Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Lola and the Boy Next Door
    Unavailable
    Lola and the Boy Next Door
    Unavailable
    Lola and the Boy Next Door
    Audiobook9 hours

    Lola and the Boy Next Door

    Written by Stephanie Perkins

    Narrated by Shannon McManus

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think

    For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, 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 move back into the house next door.

    When the family returns and Cricket - a gifted inventor and engineer - 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateOct 11, 2011
    ISBN9780307968555
    Unavailable
    Lola and the Boy Next Door
    Author

    Stephanie Perkins

    Stephanie Perkins worked as a bookseller and a librarian before becoming a novelist. She is now a bestseller in the US and Australia and has a huge online following for her books that include Lola and the Boy Next Door and Anna and the French Kiss. She is also the editor of the collection of YA short stories My True Love Gave to Me, and the author of There's Someone Inside Your House and The Woods are Always Watching.

    Related to Lola and the Boy Next Door

    Related audiobooks

    YA Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      A New Look at Frog and Toad

      May 5, 2023

      A New Look at Frog and Toad
      3 min read

    • Article

      Films

      Aug 10, 2023

      Films
      4 min read

    • Article

      Valentine’s Drone Target No.3: Gary Barlow

      Feb 2, 2023

      ASK ANYONE on Earth who sings the sweetest love songs and they will always respond with the same two words: Gary Barlow OBE. As the hunky frontman of ‘90s boyband Take That, formerly big-boned Barlow made his name crooning such heart-swelling hits as

      2 min read

    • Article

      Valentine’s Drone Target No.3: Gary Barlow

      Feb 2, 2023

      ASK ANYONE on Earth who sings the sweetest love songs and they will always respond with the same two words: Gary Barlow OBE. As the hunky frontman of ‘90s boyband Take That, formerly big-boned Barlow made his name crooning such heart-swelling hits as

      2 min read

    • Article

      A House Divided

      Sep 3, 2019

      A House Divided
      7 min read

    • Article

      Look Who’s Back!

      Aug 10, 2020

      Look Who’s Back!
      3 min read

    • Article

      Net Effect

      Feb 16, 2020

      Net Effect
      2 min read

    • Article

      Hot Right Now!

      Dec 29, 2020

      When Lisa married Alex, she gave his life meaning. She was a professional astronomer: a stargazer. And when she gazed at Alex, she saw that behind his tough exterior was a man she could love. Alex, Lisa and their young son Connor made a happy little

      2 min read

    • Article

      Parasite

      Apr 14, 2020

      Parasite
      2 min read

    • Article

      Hard To Love

      Jul 19, 2021

      Hard To Love
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Dry

      Jan 11, 2021

      The Dry
      3 min read

    • Article

      Film

      Nov 15, 2021

      Strange things happen when a bereaved little girl goes to stay in her late grandmother’s rural home In the week that blockbuster sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife attempts to create a connection between generations with some supernatural help, here is

      3 min read

    • Article

      Reviews

      Mar 3, 2023

      Cracker Island Gorillaz, Parlophone Here’s a sobering thought: Cracker Island arrives 22 years on from Gorillaz’s debut single. Founded by Damon Albarn and his former flatmate Jamie Hewlett, it was a project you might have assumed would be a short-li

      2 min read

    • Article

      10 Of The Best Films Of 2020

      Dec 9, 2020

      It has been a contrasting year for cinema. The big screen has suffered hugely with the global pandemic shutting down theatres and causing the shelving of due-to-be-released blockbusters; but that has inevitably led to gains for streaming platforms. I

      3 min read

    • Article

      4.smell

      Mar 21, 2019

      4.smell
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Conners

      Oct 8, 2020

      The Conners
      2 min read

    • Article

      Film

      Feb 7, 2024

      Oldie-readers will know the original grumpy classics master – Andrew Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version, Terence Rattigan’s wonderful 1948 play, later made into films starring Michael Redgrave (1951) and Albert Finney (1994). The hard shell of ‘t

      2 min read

    • Article

      Slanted & enchanted

      May 30, 2021

      MIRRORLAND, by Carole Johnstone (HarperCollins, $32.99), is the imaginary place identical twins Cat and El have created in the basement of the strange house near Edinburgh they share with their neurotic mother and frightening grandfather. They have m

      3 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Jan 6, 2021

      REVIEWS ANNABEL LAWSON It’s only January but this will surely be my best novel of 2021, and it’s Alderton’s first. Nina has a dream job, owns a bijou flat in North London. She had a good relationship which lasted seven years. Her ex lost no time in m

      2 min read

    • Article

      Magma Mia

      Jan 13, 2022

      Magma Mia
      10 min read

    • Article

      Out Now! On The Screen

      Sep 2, 2021

      Vivo follows a one-of-a-kind kinkajou who spends his days playing music with his beloved owner Andrés. Though they may not speak the same language, Vivo and Andrés are the perfect duo through their love of music. But when tragedy strikes, it's up to

      2 min read

    Reviews for Lola and the Boy Next Door

    4/5

    740 ratings127 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      4 stars. An enchanting book. Stephanie Perkins creates wonderfully captivating characters.This book surprised me, I didn't expect to enjoy it more than Anna and The French Kiss but I did. For all those teenage girls out there obsessed with fashion, and romance, this is the book for you. (My youngest daughter, would adore this book!)

      **Spoilers**

      Lola intends to go to her high school winter ball dressed as Marie Antoinette. Lola's parents, two gay guys, Nathan, and Andy, worry about Lola going out with Max, her rocker boyfriend as he is so much older than her. Nathan and Andy's devotion to Lola is touching. With the arrival of the Bell twins, Calliope, and Cricket, Lola's old feelings for Cricket, her first love, are rekindled. Cricket is so genuine and cute that Lola can't stop herself falling for him all over again. Lola's feelings for Max crumble and her confusion is relatable. It is a shock when she realises that Max is attracted to her child-like self. Lola is no longer willing to be a child. She is now a young woman, on the verge of discovering her identity. Will she go to the ball? She looks at herself in the mirror, and suddenly feels lost in her elaborate costume. Her wig is over the top, dwarfing her personality. Who is Lola? She despairs. Cricket comes to her rescue in the most wonderful way. He enables the Lola that he loves to go to the ball, and then proves that he is "the one," by re-inventing her, and giving her the most beautiful gift that anyone could possibly imagine.

    • 4/5
      Lola is a girl trying to figure out who she is ... she has big style and she's got an older boyfriend that her dads really don't like. And then her old crush moves back in next door. Lola is a bit of a mess working through her feelings, but I liked the ending where she does finally figure out who she really is.
    • 3/5
      Terrible cover, but a nice little escape and a quick read.
    • 4/5
      For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.You guys!!!! I am so happy to report that Stephanie Perkins books can totally be Christina books. I thought it was possible, but my Anna experience scared me a whole lot. Plus, Anna and Isla seem pretty universally loved, but Lola and the Boy Next Door seems to be fairly divisive even among her fan base. Oh well, I do love being predictable. Where I found Anna alternately incredibly shippy and enraging, Lola and the Boy Next Door was perfectly adorable and vibrant from page one.It’s rather funny how much I don’t seem to have the proper reactions to Perkins’ characters. I didn’t get why so many people loved St. Clair and now I don’t get why so many don’t like Lola. Well, okay, I guess I can understand it from an objective perspective. Lola is very…well, LOLA. She’s an individual to a degree that shocks and upsets others, perhaps out of envy or maybe just because they like people to stay in their boxes. You could call Lola twee and not be entirely wrong about that. So I get it. Sort of. Lola would definitely be a hard person for me to take in real life and, more to the point, it would be difficult to find someone like her in real life. That seems to be the thing people really don’t like about Lola and the Boy Next Door. Though I didn’t know anyone like Lola and probably wouldn’t have the energy to be her friend even if I did, I like that people like her exist.Looking at Lola from a more positive angle, she embraces who she is. Ever since childhood, she’s been obsessed with fashion and she’s loved to look completely different every day. She wants to design clothing. Most likely she wouldn’t be caught dead in an outfit as boring as the one on the cover (which, okay, I actually love that outfit). Lola wears wigs almost every day, not because there’s something wrong with her own hair, but because she likes to and needs them to complete her ensemble. Lola is indefatigable. Though it’s not central to the novel’s plot line which doesn’t involve going to school, there are subtle hints that she’s been bullied for this (as she obviously would be), but she does her own thing anyway. She’s young and she’s still learning, but she’s way already got a grasp of the important thing, which is embracing who you are. Someone like Lola could easily annoy me, but she’s just so genuine about her fashion and so non-judgmental, aside from a couple of rare occasions, of how other people choose to clothe themselves.So yeah, I love Lola. When Lola and the Boy Next Door begins, she’s dating this older guy, Max. He’s 22 her 17. Their relationship’s not viewed favorably by anyone but Lola and Max, really. Her parents (more on them later) allow the relationship, with conditions, because they know that telling teens straight up NOT to do something is only going to make them do it even less safely. Smart parenting, yo. Anyway, it’s obvious from the book title that Max is not the guy. I’d also heard about Max and he’s honestly not as bad as I expected. He’s got a few issues, but he also does seem to care for Lola some in his way. The relationship is doomed from the beginning, but I can see why she didn’t see that. His side is less clear, but it’s also not his book. For Lola, I think a lot of the appeal is that he liked her costumes and her Lolaness.Sidebar for Lola’s gay dad’s, Andy and Nathan. These guys are completely wonderful, loving, slightly over-protective parents. In a land of YA with missing parents, Andy and Nathan are kings. They love Lola so incredibly much, even though technically they’re her uncle and partner. One of my favorite tropes is a built family and Lola and the Boy Next Door does this so well. Also, though I can’t say I much cared for Norah, Lola’s biological mother and Nathan’s sister, I do think it’s wonderful that Perkins addressed her and that there’s a nice character arc for her as well.Anna and St. Clair are characters in Lola, since Anna works with Lola at the movie theater. While I can’t say that I’m any more of a fan of their relationship, it was interesting getting to see them from the outside. I think Anna’s narration played down (snerk) just how short St. Clair is. They seem really true to their presentation in Anna, but also slightly different the way they would be when not viewed from Anna’s perspective. In that sense, this is one of the better cameos I’ve seen in a companion novel.Also, for all that I hated the treatment of infidelity in Anna and the French Kiss, I love the way it’s handled in Lola and the Boy Next Door. Where St. Clair made excuse after excuse, Lola really doesn’t. She’s constantly thinking about what she should be doing. She knows from the beginning she could have Cricket Bell if she wanted him, but she’s not sure if she wants him or Max. St. Clair knew who he wanted and didn’t want to act in case he ended up alone. I will say that I did enjoy his advice to Lola about making the right choice, and that’s pretty much the only good thing to come out of the romantic drama of Anna. Lola also never allows anyone else to take the blame for her part in things being a mess. That’s just how Lola is and I love it.Then there’s Cricket Bell. He is the anti-St. Clair in just about every way. He’s really tall (6’4″ not counting the hair), goofy, socially awkward, and, at least at this time, very open with his feelings. Cricket Bell is the best and most reliable friend you’ll ever have. He puts others before himself consistently, which is basically his largest character flaw. As Lola and the Boy Next Door stresses, they really complement one another. Yes, I ship it. Yes, the fact that she hated him for much of the book didn’t hurt my shippitude.Why only four stars when I thought everything was fantastic? I know, I know. See, I did love it. But also I just didn’t get the feels the way that I do in my 4.5 and 5 star reads. I never fell into the book and forgot I was reading. I never got vicarious butterflies. For some reason I never got to that I SHIP IT LIKE BURNING place, you know? I do think I would get there on a reread. I suspect I was just so on my guard because I was afraid it would end up making me sad and disappointed in the end like Anna that the feels couldn’t really fully ignite.Possibly controversial opinion? Lola and the Boy Next Door far outpaces Anna and the French Kiss, and not just because I didn’t like the ship in the first book. It’s more well-rounded, more vibrant, and Cricket Bell is a far superior love interest. Also, anyone else really want a book about Calliope Bell? Because I do.
    • 5/5
      Find this review and more at On The Shelf!This was my Random Read for January and I knew I was going to love this just because I loved Anna. This authoris an incredible writer and really knows how to put you in the shoes of her characters and feel exactly what they feel. Both of these books were so real and readers can easily relate to Anna and Lola. I also loved seeing Anna and St. Clair in this book. Lola is a wonderful character. She is smart, lively, fun and different; different in a very good way. I would love to meet someone like Lola. And Cricket? Who wouldn’t want to fall in love with the thoughful, sweet, hot next door boy? As for Max, at first I kind of liked him, but he became a jerk quickly. We have all made the mistake of being blinded by love, but when nobody liked the guy you’re with, then something is wrong. This story is set in San Fransisco, and because of this book, I really want to go, especially to see the wild parrots and the Japanese tea garden. It’s obvious that the author is very familiar with this area (she used to live there) and she portays it beautifully. The cover of the book is cute, it isn’t super fantastic, but it goes perfectly with the story becuse it really captures Lola and Cricket right down to the star on his left hand. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see St. Clair on the cover of Anna, so I’m very glad we got to see Cricket. I am definitely a die hard fan of Stephanie Perkins now and she is on my auto-buy list. I am very excited about her upcoming Isla, plus, next year, she is publishing a teen slasher novel and it will be really interesting to see how she does in that from romance. Aside from a few words missing from sentences in a couple of spots toward the end of the book, it was pretty near perfect. I loved it almost as much as I loved Anna! Beautiful setting, incredible characters, couldn’t put it down, LOVE!!
    • 5/5
      I love Lola and the Boy Next Door. As amazing, beautiful, and heartfelt as Anna and the French Kiss. Lola lives in San Francisco with her two dads (yes two dads which I find awesome), who has a love of fashion and dreams of being a fashion designer. Her life seems great with her friends, family, and her rocker boyfriend. But the Bell twins, Cricket and Calliope, come back into town and Lola is confronted with feelings she thought she left behind long ago. Along with her birth mother, who has never been stable in her life, coming back in need of help. Lola has to deal with the emotional roller coaster of first love, real love, and the love of family.

      As beautifully written as Anna and the French Kiss. Lola and the Boy Next Door explores first loves, growing up, and the past coming back, with characters that are wonderfully written and completely believable. I don't know how Stephanie Perkins does it but she makes me fall in love with the story and characters, wishing them a happily ever after. But it's not just a simple romance story, her books are about the girls' lives and how they are navigating through the difficult process of growing up.

      Lola and the Boy Next Door made me fall in love with Lola and Cricket like I did with Anna and Etienne. I cannot wait for the next, and final, book: Isla and the Happily Ever After.

      5/5
    • 2/5
      The title for this book is perfect since it really is about Lola and the boy next door. I want to say, I really enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss, but this was just boring to me. I still really enjoyed Stephanie Perkins writing and I plan to finish the series.I really liked how this started off. You have a mystery of how Cricket hurt Lola and then it is revealed how and it is such a disappointment. You also have a weird love triangle which one character was barely present except to bring the triangle to life. Max never stood a chance, even though I actually liked his character at times. I think his portrayal changes and it did not make sense. It starts off where he would do anything to please Lola and her parents and then instantly he becomes a character the author wants you to hate. I also did not love Cricket. I just could not connect with Lola or Cricket or their relationship. I was getting so bored with everything I had to skip ahead just to finish reading this. I had a love/hate relationship when St. Claire and Anna were mentioned. I feel they were also different characters than what I grew to love in Anna and the French Kiss. I will finish the next book, but I hope it is better than this one.
    • 5/5
      Between this and Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins has proved herself as the master of slow-burn YA romance. This book kept me up until like 2am as the insane sexual tension builds and builds and I can't stop reading until they JUST KISS ALREADY. (And, sometime after 2am, they did, and it was sublime)

      I hugged this book when I finished it. Bring on Isla and the Happily Ever After!
    • 3/5
      It is not cool to lead someone on. Especially if you know that that person likes you. And most especially if you're dating someone else.

      I hate Lola. There's something off about her. Sure, I like that she's creative with costumes and stuff, but really, in the love department she's.. almost evil. Poor Cricket!

      Three things that made me like this book:
      1) Cricket Bell, but that's not a good thing. Because guys like him do not exist. Or if they do, they are virtually rare. I don't know someone who's martyr enough to wait on someone he likes for several years and still follow her like a loyal puppy even though she has a boyfriend. Also, did I mention he's an inventor? And that he's good at hairstyling? Yeah, well. Liking Cricket Bell is like liking unicorns. And I like unicorns, so there's that.

      2) Anna and Etienne. Gosh, these two are adorable. I'm glad I get to see them from time to time. And they definitely slam the Lola/Max and the Lola/Cricket couple. By a long shot.

      3) Stephanie Perkins. I like her voice and she's one of my favorite authors. Although from time to time some subplots suck or are stupid, this fact helps me tolerate those things. Love you Steph.
    • 5/5
      I LOVED IT SO MUCH CRICKET WAS SO CUTE AND LOLA WAS AMAZING SHE'S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE FEMALE CHARACTERS I LOVE THIS SERIES
    • 3/5

      (Any mistakes I didn't catch, even after re-reading it, please don't hold it against me, I first typed this out on my Kindle so I could get my feelings out right then so I wouldn't forget. I wasn't sure when I would feel like sitting at the computer again and type this up)

      I actually picked up this book for the first time in February of this year, got about 130 pages or so in and just couldn't finish it. If I had finished it, it may have only gotten a 2 stars. But, because I did wait to finish it, and because of the last few chapters , it increased to 3 stars...

      What makes my rating different now and then?

      Maybe it was more frustration with the book than anything I think, because I had been reading so many good books. But, over the past few months, I've been reading books that have been okay enough to finish, but nothing to rave about, and those books made it a little easier not to put this one down, even though I wanted to a few times, but right as I thought it, it would get funny and/or interesting.

      Now, to the Characters/Story:

      The story itself, for me personally, was just too drawn out in many places and could have been cut shorter in some areas. I found myself getting bored, A LOT.

      As far as the characters go, I adored all of them, especially Cricket...Oh how I love Cricket! He is almost up there with Etienne!

      Lola, I liked her for being so different, and usually not caring about what others think..and she begins to find herself throughout the book. I love her parents..all of them!

      Max? One word....UGH!!! That's all he deserves! Lol

      And of course, I love Anna & St Clare!!

      Well, that was my long winded opinion! If you loved this book, good, but for me, it was just okay...I may get some hate comments, but just remember, we're all entitled to our personal opinions:-)

      Thanks for reading this!

      Happy Reading!
    • 4/5
      Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.comI thoroughly enjoyed Perkins's debut Anna and the French Kiss, and was very excited to finally get my hands on Lola. I was not disappointed: Lola is an endearingly chaotic 'heroine', in only good ways. She's a super creative girl, and has all the impetuous enthusiasm of seventeen. She makes mistakes, she misunderstands, she crashes. But she doesn't stay down. Especially with the help of her best friend Lindsey, and the surprising pick-back-up of childhood friend Cricket Bell. (Anna and St Clair also make a reappearance, and are voices of experience in Lola's ear. Plus St Clair is just fun!). How do I explain Cricket? He's awesome. Amazing. If not for the skinny pants, I'd be in love with him myself. He's not perfect, but his imperfections make him even more a long-legged puppy you can't help but adore. That's actually a pretty good summary of the book: On the surface, it seems just "too much" -- Lola never repeats an outfit/always dresses in costume; she's dating a much older, bad boy musician; etc. But it works. Because Lola is real, and all the characters could literally be walking down the street. It's life, in a book.
    • 4/5
      Stephanie Perkins' laptop must be made out of fairy dust, as her characters seem to magically leap from the page. The aching longing between Lola and Cricket was palpable and watching them work through their obstacles to find each other made for a really enjoyable read.
    • 4/5

      (Any mistakes I didn't catch, even after re-reading it, please don't hold it against me, I first typed this out on my Kindle so I could get my feelings out right then so I wouldn't forget. I wasn't sure when I would feel like sitting at the computer again and type this up)

      I actually picked up this book for the first time in February of this year, got about 130 pages or so in and just couldn't finish it. If I had finished it, it may have only gotten a 2-2.5 stars. But, because I did wait to finish it, and because of the last few chapters , it increased to 3.5 stars...Of course I had to put 4 stars on G.R. because that's the only way I could put it.

      What makes my rating different now and then?

      Maybe it was more frustration with the book than anything I think, because I had been reading so many good books. But, over the past few months, I've been reading books that have been okay enough to finish, but nothing to rave about, and those books made it a little easier not to put this one down, even though I wanted to a few times, but right as I thought it, it would get funny and/or interesting.

      Now, to the Characters/Story:

      The story itself, for me personally, was just too drawn out in many places and could have been cut shorter in some areas. I found myself getting bored, A LOT.

      As far as the characters go, I adored all of them, especially Cricket...Oh how I love Cricket! He is almost up there with Etienne!

      Lola, I liked her for being so different, and usually not caring about what others think..and she begins to find herself throughout the book. I love her parents..all of them!

      Max? One word....UGH!!! That's all he deserves! Lol

      And of course, I love Anna & St Clare!!

      Well, that was my long winded opinion! If you loved this book, good, but for me, it was just okay...I may get some hate comments, but just remember, we're all entitled to our personal opinions:-)

      Thanks for reading this!

      Happy Reading!
    • 5/5
      Lola Nolan's life is going amazingly well right now. She has a blast dressing up in outrageous costumes every day. She has two loving, awesome dads. She has a super hot older boyfriend in a rock band. But then one day she sees it - a moving van at the house next door. She realizes they must be back - self-centered and cruel professional ice skater Calliope Bell and her twin brother Cricket, the boy who pulverized Lola's heart two years ago and then moved away. Things are about to get complicated.Aaaaaaaaghhhhhhghghgh. Is how I feel every time I finish a Stephanie Perkins book. Yes, there are some flaws in there somewhere but I don't caaaaaaaaaare. I just want to squee. Cricket is freaking adorable. Lola is believable and relatable and her voice isn't too immature. The only real non-squee thoughts I have are that there were a bit more spoilers for Anna and the French Kiss than I was expecting, so definitely read that one first.
    • 4/5
      So sweet. It brought out my inner angsty teenage girl.
    • 3/5
      I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this companion to Anna and the French Kiss, but from what I can remember of Anna, this doesn't quite measure up.

      First of all, I don't respond well to authors shoving it down my neck that the protagonist "IS A WONDERFUL AND LIKABLE PERSON NO IFS, BUTS OR MAYBES". Lola just isn't the kind of person I would have any time for in my own life. Her special snowflake crap would bother me big time. No, I'm not picking on her style choices like others in the book did. It's how she treats everyone around her like shit, like insignificant little amusements that she can shove around at will.

      The author does something clever but mostly just convenient in order to get around this. She either under-develops characters, makes them giant ass-wipes, or makes them unconditionally sympathetic to Lola's plight.

      Her best friend, Lyndsy falls mainly into the first category. I don't know this girl. Okay so she likes Nancy Drew and some guy in her class, now what else? When Lyndsy doesn't bow to Lola's will, we're shown this difficult and selfish friend, not someone with real feelings.

      The resident ass-wipes? First, her parents. When things are going well, they're lovely people who care. When Lola fucks up? Their fault. Always their fault.

      Then there's Calliope. There was so much more to that girl that the author just swept straight under the carpet. She doesn't like Lola? Well let's just depict her as a raging bitch and pay minimal attention to why she feels that why. I mean, we scratch the surface but it's all a little superficial by the end.

      Max, Max, Max. This guy was not bad. He's right. He put up with a lot shit from Lola and her parents. She lied her ass off to him. Half truths, white lies and full on stinkers of lies. I think we're meant to believe that Max was never all that and Lola was just wearing rose tinted glasses until the spell was broken. He wasn't a knight in shining armour, but he really wasn't a bad person. The conclusion to his role in the book was such a horrible, cheap shot. Turning him into something he never was. Maybe I picked it up wrong, but that reference to Santa Monica definitely seemed to imply that he knew that woman while he was with Lola and may have been sleeping with her before the break-up. Maybe I'm wrong, but the possibility does a complete disservice to an otherwise decent character. And Lola basically calling him a pedophile? Screw her. He freaked the hell out when he learned her real age. She thought she was awesome for going out with an older guy. Don't throw it in his face when you don't get your own way.

      Norah speaks no bullshit and takes no bullshit. She might be a mess and not the best person to take advice from, but so long as Andy and Nathan are in charge of actually raising Lola, Norah actually makes for an excellent source of wisdom given her past. I think Lola actually sees this, but Norah is too often the bitch when Lola is mad at everyone else. Is that fair? Not my call, I don't understand that kind of family dynamic, but it didn't look right to me.

      Then there's the sympathetic doormats.
      Anna and St.Clair were just kind of.....there. I like seeing them again, but they were way too involved for a companion novel, considering it's not a full on sequel. They may have had moments of anger, but given that they still speak to Lola, they definitely took too much crap from her.

      Cricket. Oh Cricket, I do not get you at all. This book was missing one major plot point that I personally feel is essential to such a story. There really needed to be a time when he gave up. He needed to say fuck it and tell Lola to go fuck herself or get her boyfriend to do it for her. This whole past between them? Sorry, but it's hardly the most tragic thing I've ever heard, I mean, come on. Shit happens. To lots of people. Actually, that happened to me, and I dealt. You just deal.

      Mostly I think everything just came together too easily. Lola never had to feel real pain for the things she put people through. Her two week phase of wearing black does not count, don't even. Minor characters forgave her easily. Max became an ass so yay, guilt-free Lola. Cricket comes running the moment she snaps her fingers so she never has to answer for fucking him over for so long.

      Lola messes with people. She picks them up when she feels like it and throws them away as easily. It's horrid and I just can't bear that kind of person. Basically, she kinda sucks as a person.

      The blatant lack of character development really spoiled the book for me. Maybe I'm being really harsh on Lola, but how would I know? She's the only one we get to know, so how can I even begin to consider the flaws of everyone else?





      I did like the book, it was cute and romantic and heartfelt. I think that's worthy of three stars, but it's no Anna.
    • 4/5
      **One tiny spoiler is hidden within the text. Otherwise, safe to read**

      3.5 Stars, but I'm rounding up, because...*sigh* you know.

      So here's the thing. I'm pretty sure I sabotaged my reading of this book. It was one of those things where you have it SO WORKED UP in your mind, that inevitably, you're let down.

      It wasn't that I didn't like Lola, because I totally did. But I expected to fall all over myself in love with it like I did Anna. And that, I totally did not.

      Let's talk about what I loved about the book: I love Perkins' storytelling ability, and that hasn't changed with Lola's book. Her style is still very much there, and that was refreshing to see. Also, the incredibly unique and different characters she came up with - I mean, really, a girl who dresses in costume every day of her life? Now that is creative. I also loved that Lola had two gay men as parents, since I have yet to read about that in a YA novel. The BFF was...okay. I didn't love her, but she wasn't really explored enough to love or hate. Max, I actually liked at the beginning, but that didn't last long. I also enjoyed Cricket...I didn't swoon all over him like I did Etienne, though. Don't get me wrong - Cricket had his own moments of swoon, but they just weren't for me.

      Really the only thing that I didn't love about the book, and what subsequently caused me to not enjoy the book as I hoped I would was Lola's character. She was...well, a liar. There are no two ways about it. She lied her pants off any chance she got. And, yeah, yeah, yeah, but she's only seventeen! That argument doesn't work for me. Age has nothing to do with that in my book. At the point in time when she is confronted by Max and lies through her teeth , she completely lost any iota of love I had for her.

      Honestly, what I liked most about this book? The tiny glimpses of Anna and Etienne that we got. The one (ONE!) time I laughed in this book was during one of Anna's lines. That was one of the main things I loved about Perkins' first book - I laughed so much. I enjoyed myself in reading it; it was funny and cute and swoony and...I got it. I got Anna. I did not get Lola.

      In the end, I think that within these three books Perkins is writing, you will inevitably gravitate toward one set of characters more than the others. Mine are Anna and Etienne. And, I'm betting (hoping) the final book makes it up there a little closer to those two, as well.
    • 2/5
      First off, I LOVED Anna and the French Kiss. It has a great plot, great location, great boarding school, fun characters, a great boy, but most importantly Anna is a great character. I could easily put myself into her shoes even though she was in Paris. Perkins is cute so she created a cute book that's fun to read. I was so excited about Lola and couldn't wait to get my hands on it!

      However, I was disappointed with Lola and the Boy Next Door.My main problem with this book is its namesake, Lola. She is a flat out liar. She lied to her parents, her friend Lindsey, both boys in her life, and to herself. Also, I seriously love fashion and think it's fun to change your style. I just felt Lola's fashion sense is forced throughout the book. It's there to show that she's different and quirky. However, it made her appear shallow and attention-seeking.

      My second problem with this books is how fixated these girls are with their boyfriends. Trust me, I LOVE romance and I married my high school sweetheart. However, we never lost sight that life exists outside of our relationship. It's healthy and normal NOT to see each other every waking moment and to have separate interests. It shows independence and security in your relationship. But, in this book it appears that to be a happy couple you can't leave each other's side. You must be around 24/7 and talk about your love interest ALL the time to EVERYONE around you. I saw glimpses of this in Anna but it was easier to overlook than it is in Lola. I didn't even like Anna and St. Clair as much in this book because they are so ridiculously stuck on each other. I just worry that this reinforces the idea that if you are girl without a boyfriend life just isn't worth it. Friendships are important things to build as a teenager and they teach you so much about relationships. Friends are all but forgotten in both Anna and Lola actually. Your boyfriend is way more important.

      Also, I really liked Cricket Bell. I didn't think what he "did" to Lola was that horrible. Sure, I understand why she was hurt but the utter devastation on Lola's part was a little extreme. He is obviously a nice guy and had reasons for doing what he did. I loved that he was an inventor and had awesome taste in clothes. Sometimes I felt he was a little to good for Lola.

      Overall, there are some things that I liked. I liked Cricket, Lola's dads, and Lindsey. I thought Perkins did a nice job of capturing the essence of San Francisco. I just couldn't overlook my disappointment in Lola and her relationships with Max and Cricket. She is just not a person I would want to be around. I actually hate to say this because I really like Perkins. I will read her next book, and I hope the relationships are more realistic.
    • 5/5
      Lola only wants three things from life: 1) she wants to be a costume designer, 2) she wants her parents to finally accept her boyrfriend, Max, 3) she never wants to see the Bell twins (Calliope and Cricket) ever again. But when the Bell family moves back to the neighbourhood, Lola discovers that her feelings for Cricket, the boy next door, are not as clear cut as she thought they were.Stephanie Perkins is brilliant. She excels at creating adorable characters with flaws that keep them human. Lola is a delightful protagonist with her ever changing costumes, her slightly overprotective dads, and budding detective best friend. Cricket, of course, is a brilliant counterpart (ignore the slightly ridiculous name) with his inventions, his writing on the back of his hand, and the baggage that comes with being the sibling of an Olympic contender. Put Lola and Cricket together and there is great drama and so many moments worthy of swoonage. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
    • 5/5
      First of all, you should know that I don't think I can do this book justice in a review. I'm pretty sure I'm going to descend into fangirl gushing or something, but that's a risk I'm willing to take to tell you about this AMAZING BOOK.

      Stephanie Perkins has been a favorite since I read Anna and the French Kiss last year. Her quirky style captures me and holds me prisoner like very few other books/authors can do. Seriously, whatever Stephanie is selling, I'm buying.

      As much as I loved Anna, I think I loved Lola even more. It's so REAL. It's happy, tragic, suspenseful, lighthearted, devastating, beautiful, ugly, and so many more adjectives. This book is ALL THE THINGS. You know how important that is to me. I laughed, cried, jumped up and down, hurled things, cried some more, laughed even more, and all the other things too.

      I want to BE Lola. I at least want her style. I wish I wasn't afraid to be myself. I love it when Lola realizes that she IS herself when she's dressing up. She's one of those girls who marches to the beat of a different drummer, or maybe not even a drummer. I could see her marching to a trombone or a piccolo, because that would be more true to her character. You know, to do something that not everyone else was doing.

      And I LOVED Cricket. He was everything I'd ever want in a boyfriend/spouse. Caring, charismatic without being overwhelming, a little absent-minded, intelligent, caring (can I say that again?), attentive, genuine...I could fill an entire post just rhapsodizing about Cricket. But just know that I'm calling dibs. I will give you someone else, but I get Cricket. That's just how it has to be. :D

      And so you know, there are things in this book that some might find objectionable. Lola has two dads. Did this bother me? Not in the least. They were pretty awesome, if you ask me. Also, I find that I'm quite a lot more liberal in things than most people would expect from me, but there you have it. Things that would drive some people nuts (like two dads, for instance), don't bother me.

      Lola is also a bit more, ahem, experienced, than you might want a teenage girl to be. It wasn't a huge factor in the book though. It was mentioned once or twice, but sex was NOT a dwelling point for any character(s). It was just a fact that was mentioned. It gave more insight into Lola & Max's relationship, which becomes infinitely clearer towards the end. We NEEDED to know these things, trust me.

      What you really need to know is that I LOVED this book. Seriously loved it. Loved it so much that I wanted to pick it up and start over the second I finished. It's a rare book that does that, so you can guess what rating Lola gets:
    • 2/5
      As much as I loved Anna and the french kiss, I was really disappointed with this book.
      There are several things I didn't like about it, the most important one is Lola!!
      What's up with this girl. She was whiny, selfish and excentric. I felt really sorry for Max and I thought he was right in everything he said about her (harsh but true).
      Plus, I really disliked the way her family and friends treated her, like she was perfect. She's not! and only Max loved her despite her flaws.

      The second thing I didn't like was Anna and Etienne's relationship. I found them different than what they were in the first book. I couldn't recognize the characters.

      The only bright spot was Cricket. He was awesome apart from his name of course. Who names their child Cricket!!! But I really loved him. He was nice, honest, smart and so cute, but he was kind of blinded by his feelings for her and only saw the "good". Anyway, I felt like I lost a day of my life reading this.
    • 4/5
      This was a great teen read. Lola is a typical teen with all the issues included. She is sometimes selfish, sometimes generous and all the time trying to figure out who Lola really is. I liked this book and I liked Lola.
    • 5/5
      Budding costume designer Lola lives an extraordinary life in San Francisco with her two dads and beloved dog, dating a punk rocker, but when the Bell twins return to the house next door Lola recalls both the friendship-ending fight with Calliope, a figure skater, and the childhood crush she had on Cricket.

      [Wednesday, February 29, 2012] First of all I loved the book but I loved Anna and the French Kiss more. It was amazing seeing Etienne and Anna again, though Paris as a setting is much more exciting then San Fransisco. I loved the fortune-telling scene and I like the Bell's twins names, they are unique. Lola is so gaga, but she's more romantic and sensitive under all the layers.

      This book shocked me, because Cricket and Lola are so much like my guy and myself. Like when she says: "I'm not interested in making what's easy. I'm interested in making what's beautiful." That's so me!

      "There's something about blue eyes. The kind that startles you every time they're lifted in your direction. The kind of blue that makes you ache for them to look at you again. Not blue green or blue gray, the blue that's just blue." That's so like my boyfriend. I always think that, how I love his piercing eyes.

      Beside him being tall, with soft crazy hair and blue eyes, they are alike in the way they love. In the way they respect their girl and the passion they feel. Even the scene of him brushing her hair is there in our history. This book is a favorite too, now.
    • 5/5
      I just have to say, Lola and the Boy Next Door was even better than Anna and the French Kiss, and I have a feeling that Stephanie Perkins books will only get better. I feel like Lola and the Boy Next Door was better because it seemed deeper than Anna and the French Kiss (Don't get me wrong, I still loved Anna and the French Kiss) but In Lola there seemed to be more of a back-story. There was the history with Lola and Cricket, Lola's crazy mother, etc. Also, Lola and Cricket are possibly my two favorite book characters of all time. I can relate with so many things about Lola. The way that she dresses crazy (some people have tried to get me to tone down the way I dress... but it's never worked), her trouble with guys, etc. Lola is just an amazing character. Stephanie Perkins also did great on how she portrayed how some people can really fool you. Its amazing. Okay... I'm done gushing... :PBut seriously, Go read this book.
    • 2/5
      I haven't read Perkins previous book, so I can't really say if this one is better or not. I'm reviewing this as a stand alone.
      I enjoyed the book, didn't love it, but it was okayish.
      Some things bothered me; how relationships where handled for example, they didn't evolve naturally, seemed forced, and just moved the way Perkins seemed fit. Same with characters, one chapter they are sweet and fun, next one they are assholes and jerks, there was no consistency.
      I did not like Lola's best friend, that is nothing like a best friend, and Lola's parents never ever trusted their daughter and they didn't work as a parental figure besides telling Lola what not to do.
      The plot was kind of simple, the climax being Lola discovering her feelings for this boy.
      I may be checking Perkins previous book later, just because most say that one's better, but not because of this book.
    • 3/5
      Compared to Anna and the French Kiss, this was just awful. The only aspect I loved was Lola's dads and how they parented. However I found Lola to be unbearable and the story to be predictable.
    • 4/5
      Dear Stephanie Perkins,
      Thank you for including Anna and Etienne in this story without drowning out Lola's story. Thank you for adding them to the story but also making us know at all times that this is Lola's stories and not an extension of Anna's. You wrote San Francisco as wonderfully as you wrote Paris and sure, there isn't a beautiful Eiffel Tower or old creepy cemetery, but you didn't need that to make this story beautiful. Thank you for making Lola different than Anna. Lola is her own person and I'm sure Isla is too. Lola and Anna are two completely different people. I was worried that I would feel like I was reading the same book two times in a row, but I knew I wasn't. I could tell the obvious differences between Lola and Anna. So thank you for making different characters so so many different girls can feel connected to the characters. A books for an A author.

      Dear Lola Nolan,
      Thank you for always being yourself. Thank you for being faithful. You are a fun character. You made me laugh. You made me cry. I felt like I could easily be your friend. Lola, you are smart and strong. You know what you want and you go get it. There were times where I wasn't sure that we would get along, especially when you were rude to Calliope but that's my only complaint. Other than that, you were the perfect character for a perfect book. I can't wait to hang out with you again.

      Dear Cricket Bell,
      *blushes* hi. Thanks for being literally perfect. You're the closest thing to a book boyfriend I've ever had. You're nice and funny and just try to make everyone happy. You're kinda goofy but in a totally sweet way. You and Lola are adorable. You get along so well but you also have your differences and I like that about you two. Thank you for loving Lola and letting her be herself.

      Dear Lola and Cricket,
      THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME. This was not insta-love. I could feel the relationship growing slowly and it made me so happy when you two finally got together. Can I see more relationships like yours? This was a healthy and fun relationship that just filled me with joy and happiness and the way new puppies make me feel.

      Seriously, if you like fun, witty characters that aren't super insta-lovey: this is the book for you! I am so glad that I read this book.Still crying about not having Isla yet, though. This is such a fun series. One of my top series I've read this year.

      I should mention that you should probably read Anna and the French Kiss prior to reading this. They are companion novels, but it just fits better if you read Anna before!
    • 5/5
      Sweet and painful and real. I loved Lola's outfits, her dads, her character growth, and Cricket!
    • 5/5
      This book. I have discovered a massive love for Stephanie Perkins and her writing. Her characters can wring so many emotions out of you in one sitting, that you sit there afterwards staring into space, wondering what just happened.

      Lola was an adorable book, one that I adore. I was flip-flopping between frustration, love, upset, and cooing at the two main characters' cuteness. I finished the book, and just sat there hugging it, sort of giddy. When an author manages to bring this out of me, they have me for life.

      Lola was such a quirky character, which made her intriguing. She has a passion for dressing in costumes and bright colors that I just adore; I sometimes I wish I had more of her spunk. She lives with her two fathers, who have raised her since birth. We find out more about her story as the book goes on. We find out in the beginning of the book that she is dating Max, a 22 year old wannabe rock singer (she's 17). Their whole relationship completely pissed me off, for the most part because he is a jerk (I called him much worse in my head, believe me). Their relationship bothered me on so many levels, mostly because she felt like, if she changed for him, he would still want to be with her; he was supposed to be "the one". I had so many issues with that.

      When the Bell twins return to the neighborhood, things get interesting and emotions get messy. When I first met Cricket, that just increased my loathing for Max; I kept asking myself when she and Max would break up and she would get together with Cricket. Oh Cricket. I loved Cricket; he was such a shy, sweet guy, someone I would love to have for myself. I love how patient he is with her, how he waits for her to figure things out, and how he engineers things for her. They were completely adorable. I won't say anymore because I don't want to ruin the book.

      All I will say is that you will love this book. The characters are adorable, the story sucks you in, and before you know it, it's over and you just stare ahead of you chanting in your head "i love this book, i love this book".