KISSES AND CROISSANTS

American Mia’s summer in Paris is supposed to be entirely focused on ballet, but a cute French boy and a family mystery vie for her attention.

A prestigious six-week ballet program is 17-year-old Mia’s opportunity to be noticed by a professional ballet company, especially after she lands an important role in Swan Lake. When she meets Louis, she doesn’t intend to let him distract her from her goals, no matter how charming he is, yet she continually finds herself spending time with him. He helps her seek out the true story behind family lore regarding a ballerina ancestor and opens her eyes to the beauty of Paris. As the program’s end draws nearer, Mia reevaluates her priorities and aspirations. Straightforward writing suits this sweet romance while French words peppered in add to the strong sense of place. While most of the characters lack depth, the city of Paris feels like a character itself that outshines them all. Accurate details and inclusion of several Parisian landmarks make the city come alive. Additionally, the world of ballet jetés off the page with descriptions that allow readers to picture the movements and understand the difficulty and dedication needed. Last-minute twists turn the plot unduly messy, but the ending reinforces the overall light, upbeat tone. Mia and Louis are implied White; there is some diversity in secondary characters.

Francophiles searching for a breezy love story will find this book très amusant.