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stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
5.0
Let’s throw away the serious-reviewer style for a minute (as if I had one in the first place). Because it’s impossible for me to talk about this book in a serious manner when it makes me feel all bubbly and adoring inside.
I did the same when I reviewed Anna and the french kiss. What can I say, Stephanie Perkins holds my emotions in a tight grip.
All that I’ll type will most likely sound as if it’s coming from a lovesick teenager. Which is accurate; I have a huge book crush that certainly isn’t my first.
I loved [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)|Stephanie Perkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358271931s/6936382.jpg|7168450] with a capital L, and feared that Perkins’s second novel wouldn’t be of the same quality as her debut. Boy, did those worries make me feel silly once I actually read it. This book may be even better than the first novel, and I say that very hesitantly.
The author takes on a slightly more mature tone with this one and dives into issues such as having an adolescent parent, an older ’dangerous’ boyfriend who everyone around you disapproves of and most of all: second chances.
Despite that, the novel manages to have an overall light tone. It’s full of humorous dialogue, very lovable characters and a romance that can only be described as adorable.
I flew through this book and loved every second of it.
What also made me relieved were the differences between this and Anna. I’m more than happy to say that Perkins doesn’t write the same story twice. Both Lola and Anna are young adult contemporary romances with swoon-worthy love interests, and are set in famous cities. That doesn’t mean they’re the same. This book has a bit more depth and real-life issues, and has completely different characters in it. It is not a direct sequel, and focuses on different things.
Lovely, innocent Cricket stole my heart in a matter of seconds.
He is kind, shy and a welcome diverse character compared to the ''bad boy'' love interests. Let's be honest, would any of us really want to date that arrogant jerk with way too many mood swings, who is deep down a caring and flawed person? That makes a great character, but their existence outside of fiction is highly doubtful, and they tend to mean only one thing: trouble.
Cricket Bell is an awkward teenage boy, not a Casanova with seriously great hair driving around in a Lamborghini.
Lola doesn't instantly fall for him, and is actually desperate to avoid him at first because of their history together.
Lola and Cricket's chemistry and interactions are top-notch. Cuteness overload.
Their relationship takes tiny, awkward, hesitant steps forward. I like how the characters act their age and don’t rush straight into each other’s arms immediately, nor hold a long distance as if they were strangers. It's real, and it's so, so wonderful to see them grow - both their characters and the connection between them.
Of course we visit a few of our beloved characters from the first book - we see them much more than expected - and it is a nostalgically-filled joy to read those passages. Sometimes you just wonder how a certain person from a book is getting up to, and it's nice to check in on them. Now I can't wait to reunite with our whole crew in Isla.
Final verdict:
Allow me to jump up and down for a moment, because this book was fantastic. Stephanie Perkins knows how to write a YA romance. Lola and the boy next door is not only an adorable, well-written feel-good book, but captures beautiful relationships between all of the characters. It make your heart ache, so it can be picked up, put back together and burst with happiness the next minute.
I wish I could erase my memory and read it again for the first time.
I did the same when I reviewed Anna and the french kiss. What can I say, Stephanie Perkins holds my emotions in a tight grip.
All that I’ll type will most likely sound as if it’s coming from a lovesick teenager. Which is accurate; I have a huge book crush that certainly isn’t my first.
I loved [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1)|Stephanie Perkins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358271931s/6936382.jpg|7168450] with a capital L, and feared that Perkins’s second novel wouldn’t be of the same quality as her debut. Boy, did those worries make me feel silly once I actually read it. This book may be even better than the first novel, and I say that very hesitantly.
The author takes on a slightly more mature tone with this one and dives into issues such as having an adolescent parent, an older ’dangerous’ boyfriend who everyone around you disapproves of and most of all: second chances.
Despite that, the novel manages to have an overall light tone. It’s full of humorous dialogue, very lovable characters and a romance that can only be described as adorable.
I flew through this book and loved every second of it.
What also made me relieved were the differences between this and Anna. I’m more than happy to say that Perkins doesn’t write the same story twice. Both Lola and Anna are young adult contemporary romances with swoon-worthy love interests, and are set in famous cities. That doesn’t mean they’re the same. This book has a bit more depth and real-life issues, and has completely different characters in it. It is not a direct sequel, and focuses on different things.
Lovely, innocent Cricket stole my heart in a matter of seconds.
He is kind, shy and a welcome diverse character compared to the ''bad boy'' love interests. Let's be honest, would any of us really want to date that arrogant jerk with way too many mood swings, who is deep down a caring and flawed person? That makes a great character, but their existence outside of fiction is highly doubtful, and they tend to mean only one thing: trouble.
Cricket Bell is an awkward teenage boy, not a Casanova with seriously great hair driving around in a Lamborghini.
Lola doesn't instantly fall for him, and is actually desperate to avoid him at first because of their history together.
Lola and Cricket's chemistry and interactions are top-notch. Cuteness overload.
Their relationship takes tiny, awkward, hesitant steps forward. I like how the characters act their age and don’t rush straight into each other’s arms immediately, nor hold a long distance as if they were strangers. It's real, and it's so, so wonderful to see them grow - both their characters and the connection between them.
Of course we visit a few of our beloved characters from the first book - we see them much more than expected - and it is a nostalgically-filled joy to read those passages. Sometimes you just wonder how a certain person from a book is getting up to, and it's nice to check in on them. Now I can't wait to reunite with our whole crew in Isla.
Final verdict:
Allow me to jump up and down for a moment, because this book was fantastic. Stephanie Perkins knows how to write a YA romance. Lola and the boy next door is not only an adorable, well-written feel-good book, but captures beautiful relationships between all of the characters. It make your heart ache, so it can be picked up, put back together and burst with happiness the next minute.
I wish I could erase my memory and read it again for the first time.
connie_a's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
harleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
This book was OK, I preferred the first one over this one. I'm not sure what it was about this one but I just couldn't bring myself to enjoy it like I was hoping to.
I wasn't able to connect to any of the characters. I did not like Max, at all, even from the beginning of the book. Something just felt off.I did like that Anna and St.Clair were part of the book, I'm happy they weren't forgotten.I enjoyed the last half of the book better than the first. I began to enjoy it more than I originally was.
All in all it was an OK book, I was just expecting more from how much I enjoyed the first book.
I wasn't able to connect to any of the characters. I did not like Max, at all, even from the beginning of the book. Something just felt off.I did like that Anna and St.Clair were part of the book, I'm happy they weren't forgotten.I enjoyed the last half of the book better than the first. I began to enjoy it more than I originally was.
All in all it was an OK book, I was just expecting more from how much I enjoyed the first book.
emmad24's review
3.0
CUTE. this book is so cute! I didn't love it as much as the first book and this book was quite frustrating. I didn't really get into it until half way through, but I still loved it enough to give it 3 stars.
amandasiam's review
5.0
As always, stephanie perkins wins at life when it comes to writing YA romance novels
thrscldrn's review
5.0
Sometimes, first love really never dies.
I love how this book dealt with important matters like family, pain, one's identity and love. A great read for people who are looking for variety and reality in one story. And let's not forget how cute Cricket and Lola are together.
I love how this book dealt with important matters like family, pain, one's identity and love. A great read for people who are looking for variety and reality in one story. And let's not forget how cute Cricket and Lola are together.
megancperry's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this one, probably not as much as Anna, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Although I found some of the characters ( *cough* Max *cough*) quite annoying at the start and I wasn't really into it for the first half, I really liked the ending to the book and overall it was enjoyable. The reason for it not being a 4 stars was mainly that I felt that Lola was being a tad dramatic about the initial problem with Cricket and I didn't really like their relationship as much as I had with Anna and Etienne.
I really enjoyed this one, probably not as much as Anna, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Although I found some of the characters ( *cough* Max *cough*) quite annoying at the start and I wasn't really into it for the first half, I really liked the ending to the book and overall it was enjoyable. The reason for it not being a 4 stars was mainly that I felt that Lola was being a tad dramatic about the initial problem with Cricket and I didn't really like their relationship as much as I had with Anna and Etienne.
readwithkiekie's review
1.0
Stephanie Perkins, did you really write this? Because if you did then I will definitely have to re-think over Anna and the French Kiss.
First of all, Lola was one of the worst characters in the history of YA fiction characters. She was annoying, immature, whiny, stupid. I could go on about how much I could have killed her. Also the only historical figure she even knew about was Marie Antoinette, which is such a cliché to everyone who knows nothing about costume and important historical figures.
Also you may have restored everyone's beliefs in stereotypes. Her parents were a complete stereotype of every gay in the world. Feminine. Not all gays are like that and to be honest I'm going to tell it to you straight. NEVER EVER EVER WRITE A LGBT CHARACTER AGAIN. YOU SUCK AT IT!
Now lets talk about the other characters.
Max was a dick. And once again you used a stereotype for him.
Cricket was irritating. Most boring male character EVER!
And the whole plot was complete and utter bullshit.
First of all, Lola was one of the worst characters in the history of YA fiction characters. She was annoying, immature, whiny, stupid. I could go on about how much I could have killed her. Also the only historical figure she even knew about was Marie Antoinette, which is such a cliché to everyone who knows nothing about costume and important historical figures.
Also you may have restored everyone's beliefs in stereotypes. Her parents were a complete stereotype of every gay in the world. Feminine. Not all gays are like that and to be honest I'm going to tell it to you straight. NEVER EVER EVER WRITE A LGBT CHARACTER AGAIN. YOU SUCK AT IT!
Now lets talk about the other characters.
Max was a dick. And once again you used a stereotype for him.
Cricket was irritating. Most boring male character EVER!
And the whole plot was complete and utter bullshit.