The Bookanistas are a group of writers - in various stages of the publishing process – who have decided to band together and review the special books of our peers. No negative reviews here! We post every Thursday and cover various topics– upcoming ARCs, books we love, special diamonds in the rough, classics, and even cover reviews.
Here is a list of the Bookanistas: Christina Fonseca, Jamie Harrington, Michelle Hodkin, Kirsten Hubbard, Shelli Johannes-Wells, Myra McEntire, Shannon Messenger, Bethany Wiggins and Suzette Saxton, Beth Revis, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Sarah Frances Hardy and Katie Anderson, Scott Tracey, and Carolina Miller
ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins
I wasn't planning on posting this week.
My revisions on Book 2 have turned in rewrites. Panicked OMGosh-MUST-DO-THIS-NOW rewrites. I don't have time to read.
But then I got ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS in the mail from my Bookanista sisters.
I said, "Fine. I'll read the first chapter."
And then two hours and 100 pages DISAPPEARED.
You guys know it's rare for me to feature a contemporary novel. RARE. Well, ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS is a rare kind of book. Basically, it's a love story. But it's such a good love story.
What ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS has that most other contemporary love stories don't:
- A very hot boy
- Who also has flaws and is no where near perfect
- A very nice girl
- Who isn't a push-over and is willing to stand up for herself
- A very beautiful city
- That's so realistic, it's practically a third main character
- A plot
- Yes, really! There's a plot! An actual, interesting plot!
Also: Stephanie Perkins makes fun of Nicholas Sparks. I mean, I guess it's possible that Anna's dad is a completely fictional character, but I like to think of him as Nicholas Sparks.
What ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS doesn't have that most other contemporary love stories annoyingly do:
- A love triangle
- I mean, there are other people, but it's realistic teen dating situations, not exactly a love triangle. In other words, it's not like anyone's going to be on any team other than Team Anna and Etienne, and that's....refreshing
- A plot that hinges on love
- Isn't that nice? That some things happen other than goo-goo eyes and romantic sighs?
- Lust taking priority over love
- C'mon. Let's ask ourselves honestly. Do most teens love each other in stories because they're mutually hot, or because of their winning personalities? In ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, the teens actually, you know, get to know each other before they actually fall in love.
Also:
I feel a bit stalkerish of poor Stephanie Perkins--I mean, I kidnapped her website designer to design my site, and I keep bugging her on Twitter, but...even so...you should totally read this book.
- If you're a writer, then ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS can teach you to:
- Show, don't tell
- Anna's a neat freak. I know this as well as I know Anna. But yanno what? Stephanie never. once. tells me that. Not once. She shows me.
- Make setting count
- Dude. It's Paris. It's Paris. But yanno what made it real? The little things. The jerk in the Euro Disney shirt. The macaroons. The VO tickets at movie theaters.
- Create plausible secondary characters
- There's a slew of them. Toph has about ten pages of face time--but he's just as real as Anna and Etienne. To say nothing of Rashmi, Mer, Josh...all superbly done.
- Follow narrative themes
- I'll let you discover this one on your own. But I'll just say something in the first chapter comes back in the last. And I adore that sort of thing.
I feel a bit stalkerish of poor Stephanie Perkins--I mean, I kidnapped her website designer to design my site, and I keep bugging her on Twitter, but...even so...you should totally read this book.
*~*~*~*
Other Bookanista Features Today:
- Elana Johnson Tells Us About TORMENT
Lisa and Laura Roecker Cover THE CONFESSIONS OF THE SULLIVAN SISTERS
Christine Fonseca Moons Over MATCHED
Shannon Messenger Fangirls THE FAMILIARS
Shelli Johannes-Wells Marvels over Middle Grade
Kirsten Hubbard Woos Us with WITHER
Myra McEntire Beholds the British Special Edition of the TWILIGHT SAGA
Beth Revis Adores ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS
Carolina Valdez Miller Is Moved By MARBURY LENS
Megan Miranda Swoons Over STOLEN
- Elana Johnson Tells Us About TORMENT
Agreed x a billion.
ReplyDeleteEspecially about the part where Paris is a character (I used exactly that phrase to describe it to my writing group! We're having our own tour of ANNA), making fun of Nicholas Sparks, and the no love triangles/OMG teens are actually getting to know each other!! thing.
Love. X a billion.
Wish I had a copy. :/ Glad you enjoyed it though. It's okay. Stalking Stephanie is the trend right now. ;) I love everything you said about the book though. Makes me excited that there are so many cool new authors popping up all over the place. I keep hearing something about this book being released in January that's set in a spaceship...
ReplyDeleteYAY! I loved this book so hard, for all the reasons you said. So fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAHH. I want to read this book right NOW. Is it December yet? (also: cannot WAIT for your book. Reading the first chapter? TORTURE. Absolute *torture*.)
ReplyDeleteSuperrrrrr awesome post! I haven't read the book, or preorder it, but I think now I finally know why people love this book so much (only as much as someone who hasn't read it can know).
ReplyDeleteGah! Has everyone read this book but me? I've decided that I hate reading gushy reviews of this book because then I feel like a jealous old sod.
ReplyDeleteMe wants! *grabby hands*
What a great list of blogs. I can’t wait to visit them.I love so many blogs…I just can’t think of one….I am often found over here
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I seriously could not get enough of this book. Excellent review...you captured my feelings exactly! Stephanie Perkins is perfection!
ReplyDeleteI love your review. I've never read anything by Nicholas Sparks, so I didn't make that connection, but it would be funny. Most of my women friends have at least one of his books.
ReplyDeleteYou already know I love Steph and her book.
I don't read a lot of contemporary YA, but I'm definitely looking forward to this! It sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI've heard only good things about this book. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing such great things about this--I have a crush on Etienne and I haven't even started the book yet. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI just may have to add this to my list, it sounds amazing! Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteHope your rewites go smoothly!
Dude, I felt the EXACT SAME WAY when I read it...AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVED Anna and the French Kiss! Everything about the book is amazing and I loved the reasons you pointed out. :-)
ReplyDeleteI concur with every fiber of my being. I really loved ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED this book too! For all your well-laid-out reasons. What a thorough and wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Beth. :)
Love,
Lola
Wow! I will read this.
ReplyDeleteYES! The FNC loves this book! I have a feeling it's going to be a quad-review on our blog because we'll be battling over who gets to review it.
ReplyDeleteAnd the whole time I read it I was like, "teehee Nicholas Sparks."
YES! Love, love LOVED this book--for all the reasons you listed. It's just perfect--even though the characters aren't. I cannot wait till it comes out so I can buy a copy and read it again!
ReplyDelete(And if you're going to stalk someone, Stephanie is an excellent choice. LOVE her!) :)
Really like your reviewing style. I smiled and nodded through the whole thing. It sounds like a great book, and yes, refreshing. Thanks for the rec.
ReplyDeleteNo words, Beth.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU. Wow. THANK YOU!!
♥ ♥ ♥
*want*
ReplyDeleteI've been dying to read this ever since Stephanie sold it. I can't wait for it to come out. Stephanie is a great writer. I'm really excited for her success.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! And so thorough, I really have a good feeling about it because of what you posted. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've really been wanting to read this! Can't wait until it gets to me. Excellent review, Beth! Love how you laid it all out. Sounds like such a refreshing look at teen love. And love is my favorite thing in the whole world besides sugar.
ReplyDeleteOh I must read this.
ReplyDelete