Anna and the French Kiss Book Review

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date: December 2, 2010
Source: Library
Rating: 4.8/5

“For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.” 
― Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss

Summary: (Goodreads) Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

My Thoughts: Do NOT be turned away by the cover or the title. It may look cheesy, but it's not cheesy. It's a darn good book. I'm serious. I have to admit, I was initially turned off by it because of how I thought it would be. Then I started looking online at reviews and such, 99% of them praising it. So I saw it in my library and thought, why not? Wow. I really wish I had my own copy. 

So in this book, Anna is sent to a school for Americans in Paris by her father. She doesn't want to leave her best friend and crush in Atlanta. But while Anna is there, she meets new people and meets a very attractive, Parisian boy of whom she definitely has her eye on. That makes for some romance that will surely leave you in awe.

Let's just talk about St. Clair for a moment. I don't think there are enough adjectives to describe just how awesome his character is. He's the PERFECT boyfriend and his interactions with Anna are just so dang adorable. Stephanie Perkins did a fantastic job describing St. Clair. I love him.

As for Anna's friends, they weren't the best characters, but that was okay. I was more interested in St. Clair anyway. :)

Overall this was an AMAZING book and I totally recommend it to anyone. I feel like so many people would enjoy this book. Happy reading! 

~Bradi~

Stacking the Shelves (#2)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews as way to share all the great books you've received throughout the week.

 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I've heard SO MUCH hype about this book and how amazing it is. I never wanted to pick it up until recently when I saw it at my school library. I figured, why not get it? So I've read a ton of reviews about this book and I'm more excited than ever to read it.

Borrowed: Hardcover, school library

My Life in Black & White by Natasha Friend

I saw this at the store on an end cap next to the book Before I Fall. I LOVED Before I Fall, so I thought that maybe this book is similar. I read the summary and decided to get it!

Bought: Paperback, at Barnes & Noble for $8.99

Wake by Amanda Hocking (Watersong #1)

I was INSTANTLY attracted to the cover. I Know, I know. Never judge a book by its cover! But how could I not?! Such a beautiful cover and an impelling synopsis. I had to pick it up!

Bought: Hardcover, at Wal-Mart for $12.03

Recommend A... Book With Blue Cover

Summary: Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

Why I Chose It: Obvious reasons. Well first, it has a blue cover. It's the third and final installment of my favorite series, and it's awesome. Although a lot of people didn't, I loved the ending of the series, and Mockingjay was a truly amazing book in my eyes. I would totally recommend this one and the second one for people who read the first one!

~Bradi

My Life Next Door Book Review

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: June 14, 2012
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4.5/5

“It's as though I don't make a ripple as I drop off the face of the earth.” 
― Huntley Fitzpatrick, My Life Next Door


Summary: (Goodreads) A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

My Thoughts: Coming into this book I had pretty high expectations since many people reviewed it and loved it. I automatically thought I would too, since I love YA contemporary novels. I'm happy to say it did meet my expectations. Although it didn't fully satisfy me at the end, I really liked this book with all of the romance and fun involved.

The characters in this book were great. It kept the book alive. I loved the Garrett's! I thought all of the kids were so different and interesting in their own way, and I had such a vivid picture of each one. I always looked forward to parts with them in it!

My favorite character in this book was Jase. I really loved Jase. What I loved most about him was he was an amazing boyfriend, son, brother, and person. He was always so calm and collective, and that just made me love him even more. He was so sweet and all of the romance parts were adorable. :)

The only bad part about this book, to me, was the ending. I wasn't quite satisfied of where we were left. I'm left wondering about a lot of things. I have many unanswered questions about it. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about.

Overall this was a great summer read. A very interesting, cute, fun book that will have you all laughing multiple times throughout. :)

~Bradi

Recommend A... Book Someone Else Recommended to You

From Goodreads: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school... again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus' stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Why I Chose It: After I told my friend from Spanish class to read The Hunger Games, (Yes, I had to convince her! Can you imagine?!) she told me to read the Percy Jackson Series because she loved it so much. So after months of her nagging me, I finally took it from my brother's room and read it. Although I liked it, I'm just not into that kind of fiction. I'm not a monster gal, but I still liked the action and suspense and would totally recommend The Lightning Thief to anyone who likes to read about someone fighting monsters!! 

That's such a lame thing to say, but you know what I mean. ^

~Bradi

Recommend A... First Book in a Series

From Goodreads: In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Why I Chose It: Divergent is a great book to kick off a series. It leaves you wondering at the end and it introduces you to the world so well, that you just can't wait to come back and visit it.

My Review On Divergent

~Bradi

Forgotten Book Review

Title: Forgotten
Author: Cat Patrick
Publisher: Little, Brown
Publication Date: June 7, 2011
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4.4/5


Summary: (Goodreads) Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting—before it destroys her future.

My Thoughts: The idea and the premise of this book was so different and interesting, that I just had to pick it up. And I am very glad I did. I really liked this book. I wouldn't say I loved it, because it had its flaws that I can't quite put my finger on. But I really did like this book. The way it flowed, and the way London grew as a character and learned to cope with her condition was amazing. I loved watching her grow.

I'd say that what set this book back a little was a piece of the ending. And, also, the fact that London forgetting things would get very frustrating for me to read. That being said, it makes me imagine how frustrating it is for her in general!

I loved the love story in this book. Luke was the perfect boyfriend, and was very patient with London. He was sweet, cute, polite, and had London's back every step of the way. The best part about their romance, in my opinion, was the fact that she fell in love with him everyday, even though she's only had a day to really meet him. I really loved Luke's character and I wish that sort of person existed in my life. 

Cat Patrick managed to add in the mystery effect while I was reading the end. I started to get very excited watching everything unfold in front of me. Although Patrick tied up almost all of the loose ends in conclusion, there was still one I was left unsatisfied with.

But overall, I thought this was a very smart, and awe-worthy book that I would definitely recommend to anyone who is the least bit hesitant. It's worth it, trust me! :) 

~Bradi