Book Playlist: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Bri Lockhart

10 years ago

Back when I read Stephanie Perkins’s sophomore novel, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it. Lola Nolan seemed like a little much for me, what with her costumes and strong desire to grow up too fast. I was needlessly hesitant—within the first few pages, I fell in love with Lola and her boy next door.

“CAPTAIN CRASH AND THE BEAUTY QUEEN FROM MARS” by Bon Jovi

“Dressed up for a big date/Like Halloween day but it was Fourth of July now/A car crash with a suitcase and a painted face/She was one of a kind/She wears a plastic crown like Cinderella/And roller skates in bed
Crash rides the greyhound from his hometown/When he comes around ‘cause they don’t let him drive now/Mixed up as a milkshake/But make no mistake /They’re shooting for the stars”

This song just really gets Lola and Cricket, you know? That title!

“WE USED TO BE FRIENDS” by The Dandy Warhols

“A long time ago we used to be friends/But I haven’t thought of you lately at all/If ever again a greeting I send to you/Short and sweet to the soul I intend”
Lola is less than thrilled when the Bell twins, Cricket and Calliope, return to reprise their roles as her neighbors—the trio left off on bad terms when the twins moved away.

“SHE HAD THE WORLD” by Panic! at the Disco

“I don’t love you I’m just passing the time/You could love me if I knew how to lie/But who could love me? I am out of my mind/Throwing a line out to sea/To see if I can catch a dream”

So much of Stephanie Perkins’s novels is about her heroines discovering who they are, in spite of their own preconceived notions. The whimsical, slightly melancholy mood of “She Had the World” captures Lola’s spirit perfectly.

“STILL INTO YOU” by Paramore

“I should be over all the butterflies/But I’m into you/And baby even on our worst nights/I’m into you/Let them wonder how we got this far/Cause I don’t really need to wonder at all/Yeah after all this time/I’m still into you”

The title kind of says it all—Lola had convinced herself that she hated Cricket when he moved away. Of course, her true feelings make it a lot more complicated than that.

“THE BEST OF ME” by The Starting Line

“Tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone/The worst is over/You can have the best of me/We got older but we’re still young/We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up”

A little cheesy, but it has great heart. Once Cricket and Lola work out their issues, past and present, it’s clear that they bring out the best in each other.

Haven’t read Lola yet? Here are the first few chapters: http://issuu.com/penguinteen/docs/lola_and_the_boy_next_door_excerpt/0
Anxiously awaiting Stephanie Perkins’s Isla and the Happily Ever After? Pre-order from these independent bookstores and you get a signed copy AND cool buttons/stickers/maybe a tote bag.