LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins became a bit of a debut author sensation in late 2010/early 2011 with her contemp YA romance ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. There is just so much to love about that novel -- the setting (France), the characters (realistically flawed yet entirely likable), the writing (smooth, palatable, fresh), and the story (quirky and fun yet emotionally deep).

And apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so. Both ANNA and LOLA have been nominated for the 2012 ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults award. Amazing.

Check out this review of LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR from Kirkus:

 "Perkins avoids the second-novel curse with a delectable companion to her debut hit . . . she embeds a tour of San Francisco culture throughout the snappy storyline. And steamy kisses and tingly touches? There are still plenty of those, too."

There is also a lot to love about Stephanie herself. She has previously worked as both a bookseller and a librarian. DOUBLE WIN. And how can you not be drawn to someone with blue-streaked hair? (check out her official bio and blue streaks here) She has a way about her that just makes you want to read her books. For example, here is her personal invitation to pre-order LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR, which releases on Thursday, September 29 (only 2 more days!):

"Isn't it pretty? It definitely inspires pre-ordering. When I look at that cover, I say: "Man! I could use six or seven of those."

As do I, Stephanie. I mean... how many girls on book covers have purple hair and a cute guy at their side? That in itself makes me want to line my mantle with "six or seven of those" luscious books. (I'm offering bonus interior decorating tips today. You're welcome.)

And we haven't even gotten to what's inside the book yet -- the story. Let's remedy that right now, shall we?

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.

Can you say CRUSH WORTHY? This novel seriously has my heart all a-flutter. If you feel the same way, here's what you can do to show it:

• pre-order/ purchase it
• add it to your GoodReads shelf
• request it/ check it out from your local library
• recommend it to your friends through blogging/ tweeting/ word of mouth/ whatever your pleasure

And let Stephanie know, too! According to her the best way to give her a quick shout-out is through Twitter: @naturallysteph.

Happy Reading!
~Lydia

Guest Post: Stephanie Perkins on Being a Teenage Outsider

Today we have the charming Stephanie Perkins here to share some sage advice garnered from her own high school experiences. Maybe you're heard of her book ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS? Yeah, thought so. Here's the contemps spotlight if you need a refresher. And look for LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR, out September 29.

Without further ado...

A Message for the Teenage Outsider

I write about characters living on the outside of traditional alternative cliques, because that’s where I spent my own high school years. I was in band, but I didn’t hang out with the band geeks. I flirted with drama club, but I wasn’t a drama nerd. I loved artists, but I wasn’t enrolled in any art class.

I was close to so many alternative cliques that I didn’t feel comfortable in a single one. Instead, I had a very small group of friends who also skirted along the outsides. And I also spent a lot of time by myself.

It was lonely, and yet, I have never been afraid of being alone. I like being alone. Instead, I worried what other people would think about me being alone.

What other people would think.

This is one of the hardest obstacles that I’ve had to overcome. To stop thinking about what is traditionally right, what is traditionally normal, what is traditionally acceptable. To realize that being an outsider among outsiders is actually . . . a pretty darn special place to be.

It didn’t feel special in high school.

In fact, it felt really crappy.

I recently had a conversation with another creative loner type, and he described being a teen and looking out over a crowd at a rock concert, and realizing that he didn’t want to be the kids in the audience who acted and looked the same. He wanted to be like the guy onstage. The guy who was unique. The guy who held his own.

I wish I’d had this perspective when I was a teenager. I wish I hadn’t worried so hard about fitting in with the alternative crowds, and that I would have allowed myself to BE an alternative.

Several years ago, I learned a strange lesson when I began blogging. The more personal I made my entries—the more obsessive, the more embarrassing, the more I talked about what I loved—the more fun I had. When I stopped trying to be what I thought I should be, and I let myself be who I am . . . that’s when people became drawn to my writing, and that's when I made like-minded friends.

I realize that it sounds trite or naive for me to tell you to be who you are, to stop worrying about what other people think. I know that this is advice is neither simple nor something that can be accomplished overnight. But I want you to realize that the sooner you make an effort to stop worrying about other people’s perception of yourself, the sooner you will feel comfortable in your own skin.

Be yourself.

The real world—the world outside of high school, which I assure you is SO much richer and more captivating—is not interested in another clone. They are interested in you.