Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola is a different gal than most. Instead of worrying about what jeans and t-shirt she's going to wear to school, she has to chose out of her collection of costumes.

Yes, you read that right. She makes her own clothes and wants to be famous one day in the future when she designs costumes and clothes.

So she's starting early by expressing her individuality by being a new person everyday.

No one really minds it. She's been doing this for most of her life and even her boyfriend, the 22 year old rocker singer (dating 17 year old Lola) thinks it's refreshing.

Lola is starting her junior year and things are looking up. She's got a great costume to wear for the Winter Formal - a Marie Antoinette get-up and a boyfriend to go with.

But then, the boy next door returns.

The Bells are very unique. Cricket and Calliope, the twins, are a year older than Lola but they are light years away in worldliness. Calliope has gone to the Olympics for figure skating the last two seasons and this year is her third. They have moved away so many times because Calliope needs the right trainer to get her the gold medal one of these seasons.

And Cricket was the love of Lola's life 2 years ago. But he broke her heart and moved away, again.

This time, Lola is putting a stop to this madness. She was hurt and angry that he left and was extremely mean last time they saw each other. But now she has grown up; she is with Max, her boyfriend, and once she found out Cricket was in college a year early, she realized they won't be going to school.

Should be simple, right?

Not a chance. Lola's not completely sure... but she might still be eyeing the boy next door when she has a boyfriend in tow.

Now Lola needs to figure out what she wants, what she needs, and what is right. Because some things are not what they seemed and some events were not quite how either Cricket and Lola might remember. What will Lola do? Read Lola and the Boy Next Door to find out!

My Thoughts/Reflections
I was intrigued to see St. Clair and Anna in this novel, and I really did like that novel, Anna and the French Kiss. I didn't review it on here, but gave it 5 stars on Goodreads so I must have enjoyed it :)

This was an interesting novel. I wouldn't say I hated it, but I can't say that I loved it either. It sort of fell in between...

The deal between Lola and Max was really odd. Not because of his age or anything, but because of the way he acted around Lola and his band. He seemed distant and somewhat using her. He liked her outfits but didn't at the same time.

Cricket is adorable. He's a lanky, skinny, tall, awkward, but balanced 18 year old boy. What is more adorable than that? You can tell right from the beginning that he has a thing for Lola.

There was a lot going on in this novel. From the Olympics training with Calliope to the love triangle of Lola, Max, and Cricket, to the biological parents of Lola and her adoptive Dad's (one who is her biological uncle and his partner), to Lola's interesting wardrobe, and then her friend Lindsey with her conservative thinking of dating when she's pining over Charlie.

....Did ya get all of that? It was a little bit much for me.

But I did like it a little bit. Especially toward the end when some of the scramble from above became a little bit clearer.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss or to those that are looking for a little bit of variety in a novel. Because Lola is definitely one spicy girl who likes to keep everyone around her on their toes!