Thursday, September 22, 2011

Review & Giveaway: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door
by Stephanie Perkins
Publication Date: September 29th, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages:338
ISBN: 9780525423287

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository
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. (Goodreads)
I was so very excited to read ‘Lola and the Boy Next Door’. I had read ‘Anna and the French Kiss’ a few months ago, and had really loved it, so I was hoping that Lola was just as good. I have to say, this book was amazing. If it’s even possible, I love this more than I loved Anna. (IS that even possible??)

Lola is our main character. I really loved Lola. She’s funny, spunky and quite a snazzy dresser. She is like no other character I have ever read about. Lola is not perfect; she makes mistakes and bad decisions, just like everyone else. I definitely loved her more and more throughout the book, as we find out more about her.

But the boy that steals the show is definitely Cricket. Oh My Goodness, I Love Cricket. He is tall and gawky, shy and awkward, romantic and swoon-worthy. Yes, he’s all of those things, wrapped in one little ball of perfection. I seriously love their relationship. The times in the book when they are together are the BEST! Cricket has earned a position as one of my favorite male characters EVER.

I love almost all of the secondary characters in the book, especially Lola’s parents, her best friend, Lindsay, even Cricket’s sister, Calliope. I love that we see some of the characters from ‘Anna and the French Kiss’ in Lola. I have missed these characters, and I was so glad to see them again! (I’m not going to spoil it and tell you who.) The one character that I didn’t care for was Lola’s boyfriend, Max. I saw straight through him from the beginning of the book, and knew he was going to be a problem.

The story was very creative and well paced. I literally flew through this book, and read it in just one day. This made me a bit sad, because I didn’t want it to be over quite so soon. The ending of the book was so very wonderful. It left me smiling and sighing. I loved the ending!

Ms. Perkins has such an amazing, wonderful, extraordinary writing style. I love it. The characters and the stories she creates are fantastic. I also love that she has a way of getting messages across about certain subjects. For instance, that it’s ok to be different; that not everyone, if anyone, is perfect. She’s definitely becoming one of my all time favorite authors, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Overall, I love this book. It’s so amazing, and wonderful and perfect. I could go on and on. I just hope that everyone loves it just as much as I did. I can’t wait to buy a finished copy to add to my collection.

Happy Reading!!


Lola is another of my most favorite reads of the year, and because of that, I'm going to giveaway a copy of it as well!
What are you waiting for? Enter now for a chance to win this awesome book!

Giveaway Rules: 
  • US and International (As long as TheBookDepository ships to your area.)
  • One entry per person
  • Must be 13 or older
  • Giveaway ends September 28th, 2011
  • Winner will be chosen via Random.org, and will be contacted via email
  • If the winner doesn't respond within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
  • By signing up for this giveaway, you agree to the terms listed above.

This giveaway has ended. Thanks for entering!

30 comments:

  1. Your review makes me want this so bad. Lol. I still haven't read Anna though, it is on my shelf so I will at some point. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! - Donna :)

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  2. Oh my gosh, Lola is one of the books I'm most excited to read! Everyone has been gushing about how AMAZING it is and it just makes me want to read it even more! I LOVED Anna and you're totally right -- Stephanie Perkins is awesome! :)

    Awesome review, Christy! And thanks so much for the amazing giveaway!

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  3. EVERYONE is loving LOLA! And I still need to read ANNA... Your review makes me want to hurry up and read it and then this one, so I can swoon over it with the rest of you! I'm so looking forward to falling in love with Cricket!
    Thanks so much for the awesome giveaway! :)

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  4. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one too. I really liked Cricket and I loved how Anna and St. Clair was in it as well. I'll read anything Stephanie Perkins writes. Great review!

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  5. Oh, I can't wait for my copy of Lola to arrive!!! Reading your review was pure torture. I mean, it was a really great review, but I need to read this now. :D

    Carina

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  6. Great giveaway. I'm going to read Anna and the French Kiss soon. Would be so cool to win a copy of LatBND :-)
    Saskia @ BookthatThing!
    Do you like YA romance? Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer might be just the read for you. Review on my blog.

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  7. I'm really excited about this one. I LOVED Anna and the French Kiss. Glad to see that you enjoyed it as well.

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  8. On thanks for the giveaway! I can't wait for Lola!! :D

    Giselle
    Xpresso Reads

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  9. We adored Anna, and we're dying to read Lola. Thanks for the tantalizing review, and for the giveaway opportunity!

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  10. I'm reading this right now! I've been in a contemporary slump lately, but I really like it so far! Nice review :)

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  11. Great review! I read the first chapter on Lola online and I'm dying to read the rest.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  12. Thanks so much for the giveaway! I can't wait to read this :)

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  13. Yes, I agree with Carina...great review but it was pure torture because I can't find this book in my country! Don't IF I'll be able to read it :S
    Thanks for the international giveaway, fingers crossed!

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  14. Great review! I'm really looking forward to this book. Glad you enjoy it :-)

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  15. SO EXCITED FOR THIS! I keep hearing people are loving it more than Anna and I just can't imagine but cannot wait to be proven wrong:) Thank you so much for the giveaway Christy!

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  16. Thanks for the giveaway!All the reviews of Lola are great!I want my own copy!

    Janhvi

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  17. Dying for Lola! Happy the release is just around the corner. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  18. YES! This book is amazing! And I totally agree that Cricket stole the show!!! =D

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  19. Yes! So glad to hear "Lola and the Boy Next Door" is just as awesome as "Anna and the French Kiss". Loved that book, and ever since I read "Anna", I've been hungering for "Lola"! Pretty jealous that you've already read it, hahaha =P Anyway, thank you SO much for the giveaway *crosses fingers for luck*

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  20. I LOVED Anna!! My copy of this will be getting here any day now, shipped early, and I'm ready to drop everything an read, read, read! Cricket sounds adorable!

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  21. I cannot wait for this either, great giveaway

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  22. Thanks for the great giveaway. Your review makes this book more intriguing for me.

    Thanks again! ^_^

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  23. I cant wait to get my hands on this book, it sounds amazing and your review is one amazing review in a long line of them! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!

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  24. I can't wait to read this even more now. Sigh...Cricket sounds AMAZING!!! He really does. Lola sounds like a girl you want to be friends with.

    I love how Stephanie Perkins can capture feelings and make them come alive on the pages. She is one of my favourite authors now too.

    How long exactly until this one comes out?! Not sure I am going to make it.

    Fantastic review!

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  25. I like the sound of the message this book brings about being different. I think it's so important for that to be said at every opportunity.

    Thanks so much for the giveaway! :)

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  26. It's only made me want to read this book.. lovely review, thanks for giveaway and making it internationally..

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  27. Glad to hear you love it so much you want to pick up a (non-ARC) copy of it! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  28. I can not wait to read this. I'm so excited and so glad to hear you loved it!

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  29. I feel like I'm the only person who hasn't read these books! They sound so good. Thanks for the giveaway and great review! :D

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