Anna and the French Kiss wasn't really a book that I expected to read, much less enjoy. I don't really read a lot of contemporaries but this book has changed my entire view on that genre. After having an extreme book hangover from the VA series, I picked this book up and honestly, I don't want to put it down. I'm rereading it right now as I'm writing this.
This book is about our lovely protagonist Anna Oliphant who is from quaint Atlanta. On her senior year, she gets shipped off to a fancy boarding school in Paris. Obviously, she's not happy because she'll be leaving behind her best friend, Bridgette, and her sort of boyfriend, Toph. And unfortunately, she doesn't know how to speak a word in French. But despite all that, she meets some cool new people Mer, Josh, Rashmi and the ever so gorgeous Etienne St. Clair who immediately becomes her best friend. Sadly he's taken by a girl named Ellie, but isn't Anna too? What'll happen when feeling start to spring out, how'll they deal with their relationship as besties? A lot of things can happen in the City of Light, will a romantic year filled with a series of unfortunate events and a French kiss be all it takes to change each other's lives?
Okay so that's the end of the non-spoiler section so go read the book if you haven't already and come back here so that we can share our feels and rant together! Go.
This is by far, the cutest book that I have ever read. I was legit rolling on the floor at one point in this book. What I really like most about Anna and St. Clair is that they have no 'mouth filters'. They say whats on their mind without even realizing it and it always ends up being awkwardly cute or just plain awkward. St Clair would always give Anna hair compliments and tell her she's beautiful. Anna would always say that St. Clair is attractive. Drunk St Clair is my fave because not only do the words that come out of a drunk are the truth, but that was the time when he confessed to Anna that he liked her as more than a friend. He then asked her if she liked him too. Sadly though, before Anna could answer that, he vomited on her. I was straight up clapping and rolling on the library floor. Their eagerness to say things makes me love their relationship even more because they are so comfortable around each other. I also love the fact that the awkwardness between them becomes non-existent as the story progresses.
What I really like about this book is how they emphasize the little details in Anna and St. Clair's relationship. From the simplest gesture of ordering breakfast for Anna because she doesn't know how to order in French, to St. Clair giving Anna a tour of Paris, to them spending Thanksgiving night together in one bed, plane rides, Christmas countdowns on the phone, to Anna gradually calling St. Clair by his first name, Etienne, and finally to the cutest little hints that they gave to show they liked each other. ANd obviously, both were oblivious to those hints.
This story focuses on change. Both Anna and St. Clair have daddy issues. Anna loathes her father because he writes sappy romances about people who fall in love and later contract life-threatening diseases and die. St, Clair, really, really hates his father because he doesn't care about him or his mother who has cancer, his father just exercises dominance over the family while keeping mistresses across France and London. But what Anna and St. Clair's problem is; they're afraid of change. They live in familiarity. Anna still wants to be in Atlanta and be the big shot movie critic of her dreams while St. Clair still feels like he should still be with his girlfriend and that he has to lo live under the shadow of his father's criticism. Breaking old habits apparently lead to destruction when these two are involved. They might not have been together but the trail they left trying to make up and change at the same time was blazing afire.
In the end, the best thing happened to all the characters was change. That was all they needed after all. Bridgette, Anna's best friend in Atlanta, who ended up dating Toph behind her back was forgiven because Anna realized that there are things beyond our own control and we cannot blame each other for that. Josh and Rashmi, afterspending some time together as boyfriend-girlfriend, broke up. They realized that all they do is argue and the distance that'll separate them (Rashmi's going to college, Josh is going to be a senior) will make that worse. Mer, who was in love with St. Clair, accepted the fact that the world has other plans for her and she has learned to make her way through them. Anna finally accpeted France and with that, she doesn't feel guilty about being with Etienne anymore because she loves him. Etienne broke up with his girlfriend immediately after he realized that he's been with Anna the entire year and that she's made her happier than anybody else had in a long time and that he loves her.In lieu with that, Etienne stood up to his father and now he'll be going to college in Berkeley which is not only close to his mom, but also a train ride away from Anna.
Anna and Etienne, in the end, realized that even if they were away from their family who are in the US, they found home in each other. "For us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we're finally home."
Change is inevitable. We have to learn chage to adapt, to start anew or to make a difference. This story took me to another side of life, it made me realize that there can be happy endings if you choose to have one. I've fallen in love with both Anna and Etienne and I can't say that enough. They made me so happy for the 24 hour period that I read the book. It's a light read that can make you laugh and cry; but, despite the tears, you'll feel really good after reading the book. A smile is sure to be plastered on your face for days to come.
I'd rate this book a 5/5. It's perfect! This is one of the best contemporaries I have ever read. Ever.
Stephalanie Perkins is an amazing author and i do recommend you read her other book Lola and the Boy next Door, which I'll be reviewing as soon as I get my hands on it. Plus her upcoming, Isla and the Happily ever After which will be coming out on the middle of this month, August 2014.
▲ Snack of the Read: fizzy strawberry juice ▲
How to make:
just add clear soda (diet is better for this) to a juice of your choice and enjoy x
In the end, the best thing happened to all the characters was change. That was all they needed after all. Bridgette, Anna's best friend in Atlanta, who ended up dating Toph behind her back was forgiven because Anna realized that there are things beyond our own control and we cannot blame each other for that. Josh and Rashmi, afterspending some time together as boyfriend-girlfriend, broke up. They realized that all they do is argue and the distance that'll separate them (Rashmi's going to college, Josh is going to be a senior) will make that worse. Mer, who was in love with St. Clair, accepted the fact that the world has other plans for her and she has learned to make her way through them. Anna finally accpeted France and with that, she doesn't feel guilty about being with Etienne anymore because she loves him. Etienne broke up with his girlfriend immediately after he realized that he's been with Anna the entire year and that she's made her happier than anybody else had in a long time and that he loves her.In lieu with that, Etienne stood up to his father and now he'll be going to college in Berkeley which is not only close to his mom, but also a train ride away from Anna.
Anna and Etienne, in the end, realized that even if they were away from their family who are in the US, they found home in each other. "For us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we're finally home."
Change is inevitable. We have to learn chage to adapt, to start anew or to make a difference. This story took me to another side of life, it made me realize that there can be happy endings if you choose to have one. I've fallen in love with both Anna and Etienne and I can't say that enough. They made me so happy for the 24 hour period that I read the book. It's a light read that can make you laugh and cry; but, despite the tears, you'll feel really good after reading the book. A smile is sure to be plastered on your face for days to come.
I'd rate this book a 5/5. It's perfect! This is one of the best contemporaries I have ever read. Ever.
Stephalanie Perkins is an amazing author and i do recommend you read her other book Lola and the Boy next Door, which I'll be reviewing as soon as I get my hands on it. Plus her upcoming, Isla and the Happily ever After which will be coming out on the middle of this month, August 2014.
▲ Snack of the Read: fizzy strawberry juice ▲
How to make:
just add clear soda (diet is better for this) to a juice of your choice and enjoy x
ilysm x
HIIII FAAAAAYYEEEEEE
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