Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Published: 29th September 2011
Publisher: Dutton
Source: Own Kindle Copy

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. - From Goodreads

Oh Stephanie Perkins, won't you be my best friend? I will make us cookies and we can hang out in my flat drinking wine, eating cookies and you can tell me stories forever. Kind of like a cool, fun and in no way scary version of Misery! No? Well that's cool, if you could point me in the direction of whoever you based Cricket on then? Thanks!!

So I loved this book! I may have enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss more, but I think it was just because it was new and exciting. This book was filled with everything I needed and made me feel all happy and warm inside! Lola has the spirit of Lane Kim from Gilmore Girls (I love the scene where she is rocking out on her own in Rory's room and Rory and an Lorelai just watch her) and the creativity of... well.... Lola. I can't think of anyone else who wears different wigs teamed with anything from a tea dress, to Chinese print pyjama bottoms or a 1950's gingham dress she made herself. She is so adorkable!

The relationship between Lola and her two dads was wonderfully written and I thought it worked really well. It also made me smile when I saw how they acted towards Lola's rock-band boyfriend Max - can I also just say that I love that Max has a tattoo of Max, from Where The Wild Things Are, on his arm - compared to how they acted with Cricket. Cricket, the tall, gangly, geeky, handsome and sweet boy who reminded me of a slightly more suave Seth Cohen, from the OC. The perfect boy next door.

Oh and the appearance of Anna from Anna and the French Kiss made me laugh out loud and clap my hands with glee!! Fantastic. Stephanie Perkins, please never stop writing books. Your stories are like watching my favorite romantic comedy while I am wrapped up in a blanket with cookies, wine and my girlfriends! They make me so happy, I can't wait until the next one .