Cricket Bell has stolen my heart. 
 This is a feat I didn't think possible! 
 When I read Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins' superb book prior to this one, I thought I belonged fully to a British boy but then this one came along. 
 Lola and the Boy Next Door centers around Lola, a girl who lives by costume. Literally. She dresses each day covered in sparkles, tulle, and even Elton John style sunglasses. Though in a relationship with an older boy, Max, her heart still beats for the boy next door, Cricket, who recently returned to his window right next to hers. 
 Lola's character didn't speak to me like Anna, but she redeemed herself in the end and I liked her. She's spunky, confused, and very much a teenager. Her relationship with her dads, two men I adored from the start, was sweet and endearing. 
 It's the other characters that truly made me happy. 
 Sigh, I didn't think my heart would love Cricket as much as it does, but it's incredible how attached I've grown to these characters. Anna introduced Etienne St. Clair, the British boy who speaks French and makes me swoon. I mean the guy is charming, sweet, a little cocky, and wonderful all rolled into a gorgeous face. 
 Then there is Cricket Bell, the earnest boy next door who clearly doesn't recognize how incredible he is, both in spirit and talent. He's the type of guy who places his coat in the mud just so a girl doesn't have to get her shoes dirty. He's the guy who spends all night working on a dress for the girl just because it's important to her. 
 He's the type of guy who finishes last, but deserves to finish first. 
 I adore this boy. There is just something special about him. 
 While I love both of these boys, I think Cricket bests St. Clair only by a smidge! 
 Everything about this book made me react. 
 When Cricket awkwardly talks about Lola's height: 
 When we see St. Clair for the first time: 
 When Cricket reveals what happened with his birthday party: 
 The ending: 
 How my bestie and I discussed it: 
 I love this series and particularly enjoy how we got to see Anna and St. Clair, tying it all together. Furthermore, we got to see them happy. Stories usually end with happily ever after and readers assume all went well. In this case we got to see it. 
 I look forward to seeing the four of them (especially Cricket!) in the final book. They simply must all be present.