Ok…I’ll address the big fat elephant on the blog. The Boy! I know…you want to know if the boy is as wonderful and amazing and swoonworthy as St. Clair. Yes, ladies. Eat your heart out. For those of you who loathed St. Clair (yes there are people out there that do — one of my fave ppl of all time and I had a friendly banter about St. Clair at BEA when she revealed this to me), you will be so thrilled about the new crush that Perkins has handed to you on a silver platter. There are seriously not enough “nice guys” in YA lit…but Cricket is leading the army against all those douchenuggets that seem to be in the “in” thing. I want to see more guys that are super nice, but not pushovers, and actually have a personality. He was sweet and sensitive and honestly the type of guy I love and I truly felt as though he complemented Lola so well. The thing I loved most about him (aside from his adoration of Lola) was how he was SUCH a real teen boy to me. Sometimes I find that most of the guys I read are always written so much more eloquently and more mature than teen boys actually are. They always seem to take on these hot, underwear model characteristics and always are suave and dashing. But Cricket was just so real. He’s got quirky hobbies and interests and, hell, he’s got his awkward, stupid boy moments. So refreshing. I love me some Cricket.
Anna says
HEIDI JUST SENT ME THIS TODAY AHHHH! Cannot wait. You know ANNA wasn't my fave, but Stephanie's writing was just delicious. Yum. More, please! We will have to discuss when I'm done.
Jamie says
AHH! I CANNOT WAIT! I want to read it over and over again. Seriouslyyyy. You will love Cricket. I just KNOW it!!
I Eat Words says
I love this book. I love Cricket. I love St Clair. Thank GOD for Stephanie Perkins! This review just captured everything perfectly! Gahhh I want to reread it!
Farrah
Jamie says
Omg Farrah…I NEED to reread this. I don't care if I am going to be on a really long book buying ban (so I can save for the wedding) but I am running out and buying this the minute the store opens. Grab your children or elderly because I'll run a bish over!
Alissa says
BETTER than ANNA? Holy crap. I only just recently finished that, and fell in love. I can only imagine the love I'll feel for LOLA now. Can't wait! 😀
Baggins says
I was already desperate to read Lola, and now your review has actually turned me into the 13 year old version of myself (who totally bedazzled crushes names across shirts and built shrines to boybands too. *nods*) – I feel like squealing! So a taste of what I'll be like when I can finally read it then! 😉
Thanks for sharing!
Yaseena@Sweetunrest says
Great review! Each early review I read about this book makes me that much more excited to read it! I have a feeling that like you, I'll love it more than Anna…can't wait!!
Mary says
I LOVED Anna and I truly can't wait to read Lola. I love how you totally gushed about this one. And any time my students want romance, I'm directing them right to Stephanie Perkins, the most awesome writer with the blue streak in her hair!
Mary @ Book Swarm
We Heart YA says
LOLZ omg this is the best review ever. "Douchenuggets"?! "Replacement goldfish"?! We heart you.
However, this doesn't make waiting for September any easier… 😛
Ginger @ GReads! says
LOVE this book. So freaking much. Your review is pure perfection & give it the attention it so deserves.
My 5 Monkeys(Julie) says
Great review and I lOVED Anna and LOVED Lola. It was perfect followup book and loved all the quirkness too.
Meredith says
Can't wait to read this one! You're such a lucky duck for getting to read it! 😛 Awesome Review! Can't wait to meet Cricket! 🙂
-Meredith
wereadtoknow says
Now THAT is a great review, and I'm literally slobbering over the idea of the book now. I read ATFK FOREVER ago, pre-blog, and kinda forgot to keep a lookout for another from Perkins. But it sounds like she's back with a vengeance and the description of Cricket alone is enough to make me want to read! Thanks for a fantastic review.
Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) says
It feels a little like cheating when I say that I loved Lola more than Anna. But it's true because Lola and the Boy Next Door has everything that made Anna wonderful and then makes those things 1000x better. The tension was soooo good. I loved it, I loved Lola, I loved Nathan and Andy, I even loved Max in the beginning, and I definitely ADORED Cricket. He's such an endearing character and Perkins handles the Lola/Cricket relationship perfectly.
Now I must read it again!
dovereader says
Oh my god! I must say you have been very lucky to get hold of the book. I love Perkins too! Anna was just too good and I cant wait to read Lola!
Belle says
Arrgh as if I wasn't already excited enough – you say it's better than Anna and more swoon-worthy than St. Clair! I need to read this book NOW!
Allison says
oh man, I hate you. Impossible as I thought it was, I want this book even more now! I was literally drooling by the time I finished reading your review.
Heavens to Betsy is an awesome name for a dog.
Jenn says
I haven't read this yet, but this and Name of the Star are the two books I want most out of all the upcoming fall releases. I find it hard to believe that any book can top Anna, but I guess that just means I'll have to read it and find out!!
Chachic says
Seriously can't wait to read this! All of the reviews that I've seen have been really positive and everyone loves it just as much, if not more than, Anna. I'm going to pre-order and hope like crazy that it wouldn't take long for the Book Depository to ship a copy to the Philippines.
Jennie says
I really can't wait to read this!
Karen @ Book Light Graveyard says
I'm so glad this book rocks! I loved Anna, and I can barely hold my horses for this one!
Meg @ A Bookish Affair says
I'm so excited to read this book!
Fran says
Wow great review!!!!!! I cannot wait to read it, your review just makes me want to get my hands on it even more.
New follower:D
Michelle (my books. my life.) says
I am very excited to read this. Also, I should find you pictures of the bedazzling lengths I went to for certain boy bands in high school.
Michelle says
Perkins is definitely a master of the contemporary genre. I, too, enjoyed Lola but have to admit that I loved Anna more. I'm very excited for Isla to show her face so we can see what elese is in store!
quirky girls says
I JUST finished reading Anna and the French Kiss last night. I have heard nothing but rave reviews so I finally had to check it out for myself. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I am so excited to hear the companion novel is equally good.
-jehara
Brandyn says
I got caught up in the hype and Anna didn’t wow me. I thought it was cute, I enjoyed the Paris setting, but didn’t get the fuss. So I didn’t go into Lola expecting wow, but then I got it! I LOVED Lola and Cricket. I loved her Dads and Lindsey. So Awesome!
Cassie Frye says
Loved, loved, LOVED Anna. And I loved Lola! And I can’t wait for Isla! <3333 Great review of an awesome book by the super talented Stephanie Perkins. 😀
Ashley Norris says
I’ve heard a few people say Lola and the Boy Next Door is better than Anna, but that seems impossible! Anna was SO good!
I read a few sample pages on Amazon, but every didn’t seem very interesting (in comparison to Anna). Does Lola start slow or did you love it from the beginning?