Anna and the French Kiss is the first book in Stephanie Perkins YA
trilogy. Each book focuses on a
different couple, and their perspective of dealing with relationships, love and
romance. I purchased this book a while ago, and had heard about it for even
longer, but for some reason I never got round to reading it. Something kept
putting me off. I cannot pin point what exactly that was, but I always skipped
past it on the book shelf…that was until yesterday. I picked it up on a whim;
decided it would be a good Sunday read, and I have to say I am so annoyed at
myself for skipping past this book so many times. I enjoyed every single second
of it, and finished it in less than a day!
‘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?’
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?’
This book is a fantastic, coming of
age, YA romance, with a brilliant and relatable main protagonist. We follow
Anna and her adjustment to living in Paris, with a language barrier and being
the new girl in a fairly small boarding school. It is certainly a lot to
handle. However the wit, sarcasm and humour she brings is second to none, and
that is a real credit to Stephanie’s writing throughout.
The characters we meet in this
novel are all unique and to their own. Mer the quirky yet athletic one, Rashmi,
the brooding yet smart one, Josh, the artistic one and then St Clair, or
Etienne the drop dead gorgeous, funny and charming one. That everybody loves.
You have the characteristic background characters of the mean girl Amanda and
her clique of friends, and the obnoxious boy Dave, who even though no mention
is made of it, I would automatically picture him as the typical arrogant jock.
As much as this is a romance, the
thing I enjoyed th4 most about it, is the realism. The majority of YA books
have the simple tale of, girl meets boy, fall madly in love and spend the
entire book happily ever after. This is by no means like that, these characters
talk to each other, face hurdles and obstacles and serious challenges that not
only affect their friendship, but any chance of a romantic relationship
together. Put aside the obvious that St Clair has a girlfriend. We see the
conflict of his morals, of not wanting to cheat, being confused by his feelings
towards Anna, as well as not wanting to be alone. We spend the majority of the
time up and down on this confusing rollercoaster with the characters, which
keeps us completely engaged, but absorbed in the heart ache and anger, and even
allows us to get frustrated with the characters as if they were real.
With the romantic setting of Paris,
and a fall in love instantly with the romantic interest of St Clair…who by the
way is absolutely swoon worthy! It really is a feel good book that takes you on
a tumultuous journey of emotions. It honestly had me gripped from the first
page an di could not put it down.
Overall I really enjoyed this start
to Stephanie Perkins series, I am looking forward to what Lola and the Boy Next
Door brings and am hoping it will be as much as an easy ready as Anna and the French
Kiss was. Which I devoured so fast and honestly could not put down! I would
highly recommend this to any YA reader who loves a good romance.
I have given this 5 out of 5 stars
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