Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 338

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.

If you haven’t read Anna and the French Kiss yet, why are you reading this? Stop what you’re doing, buy it, and read it RTFN. Because it was amazing… and this one? Even better.

NGL, I felt like I was PMS’ing or something. My emotions were all over the place. I laughed, I cried, I swooned. And that’s because Steph’s just that freaking good. Great story, characters and just…everything. Not only did I love Lola, but the setting of San Francisco (Yayyyy NorCal pride) and the fact that they live in the Castro. (If you don’t know what that is, I’m not sure we can be friends anymore). Cricket was amazingly adorable. Of course, we can’t forget our good friends Anna and Etienne, who make more than just a simple appearance friends… they play a nice role in the novel.

So I’m rambling, but what I’m saying is this: If you haven’t read AaTFK yet, DO IT RTFN. And then go buy this one, because if you don’t, we can’t be friends anymore. Seriously. You won’t be sorry; I promise promise promise you.

Roller coaster.

Have you ever been on one? You know that feeling that you get when you are going up …up …up and your heart is pounding and you’re gripping the bar in front of you, like it’s actually holding you in? Then you reach the pinnacle and there is like this moment where you feel like you are on top of the world –all flailyswoony–and weightless before the car takes a turn and then nose-dives, causing your heart to leap up into your throat and making you feel almost sick?

That’s what this story is: a roller coaster.

You all already know that Stephanie Perkins is an amazing author. Amazing is an understatement–she nails the emotions and swoons and heartbreak every single time. So I don’t have to tell you that. What I will tell you is that the characters are amazing, from Lola (and of course the boy next door) to the dads to the twin to even little Abigail, the adorable niece. They are rich and multi-faceted and real, and I love that about them. Lola is quirky and fun. Max is swoonworthy in his own right (until he’s totally, totally not), and don’t even get me started on Cricket. omg–the hair. the socks. the blue sugar on his lips. the bracelets. *flails* the bracelets.

Did I mention Étienne? He’s there–happily, blissfully in love with Anna. And I love Stephanie Perkins for that, even more than I did before, which is a lot. For giving me more of him. And them. And their kisses.

I do have to mention here that contrary to so many of my friends, I did not love Lola like I loved Anna and the French Kiss. But come on, I’m totally in love with Étienne. And Stephanie Perkins said she’s giving him to me. So do you really expect anything else?

Without giving away anything more than I already have (esp with my status updates), I did feel like Lola took a little too long to get it together, but I have to account for the fact that the girl is only 17 and that there are other circumstances to consider for her lack of decisiveness. But when it’s all said and done, Lola and the Boy Next Door has everything–it’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s romantic, it’s soooo hot that you’ll melt into a pile of smoldering goo, and it’s about time you read it!

Guess what, Fictionees? Of course we have a copy to give away to YOU! You know the drill: leave a comment on this post and we’ll announce the winner next Tuesday! (Entries accepted until 11:59pm EST on Monday, 10/3/11. US only)

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