Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Description:

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 (Goodreads).


My Thoughts:

Lola and the Boy Next Door is the second book that I read by Stephanie Perkins, of course first one was Ann the French Kiss.  I enjoyed reading this book very much but I still think that Anna and the French Kiss was better.  It was better because it was more original whereas Lola and the Boy Next Door was exactly the same as the Anna And the French Kiss only with few twists to the the story and characters.  Otherwise everything is the same, same formula and that was bit disappointing for me because I really like Stephanie Perkins work.  Really there is nothing original about this story that distinguishes it from Anna and the French Kiss. 

I have to give it to Stephanie, she is a very good writer.  The dialog was very good and entertaining, it run smoothly.  There was a lot of character grown and development.  All the characters were very realistic and there was a lot of substance to them.  I liked Lola, I liked her because she is different even though I personally thing that she is hiding behind the costumes that she wears everyday.  I was not really convinced that she is not hiding behind the costumes at the end even though that what the author wanted us to think.  I liked the fact that not a big deal was made of the fact that Lola's parents are not traditional heterosexual couple, but rather two gay men. 

I really liked how the author touches of the relationship between Lola and Max, The twentytwo year old boyfriend.  But I really liked Cricket.  Even though I hate his nickname, Cricket.  Like I already said the development of relationship between Cricket and Lola is not different than what we saw happen between Anna and Etienne St. Clair.  However it was nice to see Anna and Etienne in this book and see how they are doing. 

Overall this was a good read and did enjoy it, but I do wish that it was more original.  If you have read and loved Anna and the French Kiss than you will probably love this book two, cause they are very identical.  Unless you don't like repetition that is. 

I give this book 4/5 STARS and Happy Reading

Other Books that I have reviewed by Stephanie Perkins:

Anna and the French Kiss