Falling In Love With Anna And The French Kiss By Stephanie Perkins All Over Again (A Reread)

*All reviews I write are spoiler free*

This was a REREAD for me!

I’m on a mission to finally continue this series! And that meant I needed to reread the first book, since I read it I think over two years ago and could hardly remember anything that happened. I know I didn’t HAVE to, since each book follows a different character, but I wanted to sort of kickstart my interest again. So the reread happened 😀

Let’s talk about Anna and the French Kiss!

Title: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Usborne

Series Status: The 1st book in the Anna and the French Kiss trilogy

Number of Pages:  401

[Found on back cover – see Goodreads version]

Here is everything I know about France: Amelie and Moulin Rouge. The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe…And, I’m moving to Paris for a year. To boarding school. Alone.

Anna had everything figured out – she was about to start senior year with her best friend, she had a great weekend job, and her huge work crush looked as if it might finally be going somewhere…Until her dad decides to send her 4383 miles away to Paris. On her own.

But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna finds herself making new friends, including Etienne St. Clair, the smart, beautiful boy from the floor above. But he’s taken – and Anna might be too. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss she’s been waiting for?

[Originally read in June 2014]

Oh, I forgot how much I loved this book.

I’ve must have said this a thousand times in my reading life (that being all my life), but I am not a fan of cheesy love stories. At all. So you can only imagine how much I originally held off from reading this book because UGH, the title is so cringey. 

So you can also imagine my surprise when I fell in love with this story.

And for the second time, it happened again.

Right from the start you can tell this is a quick read. I mean, it’s a contemporary, with a typical light and fluffy love story, so it’s bound to be a quick read anyway. But the story is told through Anna’s voice, with the chatty storytelling really shining through. There’s also a lot of dialogue, most being witty or full of humour, so it’s very easy to get caught up in the pages. Even though I’d read it before and knew just how quick I could read this book (I read it in one sitting the first time round), I thought having college work would slow me down. And it did…but it still only took me a couple of days to read. Despite me being a slow reader, and the book being 400 pages.

Now, I can’t really say I relate to Anna’s situation. Moving to a boarding school in Paris? Can’t say I’ve done that, personally. But I somehow feel like it’s done realistically, even though I don’t have any personal experiences to compare with. She seemed as nervous and frightened as I can imagine myself being in the same situation, when being left alone in an entirely new country. She was frustrated, hopeless, resentful…and yet dealt with it in the exact same way I believe I would. There was just enough curiosity mixed with nerves. It didn’t become dull to read about at all, because it’s really easy to imagine yourself in her situation. 

It actually really bothers me how the synopsis makes it sound like just another love story and “oh he’s already taken whatever shall I do how can our love blossom?!?” because to me it felt like so much more than that. Of course, it IS a love story. It’s not advertised as anything other because that’s simply what it is. But like I said before, I don’t usually like love stories unless they’re mixed with an epic fantasy story or something similar, so for me to adore this one? Well, there must be something about it.

I laughed so many times during this book. And I don’t mean the slight breathing-extra-air-through-your-nose type laugh. I mean full on tried-to-hold-it-in-but-failed chuckling that would have me trying to conceal my smile in public so I didn’t look odd type laugh. I don’t even know what it was. The characters just seemed to have the exact same sense of humour as me, and witty conversations always win me over.

“Girl scouts didn’t teach me what to do with emotionally unstable drunk boys.”

Oh, and I suppose it helps that I absolutely adored all of the characters.

Important factor right there.

Another important factor for me…NO CRINGE WORTHY LINES THAT MADE ME WANT TO SHRIVEL UP AND THROW THE BOOK ACROSS THE ROOM!!! A blessing in disguise.

At times this book was adorable, funny, awkward, adventurous, infuriating in the best way possible, and honestly – to use one of those very well used phrases – a real rollercoaster of emotions. There were many times I wanted to slam the book shut and sulk about the situations like a child who didn’t get their way…but then I knew I wouldn’t be able to just leave it there, so I’d just mutter “noooo” under my breath painfully and carry on. There were times I wanted to squeal like a very stereotypical fangirl, and I’d have to clench my teeth together to avoid it. Times when I’d want to facepalm on behalf of the characters, feeling embarrassed for their awkwardness or missed opportunities.

And to put it simply?

I just loved this book. Even more so the second time round. 

Rated 5/5 stars!

Order from Amazon!

– PS. This book is a GREAT read for the Summer. It’s usually when the book becomes more popular because who doesn’t want a light fluffy read during sunny days?

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Share your thoughts!

Have you read this book? What did you think? (mark your spoilers if you comment any!)

Who’s your favourite character?

If you haven’t read this book, do you plan to? Is it on your TBR?

Are the 2nd & 3rd books just as good? (obviously NO SPOILERS PLEASE)

Which is your favourite from the trilogy?

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

Come and visit me!