Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Han
Genres
Collection
Publication
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2014), 368 pages
Description
Romance. Young Adult Fiction. To All the Boys I've Loved Before is now a major motion picture streaming on Netflix! What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them.all at once? Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved-five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
Media reviews
n/a
The book is definitely a fun roller coaster ride of emotions in the best way. You will fall in love with the characters by the end of the first book. The book is so intriguing, it will keep you up wanting more and this is the exact reason why I love that it's a series of three books. I totally
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recommend this YA romance book. It is sure to get you out of a reading slump. The romantic scenes will have you shrieking in excitement, You’ll want a Peter K of your own by the end of the book. Show Less
Original publication date
2014-04-15
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member sch_94
My Summary: Lara Jean is a girl who is perfectly happy with her life. She has two amazing sisters, a father who loves her, and her best friend Josh - who happens to be dating her older sister. Her life is quiet, happy, and full of love.
But one thing Lara Jean doesn't have is a boyfriend. She's
Lara Jean thinks her life is over, but as she learns to speak her mind and tell those she cares about just how much they mean to her, she realizes that the best thing to come of the letters was the closure of them being read.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the way that this novel's theme transitioned from romance to family. At first glance, it seems like it's going to be a predictable romance, but in reality it turns out to be so much more. Lara Jean's love for her sisters, her father, and her friend - even if she has a little bit trouble figuring out what kind of love she feels for him - made it easy to relate to her on every level. Who hasn't felt conflicted when it comes to looking out for everyone else's best interests over your own?
I also really liked the supporting characters, and would definitely have liked to read/heard more from Josh and Margot's perspectives - especially about their relationship. The family aspect of the novel was so well done, and it was great to see a strong family bond present in a YA novel - the majority of them are decidedly lacking in happy families.
The writing flowed smoothly, and the main character's voice felt very realistic. The plot was very character-driven, and the tone was perfectly suited to the subject matter.
One last thing: can we just take a look at that cover? It's gorgeous! You definitely get a feel for the atmosphere of the novel just by looking at the cover.
Final Thoughts: I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary lit and romance, as well as anyone looking for a light read with some powerful messages.
But one thing Lara Jean doesn't have is a boyfriend. She's
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never been in a relationship, choosing instead to write letters to her crushes and never send them. By writing the letter, she is letting go of the person and allowing herself to move on. She's written five letters in total, and one of which was to Josh. So when the letters get sent out, Lara Jean is a world of trouble. Lara Jean thinks her life is over, but as she learns to speak her mind and tell those she cares about just how much they mean to her, she realizes that the best thing to come of the letters was the closure of them being read.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the way that this novel's theme transitioned from romance to family. At first glance, it seems like it's going to be a predictable romance, but in reality it turns out to be so much more. Lara Jean's love for her sisters, her father, and her friend - even if she has a little bit trouble figuring out what kind of love she feels for him - made it easy to relate to her on every level. Who hasn't felt conflicted when it comes to looking out for everyone else's best interests over your own?
I also really liked the supporting characters, and would definitely have liked to read/heard more from Josh and Margot's perspectives - especially about their relationship. The family aspect of the novel was so well done, and it was great to see a strong family bond present in a YA novel - the majority of them are decidedly lacking in happy families.
The writing flowed smoothly, and the main character's voice felt very realistic. The plot was very character-driven, and the tone was perfectly suited to the subject matter.
One last thing: can we just take a look at that cover? It's gorgeous! You definitely get a feel for the atmosphere of the novel just by looking at the cover.
Final Thoughts: I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary lit and romance, as well as anyone looking for a light read with some powerful messages.
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LibraryThing member readingdate
Jenny Han’s latest book hits just the right notes for summer reading. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is funny, touching, romantic and fast-paced and the perfect contemporary YA choice for your beach bag. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Lara Jean’s story as she navigates her way through
The scoop on To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is that Lara Jean is the quiet middle child – overshadowed by perfect know-it-all Margot and precocious younger sister Kitty. Lara Jean is kind of the Jan Brady of the group. The three Song girls lost their mother at a young age, and Margot takes on a mothering type role for the family. When Margot leaves for college, she also breaks it off with boy next-door Josh, someone who happens to be a secret letter recipient. Awkward! With Margot now off in Scotland, Lara Jean has to step up and help her dad by taking on some more responsibility. But first she has to deal with the repercussions of her secret letters that are now no longer a secret!
The delivery of the secret letters puts Lara Jean’s life in an uproar. Sweet family friend Josh is obviously confused to receive a love note from his ex-girlfriend’s sister (even though Josh and Lara Jean kinda liked each other first.) Then, popular, handsome, charismatic Peter Kavinsky receives his letter and that changes the game altogether. Perhaps they can help each other make their objects of affection jealous by staging a fake romance? (Lara Jean still has a crush on Josh and Peter is not quite over his ex) Sounds like a perfect scenario right- what could go wrong?!
Lara Jean has to gain confidence and put herself out there for the first time- no more hiding behind secret letters or her sister Margot. She’s a little shy and awkward which makes her more endearing. But going through these new challenges could give her just the confidence boost she needs.
To all The Boys is a love letter to sisters as well as to first crushes. The sisters are so close since losing their mom and honor her by keeping family traditions alive. The girls are half Korean and their dad makes sure to include Korean meals as one of the ways to remember their mom. Lara Jean’s cultural observations were also insightful.
I listened to the audiobook, performed by Laura Knight Keating. Keating is a good fit for this book, and brings out the humor in the story. She sounds age appropriate and differentiates all the characters. Her pacing is good and overall I think she did a solid job overall and I’d listen to her again in the sequel. The audiobook is a Whispersync for Kindle title and it’s quite affordable if you own the kindle edition.
And yes, there’s a sequel! The next and last book is called P.S. I Still Love You. I was really happy with the ending of To All the Boys but at the same time it leaves you really eager for Lara Jean’s next chapter. P.S. I Still Love You comes out in April of next year, so there’s lots of time to catch up on this series.
Read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before if you like: Contemporary YA, Anna and the French Kiss, The Summer I Turned Pretty series, and romantic comedies.
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love, friendship and family drama. The premise is that Lara Jean writes love notes over the years to the guys she fancies but instead of sending them she tucks them away in her hatbox. But then one day- someone sends out her letters without her knowledge. How mortifying! The letters change her life in a big and surprising way, and if you love Han’s Summer series you won’t want to miss this one.The scoop on To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is that Lara Jean is the quiet middle child – overshadowed by perfect know-it-all Margot and precocious younger sister Kitty. Lara Jean is kind of the Jan Brady of the group. The three Song girls lost their mother at a young age, and Margot takes on a mothering type role for the family. When Margot leaves for college, she also breaks it off with boy next-door Josh, someone who happens to be a secret letter recipient. Awkward! With Margot now off in Scotland, Lara Jean has to step up and help her dad by taking on some more responsibility. But first she has to deal with the repercussions of her secret letters that are now no longer a secret!
The delivery of the secret letters puts Lara Jean’s life in an uproar. Sweet family friend Josh is obviously confused to receive a love note from his ex-girlfriend’s sister (even though Josh and Lara Jean kinda liked each other first.) Then, popular, handsome, charismatic Peter Kavinsky receives his letter and that changes the game altogether. Perhaps they can help each other make their objects of affection jealous by staging a fake romance? (Lara Jean still has a crush on Josh and Peter is not quite over his ex) Sounds like a perfect scenario right- what could go wrong?!
Lara Jean has to gain confidence and put herself out there for the first time- no more hiding behind secret letters or her sister Margot. She’s a little shy and awkward which makes her more endearing. But going through these new challenges could give her just the confidence boost she needs.
To all The Boys is a love letter to sisters as well as to first crushes. The sisters are so close since losing their mom and honor her by keeping family traditions alive. The girls are half Korean and their dad makes sure to include Korean meals as one of the ways to remember their mom. Lara Jean’s cultural observations were also insightful.
I listened to the audiobook, performed by Laura Knight Keating. Keating is a good fit for this book, and brings out the humor in the story. She sounds age appropriate and differentiates all the characters. Her pacing is good and overall I think she did a solid job overall and I’d listen to her again in the sequel. The audiobook is a Whispersync for Kindle title and it’s quite affordable if you own the kindle edition.
And yes, there’s a sequel! The next and last book is called P.S. I Still Love You. I was really happy with the ending of To All the Boys but at the same time it leaves you really eager for Lara Jean’s next chapter. P.S. I Still Love You comes out in April of next year, so there’s lots of time to catch up on this series.
Read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before if you like: Contemporary YA, Anna and the French Kiss, The Summer I Turned Pretty series, and romantic comedies.
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LibraryThing member EuronerdLibrarian
Mixed feelings. I was skeptical for a while because of the voice. She sounded 13, but she was 16. She wasn’t especially emotional, which I found strange. But here’s the (good) thing: this romance had something that you don’t often find in YA lit: playfulness and humor. YA has a lot of
That said I didn’t like the ending (or lack thereof). It was sooooo unsatisfying.Right at the end something sours things for Peter and Lara Jean. And they don’t really get resolved. On the final page we see Lara Jean intending to resolve things with Peter. But we don’t really get to see them together as a happy couple. I wanted to see that! What did we go through the whole book for? It seemed to focus more on the sisters than the couple. And truth be told, I was a little unsatisfied with what happens between the sisters, too. I can’t imagine letting go of the things they did to each other that quickly and did Margot ever really get what Lara Jean was going through? I dunno. I’ve never had a sister, so maybe I can’t understand. I kept trying to change the story or resolve it in my head after I finished the book. All this build up and then…blah. Not only did the book feel unsettled, it made me feel unsettled, which I did not appreciate. (Though obviously if I had this kind of reaction, she succeeded very much in getting me involved and caring about the characters.)
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passion, drama, sensitivity, and physical intimacy of different kinds. Here, I felt like I was giggling along with the protagonist. They tease each other and make each other laugh and enjoy spending time together. It’s a bunch of little things that collect over time. It reminded me of what matters in real life. It was nice to read something that felt so natural and fun.That said I didn’t like the ending (or lack thereof). It was sooooo unsatisfying.
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LibraryThing member BornBookish
Mini Review: My thoughts in 5 bullets or less…
Song Girls Forever
Margot, Lara Jean, and Kitty are not just sisters they are best friends. I loved the fact that there was such a large focus on sibling relationships. This book would not have been the same without all three of the song girls; Margot
Did I mention Kitty?
This kid was the best little sister ever. I loved that even though she was just 9 years old, Margot and Lara Jean never babied her. They talked to her like an equal, shared secrets, and gave each other fashion advice. Plus, she was the one to provide most of the laughable moments.
Relatable
Laura Jean is seriously one of the most normal and easy to relate to characters I’ve ever read about. She would rather lounge around the house in her PJs scrapbooking or hanging out with her sisters than going out partying with friends. Family always comes first in her mind and her love for them is endearing.
Despite what some people think. She does not chase after her sisters’ ex.
When the synopsis mentioned Lara Jean writing a love letter to her sisters ex-boyfriend I was a little worried I would hate her, because who does that? But it’s not what you expect. Lara Jean wrote that letter in middle school. Her and Josh were super close friends for years before he started dating her older sister. Even though she’d always had a crush on him she knows it can never happen and pushes all those feelings out of her heart. It’s not like she sat around pining over him while he was with her sister, she wasn’t. But when her sister breaks up with him, the feelings start to resurface and Lara Jean hates herself for it. She loves her sister and would never want to hurt her. When her letters get sent out and Josh starts to show a romantic interest in her, she comes up with this whole crazy scheme of fake dating Peter so that Josh will know that nothing can ever happen between them.
Conclusion
This book is a sweet contemporary read with a large focus on sibling and family relationships, but also a budding romance. I can’t wait to read the rest of Lara Jean’s story next year in P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU.
Song Girls Forever
Margot, Lara Jean, and Kitty are not just sisters they are best friends. I loved the fact that there was such a large focus on sibling relationships. This book would not have been the same without all three of the song girls; Margot
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the oldest, most organized, and mother of the bunch. Lara Jean the middle sister, dreamer, and afraid to drive. Kitty the youngest, speaks her mind, and is straight-up hilarious. Did I mention Kitty?
This kid was the best little sister ever. I loved that even though she was just 9 years old, Margot and Lara Jean never babied her. They talked to her like an equal, shared secrets, and gave each other fashion advice. Plus, she was the one to provide most of the laughable moments.
Relatable
Laura Jean is seriously one of the most normal and easy to relate to characters I’ve ever read about. She would rather lounge around the house in her PJs scrapbooking or hanging out with her sisters than going out partying with friends. Family always comes first in her mind and her love for them is endearing.
Despite what some people think. She does not chase after her sisters’ ex.
When the synopsis mentioned Lara Jean writing a love letter to her sisters ex-boyfriend I was a little worried I would hate her, because who does that? But it’s not what you expect. Lara Jean wrote that letter in middle school. Her and Josh were super close friends for years before he started dating her older sister. Even though she’d always had a crush on him she knows it can never happen and pushes all those feelings out of her heart. It’s not like she sat around pining over him while he was with her sister, she wasn’t. But when her sister breaks up with him, the feelings start to resurface and Lara Jean hates herself for it. She loves her sister and would never want to hurt her. When her letters get sent out and Josh starts to show a romantic interest in her, she comes up with this whole crazy scheme of fake dating Peter so that Josh will know that nothing can ever happen between them.
Conclusion
This book is a sweet contemporary read with a large focus on sibling and family relationships, but also a budding romance. I can’t wait to read the rest of Lara Jean’s story next year in P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU.
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LibraryThing member CaitieM.
Quickie Review!
I read this book on a flight I took recently and it went by much quicker than I expected. I heard so many good things about this book on Youtube, Goodreads, and Tumblr that I was expected this book to be amazing and of course I should learn that books rarely live up to the hype. The
I read this book on a flight I took recently and it went by much quicker than I expected. I heard so many good things about this book on Youtube, Goodreads, and Tumblr that I was expected this book to be amazing and of course I should learn that books rarely live up to the hype. The
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book had a slow beginning and it took quite a while for it to pick up. The writing seemed a bit simple, but not to the point where it got annoying to me, but it was noticeable. Lara Jean was a bit immature and honestly I found her a tad bit boring. Her narrative just didn’t capture; she seemed like a plethora of other female narratives I have seen before. The end of the book just left me hanging and I honestly feel like this could have been a stand-alone novel if there had just been an extra few chapters instead of making it a duology. I cannot say that I’ll rush out to buy the sequel, but I will read it as the book was in some ways enjoyable, just not nearly up to the hype that it has been receiving. Show Less
LibraryThing member Courtney_Chance
whatever I want to say wont give this book the justice it deserves. I have to wrap my head around this greatness
LibraryThing member KatieHeflin
I enjoyed this one quite a lot. It was a light and easy read and it fit my mood at the time. It wasn't too unbelievable like I thought the Summer I Turned Pretty series was. Basically it's a coming of age story and I REALLY appreciated that the main character was part Asian. We really need more
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diversity in our contemporaries! So it follows a girl who is the middle child and her older sister is heading off to college. She is scared to have to take over and be in charge of her younger sister. Somehow all these letters that she has written, addressed, and stored in her hat box get sent out and she is forced to deal with the repercussions. One of the guys that she would never dream she would get close to becomes her fake boyfriend and friend. The other guy she thought she'd always love, her sister's ex-boyfriend seems to have feelings for her too after receiving his letter and crazy things happen. Show Less
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Lara Jean writes letters to the boys she's loved to get them out of her system. When she discovers she has feelings for the boy next door, who starts dating her older sister, she writes him a letter to pack those feeling away. When the letters that she stores in her mother's hatbox are suddenly
Soon she is in a fake relationship with her middle school crush in order to try to make other people jealous. But real, confusing feelings emerge.
A light, fun read. Lara Jean's family is a treat to get to know.
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sent out, her life is turned upside down. Soon she is in a fake relationship with her middle school crush in order to try to make other people jealous. But real, confusing feelings emerge.
A light, fun read. Lara Jean's family is a treat to get to know.
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LibraryThing member marielreads
This book was really disappointing. I was drawn in by the blurb, its general high ratings, and many recommendations. However, I felt that there was no real substance to the story. There was no real romance. There was no ending to this book. I disliked the overall writing style; some sentences were
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poorly constructed and grammatically incorrect. Show Less
LibraryThing member PamZaragoza
"I think I see the difference now, between loving someone from afar and loving someone up close. When you see them up close, you see the real them, but they also get to see the real you."
I love the fact the story didn't just revolve around Lara Jean's romance but also focused on familial
I love the fact the story didn't just revolve around Lara Jean's romance but also focused on familial
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relationships. It's such a light and cute read that you'd just tear through the pages of this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member olegalCA
**I received a free copy of this book from Simon & Schuster. That in no way influenced my review.**
I completely adore the young adult series by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivan ("Burn for Burn") so I was excited to have the opportunity to read a book by Han alone. "To All the Boys I've Loved Before"
The "mystery" of the book, who mailed Lara Jean's letters, was not the focus - rather, Lara Jean embarks on a fake relationship with one of the boys in order to deceive another boy (her sister's ex-boyfriend). There are no major surprises but I liked the ease in which Han involves us in Lara Jean's world and it was a nice break from the angst that seems to be overwhelmingly represented in YA books at this time.
I completely adore the young adult series by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivan ("Burn for Burn") so I was excited to have the opportunity to read a book by Han alone. "To All the Boys I've Loved Before"
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features a teenage girl struggling to take over the role her older sister held when her mother died after she moved to Scotland to attend college. Lara Jean writes five letters to the five boys she's loved but never dated and somehow these letters are mailed.The "mystery" of the book, who mailed Lara Jean's letters, was not the focus - rather, Lara Jean embarks on a fake relationship with one of the boys in order to deceive another boy (her sister's ex-boyfriend). There are no major surprises but I liked the ease in which Han involves us in Lara Jean's world and it was a nice break from the angst that seems to be overwhelmingly represented in YA books at this time.
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LibraryThing member Sheila1957
Lara Jean has written love letters to her crushes through the years and kept them hidden in a hatbox given to her by her mother. Those letters get mailed and she has to deal with the consequences.
I enjoyed the first person point of view. I felt as if I was in her shoes. Lara Jean had to grow up
The beginning was slow. I was afraid that it was going to be trite with every daily happening being told but it got better once Margot was off to college and the letters' fallout begins. It became what I expected and definitely got better. I enjoyed watching the changing reactions to one another and the truths being revealed. I look forward to the sequel to see how it all plays out.
I enjoyed the first person point of view. I felt as if I was in her shoes. Lara Jean had to grow up
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fast. She had to deal with the embarrassment of her deepest feelings being known. She also had to learn to deal with conflict within her family that had become minimal with the death of her mother. There are secrets within the family that come to light with the letters. Relationships change.The beginning was slow. I was afraid that it was going to be trite with every daily happening being told but it got better once Margot was off to college and the letters' fallout begins. It became what I expected and definitely got better. I enjoyed watching the changing reactions to one another and the truths being revealed. I look forward to the sequel to see how it all plays out.
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LibraryThing member edspicer
This book was amazingly written and had unexpected twists to it. The underdog really pulls through! 5Q5P The cover art is awesome and I'd recommend this to middle school and high school students. I chose to read this book because I loved the cover and I really do judge books by their covers! EmmaR
LibraryThing member Daniela02
The beginning of this book was very slow paced. It was a lot of background information and stuff about the main character.
After the first couple of chapters the book got a lot better. I really liked the main character,Lara Jean, because she was so relatable. She was awkward and silly at some
I also think the ending of the book was just perfect. The way it ended was like a beginning instead of an ending and that made me really happy.
Overall I definitely enjoyed this book. It had me smiling a lot of the time because it was so cutesy.
After the first couple of chapters the book got a lot better. I really liked the main character,Lara Jean, because she was so relatable. She was awkward and silly at some
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points like I sometimes am! Her sister on the other hand, I didn't like. I really did not like that it seemed like Margo was always trying to get Lara Jean to be like her. The rest of the characters were pretty neutral to me. I wasn't crazy about most of them but I didn't not like them.I also think the ending of the book was just perfect. The way it ended was like a beginning instead of an ending and that made me really happy.
Overall I definitely enjoyed this book. It had me smiling a lot of the time because it was so cutesy.
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LibraryThing member fatimareadsbooks
I loved this book so much! When I first started reading the book, I was a little unsure about how it's gonna go, but it totally didn't let me down! My two favorite characters were Kitty & Chris and I shipped Peter and Lara so much!! The humor in this book made me laugh out loud many times and
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everything was beautifully well-written. I can assure you I'll be reading more Jenny Han books in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member beearedee
When I first got done reading this book I loved it. Then I really started thinking about it. I took a few days off to really think about it and came to a conclusion: I don't know if I like Jenny Han or if I don't like this book.
This book is not a romance book and do not let anyone tell you it is.
Basically, Lara Jean has written "love letters" to every boy she has ever "loved." She never sent them out but oopsies they were sent out to all these boys. And, double oopsies, one of those boys was her sister's ex boyfriend. She then has to lie to her sister's ex boyfriend by fake dating another guy that she sent the letters out to.
That had potential to be good. Like, imagine if she then found out that Other Boy loved her and they live happily ever after? Or what if her and Other Boy become really good friends and he helps her get over this embarrassing situation? There were so many good things that could have happened. But they didn't.
I said there was no romance in this book because there weren't. Sure, we are supposed to think that she ~looooves~ her sister's ex boyfriend, but it just sounds like she has a crush on him. There just is no love and romance and I'm done talking about this.
She was also extremely immature. I'm not sure if Jenny Han wants all of her 16 year old characters to sound 12, but they do. But at least Lara Jean didn't stick her tongue out at people when they upset her.
The one thing that really made me mad was that Lara Jean and her sister are supposed to be really close, but then how did she just never tell her sister she liked her boyfriend? Like even before they started dating? That was a big hole for me that I couldn't look past.
I will say one thing though: the friendship between Chris and Lara Jean was healthy. There were no Fake Friends or "frenemies" in this book like there were in the Summer series.
All in all, I saw my romance, no character growth, and no plot. I won't be re-reading this book. I also am debating on if I want to read another Jenny Han book.
This book is not a romance book and do not let anyone tell you it is.
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There is no romance in it. If this book were being lauded as a book on how to get over an embarrassing and potentially creepy situation, then it wouldn't be as annoying to me. Basically, Lara Jean has written "love letters" to every boy she has ever "loved." She never sent them out but oopsies they were sent out to all these boys. And, double oopsies, one of those boys was her sister's ex boyfriend. She then has to lie to her sister's ex boyfriend by fake dating another guy that she sent the letters out to.
That had potential to be good. Like, imagine if she then found out that Other Boy loved her and they live happily ever after? Or what if her and Other Boy become really good friends and he helps her get over this embarrassing situation? There were so many good things that could have happened. But they didn't.
I said there was no romance in this book because there weren't. Sure, we are supposed to think that she ~looooves~ her sister's ex boyfriend, but it just sounds like she has a crush on him. There just is no love and romance and I'm done talking about this.
She was also extremely immature. I'm not sure if Jenny Han wants all of her 16 year old characters to sound 12, but they do. But at least Lara Jean didn't stick her tongue out at people when they upset her.
The one thing that really made me mad was that Lara Jean and her sister are supposed to be really close, but then how did she just never tell her sister she liked her boyfriend? Like even before they started dating? That was a big hole for me that I couldn't look past.
I will say one thing though: the friendship between Chris and Lara Jean was healthy. There were no Fake Friends or "frenemies" in this book like there were in the Summer series.
All in all, I saw my romance, no character growth, and no plot. I won't be re-reading this book. I also am debating on if I want to read another Jenny Han book.
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LibraryThing member xKhuloodx
This book was difficult to finish. I read it after seeing all the positive reviews, but it just left me conflicted. The title lead me to believe that there would be more to the story than just this. The characters are too immature for their age, and every time the little sister (who isn't so
It was also a little boring to read, and I caught myself skimming and skipping pages hoping that there would actually be a "point". Plus, this is one gross love triangle.. When someone is dating your sister (even if they've broken up), you don't "remember" that you had feelings for him "first".. seriously, for a 16 year old, the whole "I loved him first" is one twisted logic.
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little), is there, I felt like throwing the book. She's supposed to be 9, why does she act like a 5 year old?It was also a little boring to read, and I caught myself skimming and skipping pages hoping that there would actually be a "point". Plus, this is one gross love triangle.. When someone is dating your sister (even if they've broken up), you don't "remember" that you had feelings for him "first".. seriously, for a 16 year old, the whole "I loved him first" is one twisted logic.
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LibraryThing member Amberlouichu
"To All The Boys I've Loved Before... All 5 of you... You suck" pretty much sums this book up. It's a light read with good pacing and has a certain charm that keeps you hooked throughout.
The main character Lara-Jean is a bit too uptight for me to immerse myself in her completely but her development
So Lara-Jean writes love letters to all the guys she's had feelings for, I won't say loved because it's incredibly naïve to class what she felt as love rather than adoration. She keeps these letters in a hat box her mother gave her and then one day they are all send to the five guys in question and "all hell breaks loose".
A bit dramatic? Yup exactly but somehow it's still a charming story. It's a bit of a clash in the character since Lara-Jean is so uptight about real life love and the language in the letters aren't very consistent to her character who is shy and revolves solely around her family.
I don't know, I just felt that the story was a bit forced and inconsistent but I guess that's a plot tool to highlight the changes within the main character.
So much teen angst and naïve female protagonist, love triangles and mean girls just makes this a very typical YA for me so it didn't really stand out or bring anything new to the table for me but still enjoyed it enough to fly through it. I will most probably read the mext book for more doses of Peter and Kitty :)
Struggling between 3-4 stars so I'll settle for 3.5 mostly for the two characters I fell in love with and the captivating writing style.
The main character Lara-Jean is a bit too uptight for me to immerse myself in her completely but her development
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throughout the story holds everything together. Plus her kind of stuck-up attitude is part of who she is and part of her nourished upbringing within two cultures. I find the older sister, Margot, to be insufferable and I almost tried to pretend she didn't exist is some places. Kitty though, Kitty was one of the only characters I loved in this along with Peter. Those two kept me reading.So Lara-Jean writes love letters to all the guys she's had feelings for, I won't say loved because it's incredibly naïve to class what she felt as love rather than adoration. She keeps these letters in a hat box her mother gave her and then one day they are all send to the five guys in question and "all hell breaks loose".
A bit dramatic? Yup exactly but somehow it's still a charming story. It's a bit of a clash in the character since Lara-Jean is so uptight about real life love and the language in the letters aren't very consistent to her character who is shy and revolves solely around her family.
I don't know, I just felt that the story was a bit forced and inconsistent but I guess that's a plot tool to highlight the changes within the main character.
So much teen angst and naïve female protagonist, love triangles and mean girls just makes this a very typical YA for me so it didn't really stand out or bring anything new to the table for me but still enjoyed it enough to fly through it. I will most probably read the mext book for more doses of Peter and Kitty :)
Struggling between 3-4 stars so I'll settle for 3.5 mostly for the two characters I fell in love with and the captivating writing style.
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LibraryThing member LydiaLeigh257
I like this book but it was also kind of a massive 'meh'.
The voice of the MC is so immature and childish and butter-wouldn't-melt and it really grated at me. Why do I find it so hard to like female MCs?
And the love-triangle? Really pissed me off, too. Although, I wasn't expecting it to go the way
It wasn't great but it was an okay read to keep me occupied for a few hours. Don't think I'll ever pick it up again.
The voice of the MC is so immature and childish and butter-wouldn't-melt and it really grated at me. Why do I find it so hard to like female MCs?
And the love-triangle? Really pissed me off, too. Although, I wasn't expecting it to go the way
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it did - points for surprising me.It wasn't great but it was an okay read to keep me occupied for a few hours. Don't think I'll ever pick it up again.
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LibraryThing member dkgarner95
This was a quick, cute read. Lara Jean's "voice" came across as immature sometimes, but overall I enjoyed this a bunch.
LibraryThing member foggidawn
This is a fun romance that starts out with an embarrassing mishap. When Lara Jean wrote those letters to her former crushes, she never intended for them to be read by anyone but herself. When the letters are somehow mailed out, chaos ensues. This is a light and fluffy YA romance, but the best of
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the book is the relationship between the three sisters. Show Less
LibraryThing member KeriLynneD
This one was pretty good even though Lara Jean was pretty annoying at times. I didn't like the fact that she was having feelings for her sisters ex-boyfriend. It was just weird to me. Maybe if they only dated a little bit but Margot and Josh dated for TWO years! That's a long time in teenage years!
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So no, not cool Lara Jean. Margot was pretty bitchy most of the time for no real reason. Lara's other love interest Peter was a DB the majority of the time. Like seriously?? Why are you still so obsessed with your ex?? He says he'll always be there for her but he never says WHY exactly or explains it. Not that Lara Jean ever really give either Josh or Peter a chance to actually TALK about anything of importance before she runs off. Man, I currently have this rated as a 4 but now that I'm writing this I think it needs to be bumped down to a 3. I did really like Lara Jeans relationship with her father. It was really a sweet relationship even though I think it was horrible how the dad was so uninvolved and oblivious to what was going on. I was planning to read the next book soon but I'll probably hold off for awhile. Show Less
LibraryThing member margaraawr
“My letters are for when I don't want to be in love anymore. They're for good-bye. Because after I write in my letter, I'm not longer consumed by my all-consuming love...My letters set me free. Or at least they're supposed to.”
Lara Jean wrote love letters. Well, they're kind of good-bye
-I found the letters quite adorable. They're cute, obviously written by someone so young and naive.
But someone sent these letters to her crushes. I won't tell you who, not because it'll be a spoiler but because it's so obvious and you don't have to guess that hard.
So one of the recipients of the letters is Josh, her sister's ex-boyfriend. Lara Jean has been crushing on him since forever. Gawd, how awkward can it be?
-Ehh. There's so many boys in this world. Why think about a guy that way when he's involved with your sister? I mean, ew, do you want to kiss someone who had also kissed your sister. It's so gross.
Lara Jean didn't know what to do. So, she entered a contract with Peter (another recipient of the letter) where they will pretend they're a couple. Peter only did it so he could make his girlfriend (who dumped him) jealous.
-Crap, fake dating?! I've read so many books and watched so many movies about it to know that you'll always going to fall in love for real at the end. It's so cliche. -_-
-I am actually frustrated also at Peter. There's this time when I feel I'm going to like him and then he'll brushed Lara Jean off. He's always going to his ex-girlfriend. I mean, they're cute together. Lara Jean and Peter, I mean. I just think he's such a douche.
Whatever. So after that, everything just spiraled out of control. P.S. I just want to punch Josh. Ugh. He doesn't deserve Lara Jean. Even Margot, he doesn't deserve her, too. Ugh so irritating.
(OMG I did not get the Harry Potter reference, I should totally read that series already!)
Another thing that irritated me as well: There is no ending. And there's this other guy who also received a letter and I guess will be a part of a new love triangle in the next book. Love triangle! Hurrah!
Honestly, I enjoyed this book. Well, I'm a teenager after all. I often catch myself smiling while reading this. But there's some things that just frustrated the hell out of me.. So, I'll give this a rating that is in between.
Lara Jean wrote love letters. Well, they're kind of good-bye
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letters because she wrote them when she's sure she's not in love with them anymore. She's someone who doesn't like to voice out her feelings so instead she wrote letters for all her 5 crushes but she didn't send them. It's just a form of release, I think. -I found the letters quite adorable. They're cute, obviously written by someone so young and naive.
But someone sent these letters to her crushes. I won't tell you who, not because it'll be a spoiler but because it's so obvious and you don't have to guess that hard.
So one of the recipients of the letters is Josh, her sister's ex-boyfriend. Lara Jean has been crushing on him since forever. Gawd, how awkward can it be?
-Ehh. There's so many boys in this world. Why think about a guy that way when he's involved with your sister? I mean, ew, do you want to kiss someone who had also kissed your sister. It's so gross.
Lara Jean didn't know what to do. So, she entered a contract with Peter (another recipient of the letter) where they will pretend they're a couple. Peter only did it so he could make his girlfriend (who dumped him) jealous.
-Crap, fake dating?! I've read so many books and watched so many movies about it to know that you'll always going to fall in love for real at the end. It's so cliche. -_-
-I am actually frustrated also at Peter. There's this time when I feel I'm going to like him and then he'll brushed Lara Jean off. He's always going to his ex-girlfriend. I mean, they're cute together. Lara Jean and Peter, I mean. I just think he's such a douche.
Whatever. So after that, everything just spiraled out of control. P.S. I just want to punch Josh. Ugh. He doesn't deserve Lara Jean. Even Margot, he doesn't deserve her, too. Ugh so irritating.
(OMG I did not get the Harry Potter reference, I should totally read that series already!)
Another thing that irritated me as well: There is no ending. And there's this other guy who also received a letter and I guess will be a part of a new love triangle in the next book. Love triangle! Hurrah!
Honestly, I enjoyed this book. Well, I'm a teenager after all. I often catch myself smiling while reading this. But there's some things that just frustrated the hell out of me.. So, I'll give this a rating that is in between.
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LibraryThing member ceecee83
**Warning! Although there are no outright plot spoilers in this review, there is a little bit of information about what characters are in this book and what I liked/didn't like about them. If you consider this a spoiler be warned!**
I don't know about you, but whenever summer rolls around, I am
To All The Boys I've Loved Before is about sixteen year old Lara Jean who, whenever she wants to get over a crush on a boy, writes them a love letter and shuts it away in her hatbox, never to think of it again. Her love life becomes a little more complicated when somebody mails out all of these letters, and I loved the crazy ride that ensued. Honestly, based on this premise, the book took a different direction than I was expecting, but that was okay because it gave me a story that I loved! Instead of the book being about the fallout from every letter, it focuses more on only two of the letters and the rom-com-like drama that unfolds from there. Complete with a fake relationship plot line (classic), awakenings of old feelings, and a wonderful dynamic with Lara Jean and her family,this book definitely deserves an A+ :)
So, details of why I loved this book. Firstly, I loved the sister dynamic in the book. Lara Jean has an older sister, Margot, and a younger sister, Kitty. The age difference between these sisters is actually the same as the one between myself and my sisters, so they reminded me a lot of my own family! Every time Lara Jean would pick on Kitty I couldn't help but think they were exactly like my two sisters. I also identified with Margot because the nine year age difference between myself and my youngest sister creates a bit of a mother/daughter relationship as well as a sister relationship. I always love it when a book has an emphasis on a family as opposed to the family or parents just disappearing when the protagonist discovers their "destiny." Families in YA contemporaries are always my favourite and I loved the Song/Coveys just as much as the rest of them!
Okay. Now let's talk about Peter. I loved what Jenny Han did with this character. I mean, he's an obvious love interest, but at the beginning I didn't like him. Peter is one of the first love interests that actually had to grow on me because he didn't have me wooed right away. Normally the protagonist is in love with the douchey guy right away, however, Lara Jean wasn't in love with him from the beginning (at least she didn't know she was ;)) Because of this, she shares tidbits about Peter that make him unlikeable, and I bought it. Peter was the unlikeable guy that I genuinely grew to adore, and I loved that! I loved seeing little sweet gestures shine through and seeing Lara Jean deal with all of her feelings about the whole situation. So, of course I loved Peter by the end, although I still have some questions...
There were a few reasons why I docked half a teacup off my rating, one being the lack of resolution. Although this book could stand alone, I am SO glad there is a second book! There were certain issues regarding some of Peter's interactions with his ex-girlfriend that left me wondering, and Lara Jean unfortunately suffers from a syndrome that many characters in YA books and TV shows suffer from. That is IGNORING PEOPLE or when something bad happens they REFUSE TO TALK TO THE PERSON they are angry with. I swear this is something that annoys me more than most things. Communication is the key to everything! If there is a misunderstanding, talk to the person about it! Let's be real, every time a character is upset about something to do with another character, it's always a misunderstanding that is cleared up through CONVERSATION. Does this bug anyone else? It definitely happens too much for my liking :P Other than those few issues, this book is definitely a YA contemporary gem, and as I said, there is a second book and hopefully I will get a little more closure.
Once again, I highly recommend To All The Boys I've Loved Before for a lovey summer read! It is super cute, fun, and the plot and characters are wonderful. This is the perfect book to read in the sunshine or lying on the beach. Now that I've read and loved this book, I want to look into Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, and look forward to reading many more Jenny Han books in the future!
I don't know about you, but whenever summer rolls around, I am
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always in the mood for a cutesy summery contemporary. To All The Boys I've Loved Before was that perfect summery read for me! I think my love of this book was born of a mixture of me being in the mood for it and the fact that it reads like an adorable rom-com. I would highly recommend this as a beach read, a fluffy read, or a read if you are looking to get out a the dreaded reading slump!To All The Boys I've Loved Before is about sixteen year old Lara Jean who, whenever she wants to get over a crush on a boy, writes them a love letter and shuts it away in her hatbox, never to think of it again. Her love life becomes a little more complicated when somebody mails out all of these letters, and I loved the crazy ride that ensued. Honestly, based on this premise, the book took a different direction than I was expecting, but that was okay because it gave me a story that I loved! Instead of the book being about the fallout from every letter, it focuses more on only two of the letters and the rom-com-like drama that unfolds from there. Complete with a fake relationship plot line (classic), awakenings of old feelings, and a wonderful dynamic with Lara Jean and her family,this book definitely deserves an A+ :)
So, details of why I loved this book. Firstly, I loved the sister dynamic in the book. Lara Jean has an older sister, Margot, and a younger sister, Kitty. The age difference between these sisters is actually the same as the one between myself and my sisters, so they reminded me a lot of my own family! Every time Lara Jean would pick on Kitty I couldn't help but think they were exactly like my two sisters. I also identified with Margot because the nine year age difference between myself and my youngest sister creates a bit of a mother/daughter relationship as well as a sister relationship. I always love it when a book has an emphasis on a family as opposed to the family or parents just disappearing when the protagonist discovers their "destiny." Families in YA contemporaries are always my favourite and I loved the Song/Coveys just as much as the rest of them!
Okay. Now let's talk about Peter. I loved what Jenny Han did with this character. I mean, he's an obvious love interest, but at the beginning I didn't like him. Peter is one of the first love interests that actually had to grow on me because he didn't have me wooed right away. Normally the protagonist is in love with the douchey guy right away, however, Lara Jean wasn't in love with him from the beginning (at least she didn't know she was ;)) Because of this, she shares tidbits about Peter that make him unlikeable, and I bought it. Peter was the unlikeable guy that I genuinely grew to adore, and I loved that! I loved seeing little sweet gestures shine through and seeing Lara Jean deal with all of her feelings about the whole situation. So, of course I loved Peter by the end, although I still have some questions...
There were a few reasons why I docked half a teacup off my rating, one being the lack of resolution. Although this book could stand alone, I am SO glad there is a second book! There were certain issues regarding some of Peter's interactions with his ex-girlfriend that left me wondering, and Lara Jean unfortunately suffers from a syndrome that many characters in YA books and TV shows suffer from. That is IGNORING PEOPLE or when something bad happens they REFUSE TO TALK TO THE PERSON they are angry with. I swear this is something that annoys me more than most things. Communication is the key to everything! If there is a misunderstanding, talk to the person about it! Let's be real, every time a character is upset about something to do with another character, it's always a misunderstanding that is cleared up through CONVERSATION. Does this bug anyone else? It definitely happens too much for my liking :P Other than those few issues, this book is definitely a YA contemporary gem, and as I said, there is a second book and hopefully I will get a little more closure.
Once again, I highly recommend To All The Boys I've Loved Before for a lovey summer read! It is super cute, fun, and the plot and characters are wonderful. This is the perfect book to read in the sunshine or lying on the beach. Now that I've read and loved this book, I want to look into Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, and look forward to reading many more Jenny Han books in the future!
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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Love Lara Jean's voice: informal, funny, spirited. The teen dialogue rings true. Lara Jean's family is portrayed as loving and close. What didn't work for me was that Lara Jean doesn't figure out who sent her secret letters (I guessed it out right away), nor does she seem all that upset that
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they're out there. I would be horrified if that happened to me! Show Less
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