Isla Is Coming... But First, Lola and the Boy Next Door

image credit to Cuddlebuggery

In preparation for ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins, some fabulous book bloggers joined up to host a fantastic read-along.  Things kicked off last week over at Paper Riot as Judith hosted the read-along for Anna and the French Kiss.  This week the read-along continues at Cuddlebuggery for Lola and the Boy Next Door.  And finally, next week the read-along will wrap up with Isla and the Happily Ever After over at Jamie's blog, The Perpetual Page-Turner.  There are other fun features to check out at Andi's ABCs and A Bookish Sinister Kid, too. 

To get a full, detailed schedule of this event, check out this post here.

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Today I am happy to be apart of this fun-filled Stephanie Perkins event, featuring music from LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR that Stephanie was inspired by while writing + a playlist of my own!  As someone who uses music as her own inspiration while writing, I found it fascinating to listen to the music that Stephanie was jamming to all while writing Lola and Cricket's story.

Below is the official playlist from Stephanie Perkins' website.  You can read the detailed description as to why she chose each song, and the meaning behind them, at the link provided below.  I just compiled the music into an easy, fun way of listening here at my blog.  (As always, if you like what you hear, please support the artist by purchasing their music!)

Stephanie's Official Lola and the Boy Next Door Playlist [click here]

To see the *spoiler version* (which explains why she chose those songs) click here.

And just for fun, I made my own playlist of tunes that made me think of Lola and Cricket, and their story that captured my own heart!  Have a listen and let me know what you think.  Any one song jump out at you?! Is there a song not on here that you think I should add?!

Thanks so much to the lovely bloggers who asked me to be apart of this special feature.  I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After (so good!) & here's what I had to say on goodreads upon finishing it:  

"A new favorite by Stephanie Perkins has just emerged from these pages for me. This beautifully told, heart breaking story will pull at your emotions and remind us all the rawness of young love. A constant theme about taking risks and learning to trust one's self blossoms through out, creating a vivid portrait that makes it difficult to look away until that final page. I swooned, I cried, I fell in love with Stephanie Perkins story-telling all over again."