Scan barcode
A review by stuckinafictionaluniverse
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
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.