Anna and the French Kiss

For my friend Paul Hankins, a longer review than normal...

Before you read this review, you must understand how much I loved high school. I had a blast. I know it wasn't perfect, but what I remember about high school is laughing, kissing, fighting, and making up. I remember with clarity the first time my boyfriend and I kissed, and how magical it felt.

As I read this novel, at first I was taken aback by how familiar everything she wrote felt to me. After about 50 pages, I settled in, and reading this book was like being 17 again...and I really liked being 17.

Is the book predictable? Yes. At times, does it read a little like a screenplay? Well, a lot of books these days do. But Perkins wrote a story that is unabashedly romantic without show more being too cheesy, and Anna, though clearly in love with one of her classmates, does not pine or agonize. That's not to say there aren't moments when Anna is frustrated with her situation, but she doesn't dwell on it. That's a nice change from the relationship drama in Hunger Games or Matched. This one felt just more organic and real.

What I loved most, though, was how Perkins captured an intelligent teen voice without being sardonic or Valley-Girl-ish. I laughed out loud several times throughout this book. At one point, during SSR time, my students shot me dirty looks because I was laughing so often.

It's clearly a romantic comedy, so if you choose to read it, be prepared for the cliches that typically accompany that genre. But Perkins somehow makes the cliches not feel so overused. show less

I had to give this a few hours to stew in my brain so I could make sure I wasn't just high off of Etienne and Anna's love. It has been determined that I totally am and I don't care. THIS WAS SO GOOD! Anna and her relationship with Etienne made me squeal. Out loud. Multiple times. It's a good thing my roommate went home for the weekend. Anyway, I was a little leery going in (despite being generally excited about this book because I've heard many a wonderful thing) because it's been a while since I've read a YA novel. And I haven't felt like I fit into the YA category for even longer. So it felt a bit weird, but SO GOOD. I expected this to be unrelatable and over the top, like "oh I'm in Paris the City of Love, I must fall in Love" etc. show more etc. but I was mistaken. It was real, and what made me even love it more was that Etienne wasn't a dream guy. I mean yeah, he was Anna's dream guy, but he wasn't perfect. He couldn't handle the situation between the two girls very well, and frankly he was mean at times, but that's what made him good. And Anna is the same. I LOVE that she's a film critic - you don't see that topic in books a lot (at least the books I've read). I also like various other things, such as the realisation Anna had about Bridge and Toph and how it mirrored her and Etienne. I liked how Josh and Rashmi didn't stay together to show that high school sweethearts don't always work out. The only complaint I have about the book (and I sat here trying to think of more, believe me) was Anna's weird relationship with Dave near the end. He was mentioned in the beginning, yeah, but when all of a sudden they were "sort of dating" I felt as if I missed a big part of Anna even considering dating Dave. But that's it. Honestly. I really, really loved this. I'm gonna miss these crazy kids. show less

[cross-posted at my blog here]Okay. So here's the deal with this book. I picked it up at around 1 am today (which means last night) because I'm a pathetic insomniac who likes to read when it's time for bed and likes to sleep when it's time for breakfast. Anyhow. This book sucked me right in!. I did NOT even have to make an effort. NONE. And it wasn't until I caught the slightest signal of sunrise that I decided, extremely against my will, to put this book down and save my deteriorating sleep-deprived self. Then I woke up 6 hours later and Anna and the French Kiss sucked me right in again. Then I finished the book in one day. In three sittings (that 1 am reading in bed, then the living room sofa reading after lunch, then another sofa show more reading in the privacy of my own room). What do I say? Um. It's been quite a long time since I last felt so giggly and giddy and in love with a book. Let's see. The last time I could recall was with [b:When It Happens|781046|When It Happens|Susane Colasanti|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1268350521s/781046.jpg|767067], and that was like in 2008. Gosh, I'm such a loser. SQUEAL.Where do I start? My head is spinning. Now I'm in love with the idea of being in love, because if it feels this nice to be in love, then it doesn't sound like a bad idea. Or does it? Jeez! I don't even know what to say about this book! Okay, let me try. This is a really cute story told in the voice and point of view of Anna Oliphant, nicknamed Banana Elephant. She originally doesn't like her dad, and worse, he decides to ship her off to a boarding school in Paris! She doesn't want to leave Atlanta which means leaving her little brother, Sean, and her best friend, Bridge(tt), and her crush, (Chris)Toph(er), who's on the verge of becoming more than just a crush. She feels bitter when she unpacks her stuff in her dorm room. This school is, according to Anna, full of rich and stylish and sophisticated kids whose parents are, you know, biggies, who don't really want their kids around. On the first day at SOAP (School of America in Paris), she makes her first new friend, Meredith, whose room is next door to Anna's. After enjoying chatting and chocolat chaud with Meredith, Anna starts to feel good about this school, and on her way out of Mer's room, she bumps into this English French American Boy Masterpiece whose name is Etienne St. Clair, who is drop-dead gorgeous and makes me SQUEAL. And SWOON. Okay, enough with the squealing. Her first days at the school really captures the feelings of being in a foreign land. I can totally relate to her. She avoids food that requires ordering, because she doesn't speak a bit of French and she's still insecure about it. That totally happened to me once or twice in Germany. She looks lost and feels lost for some time, but life gets better. She makes great friends with Meredith, Rashmi, Josh, and most importantly St. Clair. SQUEAL. They both like each other in an instant (or so I think), but it's not that easy. St. Clair has a long-term girlfriend who's now in college, and Anna's still holding on to Toph. Moreover, Meredith's also crushing on him. Anna and St. Clair become immediate friends and hang out often and share problems about their lives (mostly fathers) and become comfortable with each other's friendship. Isn't that the cutest thing ever? Being in love with your best friend? Sigh. I love this book. There are just so many elements to it that I really really love. In this book, friendship is just as important as the attraction between Anna and St. Clair. Although the attraction "just happens", the author took time to work up the romance. It's like attraction developed into great friendship which is developed into being in love with your best friend. I don't know how to explain it. They're both perfect for each other. I smiled reading their funny sarcastic remarks and what they have to say to each other. It's just so cute, okay? And how St. Clair tries to conquer his fear of height for Anna. GOSH. ARGH!!! TOO BLOODY LOVELY! And Anna's later idea of "home". Oh my. I love that. Because I think it's true, it's more of a question of who you're with, rather than where you are, that gives you the feeling of being home.I love the fact that this is not a book about the perfect-in-every-way-possible guy and i'm-an-ordinary-person girl. Or vice versa. Or whatever. I love that the characters are flawed, but yet still beautiful. St. Clair has crooked bottom teeth, and Anna has a huge gap (that's what she says) between her front teeth. And St. Clair is short. But he also speaks British accent (OH DEAR GOD). And they both have financial issues. And their fathers are asses. I love that there are more realistic elements crafted in this book than just sparkly teenage romance. I believe we all have people like the characters in our lives, so it's really believable and interesting, because while you read about them, you have your own versions of them in your head. Hmmm, what else? Oh, the writing. Can I just say that Ms. Perkins' writing is something you can totally get lost in? In a good way, of course. Like I said earlier, it will suck you right in. It's a quick and easy and enjoyable read. Which reminds me again that great books don't necessarily have to be written in such difficult language so as to portray literary gorgeousness. This book is perfect just the way it is. Oh, and I also love that Anna takes me to visit different tourist attractions in Paris with her. Makes me want to book a ticket and go there right now. Anna and the French Kiss really reminds me of what it's like to be in love. The heart racing thing, the confusion, the he-doesn't-like-me-okay dialogue with myself, the staring, the awkwardness, the warmth, the good feelings, the heartache. Ah. I do miss those things. All in all, this book is just perfect in every way possible. It will certainly make you abandon your priorities and just keep going until you finish. I love, love, love it! And for one last time, SQUEAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. By the way, I'm not really as crazy about St. Clair as everybody else seems to be. I don't know. I know he's gorgeous and has a British accent (I KNOW!) and all, but he still fails to beat Michael Moscovitz from the Princess Diaries in the race to be my "dream guy". Still, I wouldn't complain to have him in my life. He makes me SQUEAL with delight, remember? SQUEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥[cross-posted at my blog here] show less

Anna and the French Kiss is such a wonderful, easy read that I tore through it in one day. It's one of the best Young Adult books I've ever read, and I am terribly green with envy at the amazing voice that Stephanie Perkins projects in her writing.

The book is not about plot, but instead focuses heavily on character development. Anna's father sends her to Paris for her senior year of high school, where she meets a fabulous guy who already has a girlfriend. Angst ensues.

Really, that's the main gist of the plot and if it weren't for Ms. Perkins' talented pen, I don't think there would be much to love. But I did love it. SO HARD. And here's why:

The characters (Anna and her four friends) were so real, so well fleshed out, that I enjoyed show more spending the time with them. They could be going to the movies, browsing through the bookstore, hanging out at the cafeteria at school... it didn't matter. I wanted to hang out with them.

She drew each one with quirks, with individual traits that made you feel like you were really getting to know them. No character was a cookie-cutter model or archetype. Their reactions were genuine as they danced around each other in words and emotions, trying to come together while preserving pride and worrying too much (like all teens do) about what someone else might think.

I loved watching Anna and Etienne fall for one another and tentatively make their way across the chasm of potential rejection. Anna's thoughts and reactions were often laugh-oud-loud funny, mostly because I remember being just like that.

Stephanie Perkins, my hat is off to you. Well done! Bravo! *cheers*

You make me want to be a better writer.

(review originally posted on the Love Stories blog at http://ctefft.blogspot.com) show less

Originally posted at Libri Ago .

The only word I can think of that captures the feel of Stephanie Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss is delightful. This isn't serious fare, but it's not meant to be. It hits the intended mark perfectly: a light, fun, romantic tale of a teenage girl falling in love. Teen chick lit at its finest.

At about a third of the way through the book, I had to put it aside for a week because the temptation to jump on a plane back to France was too much for my weak francophile heart. (Why did Delta have to send me an email that day announcing a European fare sale?!)

The problem was with Perkins' descriptions of Parisian life; the sights, sounds, smells, and flavors of that glorious city. She captured the ambiance and show more feel of the city so well, I craved to be back at an outdoor cafe, watching Paris flow by as I nibbled on some quiche Lorraine and perhaps a raspberry macaron or tart au chocolate. The fact that I've only been back from France four months is not lost on me. If Paris weren't so expensive, I might never have come back. I'm exaggerating. Sort of.

Tragically, I didn't find my own Étienne, despite spending two months in France. Hmm. Maybe I should take another look at those airfares. I could do with a hot American/British/French boyfriend right about now. show less

Anna's pompous father has decided to send her to boarding school in France. Though abandoning her family and friends is not exactly what she had in mind for her senior year of high school, she quickly makes a few new friends in her residence hall. With their support she acclimates to her new school and also works on her self-confidence in exploring Paris itself. Anna finds herself drawn to one friend in particular, St. Clair.

This was a fun palate-cleanser. Though there were a handful of cringey moments designed to create necessary plot conflict, the first-person teenage voice felt authentic and the reader can't help but get pulled into Anna's world immediately. I appreciated the wink to the reader about the "real" identity of Anna's show more father. Ha! show less

This book was oscillating between one and two stars for the first seventy-five percent or so. It was not easy for me to like this book. Anna is an entertaining narrator, but she's selfish and entitled and overly dramatic, and in some cases that could be an instant deal-breaker. Plus there's Étienne St. Clair, who is so perfect that he's almost impossible to read. There's the fact that Anna can't think about anybody but boys. There's her condescending attitude toward Meredith, her egocentrism in general. And halfway through the book, I was fully expecting it to end with me saying, "Anna, you don't deserve him."
Still, there is something strangely realistic about Anna that I can't ignore. She's self-centered, yes, but in a way that show more absolutely makes sense. She's a teenager and I can feel it through Stephanie Perkins' writing. I may not like Anna, but I certainly do understand her.
Here's the part that brought the book up to three stars for me: every single issue that I had with it is IMPORTANT. Anna's mistakes and attitude do not go unchecked. St. Clair's situation reveals aspects of his character that make me believe in him more than I thought I could ever believe in an idealized teenage love interest.
I'm still not sure I love this book. However understandable Anna is, I do not like her by any means, but am I supposed to? This isn't a story where the likeable girl gets the boy. It's a story where the girl can't get where she wants to be until she grows the hell up.

EDIT: I figured out why I keep bouncing between loving and hating the book. I expected - and was promised - a funny teenage romance sort of book (not my kind of book necessarily, but something I could still have fun with). I got something else: a book that was so unexpectedly real I didn't even know what to do with it. I actually didn't trust Stephanie Perkins at first, assuming that because her narrator was self-centered with relationship drama as her only problems, the book was going to fail. Ms. Perkins, you proved me wrong. Now I'm a little paranoid; almost certainly I'll spend the next few months worrying that I'm like Anna and hoping to hell that I'm not. show less