Anna and the French Kiss (Stephanie Perkins)

EN "Anna and the French Kiss” is the debut novel by American writer Stephanie Perkins, originally published on December 2, 2010. It was translated in Portuguese in May 2013 by Quinta Essência. The story of this book is beautiful, it reads quite well and fast, but it created some controversial feelings that made me give a less positive note. But let's go in parts…

Anna Oliphant is a 17-year-old girl who loves cinema, who wants to become a well-known film critic and who has a very quiet life in Atlanta, with her best friend, a boy who is almost a boyfriend and a job in a theatre. However, her father, a writer considered a bestselling author, decides to enroll her in a private school in Paris so that Anna's education will be in line with her new status. When Anna arrives at her new school, she feels completely out of place. Apart from not knowing the language, the school has nothing to do with what she is used to, it is much more sophisticated which causes her to feel doubtful and anguish. However, everything starts to change when she meets a few colleagues who help her become entangled, such as Meredith and the super charming Étienne St. Clair. They introduce her to the city and help her with everything that she needs, which ultimately creates a strong bond of friendship between them. As you'd expect, St. Clair and Anna begin to spend a lot of time together and feelings develop into something more than friendship, which is a problem, since Étienne has a girlfriend. Initially she tries to escape this confused feeling, because she also has someone in Atlanta waiting for her, but everything turns out to be in vain, and they stop trying to hide these feelings that haunt them.

"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.”

Although it is a cliché story, it still is a beautiful love story and what I liked the most was the development of the characters, especially Anna's. All the changes she's been through forced her to grow and this was reflected in her attitudes and her view of situations. But I didn't like the fact that St. Clair was insinuating himself to Anna being in a relationship. I have a very strong opinion about the cheating and his behavior was not amusing at all. I even understand that he was confused, and his girlfriend was no saint, but to me it's not justified. He might as well have ended the relationship when he realized his feelings for Anna and not be waiting until he realized the feelings were reciprocal.

If you manage to overcome this somewhat controversial topic, I believe it will be a pleasant book and that will surely leave you with a smile on your face.

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