Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins


Released: December 2010
Published: Dutton
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Pages: 372
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

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. Claire: 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?


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There's no doubt that you've seen a million posts up already gushing their love about this book. Yes, this will be another review where the blogger feel head over heels with Anna, and will re-read it many upon many times. And I know with all the hype, some people might get it, and not love it as much as they thought they would. Honestly, if it wasn't for a couple bloggers who kept telling me I had to read it, I probably would have overlooked this book at least for a while.

What I love about Anna is that she is one of the best well-rounded and realistic characters I have read in a very long time. She is not perfect. She is not a doormat. She is not too cool for her own good. She is just a regular girl who is experiencing this whole new adventure in a new city. I've never been to Paris, and I doubt I'll ever get the chance to go. But Stephanie Perkins writes that place so vividly, I felt like I've already been there. And hey, if I ever want to go re-visit, I can just jump back into the book ;)

Then there is St. Claire who you're already sighing a bit over when you first meet him. BUT St. Claire is just an average guy. He's not tall, dark, brooding, and acts like he's the biggest badass around. He's short, funny, laid back, and if I were at that school I'd either be in love with him or his best friend. I prefer the in love part, but you can tell he's just one of those guys who would sit next to you and strike up a conversation no matter who you are.

The romantic part of this story is obviously swoon-worthy and the part I really enjoyed. The attraction to St. Claire is there, but it is so well plotted. There are so many "almost" moments just like in real life. The relationship really does grow in this strong friendship that the two form throughout the school year. The host of friends Anna has were never just in the background to me. They were all so clearly individual and entertaining. Even everything above isn't the only reason why I loved this book. I loved seeing Anna grow from the girl she was when she stepped into that new school in strange city to the girl she became at the end of the story.

Stephanie Perkin's writing flows so easily, I was seriously about a hundred pages into the book, and didn't even realize it. She is so well in tune with Anna, you really do feel everything she writes and what Anna goes through. Another thing I wanted to add in is something I've noticed in a lot of books lately where the mention of sex or cursing sometimes goes a bit overboard. What I like about this book is that it was there when it needed to be there. Nothing was over-done.

So basically my name is Amber and I am an Anna Fangirl! If you love a wonderfully well-written contemporary novel then you have to get this one. For being a debut author, Stephanie Perkins has blown me away and made me an instant fan. I will definitely be picking up anything she writes next!

If you want to see my fangirl reaction when I first finished Anna months ago, check out this post.

Stephanie Perkins has always worked with books--first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. She and her husband live in the mountains of North Carolina. Every room of their house is painted a different color of the rainbow.


Website | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads









 ♥amber

Win a copy of The Lost Saint by Bree Despain + Nail Polish!

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain 

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace’s relationship with Daniel is put in danger — in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her — not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

1 Winner will get:

-An ARC of The Lost Saint

-A bottle of blue nail polish

I would have uploaded a picture of both of these, but it won't load up for some reason - sorry guys!

Rules:

- Must be 13 years of age

- Must have a US MAILING ADDRESS 

- Leave a comment here telling me why you want this book with your email address. If you don't have both of these - I will delete your entry. 

- Giveaway ends December 15th at 11:59 PM central time

♥amber

Asking for YOUR help!

In 2008 my friends took their then 6-year-old daughter, Macy, to the hospital because she had became very ill. Three days later, a parents' worse nightmare came to life: Macy had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL Leukemia).

Over the past two years, Macy has been in and out of hospitals, and doing many rounds of chemotherapy. Both her parents, Brad and Holly, work, but unfortunately their insurance cannot cover all costs of the medical bills. No parent should ever have to go through so much financial stress just to keep their child alive.

Earlier this month, Macy's aunt, Michelle, put together a donation site. Today is the day friends and family have come together to spread the word. We're asking anyone, even if it is just a few dollars, to please donate to help out with Macy's medical bills. (Link to site is that the bottom of the page.)

Macy is now 8-years-old and is in school. She is still undergoing rounds of chemotherapy. She loves to sing and dance! And is full of attitude and love. This girl has been put through the ringer, but she's such a fighter!

Click here for the Donation Site. 

All donations will be to help pay for medical cost.

If you cannot donate any money, I ask you to post this message on your own blog, tweet about it, facebook - anything and everything you can do to get this message out there to help Holly and Brad out. And most of all, I hope you keep Macy and her family in your prayers.

♥amber

Birthday Shout Out!

You may or may not have know this, but I have a book twin. Her name is Sab and she runs YA Bliss. She is freaking hilarious and a great friend. One day we are going to meet up, go to an author's event, drink White Russians, and watch Empire Records together. Of course not in that order...well, maybe. Either way, when it happens, it's going to be EPIC! 

So head on over to YA Bliss or throw Sab a tweet (@YABliss) and wish this chick a very awesome birthday!! *whispers* And whatever you do, do not call her a Texan or she will cyber punch your face! Trust me people, it hurts.

Rock This! Thursday - Country Strong Edition

Rock This! Thursday is a weekly feature where I discuss books that are about or centered around one thing we love the most: MUSIC! Once in a while I'll even throw in a concert story, a band/artist you should hear, or feature bloggers and authors in an interview.

If you are an author or blogger who would like to swing by and discuss books and music with us, shoot us an email: justyourtypicalbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)com


I. Can't. Stop. Watching.

Brace yourselves ladies and gents.



What was that you ask? That was Garrett Hedlund (!!) and Leighton Messer's duet in their upcoming film, Country Strong. (In theaters January 7th).

I won't go into my I'm a huge Garrett Hedlund fan spill. Most readers already know this, and if you didn't, you do now. When Garrett was put in the cast, the one thing I was looking forward to was hearing him sing. Between the soundtrack and promotions there has been two songs of his released:

Chances Are


Silver Wings


Me being a big fan, I knew I was going to be a bit biased when his tracks came out, but I was blown away by his voice the first time I heard it! I'm not even a big country fan, but I am liking these songs a lot!  Then that little number above came out, and I swooned. The chemistry between Beau and Chiles is fantastic! I didn't think it was possible for me to get more excited to see this, but I've been proven wrong.

Garrett Hedlund | Country Strong Website |  Buy The Soundtrack | Facebook

♥amber

2011 Debut Author Challenge

I'm joining up again to participate in the Debut Author Challenge that is being hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren. I joined up this year and so far have read 15 of the 24 books I had listed. (But hey I still have over a month to cram in a few more!)

For 2011 here is my line up (so far):

1. Warped by Maurissa Buibord

2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

3. The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal

4. Across the Universe by Beth Ravis
5. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
6. Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
7. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
8. Like Mandarin by Kristen Hubbard
9. Clarity by Kim Harrington
10. Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
11. What Can't Wait bu Ashley Hope Perez
12. The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
13. How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain
14. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
15. Hereafter by Tara Hudson
16. Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray
17. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
18. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
19. Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasely
20. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
21. Haven by Kristi Cook
22. So Shelly by Ty Roth


Already Read in 2010:
1. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton 


Are you joining in the fun this year? Leave me a comment so I can go check out your list. If you want more details on how to join head on over to The Story Siren and check it out!


♥amber

Blog Tour: Interview with Keary Taylor + GIVEAWAY!

As part of the Teen Book Scene, I have author Keary Taylor stopping by today to discuss her debut novel, Branded. The first book in her Fallen of Angels series. You can check out more of about Keary and read the first chapter of her book over at her website.


What was the first idea that sparked Branded?

I was watching “The Phantom of the Opera” with my husband one night and it kind of struck me when the Phantom was referred to as the “angel of music”. The phantom was this really scary man capable of terrible things, not what you would normally call an angel. And so the idea of terrifying and sometimes unjust angels kept turning in my mind till the whole concept of Branded came about!

Why angels?

I’ve always had a fascination with supernatural beings. I love vampires, immortals, etc. but wanted to take on something that hadn’t been tapped into as much. I had been trying to come up with something when the idea for Branded sparked. And it was such an open subject, there weren’t the same rules as say, vampires had. I had a lot of freedom to have them do what I wanted.

Are you anything like your main character Jessica?

I always put a little bit of myself into every character I create. I’m the obsessive hopeless romantic like Jessica is. My drink of choice is Dr. Pepper, like Jessica. I also hate doing the dishes, like Jessica.

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?

Oh man, that changes from day to day. Right now probably Soldier by the Goo Goo Dolls.

What's one genre you don't think you'll ever write?

I never thought I’d write a dystopian or a contemporary but now those are my upcoming projects… lol. Hum, I don’t think I’ll ever write an all-out mystery novel.

Name three parts of history you would have loved to have witnessed.

I’m not a big history buff so I really had to think about this one. 1- the first shuttle going into space. 2- I’d love to just visit ancient Egypt, I’ve had a long fascination with their mythology. 3- It would be amazing to go to a Shakespearian play in his day.

If Branded was to turn into a movie, who would you cast?

Well, Emmy Rossum is who Jessica is in my mind. I guess that’s because the character came from afore mentioned movie. Alex has been really hard. I haven’t found a perfect person yet but the closest would be Liam Hemsworth or Robert Hoffman. Orlando Bloom could be Cole if he was a little more built. I haven’t yet found a good Sal.

What is one thing you want your readers to walk away with after they've finished reading Branded?

Hum, that’s a hard one. I guess that my whole idea with Branded is just that not everything is as it seems.

Can you tell us what's next for you?
Well, I’m currently on the 4th draft of the next book in the Fall of Angels series, Forsaken. It’s releasing in January. I am also working on a dystopian YA called Eden. I’m about half done with the first draft. And I’m toying with the idea of attempting NaNoWriMo with an idea I have for a contemporary YA. I just wish I didn’t have to sleep so I could have more time to write!





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Keary is offering up one copy of Branded. US ONLY! You have until December 5th at 11:59 pm central standard time to enter.





Click here to enter! And good luck :) 

♥amber