Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

What a cute story! My friend Emily at Rediscovering the Joy of Cooking, recommended I pick up it up for a fun, light read and I'm so glad I did! It's completely YA, but I really needed something easy to tear through after Mary, Queen of Scots.

I love that this darling, little love story takes place at a boarding school in France. And Anna is just the sweetest thing who has this quirky movie obsession and goes around watching all the American films in different theatres writing out her reviews in a little notebook. I also think that Etienne is simply adorable and quite charming. Though I felt like I was too old to be reading this, it was so easy to get completely wrapped up and remember all the giddy feelings that I once possessed when I was back in high school secretly longing for the attention of the cutest boy in school.

I will say there were a couple of turnoffs for me in this book - and that was the occasional and random crudeness that showed up every now and then. I just felt like it was completely unnecessary and didn't really add anything to the story. The other thing I didn't like was the implication that Anna's father was Nicholas Sparks, and the negative light it shed on him. Sure maybe the author didn't outright say his name, but it was so clearly implied! Hey! I love Nicholas Sparks, please don't dog on him!

Overall, a fun, light read and for a chick-lit book, I very much enjoyed it!

Description: 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. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?


Rating: ****

Recommend: If you enjoy chick-lit or YA - then yes, you'll really enjoy it!

4 comments:

Emily said...

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was really cute. It just left me feeling good afterward :) I've read a few other great books lately: The Paris Wife was fantastic--about Ernest Hemingway and his first marriage and Mona Lisa in Camelot about Jackie Kennedy bringing the Mona Lisa to tour the U.S--which I had no idea happened!

Tales of Whimsy said...

I can't wait to try this one :0

Anonymous said...

I read this a while back and i loveedddd it!!! Heck i still love it! It's such a great read. It has everything teenagers look for in a book! I loce it so read it!!!! Trust me, you won't be sorry!!! ;)

Brasil said...

At first glance I have to admit, I was a little suspicious about the title, but after I began to read it I completely fell in LOVE with the characters and story! I just can't seem to get over the relationship between Anna and St. Clair. It's just so amazing how, while many very, VERY troubling moments arise as the story progresses, they seem to find a way to get the other through it and forge an even stronger bond between each other.