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A review by readingrobyn
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
5.0
It is currently 5:26 AM and I could not bring myself to go to sleep till I finished reading this book. Lola and the Boy Next Boy has charmed me into a delirious, enchanted like daze. (Which may be more credited to the sleep deprivation, but let's just go with it.)
When I started reading I wasn't sure what sort of adventure Lola was going to take me on. I wasn't totally convinced (despite the praise of others) that all the pieces of this pretty (sparkly) picture were going to fit together. (Sorry for doubting you.) The more exciting the romance became, the more giggling I emitted.
Beyond just the relationship of Cricket and Lola I feel like this book reached out and started a relationship with me, the lowly reader. Between the covers of the pretty (and incredibly detailed) jacket art, Lola and the Boy Next Door extended a hand to me (think less flesh-y more origami) and said, "I like you. Do you like me?" and I could only respond by falling in love.
(I swear I'm not on drugs. Although I am hitting the "(...)" pretty hard tonight. I mean, today?)
There were a number of things that I loved about this book. Allow me to save some brain power and bang this review out in one all-nighter (might as well right?) by condensing these thoughts to a list.
1 - Lola.
So many authors seem almost scared to write a honest plot surrounding a quirky main character. Like their writing powers aren't enough to keep the ever hovering gimmick away from morphing their story. I loved Lola, but not right off the bat. I liked being able to get to know her and then watch her evolve past who she started as.
2 - Cricket.
Seriously, I want one. (The boy, not the bug.)
3 - Max.
I was surprised how likable he was. His character was in flux throughout the story. Which way would he land? How would it all end? Are we only seeing a projection of who he is through Lola's rose coloured glasses?
4 - Anna and St. Clair. (originally of [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss|Stephanie Perkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267522241s/6936382.jpg|7168450])
I loved seeing all of the little tie ins. The Boy Next Door is very, very much a stand alone book but I loved that it adds just that little bit more to the previous story. I was honestly surprised by how large their part in Lola's story was. It was the cherry on top! And this more then ever makes me want to go back and give The French Kiss a higher rating. I just love reading about these two together and their characters just sprang back to life in my mind.
5 - The Plot. Was great.
5a - The Romance. It was expansive, it had history, it wasn't whiny. (Was really, really, really great.)
6 - The Nerdfighter reference in the acknowledgments at the end of the book. DFTBA Perkins! I first heard of Anna and the French Kiss through John Green's mention and I am so glad that I found such a wonderful author through another wonderful author.
Okay. I need to sleep now.
Disclaimer: This review has not been read over by she who has written it and has been written in a "steam of unconsciousness style". She (me) cannot be held responsible for blah, blah, blah- I'll fix it in the mornin'.
When I started reading I wasn't sure what sort of adventure Lola was going to take me on. I wasn't totally convinced (despite the praise of others) that all the pieces of this pretty (sparkly) picture were going to fit together. (Sorry for doubting you.) The more exciting the romance became, the more giggling I emitted.
Beyond just the relationship of Cricket and Lola I feel like this book reached out and started a relationship with me, the lowly reader. Between the covers of the pretty (and incredibly detailed) jacket art, Lola and the Boy Next Door extended a hand to me (think less flesh-y more origami) and said, "I like you. Do you like me?" and I could only respond by falling in love.
(I swear I'm not on drugs. Although I am hitting the "(...)" pretty hard tonight. I mean, today?)
There were a number of things that I loved about this book. Allow me to save some brain power and bang this review out in one all-nighter (might as well right?) by condensing these thoughts to a list.
1 - Lola.
So many authors seem almost scared to write a honest plot surrounding a quirky main character. Like their writing powers aren't enough to keep the ever hovering gimmick away from morphing their story. I loved Lola, but not right off the bat. I liked being able to get to know her and then watch her evolve past who she started as.
2 - Cricket.
Seriously, I want one. (The boy, not the bug.)
3 - Max.
I was surprised how likable he was. His character was in flux throughout the story. Which way would he land? How would it all end? Are we only seeing a projection of who he is through Lola's rose coloured glasses?
4 - Anna and St. Clair. (originally of [b:Anna and the French Kiss|6936382|Anna and the French Kiss|Stephanie Perkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267522241s/6936382.jpg|7168450])
I loved seeing all of the little tie ins. The Boy Next Door is very, very much a stand alone book but I loved that it adds just that little bit more to the previous story. I was honestly surprised by how large their part in Lola's story was. It was the cherry on top! And this more then ever makes me want to go back and give The French Kiss a higher rating. I just love reading about these two together and their characters just sprang back to life in my mind.
5 - The Plot. Was great.
5a - The Romance. It was expansive, it had history, it wasn't whiny. (Was really, really, really great.)
6 - The Nerdfighter reference in the acknowledgments at the end of the book. DFTBA Perkins! I first heard of Anna and the French Kiss through John Green's mention and I am so glad that I found such a wonderful author through another wonderful author.
Okay. I need to sleep now.
Disclaimer: This review has not been read over by she who has written it and has been written in a "steam of unconsciousness style". She (me) cannot be held responsible for blah, blah, blah- I'll fix it in the mornin'.