Anna and the French Kiss Book Review

Good Morning BookNerds!

So, the wonderful writers at Andi’s ABCs, The Perpetual Page Turner, Cuddlebuggery, A Bookish Sinister Kid and Paper Riot are hosting an Isla Is Coming / Stephanie Perkins read along and series of events! I signed up once I found out, but I’ve definitely been behind! I just finished reading Anna and the French Kiss (for the FIRST Time!!) last Friday and the read along is already onto Lola and the Book Next Door. So basically I’m playing catch-up as fast as I can 😉 Here’s my review and experience with Anna. Hope you enjoy!!

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.
But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

The Review

Oh the Feels in this novel! It was absolutely adorable and I couldn’t put it down! I have no idea why I waited so long to jump on the Stephanie Perkins train. She’s got awesomeness going on.

Anna is an absolute joy. Yes, her character has some major growth to do throughout the novel, but you never hate her. Her passion for movies and witty inner thoughts had me connecting instantly. Her character wasn’t one-dimensional which I definitely appr
eciated. This novel could have been just above sub-par if it didn’t have strong characters. I enjoyed reading about Anna’s love for movies the most (I mean a part from the Anna/St. Clair scenes 😉 ). When she mentions Robert Os
borne, I’m like “YES! Someone else actually watches TCM!” It was great that Anna was able to continue enjoying her passion while in Paris.

St. Clair was a typical, but not so-typical teenage boy. I loved all his nationalities and how Perkins weaved them into his character description and actions. From the English accent to the French “shrug,” he was definitely swoon-worthy! I also loved that he was intelligent. It was great reading about his love of History and definitely made it a clever way to introduce some of the setting. But, as a teenage boy he did have some growing to do. He had me wanting to shake him sometimes (I was right there with Anna!). Though, Anna ended up having to grow just as much as St. Clair did by the end.

I have to admit one of my favorite things about this novel was the setting. I was fortunate enough to visit Pairs while I was studying abroad. I was only there two days and I’m dying to return for a longer stay. Being able to “see” it again through this novel was definitely a highlight. I was freaking out when they finally got to Shakespeare and Company! I basically spent a whole day in that bookstore. It was heaven and the feeling there is just indescribable. It’s like…feeling like you’re home. Anyway, Perkins does a fabulous job describing as well as utilizing the setting.

The romance part of this book was also well done. It wasn’t rushed and was definitely believable. There was uncertainty and road blocks and a lot of “ah-ha!” moments to be had. It made the whole journey worth while. There were tears and laughs and anger and overall good times. Basically a great first love kind of story.

So if you’re in the mood for a great YA Contemporary then I suggest you hop on the Stephanie Perkins train as well! Anna and the French Kiss won’t leave you disappointed!

The Details:

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile / Penguin 
Pages: 372
Price: $9.99 (paperback) 
Place: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, GoodReads

What did you think of Anna and the French Kiss? Pairs as a setting? the romantic storyline? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! I’d love to read what you have to say! 

Later BookNerds!

xo,

NicoleLynn 

P.S. I’m so pumped for Lola and the Boy Next Door!