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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, August 4, 2007
Almost all of Lori McGillicuddy's summers were always the same: work at the Vader Marina along with her brother and the three boys next door -- Cameron, Sean, and Adam. It was the perfect place to work, since Lori was always able to practice her wakeboarding skills and be around Sean, her longtime crush. This summer was no different than the past ones, except for Lori's three-step plan to finally get Sean to notice her as a girl instead of just one of the guys, and to have him ask her out.
All the stages of Lori's plan seems to be working just fine, since Sean has definitely started flirting with her. Unfortunately, it takes a huge setback when Sean steals his brother Adam's girlfriend.
Lori cannot believe this (her plan seemed foolproof) but at least now she can rule out that her age isn't a factor in why Sean hasn't asked her out yet, since Adam's now ex-girlfriend is a year younger than she is.
Now, the only way that Lori can win back Sean is to make him jealous, which sparks another plan. So Lori approaches Adam, telling him that the only way that they can get back the ones they love is to go out with each other. Surprisingly, Adam accepts this idea without much hesitation. Of course, having your crush's brother as your fake boyfriend may seem a little weird at first, especially since they look so much aliker. But it soon becomes natural for both Lori and Adam -- maybe a little too natural.
Lori can't help but get this tingling feeling whenever Adam is pretend-flirting with her. Spending time with Adam actually becomes really fun and he is all she begins to think about, which just can't be happening since it's Sean that she wants... right?
THE BOYS NEXT DOOR takes you on the ride of your life, making you want to scream and squeal at all the troubles Lori has to go through, just to get the guy of her dreams. Jennifer Echols makes Lori one of the most likeable characters out there with her outrageous but very hilarious ideas and, before you know it, readers will be scrambling to be in Lori's shoes. Another awesome novel from Jennifer Echols and another wonderful addition to the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedy series.
Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dog-Eared All Over, April 12, 2008
Jennifer Echols is a package deal. Her voice is uncanny, her sense of humor is wicked, her character development is well-shaped and elaborate, and her plots are heartfelt. She revolutionized my ideal and concept of a feel-good romance novel with Major Crush, and if at all possible, even more so with The Boys Next Door.
Lori McGillicuddy, throughout the book, strives to change herself to what she thinks is a more desirable feminine personality. You know the type. Girly, cares insanely about her appearance, squealy-squeals, etc. She thinks this is the way to attract Sean, who's been the object of her affections for as long as she can remember. Everything is going according to plan until Sean pulls a fast one with Adam's girlfriend, Rachel, and then everyone's plans take a one-eighty. The plot thickens as more complex and intricate scheming take place, each character with their own ulterior motives for their actions. But a lie can only go undetected for so long before it catches up to you, right?
Anyone who's ever felt insecure can relate to this novel. The characters' feelings and motivations ring twelve kinds of true. Lori wants to be accepted, but can't seem to, being the tomboy that she is. She explains to Adam that when you're little, being a tomboy is fun, but when you grow up, people don't know what to do with you. So they exclude you. Adam wants to make his own identity, to not have Sean constantly overshadowing him. It's tough because not only is he the spitting image of Sean, but Sean's always taking what's his and being a class-A bastard to Adam. Sean, in turn, wants something Adam has: meaning in his relationships. He's seen as something of a player and wants to be taken seriously by a girl.
These wants and needs drive them to commit many mistakes, some of which hurt other people and some of which hurt themselves. In the end, though, you understand. You understand these characters. You get to know them. You care about them. I know I, for one, felt for them, laughed along with them, and gripped the book during the parts I wish hadn't happened. But most of all, I marveled at how dead-on Jenn's novel is in regards to how we teens are nowadays.
I loved Major Crush; I love this book so much more. I cannot wait for Jenn's next novel, Running to Stand Still, and her next Ro-Com, The Ex-Games. I highly recommend her novels--she's an author to check out.
9/10
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Boys Next Door, March 6, 2010
The Boys Next Door should come complete with a 'CAUTION: THIS BOOK IS HOT' warning strapped across the cover. At least then we'd know what we were in for, and wouldn't be at all surprised when extreme melting/swooning/drooling became part of the reading experience.
Jenn Echols seriously has a way with words, not to mention hotter than hot boys and teenage girls with their heads firmly screwed on. She has the rare talent of sucking you into a story, making you wish you were living it yourself, and then making you pray to the book gods that the sequel will land in your hands, like, NOW.
Although The Boys Next Door is packed with swoon-worthy guys, the boy I fell head over heels for is Adam, a 16-year-old wakeboarding fiend with a golden tan and ripped biceps with the power to make you forget your own name. Never was a boy so perfect and, unfortunately, so fictional. I may have to set up a support group just to get myself over this little fact, and I'm sure I wouldn't be sat there wallowing all on my lonesome (come join me, fellow Adam-aholics!).
The boys aren't all this book has going for it. It has a ridiculously likeable main character in the form of Lori, the lucky girl who lives next door to the glorious Vader brothers, and has the fun task of working with them at Vader Marina during the summer. She's snarky and fun, and is so realistic she practically jumps off the page. She's exactly the kind of person I'd like to have as a friend, and not just because of our shared tomboy gene.
To sum it up, The Boys Next Door is an absolute must-read for fans of YA, romance or just a downright addictive story. I'm already counting down the days until I can read the sequel, Endless Summer, and I'm glad that May 25th is fast approaching. Now, if only I had a handy time machine...
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