Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins + Giveaway

Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Released: December 2, 2010
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 384
Source: Cavalier House Books

*Debut Author Challenge

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 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?

Because I'd heard such great things about this debut already, I was planning on getting a copy soon after its release. But when I saw Michelle pick it up as she was sorting through review copies, it took every ounce of self-control I had not to yank it from her hands. To say I was excited when she told me I could have it is an understatement; and thankfully Anna and the French Kiss did not disappoint.

My initial reaction to finishing Stephanie Perkins's debut novel was letting out the breath I'd been holding and hugging this book close to my heart. It was the perfect combination of everything I could ever want in a contemporary romance - a main character I would actually want to be friends with, a guy I would totally crush over, and a cast of supporting characters that actually support! Pair these with the amazing fluidity with which Stephanie Perkins writes, and you've got a sure hit.

Anna was a lovable main character who was realistically flawed and funny. Her struggles with a foreign school in a foreign country were endearing, but it was really St Clare who did it for me. He was swoonworthy from the start, not because of movie star good looks but because he was a genuinely nice guy (although the accent didn't hurt at all). He, too, was flawed which only made him more appealing. He was first and foremost a friend to Anna, a guide to the city and its menus. Their relationship developed slowly over the span of the entire book which was much more satisfying than the typical love-at-first-sight that occurs so frequently in YA.

I keep getting blown away by debut authors. It amazes me when authors can get something so right, especially on their first try. Stephanie Perkins's Anna and the French Kiss is another great example. I couldn't be more proud to support authors such as Stephanie - I can't wait to see what she has in store for book two!

Anna and the French Kiss is the perfect companion for this holiday season. While it spans Anna's entire senior year, this book just says Christmas to me. It includes the kind of sweet heat we all crave during the cold, winter months. Any reader I know would be thrilled to find it under his/her tree.

Because I loved this book so much, I plan on getting a finished copy from Cavalier House Books, which, lucky for you, means I'm giving away my ARC! Following is much appreciated but not required, and I will allow an extra entry for sharing - be sure to leave a link! Fill out the form below to enter.

CONTEST HAS EXPIRED! STAY TUNED FOR WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT AND FUTURE GIVEAWAYS! AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR READING :)