Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

After reading Anna and The French Kiss, I knew I had to read Lola and the Boy Next Door. I’m glad I did. The book left me with a smile on my face.
While I didn’t always agree with Lola, I liked her. I admit I’m in awe of people who wear crazy outfits (retro dresses, rocker boots, vintage duds). Plus she wears wigs. I have always wanted to be the type of person who wore wigs. If I were 17 I would want to be Lola in a heartbeat. I liked that she had the courage to wear whatever she liked and the creativity to design her own outfits. At first I liked Max. I thought it was cool that he went to brunch with her parents and tried to be a good boyfriend despite the obstacles. As the book wore on, my opinion changed. I didn’t like him so much but you weren’t suppose to. In fact you were supposed to be screaming at the book, begging Lola to dump him. Lindsay, Lola’s best friend, was cool. I wish she would have gotten fleshed out a little more. I was super excited that Anna and St. Clair were supporting characters. I wouldn’t call them cameos. I liked how Anna and St. Clair fit into Lola’s world. I loved how super involved Lola’s parents are. Overprotective, but involved. I hate it when teens are running around and there’s no parents at all (I’m looking at you, Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist). Lola’s parents (two gay men) demand to know where she is at all times, demand to know her friends and boyfriend, but they are there for Lola no matter what. Some of the best parents in YA book right behind Mr & Mrs Wolfe (Underdog by Markus Zuzak).

Then there is Cricket. I love how Perkins writes these crazy perfect guys. Cricket is exactly what I would have wanted at 17 and probably been too blind to see. Totally adorable, geeky. Sigh, Cricket. And seriously if that's supposed to be him on the cover, I need a better definition of stylish guy. Nothing wrong with a plaid shirt but in my mind, Cricket pulled it off with some flare. 

Again plenty of teen drama and angst but Lola gets her HEA so I was pleased. Seriously, I grinned like a goofball for more than half the book. As you probably figured out, I loved it. Loved it just as much as Anna and The French Kiss. Read it. Others who shared their thoughts on Lola and The Boy Next Door: A Room With Books, Books Devoured, Midnight Coffee Monster, Library Queue, My Overstuffed Bookshelf, Fluttering Butterflies, and Reading In Winter.