Lola and the Boy Next Door
pub date 9/29/2011
product description from goodreads.com
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.
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 Review:
Lola and the Boy Next Door is the companion novel to Stephanie Perkins' debut, Anna and the French Kiss. And I must say...I liked it even better than the first! Lola is a spitfire character, quirky and funny and very realistic and relatable. She lives with her two dads (her birth mother comes into the picture later in a big way), and dreams of working in the fashion world. She works at a movie theater in San Francisco (with a certain girl who lived in Paris for a year--yes!) and is madly in love with her older boyfriend, Max--a budding rock star. But someone from Lola's past reemerges and shakes up things Lola had thought were long buried.
That person? The devilishly charming Cricket.
Cricket is tall. Overly tall, according to Lola. He's gorgeous, and sweet, and says things in this book that will make your heart melt (the story he tells Lola toward the end? *swoon*). But Cricket comes with baggage--namely, his twin sister Calliope. Cal fears what's happening between Lola and Cricket (fears it again, since these two share a semi-romantic past), afraid of being left alone if her twin falls in love. So much so that she tries to keep it from happening. But Cal doesn't realize that Cricket is already in love. In fact, he never fell out of it when it comes to Lola (I know, right?!) And he tells Lola as much, sending Lola's seemingly perfect life into a tailspin. Does she still love Cricket? What about her boyfriend, Max? Where will she end up?
These questions and more all get answered in the best way, through Ms. Perkins' charming, witty, steamy love story. Seriously, these characters are so fun, you don't want the book to end!
My Rating:
Just like with Anna, I happily give 5 stars to Lola and the Boy Next Door, and can only say that if you love a book filled with fun, laughter, tears, romance, and great characters...this one's for you!
LOLA was such quirky fun compared to ANNA. They both have such amazing appeal though, and I hold them pretty close to my heart. I NEED to re-read these sometime.
ReplyDeleteYAY!!!!!!!!!! :D This book rocks. I can't wait to read it again and again and again!
ReplyDeleteThe romance in Lola and the Boy Next Door is absolutely, stunningly, delectable. Never before have I read something that creates so much tension and anticipation and that 'pleasepleaseplease kiss' sensation so well. That's what Lola will do to you. You'll fall in love with these characters, with their lives, and their hopes and dreams. I know I did.
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