To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before 

Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1

Author: Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date: April 15, 2014

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. 

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“If love is like a possession, maybe my letter are like my exorcisms”

Sometimes when a book has so much hype, I become doubtful. If I go in with high expectations, I might end up being disappointed. 

Thankfully, I really liked To All the Boys I've Loved Before. It was what I needed. A cute romantic novel that stole my heart. 

From the first page, our heroine Lara Jean Song's quirkiness was endearing to me. She's shy, likes to blend into the background, is a good sibling and a no-problem daughter. She's a good student and someone might say she's a goody-two-shoes. 

As part of her catharsis, Lara Jean has written letters to the boys she has fallen for. She writes them once her feelings for them are over. So when all the letters she has written to them end up being mailed and distributed to them, Laura Jean doesn't know what to do. 

Ok, let me back up a little. The book begins with the Song sisters. All three of them are very close to each other. Their dad is an Obgyn and they lost their mother due to a freak accident. Margot, the oldest daughter took the role of a mother when they lost her. She made sure their house run smoothly. But, Margot is moving to Scotland to attend college and now it will be up to Lara Jean to take the post next. She will take over the chores and take care of her little sister, Kitty and their father.

Just a few days after her sister leaves, Lara Jean wrecks Margot's car. While she's waiting for Josh, Margot's ex-boyfriend and their neighbor (and one of her crushes), Peter Kavinsky stops by to ask if she's ok. Peter K used to be her friend. She also used to be friends with Genevieve, Peter's girlfriend. Lara Jean is surprised by Peter's act of kindness. Peter was her first kiss and she wrote him a letter after she lost her romantic feelings for him. 

Next thing she knows, Peter is cornering her at school and asking about the letter he received. She downplays it and tells him that she wrote it a long time ago while inside her heart is hammering. Later, Josh is also on the receiving end of another letter. Lara Jean feels ashamed. Her sister is not even gone for long and her ex-boyfriend is asking her about her feelings. Lara Jean in a moment of panic uses Peter as an excuse. She tells Josh, she's now with Peter (he and Genevieve have broken up). To her shock, Peter wants to continue the farse.

“It's not like in the movies. It's better, because it's real.”

I just adored everything about this book. I love the sibling interaction, they way they are protective of their father. I adore Peter once I got to know him. I'm still not sure what power Genevieve has over him but hopefully, it won't last long. Josh was sweet, especially at the beginning.

Lara Jean's baking made my mouth water all the time. They had so many traditions that made them endearing to me. I do have to say, the writing felt more of a younger character's voice but I got over that real fast. The pages just turned by themselves.  

Once I got to the end, I just couldn't believe it was the last page. I needed more. I'm so lucky I didn't have to wait to start P.S. I Still Love You.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs