[book-info]
MY THOUGHTS
Don’t want to read the whole review? Click to jump to the Skinny Review.
After that fun #LoveAThon weekend, I got a few recs that got me excited to read books out of my comfort zone. As you know, I hardly read contemporary YA, so I was a little bit hesitant to read Anna and the French Kiss. But, there was a lot of positive hype about this book when this came out, and a lot of bloggers did say that it was SOOOO GOOOD, so I decided to try it. Please be warned that there might be some spoilery things in this review, so if you do read on, please be warned.
Well, what did you think?
Anna and the French Kiss was OK, to be honest. It didn’t blow me away at all, and it reminded me why I hardly read fluffy contemporary YA. Now, hold on to your pitchforks people, I didn’t say that this book was bad.
What are you saying, exactly?
I’m saying that I HATED ETIENNE ST. CLAIR, it’s not even funny! Ugh! And basically, nothing happens in the book that screams LOVE to me! Honestly! There were only a few touches, glimpses, whatever throughout the whole school year but as a whole, it didn’t scream love at all!
A whole year and nothing happens?
YES! The book starts of when Anna settles in her dorm in Paris, France because her father wanted his daughter to be educated in Europe like most of his peers children (Anna’s father is an adult fiction writer that has had multiple movies based on his books which ultimately ends in death or cancer….sounds like an author you know, eh?). Naturally, Anna HATES leaving her friends in Atlanta and moving in Europe. Because come on, PARIS is HORRIBLE! Note the sarcasm, here. Study in an elite private boarding school? HORRIBLE!
And you said nothing happens?
Okay, so I did get a little sidetracked here. Anyway, the whole Etienne/Anna relationship happens for almost the whole school year and there was NOTHING at all that made me think, aww this is true love! I mean, granting that this is a YA novel, but still. Anna professed her love to him and to be honest, I was also expecting to fall in love, myself. But I DIDN’T!
Did you even enjoy this book at all?
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy reading the book. It was just okay for me. However, it didn’t blow me away! I’m still a little puzzled that a lot of readers love Etienne at all. By the way, he made my characters I hate but everyone loves list.
I know this sounds like this is a hate review, it’s not. I just felt cheated, you know? I mean, I did go into this book with HIGH expectation. REALLY HIGH expectations. But, oh well. I can’t get those hours back again, that’s for sure!
Recommendations
I honestly haven’t read a lot of contemporary books in this vein, but the closest I have read is Only for You by Beverley Kendall. This was previously titled When in Paris…
[rating-report]
![✦ ɴᴇᴡ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ✦
I FINALLY read The Other Half of the Grave and I am kicking myself for waiting this long to read Bones’ POV! Halfway to the Grave was all in Cat’s POV and I was just so curious on what Bones’ was thinking – because let’s face it, Cat was very immature in Halfway and I couldn’t imagine a master vampire like Bones would put up with her.
The Other Half of the Grave did not disappoint. I love reading the book from Bones’ POV because now we know his thoughts and how he was reacting to Cat’s antics – as frustrating as Cat is! There are also new scenes here because this is Bones’ POV. It gave me another insight into what Bones was thinking.
If you are a fan of the Night Huntress series, then I highly recommend that you read Bones’ POV! If you can read this book alternatively with the OG books in the series, it would even be more immersing.
[Full review on blog. Link in bio]
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥💥
Cover Love: ❤❤❤❤
Audiobook: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
#bookreview
#bookstagram
#romancestagram
#romancelandia
#bookrecommendations
](https://eyeheartromance.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
I understand what you mean about Etienne, although I still love Anna and the French Kiss. I loved the whole drama and what he was going through. He wasn’t perfect, though. I guess realistically flawed. Aw too bad your foray into YA romance went awry! I hope the next time you take a chance on YA romance, it wouldn’t be as bad.
Goldie @ My Book Musings recently posted…Review: Sisters of Blood and Spirit [The Sisters of Blood and Spirit, book 01]
Yes, he was realistically flawed but I just didn’t like it. I felt they didn’t have any chemistry at all! But that’s just me! I know a lot of readers absolutely love Anna and the French Kiss… Unfortunately, I just don’t get it!
OMG. I think this is the first negative review I’ve seen for this book! Granted, my sample size is pretty small (I tend to follow more YA-fantasy-focused blogs or adult romance-y blogs, somehow!). But everyone lives and breathes Perkins books, from what I’ve seen. I’m sorry you didn’t like Etienne! I hear about this guy as super swoony. o_o Anyway, hopefully your next read it better, Zeee!
Fabulous review. 🙂
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Alyssa Susanna (The Eater of Books!) recently posted…Review: Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
LOL Should I be pleased that I’m the first negative review you read about this book? I have heard a lot of hype about this book and maybe that was why I had such high hopes about this book. But yeah, Etienne drove me nuts! Spineless.. ughh Or maybe this was just too young for me? 🙂