Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss, #2) in E.Y.A.B.

Aug 23, 2011 Rose rated it liked it

Shelves: chick-lit-challenge-2012, young-adult, glbt, audiobooks, rrrc-audiobook-challenge-2012, romance, contemporary, coming-of-age, realistic-fiction, tbr-challenge

"Lola and the Boy Next Door" didn't charm me quite as much as its predecessor "Anna and the French Kiss", but I think it had its likable moments that were not only helped by the recurrence of the two main characters from the last book, but moments where Stephanie Perkins' voice projects her typical humorous, sweet tone. The story revolves around Lola, a young woman who finds her world turned upside down when her twin neighbors, the Bells, return to town and move back into their old home. Calliop "Lola and the Boy Next Door" didn't charm me quite as much as its predecessor "Anna and the French Kiss", but I think it had its likable moments that were not only helped by the recurrence of the two main characters from the last book, but moments where Stephanie Perkins' voice projects her typical humorous, sweet tone. The story revolves around Lola, a young woman who finds her world turned upside down when her twin neighbors, the Bells, return to town and move back into their old home. Calliope Bell is her former friend turned enemy, while Cricket Bell is the boy whom she used to crush on. Lola isn't too happy about this news considering everything in her life seems to be going well, including dating her 22-year-old rocker boyfriend Max. Other challenges crop up, including the return of Lola's estranged birthmother, and the constant overprotection of her fathers Nathan and Andy.

I think it took me a while to warm up to Lola because it seemed to me that she didn't really value a lot of her relationships and seemed more brash in her general personality, though I liked the colorful depictions of her clothing and sytle. She's far more apt, in the beginning, to push herself away from her relationships, and sometimes that made her insufferable. She becomes a little more self aware as the book goes on. I also wasn't really taken with Cricket because it took some time before I saw some facets of his demeanor and persona that were well defined in current progression rather than based on parts we figure out through Lola's perspective. Only as the book progressed did I finally see the chemistry between the characters, and watching Lola and Cricket's relationship build on more steady ground was something I think could've happened much sooner than it did. It wasn't really a surprise who Lola would end up with in the end, and thus the back and forth of that spectrum didn't engage me. I didn't really like Max from the beginning, because of issues that became more pronounced as the book went on. I waited more for the moment when Lola would come to terms with what she wanted in her relationships. When that moment finally came, I let out the air I'd been holding, and just enjoyed the ride from there.

I think Stephanie has a great flair for humor, though I'll admit the emotional resonance didn't quite come across as funny and sweet or jarring as "Anna and the French Kiss" - where I connected with both the primary as well as the secondary characters. In this book, the connection didn't seem as strong, though I could tell Perkins was trying to tie in some of the relationships here and establish new ones for the context of the characters covered here, and unlike in "Anna" a lot of the relationships described were caricatures/stereotypically established rather than realistically drawn. Still, taking into consideration the collective story, I did end up enjoying it for what it offered, and having a few moments of chuckling in the midst of a light spring read. I'm looking forward to Perkins' next book in the series, but I hope that it mirrors more of the style and writing of "Anna" rather than "Lola."

Overall score: 3/5 ...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Shubba The Emo Reader rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

original Post: http://totallybookalicious.blogspot.c...

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW. Review Finished!!

Seriously, Lola and the Boy Next Door was just the right book that I needed. Lately I haven't been able to get into any book I pick up. However, when I started this I was glued. It's a worthly companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss.

Lola and the Boy Next Door is about Lola a teenage girl with big plans to become a costume designer. Everything in her life is some what perfect. She has great parents, a original Post: http://totallybookalicious.blogspot.c...

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW. Review Finished!!

Seriously, Lola and the Boy Next Door was just the right book that I needed. Lately I haven't been able to get into any book I pick up. However, when I started this I was glued. It's a worthly companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss.

Lola and the Boy Next Door is about Lola a teenage girl with big plans to become a costume designer. Everything in her life is some what perfect. She has great parents, a wonderful best friend and an older boyfriend who is in a band. However, Lola world is tore apart when the Bell Twins moved back next door. And everything that Lola felt for Cricket Bell is flooding back.

What can I say? No, Seriously what can I even say? After reading Anna and the French Kiss and loving it. My expectations were very very high, And my god they were meet I was not disappointed at all!! These are the types of stories that are light reads that make you fall in love with the characters.

Lola is one of those main characters who is easy to connect with. She has flaws, oh yes major flaws, like putting her idiot boyfriend before her friends. Lying to her parents, leading poor Cricket along. However, it's these flaws that make her wonderful to read because she is a realistic character. And I loved her. She is so unique with quirky fashion style that really makes her stand out. She adores her parents, Nathan and Andy. I really like that. They are such a great, loving family. Now as I said she is flawed, she doesn't always make the right descision. Like her sleeze of a boyfriend Max, argh I hated that guy. He is so creepy and I just wanted to punch him and shake Lola to make her see sense.

Everything changes for Lola when the Bell family move back next door. Cricket and Calliope Bell, Twins who used to be friends with Lola. Calliope comes across as a major Bitch and I honestly didn't like her all that much. BUT Cricket, oh dear god. Cricket, so sweet and lovely. I want a Cricket!!! He is one of the boys that your parents would love, one that would treat you good, one that you really would fall in love. And yes, I did. I fell bad!

Lola and the Boy Next Door just flows perfectly. It keeps your attention and doesn't let it go. Stephanie has yet again took a simple story with teenagers, wrong descisions, and falling in love and turns it into something wonderful and magical that turned me into mush lol.

And as an added bonus Anna and St. Clair from Anna and the french are in this book as well. I actually squealed when they make their first appearance. I thought it was perfect to include them into the book. It gives it that something extra.

So overall, if you haven't guess it I loved loved loved this book. I laughed, cried and gushed over this book it was sooooooooo gooooood!!!!! I beg you please go read it. It's the companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss and even though you don't really need to read Anna before I suggest you do because these books are amazing. And Stephanie has become one of those authors that I will read her books without even reading up on them because she is such a talented writer.

Now I may actually just die having to wait until Fall 2012 for the next book, Isla and the Happily Ever After.
...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Rose 📚🌹 rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebooks, read-in-2011, ipod-touch, young-adult, friendship

This is my first Stephanie Perkins, though I have Anna and the French Kiss book on my bookself, I haven't touched it yet. and since, there are so many friends said SP is an awesome author, I decided to read her books. and yeah it's awesome!!

Lola and the Boy Next Door tells about a seventeen years old girl named Lola who is dating with a twenty-two man named Max. They're fallin in love with each other and Lola is trying to find a way for their relationship since her gay dads don't really like he ...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Annie McElfresh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-awesomeness, my-favorites, favorites

What can I say? Stephanie Perkins creates contemporary magic. LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR was witty, and quite simply, irresistible. I couldn't put it down.

Perkins hooked me with the mystery on why the main character, Lola, had such built up anger at Cricket, the boy next door. Now I will say the name Cricket threw me off. It didn't exactly scream hot guy. BUT it fit the love interests character. Cricket was quirky, just like his name.

The narrative Perkins created with Lola felt authentic. I tot ...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Kailia rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-contemporary, young-adult, 2011

Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins’ debut novel became one of all favorite books ever! I was a little worried about this novel since not a lot of sophomore books turn out as good as the first book. I’m mad at myself for even thinking that Lola and the Boy Next Door wouldn’t be as good as ANNA.

I’m going to talk about something that I loved a lot in LOLA: Lola’s two dads are not only really great loving parents but they are actually part of her life! They influence her decisions and she r Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins’ debut novel became one of all favorite books ever! I was a little worried about this novel since not a lot of sophomore books turn out as good as the first book. I’m mad at myself for even thinking that Lola and the Boy Next Door wouldn’t be as good as ANNA.

I’m going to talk about something that I loved a lot in LOLA: Lola’s two dads are not only really great loving parents but they are actually part of her life! They influence her decisions and she respects them and they have a great relationship. I loved Andy and Nathan. PLUS, they’re gay dads; not a lot of those in YA books!

Lola. What can I say about this girl? She’s really independent and unique and doesn’t wear the same outfit twice; she always looks different. She’s okay with being different and not always fitting in. She’s got Max, her boyfriend and Lindsey, her best friend at her side! I didn’t connect to her right away like I did with Anna and that’s probably because the conflict of liking Cricket but dating Max led her to make so bad decisions. But I loved her for always being her and for realizing the mistakes she made.

Cricket. Oh, guys, I’ve realized I’ve got a thing for smart, sometimes clumsy, romantic, and funny guys who also invent things. AKA Cricket Bell. I.LOVED.THIS.BOY. From the second he came onto the page, I knew I was going to love him. He was such a genuine good guy who realized that he’d hurt Lola and wanted to start over with her. And you know, he happens to live in the same dorm with another hot guy…He’s American with a British accent? Um, Etienne St. Clair anyone? Anna and St. Clair are back in this book and are good friends with Lola. I love that they’re actually in the book and not just mentioned in it!

Now I know all of you are wondering if I liked it better than ANNA and I have to say: I consider Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door to be siblings. Like with any sibling, it is never okay to compare them. Each person is their own self and comparing them is wrong. That's what I think of this. While they are companion novels, ANNA and LOLA are two different novels. They had different plot arcs that yes, had some similar features but ,for instance, Anna didn't dress up like Lola does. Lola didn't got to school in Paris! So now, I don't think LOLA was better than ANNA. I enjoyed both of them at the same level. They are both at the #1 spot on my list of favorite books!

Overall, Stephanie Perkins has written yet another funny, cute, unique, realistic, romantic book that I read in about 4 hours! I loved her characters and her ability to tell such good stories! I'm a little mad since Isla and the Happily Ever After comes out next year.NEXT YEAR! It's too far away! ...more

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Mar 12, 2011 Amanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011-25-book-challenge, favorites, 4-stars

Do I have to really say it, I really really really really really, see the emphasis, really liked it. I just couldn't put it down.

What I liked:
Cover
I loved how accurate the cover is. It so perfect.

Writing
I loved the way that Stephanie Perkins wrote the story. It, to me anyway, was even better than the first. (⌒▽⌒)

Overall, there were things that i wanted more of but it was a great read. ...more

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