Book Review - Anna and the French Kiss

I just finished reading the first book in Stephanie Perkins three book series, Anna and the French Kiss (I was almost late going to an interview at cineplex because I was so close to being done, lucky enough I got there on time and got the job!).

Patch writing our first review

I was really excited to start this series, I have read/heard good and bad things about it so here is my opinion about it.

***This review will have spoilers so if you have not read the books yet you have been warned so you have one of two choices: 1. Go read the book now or 2. Continue reading my review with my gratitude.***

The book is about a girl named Anna who is sent to Paris to finish her last year of high school by her father. She left behind her Mom, younger Brother, her best friend and the boy she has liked for long time that would hopefully become more.

While in Paris she meets Meredith, Josh, Rashmi and St.Clair, the most beautiful boy she has ever laid eyes on. Soon she finds herself falling head over heels in love with him no matter how hard she tries to stay in the friend zone because he has girlfriend, the first friend she made in Paris (Meredith) is in love with him and she still has a boy back home.

Anna has to make some tough choices, go through some struggles and adapt to change if she and St.Clair are going to be together.

The characters and the setting is wonderfully described, I almost wish I could go to SOAP school too if I could! (Don't know what that means? Read the book to find out). The characters don't seem to grow though. You do understand who they are and I understand that this is a book and not a full feature length movie but I felt that the characters didn't change, they make changes in their life but didn't exactly change themselves.

Yeah Anna finds out the real meaning of home and where/who her home is but still. Maybe I'll get that impression in the last book where at least the main characters will make a cameo but I just didn't feel that their was any growth.

The time the book really got a reaction out of me was when Anna found out that Toph is "screwing" her best friend. It got me because I did not see that twist coming and I did not expect that from her best friend, Bridgette, not after their email conversations and how excited Anna was to see her play in a band and finally get the respect she deserved as a girl playing the drums.

And its funny because after that all these things started to happening one after another, Anna got drunk and got made at St. Clair, she got together with someone she didn't even like! Got detention, got into a fight, made out with St.Clair, almost lost her other best friend and...

There was too much happening one after another! It didn't really seem to pick up the pace until the end of the book and to me it ended so suddenly. Anna and St.Clair do get together, finally, but I wanted more! I don't know how much more but more than what I got!

Something that bug me though was Anna...herself. Towards the end of the book I found her annoying. She was getting all whiny and desperate and it wasn't fair to St. Clair I felt. I find this happens a lot when I find a girl character I like whether it's in a book or on TV (right now it is Felicity on Arrow, loved her but some part into this season she started to get on my nerves).

But other than that it was a nice romantic book set in the heart of Paris and Atlanta. I feel the message of the book is Home. It is mentioned early in the book and does pop up here and there but then it's kinda lost. I wish it had a more stronger presence because it's an interesting factor in the book.

 I would recommended it to any young reader falling in love or going off to school and feel alone or someone who would like to start a romantic series. It's an easy but fun read, you can relate to it both young and old and it does bring out some emotions in you if you're a softy. (Not saying I cried or that I'm soft cause I'm totally not, I swear).

3 out of 5 stars.