Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Pages: 372
 

There are four things I’m pretty sure about this book, even without reading the summary. Just title and the book cover I know that (1) it is in France (2) it is not supernatural (3) there’s going to be a boarding school (4) and of coarse, a hot Parisian guy. I almost, just almost, got the four things correct, as for the last one it’s a half-half. It is indeed in France (duh, look at the title, but then again it could mean literally), it’s not supernatural. They are in boarding school… and I didn’t saw this coming but it’s not exactly the hot Parisian guy I’m expecting… he is English. Oh bullocks I got it wrong *in British accent, lol* that was a surprise there, unexpected twist.

Anna Olephant was forced by her parents to attend school in France. She left her friends and her almost boyfriend Toph behind. Even without knowledge of French language she tried to fit in. Good thing the school is an international school and mostly students are from America. She met new friends there, and a new guy with sexy accent – Étienne St. Claire. He was good to her, almost too good that she might be falling for him. But she can’t, because one he isn’t available. St. Claire had a girlfriend. Two, she has Toph, her almost-somehow boyfriend back home in Atlanta. How will they be together if they are both commited to another person? But as they intertwined their lives they become each other’s friend… but complicatedly too close for a friend.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding this book. From my last check in goodreads almost everyone gave it a full mark. I can see why, though as you notice I just gave it four stars. It was a fun read actually. I was expecting a tad different with the story like I said I picked it up not even bothering reading the summary. It looks fun, which it was but still, felt a little short. Don’t ask me why because it was just.

St. Claire was a bit different from what I imagined he’ll be. Which was nice, considering he broke the cliché about hot Parisian guy strolling Paris in utter perfection. He had character, he had flaws which made him, I don’t know believable? I like that the author didn’t gave him all the perfection. He is short, but has a nice built; he had strong character but still shows vulnerability. You know he is not perfect and that made him more appealing… I guess, that was it. It’s kinda hard to explain. Suffice it to say how his character brought in the book was good.

Anna is also great. I already expect this one, witty, sarcastic and a little flimsy. So I’m not gonna dwell too much on her. All in all, she was nice narrator and heroine. What I like about is their relationship. It’s not I-like-you,-you-like-me-let’s-walk-to-our-happily-ever-after. It was complicated, which is true in every relationship. I like how the relationship first started, they have undeniable attraction, then they started to get to know more about each other. Her family, her bestfriend; St. Claire’s father and other stuff. A lot of things to accept about the person and they’re not all… well, good.

I like that this book show that relationship is fragile. It could be easily broken if wasn’t handle with care. I also like that it deal with fear of isolation, because we don’t want to be alone. This is why St. Claire holds on to his relationship with Ellie, even it wasn’t working for the both of them anymore. This is also why Anna holds to Toph even without the assurance that he might like her. And she couldn’t let go of the chance.

Though it might sound difficult, it’s a happily ever after book. They beat down the odds and in the end they become a couple. What I like it wasn’t a sturdy road for it to happen, because love is not easy as it sounds. So all’s well that ends well.