with Cricket and the Frenchman).
If I’m totally honest, I’ll say that I found the beginning a wee bit slow–I was kind of overwhelmed by all the backstories in those first few chapters… AND THEN CRICKET ARRIVED. Suddenly, Lola could have given me a treatise on her entire childhood, and I wouldn’t have cared. The tension between she and Cricket is so thick and so amazing, I couldn’t put the book down.
In fact, despite being drugged on extreme pain medicine for my whooping cough, I FORCED my eyes to stay open so I could finish this story–it was just THAT good. Ms. Perkins really knows how to craft a romance. Every time Lola and Cricket were on the same page, I found myself grinning like a total idiot.
So, if you’re looking for a romance packed full of sexual tension–a sweet, adorable, pure sexual tension–or you’re just looking for a unique heroine and even more unique love interest, then be sure to pick up Lola and the Boy Next Door.
You tell me: Have you read this book? What did you think? And do you have any similar titles to recommend–I need MORE!
October 9, 2011 @ 2:44 pm
I can’t wait to read this one. In fact, I’m considering bumping it up to the top of my TBR pile. lol
October 17, 2011 @ 7:45 pm
You most definitely should! and then tell me what you think. 😀
October 9, 2011 @ 3:28 pm
I read it last week and loved it! I loved how Stephanie Perkins gave Cricket all these little quirks that made him so real. And while I found him totally swoon-worthy, he wasn’t this perfect, sculpted-from-stone love interest. Didn’t you just want to sigh after reading this book (the contented kind of sigh, not the bad kind of sigh)? The beginning did start out wee bit slow, but I think it picked up pretty well as soon as we found out who Cricket was.
I also thought it would be hard for me to love a character more than I loved Anna, but Lola had more layers to her, I think. She reminded me of someone I’d watch on Project Runway every Thursday, and I adore that show. It was all around win!
October 9, 2011 @ 3:31 pm
Replying to my own post. Sorry for taking over your comments :). I also loved Lola’s parents, for a lot of reasons. But mainly because they were such a great picture of family.
October 17, 2011 @ 7:46 pm
And I totally agree, Erin! I thought Lola’s family was much more real (probably because they were much bigger characters!).
October 17, 2011 @ 7:45 pm
Yeah, as soon as I met Cricket, the pacing wasn’t an issue at all… I was sooooo in love with him from his first entrance!
October 9, 2011 @ 4:22 pm
I pre-ordered this book and read it right after finishing ASHES (which, by the way, osmfjshdfbahjkbfg MY FEELINGS FOR THAT BOOK D: How can anyone end a book like that?!) and I LOVED it. Lola was awesome, and I loved how Stephanie Perkins showed her personality through the narration–like, we knew Lola liked fashion, but she didn’t just like fashion. She noticed fashion. Kind of like the first thing Anna always noticed was hair 🙂 And Cricket, oh Cricket <3 He had me at, 'Cricket Bell grins. "Hi, Lola".' Not even kidding…
Also, HOW can you not love a book that has Etienne in it?! I smiled every time he was on the page, too. St. Clair and Anna <3
October 17, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
YES! I’m so glad to hear you liked ASHES… Edge of the seat read, eh?
And ooooh yes, Cricket. I think I loved him more than Etienne…
October 9, 2011 @ 5:17 pm
In scrolling through comments on Amazon, I seem to be in the minority of people who liked Lola and the Boy Next Door better than Anna and the French Kiss. Don’t get me wrong, I adored Anna as well, but it didn’t leave me with as much of a happy/goofy/I love life feeling that Lola left me with. I honestly can’t wait to see what Stephanie Perkins brings with Isla and the Happily Ever After!!
I don’t read a lot of contemporary fiction either, but earlier this year I read SEAN GRISWOLD’S HEAD by Lindsey Leavitt and adored it! It definitely had a strong romantic component, but it was less all-consuming than Stephanie Perkin’s characters have to deal with. That could also be because the MC is younger, but ya, if you’re in the mood for a fist love story that is really multi-layered, that’d be my pick! Sean is totally swoon-worthy, and my inner fifteen year old definitely had a crush on him.
October 17, 2011 @ 7:48 pm
I’m with you, Laura! I loved LOLA more than ANNA, I think. I just adored Cricket more than Etienne, and I had an easier time connecting with the kind of crush/romance in LOLA. (Though I still have so much love for ANNA too!)
And THANKS for the rec! I’m gonna go check this out stat! you always have the best suggestions… <3
October 10, 2011 @ 3:34 am
I adored LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR purely because of Criket. He’s the embodiment of nice boys — a bit dorky and so wonderfully sweet.
October 17, 2011 @ 7:49 pm
So dorky, so sweet. He made that book for me too!!
October 14, 2011 @ 7:39 pm
My stupid library doesn’t have this yet and I’m SO FRUSTRATED. I love Anna and the French Kiss so much and I desperately want to read this, but nope. I’m glad that I keep seeing it’s basically awesome though.
October 17, 2011 @ 7:49 pm
YARGH! Just keep bugging them until they get it. One day, you’ll read and love. 😉
October 17, 2011 @ 5:49 pm
YARGH! Just keep bugging them until they get it. One day, you’ll read and love. 😉