by Stephanie Perkins
Stephanie Perkins is quite big in America, so Usborne were excited at publishing this book over here in Britain, and have been giving it a big push. I know the title screams teen romance, and it's not the reading material I usually go for, but I wanted to see what the publisher was getting so excited about. I was pleasantly surprised. I read it in about a day, some parts I couldn't put down so found myself cooking tea with one hand and reading the book with the other (not advisable, quite dangerous, do not copy). It had your heart racing in some sections, others had you quietly screaming to yourself "Just tell him how you feel for heaven's sake!", then some parts I couldn't believe would actually happen in real life, but this is fiction isn't it?
Anna has been packed off to Paris by her famous author father, so she can study there for a year (almost like our final 6th form year over here) in an American school, before she chooses her University. She doesn't know anyone there, and she doesn't speak any French. She befriends the girl in the dorm room next to her, and then latches onto her group of friends, one of whom is the handsome - but short - Etienne St Clair. Anna left behind the beginning of a possible relationship with Toph and hopes to pick up where they left off when she returns home at Christmas, but finds herself drawn to Etienne, who unfortunately has a girlfriend. But relationships are tricky things, you can't help who you fall in love with, and this first term in Paris for Anna is a whirlwind of feelings - confusion, paranoia, love, hate, jealousy. Does Etienne feel the same way about Anna as she does about him? Will they admit their feelings to each other? Will Etienne leave his girlfriend?
A great teen romance which will make your heart melt. If you like this, also try Falling Fast by Sophie McKenzie.
