Lola and the Boy Next Door

by Stepahnie Perkins

[Stephanie]

Lola's life is going fairly well, even though her parents are very strict now that she's dating a boy 5 years older than her. Until new neighbors move in. But they're not so new. They happen to be the Bell twins, Cricket and Calliope, who had lived next door to Lola up until 2 years ago. 2 years ago when Cricket broke Lola's heart. Now her life seems to be falling apart. Lola can't avoid Cricket, or her feelings, anymore, now that he keeps popping up everywhere. She has to learn how to juggle being Just Friends with Cricket and being a good girlfriend to her rocker boyfriend, Max. But it doesn't seem to be working out too well.

Lola and the Boy Next Door was just as good as Anna and the French Kiss. I loved Lola and her costumes, Cricket and his strange inventions, Lindsey and her crime solving, Lola's very protective dads, Lola's birth mom Norah, Calliope and her figure skating, and even Max, even though he was a bit of a jerk at times. Basically, I loved everything about this book.

The one thing I was very happy to see? Anna and St. Clair actually woven through out the novel. I expected them to be mentioned in passing, but they actually have conversations and are even friends with Lola.

Lola drove me crazy with her being with Max. Max is the typical tattoo covered, rocker, band member, older boyfriend. He wrote songs for her, dealt with Lola's Dad's Sunday brunches, and had his sweet moments, but still. He wasn't Cricket, so I didn't like him. Cricket, on the other hand, was Lola's first love who broke her heart. Just the history between these two made you ache for them to get together. Especially since Cricket is the sweetest boy ever.

This was a very emotional story. Lola goes through many ups and downs. She knows she's doing something stupid, but she does it anyways and pays for the consequence later. She thinks Max is The One, but then she has the conflicting feelings for Cricket that she wants to hide from herself.

Expect butterflies in your stomach, swooning, and some tears (or at least some sadness) while you read. If you loved Anna and the French Kiss, you'll love this one as well. This is a fantastic love story that I urge you to read as soon as possible.