Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Home    Challenges    Reviews    Features    Contests    Review Policy    Contact

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Top 10 Reasons to Read ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS


About a month ago I received a box from Penguin. In this box were 16 arcs. One of these arcs was Stephanie Perkins' debut novel ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. I'd heard of this book and I had read Stephanie's blog, so I was excited to get a copy. I had (have) loads of review books to read, so I put in on my bookshelf with all my other review copies, since it isn't released until December. A week ago, I was in the mood for a love story, so I picked up ANNA and slipped it in my bag. I was having a busy week, so I basically ended up carrying it around with me for days and didn't have a chance to actually start it. Two days ago, at midnight, I decided I was going to read a few chapters before I went to bed. I convinced the lovely Erica, of the Book Cellar, to read it with me, despite the fact that our review copy piles were glaring at us menacingly. Three hours later, bleary-eyed, I read the last few lines. And now, two days later, I'm still carrying it around with me. And no, I don't mean in my head, I mean LITERALLY. This book is so full of awesome that I can't let it go. I unable to stop talking or thinking about it. Which explains this fangirly post. If you aren't jealous that I've read this book, you should be. I'm not bragging, it's simply FACT. It's too early to write a review of ANNA, but I will give you 10 reasons this book should be on your to-be-read pile, if not preordered in your hand right this second.
  1. Etienne St. Clair. I never thought this would happen, but St. Clair may have stolen my heart from John After (of Going Too Far by Jen Echols). The best part about St. Clair? He's flawed. And that just makes him more irresistable.
  2. Anna. St. Clair is lusted after by nearly every girl at their school, but Anna doesn't compare herself to all those other girls or put herself down. Sure, she has flaws, she just doesn't focus on them constantly. 
  3. The characters make mistakes. And then they acknowledge and learn from them. So many characters never actually acknowledge that they've screwed up. Acknowledgement is good.
  4. Anna's best friend has a penchant for big words. Like callipygian. Look it up.
  5. The romantic tension made my heart beat ridiculously fast. And my head almost explode. I live for romantic tension. Stepanie Perkins is my hero.
  6. It's funny. Laugh out loud funny. There are books that make you say, 'Oh, haha' and then there are books that make you laugh aloud and turn to the person next to you and say 'Oh my gosh, listen...' ANNA is the latter.
  7. There's a love rhombus. Even better than a love triangle.
  8. It's real. There's happiness, sadness, anger, embarrassment... It's a love story, but it isn't all sunny days and rainbows, you see the storm too.
  9. Etienne St. Clair. I think he deserves two spots on this list. Need more reasons to love him? He's an American who lives in France and has an English accent. I think that's reason enough.
  10. I'm obsessed.
This book needs to be on your radar. But don't just take my word for it, Erica (The Book Cellar), Daisy Whitney (The Mockingbirds), Suzanne Young (The Naughty List) and Lindsey Leavitt (Princess for Hire) all agree. And it's been blurbed by some amazing authors:

"Very sly. Very funny. Very romantic. You should date this book."
— Maureen Johnson
(Truer words have never been spoken.)

"Imagine a mug of rich, thick hot chocolate. Now add a swirl of sweet whipped cream. Yummy? Oui. Well, Anna and the French Kiss is richer, sweeter, and—yes—even hotter. You're in for a very special treat."

— LAUREN MYRACLE, NYT bestselling author of Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks and Let It Snow
(I second that.)


So. Don't take my word for it... take theirs.

For more information about ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS see Stephanie Perkins' website! Be sure to check out her blog too, which is hilarious.

And hop over to Erica blog, The Book Cellar, for her fangirly post. (If you aren't already reading Erica's blog, you should. She's amazing in real life and online!) EDIT: Oddly enough, Erica and I didn't know what the other's post would look like. So the fact that we cite many of the same things only further proves this book's awesomeness.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go pet my copy.

18 comments:

  1. I <3 this book. *pets copy* Etienne.... he's so lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  2. OMG. I've seen watching you two (you and Erica) crazily talking about it on Twitter and I'm just way too interested in this book, even more than I was before. Definitely need my copy asap! :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so glad I found an ARC of this because not only have I been interested in reading it, I've heard great things about it! Thanks for the list! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I WOW'd a couple months ago and I really want to read this book! Even more now!! December is so far away.

    And like Raila, I've seen you and Erica talk about it on twitter! So jealous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, I'm going to pre-order it now. I'm a sucker for romance and this one sounds great.

    I also LOVE how you used Rhombus (instead of squares). They don't get enough love. . . umm wow I really sound like my inner Math Geek right now...

    Anyway, I loved your post and am not going to read some of the others you listed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Loved your post on this book. Definitely pre-ordering. You have got me curious about Etienne St. Clair.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This book is already pretty high on my TBR. I love the cover, it seems like a refreshing take on YA literature, so I look forward to reading it. Hmm...maybe I can opt for a review copy too, in a few month's time. Otherwise, I'll go ahead and pre-order, and bask in the slight extra discount at BDepository.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ooh great post, I love Lauren Myracle's blurb. December is too far away! :(

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't wait to read this book! I love your list, especially the part with callipygian. I've never heard that word before, but I'll definitely be able to remember what it means haha.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You have me hooked, I wasn't that interested now I am.
    Nice post.
    Seahn

    ReplyDelete
  11. Already got this one pre-ordered, and now I'm even more excited to read it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds quite amazing. I want it now!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I wanted to carry my copy around with me but I had to let me friends borrow it(I know I am a good friend huh.) And now a few weeks later I am going to get it back so I can hold it & pet it & kiss it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. HAHAHAHA, 10 very fabulous reasons, Sara. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I can't wait to read ANNA, I ordered a copy just yesterday.

    ReplyDelete

Make sure you whisper, I'm hiding!