Friday, August 22, 2014

Book Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins



Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

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.
~~From Goodreads~~ 




My Thoughts:
 
Everything about this book makes me want to turn back time and be that same age as Lola. Fluttering butterflies, moon and stars, windows and curtains, night walks, gifts and killer lines filled my brain that it's now complaining "System overload!"  I can hear the sirens ringing. Oh my Gulay! I think I'm having SAPS "Severe Acute Perkins Syndrome" - a viral mental and emotional disorder caused by excessive mixed emotions from reading Stephanie Perkins books.

                                                           We'll, just to make it short.
I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS.
Not that I'm forgetting St. Clair now because of Cricket but it's just that Cricket presented an appealing, cute and amazing nerd. He's this innocent boy who never got over with his first love (oh!! the cherries). I don't know how Perkins does it with her characters but her boys are really charming and lovable. It takes a lot of talent to do that.

Lola represents a strong and confident girl. Everything about her says "I may not look the same every day but that's just me. I'm rockin'" Well, there were those times that are really frustrating when it totally looks like she's leading Cricket unto something even when she is still with Max, the rockstar boyfriend. But we can't blame her, she's just confused with her relationship with Max and her feelings with Cricket. It should have been easier if she just admitted her feelings to herself than denying them over and over again. Denying it just makes the feeling grow stronger.

It is obvious that the Max-Lola tandem will never last. Max is just to MAXXX for Lola. Besides, even if he is this "they-say-awesome" rockstar, he is still a jerk. Aheermm.. Now that I think about it, Perkins must have something against rockstars. It's just my observation. Why? Well, there's the unforgettable Toph that Anna used to like in Anna and the French Kiss and now there's another band icon in the persona of Max in Lola and the Boy Next Door. What do they have in common? Max and Toph? They're both the TOPh and MAXimum jerks. Now, I wonder if there will be another rockstar icon in Isla and the Happily Ever After. I just hope not.

Anyway, I have to congratulate Stephanie Perkins for this another amazing piece. Everything in the book is connected. I just love how she connect the dots.

My favorite scene is this window scene one night after Lola broke up with Max in Chapter 27. Now that I think of it, there were lots of window scene that this should be titled "Lola and the Boy Next Window". Anyways, that night, they were talking about things being easy in order to work, circumstances and second chances and the last lines of that chapter just... just blew me away.

“So do you believe in second chances?" I bite my lip.
"Second, third, fourth. Whatever it takes. However long it takes. If the person is right," he adds.
"If the person is... Lola?"
This time, he holds my gaze. "Only if the other person is Cricket.”



Also... that text that says "Crickets chirping and bells rings". That's a really smart, adorable and hilarious. Ha-ha. 

My favorite line is this...
  “I know you aren’t perfect. But it’s a person’s imperfections that make them perfect for someone else.”
--It perfectly makes sense.

View all my reviews


Sparkling 4 stars for Lola and Cricket. 
#TEAM CriOla

10 comments:

  1. This was so cute! I love the quotes you picked out, they were the ones that stuck out to me as well. This is the only Perkins book I've read so far but I really want to check out some other ones since she is so popular!

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    1. Thanks for dropping. I suggest you read Anna and the French Kiss so would also know Anna and St. Claire's story. :)

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  2. that was a great review...tbh it took me a second reading to better appreciate the main characters. i wasn't in awe of it the way i did with Anna and the French Kiss...but watch out for Isla's story...man Stephanie Perkins is a very talented writer. It was like at par with Anna's story but with an extra special something...feels overflowing guaranteed. can't wait for your review on that too.
    also love the quotes they are some of my fave as well. and i love Emma Stone :)

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  3. Hi lai. I agree.. Stephanie Perkins really knows how to make her readers fall in love.. Love is indeed in the air.

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  4. Aww cool! I'm not into rockstarts either to be honest so would probably get along well with the author. LOL
    Glad you enjoyed this book so much. It looks cute and light. ^^
    Awesome review! xx
    Yay for Lola ;)

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    1. Yes Lola. You'll definitely love Stephanie Perkins once you read her books.

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  5. Oooh, Cricket was just so adorable and I'm so glad you loved this nerdy boy. <3 Lola definitely has a strong, admirable personality as well.

    "Lola and the Boy Next Window"... You did not just call it that. But you did. xD Thanks for the laugh, girl. Awesome review!

    Aimee @ Deadly Darlings

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    1. Yes I did. I even picture Taylor Swift's You Belong With Me Music Video because of their window since. Seriously, there were lots of windows in the story than doors. Ha-ha.

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  6. I realllyyyyy want to read this one. I have it on my bookshelf but can never get to it. Great review! I loved the quotes you picked! :)

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    1. Well then, I really encourage to take it out from your bookshelf. ha-ha.. you'll love it...

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