Carla Prado Prado itibaren Sveta Nedilja, Croatia itibaren Sveta Nedilja, Croatia

I found out about this book after a recommendation by Becca Fitzpatrick on her blog - and Wow am I glad I stumbled across it. Anna and the French kiss is like eating a Ladurée chocolate Macaroon - crisp, melt in the mouth, utterly morish with a soft centre that is ultimately satisfying! Stephanie has brought all the style, passion and romance of Paris to life on her pages as seen through the eyes of heroine Anna, as she falls for Etienne St Clair. "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 a boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Etienne 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 missses end with their long-awaited French kiss" What I loved about this book was the way it read - the way the two protaganists voices ring true - the colloquialisms, and snarky banter - particularly as a British reader, it felt real as did the growing sexual tension. Another thing I loved was that St Clair wasn't your usual YA hot boy - yes he's gorgeous but he has flaws as does Anna. I loved the authors use of food, the seasons and the city itself as metaphors for the growing attraction between them. Just like Pride and Prejudice- Anna and the French kiss unfurling romance is full of misunderstandings, and missed opportunities - and like trying to grasp and understand a Foreign language so much of Anna and Etienne's intentions are lost in "translation". The only area I found slightly annoying was Anna's constant naivety in reading Etienne's actions She seems unable to believe he really does have feelings for her - I wanted to seriously shake her at times as she repeatedly denied what was staring her in the face. This is a book I will read again and again, richly descriptive, totally romantic and I can't wait for the follow up.

5 stars for the illustrations 2 for the story that I just can't seem to grasp.