Oh, this book. This book. I spent half of it pacing around; another half getting weepy and silly and emotional; another half clutching it to my chest and swooning like a 16-year-old.
Wait — was that three “halves”?
I’m losing my mind. But that’s what Anna and the French Kiss will do to you.
Seventeen-year-old Anna is the daughter of a famous schmaltzy writer who wants to give his daughter the chance to broaden her horizons — at a boarding school in France. Far from her home in Atlanta, Ga., Anna arrives at School of America in Paris without friends or the boyfriend she’s hoped to have by now: Toph, a former coworker at the movie theatre where they both worked.
It’s not long before Anna settles in, though, and begins to get the lay of the land at SOAP — with the help of new buddies, of course. Meredith, Rashmi and Josh welcome her into their circle of artists and athletes, but it’s the group’s wayward member — Etienne St. Clair, friend to all and hot as can be — that really grabs Anna’s attention.
Of course, she’s not interested in St. Clair. He’s sweet, funny and gregarious, plus he has a British accent and amazing hair, but Etienne has something else, too: a girlfriend. And Anna is missing Toph and her best friend stateside, Bridgette, so she has no time to worry about him. Or does she . . .
Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss really is as awesome as everyone claims. Like the colorful macarons Perkins describes, I couldn’t help but devour entire passages of this book whole. It’s funny, entertaining, witty, realistic and oh, so romantic. So romantic. I’m telling you now, I was swooning from here to the Atlantic with this novel clutched to my chest.
Etienne is so my new book crush. (But you’ll always be my first love, Marcus.)
You know when your best friend falls for a guy and talks about him so much that you start to think, “Hey, you know what? You’re right. That dude is awesome.” That’s totally Anna and me, BFFs: in love with the same man. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Etienne St. Clair, so I didn’t even try to stop myself. It would have been like putting out a house fire with a bottle of water. Smokin’.
Ahem.
So yes. This book. This book. I loved Anna and her occasionally clueless self. She felt like a real teen, a real friend — a young woman who was both intelligent and adorable, eager to please her family but struggling under the weight of her parents’ divorce. She was so linked to her little brother, Sean, that it tugged at my heartstrings. And even though she had all sorts of Big Stuff going on, it didn’t bring her down. She just kept moving forward, learning and experiencing as she went.
Anna and St. Clair’s friends were all well-drawn and believable, too. There when you needed them, but with their own difficulties to figure out. Again: realistic. I think that’s what I loved so much about this book: it was like I could have stepped right through the pages and sat with them at lunch. It made me — a 25-year-old — feel like I belonged at SOAP, too.
France came alive under Perkins’ fingertips, and I haven’t wanted to visit this bad since finishing French Milk last year. There is so much to love here — I could go on and on. But rather than encourage you to keep reading a ridiculously long review, just go get Anna and the French Kiss. Perkins has crafted a young adult book that readers of all ages will enjoy, relate to and, like me, want to hug after the final page has closed.
I totally hugged this book.
And I think you will, too.
5 out of 5!
ISBN: 0525423273 ♥ Goodreads ♥ LibraryThing ♥ Amazon ♥ Author Website
Personal copy purchased by Meg
write meg! 
Yay! 😀 I like when other people like the books I like, hehe … Yeah, I noticed that too: Even as a 25-year-old college-grad currently-working-WITH-high-schoolers, I felt like I kinda belonged with these kids … They’d be my friends. Maybe my surrogate little sibs, but I’d hang with ’em. They were real, I expect to meet the Annas and Etiennes and Merediths, and definitely the Joshs (already know a few of those, I think 😉 ) … Happy dance for happy books! 🙂
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“It’s impossible not to fall in love with Etienne St. Clair, so I didn’t even try to stop myself.”
Yup. *nods head vigorously in agreement.*
I’m so glad you loved this book because I loved this book and think it’s praises should be shouted from the top of the Eiffel Tower. I’m pretty sure I actually physically swooned reading this book. That’s how awesome it is.
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This book better be on my wish list! It sounds absolutely wonderful and how can I not love a book set in Paris?!
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I have heard so many good things about this book I didn’t think they could possibly all be true. Your review though clinches it – I must read this book.
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Your enthusiasm is infectious Meg! I don’t even read fiction, but this sounds like a perfect slice of gateau chocolat! Thanks!
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Such a sweet and vivacious review…I’m feeling like grabbing this book and start reading it right now 🙂
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Yay! I’m so happy you loved it–I get so excited whenever someone mentions this book, haha. It’s difficult not to fall in love with Perkins’ characters or the fantastic way she writes. She totally captured the butterflies-in-my-stomach-holy-crap-I-am-in-LOVE feeling! 🙂
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Wowee! I got this when they were giving it away for the Kindle and really haven’t thought much about it since. You’ve made me want to read it right away!
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Hi Meg! Found your blog through Jessica Lawlor and after reading this post about Anna, I feel like we’re soul mates. Etienne is the only fictional boy to come close to making me forget my Flutie! Oh and I totally hugged the book when I was finished and have purchased multiple copies to hand out as gifts! Everyone I know who’s read it has loved it. Definitely one of my favorite books ever!
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I have been hearing great things about this book, but your enthusiasm has overwhelmed. It is definitely going on my list of books to read, and to read very soon rather than later. I look forward to feasting my eyes on the pages to experience the 3 halves! 🙂
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Oh man, this book totally made me swoon like a 16-year-old. It wasn’t just the perfect hotness of St. Clair, but the moments and emotions and the ‘does he like me? why must I like him?!’ struggles that Perkins so perfectly captured. Right after I finished the book, I went back and reread a couple sections and *sighed* all over again.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it this much Meg! For you, of course, but also because I need a book to pull me from my slump when the semester is over in April, and I think this could be it. It sounds good, and I miss France so much since I visited last year, I can’t wait to read it!
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O wow. I think your review is my fav I’ve read so far. I absolutely must try this book 🙂
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I totally was going to bipass this book until I read your review! On my TBR list fo’ sho’! 😛
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Beautifully written review. Thank you !
Also, I invite you to come over to know about us at BookRack and consider joining us 🙂
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Alright, you’ve convinced me to add this to my wish list. After all how can you not love a book with macarons and three halves.
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Glad you enjoyed this one too! I don’t think there was ANYONE who read this book who didn’t like it. Crazy!
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This doesn’t sound like a book I’d love, but I just keep hearing so many amazing things about it that it makes me want to read it! Thanks for the review!
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