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A review by oliviabrcka
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Lola and the Boy Next Door follows 17 year old Lola Nolan, fashionista extraordinaire. Lola has a 22 year old rockstar boyfriend, who she has been dating since she was 16, and has made a vow to herself to never wear the same outfit twice. However, when Cricket Bell, a flame from her past, moves back in to the house next door, she is faced with new feelings for him while trying to hold her current relationship together. I mean, I don't know what I was expecting after reading Anna's story, but seriously, this was so much worse. The problematic content is only multiplied here, and it makes me so frustrated because without it, this would be such a cute love story. UGH! Lola and Max (22 yr old bf) had such an awful, manipulative relationship and I had such a pit in my stomach whenever I read about them. The fact that Perkins ROMANTICIZED a relationship about a minor being with a person 6 years older than them who is not a minor is absolutely disgusting and she never confronts the issues with their relationship and the power plays going on the whole time. It was horrible. Then, we have ANOTHER relationship where the main character is cheating. Can Perkins write a love story where the characters aren't cheating? I don't know. It makes me so mad. This was so disappointing.
Again, Perkins' writing isn't much to brag about. She has great teenager tone, but it isn't anything too complex.
Our main character, Lola, is probably my least favorite character that Stephanie Perkins has written thus far. She's selfish, annoying, a bad friend, and a bad girlfriend. I really disliked her as a main character. Her love interest, Cricket Bell, on the other hand, is definitely my favorite. He's selfless, supportive, a family guy, super smart, driven, and I could go on and on. He's so sweet and Lola totally doesn't deserve him. None of the other characters really even matter in this story, because this is allllll about Lola. I will say that Lola does come into herself more at the end of the novel, pointing toward some character development, but it isn't anything to brag about.
There are no themes explored here. Maybe a little bit about being yourself no matter what others say, but not much else.
I would not recommend. The only reason I am picking up the next book is to see if it can get any worse. The people that would enjoy this novel are young, impressionable kids who shouldn't have these problematic ideas put into their heads. DON'T DO IT!
Again, Perkins' writing isn't much to brag about. She has great teenager tone, but it isn't anything too complex.
Our main character, Lola, is probably my least favorite character that Stephanie Perkins has written thus far. She's selfish, annoying, a bad friend, and a bad girlfriend. I really disliked her as a main character. Her love interest, Cricket Bell, on the other hand, is definitely my favorite. He's selfless, supportive, a family guy, super smart, driven, and I could go on and on. He's so sweet and Lola totally doesn't deserve him. None of the other characters really even matter in this story, because this is allllll about Lola. I will say that Lola does come into herself more at the end of the novel, pointing toward some character development, but it isn't anything to brag about.
There are no themes explored here. Maybe a little bit about being yourself no matter what others say, but not much else.
I would not recommend. The only reason I am picking up the next book is to see if it can get any worse. The people that would enjoy this novel are young, impressionable kids who shouldn't have these problematic ideas put into their heads. DON'T DO IT!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship