Article contributed by Tessa Qi
Watched Emily in Paris and want more romance, pastries, and Paris? Kisses and Croissants is the one for you as it’s a sweet, fun romance about two young teenagers finding love in one of the most romantic cities in the world: Paris! You’ve got cute fluffy characters, the art of ballet, paintings within museums, and secret loves! Most importantly, everything happens in Paris! It was an incredibly satisfying and delightful read and you’ll find yourself completely absorbed in Mia’s journey.
So Mia, this 17-year-old bright and friendly American girl was accepted into an elite ballet summer program in Paris, hoping that after weeks of training there, she would be able to obtain an audition with the world’s top ballet companies. However, that wasn’t the only exciting part about being in Paris. Mia has had a passion for dancing since she was little, and her love for ballet only grew even more when her grandma told her the story of generations of women in their family practicing ballet and that it is in her blood to love dancing. Her grandma even told Mia that her great-great-great-grandmother (I know that’s a lot of greats) was a ballerina and that the famous painter Edgar Degas had had a painting made just for her. Although this piece of information still lacked definite proof, Mia is determined to find the painting when she’s in Paris not just for her grandmother, but for herself as well.
But how could a summer in Paris be a proper summer in Paris without some sweet romance? Especially when a charming young French boy named Louis comes swooping into Mia’s life and everything is about to change for her. Add a little tension and mystery and that’s your perfect recipe for a summer romance.
I believe the most important thing that needed to be pointed out is that Kisses and Croissants is not just a simple romance novel, there is more to life than love, just as the book is about more than young love. One of the big themes is about chasing one’s dreams and dealing with angst. Mia’s dream since she was little was to become a dancer, like her grandmother and generations of women before her. Unlike her grandmother, Mia’s mother did not completely support her dreams of becoming a dancer, but she wasn’t going to give up that easily. Jouhanneau portrayed the competitive realities within the ballet industry quite accurately (and in every industry to be honest) as everyone wants to be the best, or in this case, become Odette from Swan Lake. Mia is competing with some of the most talented dancers in the world, including her all-time rival Audrey, which they have some pretty intense competition going on constantly (just imagine the anxiety). They both have their shining points, but both of them are not perfect. However, from their rivalry, a friendship starts to build and it is lovely to see their relationship gradually gets better and better. It’s always nice to see girls bonding together over the same interests and learning from each other instead of being jealous and overcompetitive. It’s official, I ship their friendship!
In order to find the Degas painting that Mia’s grandma told her about, Mia sets out on a journey of finding her own worth at the same time. At times, she finds herself questioning her dream of becoming a dancer but is quickly dismissed by her determination. Even though the journey of finding the painting did not prove to be easy, Mia is not one to give up that easily.
Moving on to Mia and Louis’ relationship, one word to describe it would be cute! Yeah, they were cute together but there were obstacles between them (obviously). It’s not a simple summer love and Mia knows if she really starts to date Louis, she wouldn’t be paying attention to her ballet lessons and she needed a hundred percent focus in order to impress ABT for an audition. Mia is a smart girl, she knows what she wants, and she fights hard for it but at the same time, she’s not good at everything, she has flaws and that’s what makes her such a realistic character. I find that I am quite like her sometimes which makes me enjoy this book even more, we both know what we love and what we want to achieve, and we will work hard to get what we want.
Kisses and Croissants is about love, friendship, family, and dreams, and it perfectly covers some of the important aspects in real life. Be sure to check out this sweet novel to get a glimpse of Mia’s journey in achieving her dreams and finding love!
Kisses and Croissants is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 6th 2021.
Will you be picking up Kisses and Croissants? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
As sweet as a macaron from Laduree, with writing as crisp as a freshly baked baguette, this romantic novel set in Paris about an American ballerina and a charming French boy is parfait for fans of American Royals and Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
Seventeen-year-old Mia, an American girl at an elite summer ballet program, has six weeks to achieve her dreams: to snag an audition with one of the world’s best ballet companies. But there’s more to Paris than ballet—especially when a charming French boy, Louis, wants to be her tour guide—and the pair discover the city has a few mysteries up its sleeve.
In the vein of romances like Love and Gelato, this is the perfect summer adventure for anyone looking to get swept away in the City of Love.
