Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Usborne Publishing
Pub Date: June 1, 2014
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Source: Purchased
Genre(s): YA, Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit
Rating: ★★★
Goodreads || Buy on Amazon

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion… she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit – the more sparkly, more wild – the better. And life is pretty close to perfect for Lola, especially with her hot rocker boyfriend.

That is, until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket return to the neighbourhood and unearth a past of hurt that Lola thought was long buried. So when talented inventor Cricket steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally face up to a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. Could the boy from Lola’s past be the love of her future?

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My review:

“History books are filled with lies. Whoever wins the war tells the story.”

If you are in a reading slump, I recommend reading a book by Stephanie Perkins. This trilogy is pure fluff and romance and cuteness in the best way possible.

Anna and the French Kiss was wonderful. It will give you the tingly feeling of first (and somewhat forbidden) love. Isla and the Happily Ever After was even better. Somewhere in-between, Lola and Cricket’s story disappointed me. As usual, there was a very relatable protagonist and an even more likable love interest, but something fell short in this sequel. Perhaps that’s due to the setting change. I feel like Paris held so much more possibility than San Francisco, but I digress.

Also, the angst is strong with this one. I’ve written in my notes:

Page 264: She’s painting his nails “Opening Night Blue” and the sexual tension is being layered on thick. LOL.

I’ve attributed my lower rating to the infamous “Second Book Slump” but I hope this does not deter anyone from picking up the book/trilogy. For all intents and purpose, they are fluff. I mean this in a good way, of course. A quick and fun read. And I highly recommend reading books #1 and #3.