ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins
Publication Date: December 2nd 2010 by Dutton
Rating: 
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Summary: 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. Clair: 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?
Review Overview:
- One of the best contemps I have ever read; worth all the hype
- Anna is so easy to relate to
- I fell in love with Etienne St. Clair and you will too
First of all, what’s with all the good books I’m reading lately? To find a five-star book is practically a miracle and to read two in the same week is just impossible! I can’t believe I’m saying it, but ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, is a book worth its five-star rating – my second one this week and the nth 5-star rating the book has received. There was just so much hype about this book that I thought it was too good to be true. I read a handful of reviews all saying the same thing and I had to see for myself just how fantastic this book was. I was not disappointed.
One of the reasons that I enjoyed this book so much was because Anna was just so easy to relate to. I saw myself in her shoes so many times throughout the book. Despite the fact that she is in high school, her experience of being alone for the first time reflected a bit of my hesitations when I finally moved into my dorm at college. (Minus the language barrier, of course.) I couldn’t help but feel that Anna is just like me while reading.
And don’t let me get started on the romance. Banter, tension, the most romantic city in the world… The romance had a great build-up; it was very well developed which made it realistic. This book has everything I want in a great romance. Etienne St. Clair is definitely one of my favorite fictional male characters. What’s not to love about him? He has a British accent for crying out loud!
Furthermore, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS has given me an appreciation for Paris. It was never one of my contenders for a study abroad program but that has changed. I want to see for myself the culinary delights as described in the book. Paris sounds like a magical city and I want to visit and learn more about the culture.
Stephanie Perkins is such a great writer. Her writing is fun and addictive. Once you start, you just have to devour the book like a yummy macaroon. ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you want to hop on the next plane to Paris. She’s definitely one of the best new voices in YA and I cannot wait for her next book.
I’ve been hearing so many good things about this book. I may have to give it a try, even though contemporary fiction isn’t usually my cup of tea. Nice review!
Contemporary fiction is usually not what I read, but after all the raving reviews, I just HAD to. I hope you get to it soon!
I think I would absolutely love this book. Why? Because Paris is one of the most magical cities in the world. I absolutely fell in love with it while I was there. I can totally believe any romance set around Paris, because it just has this… magical atmosphere. (How many times are you gonna say magical, Kristina? -_-) And yeah, I’ve heard so many good things about this book, and I want to read it so much. Grr, must get money to buy it. xD Anywhoo, awesome review! :>
Its really surprising to hear how much everyone loves this book. Maybe its the cover and title that made me think it would be fun but not 5 star worthy. Great review its on my TBR.
Like I said, it’s really rare that I ever give a book a five star rating…. I read this two weeks ago, and I still can’t get it out of my head. When I first saw it months ago, I thought the same thing about the cover and title!
Eeeeeee, yay! I remember your comment a while ago where you said that you didn’t read a lot of contemporary, so I’m super glad to hear you gave this one a shot. More importantly, I’m glad it lived up to the hype because it’s seriously the worst when a book ends up being a disappointment.
Dang, I really need to read this. I’m not big on contemps but this just sounds too good.
great review I have to get this book
thanks for commenting on my blog readathons are fun you should join one
I’ve been avoiding this book like crazy because of all the crazy-good hype it’s been receiving. I think maybe it’s time to just give in and read it. XD
Wow I keep hearing such good things about this book. Contemps is not my cup of tea, but I may have to just read it this once. No?
I am usually not a fan of contemp as well, but you have to make an exception for this one.
I LOVED this book. I think the cover is deceiving. You just have no idea going into it how funny and poignant and perfectly YA it is.
And I agree! So many terrific books lately!
Oooooo I want this bad!
I WANT THIS! (and i shall get it soon, hurry up on that shipping, book depository!) great review!
I’ve been reading so many positive reviews for this book! I’ve been trying to find it in the bookstores here, but they don’t have it. I’ll be going to the capital this weekend, so hopefully the bookstores there will have Stephanie Perkin’s books.
Hope that happens. 
And I know this sounds crazy, but I actually dreamed about reading this book last night.
Good luck!
It’s one of my favorite books. I just reread it a few months ago and fell in love all over again.
If you don’t find it at the capital, there’s always Book Depository!
I read that there is another Stephanie Perkins book coming out this year. Maybe I’ll wait and get all 3 at once.
Actually, the publishing date was pushed back to 2013. Perkins just wrote about it in her blog.
I definitely wouldn’t wait until then to read her books though!
Your review is perfect. It captures every reason I loved the book.
I read Anna this week and just ajklshalksdjfh’ed. Do you mind if I link to your review on my blog?
Go ahead and link.
I LOVE Anna; I actually just finished rereading it for the third time two weeks ago! 
I actually read the book before I found this page and I definitely agree with you.It is by far the best romance book I’ve ever read,and Stephanie Perkins descriptions of the characters are so good that I can imagine how they would look like. And St.Clair is sooo swoon-worthy! Love your site by the way, keep up the good work!