jaymieearley's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
belliz4's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I watched the movie before I read the book and this is one of the few cases in which I can say that I liked the movie a lot more. Margot’s character is unnecessarily bitchy and there’s soo much slut shaming. It wasn’t a bad read but nothing overly spectacular.
hostofthisparty's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
siobhan27's review
4.0
I fell in love with Jenny Han a lot slower than many of her readers, and that is because I have never read her The Summer I Turned Pretty series, even though I have all of them on my shelf. I fell in love with Jenny Han's writing when I read Burn for Burn and Fire with Fire, it was then that I knew I had a new fav author.
While I was reading To All The Boys I've Loved Before I realized that the plot was very similar to that of Lillia in Fire with Fire. Where she pretend to date a boy for her own benefit. But this time it was mutual instead of a one sided lie. I loved Lillia's character in that series, and I loved Lara Jean as well. I think I liked her because she was real, she had teenager problems but dealt with them as a flawed character and to me that was great to read because not only did her mistakes seem real to me, but the way she handled those infractions was a great way to show character growth.
What I found amazing in this book was that no character felt inconsequential, every character that Lara Jean meets has a purpose and I think I liked those characters even more. I loved her relationship with hr older sister, and the fact that she looked up to her in a way that some might find unhealthy, but it was that relationship which caused Lara Jean to find herself in the end. I loved her rocky relationship with her younger sister and how guilty she felt when she didn't treat her with the respect that her other sister would have. I loved that she kept referencing herself in relation to her older sister, and that that changed as the story moved forward. Lara Jean found herself outside of what her family expected and I loved reading that.
The love story was simplistic but real, but my only issue was that I did not like Peter at all, I thought that as the book went on I would feel differently for him, the same way that Lara Jean did, but I didn't. And I think that put a damper on the book itself, but also my reaction to the end. I wasn't shocked by the end, I would like to know what happens after the last page, but I am not in desperate need of it right now. I will be waiting for the next book in this series because I loved Lara Jeans character and her interactions with all the characters.
While I was reading To All The Boys I've Loved Before I realized that the plot was very similar to that of Lillia in Fire with Fire. Where she pretend to date a boy for her own benefit. But this time it was mutual instead of a one sided lie. I loved Lillia's character in that series, and I loved Lara Jean as well. I think I liked her because she was real, she had teenager problems but dealt with them as a flawed character and to me that was great to read because not only did her mistakes seem real to me, but the way she handled those infractions was a great way to show character growth.
What I found amazing in this book was that no character felt inconsequential, every character that Lara Jean meets has a purpose and I think I liked those characters even more. I loved her relationship with hr older sister, and the fact that she looked up to her in a way that some might find unhealthy, but it was that relationship which caused Lara Jean to find herself in the end. I loved her rocky relationship with her younger sister and how guilty she felt when she didn't treat her with the respect that her other sister would have. I loved that she kept referencing herself in relation to her older sister, and that that changed as the story moved forward. Lara Jean found herself outside of what her family expected and I loved reading that.
The love story was simplistic but real, but my only issue was that I did not like Peter at all, I thought that as the book went on I would feel differently for him, the same way that Lara Jean did, but I didn't. And I think that put a damper on the book itself, but also my reaction to the end. I wasn't shocked by the end, I would like to know what happens after the last page, but I am not in desperate need of it right now. I will be waiting for the next book in this series because I loved Lara Jeans character and her interactions with all the characters.
molikesbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
goblin_reaper's review against another edition
5.0
Love is scary: it changes; it can go away. That's the part of the risk. I don't want to be scared anymore.
Okay, so, first of all, I didn't plan on reading this book. I only read it because my friend was obsessing about it nonstop. So, just to see what all the hype was about, I began to read. And read. And read. Before I knew it, I was done. This book had my complete undivided attention right from the first chapter. I love Lara Jean's relationship with her family and Lara Jean herself so much.
This book follows Lara Jean who, as an average high school teenager, tends to have a crush on guys. Every time she has an intense crush, she writes a letter to him but never sends it. instead, she stores the letter - which she pours her deepest feelings into - in a hatbox in her room. One day, she finds out all her letters have been mailed and her life spirals out of control. While Lara Jean had a crush on five boys, she's never had a boyfriend. She's been kissed a few times (mainly in 7th and 8tyh grade) but she's always been content to watch from the sidelines, even play the third wheel to her older sister, Margot, and her boyfriend Josh (on whom Lara Jean has always had a bit of crush). But when Margot goes to Scotland for college, Lara Jean suddenly must start taking more responsibility for helping her dad and younger sister, while buckling down for the all-important junior year of school.
But everything changes in a split second when somehow, Lara Jean's love letters get sent to their intended recipients. Suddenly she finds herself having to confront her feelings that had long since dissipated. Yet to uncomplicate things, she makes things even more complicated, and she realizes that there’s a fine line between pretending how you feel and feeling. And, either way, someone is bound to get hurt in the crossfire.
What I didn’t like as much in this book were the relationships. Sure, they were fun to read about but I feel like I wasn’t as emotionally invested in them as I wanted to be or as much as everyone else was but this is just my personal opinion.
Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone because it’s a book that will make you happy, gushing on the inside and picking up the next one right away and I can guarantee that it will be one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. Also if you’ve already read this series then watch the movie on Netflix because as far as adaptations go, this one was pretty well done.
Okay, so, first of all, I didn't plan on reading this book. I only read it because my friend was obsessing about it nonstop. So, just to see what all the hype was about, I began to read. And read. And read. Before I knew it, I was done. This book had my complete undivided attention right from the first chapter. I love Lara Jean's relationship with her family and Lara Jean herself so much.
This book follows Lara Jean who, as an average high school teenager, tends to have a crush on guys. Every time she has an intense crush, she writes a letter to him but never sends it. instead, she stores the letter - which she pours her deepest feelings into - in a hatbox in her room. One day, she finds out all her letters have been mailed and her life spirals out of control. While Lara Jean had a crush on five boys, she's never had a boyfriend. She's been kissed a few times (mainly in 7th and 8tyh grade) but she's always been content to watch from the sidelines, even play the third wheel to her older sister, Margot, and her boyfriend Josh (on whom Lara Jean has always had a bit of crush). But when Margot goes to Scotland for college, Lara Jean suddenly must start taking more responsibility for helping her dad and younger sister, while buckling down for the all-important junior year of school.
But everything changes in a split second when somehow, Lara Jean's love letters get sent to their intended recipients. Suddenly she finds herself having to confront her feelings that had long since dissipated. Yet to uncomplicate things, she makes things even more complicated, and she realizes that there’s a fine line between pretending how you feel and feeling. And, either way, someone is bound to get hurt in the crossfire.
What I didn’t like as much in this book were the relationships. Sure, they were fun to read about but I feel like I wasn’t as emotionally invested in them as I wanted to be or as much as everyone else was but this is just my personal opinion.
Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone because it’s a book that will make you happy, gushing on the inside and picking up the next one right away and I can guarantee that it will be one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. Also if you’ve already read this series then watch the movie on Netflix because as far as adaptations go, this one was pretty well done.
beeisvibey's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maryelizabeth27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
holly_tree's review against another edition
5.0
To All the YA Contemporary Romance Books I've Loved Before:
You've been replaced. This book is the shiz, and my new love. You better believe I'm downloading any and all other books Han has written in the next five minutes. This book is the sort of book I would write-- fun and not taking itself so seriously while still making a statement about first love (or, actually, as a major point of the book, first RELATIONSHIP vs. just love from afar) while including interesting and meaningful relationships between characters, especially between the Song girls and with their father. I loved it. Total and complete love.
Sincerely, Holly
You've been replaced. This book is the shiz, and my new love. You better believe I'm downloading any and all other books Han has written in the next five minutes. This book is the sort of book I would write-- fun and not taking itself so seriously while still making a statement about first love (or, actually, as a major point of the book, first RELATIONSHIP vs. just love from afar) while including interesting and meaningful relationships between characters, especially between the Song girls and with their father. I loved it. Total and complete love.
Sincerely, Holly