Lola And The Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins
Published: 09/07/13
Publisher: Usbourne
Pages: 338
Anna And The French Kiss (AATFK) made me desperate to read more of Stephanie’s work so as soon as I finished, I started on Lola And The Boy Next Door (LATBND). I didn’t realise that they were in a kind of ‘series’; Anna and St Clair from AATFK are in this novel as background characters and we get to see what they’re up to. I really liked this aspect of the novel as it meant I could instantly reacquaint myself with old friends.
Lola lives with her two fathers and works shifts at the local cinema with Anna. She is in a relationship with Max: bad boy musician, older than Lola and totally trouble. When her parents discuss their opinions of Max with her, Lola is determined to prove them wrong and show them that Max actually is a sweet, loving man. Before Lola gets the chance to do this, new neighbours move in; unfortunately for Lola her new neighbours are not actually that new. Cue the arrival of old neighbours Calliope and Cricket. Calliope used to be Anna’s best friend and Anna used to have a massive crush on Cricket but after the night before they left last time…Anna never wanted to see them again. With Calliope being an international figure skating star and Cricket being the new ‘boy next door’, can Anna maintain her dislike for them or will the urge to talk to Cricket again change her life for good?
I loved this novel just as much as I loved AATFK. Perkins has such a brilliant grasp on what it’s like to be a teenager in love and how difficult it can be to navigate this stage of your life when everything seems against you. Lola was such a relatable character and even though she did dress in wacky clothes and I think so many readers will be able to empathise with her which will make this book even more relevant.
Cricket was everything he needed to be and more. Geeky, a little shy, chivalrous….he was perfect. I wouldn’t mind a Cricket in my life! I loved the way he interacted with Lola and was such a genuine supporter of everything she wanted to do; he was the antithesis of Max which made for some great reading.
As with all of Perkins’ novels, you get so drawn into the characters world that you don’t want to stop reading. It doesn’t even feel like you’re reading after a while because everything seems so real and you feel emerged in this different world where anything can happen. The pace is brilliant, the description of places and people is also fantastic and the whole plot had me smiling from ear to ear.
If you loved AATFK then I cannot recommend this book enough. However, if you are yet to read Anna’s story then I recommend you read that one first.
I am extremely excited about Isla And The Happy Ever After that is due to be released later this year and I will be excited to see if this one is ‘in the series’ and has any returning characters. (I just cheated and looked on Goodreads and it looks like Anna AND Lola will be returning!
Definitely make sure you read this book in preparation for Isla’s story!
Another example of a perfect Young Adult novel.
Publisher: Usbourne
Pages: 338
Anna And The French Kiss (AATFK) made me desperate to read more of Stephanie’s work so as soon as I finished, I started on Lola And The Boy Next Door (LATBND). I didn’t realise that they were in a kind of ‘series’; Anna and St Clair from AATFK are in this novel as background characters and we get to see what they’re up to. I really liked this aspect of the novel as it meant I could instantly reacquaint myself with old friends.
Lola lives with her two fathers and works shifts at the local cinema with Anna. She is in a relationship with Max: bad boy musician, older than Lola and totally trouble. When her parents discuss their opinions of Max with her, Lola is determined to prove them wrong and show them that Max actually is a sweet, loving man. Before Lola gets the chance to do this, new neighbours move in; unfortunately for Lola her new neighbours are not actually that new. Cue the arrival of old neighbours Calliope and Cricket. Calliope used to be Anna’s best friend and Anna used to have a massive crush on Cricket but after the night before they left last time…Anna never wanted to see them again. With Calliope being an international figure skating star and Cricket being the new ‘boy next door’, can Anna maintain her dislike for them or will the urge to talk to Cricket again change her life for good?
I loved this novel just as much as I loved AATFK. Perkins has such a brilliant grasp on what it’s like to be a teenager in love and how difficult it can be to navigate this stage of your life when everything seems against you. Lola was such a relatable character and even though she did dress in wacky clothes and I think so many readers will be able to empathise with her which will make this book even more relevant.
Cricket was everything he needed to be and more. Geeky, a little shy, chivalrous….he was perfect. I wouldn’t mind a Cricket in my life! I loved the way he interacted with Lola and was such a genuine supporter of everything she wanted to do; he was the antithesis of Max which made for some great reading.
As with all of Perkins’ novels, you get so drawn into the characters world that you don’t want to stop reading. It doesn’t even feel like you’re reading after a while because everything seems so real and you feel emerged in this different world where anything can happen. The pace is brilliant, the description of places and people is also fantastic and the whole plot had me smiling from ear to ear.
If you loved AATFK then I cannot recommend this book enough. However, if you are yet to read Anna’s story then I recommend you read that one first.
I am extremely excited about Isla And The Happy Ever After that is due to be released later this year and I will be excited to see if this one is ‘in the series’ and has any returning characters. (I just cheated and looked on Goodreads and it looks like Anna AND Lola will be returning!
Definitely make sure you read this book in preparation for Isla’s story!
Another example of a perfect Young Adult novel.
Laura