Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins is…interesting. It is a sequel to Anna and the French Kiss, but its plot and characters don't overlap much. This is not about Anna anymore. As you might have guessed from the title this book is about Lola, a rebellious teenage girl who is obsessed with fashion and I mean it! She wears a different outfit and wig everyday, most of which she designs herself. Her family life is an interesting part about her as well. See, her parents were both careless alcoholics, clearly not ready to raise a child on their own. Nathan, Lola's mother Nora's older brother, adopts Lola, along with his partner Andy. These men care deeply about their daughter, but she is not pleased with their overprotective nature, especially towards her boyfriend Max, a 22 year-old musician. Lola thinks she is in love with him until Cricket Bell moves in next door, Lola's ex-boyfriend. She thinks she's over him, but her emotions get in the way.
This book is nothing compared to Anna and the French Kiss, but it stills is a worth a read. A bit boring, confusing, and melodramatic for my tastes, but there were some good points in it. Nathan and Lola's relationship is fascinating and Cricket is right up there with Ètienne as for adorable boys. It's worth a read if you enjoyed if you enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss and/or Stephanie Perkin's writing style.
