French Kissing in New York, Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

French Kissing in New York, Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

French Kissing in New York by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau combines several of my favourite things to read about: cooking, a bustling city, and plans gone awry. With a main character who dreams of becoming a chef–and finding a boy she met a year ago in Paris–and vivid descriptions of New York’s flavours, this one has all the makings of an engaging plot. This is the perfect read for foodies, and for those who enjoy books with immersive settings.

French Kissing in New York, Anne-Sophie JouhanneauTitle: French Kissing in New York
Author: Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Also by this author: Kisses and Croissants
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: January 3, 2023
Rating: three-half-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Welcome to New York. . . . He’s been waiting for you.

Margot hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Zach, the dreamy American boy she met one magical night in Paris. In an instant, they fell head over heels in love and spent the perfect evening ensemble—sealed with a kiss and a promise: if the universe wants them to be together, fate will find a way.

Flash forward one year later: Margot has finished high school and is newly arrived in New York, ready to roll up her chef's-coat sleeves in Manhattan’s bustling restaurant scene, celebrate her father’s upcoming wedding . . . and reconnect with Zach.

But a lot can happen in a year, and promises made in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower look different in the neon glow of the Big Apple. Margot spends the summer desperate to find Zach and enlists the help of Ben, the sweet line cook at her restaurant. Margot is convinced she found her soul mate that night in Paris . . . but what if the universe has a different plan?

Anything’s possible in New York City. Especially l'amour, American-style.

Amazon “iBooks”

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


French Kissing in New York by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

After spending one magical night in Paris together, Margot and Zach promise to meet each other a year later in Times Square. On the day they’re supposed to reconnect, however, Margot lands an opportunity to work in a restaurant and finds herself running late, and Zach doesn’t seem to show at all. In hopes of rekindling her relationship with Zach, Margot teams up with a line cook at the restaurant to try and search for him him around New York City, but as she finds herself getting closer with Ben as their search progresses, she finds herself questioning if Zach really is her soulmate after all.

❀ Interesting Main Character

Margot is an interesting main character, and I admired her dedication to her dream. After returning from school in France, she is excited to begin her career as a chef like her mother, but she must first work her way up from washing dishes. I enjoyed the way Margot is a dreamer, but at times I struggled with her unrealistic expectations, especially with her obsession with finding Zach. Her character does change as the book progresses, but I had difficulties connecting with her because of this.

❀ New York Comes to Life

What I especially enjoyed about this one is the way New York comes to life. Throughout the book, Margot explores many neighbourhoods in Manhattan and some of their most iconic sights,  and I loved accompanying her on her adventures in the city. The descriptions of food are particularly vivid, which makes this one a true love letter to Manhattan’s restaurant scene.

❀ An Upbeat Story

French Kissing in New York by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is an upbeat story about the unexpected ways that plans can change. I admired the main character’s commitment to her dream, and the descriptions of food throughout the book are mouthwatering. This is a great read for those looking for something atmospheric, capturing the spirit of New York’s food scene.

About Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau is a bilingual French author of young adult fiction and nonfiction. Her books have been translated into seven languages. Kisses and Croissants (Delacorte Press, 2021) is her U.S. debut. After graduating university in France, she moved to Amsterdam to begin a career in advertising. She then spent a few years in Melbourne before settling in New York City, where she lives with her Australian husband and their American cat.

candid cover avatar

About The Candid Cover

Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.

27 thoughts on “French Kissing in New York, Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

  1. Sam@WLABB says:

    I will say, I remember Jouhanneau doing a great job brining me to Paris with her last book. Sounds like she really captured NYC here.

  2. dodgerfannnat - Pat L. says:

    I like cooking, plans gone awry and getting together with someone met awbhile ago are storylines I liked.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.