Saturday 15 February 2014

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss overview:

Author- Stephanie Perkins
page count- 372
Publisher- Dutton Juvenile 
publication date- December 2nd 2010

Synopsis

Anna had a good life, the perfect job, the best friend, the crush but this all changes when she gets shipped off to boarding school in Paris by her film worthy novelist of a dad. Needless to say Anna is less than pleased about this change of plans, things were just going so well for her, or so she thought...
Anna is homesick and insecure about her lack of French finesse when along come a mismatched crew of best friends who expose Anna to what Paris has to offer and to St Clair, Anna's Parisian life isn't looking so bad now, but so much can happen in a year, can Anna find where she truly belongs and who she is?
And maybe who she truly belongs with?

My opinion 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins just screams CUTE, and you'll probably see everyone say that but it really is just a damn cute book.

I really loved this book, when I first started reading it I was like 'eh it's not that good' but after a few chapters I was hooked, completely immersed in it. It's such an utterly charming, funny, romantic, feel good book that made my face hurt from smiling so much. It's a book about first love, friendship, family, the transition into adulthood and all the problems surrounding these.
The book has a brilliant set of characters that I wish were real so that I could be friends with them they aren't perfect and they do have their flaws but that's why I loved them so much I mean is there such thing as a perfect teenager? and the love story in the book is beautifully presented with just the right amount of swoon and teen drama added to it.
The main protagonist Anna is a very relatable and genuine character that's sarcastic and witty and I just loved her really, and well It wouldn't be a chick-lit without a completely swoon-worthy boy to drool over; French named, English accented and American schooled Etienne St Clair ticks all the boxes, I don't know how to describe him for you other than very hot.

“I wish friends held hands more often, like the children I see on the streets sometimes. I'm not sure why we have to grow up and get embarrassed about it.  


The romance between Etienne and Anna was cute (there's that word again) but it really was, their personal and relationship development and their magnetism was a really entertaining and pleasurable thing to read.

My favourite aspect of this book was how Anna calls St Clair "Etienne" whilst everyone else refers to him as 'St Clair' because it really shows the connection between these two and that distinct moment when Anna stops calling him 'St Clair' is a very defining moment in the book.





                                                    




And the next two installments; Lola and the boy next door and Isla and the happily ever after, which follow a new set of charcters but fear not, feature our beloved Anna and Etienne!






                                                                 Rating: 9/10



Friday 14 February 2014

Valentines day

Hey guys, in erm honor?! Of valentines day I will post a review for Anna and the French kiss tomorrow. It's a really good book and I think it's fitting for this valentines weekend. 
I hope you've enjoyed whatever you've done today and enjoy the weekend 😘😊 

Thursday 13 February 2014

The Sea of Tranquillity

The Sea of Tranquillity 

Author- Katja Millay
page count- 426
publisher- Atria Books
Publication date- November 13th 2012

Synopsis 

Self inflicted mute Nastya Kashnikov want's nothing more than to get through life in her new high school as a mystery, she want's a clean slate, she also want's to make the person who tore her life apart to pay, but can she have both?

Josh Bennett is no mystery, everyone knows his story, by the age of 17 he has had everyone he loves ripped from his life and now he doesn't let himself get close enough to anyone in case they're ripped from his life too. But this all changes when Nastya implants herself into his life, giving him no choice but to care.

When the world's of these two teens collide everything changes, secrets are revealed, mystery's uncovered, but can these two find it within themselves to see past their tragedies and find solace in one another or will their pasts come back to haunt them?

Told in dual points of view this book is incredibly moving and unforgettable.

My opinion 

 The Sea of Tranquillity by Katja Millay is beautifully written.
Admittedly the book has a slow build up but I believe that reflects the reality of life, your stories come out slowly in life and that's reflected amazingly in this book. For a debut novel Millay has come out with a bang.

I cannot find the right words to express my feelings about this book it was beautiful, emotional, light hearted and heart wrenching at the same time, overall just an incredibly moving book. It's about two damaged teens, the survivors of equally devastating and traumatic tragedies, who come together and somehow find safety, love and happiness in each other and slowly begin to heal each other.

“We're like mysteries to one another. Maybe if I can solve him and he can solve me, we can explain each other. Maybe that's what I need. Someone to explain me.”  

The characters are complex and beautifully presented and they each have so many layers that are pealed off chapter by chapter until they are presented to you in their rawest form: the main character Nastya is both vulnerable and tough as nails which is why I loved her so much, she was strong and intelligent and sarcastic, and it's hard to find protagonists like this in YA novels.
Secondly we have Josh, who was angry and damaged but strong with a heart of gold at the same time. Josh was such a beautiful character, I wish there were more Josh Bennett's in this world.





                                                          Rating: 8.5/10