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Aix Marks the Spot
Jamie has been dreaming of this summer forever: of road trips and intensive art camps, of meeting cute boys with her best friend Jazz. What she didn’t count on was the car accident.
Exiled away from her family as her mother slowly learns to walk again, Jamie is sent to Provence and trapped in an isolated home with the French grandmother she has never met, the guilt of having almost killed her parents, and no Wi-Fi. Enough to drive a girl mad. That is, until, she finds an old letter from her father, the starting point in a treasure hunt that spans across cities and time itself. Somehow, she knows that the treasure is the key to putting her shattered family back together and that whatever lies at the end has the power to fix everything.
Armed only with a high-school-level of French and a map of train lines, she must enlist the aid of Valentin, a handsome local who’s willing to translate. To save her family, she has castle ruins to find and sea cliffs to climb; falling for her translator wasn’t part of her plan…
Exiled away from her family as her mother slowly learns to walk again, Jamie is sent to Provence and trapped in an isolated home with the French grandmother she has never met, the guilt of having almost killed her parents, and no Wi-Fi. Enough to drive a girl mad. That is, until, she finds an old letter from her father, the starting point in a treasure hunt that spans across cities and time itself. Somehow, she knows that the treasure is the key to putting her shattered family back together and that whatever lies at the end has the power to fix everything.
Armed only with a high-school-level of French and a map of train lines, she must enlist the aid of Valentin, a handsome local who’s willing to translate. To save her family, she has castle ruins to find and sea cliffs to climb; falling for her translator wasn’t part of her plan…
380 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
16 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Anderson
28 books158 followersS.E. ANDERSON, PhD, is the author of the YA science fiction humor series THE STARSTRUCK SAGA and OVER THE MOON, as well as a YA contemporary novel, AIX MARKS THE SPOT, based on her childhood in Provence.
During the day, she's an astrophysics researcher and studies what comets can tell us about the formation of the Solar System. She currently lives in Marseille, France, where she is currently trying to wrangle some comets, her cats, and her husband.
During the day, she's an astrophysics researcher and studies what comets can tell us about the formation of the Solar System. She currently lives in Marseille, France, where she is currently trying to wrangle some comets, her cats, and her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
June 24, 2020
France is a country that I never visited, though after reading this book it feels like I have. The way the author expertly uses her senses to describe the setting is phenomenal as I was able to imagine the setting as if I was witnessing it.
Aix Marks The Spot follows the story of Jamie, an American-French who lived in America her whole life and is currently in France for summer with her grandmother. Staying in her dad's childhood room, she found an old letter, which was a starting point to a treasure hunt that spans across various cities in France. Having the guilt of almost killing her parents, she was determined to finish the treasure as she thinks its a way to fix her family. She also couldn't speak French fluently, until she met Valentin, who spoke English and helped her translate. He was willing to come along the treasure hunt. A journey of discovering cultural differences, love, heartbreak, and finding one's self, developed throughout the quest.
This book gets a 4-star rating from me because as much as I loved the story, characters, and the setting, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. Nevertheless, this book is one of the cutest things I have read. I mean not only does it involve a cute banter between Jamie and Valentin, but it also involves France, which is known as the country of love. Overall, this was such an adorable read and I learned a lot about France's culture, food, and art.
Huge thanks to Seabreeze Books for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Aix Marks The Spot follows the story of Jamie, an American-French who lived in America her whole life and is currently in France for summer with her grandmother. Staying in her dad's childhood room, she found an old letter, which was a starting point to a treasure hunt that spans across various cities in France. Having the guilt of almost killing her parents, she was determined to finish the treasure as she thinks its a way to fix her family. She also couldn't speak French fluently, until she met Valentin, who spoke English and helped her translate. He was willing to come along the treasure hunt. A journey of discovering cultural differences, love, heartbreak, and finding one's self, developed throughout the quest.
This book gets a 4-star rating from me because as much as I loved the story, characters, and the setting, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. Nevertheless, this book is one of the cutest things I have read. I mean not only does it involve a cute banter between Jamie and Valentin, but it also involves France, which is known as the country of love. Overall, this was such an adorable read and I learned a lot about France's culture, food, and art.
Huge thanks to Seabreeze Books for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 15, 2020
This was an engaging coming-of-age story of an American-French teen, Jamie. Set in Provence, it gave me Love & Gelato vibes but it floated my boat so much more than that book did. That said, I do think fans of that series would be drawn to this story.
Jamie arrived in Provence on a rush, sent by her parents to stay with her rather eccentric Grand Mere she had never met. It became immediately apparent that there was a language barrier and one of the things I liked about this book was picking through the french and translated dialogue peppered throughout. I liked guessing and testing my school French but I was always left understanding what was being said. Jamie was left to her own devices and had to explore the local village where Valentine took pity on her. What ensued was a crazy adventure, a treasure map set by one of her parents nearly twenty years ago and a colourful few weeks of fun.
A cute, nerdy French boy wanted to show me around a castle and knew exactly what cheeses I was going to like. Talk about a fairy tale…
Except this really wasn’t a fairy tale, underpinning this whole story was a terribly dysfunctional family, long in the making, that needed to communicate. Grand mere was frankly a little scary, intimidating and giving mixed (French) messages all over. The situation back home was complex and Jamie was stuck in a rut with regards to her thinking about it all.
They say the opposite of love is hate, but it really isn’t, it’s indifference.
AIX MARKS THE SPOT was a fun read, a cute read even but it had serious tones with a solid plot line and great character development. It’s the kind of book to be demolished in a day or weekend with truly summer vibes which I really appreciated on a hot day locked-down in my garden. Rounded up to 4 stars.
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for the early review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Jamie arrived in Provence on a rush, sent by her parents to stay with her rather eccentric Grand Mere she had never met. It became immediately apparent that there was a language barrier and one of the things I liked about this book was picking through the french and translated dialogue peppered throughout. I liked guessing and testing my school French but I was always left understanding what was being said. Jamie was left to her own devices and had to explore the local village where Valentine took pity on her. What ensued was a crazy adventure, a treasure map set by one of her parents nearly twenty years ago and a colourful few weeks of fun.
A cute, nerdy French boy wanted to show me around a castle and knew exactly what cheeses I was going to like. Talk about a fairy tale…
Except this really wasn’t a fairy tale, underpinning this whole story was a terribly dysfunctional family, long in the making, that needed to communicate. Grand mere was frankly a little scary, intimidating and giving mixed (French) messages all over. The situation back home was complex and Jamie was stuck in a rut with regards to her thinking about it all.
They say the opposite of love is hate, but it really isn’t, it’s indifference.
AIX MARKS THE SPOT was a fun read, a cute read even but it had serious tones with a solid plot line and great character development. It’s the kind of book to be demolished in a day or weekend with truly summer vibes which I really appreciated on a hot day locked-down in my garden. Rounded up to 4 stars.
Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for the early review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
August 20, 2020
**received this as an arc from netgalley (and obviously read it way later than intended)**
The best thing about this book is how vivid and beautiful the descriptions are. I felt like I was actually traveling through France with our main character, Jamie. The perfect atmosphere definitely makes the book have a higher rating for me, however, I would say the plot lacks valid motivation and good character building. It tried to tie in a tragic accident involving her mother with the history of her parents' love. Jamie goes on a quest from reading her dad's old scavenger hunt letters that he wrote for her mom and left them all around the south of France, and the whole time Jamie constantly tells herself that she isn't allowed to enjoy any of it because of the accident that has left her mother injured. It felt to me like a weak internal conflict and didn't make much sense in the grand scheme of the story, sometimes she just sounded spoiled and whiny and then the book would remind you of this guilt she was holding to make her actions/thoughts seem reasonable but personally I don't think it aligned the whole time.
Overall though the vibe and the atmosphere is nice if you are in the mood for a book involving travel and light family drama and light romance.
The best thing about this book is how vivid and beautiful the descriptions are. I felt like I was actually traveling through France with our main character, Jamie. The perfect atmosphere definitely makes the book have a higher rating for me, however, I would say the plot lacks valid motivation and good character building. It tried to tie in a tragic accident involving her mother with the history of her parents' love. Jamie goes on a quest from reading her dad's old scavenger hunt letters that he wrote for her mom and left them all around the south of France, and the whole time Jamie constantly tells herself that she isn't allowed to enjoy any of it because of the accident that has left her mother injured. It felt to me like a weak internal conflict and didn't make much sense in the grand scheme of the story, sometimes she just sounded spoiled and whiny and then the book would remind you of this guilt she was holding to make her actions/thoughts seem reasonable but personally I don't think it aligned the whole time.
Overall though the vibe and the atmosphere is nice if you are in the mood for a book involving travel and light family drama and light romance.
March 30, 2023
sarah anderson hire an editor challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)
i know, i know. an editor is credited at the beginning of the book, but this person either a) wasn’t qualified or b) gave absolutely zero fucks about the task at hand/the story. which is honestly such a shame.
i wasn’t kidding when i said that all the errors and spelling mistakes and overall lack of editing would make this book lose a star. i considered giving it a 3-star rating, but i loved the story too much to do so.
this would’ve been a 5-star read if it weren’t for all the “mêle toi de tes onions” and “ques’ce que tu fais la” and “il n’a ya pas” and “demain j’irait” and “i couldn’t remembered” and “je veut” and “lex baux” and words missing in the middle of sentences and inconsistency in the narration style (both when it comes to verb tenses and the use of second vs third person).
aix marks the spot has been my comfort story since it was posted on swoonreads in, like, 2018. i’ve loved provence since i was a literal child (i remember spending hours on google maps, pretending i was physically walking the streets of cute provençal towns such as valensole) and this book is the perfect mix of provence, adventure, escapism, humor, romance, family drama and personal growth. i took my time reading it because i didn’t want it to end too quickly.
sarah anderson, ma’am, i am begging you to hire a fully bilingual editor who gives a shit about your story.
i know, i know. an editor is credited at the beginning of the book, but this person either a) wasn’t qualified or b) gave absolutely zero fucks about the task at hand/the story. which is honestly such a shame.
i wasn’t kidding when i said that all the errors and spelling mistakes and overall lack of editing would make this book lose a star. i considered giving it a 3-star rating, but i loved the story too much to do so.
this would’ve been a 5-star read if it weren’t for all the “mêle toi de tes onions” and “ques’ce que tu fais la” and “il n’a ya pas” and “demain j’irait” and “i couldn’t remembered” and “je veut” and “lex baux” and words missing in the middle of sentences and inconsistency in the narration style (both when it comes to verb tenses and the use of second vs third person).
aix marks the spot has been my comfort story since it was posted on swoonreads in, like, 2018. i’ve loved provence since i was a literal child (i remember spending hours on google maps, pretending i was physically walking the streets of cute provençal towns such as valensole) and this book is the perfect mix of provence, adventure, escapism, humor, romance, family drama and personal growth. i took my time reading it because i didn’t want it to end too quickly.
sarah anderson, ma’am, i am begging you to hire a fully bilingual editor who gives a shit about your story.
April 13, 2020
This is honestly a really tough book to review because lots of this hits really close to home and I don't really know how to feel about it sometimes. My situation is a lot farther from Jamie's, as I grew up knowing my parent's home country and their families, but yet sometimes I feel as isolated and pushed out by it, even sometimes my own home country too (like Jamie struggles with but through different motivations). So a lot of the questioning where one belongs/what culture one belongs to hit hard. The letters in the novel themselves also clicked with a lot of my own experiences And it's hard to explain how that impacted my reading experience, or my enjoyment of the book. It just made me feel raw or vulnerable at times, which honestly isn't a bad thing.
Honestly though, Anderson's representation of feeling between cultures, between families, between homes resonated deeply, which must mean that it was well done to a large extent. She captured a lot of what I've felt at times, being 'between' a lot of things myself. The way she portrayed European culture through American eyes was extremely well done as well, even done to the sometimes insanely small showers. Jamie had so many thoughts that I've had myself before, when comparing the two, or what I've heard Europeans say to me about America/ns. It just felt really authentic to reality, and I loved that.
Anderson also did a really great job of building up Provence, of bringing you along on Jamie's journey on her scavenger hunt. You feel her struggles when ordering, with tourists, and her enjoyment in all the new foods. You feel her awe when she comes across castles and beautiful, ancient cities, and I loved that so much. If this doesn't make people want to visit, I don't know what will.
The only reason this is 4 stars is because I found Jamie a little too frustrating at times, especially during her fights with Valentin. People lash out in anger but sometimes those fights, and the current conflict, felt a little forced, or worse, exaggerated. But honestly, this only detracted my enjoyment from very few scenes, as it honestly didn't happen that often.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and honestly didn't expect how real it would feel. I've always kind of avoided the books about Americans traveling to Europe (subconsciously, but still), but this might have convinced me to try and look for more.
Honestly though, Anderson's representation of feeling between cultures, between families, between homes resonated deeply, which must mean that it was well done to a large extent. She captured a lot of what I've felt at times, being 'between' a lot of things myself. The way she portrayed European culture through American eyes was extremely well done as well, even done to the sometimes insanely small showers. Jamie had so many thoughts that I've had myself before, when comparing the two, or what I've heard Europeans say to me about America/ns. It just felt really authentic to reality, and I loved that.
Anderson also did a really great job of building up Provence, of bringing you along on Jamie's journey on her scavenger hunt. You feel her struggles when ordering, with tourists, and her enjoyment in all the new foods. You feel her awe when she comes across castles and beautiful, ancient cities, and I loved that so much. If this doesn't make people want to visit, I don't know what will.
The only reason this is 4 stars is because I found Jamie a little too frustrating at times, especially during her fights with Valentin. People lash out in anger but sometimes those fights, and the current conflict, felt a little forced, or worse, exaggerated. But honestly, this only detracted my enjoyment from very few scenes, as it honestly didn't happen that often.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and honestly didn't expect how real it would feel. I've always kind of avoided the books about Americans traveling to Europe (subconsciously, but still), but this might have convinced me to try and look for more.
June 17, 2021
It wass such a cute and easy read! I'm glad I read it. The way the places are described in this book really makes me feel like I'm there. And the talk of food, french delicacies ... it makes my mouth water. I'm dreaming of lavender icecream and croissants ☺ and how I'd love a walk in a forest right now!
April 18, 2020
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley! All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own!
3.5 stars to this super cute book!
Most girls would jump at the chance for a Summer in France. For Jamie, it's just a reminder of the accident that has left her mom learning to walk again and her role in it. Sent away to stay with her estranged grandmother, Jamie resents the fact that she's stuck in this country whose language she doesn't speak, whose people she doesn't know, and whose Wi-Fi is practically nonexistent. But that all changes when Jamie discovers an old letter in her father's bedroom that sends her on a treasure hunt across southern France that is 17 years overdue. Luckily, Valentin, a super-cute French boy, is willing to come along and translate.
This book is a total love letter to Provence. The descriptions of each setting were utterly transportive. The intricacies and little tidbits could only come from someone who knows it inside and out, just as Anderson does. The descriptions of the food, the art, and the people read as incredibly authentic. The French culture is interestingly written and immersive, and it's interesting and comical to see how it confuses American Jamie
I enjoyed how this book included commentary on American tourists and the differences between "stealing" culture and learning from it. The protagonist goes from someone embarrassed by their nationality to someone who is proud of where they come from and ready to experience something new.
The prose in this book is witty at times, and it reads as lighthearted and comical. Valentin and Jamie share an easy banter that is as amusing as it is adorable. There are numerous typos, but seeing as this is an ARC, I am assuming that those will be buffed out of this finished copy.
Regardless of the fact that I enjoyed this story, it did have some things that I wished were developed more or were done differently. I think that Jamie's character was a little confusing at times, and some of her sudden episodes of lashing out were very jarring and confusing for me, as I felt like things went from 0 to 100 a little too quickly. I also was hoping that her passion as an artist would shine through a little more; it was touched on a bit, but I think that aspect of the story could have been more developed. In addition, I felt that it was a shame that so many characters were introduced and then not heard from again, and I think that Jamie would have benefited from developing a friendship with someone besides Valentin. Tying along with characters not reappearing, I was dissatisfied with Jamie's relationship with her best friend back at home, which was kind of nonexistent. I couldn't help but thinking, "You'd think that since she doesn't have any WiFi and has nothing better to do, she would at least write a letter or two to her friend?", but this might just be me nit-picking.
All in all, this was a very cute read that tied in some sweet romance with beautiful renditions of the French culture, it's cities, and it's history.
If anybody wants to read this book before its release date, it's currently available on NetGalley as an automatic approval!
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3.5 stars
Really cute story :) RTC
3.5 stars to this super cute book!
"We stood at the highest point for miles. Around us was farmland stretching in every direction, dotted with towns here and there in the distance. Out far, far away, I could see the Mediterranean, the blue water fading into the sky so that you could barely make out the horizon. In that moment, I felt complete and irrevocably in love with the world."
Most girls would jump at the chance for a Summer in France. For Jamie, it's just a reminder of the accident that has left her mom learning to walk again and her role in it. Sent away to stay with her estranged grandmother, Jamie resents the fact that she's stuck in this country whose language she doesn't speak, whose people she doesn't know, and whose Wi-Fi is practically nonexistent. But that all changes when Jamie discovers an old letter in her father's bedroom that sends her on a treasure hunt across southern France that is 17 years overdue. Luckily, Valentin, a super-cute French boy, is willing to come along and translate.
This book is a total love letter to Provence. The descriptions of each setting were utterly transportive. The intricacies and little tidbits could only come from someone who knows it inside and out, just as Anderson does. The descriptions of the food, the art, and the people read as incredibly authentic. The French culture is interestingly written and immersive, and it's interesting and comical to see how it confuses American Jamie
I enjoyed how this book included commentary on American tourists and the differences between "stealing" culture and learning from it. The protagonist goes from someone embarrassed by their nationality to someone who is proud of where they come from and ready to experience something new.
The prose in this book is witty at times, and it reads as lighthearted and comical. Valentin and Jamie share an easy banter that is as amusing as it is adorable. There are numerous typos, but seeing as this is an ARC, I am assuming that those will be buffed out of this finished copy.
Regardless of the fact that I enjoyed this story, it did have some things that I wished were developed more or were done differently. I think that Jamie's character was a little confusing at times, and some of her sudden episodes of lashing out were very jarring and confusing for me, as I felt like things went from 0 to 100 a little too quickly. I also was hoping that her passion as an artist would shine through a little more; it was touched on a bit, but I think that aspect of the story could have been more developed. In addition, I felt that it was a shame that so many characters were introduced and then not heard from again, and I think that Jamie would have benefited from developing a friendship with someone besides Valentin. Tying along with characters not reappearing, I was dissatisfied with Jamie's relationship with her best friend back at home, which was kind of nonexistent. I couldn't help but thinking, "You'd think that since she doesn't have any WiFi and has nothing better to do, she would at least write a letter or two to her friend?", but this might just be me nit-picking.
All in all, this was a very cute read that tied in some sweet romance with beautiful renditions of the French culture, it's cities, and it's history.
If anybody wants to read this book before its release date, it's currently available on NetGalley as an automatic approval!
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3.5 stars
Really cute story :) RTC
November 13, 2020
*This review can also be found on The Reader and the Chef!* Huge thanks to MTMC Tours and the author for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.*
Here are my reasons why you should pick up this fun YA Contemporary read:
1. Set in France! If you are a fan of Anna and the French Kiss, then you will enjoy visiting Provence in Aix Marks the Spot. The sights! The imagery! Definitely a place I must visit sometime in the future (they have Castles!!!!).
2. It has a TREASURE HUNT. Or as Valentin would call it: A chasse au trésor! This treasure hunt was planned by Jamie’s father for her mother 17 years ago, but for reasons, it was never solved. Jamie now has the opportunity to solve the clues after she finds the first letter in one of her dad’s old books. It’s the perfect opportunity to get to learn more about her parents’ earlier years and possibly breach the distance that has grown between them. ♥
3. Enters Valentin! This charming local French boy is set out to give us the best Provence tour! I adored him so much. ♥ He’s such a fan of history and honestly, my heart always goes soft for soft, nerd boys. (Why don’t we have more characters like him?!)
4. You will learn a bit of French. What I really love about reading books set in another country is having the language play a big role in it. Jamie travels to Provence for the first time, and despite being the daughter of a French man, she doesn’t have a firm grasp on it. It’s understandable. As a bilingual person, even having a grasp of a second language will not stop you from doubting about using it! But worry not, the point of this book is for you to feel Jamie’s struggle to understand her Mamie and everyone around her. Aix, of course, gives you context so you won’t feel lost! (And if you read via Kindle, then the app gives you translations as well).
5. The swoons! And of course, Aix Marks the Spot is a great summer read full of feels. Jamie and Valentin set out on a fantastic treasure hunt around a romantic setting which of course is the perfect place to fall in love. ♥
Here are my reasons why you should pick up this fun YA Contemporary read:
1. Set in France! If you are a fan of Anna and the French Kiss, then you will enjoy visiting Provence in Aix Marks the Spot. The sights! The imagery! Definitely a place I must visit sometime in the future (they have Castles!!!!).
2. It has a TREASURE HUNT. Or as Valentin would call it: A chasse au trésor! This treasure hunt was planned by Jamie’s father for her mother 17 years ago, but for reasons, it was never solved. Jamie now has the opportunity to solve the clues after she finds the first letter in one of her dad’s old books. It’s the perfect opportunity to get to learn more about her parents’ earlier years and possibly breach the distance that has grown between them. ♥
3. Enters Valentin! This charming local French boy is set out to give us the best Provence tour! I adored him so much. ♥ He’s such a fan of history and honestly, my heart always goes soft for soft, nerd boys. (Why don’t we have more characters like him?!)
4. You will learn a bit of French. What I really love about reading books set in another country is having the language play a big role in it. Jamie travels to Provence for the first time, and despite being the daughter of a French man, she doesn’t have a firm grasp on it. It’s understandable. As a bilingual person, even having a grasp of a second language will not stop you from doubting about using it! But worry not, the point of this book is for you to feel Jamie’s struggle to understand her Mamie and everyone around her. Aix, of course, gives you context so you won’t feel lost! (And if you read via Kindle, then the app gives you translations as well).
5. The swoons! And of course, Aix Marks the Spot is a great summer read full of feels. Jamie and Valentin set out on a fantastic treasure hunt around a romantic setting which of course is the perfect place to fall in love. ♥
May 1, 2020
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.
This is a book about Jamie who travels to her Mamie's in France for the summer. Originally she was supposed to go with her parents, but due to an accident her parents are unable to join her. She proceeds on a treasure hunt after she finds a love letter between her parents telling about a special surprise at the end of the clues scattered throughout different cities.
This book was ok. The premise of the book was very cute and mushy and made for an easy ride through the book, but there just wasn't much depth to really make it anything more. There was some mystery around Jamie blaming herself for the accident that had severely injured her mom which was hinted at over and over throughout the book. It wasn't in a way in which it built on the book though, it was just laid out there over and over. Jamie constantly stating I can't have fun, because I did this to my mom. There's also a lack of character building and I didn't feel invested in them or the story until maybe the last quarter of the book. The wrap up at the end was so fast for all the 17 years of communication issues that had been talked about between Mamie and the parents and between Jamie and her parents. It just was too easy and not flushed out enough. Overall, the idea behind the story was fun, but I wish there had been a little more depth built in.
This is a book about Jamie who travels to her Mamie's in France for the summer. Originally she was supposed to go with her parents, but due to an accident her parents are unable to join her. She proceeds on a treasure hunt after she finds a love letter between her parents telling about a special surprise at the end of the clues scattered throughout different cities.
This book was ok. The premise of the book was very cute and mushy and made for an easy ride through the book, but there just wasn't much depth to really make it anything more. There was some mystery around Jamie blaming herself for the accident that had severely injured her mom which was hinted at over and over throughout the book. It wasn't in a way in which it built on the book though, it was just laid out there over and over. Jamie constantly stating I can't have fun, because I did this to my mom. There's also a lack of character building and I didn't feel invested in them or the story until maybe the last quarter of the book. The wrap up at the end was so fast for all the 17 years of communication issues that had been talked about between Mamie and the parents and between Jamie and her parents. It just was too easy and not flushed out enough. Overall, the idea behind the story was fun, but I wish there had been a little more depth built in.
September 5, 2020
My Recommendation
Want to take a trip to the south of France? Then this novel is definitely one for you to devour (just like you will want to devour all the delicious French foods that are described throughout!) No, this book is not a French cookbook; it’s a coming-of-age story of a teenage girl learning to navigate life in a foreign country, with a grandmother she’s never met before now.
I really enjoyed this! The author does a wonderful job of bringing the sights, sounds, and smells of France to the reader through her vivid descriptions.
I would recommend for Y.A. readers and older. There are some mature subjects addressed, as well as some serious consequences that occur as a result of underage drinking
**Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with a digital copy of this book! All opinions are my own.**
April 20, 2020
3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4)
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! When an accident happens that leaves her mother horribly injured, Jaime finds herself sent to France to live with a grandmother she has never met. Unfortunately, Jaime does not speak French which makes her life very difficult. Plus, her grandmother seems to want nothing to do with her. She stumbles across a letter which sends her off on a treasure hunt through France. Her friend/translator/guide, Valentin, accompanies her. A journey of discovery, love, heartbreak, and finding one's self begins.
If you're looking for a sweet, adorable, or cute book, this one's for you. I loved the fact this book took place in France! I find other cultures fascinating and I loved the author's descriptions of the towns and the food and the language! Valentin was definitely my favorite character, but I honestly loved all the side characters. I literally had Google Translate up to translate some of the French as I read along; this might bother other readers, but there was usually enough context to figure it out. And if there wasn't enough context, then not figuring it out was kind of the point. I'm just overly curious and I love languages, so I enjoyed translating the lines! The dialogue in this book is very authentic. Some authors butcher dialogue that takes place between people speaking languages other than their first one. This author nailed it! The broken French and English at the same time, the stopping to figure out one particular word, getting confused from rapidly switching back and forth for so long--it felt very realistic and I loved it!
I gave this book 3.5 stars for a couple reasons. Towards the end, the book started to feel rushed. I didn't have time to properly appreciate or process certain things. Without spoiling anything, there is one topic that is only vaguely mentioned towards the end of the book and I felt as if it was skipped over a lot. I also wasn't the hugest fan of Jaime and the way she treated Valentin sometimes. I understand that she was going through a lot, but he didn't deserve all of the backlash he got. I also wish the ending wasn't so short and abrupt; there was more I would've liked to see happen there, but it was satisfying enough to please me.
All in all, this book was sweet and enjoyable! Any one who loves France or a cute rom-com adventure should consider reading this!
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! When an accident happens that leaves her mother horribly injured, Jaime finds herself sent to France to live with a grandmother she has never met. Unfortunately, Jaime does not speak French which makes her life very difficult. Plus, her grandmother seems to want nothing to do with her. She stumbles across a letter which sends her off on a treasure hunt through France. Her friend/translator/guide, Valentin, accompanies her. A journey of discovery, love, heartbreak, and finding one's self begins.
If you're looking for a sweet, adorable, or cute book, this one's for you. I loved the fact this book took place in France! I find other cultures fascinating and I loved the author's descriptions of the towns and the food and the language! Valentin was definitely my favorite character, but I honestly loved all the side characters. I literally had Google Translate up to translate some of the French as I read along; this might bother other readers, but there was usually enough context to figure it out. And if there wasn't enough context, then not figuring it out was kind of the point. I'm just overly curious and I love languages, so I enjoyed translating the lines! The dialogue in this book is very authentic. Some authors butcher dialogue that takes place between people speaking languages other than their first one. This author nailed it! The broken French and English at the same time, the stopping to figure out one particular word, getting confused from rapidly switching back and forth for so long--it felt very realistic and I loved it!
I gave this book 3.5 stars for a couple reasons. Towards the end, the book started to feel rushed. I didn't have time to properly appreciate or process certain things. Without spoiling anything, there is one topic that is only vaguely mentioned towards the end of the book and I felt as if it was skipped over a lot. I also wasn't the hugest fan of Jaime and the way she treated Valentin sometimes. I understand that she was going through a lot, but he didn't deserve all of the backlash he got. I also wish the ending wasn't so short and abrupt; there was more I would've liked to see happen there, but it was satisfying enough to please me.
All in all, this book was sweet and enjoyable! Any one who loves France or a cute rom-com adventure should consider reading this!
January 12, 2021
Jamie was always eager to go to France, but she never imagined she would find herself in the country under these circumstances. Now, she has to make the best of her time in France. When she finds a letter, Jamie finds herself travelling against the French countryside with a boy, Valentin, who is willing to help her follow the trail of letters.
The amount of French that was used (and not translated) in here was incredibly important for me here. Part of the story, is Jamie's struggle in France. Despite her father being French and now staying with her Mamie (grandmother), Jamie's French is minimal leaving her confused and lost more often than not. As I know no French, this helped leave me confused and gave me a better understanding of what she might be feeling.
I do feel like the characters, Jamie especially, acted their age. There were a number of moments when I was incredibly frustrated with her, but I had to remind myself she was young and really just needed someone there to help guide her. That is what she was missing.
I'm not someone who had felt split between two countries, but I feel like Anderson did a great job of explaining it through Jamie. I could really feel her struggle of not feeling like she really belong in either one. It just left me wanting to hug her or try to offer her any comfort she was willing to take.
Anderson also did a wonderful job building up Provence. It was all described with such detail and love. I loved trying to imagine all of that through Jamie's eyes. It was beautiful and really did make me want to travel there.
Aix Marks the Spot is a quick read with some good points of discussion throughout. It's fun and has some major summer vibes. There were times when I do feel like it moved a little slow, but it was cute and entertaining.
The amount of French that was used (and not translated) in here was incredibly important for me here. Part of the story, is Jamie's struggle in France. Despite her father being French and now staying with her Mamie (grandmother), Jamie's French is minimal leaving her confused and lost more often than not. As I know no French, this helped leave me confused and gave me a better understanding of what she might be feeling.
I do feel like the characters, Jamie especially, acted their age. There were a number of moments when I was incredibly frustrated with her, but I had to remind myself she was young and really just needed someone there to help guide her. That is what she was missing.
I'm not someone who had felt split between two countries, but I feel like Anderson did a great job of explaining it through Jamie. I could really feel her struggle of not feeling like she really belong in either one. It just left me wanting to hug her or try to offer her any comfort she was willing to take.
Anderson also did a wonderful job building up Provence. It was all described with such detail and love. I loved trying to imagine all of that through Jamie's eyes. It was beautiful and really did make me want to travel there.
Aix Marks the Spot is a quick read with some good points of discussion throughout. It's fun and has some major summer vibes. There were times when I do feel like it moved a little slow, but it was cute and entertaining.
May 30, 2020
**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read & review an E-ARC of this novel!**
I went into this novel hoping to love it & unfortunately I came out feeling very meh about it. While I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of this story & the plot of a treasure hunt across Provence was alluring...it just didn't hit the mark for me. I know that parts of this novel are based on the author's real experiences. My review is by no means meant to try & degrade or discredit her experiences...it's just my thoughts & feelings from reading this novel. Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-Valentin: he was super helpful & so sweet! I sort of feel bad that he ended up with Jamie (please see my thoughts on Jamie below).
-JP: Jean-Pascal! While his part in this story was very small...he was so likable & funny! I enjoyed his little appearances more than almost any other character.
-the descriptions of Provence & the surrounding areas: I have always wanted to visit France & that desire is something that drew me to this novel. I loved the way the author provided such visual cues for the reader. It felt like I was really there. :)
-how the author addressed tourist issues: some tourists are really rude & do treat the places they visit like only destinations instead of respecting that these places are homes & communities.
-the twist of the plot: Jamie's mom actually wrote the letters! While this confused the heck out of me while I was reading that last letter...I thought it added some depth to the concept of Jamie's mother trying to learn from her husbands culture...not steal him from it.
-the French phrases & words mixed into the novel: I loved seeing this & enjoyed trying to understand the language even in the small phrases in this novel. French is a beautiful language & this made me want to learn it even more!
-the play on words in the title: cute! :)
Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-JAMIE: Oh Jamie. She was very self-centered, egocentric, whiny, & self-loathing. I found it difficult to like her. She twisted everything to be about her...why someone didn't like her...why people isolated her...why people weren't talking to her...how the accident was all her fault...how she was the reason the family fell apart...how she was the was the reason for her father & his mother's poor relationship...her refusal to enjoy being in France...she made it a challenge for me to enjoy this novel & she is honestly the main reason my rating is on the lower side.
-Mamie: she was just really rude & sour overall. Being hurt is not a reason to cause hurt. I was not a fan.
-how everything was "fixed" by the finding of the letters (Mamie reading them) & Jamie/Mamie traveling to America to make amends: I find that sort of resolution to be fast/pressured & somewhat unrealistic.
Overall, I gave this novel 2 stars. I think it would be a great read for those interested in reading a light YA read with romance, cultural, & familial relationship themes.
I went into this novel hoping to love it & unfortunately I came out feeling very meh about it. While I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of this story & the plot of a treasure hunt across Provence was alluring...it just didn't hit the mark for me. I know that parts of this novel are based on the author's real experiences. My review is by no means meant to try & degrade or discredit her experiences...it's just my thoughts & feelings from reading this novel. Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-Valentin: he was super helpful & so sweet! I sort of feel bad that he ended up with Jamie (please see my thoughts on Jamie below).
-JP: Jean-Pascal! While his part in this story was very small...he was so likable & funny! I enjoyed his little appearances more than almost any other character.
-the descriptions of Provence & the surrounding areas: I have always wanted to visit France & that desire is something that drew me to this novel. I loved the way the author provided such visual cues for the reader. It felt like I was really there. :)
-how the author addressed tourist issues: some tourists are really rude & do treat the places they visit like only destinations instead of respecting that these places are homes & communities.
-the twist of the plot: Jamie's mom actually wrote the letters! While this confused the heck out of me while I was reading that last letter...I thought it added some depth to the concept of Jamie's mother trying to learn from her husbands culture...not steal him from it.
-the French phrases & words mixed into the novel: I loved seeing this & enjoyed trying to understand the language even in the small phrases in this novel. French is a beautiful language & this made me want to learn it even more!
-the play on words in the title: cute! :)
Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-JAMIE: Oh Jamie. She was very self-centered, egocentric, whiny, & self-loathing. I found it difficult to like her. She twisted everything to be about her...why someone didn't like her...why people isolated her...why people weren't talking to her...how the accident was all her fault...how she was the reason the family fell apart...how she was the was the reason for her father & his mother's poor relationship...her refusal to enjoy being in France...she made it a challenge for me to enjoy this novel & she is honestly the main reason my rating is on the lower side.
-Mamie: she was just really rude & sour overall. Being hurt is not a reason to cause hurt. I was not a fan.
-how everything was "fixed" by the finding of the letters (Mamie reading them) & Jamie/Mamie traveling to America to make amends: I find that sort of resolution to be fast/pressured & somewhat unrealistic.
Overall, I gave this novel 2 stars. I think it would be a great read for those interested in reading a light YA read with romance, cultural, & familial relationship themes.
August 14, 2020
DNF'ed. I just couldn't take it anymore. The first-person POV only made it more insufferable, because our protagonist is the very epitome of ignorant, stuck-up American touristiness and it is literally cringey to read the way she describes France. Jamie is unlikable, sullen, stuck-up, and cringily dramatic. Valentin was okay but the way Jamie constantly talks about him as a "cUtE fReNcH bOy" verges on fetishising ethnicity and I wasn't able to take him at all seriously because of it, it felt like the author was projecting her own fantasies onto him. We get it, Americans. You're obsessed with France. Please stop. Just STOP.
The writing wasnt good at all, either. My eyes hurt from rolling them so hard. We get STUNNING descriptions like "I freed my toes from their rubber prison cell. I let out a breath of relief as they expanded in the heat." and "when I woke up the next morning, the room hadn't changed at all." Talk about redundant,right? but even so,ohhh no, they couldn't leave it there - they had to add "the room seemed smaller today" NOT TWO PARAGRAPHS LATER, if you'll believe me.
Back to Jamie. She's dull and dramatic and stupid. At one point she wonders "basicness? Is that even a thing in Europe?" I actually felt my face twisting into the 🥴 emoji. Another time, she blatantly plagiarizes FRICKING /MOTHER TERESA/??and expects to get away with it?????? When she visits the Lourmarin Castle and is - stay with me here - /disappointed that it doesn't look like Hogwarts/ - I decided I'd had enough. I promptly closed the pdf file, never to be opened again.
The blurb sounded like it'd be right up my alley, but the actual execution of this thoroughly vapid novel was a resounding letdown. Please learn from my mistakes and spare yourselves.
The writing wasnt good at all, either. My eyes hurt from rolling them so hard. We get STUNNING descriptions like "I freed my toes from their rubber prison cell. I let out a breath of relief as they expanded in the heat." and "when I woke up the next morning, the room hadn't changed at all." Talk about redundant,right? but even so,ohhh no, they couldn't leave it there - they had to add "the room seemed smaller today" NOT TWO PARAGRAPHS LATER, if you'll believe me.
Back to Jamie. She's dull and dramatic and stupid. At one point she wonders "basicness? Is that even a thing in Europe?" I actually felt my face twisting into the 🥴 emoji. Another time, she blatantly plagiarizes FRICKING /MOTHER TERESA/??and expects to get away with it?????? When she visits the Lourmarin Castle and is - stay with me here - /disappointed that it doesn't look like Hogwarts/ - I decided I'd had enough. I promptly closed the pdf file, never to be opened again.
The blurb sounded like it'd be right up my alley, but the actual execution of this thoroughly vapid novel was a resounding letdown. Please learn from my mistakes and spare yourselves.
April 26, 2020
Aix Marks the Spot by S.E. Anderson 5 Stars
I thought I knew exactly what to expect from this story. I was very wrong about that. This book was great but it handles some deeper subject matter. There is some romance, which I'll talk about later, but it takes the backseat to a few other things in this.
Jamie always thought going to France would be for the best vacation. Then after a terrible accident she's sent away from her parents to the grandmother shes never met. She doesn't have a solid grasp on the French language either. Completely by accident she finds a letter that starts her on an amazing search across the french countryside. Luckily she meets a boy in the town where her grandmother lives, Valentin, whose willing to help her with her treasure hunt.
First I want to talk about Jamie. At the start of this book she is in a bad place. Actually I think bad place might be an understatement. Misery might be a better word actually. Jamie is basically feeling completely hopeless with he life now. Luckily she doesn't stay in that state. I think she grows to understand so much about herself in this book. Even though a romance develops she doesn't let it overtake her mission. Her determination is amazing, but sometimes it doesn't lead to the best decisions on her part. She was a flawed protagonist, but I think that kept her relateable.
Then there's the love interest Valentin. I really liked his character for pretty much the whole book. There were moments here and there where he was frustrating, but like with Jamie I think that kept his character grounded. He wasn't this perfect boy Jamie instantly fell in love with where nothing bad every happens. He had some moments where he got seriously angry with Jamie and just in general. Still, he traveled with Jamie day after day to left her with this treasure hunt mission she gave herself. He's obviously a loyal friend even when they're new ones.
A major part of the plot of this story has to do with Jamie's family. Her father hasn't spoken to his mother, the grandmother Jamie staying in France, for years. Jamie's parents fled France when she was a baby and didn't love book in all that time. Throughout the story more and more about what happened back then is slowly revealed. There were some truly heartbreaking and like angering scenes with the grandmother. She was definitely not a simple character.
There's also Jamie's relationship with both her parents. At the start of the book Jamie sees herself as exiled after what happened to her mother. She is so completely overcome by guilt that she doesn't question it at all. She basically cuts herself off from her parents once she gets to France. It's all a lot more complicated than that, though. I can't really explain but overall I really enjoyed the way family was handled in this story.
This book also takes a hard look at tourism and what it does to the countries and cultures people visit. The grandmother in this book is very much against foreigners. Throughout the book there are these moments were tourists are absolutely awful. I was cringed at these awful people even though I know they're fictional. I don't have any trouble believing that these things have happened and will probably happen agian.
Overall I abolutely loved this story. It was really easy to read. It was so great to see the emotional journey that Jamie went on through this book.
I thought I knew exactly what to expect from this story. I was very wrong about that. This book was great but it handles some deeper subject matter. There is some romance, which I'll talk about later, but it takes the backseat to a few other things in this.
Jamie always thought going to France would be for the best vacation. Then after a terrible accident she's sent away from her parents to the grandmother shes never met. She doesn't have a solid grasp on the French language either. Completely by accident she finds a letter that starts her on an amazing search across the french countryside. Luckily she meets a boy in the town where her grandmother lives, Valentin, whose willing to help her with her treasure hunt.
First I want to talk about Jamie. At the start of this book she is in a bad place. Actually I think bad place might be an understatement. Misery might be a better word actually. Jamie is basically feeling completely hopeless with he life now. Luckily she doesn't stay in that state. I think she grows to understand so much about herself in this book. Even though a romance develops she doesn't let it overtake her mission. Her determination is amazing, but sometimes it doesn't lead to the best decisions on her part. She was a flawed protagonist, but I think that kept her relateable.
Then there's the love interest Valentin. I really liked his character for pretty much the whole book. There were moments here and there where he was frustrating, but like with Jamie I think that kept his character grounded. He wasn't this perfect boy Jamie instantly fell in love with where nothing bad every happens. He had some moments where he got seriously angry with Jamie and just in general. Still, he traveled with Jamie day after day to left her with this treasure hunt mission she gave herself. He's obviously a loyal friend even when they're new ones.
A major part of the plot of this story has to do with Jamie's family. Her father hasn't spoken to his mother, the grandmother Jamie staying in France, for years. Jamie's parents fled France when she was a baby and didn't love book in all that time. Throughout the story more and more about what happened back then is slowly revealed. There were some truly heartbreaking and like angering scenes with the grandmother. She was definitely not a simple character.
There's also Jamie's relationship with both her parents. At the start of the book Jamie sees herself as exiled after what happened to her mother. She is so completely overcome by guilt that she doesn't question it at all. She basically cuts herself off from her parents once she gets to France. It's all a lot more complicated than that, though. I can't really explain but overall I really enjoyed the way family was handled in this story.
This book also takes a hard look at tourism and what it does to the countries and cultures people visit. The grandmother in this book is very much against foreigners. Throughout the book there are these moments were tourists are absolutely awful. I was cringed at these awful people even though I know they're fictional. I don't have any trouble believing that these things have happened and will probably happen agian.
Overall I abolutely loved this story. It was really easy to read. It was so great to see the emotional journey that Jamie went on through this book.
May 3, 2020
Omg I enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed following Jamie's treasure hunt journey in France that involves her parents 17 years ago. Btw I don't like the way she treated Valentin when she is frustrated. Goshh Valentin help translating and he even followed her journey.
At first I feel kinda frustrated because I don't understand France but then that make feel related to the character. She couldn't communicate with her grandma because of the language barrier.
I love the way the author describe the places, bread and crepe lol I mean I feel like I'm tasting it too 🤣
Thank you Netgalley for Aix Marks the Spot
At first I feel kinda frustrated because I don't understand France but then that make feel related to the character. She couldn't communicate with her grandma because of the language barrier.
I love the way the author describe the places, bread and crepe lol I mean I feel like I'm tasting it too 🤣
Thank you Netgalley for Aix Marks the Spot
March 22, 2020
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. First of all, the setting is amazing and I really felt as if I was there--the author, who grew up in the setting of this book, has expertly used all senses, especially smell and taste, to bring this region of France to life in my imagination. Although I have never visited France, I feel now as if I had.
Jamie and Valentin are so well done. In fact, all the characters popped off the pages. All had their faults that made them both maddening as well as lovable. So many times I just wanted to reach into my ereader and shake Jamie and tell her stop! But I know this is how excellent characters are written, with great characters arcs to show growth from beginning to end.
The author also tossed in a few twists, some bigger than others, that made the story richer and so much better. The only issue I seemed to have was confusion when Jamie addressed her mom in her head while interacting with others. It took me about a third of the book before I started instantly recognizing this feature.
Overall, if you love family drama, friendship stories, and romance (also, bread and cheese :) you'll want to read this delicious book.
Jamie and Valentin are so well done. In fact, all the characters popped off the pages. All had their faults that made them both maddening as well as lovable. So many times I just wanted to reach into my ereader and shake Jamie and tell her stop! But I know this is how excellent characters are written, with great characters arcs to show growth from beginning to end.
The author also tossed in a few twists, some bigger than others, that made the story richer and so much better. The only issue I seemed to have was confusion when Jamie addressed her mom in her head while interacting with others. It took me about a third of the book before I started instantly recognizing this feature.
Overall, if you love family drama, friendship stories, and romance (also, bread and cheese :) you'll want to read this delicious book.
June 3, 2020
Jamie goes to spend the summer in the south of France with a grandmother she has never met, after a serious accident that put her mother in a wheelchair. Feeling lost she discovers her dad's notes to a treasure hunt that helps her discover more than just a treasure.
The POV is 1st person, but it is like she is telling the story to someone, to her mother. Making it more personal and heartfelt.
The book touched my heart from the very beginning. Endearing humor and wonderfully quaint details. The French countryside made glorious through the narrative, threaded with a hint of romance but not in the way you might expect. It gave me fuzzy warm feels and there were instances when I just wanted to hug the book.
This is a quest and as with all quests you learn more about yourself as Jamie does. A journey that gifts her with hope and helps her work through unresolved feelings about the accident, her life in general. A journey of self discovery.
The 'main' romance story is a bit cheesy and predictable but still adorable. And some 'conflicts' like the one about Valentin's father seem disjointed.
I was enthralled though with how love shines from the past through the notes and helps Jamie in her uncertain present. Realizing life is a treasure is a lesson we all need. And that tear-jerking of a twist of a treasure, if possible made me adore this story even more.
The POV is 1st person, but it is like she is telling the story to someone, to her mother. Making it more personal and heartfelt.
The book touched my heart from the very beginning. Endearing humor and wonderfully quaint details. The French countryside made glorious through the narrative, threaded with a hint of romance but not in the way you might expect. It gave me fuzzy warm feels and there were instances when I just wanted to hug the book.
This is a quest and as with all quests you learn more about yourself as Jamie does. A journey that gifts her with hope and helps her work through unresolved feelings about the accident, her life in general. A journey of self discovery.
The 'main' romance story is a bit cheesy and predictable but still adorable. And some 'conflicts' like the one about Valentin's father seem disjointed.
I was enthralled though with how love shines from the past through the notes and helps Jamie in her uncertain present. Realizing life is a treasure is a lesson we all need. And that tear-jerking of a twist of a treasure, if possible made me adore this story even more.
June 3, 2020
A severe accident has caused Jamie to spend the summer away from her Mom and Dad, Provence France, speaking barley any French, and living with a Grandmother who seemed to abandoned her father 17 years earlier. Jamie is faced with the challenges of her part in the accident that severely injured he parents, whom she loves so dearly, being in a place were everyone speaks French, and she can't seem to grasp the language, she find a boy who helps her. Finding an old mysterious letter from her dad, leads Jamie to places where her parents fell in love.
A sweet summer read that has several mysteries: what happened to Jamie's parents and what was her part? What happened to between Jamie's grandma and her father? And where does her fathers over 17 year old scavenger hunt end? An adorable read, that emerges readers into the French countryside and Provence. The narrator, Jamie, some readers may find slightly irritating at times, but is sure to win readers over. Good for the summer and Young Adults.
A sweet summer read that has several mysteries: what happened to Jamie's parents and what was her part? What happened to between Jamie's grandma and her father? And where does her fathers over 17 year old scavenger hunt end? An adorable read, that emerges readers into the French countryside and Provence. The narrator, Jamie, some readers may find slightly irritating at times, but is sure to win readers over. Good for the summer and Young Adults.
May 11, 2020
ARC Review: Received for free via Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
CW/TW: car accident, ableist slurs,
I am not ugly crying at 2a.m.,you are!
Ugh, this book is a gem okay. I was a little apprehensive about reading it becuase of the premise (mostly about the romance, I'm not big on reading romance, so) but I am so glad that I went for it because this. gem!
The whole thing is so soft (that isn't the rigt word but I think it works) and like, I'm not used to reading books like this, but ugh, I loved it. And I really loved Jamie (I just realised that she didn't once get annoying, so that's what's up) and I loved her voice.
Sometimes the story did feel slow and kind of draggy but that's probably because I'm used to reading fantasy books where everything must be happening all the time.
I think one thing that I didn't really get lost in were the letters which are kind of the the most important part of the book. Like, I feel like I get what Anderson was trying to do—show us how the realtionship between the parents happens, gives us reason to love them—but it felt very telly and not showy, like information was being dumped on us. It wasn't bad or anything, but I kind found myself skim reading the long winded stories within the letter and putting more attention on the clues part of it.
With the way the book is set out, I don't know if flashbacks would've worked either, but I don't know. I want to learn about the parents falling in love but I felt like the magic was kind of lost by doing it through the letters.
Speaking of: That. Twist. I was not ready for it, at all. Which made me love it even more. Despite how I felt about the letters themselves, I loved the twist because it made me understand them a little more, made me more connected to them because of the back story (mentioned in the last letter).
When we first meet the girl that inevitably made Jamie think of this, she (Jamie) does feel threatened and I was so afraid that we were going to have Jamie meet one girl and then hate her for no other reason than the fact that the girl is prettier than her and is friendly with the guy she has a crush on (who she barely knows). But that didn't happen and I'm so greatful and I think that that's one of the big things that made me love this book even more—I didn't have to deal with Jamie being a brat coz she thinks someone else wants to play with her toys.
Overall, this was really good. And also reminds us how important talking is! Communication is key and will save a lot of trouble, but like Valentin said: “Everything would end sooner if people just talked to each other.” So.
So yes, I loved this, it I as really cute and I'm probably going to read it again one, hopefully.
CW/TW: car accident, ableist slurs,
I am not ugly crying at 2a.m.,you are!
Ugh, this book is a gem okay. I was a little apprehensive about reading it becuase of the premise (mostly about the romance, I'm not big on reading romance, so) but I am so glad that I went for it because this. gem!
The whole thing is so soft (that isn't the rigt word but I think it works) and like, I'm not used to reading books like this, but ugh, I loved it. And I really loved Jamie (I just realised that she didn't once get annoying, so that's what's up) and I loved her voice.
Sometimes the story did feel slow and kind of draggy but that's probably because I'm used to reading fantasy books where everything must be happening all the time.
I think one thing that I didn't really get lost in were the letters which are kind of the the most important part of the book. Like, I feel like I get what Anderson was trying to do—show us how the realtionship between the parents happens, gives us reason to love them—but it felt very telly and not showy, like information was being dumped on us. It wasn't bad or anything, but I kind found myself skim reading the long winded stories within the letter and putting more attention on the clues part of it.
With the way the book is set out, I don't know if flashbacks would've worked either, but I don't know. I want to learn about the parents falling in love but I felt like the magic was kind of lost by doing it through the letters.
Speaking of: That. Twist. I was not ready for it, at all. Which made me love it even more. Despite how I felt about the letters themselves, I loved the twist because it made me understand them a little more, made me more connected to them because of the back story (mentioned in the last letter).
Why it was ingrained in me to immediately think a gorgeous woman was someone to beat, I did not know, but I hated myself for it.
When we first meet the girl that inevitably made Jamie think of this, she (Jamie) does feel threatened and I was so afraid that we were going to have Jamie meet one girl and then hate her for no other reason than the fact that the girl is prettier than her and is friendly with the guy she has a crush on (who she barely knows). But that didn't happen and I'm so greatful and I think that that's one of the big things that made me love this book even more—I didn't have to deal with Jamie being a brat coz she thinks someone else wants to play with her toys.
Overall, this was really good. And also reminds us how important talking is! Communication is key and will save a lot of trouble, but like Valentin said: “Everything would end sooner if people just talked to each other.” So.
So yes, I loved this, it I as really cute and I'm probably going to read it again one, hopefully.
February 23, 2020
Aix Marks the Spot
I need to get it out there... I LOVED this book. Honestly, it’s such a wonderfully written YA contemporary, set in Provence, the South of France. It reminded me of my own childhood/teenage years of exploring, going on adventures and It has made me want to go explore again.
I loved the “treasure hunt” aspect of this book, it was such a romantic gesture from one parent to the other. It was so beautiful. I found myself drawn to this book in ways I wasn’t expecting. It touches on family dynamics and what happens when communication breaks down. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys YA contemporary or contemporary in general.
Sarah’s love of France was evident in her writing, I found it enchanting and inspiring. I am now planning a holiday to Aix-en-Provence.
I need to get it out there... I LOVED this book. Honestly, it’s such a wonderfully written YA contemporary, set in Provence, the South of France. It reminded me of my own childhood/teenage years of exploring, going on adventures and It has made me want to go explore again.
I loved the “treasure hunt” aspect of this book, it was such a romantic gesture from one parent to the other. It was so beautiful. I found myself drawn to this book in ways I wasn’t expecting. It touches on family dynamics and what happens when communication breaks down. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys YA contemporary or contemporary in general.
Sarah’s love of France was evident in her writing, I found it enchanting and inspiring. I am now planning a holiday to Aix-en-Provence.
dnf
October 18, 2021DNF at 18%, I'm sorry but I just cannot stand the MC. Also, I'm French-speaking (Canadian with French lineage), and the French is badly written... I can't.
April 8, 2020
3.5 stars!
This is my first ever ARC! I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Netgalley.
This is the story of Jamie who is sent to France to live with her grandmother, whom she has never met before, after her mother has had an accident. But her relationship with her grandmother has a rocky start and does not go well. Her grandmother seems to dislike her. There she meets a cute French guy, Valentin, and together they go on a treasure hunt in a desperate attempt to make things right.
This was a light-hearted enjoyable read. There are few things that I liked and few that I didn't.
Things I liked:
All the descriptions of food seemed so delicious and scenery made me want to go to France so bad. I felt like it was me who was touring France along with Jamie. One extra star for it!
I was pleasantly surprised by the slight plot twist (kinda) in the end. (I thought her father wrote all the letters and clues for the treasure hunt but it was actually her mother!)
Things I didn't like:
Some things were way too convenient and it felt hard to believe.
The writing felt kind of repetitive.
I felt like there wasn't much chemistry between Jamie and Valentin. If they had been just friends then that would've better IMO. The story is not centered around their romance after all.
My biggest issue with the book is the ending. The ending is very abrupt. There were so many problems in the story and every single problem got solved in the last chapter and everybody gets a happy ending without much explanation.
Despite all of it, I think many people will enjoy the treasure hunt aspect of this book, and they might also enjoy the romance. It is light-hearted and a quick read.
This is my first ever ARC! I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Netgalley.
This is the story of Jamie who is sent to France to live with her grandmother, whom she has never met before, after her mother has had an accident. But her relationship with her grandmother has a rocky start and does not go well. Her grandmother seems to dislike her. There she meets a cute French guy, Valentin, and together they go on a treasure hunt in a desperate attempt to make things right.
This was a light-hearted enjoyable read. There are few things that I liked and few that I didn't.
Things I liked:
All the descriptions of food seemed so delicious and scenery made me want to go to France so bad. I felt like it was me who was touring France along with Jamie. One extra star for it!
I was pleasantly surprised by the slight plot twist (kinda) in the end. (I thought her father wrote all the letters and clues for the treasure hunt but it was actually her mother!)
Things I didn't like:
Some things were way too convenient and it felt hard to believe.
The writing felt kind of repetitive.
I felt like there wasn't much chemistry between Jamie and Valentin. If they had been just friends then that would've better IMO. The story is not centered around their romance after all.
My biggest issue with the book is the ending. The ending is very abrupt. There were so many problems in the story and every single problem got solved in the last chapter and everybody gets a happy ending without much explanation.
Despite all of it, I think many people will enjoy the treasure hunt aspect of this book, and they might also enjoy the romance. It is light-hearted and a quick read.
May 21, 2020
Aix Marks the Spot is a story about identity and overcoming adversity just as much as it is one about love and acceptance.
Jamie is in the midst of an extended identity crisis, but it is how she deals with this that makes her experience in France worthy of praise. At times it can make her impatient and insufferable, but her intentions are good, and you easily root for her growth. Valentin was my favorite character in this story as he brought joy and humor to the book while also being sensitive and giving.
Reading the letters was my favorite part of the book. They are so beautiful and filled with love. The whole premise of her going on a hunt with Valentin that retraces her parent’s hunt is so cute. The parallels between her mother and father’s adventure and hers and Valentin’s was so fun to read, and it never felt forced.
I really loved the author’s writing as I felt like the book was a guide to Provence. I could picture exactly what everything looked like in my mind, and it felt like I was exploring the country with the characters. My mind did not do justice to what the region actually looks like in pictures though (the lavender!). To me, this book didn’t feel just about the journey the characters go on but is also meant to take you on a journey.
The further along I got in the book, the more each page would take me through a myriad of emotions. I got a tad emotional towards the end of the book as I felt I had a stake in what happened with Jamie and her family. There was a big twist at the end that I did not see coming at all, and I immediately had to go back and reread parts of the book with this new information. It was so perfect though and fitting for the story.
I really loved the scene with Jamie experiencing French culture with Valentin’s friends, and I wish I could have seen them more in the book, but if there was ever a sequel based around those characters, I would definitely have to read it. Also, I would have liked a little more information on the aftermath of the accident as I think it would have helped establish Jamie’s feelings a bit more.
Overall, this was a 4.5 read as I fell in love with Aix and the characters and felt that the messages of cherishing and communicating with family were beautifully woven into the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC!
Jamie is in the midst of an extended identity crisis, but it is how she deals with this that makes her experience in France worthy of praise. At times it can make her impatient and insufferable, but her intentions are good, and you easily root for her growth. Valentin was my favorite character in this story as he brought joy and humor to the book while also being sensitive and giving.
Reading the letters was my favorite part of the book. They are so beautiful and filled with love. The whole premise of her going on a hunt with Valentin that retraces her parent’s hunt is so cute. The parallels between her mother and father’s adventure and hers and Valentin’s was so fun to read, and it never felt forced.
I really loved the author’s writing as I felt like the book was a guide to Provence. I could picture exactly what everything looked like in my mind, and it felt like I was exploring the country with the characters. My mind did not do justice to what the region actually looks like in pictures though (the lavender!). To me, this book didn’t feel just about the journey the characters go on but is also meant to take you on a journey.
The further along I got in the book, the more each page would take me through a myriad of emotions. I got a tad emotional towards the end of the book as I felt I had a stake in what happened with Jamie and her family. There was a big twist at the end that I did not see coming at all, and I immediately had to go back and reread parts of the book with this new information. It was so perfect though and fitting for the story.
I really loved the scene with Jamie experiencing French culture with Valentin’s friends, and I wish I could have seen them more in the book, but if there was ever a sequel based around those characters, I would definitely have to read it. Also, I would have liked a little more information on the aftermath of the accident as I think it would have helped establish Jamie’s feelings a bit more.
Overall, this was a 4.5 read as I fell in love with Aix and the characters and felt that the messages of cherishing and communicating with family were beautifully woven into the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC!
April 7, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest opinion. This did not influence my rating.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars.
Aix Marks the Spot is a sweet story about love and family. In this novel, Sarah Anderson tells a story about a girl named Jamie who was sent to a small town in Provence to live with her grandmother while her mother healed from an injury that left her unable to walk. Told in first person perspective, Jamie is in a dark place after this accident. Though her father is French and her mother is a French lit professor, she struggles with the language barrier, which makes her relationship with her grandmother even more contentious (the first reason being that her grandmother and her father have not spoken since he moved to America).
Then Jamie meets Valentin, a boy her age who offers to help translate for her. When Jamie discovers a treasure hunt that her father left for her mother before Jamie was even born, she believes that this hunt is the key to healing her mother. Valentin is roped into her chasse au trésor, which takes them to the places where here parents fell in love.
This book is about both romantic and familial love, in addition to friendship. Anderson makes the characters realistically flawed and demonstrates the importance of communication--language barrier or no. The setting is so well described that it made me feel like I truly was in the south of France. (I know where I want to travel abroad to next! And no, I will not behave like the obnoxious tourists that Anderson writes about in this book. Ha.)
If you want a fun summer book in a beautiful setting, with realistic relationships and a perfect ending, I highly recommend Aix Marks the Spot.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars.
Aix Marks the Spot is a sweet story about love and family. In this novel, Sarah Anderson tells a story about a girl named Jamie who was sent to a small town in Provence to live with her grandmother while her mother healed from an injury that left her unable to walk. Told in first person perspective, Jamie is in a dark place after this accident. Though her father is French and her mother is a French lit professor, she struggles with the language barrier, which makes her relationship with her grandmother even more contentious (the first reason being that her grandmother and her father have not spoken since he moved to America).
Then Jamie meets Valentin, a boy her age who offers to help translate for her. When Jamie discovers a treasure hunt that her father left for her mother before Jamie was even born, she believes that this hunt is the key to healing her mother. Valentin is roped into her chasse au trésor, which takes them to the places where here parents fell in love.
This book is about both romantic and familial love, in addition to friendship. Anderson makes the characters realistically flawed and demonstrates the importance of communication--language barrier or no. The setting is so well described that it made me feel like I truly was in the south of France. (I know where I want to travel abroad to next! And no, I will not behave like the obnoxious tourists that Anderson writes about in this book. Ha.)
If you want a fun summer book in a beautiful setting, with realistic relationships and a perfect ending, I highly recommend Aix Marks the Spot.
April 10, 2020
*** I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
I was really excited to read this book just for its title. The play on words is what picked my interest.
As soon as I started reading the first chapter I was hooked. The book is very well written, the story is cute and, as a French expat, I was able to feel like I was back home. I could smell the freshly baked bread, the lavender, hear the cicadas, feel the bite of the mosquitoes (would have been happy not to be reminded of that!!), remember how you have to use a push bike if you don't own a car and live in the middle of nowhere, and there was so many bits of France and French expressions that you'd only learn if you have lived there that it made me all fuzzy inside :) And do not be afraid, there's enough use of the French language to make you feel like you're there, but not so much that you lose track of the story. What needed to be translated was translated. A perfect mix!
There is so much of France and of the French attitude in this book, that if you have never been to France but have heard of its clichés, or if you have already been to France, you will just feel like you very quickly need to get tickets and fly out there!
The book is easy to read and only takes a few hours to finish. It's diverting, it has a good story centered on an American teen moving in with her grandma - that she's never met before - for a whole Summer. She meets a French boy who shrugs his shoulders (typical!), starts a familial treasure hunt, gets to see some of the prettiest sights and realises that she can acclimate to the country, its customs and its people and start smiling again.
I was really excited to read this book just for its title. The play on words is what picked my interest.
As soon as I started reading the first chapter I was hooked. The book is very well written, the story is cute and, as a French expat, I was able to feel like I was back home. I could smell the freshly baked bread, the lavender, hear the cicadas, feel the bite of the mosquitoes (would have been happy not to be reminded of that!!), remember how you have to use a push bike if you don't own a car and live in the middle of nowhere, and there was so many bits of France and French expressions that you'd only learn if you have lived there that it made me all fuzzy inside :) And do not be afraid, there's enough use of the French language to make you feel like you're there, but not so much that you lose track of the story. What needed to be translated was translated. A perfect mix!
There is so much of France and of the French attitude in this book, that if you have never been to France but have heard of its clichés, or if you have already been to France, you will just feel like you very quickly need to get tickets and fly out there!
The book is easy to read and only takes a few hours to finish. It's diverting, it has a good story centered on an American teen moving in with her grandma - that she's never met before - for a whole Summer. She meets a French boy who shrugs his shoulders (typical!), starts a familial treasure hunt, gets to see some of the prettiest sights and realises that she can acclimate to the country, its customs and its people and start smiling again.
April 8, 2020
I loved the idea of this book. A scavenger hunt that was planted 17 years ago couldn’t possible still be around, except of course it is or we’d have no story. I think being bilingual helped me understand and enjoy the book more and is part of the reason I love reading books set in France. My main problem with this book, and the reason it’s not getting the 5 stars the story deserves, is because I literally could not stand Jamie or Valentin. It sucks to read a story where you love what’s going on but then hate 75% of the dialogue. I found myself skimming through conversations. Around 80% through the book I was so irritated with all the characters that I was almost ready to throw my kindle across the room, the saviour of my kindle was actually me laughing so hard I was almost brought to tears. While talking about the radio in the car Jamie remarks “The first song was an oddly upbeat polka; the next, a remix of that pirate song I think came from Peter Pan. After that, I’m pretty sure they just outright played ten minutes from Pirates of the Caribbean.” and I laughed so hard that I kept going. I’m really glad I did because the ending was so good that I was crying my eyes out. Overall an amazing read, 4 stars!
April 23, 2020
3.5/5 Strars
I have mixed feeling for this Book.At first Book bit slow. Aix Marks the Spot is set in the backdrop of France Provence. So, the book starts with Jamie flying to France to stay with her grandmother after her mother’s accident.
The book is well written. The premises of the book are really cute with all scavenger hunts, that made the book interesting. The description of the different places given in the book is really good.
Coming to characters, first of all Jamie, I had hard time understanding her character because of lack of background story in the beginning and somewhere she was stubborn also. Valentin was more composed than Jamie whenever she get anxious. I like their Deep friendship and their cute romance.
The author also highlighted the difference between American and European Culture also. One thing I like about the book is, it has shown the family Bonding and any problem can be solved by talking and listening.
If you are looking something cute for this summer then you can give this book a try.
I have mixed feeling for this Book.At first Book bit slow. Aix Marks the Spot is set in the backdrop of France Provence. So, the book starts with Jamie flying to France to stay with her grandmother after her mother’s accident.
The book is well written. The premises of the book are really cute with all scavenger hunts, that made the book interesting. The description of the different places given in the book is really good.
Coming to characters, first of all Jamie, I had hard time understanding her character because of lack of background story in the beginning and somewhere she was stubborn also. Valentin was more composed than Jamie whenever she get anxious. I like their Deep friendship and their cute romance.
The author also highlighted the difference between American and European Culture also. One thing I like about the book is, it has shown the family Bonding and any problem can be solved by talking and listening.
If you are looking something cute for this summer then you can give this book a try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2020
A real postcard of Provence with lots of humour and love
Key words: Romance, Provence, French, treasure hunt, love, family, contemporary, travel
This book, written by S.E. Anderson, is like walking into a postcard of Provence. It has so many great descriptions (not too long, don’t worry) of the landscape that the main character, Jamie, saw. I really enjoyed it. The best thing was being able to visualise most of the places as I have already visited them before. Moreover, I was really enjoying the fact that I speak French and could understand the French sentences that sometimes appeared in the text. I was trying to imagine what someone not speaking French would think about it. I liked the characters a lot, especially Jamie and Valentin (my new love) but sometimes Jamie, as she grows during the book, was annoying me, like I couldn’t wait for her to understand her mistakes and the situation. I also liked the writing a lot, it was really easy to read and I often laughed. A friend already asked to borrow it so I’m happy. Finally, I have to say that this edition was really nice; the first page of each chapter is really cute and I liked the feeling of the book.
I absolutely recommend it.
4.5/5
Key words: Romance, Provence, French, treasure hunt, love, family, contemporary, travel
This book, written by S.E. Anderson, is like walking into a postcard of Provence. It has so many great descriptions (not too long, don’t worry) of the landscape that the main character, Jamie, saw. I really enjoyed it. The best thing was being able to visualise most of the places as I have already visited them before. Moreover, I was really enjoying the fact that I speak French and could understand the French sentences that sometimes appeared in the text. I was trying to imagine what someone not speaking French would think about it. I liked the characters a lot, especially Jamie and Valentin (my new love) but sometimes Jamie, as she grows during the book, was annoying me, like I couldn’t wait for her to understand her mistakes and the situation. I also liked the writing a lot, it was really easy to read and I often laughed. A friend already asked to borrow it so I’m happy. Finally, I have to say that this edition was really nice; the first page of each chapter is really cute and I liked the feeling of the book.
I absolutely recommend it.
4.5/5
July 5, 2020
Aix Marks the Spot is a fun young adult romance set in the heart of Provence. I enjoyed it immensely - I definitely felt swept along with Jamie and I grew to care about what happened to her. Yes, she comes across as a little immature at times, but that's normal for her age, and it gave her plenty of scope to grow.
As a native French-speaker myself, I enjoyed the smatterings of French and some very clever play-on-words (which are explained for those who don't speak French). I enjoyed the way S.E. Anderson portrayed the culture clash from both points of view, and the cultural anxiety that comes with having Jamie's background: feeling like you don't entirely belong to one country or the other and not quite knowing how to define yourself.
The treasure hunt part of the novel was very well done and definitely made me want to visit Provence properly and see all the wonderful places described. I also enjoyed the twist at the end, which I did sort of guess in advance, but still liked for the way it was revealed.
This is definitely a book for those who dream of long, slow summers spent eating delicious food under the sun, with the possibility of adventure and romance just around the corner.
As a native French-speaker myself, I enjoyed the smatterings of French and some very clever play-on-words (which are explained for those who don't speak French). I enjoyed the way S.E. Anderson portrayed the culture clash from both points of view, and the cultural anxiety that comes with having Jamie's background: feeling like you don't entirely belong to one country or the other and not quite knowing how to define yourself.
The treasure hunt part of the novel was very well done and definitely made me want to visit Provence properly and see all the wonderful places described. I also enjoyed the twist at the end, which I did sort of guess in advance, but still liked for the way it was revealed.
This is definitely a book for those who dream of long, slow summers spent eating delicious food under the sun, with the possibility of adventure and romance just around the corner.
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