All posts tagged Stephanie Perkins

Christmas reading

One thing I love about having time off over Xmas and Xmas presents is the opportunity to read lots of books! I love curling up in a cosy house and devouring a book as quickly as I can and obviously with mince pies in hand!

I just finished reading Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins – a contemporary YA romance about a girl who loves dressing up and the inventor boy who lives next door set in San Fransico.

This was the second book by the author and I loved it – sweet, funny and romantic, you couldn’t help but fall for the characters and I poured over it until I got to the (thankfully, happy) ending. It can be really hard for a second book to live up to the first but Lola swept me off my feet!

I loved how the book celebrated individuality and how all the characters inspired each other to be who they were supposed to be. I like it when characters are quirky, when they’re not the traditional good looking boy and girl but have flaws like the rest of us do. Somehow the book reminded me of Glee even though there’s no singing or dancing in it, I loved the way it seemed to sparkle in the same way.

Let me know what you thought if you’ve read it!

I actually have a love / hate relationship with books ending – I want to find out what happens but I’m sad when it’s all over. I can’t wait for Ms Perkins’ next book but luckily,I already have some new books lined up to fill my new Lola void until then.

Here’s my to-read pile at the moment:

The new House of Night book by PC and Kristin Cast

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Angel0logy by Danielle Trussoni

Swept off her feet by Hester Browne

Do you have any book recommendations for me to check out over Xmas?

Vix

24 Comments

by Victoria-writes on December 14, 2011 • Permalink

Posted in Books, Reviews

Tagged books, Lola and The Boy Next Door, Reviews, Stephanie Perkins

Posted by Victoria-writes on December 14, 2011

http://victoria-writes.com/2011/12/14/christmas-reading/

Anna & The French Kiss – book review

Even though I’ve done my main post for today, I had to add a book review as I finished it late last night and have to shout about how much I enjoyed it!

pic from http://www.stephanieperkins.com/books.html

This book tells the story of America girl Anna who is sent by her novel writing Dad to study in Paris for a year at an American boarding school. Anna doesn’t want to go – it means leaving her best friend and crush behind plus she doesn’t speak French but unable to get out of it, she arrives in Paris and her adventures begin. Anna soon makes a group of friends at the school and is struck by gorgeous English-accented, born in America and French-speaking Etienne St Clair. However, the path to true love never runs smooth.

I loved this book! I have to gush because it was a complete page turner and a suspense filled romance fest. Anna was a great character - fun, sweet, neurotic, and film obsessed girl who made all the same mistakes in her love life as every girl does and who I loved all the more for it. You get completely lodged into her head and perch on her shoulder as she guides us through the city of Paris and the quest for love.

Does he fancy me? Are we just friends? How much does he like me? – We’ve all asked ourselves these questions and this book is full of them as Anna and Etienne dance around each other and make mistake after mistake. Despite this, it was realistic and moving, funny and romantic, and totally transported me into their lives.

Yes it’s a young adult book. Yes I’m not a young adult. Who cares! This book was like eating a three course dinner in a fancy restaurant - an absorbing treat. I would highly recommend it.

5 out of 5.