Hi there! I’m here to talk about the third April 6th release that I was able to read early. *And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.*
I believe I’ve had a copy of Kisses and Croissants, a debut YA contemporary by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau, available for review for a while now. Due to previous obligations I had to push it aside, but I’m glad I was finally able to pick it up in April (especially because it was released on the first Tuesday of the month). The cover initially drew me in, and it perfectly captures the spring / summer vibes I felt while reading the book. With the backdrop of Paris, the book centers ballet, finding your passion, and following your dreams while listening to your heart and mind equally. It was such a pleasant reading experience, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts. *While reading and writing this review I’ve also found that I struggle with the correct spelling of ‘croissants,’ and hope I’ve been able to remedy any misspellings during my proofread.*
Seventeen-year-old Mia travels to Paris the summer before her senior year to partake in an elite six-week intensive ballet program. With dreams of becoming a professional ballerina, she pledges to focus, work hard, and earn a role in the ending showcase to impress reps from some of the most renowned ballet companies. But a childhood rival always seems to be one step ahead, and then she meets Louis, a charming French boy who helps in a time of need and becomes a make-shift tour guide – they see the sights, sneak out at night, and try to solve a mystery that’s stumped her family for decades. Can Mia truly have it all in her six weeks in Paris, or will something, inevitably, have to give?
I’d like to start by saying this book really captured what it’s like to be abroad to study for a short amount of time. I didn’t go to France, but I did study abroad in London, England in 2017, and, like Mia, I struggled to find ways to embrace all the city had to offer in a short time-frame while still keeping up with my course work. The backdrop of France, Paris specifically, was captured really well, and I loved traveling with Mia around the city and soaking up all she could, with her tour-guide Louis to lead the way, of course. I thought the mystery regarding Mia’s ancester being a subject of French Impressionist artist, Edgar Degas, added some depth to the story, and allowed her to connect with her family living in France when she otherwise might not have had a reason to contact them. A lot of thought and care went into the ballet aspects of the story, which, as a former dancer myself, helped the reader understand just how hard these dancers were working to prepare for this showcase. And, speaking of the showcase, I appreciated the contrast put into place by having Mia and her “rival,” Audrey, in their respective roles in Swan Lake. It highlighted two incredibly different yet distinct ways dancers, or perhaps anyone following any passion, approach their goal – Audrey is movement-oriented, always with the right steps but lacking emotion, while Mia is emotionally-motivated, wearing her heart on her sleeve during a performance yet lacking some of the technique necessary to successfully complete more complex moves and numbers. I really enjoyed seeing the two learn from each other, while still upholding their own individual techniques. And finally, without getting into too many spoilers, the plot was progressing exactly how I expected it to, until the author decided to turn it on its head, which surprised me and brought my intrigue back up when I was losing a bit of interest, so I have to commend her for that.
While I overall did enjoy my time reading this book, it didn’t become one of my new all-time favorites, and I do have some critiques. I think a lot of my personal issues come from the story being fast-paced, which, for me, didn’t allow for a lot of character and story-line development. While we got plenty of progression with Mia and Audrey’s friendship, I wish the additional characters met in the summer program could have gotten some more love – though I do understand that girls like Lucy and Anouk were in a different level in the program and, therefore, didn’t spend as much time with Mia as Audrey. I thought some really good conversations could have been brought up between Mia and her mother, who both have varying ideas about what Mia should pursue in the future, but throughout the book there is just tension and then a short discussion at the end where they both now understand each other. Similarly, with Louis, throughout the book he constantly says he’s afraid he doesn’t have a passion, because he’s afraid he will become just like his parents and neglect other responsibilities just to follow their career path – we get one small glimpse of something that could be explored upon further, and then it culminates in something large towards the end, a bit out of nowhere. I appreciated the contrasts explored through the characters, no two individuals had exactly the same view at any point, I just wish we could have had more discussion about those differences in certain places. I would have loved a longer piece – maybe an entire summer instead of six weeks – in order to touch on the various, and important, storylines the author chose to introduce.
All in all, if you’re in need of a cute YA contemporary featuring ballet with the backdrop of Paris, this is most definitely the book you want to pick up. It will absolutely give you the spring and summer vibes you’re looking for this year. It was a good debut, and I’ll be on the look-out for what Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau sets her sights on next. Kisses and Croissants released on April 6th, 2021, so be sure to pick up a copy and support the author if you’re at all interested. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Where to find Kisses and Croissants:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau’s site
Penguin Random House
Thoughts About Things 