Lola and the Boy Next Door: A Review

 Picture from Goodreads; I do not own it, just using it for review purposes only.

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher:  Dutton Books/Penguin

Publication Date: 2011

Source: Library (sigh, mine’s amazin')

Blurb from Goodreads (which I do not own but am using for review purposes only):

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.

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance. Swoooon worthy. So well done it borders on ridiculous. So if you’re looking for a no magic, lovey-dovey romance with some edge (just a slight one), then this is the book for you.

Cover: I like it. You know I normally detest covers with real people on them with this unbridled fiery passion. Well this one is okay. The people look how they’re supposed to look, give or take, and it definitely captures the feel of the book and Perkin’s style.

Plot: The book sounded good to me right off the best. Wacky want to be costume designer in a love story? Sign me up. But then I read a little more about it and was slightly worried about it maybe not being my style. But it was. The pages practically turned themselves, after the first few chapters, and I willingly went along for the ride. Put it this way, I started it last the night before last and had it done by 3PM the next day, and that’s with work in between.

Romantic Element: Yes, there is a love triangle, but this one seems authentic, even though I know that love triangles may be a little overdone for some of you. I still like them IF they’re done well, not just thrown in for some oomph. This one was authentic. Very, very well done. And yes, if you have a hankerin for some Anna and St.Claire (from Anna and the French Kiss), they’re in there, but I felt like they weren’t necessary but nice to have, you know? As far as the guys themselves go, there’s a bad-arse rocker boy, my normal type, and a dorky lovable, dorky, did I say dorky?, adorable guy who is just…adorable. So, I was happy. Perkins went light on the rocker boy, but I still say he was there almost the perfect amount.

Overall: if you even remotely like contemporary romance, Stephanie Perkins should be your go-to. I’ve made her officially mine. I didn’t think I’d heart contemporary romance, but Perkins has made a believer of me, yet again, I might add. 

Sooo, have you read it? Are you dying to? What’d you think? Let me know below!!! 

Oh, and if you're wondering how my Nanowrimo experience is going, I'm hear to tell you, it isn't at the moment, lol. But I have faith, and there's still time in the month. Miracles have happened before with others I've heard. Let me know how you're doing! (i.e. guilt me back into this thing) :)

Psst: I did not receive any compensation in exchange for this review.