By Stephanie Perkins
Dutton Books
Publication date: September 29, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-525-42328-7
After reading Stephanie Perkins's Anna and the French Kiss, I immediately got Lola and the Boy Next Door. True, it's not a sequel, but I knew that if the writing were as good (and utterly delicious), I'd love it.
And boy did I.
Lola, a budding designer, has two wishes: she wants to wear a Marie Antoinette costume to her school dance and she wants her two dads to like her older rock star boyfriend, Max. While she works diligently at both, they don't seem to like Max. And things don't get easier when Cricket, the boy next door and Lola's first love, comes back into town. Now, Lola has to figure out who she is under all the costumes, and which great love she wants.
While not a sequel, Lola is a companion novel to Anna. Both Anna and St. Clair make appearances, working with Lola at a San Francisco movie theatre. (We learn that the couple is still very much in love, and planning a future together. Awww.) While they do have big parts, they're far from the focus, as this is Lola's story. And Lola is quite the character. Constantly in costume, she wears here feelings and emotions on her body, be it in wigs or outlandish dresses. She feels like herself when she's dressed up. She lives with her two dads (who were hands down my favorite characters in the book), who are both incredibly caring and overprotective (especially when it comes to her older boyfriend). She's a good student, a good daughter.
Except when it comes to Max, the bad boy rocker who loves her. Perkins does a great job of making him not someone you hate at first. He likes her, you can't hate him for that. But even though he isn't horrid, you still root for Cricket.
Cricket. The boy next door. The nice, sweet, patient guy. The inventor who has pined for Lola since childhood. Who leaves her messages on his window. Who helps her see who she is. Yes, he's that wonderful. His scenes with Lola are mesmerizing, and you just want to keep him for yourself.
In the background of Lola debating which guy she likes more, there's the story of family, where her birth mother is discussed. I like how Perkins added this story; it made the plot more developed, and less just a basic love story. I also love how the dads were just that - their sexuality was never a big problem or, even, plot point.
The book is adorable. The crushes are delightful, and the love scenes are drool-worthy. Seriously, if you liked Anna, pick this up. (You don't have to read Anna beforehand, but it's nice to.) If you haven't read it yet, get on it. Perkins tells a delicious, sugarcoated, fun story that left me captivated the entire time.
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