Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Published: September 2011

Publisher: Dutton

Pages: 338

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

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.

I don't read a lot of contemporary novels - I tend to read more historical and/or fantasy type, but when I read Anna and the French Kiss earlier this year I really, really enjoyed it. and I was on the waiting list for Lola as soon as it appeared in the catalogue at work. (I think I may even have suggested we purchase it.)  Well Ms. Perkins did not let me down at all.  LATBND was everything I was expecting, and more.

Ms Perkins writes with humour and pathos.  Neither is overwhelming, but both are effective.   I just fell in love with Lola and Cricket. They were such amazingly real characters.  Lola is wonderfully colourful and creative and has such an amazing belief in herself.  Her periods of self-doubt were heartbreaking and utterly believable.  Her relationship with Cricket was so unusual, yet at the same time it was easy to recognise the feelings they both had.   I loved having main characters that are not part of the 'beautiful people' crowd, but are a little on the outcast side.  Lola's costumes sounded so wonderful and I wish I had had the courage to be as different as she is.

If you read Anna and the French Kiss ( and if you haven't, you should have), you will recognise Anna and St Clair and it was so lovely to find out a little bit about what happened to them after they left France.   Lola and the Boy Next Door is a contemporary romance that should satisfy anyone's need for a romantic fix and I highly recommend it.