Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss

Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Dutton

Release Date: December 2, 2010

Pages: 372

Source: Borrowed from Gail

Ratings: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Anna was 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. So she's less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris — until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all . . . including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss? Stephanie Perkins keeps the romantic tension crackling and the attraction high in a debut guaranteed to make toes tingle and hearts melt.

Anna and the French Kiss has stolen my heart. I have no idea how to explain how awesome this book is but I will try.

Stephanie Perkins has written, in my opinion, one of the best books of 2010. Anna and the French Kiss has everything I wanted in a book and more. This book…wow. I haven’t been able to devote much time to reading in college, but when I got this book from Gail, I had to sit down and reading it. I devoured it almost immediately. This book was, beyond a doubt, wonderful. I am fully on the Anna Love Train.

One of the great things about this book was the romance and the chemistry between the characters. Anna has a great personality, spunk, and awesome. I felt like anyone I know could be Anna, even myself. And St. Clair…..I don’t even know where to begin. St. Clair was everything you want in a guy and more. It is so unfair he is not real. And the chemistry between Anna and St. Clair was electric. I was truly wishing that I could be Anna and find someone as awesome as St. Clair while reading this book.

I loved the writing in Anna and the French Kiss as much as the characters. Stephanie Perkins truly captures the essence of teenage love and is even able to make it humorous. Perkins effortlessly weaves in humor in her writing. And Perkins has written one of the best relationships ever. It seems like she effortlessly created this amazing chemistry between two amazing characters; chemistry that leaps off the pages.

After reading Anna and the French Kiss, I literally had to pass it around to all my friend on my floor to spread the love. Anna and the French Kiss is a book everyone needs to have on their shelf. There is just something about this book, something I cannot explain, that makes it amazing. For me, I think it was the relationship between Anna and St. Clair and how I felt it relates so much to my current situation. This book was just fabulous. While this may not be the best review ever, I cannot think of words to fully describe how I felt about this book besides the words “awesome” and “wonderful” which I have used many times. Everyone needs to pick up a copy of Anna and the French Kiss as soon as possible!!! I cannot wait for its two companion books because Stephanie Perkins has captured my heart with this book.

Waiting on Wednesday (23) - Entice

Entice        

Carrie Jones

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

To be released: December 7, 2010

Summary (from Goodreads):

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned. She's Astley's queen.

I love this series!  I cannot wait to read book. The last book left me desperately waiting for it’s sequel. And the cover is gorgeous.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Teaser Tuesday: Sea

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the books for others!)
• Share the title and author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from:

Sea by Heidi R. Kling

"I didn’t want to talk about the past. I wanted to hang on to him, to this moment, the smell of sweat and exhaust and coconut—a hint of cigarette smoke still hanging on his clothes." (216)

Waiting on Wednesday (22) - Nightspell

Nightspell

Leah Cypess

Publisher: HarperCollins

To be released: May 31, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

A stand-alone companion novel to the much-acclaimed MISTWOOD. When Darri rides into Ghostland, a country where the living walk with the dead, she has only one goal: to rescue her younger sister Callie, who was sent to Ghostland as a hostage four years ago. But Callie has changed in those four years, and now has secrets of her own. In her quest to save her sister from herself, Darri will be forced to outmaneuver a handsome ghost prince, an ancient sorcerer, and a manipulative tribal warrior (who happens to be her brother). When Darri discovers the source of the spell that has kept the dead in Ghostland chained to this earth, she faces a decision that will force her to reexamine beliefs she has never before questioned - and lead her into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens the very balance of power between the living and the dead.

I loved Mistwood and was thrilled to discover that Leah Cypess was writing a companion novel. The cover was recently revealed and I’m super excited about this book. Mistwood was a great debut and I’m excited to read Cypess’s next work.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Teaser Tuesday: The Vespertine

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the books for others!)
• Share the title and author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from:

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Startled, I squinted through the light again. I swore, in all the gold, I saw dancers. (35)

Apology

I just want to apologize in advance for the next two weeks on the blog. The next two weeks are mostly going to be memes, if I have time to actually write them and post them. I have three huge papers all due within days of each other (two on the same the day!) and have to focus on them before I can get some reviews posted. I plan on catching up during Thanksgiving break. I have read some great books recently and I cannot wait to share my thoughts on them once I have time. Sorry for the slightly boring content on the blog for a while.

Review: Nevermore

Nevermore

Kelly Creagh

Publisher: Atheneum

Release Date: August 31, 2010

Pages: 543

Ratings: 3.5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

I did not know what to expect from Nevermore. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, its story and its characters.

Nevermore is the first book in a series and I’m really glad for that, otherwise, I would have been left extremely confused. My general impressions while reading this book were that I really liked it, but I was baffled a bit by the plot while reading it. Often, I found myself questioning what was going on or not understanding it. Thankfully, as I continued to read, questions I had, especially some questions about Varen slowly were revealed. However, at the end of the book, I still was left with many unanswered questions, hopefully questions that will be answered in the sequel.

Kelly Creagh has written a very interesting start to a series. I loved how she incoporated Poe into the story and was very excited to see her use of his stories to full the plot. While Creagh uses aspects of Poe’s stories, she uses them to further enhance her own story and plot. The plot of Nevermore is unique; I did not know where the plot was going and could not anticipate any of the plot twists. Overall, the plot arc was intriguing and set up a great basis for the first book in the series. I’m excited to see the plot arc continue in the next book and see if it answers some of the many questions I was left with.

While I really enjoyed the story and plot of the book, I was confused often, but still ended up really liking the book. The thing that I really loved about this book was its characters. When I read the synopsis, I was expecting the main character, Isobel, to be very vapid and one dimensional, since they describe her as a cheerleader. I was glad to see she had a depth and an actual brain. Isobel was able to stand up for herself and others around her, something I greatly admired, especially when her boyfriend was bullying Varen. Isobel was not superficial like the peers that surrounded her and I was thankful for that. The other character that I really loved, and probably one of the reasons that I really liked this book, was Varen. Varen was everything I expect and more. He is the perfect mix of mystery, broody emotions and hotness. I really enjoyed learning more about him and seeing the many different sides to Varen. While Varen may dress like a goth and intimate the people around him, he really defines the saying “There’s more than meets the eye.” Varen and his mysterious background kept me intrigued and really made me love this story.

At the end of the book, I was still left with many unanswered questions, but thankfully there will be a sequel to follow up this book. I will pick that book up as soon it comes out because I cannot wait to see where Kelly Creagh takes us next and I cannot wait to learn more about Varen and his mysteries. 

Waiting on Wednesday (21) - Falling Under

Falling Under

Gwen Hayes

Publisher: New American Library

To be released: March 1, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.

Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

This book sounds really interesting, and look at that cover! It’s gorgeous. I cannot wait to read it!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Teaser Tuesday: Across the Universe

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the books for others!)
• Share the title and author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

"And that's when I realize the most important truth of life on this ship.

There is nowhere to run." (138) 

Waiting on Wednesday (20) - Texas Gothic

Texas Gothic

Rosemary Clement-Moore

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

To be released: July 12, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):

Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.

This book sounds really exciting and I really like Rosemary Clement-Moore so I cannot wait to read this.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event highlighting exciting upcoming releases. It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Teaser Tuesday: Anna and the French Kiss

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the books for others!)
• Share the title and author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

If there were an Olympics competition in hair, St. Clair would totally win, hands down. Ten-point-oh. Gold medal. 

Winner of the Books of Wonder Giveaway

The winner of the signed copy of Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken and Freefall by Mindi Scott, chosen by random.org, is Caitlin. The winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond. Congratulations and thanks to all who entered!!!