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Title: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before; P.S. I Still Love You; and Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Published On: 4/15/2014, 5/26/2015, 5/2/2017
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Physical
Pages: 355, 337, 325

Synopsis from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: This is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. 

But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. 

As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

My Thoughts

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before sat on my shelf waiting to be read for years. I ended up watching the film on Netflix (which is currently free, even for non-subscribers!) before I even read the book, something I try to avoid, but I enjoyed the movie so much, I finally picked up the book and read it. I love Lara Jean. She’s sweet and pure and innocent, and Jenny Han does a great job of writing characters that are authentic and relatable.

When the second movie came out, I knew I wanted to read the book first this time, and I ended up reading it in about a day over Valentine’s. I wished I would have had time for a reread of the first one because I’d forgotten so much, but I read through a synopsis and continued reading P.S. I Still Love You. I watched the film on Valentine’s evening, and while I enjoyed it, it was much harder to separate the movie from the book having just finished reading it.

I decided the next day not to wait another year, and read the final book, Always and Forever, Lara Jean, which made me smile and cry and swoon. It was a lovely conclusion for Lara Jean, and I can’t wait for the final film which has already wrapped filming.

This series brought back memories of my own high school years, not really with specific events, but more of the general feeling of how it felt to be young, eager for change, but also scared for it. I also enjoyed the relationships between Lara Jean and her sisters, Margot and Kitty. I loved that they struggled to always put each other first, even when it wasn’t the easiest choice.

While the reader could pick apart these books and find issues with Lara Jean, she came across to me as completely naive, kind, and a typical teenager trying to figure herself out while also clinging to familiar things in her growing and changing world. These three books will remain on my shelves waiting to be reread again someday.

Rating:

#ASongForABook

{On Bookstagram I created a hashtag for when I include a song that reminds me of the book I’m sharing, #ASongForABook. I’ve decided to use it here, as well.}

I’ve chosen Steal My Girl by One Direction. This song was included in Jenny Han’s playlist at the back of P.S. I Still Love You, and I think it encompasses the youth and overall energy of the books. And the lyrics fit, as well. 😉

If you’re interested in a more lengthy playlist, the author has created one for each book. The one for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before can be found here on Amazon under Editorial Reviews. The other books include them at the back (at least in the paperback editions that I own).

Have you read this series? Or is it on your tbr? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!