Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss
By Stephanie Perkins
Dutton Juvenile
Publication date: December 2, 2010
ISBN: 978-0525423270

Have you ever had a book that you just wanted to snuggle with? I mean, hug when you're feeling down, and know full-well that its hugging you back? That's what Anna and the French Kiss is like. It's sweet, it's romantic, and I officially have a huge crush on it. I mean, gobbled it down in a day and a half and literally swooned through parts of it.

Right before her senior year of high school, Anna is uprooted by her parents and forced to attend a boarding school in Paris. She's unhappily leaving behind her family, friends, and hugh crush that she sort of had a thing with. Scared of not knowing the land (or the language), she freaks out until she makes friends with Meredith, her soccer-loving neighbor; Josh, the artist; Rashmi, Josh's super smart girlfriend; and beautiful St. Claire, who Anna (and the rest of the school) swoons over upon first glance. St. Claire,with his British accent, takes Anna out to see the city and story evolves from there. But Anna still has Toph in the background, and St. Claire has a girlfriend at another school. As Anna becomes more comfortable with her new city, she becomes more comfortable with herself. And, through ups and downs, she learns the true meaning of "home."

The story is simple, but so fun. It's classic boy meets girl, boy and girl can't get together so they develop a strong friendship, boy and girl hint at more...and so on. It has all the makings of a great coming of age romance, including tentative touches, awkward glances, love poetry, and epic multiple-hour long phone calls. By the end, I, too, was swooning over St. Claire.

These books could be similar, of course, but Anna stands out not only for its mushy cuteness, but for its strong writing. The story is more than just a girl meets boy story. Anna grows as a character throughout the book in the most subtle ways. You dont' even notice her development until it's pointed out. She's an interesting main character and realistic in many ways. (to the point that I wanted to slap sense into her her at times, but hey, teenagers.) Her friends are vividly described to the point that I wish they got their own books. Meredith was a great friend (and, in a way, mirror character to Anna), and I wish Rasmi got more screen time. She was complex and hidden. And St. Claire, well, he's more than just good looking of course. He's smart and sweet and had an obsession with world history.

What I liked most, however, was how real so many scenes felt. While I never went to boarding school, I did move away for college, so I can relate to that "i'm alone in a new place" feeling. That first day in the cafeteria. The overwhelming amount of love you have toward the first person to ask if you're okay. The excitement of that first crush. And the shocking realization when you realize that home may not be where you grew up anymore. I loved those scenes most, the ones when she's home and she realizes how she's changed.

And the flirtation. Oh was it adorable and blushy and fun.

I loved this novel. It's a great book to curl up with, and fall into. It makes me think of macaroons, cotton candy and love - all things sweet, and all things people crave for.

The companion novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door is currently out! The third companion novel Isla and the Happily Ever After, will be out fall 2012.

Side note: I met Stephanie Perkins earlier this year during LeakyCon (the Harry Potter convention. Yes.) She's just as adorable and full-of-life as the book is.