Mia lives and breathes ballet. When she gets the opportunity to participate in a dance program in Paris for the summer, she leaps to take it. Her family has always had a legend that one of her ancestors was the one of the dancers painted by Degas, so she's eager to reconnect with her heritage and unravel the mystery while she dances her heart out. Falling for a distractingly cute French boy was not part of the plan.

Kisses and Croissants is a light, romantic contemporary YA book. I enjoyed the peek into the ballet world, and I'm always a fan of books with characters visiting other countries. The romance fell a bit flat for me, but perhaps others will click with it more. I definitely am craving a croissant after reading this book.

Fluffy, fluffier "Kisses and Croissants" by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau!
Since I had read "Anna and the French Kiss" (one of my favorite YA books ever!) I have been searching for something similar: a YA book set in Paris, with an academia setting and lots of fluff and first time falling in love!
And what should I say? I found exactly such a book and it's "Kisses and Croissants"!
I loved this book from the very first page on, even though I am not a huge dancing person or dancing fan, but I still loved how passionate the protagonist Mia was about her dancing career and ballet in general! I always love it when the book characters are just shining with their passion, because it really inspires me a lot!
Mia was overall a great protagonist and I really adored her from the page on, even though that changed a bit at the end of the book, because she did some things I just couldn't really understand and near the ending she was a bit chaotic with her mindset and not really the person she was throughout the other rest of the book.
However, I really liked Louis, the male love interest of the book and I loved him through the whole book! I think his personality was just great and how we was always caring for her and making everything for her possible was really heart melting in my eyes.
I overall really, really loved the story, as it was a really flowy and easy going story and I literally inhaled it! It was just so good and fluffy and light hearted and everything I could have wished for, even though I still like "Anna and the French Kiss" a bit better and that is because of the last third of "Kisses & Croissants" which didn't quite meet my expectations. The protagonist Mia just really acted very out of character there and also overreacted every five pages, which was, exhausting, to say the least.
What I really adored though was the writing style of the author which was also really awesome taking into concern that this is her debut novel! She described the places in Paris just so well and I felt like I was walking through the cute streets myself! I also missed Paris then a lot and I'm so hoping I can go there this summer again! This book just inspired me to do so!

I would recommend this book to everyone who likes really cute YA books, with a lovely setting, many stomach butterflies and a bit of controversial drama!
I got this book as an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinion, so thanks a lot to the publisher's!

I truly enjoyed reading Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouanneau. It's an adorably cute story, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of her work!

I wanted to love this one. I mean what's not to love. Paris and ballet and young love. But alas the setting and the storyline wasn't enough for me. I didn't like the heroine nor the the fact that she was basically the one responsible for the rocky relationship with her mom. I guess I'm sensitive to mother daughter relationships in books especially rocky ones having lost my own mom. But teens who love books filled with teenage issues will love this one.

I first heard about Kisses and Croissants sometime around the end of 2020 and if I’m being honest, covers are what pull me in at first and I loved the cover for Kisses and Croissants and Romances of any sort are my thing so I had to read this and it went straight into my TBR. When I saw there was a blog tour coming up for it, I knew I had to apply even if I didn’t think I had any chances of getting a spot on the tour considering I barely started out then (not that I’m much better now but still). I had really high expectations from this book and I’m so happy to say that it didn’t disappoint.

The story revolves around a seventeen-year-old American, Mia. Ballet has always been her life and she comes to Paris to spend the summer at an elite ballet program. By the end of it, there’ll be auditions and she’ll have to work to achieve her dream of getting accepted into some of the world’s best ballet companies. Add into the mix a cute French boy, Louis, who also happens to be her ballet instructor’s son, and so begins an adorable and fun summer romance.

This book had everything in it. There was dance, (for those of you who don’t know, I’ve loved dance since I was a kid and I took classes as a kid, too. + I’ve got 2 years of ballet under my belt!) romance and even a little bit of family-ancestral mystery. (Can’t tell you what it is but it definitely grabbed my attention!).

I loved how everything was portrayed in the book. I’ve travelled quite a bit in my relatively short life as of now, one of those trips being to France (although not Paris:() and I’ve also been learning French for more than 10 years and the whole French culture and everything revolving it has always been a personal favorite so I loved how it was all shown and integrated into the book. The food, the places, *swoons* and the romance.

“Il est entré dans mon cœur une part de bonheur, dont je connais la cause.”

Translation- “A piece of happiness has entered my heart, and I know the cause of it.”
I feel like the female MCs in a lot of YA novels can come off as whiney or annoying to me quite often but I was so happy that wasn’t the case with Mia. I really liked her personality and her passion for the things that she loved and god, she loved Ballet with her whole heart. And yet, she wasn’t what I’d call uptight, she knew how to live and enjoy life and I loved that about her. As for Louis, I myself might be in love. Although I don’t think we got to know him on a more personal level like in most books where I fall head-over-heels for the guy, I still really liked him and it was obvious how much he came to care for Mia.

Another aspect I loved was watching Mia’s friendship grow with Audrey. They were nemesis at first but I liked watching how they slowly became neutral, to talking to each other about stuff, to friends and finally to what I think I would call being best friends like towards the end. The transition wasn’t abrupt and we watched it play out slowly.

I’m conflicted over how I feel about the twist towards the end of the book. It wasn’t too bad of a thing but every book has a twist at that point in the story if everything is going fine and I felt that even if it was avoided, the story would still be just as meaningful and maybe that part was a little unnecessary.

Otherwise though, I loved this book, the characters, the plot, the mystery, the culture, the food, and Louis of course and I would definitely recommend this book to more people, I hope I’ve covered everything and convinced you to pick up this cute and sweet romance book! And now, lets move onto the interview!

When a book’s synopsis says ‘Paris’, I simply can’t resist adding it to my TBR 😁 Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is set in Paris where our MC, Mia, comes to attend the summer program in the Ballet school of her dreams. She comes from a long heritage of ballerinas and thinks that it’s her fate to be a one herself. Her rival Audrey is her roommate here, which is well not good for her. And then Mia falls in love with Louis, son of her strict ballet teacher. Distraction is the last thing she needed to succeed. But what will happen to her dream now?

I loved the description of Paris and it was like I am walking in its lanes. This book again blossomed my love for this city and I can just wish that I get to visit it someday 🥺

I loved the female friendships in this one. Though Mia is new in the city, she found herself making good friends. Audrey, Luci and Anouk forms a great circle.

Now about the story, well it WAS predictable at most times. The romance and the twist in the end, I kind of guessed everything at quite an early stage. But it was so sweet and romantic and would give you a perfect escape if you are looking for a light and fun read. I found myself grinning throughout the book and it brought the much needed comfort to my wanderlust heart.

*3.75🌟

Ahhh this was super cute and dreamy! I want to visit Paris again ASAP 🥺 I didn't much care for the ballet, but I really liked the romance, the search for Mia's ancestry and the characters in general were great too! 🥰 The plottwist towards the end was super unexpected and a bit uncalled for in my opinion but it also made for a beautiful ending so I'm okay with it 😂 Anyway if you're looking for a cute and quick read set in Paris, this is the one for you!

Se tem uma coisa que eu amo são livros cujo cenário é a cidade de Paris, então quando eu vi Kisses and Croissants eu já sabia que seria uma leitura muito agradável.



Mia Jenrow desembarca em Paris com um único objetivo: se tornar uma grande bailarina. Ela está participando do curso de verão de uma das melhores escolas francesas de balé, que dará a ela a oportunidade de ser escolhida pela ABT, de Nova York. Isso é tudo que importa e tudo pelo que Mia lutou sua vida inteira, até que ela conhece o charmoso Louis, um francês que é um sonho. Entre ensaios e uma aventura será que Mia vai conseguir realizar seu grande sonho?



Essa foi a minha primeira experiência com a escrita dessa autora e posso dizer que estou positivamente arrebatada. Anne - Sophie conseguiu me transportar diretamente para as ruas da romântica Paris através de sua escrita.



Mia é uma personagem maravilhosa, a cada páginas vamos nos encantando pela sua garra e ética no trabalho. Enquanto o verão passa, ela acaba se colocando em uma posição de encontrar um equilíbrio entre a dança e sua vida, pois até então o ballet vinha em primeiro lugar.



Apesar de Mia e Louis formarem um casal eu creio que o livro seja muito mais uma jornada de uma jovem garota em busca de realizar seus sonhos e encontrar equilíbrio na vida do que propriamente apenas um romance fofo e apaixonante.



Louis é um personagem encantador que também tem sua própria jornada a ser descoberta. Ele não tem uma grande paixão e ver como Mia leva a sério a dança e sua ética no trabalho que desenvolve no curso, acabam mudando também a vida do rapaz. Que apesar de não ser o herói que pensamos, é um jovem que está atrás de um rumo para seguir.



Confesso que o final foi bem dolorido e eu achei que tudo ia dar errado, mas a autora soube fechar bem a história com uma lição acerca de nunca desistir de seu sonho.



Eu amei demais essa história, que ainda não foi traduzida para o português, mas que torcemos que seja em breve.

If you're looking for a fun, sweet, fluffy romance look no further! Kisses and Croissant features a young ballerina trying to make the grade at a summer ballet program in Paris. Will she get the starring role or will her frenemy? Will the gorgeous young French teen she meets whisk her away on his Vespa and distract her from ballet, or will she follow her dreams.
If you loved Emily in Paris, this is the book for you!

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau was basically made for me. A story about ballet, set in Paris, with a helping of French pastries, this is an enjoyable read with an engaging plot. I especially enjoyed the main character’s passion for dance, coupled with her ability to live life to the fullest, and the vivid descriptions of Paris throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this one, especially to those looking for a cute contemporary this spring.

When Mia earns a spot in an elite ballet program in France, she is thrilled to throw everything she has into dance, in hopes of securing an audition with the American Ballet Theater. However, while she is out exploring, she meets a boy in a cafe, who she grows closer with–a boy who happens to be the director’s son. I loved following Mia and Louis around the city as well as the descriptions of Mia’s Swan Lake rehearsals. Also included is a subplot involving art history, as the two work together to learn more about Mia’s ancestors.

❀ AN ENGAGING MAIN CHARACTER

Mia is an engaging main character, and she makes mistakes. It is easy to feel her passion for ballet, but what I really admired about her is her ability to balance having fun in the city with commitment to her strict training schedule. Mia also develops a heartwarming friendship in the program with her biggest rival. I loved the way the story revises the common “mean girl ballerina” trope and instead allows these two girls to make each other stronger.

❀ PARIS SETTING

What truly makes the book stand out is its setting. Paris comes to life though Jouhanneau’s vivid descriptions, and it was easy to imagine myself in the city along with Mia. This makes for an immersive reading experience, and Mia’s exploration provides breaks from ballet, giving the book more dimension. I especially loved the descriptions of museums throughout the story and, of course, the croissants.

❀ AN ENTERTAINING STORY

Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is an entertaining story about travel, ballet, and family history. As a fan of books about sports, I enjoyed the focus on ballet, but also the mix of Mia’s adventures in a new city. Mia herself is a likeable character and an excellent guide through the streets of Paris. Fans of books like Anna and the French Kiss and Love & Gelato will especially enjoy this one.

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 <em>could</em> 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. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Delacorte Press, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

Romance and food?! Count me in! I loved this one. I thought it was sweet and adorable, perfect for a ya reader. I highly recommend if your looking for a light read

After reading the synopsis of Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau I couldn’t wait to dive in. I love contemporary romance and the fact that this book takes place in France… of course I had to read it.

Description
Mia, who is from America, get into an amazing ballet program in Paris. Her parents aren’t very supportive of her but she tries to shake that off. She knows she is good at ballet and that she has a chance to make something of it. She plans to work hard and crush the competition. What she does’t plan on is meeting a boy that distracts her more than she likes. The more time she spends with him the more she loses site of the real reason she is in Paris.

Thoughts
I wanted to love this book so much but I just had a hard time getting into it. I don’t even know why. I liked the characters but I didn’t connect with Mia that well. Jouhanneau did a great job describing Paris to where it felt like I was actually there at times. And towards the end I felt myself liking Mia more and more. The adventure was fun, and following Mia and Louis around Paris was like a dream at times. I don’t know what else to say. I am a character driven reader so when I have a hard time connecting to a character the whole story suffers.

Conclusion
I definitely recommend Kisses and Croissants since I really think it just wasn’t for me at this time. The writing is good and the plot is great, I am just in a blah reading mood at the moment. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Tell me all the reasons I should love this book ❤️

I have lived outside Paris and although I gave up ballet after only nine years, Jouhanneau clearly knows both the city of Light and dance. This is frothy but absolutely charming! I loved our ballerina heroine and the growth in dance and life that she experienced in Paris. The city is a full-fledged character here, both its tourist attractions and real world feel. It made me miss France even more than normal- and I’m a French teacher! 4.5 stars en pointe!

3.5 stars

This was a pretty cute contemporary romance about Mia, who dreams of nothing more than being a professional ballerina. She is spending the summer at an elite ballet school in Paris, and nothing is going to distract her from focusing on her role as the black swan.

Enter Louis, a charming French boy who decides to be Mia's guide to Paris, and maybe even help her learn once and for all if a family legend is true or not.

I really liked the friendship between Mia and Audrey, and how they went from rivals to friends. I love a good female friendship in ya novels.

And I know this book was about a ballerina, but there was so much ballet talk. So much terminology that I didn't understand, references to ballets/ballerinas that I didn't get. At a certain point I just started thinking, "I GET IT! She's really good and dedicated to ballet." Otherwise a really fun book.

This was a quick and easy read and I flew through it. It’s quite young though, and I don’t think that’s my thing. The characters were very surface level and the mystery surrounding the Degas paintings didn’t pull me in. This would be great to read if you’re not looking for anything deep or even avoid/get out of a slump.

The cover is adorable!

Looking for the perfect summer YA romance that will make you truly feel like you’re in Paris? Look no further than Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau! I had such a lovely experience reading this book and it was one of the first reads of the year that had me craving Summer.

I mentioned in a Weekly Wrap Up that I also found this book to be really nostalgic for me. My mom is a ballerina so I grew up dancing and it’s how I got into performing in the first place. I read a series that took place at the Royal Ballet School and this had all those vibes. It brought me right back!
Synopsis: “Mia Jenrow has always known she's destined to be a professional ballerina. In fact, it's in her blood--according to family legend, her too-many-greats-to-count-grandmother once danced for the Paris Opera and was painted by Degas himself Her parents say it's just a fantasy, but to Mia it's so much more than that. It's her fate.

Mia is planning to spend a magical summer in France pursuing her dream, but as she pirou-ettes into Paris, she soon realizes it may be a bit more complicated than she hoped. For starters, there's her rival, Audrey, who will stop at nothing to show her up. There's her ballet instructor, whose impossibly high standards push her to the breaking point. And then . . . there's Louis. Devastatingly, distractingly charming Louis. He's eager to show Mia his city--and Mia is more than happy to hop on his Vespa and wrap her arms around him as they pass the gleaming lights of the Eiffel Tower.

Mia's summer was supposed to be about ballet--but there's a reason Paris is called the City of Love. . . “ —From the publisher

What I Liked:

The Atmosphere—This book FELT like Paris. The atmosphere of the city was so perfectly captured that even as and adult, I was enraptured with the story.

The Romance—I typically hate the Insta-Love trope, but because this YA was so well done, I didn’t mind it at all. It felt very natural and believable. It made me feel 16 again and how it was possible to fall head over heels from some magical moments.

The Friendship—For a story about ballet dancers, I was waiting for some catty moments that bummed me out. But I was pleasantly surprised that the relationships between the girls were supportive! We need MORE of that!!!

What Didn’t Work:

Things moved a little too quickly to be believable for my taste, but didn’t ruin my experience reading the book at all! I think it’s because I’m an adult reading YA and therefore not the target audience!

TW/CW: Car accident

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Steam Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Kisses & Croissants is the first YA book I've read as an adult, and I loved it. It is warm, cute, and refreshing.

When seventeen-year-old Mia gets the opportunity to study ballet in Paris the summer before her senior year of high school, she can't get there fast enough. Intent on performing well enough in the final summer performance to catch the attention of the American Ballet Theatre company director, Mia doesn't have time for distractions. All she's ever wanted feels within reach, but then... Louis. Louis is a handsome, charming French teen who Mia meets and subsequently can't stop thinking about.

I loved Jouhanneau's writing and the way she crafted this summer romance. The romance, while central, wasn't so central that it railroaded Mia's dreams or aspirations. It felt like an authentic summer romance that may or may not work beyond the confines of the slinky summer months. Mia was an ambitious, driven heroine who balances enjoying her life with working incredibly hard. I particularly appreciated the development of her female friendships, particularly with Audrey, who is initially slated as Mia's ballet nemesis.

This was like a warm summer morning strolling through the streets of Paris on a Vespa stalked with croissants. It is the perfect spring/summer read for readers who want something light and asirpirational. Highly recommend it for fans of Center Stage and Emily in Paris.

An absolute delight to read, and it was perfect to follow a couple of thrillers that I just finished. Mia is an American that has been accepted to a six week summer ballet program in Paris, along with her nemesis, and is looking forward to the beginning of her lifelong career as a ballerina, which will obviously begin when she scores an audition with one of the world’s best ballet companies following the program. However, as soon as she arrives, she quickly (and literally), runs into Louis, a handsome French boy who decides she needs to see the city and becomes a distraction that threatens her focus, or does it?

I devoured this in one day, it had everything that I needed and yet again, here is another YA that is giving me what I want in a book. A Paris setting? A delightful group of girls that had some ballerina drama but not overbearing? Charming French boys? Si vous plaît.

I also enjoyed the ancestry mini plot line with Mia, it was a bonus that only added to the story. Overall this was a very satisfying read, and Paris has moved up on my places to go soon list…

This was published last week, and if you can’t tell, I recommend you add it to your list! Thank you to @netgalley and @booksparks for the #gifted copy!