Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (with San Fran Photos!)

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Series: Anna and the French Kiss #2
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton Books
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Pages: 338
Source: Library, Audiobook

Summary from Goodreads:
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.

Review

I am completely smitten with this book. Lola and the Boy Next Door is FULL of personality. From Lola's costumes and her profound questions, to Cricket's eccentricities and his endearing awkwardness, to Calliope's ice-skating career and Max's rock band, to Lola's two amazing dads and the San Francisco backdrop, to costars Anna and Etienne! I loved every minute of it and found this book to be incredibly memorable and completely satisfying. 

Lola and Cricket were adorable together and I loved going on this romantic journey with them, even if, admittedly, at times I just wanted them to be together already (!!!!!). But this book was about so much more than just the two of them. Lola and Cricket each had their fair share of family drama going on that we watch unfold - Lola's train wreck of a mom showing back up, Calliope's ice skating prospects taking a huge toll on Cricket's family, and more. And Lola had some boyfriend Max drama as well. But no matter what tough situation Lola and Cricket found themselves in I thought they handled themselves remarkably well and some important lessons can be learned. 

I don't know why I waited so long to read this book and I only finally read it because I was going to San Francisco and wanted to read it before my trip. But don't make the same mistake I did and wait! Lola and the Boy Next Door is one of the most original contemporary books I have ever read and believe it or not, I loved this one more than Anna and the French Kiss. 

And in the spirit of this book, I wanted to share some of my San Francisco pictures, some pictures are of places that Lola visits in the book and others that are just iconic San Francisco pictures. PS, this is my new favorite city in the US.