Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: Review

Anna and the French Kiss
By: Anna Perkins

Format: E-Book, 372 pages
Published: December 2, 2010; Dutton
Source: Purchased for Nook
Challenges: 2011 E-Reader Challenge

Author Website | Author Twitter | Author Blog

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Summary (from Goodreads): 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?

My Review:
Who would have thought that a book so simple could be so captivating?

I have a story to tell you all that should explain why I liked this book so much. One time, I was a confused, 19 year-old girl. I thought I knew a lot about life and love, when really, I knew nothing.  I was attending college at a university 30 miles away from my home, and I thought I was a big shot.  I met a guy, we hung out a lot, and a romance ensued. Because I was naive and lacked compassion, I didn't end the relationship when I knew I should have. I didn't love him, but our relationship continued because I thought that was what I was SUPPOSED to do.

My parents became concerned by the seriousness of our relationship and did all the could to knock it off course. This only furthered my resolve to make the stupid thing work.  Then, one day, my dad called me into his office (he was a professor at the university I was attending). He told me that they (my parents) had a proposal for me. They wanted to send me to college for a semester in Hawaii. My tuition and housing would be paid for. I just had to go. And I could no longer speak to my boyfriend.

I took the offer.

Hawaii changed a lot of who I was. For the first time in my life, I was in the minority. I didn't understand the culture. I couldn't go home when I wanted to. I didn't know anyone. It rained all the time. I was surrounded by the empty vast ocean instead of the high, comforting mountains. Slowly I gained friends, and had experiences that I will never forget.  I came home a different person. A better person.

That's what Anna and the French Kiss is about. Yes, there is a romance (which I didn't have in Hawaii, thankfully). There is a cute boy. But there are friends that accept and help Anna through an important and scary time in her life.  And I could absolutely relate. Although I didn't know it at the time, Hawaii was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

I know I haven't talked about much of the characters or specifics about the book. But, I think that everyone who reads this book can probably relate it to some other time in their life when they felt just like Anna. Alone. Longing for the familiar and having the courage to break out and try something new.

My Rating:
 

Violence: None
Sexuality: Mild
Profanity: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild