Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss, #1) in The Reader's Lounge

Jan 20, 2011 Jasprit rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2011, romance, favourites, ya, contemporary, literary-crushes

You have been warned you may find this review full of non-stop gushing. I’m not going to go into the details of the plot summary of Anna and the French kiss, as by now most of you would have devoured this fabulous book and I’m probably one of the last people to read this book. Anna and the French kiss was one of those books which when I first heard about I knew I had to read, if you know me by now I’m one of those people who will buy a book as soon as it comes out, but then leave it on my booksh You have been warned you may find this review full of non-stop gushing. I’m not going to go into the details of the plot summary of Anna and the French kiss, as by now most of you would have devoured this fabulous book and I’m probably one of the last people to read this book. Anna and the French kiss was one of those books which when I first heard about I knew I had to read, if you know me by now I’m one of those people who will buy a book as soon as it comes out, but then leave it on my bookshelf, intending to read it some time or other, but never actually getting round to do so. I know what is wrong with me? Everyone I know absolutely loved this book, so why did I take so long to read it?? Like I said before I have no idea what is wrong with me?? As soon as I started reading it, I was kicking myself for not picking it up sooner as I absolutely loved this book!!!! It made me sigh; the romantic Paris setting, Etienne St. Claire, his gorgeous English accent, his beautiful hair, his crooked teeth smile, how he wasn’t afraid to show his weaknesses, he was sweet, caring, understanding... do I need to say anymore? It made me laugh; Josh and Rashmi’s relationship, Amanda with her flicky hair and St.Clair when he was drunk and it had my heart hammering in my chest around 100 miles an hour; will they or won’t they get together?? It had an awesome bunch of characters; Anna, Etienne, Josh, Rashmi, Mer, Matt, I adored them all. And I had so many favourite scenes which I couldn’t possibly name them all, some which include Dave asking out Anna and St. Clair’s reaction, the e-mails over the christmas holidays and the whole thanksgiving period.

Stephanie Perkins is my new favourite author, (I know how can I say this after only reading one of her books?, but a book that makes me feel so many different emotions, leaves me on a insane high, with a huge smile plastered on my face in the early hours of the morning definitely deserves so much credit)

After reading so many great reviews I came into this book, expecting so much, and my expectations were seriously blown away, it gave me so much more than I ever could have imagined. A few books come your way which are truly unputdownable, unforgettable and just leaves you wanting more! Anna and the French Kiss is one of those books, it is definitely one of my 2011 favourites of the year! And I just know I will be reading it again and again and never get enough.
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Jun 03, 2011 Glass rated it really liked it

Shelves: summer-books, chick-lit, tanja-zemira-miss-glass-book-club

When I started reading this book, I was afraid that I would have to tell Zemira that I hated it - I'm a bit touchy about books written by American authors about Paris or any other place in Europe. But, as always, Zemira has excellent taste, so in the end I've been awake all night reading Anna and the French Kiss. I give it a four stars because beginning was a little off, but it's still one of my favourite books. ...more

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Jun 10, 2014 Pili rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have seen this book around for quite a while and I've seen such great reviews, but it is a contemporary and it is a romance and I haven't really been in the best of places to reading books that deal with relationships, but when I saw that there was going to be a readalong for the whole series to celebrate that the third book was finally going to be published, I thought it was the perfect time to read it!

I was very glad to find myself enjoying the book immensely since the very first pages. The I have seen this book around for quite a while and I've seen such great reviews, but it is a contemporary and it is a romance and I haven't really been in the best of places to reading books that deal with relationships, but when I saw that there was going to be a readalong for the whole series to celebrate that the third book was finally going to be published, I thought it was the perfect time to read it!

I was very glad to find myself enjoying the book immensely since the very first pages. The setting in Paris, and Anna somewhat clueless and adorable self were quick to ensnare my attention and my allegiance.

Anna is a character that I couldn't help but love, despite how silly she seemed to me sometimes, how small-town minded she sometimes seemed about her American-ism and how she thought she wouldn't fit in Paris, and her flaws give how short sighted and oblivious she sometimes was about the rest of the world's feelings. I just couldn't help but keep rooting for her and enjoy her discovering the wonders of Paris, its architecture and its glorious food!!

I loved seeing Anna breaking out her shell and making friends, braving Paris on her own and not letting her fears get in the way of her passion, movies! I loved how she didn't back down when others sniggered about her idea of becoming a movie critic! I also loved how she stood up for her friends when she needed to, even if she was a bit oblivious about their feelings at times.

I was a bit concerned about the romance itself, but I couldn't help but root for Anna and Etienne St Clair and I found myself really loving their friendship, their banter and not minding their drama all that much. I adored Etienne's English accent and language popping up all the time, since I'm quite a declared Anglophile myself! Thankfully none of the relationship troubles dragged me too much to think of my own personal woes and that's a testament of how much the story pulled me into itself!

I loved that the book was not only about the relationship of Anna and Etienne but also about friendships and how complicated they can be and how simply we can fix things if we simply really try. How important friendships are and how they can help us grow and become the person we really wanted to be, even when we're not sure at first.

I simply couldn't stop reading, the writing was wonderful, the setting so vividly painted that I felt I was back again in Paris (and really made me want to go back again SOON!!) and the characters felt like my friends by the end of the book! I cannot wait to meet them again soon!

If you are wondering about this book and the fact that it is a contemporary might make you wary of it... don't, just give it a try, I can assure you it will be worth your while! Very well deserved 4.5 to 5 stars to this one! ...more

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Oct 28, 2020 Danielle rated it really liked it

Super cute! Angsty but not overly so, lots of sizzling sexual tension and tons of teenage friendship development. Loved it!

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Sep 23, 2015 Tratchka rated it it was amazing

This and other reviews can be found on my blog: Yellow, Green, and Read All Over

Anna, an aspiring film critic and blogger extraordinaire, is about to enter into her senior year of high school. Life in Atlanta is going pretty well for her. She's got a cool job at the local movie theater, an awesome best friend, and a super hot crush that is finally starting to show signs that he likes her back. But, when things seem too good to be true, they usually are. Just as Anna's life is looking up in all t This and other reviews can be found on my blog: Yellow, Green, and Read All Over

Anna, an aspiring film critic and blogger extraordinaire, is about to enter into her senior year of high school. Life in Atlanta is going pretty well for her. She's got a cool job at the local movie theater, an awesome best friend, and a super hot crush that is finally starting to show signs that he likes her back. But, when things seem too good to be true, they usually are. Just as Anna's life is looking up in all the right ways, her dad drops the bomb that she will be spending her senior year at The School of America in Paris, which is (in Anna's mind) a boarding school where pretentious parents send their pretentious kids to get a pretentious "cultural education."

Shortly after arriving in Paris, she is welcomed in to a group of friends that have been together for years. This group includes Merideth, her next door neighbor, Rashmi and Josh, who have been together forever, and Etienne St. Clair (doesn't that name just melt on your tongue?,) the quintessential hot guy that everybody loves, including his girlfriend, who attends a nearby university. In a series of near-misses, will they or won't theys, what the hells, and c'mon reallys, Anna and the French Kiss tugs on all the heart strings, gives you all the feels, and plants you right back in high school.

I'll admit it, this book was as sweet and fluffy as they come. It was a big old cloud of cotton candy with ooey gooey caramel dip on the side (I don't think that's a thing, but it should be!). But, in a genre that as of late has been inundated with the paranormal and high fantasy, Anna and the French Kiss was a sucker punch of normal that I really needed. Don't get me wrong, I love the vampire falls in love with a zombie while discovering witchcraft at the end of the world stuff as much as the next person, but sometimes, you just need to read a book where everything in the book is actually possible.

I can see why some readers would get frustrated with the back and forth between Anna and St. Clair, but I actually think it was perfect. I've been in high school, taught high school, and have some cousins and such that attend high school. From the insecurity that every teen faces, to the complicated relationships that many have with their parents, to the inevitable bullying and subterfuge that occurs in every high school, the world that Stephanie Perkins has created in Anna and the French Kiss is spot on!

Another thing that's done really well in this novel was highlighting diversity. Not a single character in this book was "normal". Rashmi speaks Hindi, St. Clair has an unpleasant relationship with his father, and Anna has a gap between her teeth "the size of a raisin". I love the way that Stephanie Perkins makes these differences known, works them into the plot of the story, but doesn't make them the main focus. So many novels, in an attempt to celebrate diversity, make "character flaws" the main point and something that must be overcome. In this book, just like in high school, they are simply an accepted part of life and not a big deal.

While I did have my moments of inwardly screaming at certain characters, I absolutely fell in love with Anna and the French Kiss. For what it was, it was absolutely perfect in every conceivable way. It made me laugh, cry, and gave me that all important heart fluttering that every reader loves. I know I'm the last person on earth to discover this novel, but, in a way, I'm glad for it. While this book is fabulous as a stand-alone, imagine my mirth when I discovered that there isn't just one sequel, but TWO! Unlike readers that discovered this series years ago, I get to reignite my flame with these characters at my leisure, rather than anticipating the next in the saga with bated breath. I simply cannot wait to get my grubby little hands on Lola and the Boy Next Door and Isla and the Happily Ever After! ...more

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Dec 28, 2013 Stacie (Shy Book Nerd) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-signed-books, owned-hardcovers, owned-paperbacks

4.5 stars!

This is such a cute light hearted love story! Anna and Etienne are the cutest couple ever. I enjoyed almost every moment of this book. Sure it had its moment where Anna could be really wishy washy but it wasn't that bad. I definitely recommend this book to those that want a little romance and it's in Paris of all places! ...more

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Jun 05, 2017 Rawan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Didn't think I'd really be into it, but THAT ENDING WAS SO ADORABLE. I'M DEAD.

This is also the first contemporary romance (romance at all if I'm being frank) that I've read in a while, so it took some time getting used to the whole thing. ...more

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