REVIEW: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Published: 29 September 2011
Format: First Edition; Hardcover: 338 pages
GR 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.


My Review:
Stephanie Perkins has done it again! First with Anna and the French Kiss. Now with Lola and the Boy Next Door. I fell in love with Anna and St. Clair last year. This time around, my heart exploded with so much love for Lola and Cricket. This book was absolutely out of this world, crazy amazing! She’s created a convincing, realistic love story that will have you more than infatuated. Her characters are more than likable, they’re downright lovable. They’re relatable and they just burst from the pages from the realism. Also, this book will have you laughing out loud from all the funny scenes and will have you smiling like an idiot in public places!



“I look at you, and I think about you, and ... I don't know. No one has ever confounded me the way you do.” 

Lola and the Boy Next Door was everything I hoped it would be and more. It had me  wonderstruck and left me completely dizzy with happiness. Stephanie Perkins knows how to write the best love story ever. Her writing is simple yet elegant, smooth and oh so flawless. Her writing is easy to read and will have you eating this book in one sitting. The pacing of the book was just perfect. Stephanie just knows how to build up the story and romance in her novels and she didn’t fail with Lola. I was completely and utterly enraptured and consumed by this book wholeheartedly.

I love how Stephanie took her time with Lola. I love the vivid descriptions and details that were woven into the story. I also love how she integrated the city of San Francisco into the book. She didn’t just make the city a setting or a background. It was a part of the story upfront.

I enjoyed all the secondary characters in Lola and the Boy Next Door. We only get some glimpses of them, but you really get to know them too. You really feel a connection with each and every character. You understand their joy and pain and sorrows and they’re everyday living. All of the characters in this book are astounding. I also liked how all of the secondary characters have this unique relationship with Lola. It’s so nice to see how she interacts differently with someone else.

“I don't believe in fashion. I believe in costume. Life is too short to be same person every day.” 

My most favorite has to be Lola. She was a wonderful main character. I love her love of costumes and her wicked awesome fashion sense. I absolutely loved her creativity. I love her confidence, and brilliance. I love her quirkiness and I love how she’s a rocker. I love her fascinating personality and her independence. I love how she loves her family and friends and the city she lives in. She’s literally her own person: original, unique and the one and only.

The. Best. Book. Boyfriend. Ever. is CRICKET BELL <3
I love him and adore him so so much. He’s cute, and kind and a little awkward but he’s oh so adorable. He’s intelligent, inventive and he has awesome fashion sense too. He’s the whole package and more. He’s a sweetheart and has a heart bigger than anyone I’ve ever read about in a character. And he loves so deeply, so strongly. You cannot help but fall in the love with this boy! You just can’t. He’s absolutely perfect in every every every way. 



“I know you aren't perfect. But it's a person's imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.” 

Lola and Cricket’s chemistry and connection is just breathtaking. They’re background story was very interesting and I loved the way Stephanie used that into the book. I believe Lola and Cricket were made for each other. The perfect perfect perfect fit. Their friendship and romance was just so real. In many of their scenes I felt my heart racing, felt the love in my heart swell. I couldn’t help but be giddy and smile and laugh at their banter and interactions.

I love Stephanie Perkins so much for placing Anna and St. Clair into the book oh so well. It was such a surprise to see old characters that I loved so much. It was great having them in this story. It made me realize how much I missed them both.



Lola and the Boy Next Door literally warms your heart from the inside and makes you melt with joy. It really touches the soul and I swear I was nearly in tears from the happiness that I couldn’t contain within myself. 



There’s plenty of sweet and swoon-worthy scenes that will make you go “aw!”  And the kissing scenes that will just make you gasp for more air. 



There’s just so much love in this book. You’ll close your eyes and hold this book close to your chest for a very long time after finishing the last page. You’ll even be tempted to reread it and relive it all over again :]



Overall, Lola and the Boy Next Door is the perfect story about first loves. It’s heartwarming, charming, genuine, cute and just lovely. This book is marvelously, unforgettably good.



“And if I'm the stars, Cricket Bell is entire galaxies.” 

Trust me when I say that this book will linger in your mind, heart and soul for a very long time.



My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!