Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Series: Stand-alone with two companion books
Genre: Contemporary Romance (YA)
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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?
I absolutely adored Anna and the French Kiss. Stephanie Perkins did an amazing job writing the sexual tension and angst in this book. It was so intense at times, which made the reading all that more enjoyable. After reading Perkins’s blog, I found out she’s writing a couple of companion novels for this book, which I’m excited to read because I really love her writing style. However, I’m quite content with where this book left off, which is saying something because I normally want more. (Don’t get me wrong; I wouldn’t argue for more. I’m just really happy with how this book ended.) I got a hint of the togetherness that I always wish for after a book like this ends, but it wasn’t drawn out so it didn’t kill the story either.
I’ve said this before, but normally I compare all YA romance novels I read to Twilight because it was my first experience with this type of novel. I always compare the angst and sexual tension between the two main characters to how it felt with Bella and Edward. It may come as a shock to some of you, but after reading Anna and the French Kiss, not only is it a favorite book, it has also successfully taken Twilight’s place in the comparison realm. I’ll always think of this book now whenever I think of YA contemporary romance.
As I was reading this book, I fell in love with the characters. I even loved the characters that I hated because they were developed so well. I particularly love that Anna is left-handed because I’m left-handed, and I wanted to reach in and grab Étienne out of the page to keep for my very own when he bought her a lefty notebook.
I adored reading the e-mail exchanges between Anna and Étienne in chapter 28. The e-mail exchanges shows so well the friendship they formed. I love this because so many stories nowadays portray whirlwind romances, and Anna and Étienne’s romantic relationship was slow and gradual, built upon a foundation of friendship instead of simply lust.
I’m really looking forward to more works written by Stephanie Perkins. This is a fantastic debut novel and I’m pretty sure she has a long and prosperous career ahead of her.
Content Warning
There are a few instances of the F-word. I normally shy away from language, but this story was so well-written and well-done that it overshadowed the language for me.
About Jenni Elyse
Yay, so glad you loved this one! The tension *is* so amazingly done (although so frustrating! lol) and I also loved the e-mails between Anna and Etienne…that really helped to develop their relationship despite the distance.
I agree. That e-mail exchange was a perfect way for them to develop their relationship. No constraints, no friends around to muck anything up, etc. Pure bliss!
I loved this book! Easily a favorite for me too!
I’m glad!
I just read this one too! In fact, I stayed up past 1 AM reading it. Brice was a little upset that I was up so late, so I decided to put it down. But then I literally couldn’t sleep because I was so caught up in the story! I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters! SO FUN!
Ha! I’ve missed some sleep over it too. I love the characters! And, I love that it’s contemporary not fantasy which is a first for me.
I don’t think I’ve read a single bad review of this book. I loved it. One thing that makes me sad though is that this seems like a book that is popular among bloggers, but not necessarily amount YA readers as a whole. It’s featured as a new book at B&N but just strewn along with all the other new books. Nothing that makes you think it’s special. And it only ranks at 10,000 on Amazon. I wish more people knew about it.
I completely agree. I absolutely loved it and wish more people knew about it. I have been pushing The Hunger Games for the last two years. I think it’s high time I start pushing another book!
Hurray for you reading Anna and the French Kiss
wasn’t this such a lovely read? I adored it! Especially St. Claire! Your very lucky to have your very own, and no worries- there was no gagging on my behalf 
haha! And I completely agree with you on the bad language situation… I was enjoying the story so much, it didn’t really bother me at ALL!
Diana
It was a great read! I love it and want everyone to read it now! I’m definitely going to have to tell everyone I know about this book.
I’m soooo excited to read this one. I should be able to in the next couple of days. I’m expecting it from a book tour. Yay!
Oh yay! I hope you like it! I’ll look for your review!
Simply a yummy book.
Yummy is a great word to describe this book. Loved this book!
Okay, I’m adding it to my TBR list right now!
Yay!
Hours and hours later, and I’m still thinking about this book. I just want to reread it, already!!
I completely understand! I’m currently reading another book, but I really want to read Anna again.
On your recommendation…I could not put it down. I devoured the book and often left my boys to fend for themselves today. About the email chapter, my book landed so those pages laid open so I actually read that chapter way before I should have. Light but lovely read. If it was a movie I would probably watch it two more times just because I was smitten. Next up on the night stand is Matched! Thanks for the recommendations hun.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’d do the same if it were a movie.
I hope you enjoy Matched!