Synopsis: 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. 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? |
Date Published: December 2, 2010
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Coming of Age, Romance, Contemporary
Page Count: 361 (Hardcover)
Amazon // B&N // Goodreads
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Coming of Age, Romance, Contemporary
Page Count: 361 (Hardcover)
Amazon // B&N // Goodreads
Initial Thoughts: This is quite possibly the worst book cover and title I've ever seen. It's ratings are so good though...I guess don't judge a book by it's cover?
Review
I passed this book so many times in the library even before it became popular. I'd look at the cover and title and walk away from it. But I've seen so many great reviews for this book that I had to check it out. Bad choice. Judge this book by its cover.
I'm clearly in the minority with this one, but I could not stand this book.
Review
I passed this book so many times in the library even before it became popular. I'd look at the cover and title and walk away from it. But I've seen so many great reviews for this book that I had to check it out. Bad choice. Judge this book by its cover.
I'm clearly in the minority with this one, but I could not stand this book.
Characters:
Anna is quite possibly one of the most irritating protagonists I've ever had to read about, and I've had to read about a lot of irritating characters, so this is a very high honor.
But seriously, who complains about being sent to school in Paris?
Anna is supposed to be quirky and cute. I thought she was annoying, naive, stupid, and whiny. A Mary-Sue. She does get a little better as the book goes on but not by a lot. She has this meltdown when she gets to Paris, because she knows virtually nothing about it. You know what most people do when they travel to countries they don't know anything about? They look it up on google or read a book about it. And they also have these things nowadays called translators. Just download an app on your phone. It's not that hard.
Anna is quite possibly one of the most irritating protagonists I've ever had to read about, and I've had to read about a lot of irritating characters, so this is a very high honor.
But seriously, who complains about being sent to school in Paris?
Anna is supposed to be quirky and cute. I thought she was annoying, naive, stupid, and whiny. A Mary-Sue. She does get a little better as the book goes on but not by a lot. She has this meltdown when she gets to Paris, because she knows virtually nothing about it. You know what most people do when they travel to countries they don't know anything about? They look it up on google or read a book about it. And they also have these things nowadays called translators. Just download an app on your phone. It's not that hard.
“Where have you been all my life?” I ask the beautiful panini. “How is it possible I’ve never had a sandwich like this before?”
They have paninis in America...They served them in my school cafeteria everyday.
Now, we have Etienne St.Clair. I will not lie; I am not completely immune to his charm. He is handsome, he has an accent, and he is British. On paper, he is swoon-worthy. And he's short - like me. Short people unite!
However, it takes more than a pretty face to win me over.
I thought he was kind of weak. He kept running away from his problems. He wasn't straight-forward with anyone and gave up too easily.
Now, we have Etienne St.Clair. I will not lie; I am not completely immune to his charm. He is handsome, he has an accent, and he is British. On paper, he is swoon-worthy. And he's short - like me. Short people unite!
However, it takes more than a pretty face to win me over.
I thought he was kind of weak. He kept running away from his problems. He wasn't straight-forward with anyone and gave up too easily.
Relationship:
I just couldn't do it. They both knew that they liked each other even though they claimed they didn't. They've both admitted it. Anna had an almost-boyfriend that she specifically, and she specifically told him that she'll wait for him. I know things didn't work out with Toph, but she still did stuff with Etienne before all that. And Etienne has a girlfriend; he let things go way too far. You do not sleep in the same bed with another girl three times when you're in a relationship. I wasn't able to get over the fact that he had a girlfriend the entire time, and I can't excuse it. It conflicts with my morals. Break up with her.
I just couldn't do it. They both knew that they liked each other even though they claimed they didn't. They've both admitted it. Anna had an almost-boyfriend that she specifically, and she specifically told him that she'll wait for him. I know things didn't work out with Toph, but she still did stuff with Etienne before all that. And Etienne has a girlfriend; he let things go way too far. You do not sleep in the same bed with another girl three times when you're in a relationship. I wasn't able to get over the fact that he had a girlfriend the entire time, and I can't excuse it. It conflicts with my morals. Break up with her.
I cheated on her every day. In my mind, I thought of you in ways I shouldn’t have, again and again. She was nothing compared to you. I’ve never felt this way about anybody before--
Plot:
Everything was so cliché. There was absolutely nothing original about it. I didn't even think it was that cute. I don't get why everyone loves this so much.
The bitchy mean girl, Amanda - I've never met anyone that blatantly rude in real life. The slutty, not-so-nice girlfriend - Ellie. There is no need for slut-shaming.
And then there's the divorced parents, the father who left, and the sick mother. Been there, done that.
Everything was so cliché. There was absolutely nothing original about it. I didn't even think it was that cute. I don't get why everyone loves this so much.
The bitchy mean girl, Amanda - I've never met anyone that blatantly rude in real life. The slutty, not-so-nice girlfriend - Ellie. There is no need for slut-shaming.
And then there's the divorced parents, the father who left, and the sick mother. Been there, done that.
Additional Notes:
The new covers are a significant improvement.
Also, if it's an American school, why are their entire menus in french?
The new covers are a significant improvement.
Also, if it's an American school, why are their entire menus in french?
★☆☆☆☆