Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

YA Contemporary

Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the negihborhood. 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. 

Two words. So. Cute!!!!!!

Lola is my kind of girl. She lives in San Francisco with her two fathers, and her fashion style is crazy. Think tutus and kids barrettes. But it's also 100% original. She's not interested in blending in with the other high school kids. She dresses exactly how she feels, no matter what. When the novel begins, she's dating Max, a 22 year-old musician. Max is moody and mysterious, typical rocker behavior. Lola thinks she loves the guy, but no one else is happy. Her best friend doesn't like him, and Lola's parents make them all sit down for an obligatory brunch every Sunday. Max also has a really weird tendency to call Lola Lolita. And then complain when she talks about things like school dances. Icky. 

Enter Cricket Bell!! Lola's longtime crush, the boy who broke her heart two years ago. At first, Lola doesn't want to have anything to do with him, but Cricket's always there. He's next door. Lola's parents invite him to a picnic. Before she knows it, they're hanging out as "friends." But does Lola secretly want more?  

I won't spoil anything for you. Just read it. It's a great novel wrapped up in pretty romance ribbons, but it's more than a quick summer read. It's about a girl who finds the confidence to be herself. It's about a boy standing in the shadows of his uber successful twin sister. It'll break your heart, make you a little weepy, exhilarate you, and then end exactly the way you want it to. I promise.