Also based on your book recap, the thing that stood out to me the most (mainly because it echos my exact thoughts on the character) was this: Lila. Lila Fowler is secure enough in her own awesomeness that she would not get a boob job. She would not go trashily blonde.
this episode scene sums it up perfectly at 1:16-1:23 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMV82dIp_OU