To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (Book #1) by Jenny Han
This cover. Love it.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 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. (Goodreads)
The Story:
Lara Jean Song has loved a handful of boys in her lifetime. Each time she gets over one of them she writes him a heartfelt letter he’s never meant to read and stores it in a hat box in her closet. She’s just written one to Josh–boyfriend of her older sister, Margot, and Lara Jean’s super-secret crush. Margot has recently dumped Josh in an effort to make a clean break before she leaves for college in Scotland. Josh is understandably devastated. He’s been like a part of the family for years, adored by the entire Song family, and Lara Jean can’t help remembering that years ago, before Josh fell for Margot, Lara Jean fell for Josh.
The problem is that somehow Lara Jean’s former crushes receive those old love letters. Someone–not Lara Jean–has mailed them. When Peter Kavinsky, former eighth grade crush and resident hot guy, confronts her about his letter, Lara Jean is pretty sure she’s going to die of embarrassment. That is, until she realizes that Josh–Margot’s ex-boyfriend!– will be getting a his any day now, and then he’ll know the truth. And then not only will she never be able to face him again, Margot will know, and Margot will never forgive her. Peter and Lara Jean make a deal that they’ll fake date in order to convince Josh that she’s over him, and to make Peter’s ex-girlfriend jealous. It’s a win/win.
Josh and Peter’s ex, buy it beautifully. But the lines of Peter and Lara Jean’s relationship start to get a little blurry. Lara Jean is finding herself more and more attached to Peter and she has to keep in mind that it’s all for show.
My Thoughts:
I read this book when it first came out last year and I adored it. In fact, I loved it so much I just couldn’t quite put it into words. Hence, the lack of review. Since then I’ve read it several times (most recently to prepare for the sequel) and I’ve loved it every single time. Because OMG, Jenny Han, first you slay me with Belly and the Fisher boys (The Summer series, which I read faithfully, at least two times a year), and now this.This book and its precious characters always make me happy. It sounds silly, but it’s like a warm hug. If that warm hug had charming hot guys, lots of baking (Lara Jean is all up in the kitchen), and sisters.
Han has created such a fantastic, likable girl in Lara Jean. She’s unique and cute. She’s innocent and bright. She’s willing to pour her heart out and take a risk, and she’s unapologetic for being the inexperienced, conservative girl she is. She bakes and does scrap booking. She wears vintage clothes and braids her hair. And it’s not because she’s super-cool; it’s just who she is. She loves her sisters and her dad, and she’s okay staying in on a Friday night. I love this girl.
And Peter Kavinsky, they don’t get much cuter. What makes Peter so perfect is that he’s so imperfect. He’s charming and thoughtful, but still hung up on Gen, his ex. It’s endearing how he can so clearly care for Lara Jean, but struggle so much with taking a step away from his past. He was so charming.
Crush Intensity: 5.0/5 I love this book. Absolutely LOVE it.
Where’d I Get It: I own it (so I can read it over and over again).
YA Crush 