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del_devours's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West is a contemporary young adult novel, written in first person, about Lily, a high school student who discovers a mysterious pen pal, after scribbling song lyrics on her desk. Lily is surprised to find a response the next day and starts a secret correspondence with an anonymous admirer she nicknames ‘Blue’.
The synopsis reads like a typical YA romcom, which isn’t usually my cup of tea, but I figured it's on my shelf, so I may as well give it a try. The dust jacket on this book is interesting, but I prefer the cover underneath, which is simple but beautiful. I also rather like the cover page, and the font used for the chapter headings. Attractive or unusual features always add to my enjoyment of a book. I must admit I enjoyed West’s engaging and easy to read writing style. The romance is slow to build, and maybe ‘Blue’s’ identity would have been predictable to fans of the genre, but my notes read something like this:
p.8 So, I’m thinking the love interest is going to be either Lucas or Gabriel.
p.34 Or maybe it’s Cade? You know, that whole enemies to lovers schtick?
p.85 I’m finding myself hoping this is Cade.
p.102 I definitely don’t think it’s David. I hope it isn’t David.
p.134 I don’t want it to be Lucas. I want it to be Cade!
p.137 Ha, ha! I knew it was Cade! (or hoped, but we’ll pretend it’s the same thing lol)
I love the choice of Chemistry class as the backdrop for a romance story, and the concept of letter writing in a world dominated by technology adds a nostalgic charm to the narrative. Some of the letters Lily and ‘Blue’ exchanged made me chuckle.
I saw a few reviews praising Lily for her relatability, but I didn’t like her. I felt she was a bit bitchy, and self-centred. Also, dating someone when you are aware, deep down, that you like someone else? Not cool. Her character just didn't resonate with me in the same way it did for others. On another note, some of the minor characters were stereotypical and could have used a bit more depth, and the book could have benefited from greater diversity in its cast.
One aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was Lily's relationship with her brothers. Their interactions lent a sense of warmth and authenticity to the story. I would have loved for that aspect to have been explored more than it was. The dynamic between Lily and Cade was also interesting. Was he really being mean, or was Lily just projecting?
I like how letters continue to play a role past the discovery of identities. The revelation of Cade's feelings, delivered like a verbal letter, was seriously sweet. One of my favourite scenes. And let's not forget Lily's song - I love how it turned out. I’d really like to hear it put to music.
Overall, P.S. I Like You is a light, heartwarming read. I don't usually read these types of books, so I was surprised how invested I was in the story, and how much I enjoyed it. I was immensely satisfied by the end of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
fairy_internet's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Toxic friendship and Abandonment
jeanettesreadingcorner's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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? Yes
4.5
This is the second book that I own and have read by Kasie West. The short chapters kept me engaged and helped me read at a faster pace than usual. I loved the anonymous pen pal and hate to love romance. Lily is a quirky but headstrong main character. I loved that she was a musician and how much she cared for her family. They definitely contributed to funny scenes. I can relate to Lily’s hatred of chemistry and how she talks to herself sometimes. Cade is caring and thoughtful. He always tries to help people. I like the honest communication between all of the characters. Reading the dialogue and seeing the characters face their emotions made it more realistic. I enjoyed reading the second half of the book way more than the first half. The ending of the book was cute and I wish there’s a little more of the story built into that part. P.S. I Like You is short and sweet, which is what I wanted. I read it alongside A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. P.S. I Like You is a great book to pair with or after reading a fantasy book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
fremzz's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
hapalyn's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
mybookishlife2's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have read PS I like you 2 times now and I will say that the first time I read this book, I felt soo cheated. If I remember correctly (Since the first time I read this was back in 2016) I had just finished reading Faking Normal(careful with this). Which P.S. I like you is a lot like it in the fact that they start writing lyrics on a desk and they come together through music and they did not know the identity of the other person and they try to set up a way to either finally meet up or find out which doesn’t turn out the way they want it at first. After re-reading P.S. I Like You, I did end up loving the book sooo much more the 2nd time around. The story is cute, I do love the plot and the way Kasie goes about it, (I just L O V E Faking Normal, so it initially felt like a knock off.) But P.S I like you, gives you a look into friendships and how even if you get into an argument with your best friend and have resentment towards them, you can overcome it and continue with your strong friendship. I honestly don’t feel like she is necessarily caught between 3 boys, I think she just finds them intriguing and is wanting for her mysterious lyric boy to known already (and not the one who it ends up being until she finally wakes up) and is trying to find them in these boys which her friend tries to push on her. I can relate to the crazy family so that was fun. I do wish we saw more of Cade or maybe him being even more apologetic of how he reacts to people, but we see his reasoning and I hope Lily helps him change his ways about this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
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