Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins is the 2nd companion book to Anna and the French Kiss. I did have to set this book aside for a week or so after only reading the first 30 pages. I had a hard time getting past how irritating Lola was and had strong feelings about her relationship with Max. The age difference was inappropriate/uncomfortable and as I get older, I’ve started siding more with the parents in YA books.

Do you know that part in The Office (US) where Ryan is talking with Stanley’s daughter and his reaction is “THAT LITTLE GIRL IS A CHILD DO YOU HEAR ME?! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU SNIFFING AROUND HER ANYMORE, BOY HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? ‘CAUSE I’LL HELP YOU FIND IT”? Well that was exactly what kept running in my head each time Max popped up!

I’m glad I went back to give it another try though because it ended up being amazing! Cricket is so sweet and he was my favorite character. Lola was frustrating at times and I didn’t think she was a very good friend, but she had such great development by the end. Of course I loved seeing Anna and Etiénne again.