Can I start off by saying this book gave me some serious cravings for French pastries? Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau was a lovely story about a girl’s passion for dance and unexpected summer love. A lot of the time I find myself disliking the young, ambitious protagonist characters, however Mia Jenrow was relatable and fun and I never grew tired of reading her thoughts. Mia is a character for people with passions that they feel like are threatening to burst from their chest at any moment. The love interest, Louis Dabrowski is cute and charming and everything a girl could want from a lover met in the magic of Paris. After reading so many fantasy/thriller books lately, Kisses and Croissants was a refreshing contemporary break. From start to finish, I was enamored by Mia’s passion for ballet, her ancestors, and obviously for Louis. I can’t help but think what a wonderful, lighthearted movie this would make (ahem Netflix, we’re gonna need you to get on that).

I absolutely loved it!!!!! Quick read and full of goodness on every page. Highly recommend this one.

Center Stage meets Ballet Shoes

A cute, teen romance that combines art and ballet.

Mia is a 17 year old ballerina from New York. After getting offered a summer apprenticeship in Paris for six weeks, she takes off to the city of romance in hopes of dancing, exploring the city, meeting her aunt for the first time, and looking at real Degas paintings. What she wasn’t expecting was to find love with a guy named Louis. Balancing her love life and ballet, Mia overcomes obstacles and finds out what truly makes her happy.

This is a charming, light-hearted, clean romance. I really liked the descriptions of Paris and the research behind the paintings. One thing I would have changed.. I liked when Mia and Audrey switched roles- it seemed obvious they were happier dancing each other’s parts. I would have liked them to switch roles permanently before opening night.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending me an ARC!

Kisses and Croissants is such a fun rom-com story and one that I could totally see Netflix doing a series on, which I would binge the whole season the first night. It’s about 16 year old Mia whose doing a summer abroad ballet program in Paris, and had to deal with the hardships of ballet, frenemies, all the while falling in love with a boy named Louis. This book had me smiling the whole time and I loved it till the end. There were a few parts at the end where I was like, really?!, and it felt kind of rushed but it did not distract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

I found myself enjoying this book. It's a fun, lighthearted story revolving on Mia and her trip to France which was supposed to be tres perfect, but of course we all know that life never goes that way and I'm glad the author showed this flawlessly.

While I understood the need to tell us that Mia was passionate for ballet... I don't know. I didn't really feel the passion. It seemed more of a hobby she enjoyed before she hit the epiphany stage, cried a little and THEN showed us her passion. Her romance with Louis is cute, although I still think she fell too fast for him. It reminds me of Anna and the french kiss and her romance with Ettienne (I can't remember for sure if that was how you spelled it) world-building was good, the characters were relatable and well-written and I definitely enjoyed it

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book!

This book was super cute! I loved seeing our main character Mia grow and learn that sometimes our lives don't always follow our carefully laid out plans. She was a great narrator and I liked her, even if there were times I wanted to shake her a bit. It was also really cool to experience Paris along with her because it is a place I have always wanted to visit.

There were a couple of things that I wasn't a huge fan of though. For example, we're told from the very beginning how passionate Mia is about ballet and I love that. My issue is that for most of the book I felt like she was telling me how much loved ballet instead of showing me. Like I completely get how easy it can be to get caught up in fancy new places and exciting new people. (Though I did feel she was a little too caught up in Louis way too quickly, but hey maybe that's the Paris appeal). However, Mia came to France to follow this dream that she claims is her entire life and it felt like the minute she got there ballet took a backseat to everything else. The romance and the family mystery were great aspects of the story but they really took away from the ballet part. Basically, I wanted more dancey and less lovey which I never thought I'd say. But, around chapter 21 things changed. She had an epiphany about everything that had happened, and after some tears (on her part) I felt like I really got to see how much ballet meant to her and how serious was about it. Ballet became her main focus while the other 2 parts of the story took on a more supporting role and that was the moment I felt I really got invested in this book. I also thought the majority of what happened after that moment was très bon!

So, as I mentioned earlier, this was a cute, fun book. The characters were cool and I definitely have no complaints about the setting. I thought the ending was great for Mia's journey. Overall it was a very enjoyable read.

P.s Having some knowledge of ballet terms and French geography and landmarks would be beneficial when reading this. But not knowing them won't impede your enjoyment of this story.


Thank you Random House Children’s Books, Annie-Sophie Jouhanneau, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!

There’s a reason Paris is called the city of love


Charmante !!

Well, seeing that my Paris trip for next week was cancelled ( le sigh ) this is the next best thing! I adored this book! I’ve spent a lot of my life living and going back to France -
like Mia, I know what it’s like to first step into Paris and think this is where I’ve always belonged. The little faux pas when you first arrive-the sparkling city, the winding streets filled with love. I feel this Book was made for me - I read a lot of books taking place in Paris, it’s my go to book location - and not many “take you to Paris” but I feel this book did - it explored it and brought you the sights -
They say you can’t Judge a book by the cover but I feel you can with this, it’s just as adorable.

The book brought me lots of joy, smiling entire time while reading- I read it in many sittings mainly because I didn’t want it to end because it kept making me smile. (Much needed during this time of life)

Netflix needs to make this a movie stat - ! Calling all kissing booth fans and to all the boys I’ve loved before

In French there is a saying - profites au maximum - - live life fully and take advantage of it while you can - I feel mia does this in Paris , yes ballet rules her life but she also recognizes the importance of simply being a girl in Paris - I also love the way Audrey and mia end up helping each other enjoy life and the friendship that forms.

The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because the ending felt too abrupt - I needed a bit more especially since the character development was so thorough throughout the rest of the time- but of course still love how in the end everything came together.

Merci merci to NetGalley, Anne Sophie Jouhanneau, Random House for bringing this story to light and allowing me a chance to review

A fun and light hearted romance! Set in Paris. Mia is an American girl visiting France for the first time in pursuit of a career in ballet. When she meets Louis, her tour guide, sparks ignite in this contemporary romance you'll be sure to enjoy! The book incorporates relatable details from French culture and its fun to read about Mia's blunders as she interacts with the locals. I recommend this book, perfect timing for a release in spring 2021! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review.

Kisses and Croissants follows aspiring ballerina Mia as she heads to Paris to train with the best of the best. While there she wants to focus on her craft and find answers to a family mystery. She wasn't expecting Louis to come into the picture and shake things up for her.

There is a lot of technicality in ballet and I think there is a lot of technicality in this book as well. The book deals with romance and trying to find the balance between work and play. Mia has been given an amazing opportunity to train in Paris and doesn't want to let anything distract her, however, upon meeting Louis, she finds herself struggling with the balance and starts to lost herself. I really enjoyed most of the characters and their development. The developing friendship with Mia and Audrey was really great as they come to a mutual understanding of the other person. They are able to see how the other lives their personal lives and helps the other with their routines. Their friendship felt incredibly organic and it really aided to the overarching plot as Mia helped Audrey loosen up and Audrey helped Mia tighten up. Louis played a massive role in here as Mia's love interest and her main distraction. However, while he wasn't ever acting out of ill-will, his desires helped pursue Mia to take more chances than she should have. Mia's overall journey as a ballerina has to do entirely with her hard work, determination and what she considers to be her family destiny.

However, when I got to a very specific scene in the book towards the end I wanted to stop right then and there. I felt as if the ending was then going to be rushed and the ending felt unfair and like a punishment. I understand what this scene meant for Mia and her family/personal relationships but I just don't feel as if it was entirely necessary to have gone that direction. I guess the wrap up ends up working out but still disappointed by what it took to get there.

A charming budding ballerina spends a summer training in Paris, where she’s all about hard work and wide-open futures – and a handsome French suitor.

Verdict: sweet, somewhat forgettable, light and summery, a little juvenile.

You’d think a seventeen year old, who lives abroad in Paris for months without her family and is on the cusp of a professional ballet career, would be at least vaguely adult-ish. Nope. Protagonist Mia, while clearly a sweetheart, offers a narrative that packs somewhat less emotional maturity and nuance than I expected.

That juvenile vibe makes this book more suitable for the middle school set than readers Mia’s own age. And Mia makes a decent pre-teen role model – she’s deeply invested in her craft and her relatives, both of which she prioritizes above cute boy Louis. (Looo-eeee! French is fun. Also, Mia’s French skill level is likewise juvenile and preteen-friendly.)

TLDR: If you’re looking for a cute, breezy read for a preteen who appreciates a ballerina story and/or wants a French summer fling, this is it.

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau was a sweet young adult book featuring friendship, ballet, growth, and a touch of romance.

Mia attends a ballet program in Paris alongside her rival, Audrey. When Mia gets to France, she meets a boy and tries to balance the allure of a summer fling with her intense passion for ballet.

I loved Mia’s character development throughout the story and her dedication to her passion. The romantic aspect of the story was sweet, and I found myself rooting for the characters throughout the book. I especially enjoyed reading about the friendships that developed and the French setting. I would have liked to see more character development for the character of Louis. I would definitely recommend this sweet story!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I always have a hard time reading realistic fiction novels. They are normally nothing like my high school experiences and seem so far from what I experienced in high school that I have a hard time relating to them. I could really relate to Mia in this book. Mia is passionate about ballet, it is all she thinks, dreams, and does. She goes to a ballet school in Paris for the summer and she starts to realize that she can have a life outside of ballet. She discovers herself along the way. She also develops great friendships and a family mystery. This is a realistic fiction book that I could relate to and would have wanted to read in high school. I became very attached to Mia's story and really want her to achieve her goals while having fun!

Ah, Paris, the city of my dreams and the heart of KISSES AND CROISSANTS, a charming story of dance and romance.

Mia, 16, comes to the City of Light from NYC to study ballet in an elite summer program. She’s hoping to join the renown American Ballet Theatre afterward. But soon she meets a young Frenchman who introduces her to the gorgeous city AND l’amour délicieux. Will she keep dancing? Will their love last? An enchanting YA read!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 06 Apr 2021

Thanks to the author, Random House Children’s Books, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#KissesandCroissants #NetGalley

This is a very sweet YA love story. The journey of a young girl finding her passion in life is heart warming. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

OMG! Quel merveilleux voyage! C’est si romantique, charmant, reconfortant!
What a marvelous journey! This so romantic, sweet, heartwarming!

Can you imagine a book takes place at the most inspiring city make you feel everything at the same time: tastes of delicious, mouth watering pastries, deserts that make you believe you see real heaven on earth! And you just smell the varied flowers filled the glamorous botanic gardens. The museums are full of art exhibitions that bring out complex emotions: admiration, passion, desire.

The streets have its own characteristics with its decades of historical stories, special architecture that take your breath away! Welcome to the city of arts, love,delight! This is Paris!

The book’s main character is Paris which always knows how to charm people and how to drag you out of your comfort zone and intrigued you to take a remarkable journey!

And let’s take a closer look to its plot line:

Mia recently comes to Paris for attending an elite summer ballet program which will lasts for six weeks. She doesn’t plan to search for the history of her own ancestors by meeting one of her oldest relatives who resides in a small town located close to Paris and she never plans to fall for a very cute, mysterious, adventurous boy called Louis who is unfortunately son of her demanding, strict ballet teacher.

But when she makes plans, God laughs so she finds herself into a journey of self discovery, passion, romance, beauty of art.

This book is extremely heart melting, making you smile ears to ears and realistically making you feel the exact essence and soul of marvelous Parisienne streets.

It’s about finding your passion, seeing your choices, learning for own mistakes and chasing your dreams.

Overall: I had so many awwww moments and I adored both of Mia and Louis! I’m giving my up-lift, feeling extremely good, magical, sweetest, Parisienne four stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/ Delacorte Press for sharing this marvelous ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I adored this book! Paris is my favorite city in the world and kisses and croissants made me miss it all over again. I loved Mia so much and her tenacity to go for her dreams. I’m really happy I finally found a book that highlights how hard working ballerinas are despite it being fiction.

I will be doing a more in depth review when it gets closer to the release date. But thank you so much to Net Galley and Random House for sending me a early copy of Kisses and Croissants

Review posted on GoodReads (August 20, 2020)
Review Linked.

5/5 stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending me an E-ARC for an honest review.

To say I was excited about this book would be an understatement! I always love picking up contemporary romances that are set in Paris; 1) because I can then take pictures of them around the city, and 2) I love reading travel romances that take me to new and romantic places all around the world.

I ended up ABSOLUTELY LOVING this book! This book was so cute, so fun, so romantic, so funny, and honest. I ended up really loving Mia's character. I loved seeing her passion and drive for dance and ballet. I also really adored Louis and the romance! Louis was such a great love interest and I really loved seeing his character develop, alongside Mia, throughout the story. Both characters grew so much during this story, and I loved how they grew into themselves together.

For me, this is a great romance that is centered in Paris. The book explores so much of the city and the culture of Paris, and I really connected with all of the small moments that Mia had as an American in Paris for the first time. It was really relatable when she got anxiety about her French or made a stupid "American" mistake around the city. I laughed so much while reading this book, and I had a smile on my face the entire time while reading it.

This is a great new romance for fans of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and for anyone who loves reading about love in the City of Lights. I really recommend picking up this book when it comes out in April of 2021!

Thanks for reading!
Caden

Thank you Random House / Delacorte Press for allowing me the opportunity to read an e-ARC of Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau.

This was an incredibly cute YA contemporary romance.

Mia, a sixteen-year-old ballerina from New York makes it into an elite summer ballet program in Paris. She plans to spend the whole summer training with the best teachers and dancers - all leading up to a final audition in front of some of the worlds most prestigious dance companies. Her summer is not without it's challenges though, she first finds out she will be rooming with her nemesis and flawless dancer Audrey, but maybe this summer will give them a chance at a friendship. Then one day leaving class, she meets cute French boy, Louis and while she knows she should focus on training, she just can't seem to stay away.

I really enjoyed Kisses and Croissants, it was an incredibly light hearted Hallmark esc love story between two teenagers.

Jouhanneau is a talented writer and the details regarding the ballet performances, as well as exploring Paris were so well done, you felt as though you were there. Throughout the book, there are several story lines based around Mia, the first being her enemies turned friends arc with Audrey, which I actually found more enjoyable at times than her love story with Louis. At times Louis' character seemed flat and seemed to lack true development until the last few chapters. I would have liked to see Louis open up much earlier in the story.

While this book was not a standout romance novel, it was an enjoyable read and sure to put a smile on your face.

This book will be available April 6th, 2021!

Any book that reminds me of Dance Academy and Find Me In Paris is an automatic A+. At first I wasn’t 100% sold and some of the plot was a little confusing but it was cute and I had a wonderful time reading it.

This is perfect for anyone who was a fan of the movie, Ballet Shoes. Except there's romance in this one and it's a cute, fluffy YA contemporary.