review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Published: Dutton (December 2, 2010)
Pages: 372 pages
Source: I bought this book


Summary (From 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 Étienne 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: I loved this book SO HARD. And what's not to love? Paris, cute boys and several mentions of crepes. J'adore les crêpes. Let's break down the awesomeness of this book.

1. Anna. The protagonist of AATFK is funny, witty and overall charming. You can't help but love Anna. You feel her emotions--from her nervousness in living in a new city, alone, to her conflicting emotions about St. Clair. She's very genuine and I think that anyone who has fallen in love can relate to Anna.

2. St. Clair. I'm going to go all fangirl on St. Clair--OMG. It's as if Perkins tapped into my fantasy high school boyfriend and wrote a story about him. He's cute and has an awesome accent and is English AND Parisian AND American. I admire authors who make a character so likable, even when his faults are evident. There were times when I want to beat his head up against the wall, but I was rooting for him the whole time. 

3. Paris. This is actually the first YA book I've read set in Paris and I really hope to see more like it. You get a taste of the City of Lights, but not all the gushing. I'm not sure how Perkins did that--I would do nothing but gush.  
4. Crepes and Nutella. That is all.


I want to say more but nothing is really coming to mind. It's a great book, one that I've seen on list after list of Best Books 2010. I've yet to see a bad review for this novel, and I know that I'm eagerly waiting for Lola and the Boy Next Door by Perkins which is due out in September of 2011.

review: The Botticelli Secret

The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato
Published: St. Martin's Griffin (2010)
Pages: 528 pages
Source: Borrowed from library

Luciana Vetra is making her way through the world by working the streets of Venice. And when her best client ask her to pose for Sandro Botticelli, a local artist, Luciana obliges. She spends a few hours modeling, making small talk with the artist and then, as she leaves, steals a small miniature of the painting she posed for--La Primavera.

Worst. Mistake. Ever.

Within hours of the theft, the two people closest to Lucia are murdered and Luciana is forced to ask for help from a humble monk, Brother Guido. They escape and upon examining the miniature, they unravel a plot involving all the city-states of Italy. They travel across the country, gathering clues. When all is made clear, Luciana and Guido find themselves on opposite sides of Italy with one goal in mind. They must reunite and save the victim of La Primavera.

My thoughts: This book combined all of my favorite things--traveling, art and history. La Primavera is one of my favorite paintings and while in Europe I studied some of Botticelli's works for my Italian Renaissance class. Italy wasn't on my itinerary, but in Fiorato's book, one can travel the country before it became the united Italia. Traveling from Venice, Lucia and Guido visit Pisa, Florence, Rome and other cities in Italy.

Fiorato's use of the painting was wonderful and the plot was amazing. Luciana and Guido are my favorite type of characters--they have a great love/hate relationship. They struggle throughout the novel to find ways to communicate, as well as trust one another. Destiny seems set on pulling them apart, but at each new locale they are driven closer together.

This is a great novel for anyone who loves art, Italy or historical fiction.

Rating: 5 Stars

review: Revolution

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Published: Delacorte Books (October 12, 2010)

Pages: 472

Source: Borrowed from library

Short Summary: Most teenagers would kill for a chance to spend winter break in Paris. But Andi can't believe her father is dragging her across the world with him so he can supervise her schoolwork. Ever since accident with her little brother, all Andi can handle is watching her mother to make sure she doesn't go completely off the edge and worrying about her music. Music. The one thing that helps Andi forget and bring her back into the world.

In Paris, Andi is thrown into the world of the French Revolution and the small child-king, Louise Charles, whose heart may or may not be in the glass jar that her scientist father has come to run DNA test on. When she unlocks a secret compartment in a guitar case, Andi finds the diary of Alex--a young servant to the royal family who risks life and limb for Louis Charles. Andi so finds herself wrapped up in Alex's world, in a very real way. 

My thoughts: I picked up this book from the library with no real intention on reading it. The plot summary didn't really grab me, and the book cover made me question how much I would really like (why, yes, I do judge books by their covers). But I also adore 17th century France and checking it out wouldn't hurt anything. I would just bring it back if I didn't like it.

Wrong. This is one of the best books I've read this year, and definitely the best YA book. It's written beautifully and Donnelly really brings the characters to life. Especially Andi, the narrator. You feel for her and zip through the book hoping for the best, because sometimes it doesn't seem like its going to happen.

Rating: 5 Stars. It's a new favorite