Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1) by Jenny Han

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

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.

MY TAKE:
I found the premise interesting, and while the novel isn't perfect, it's still a good read.

In To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Lara Jean writes letters to the boys she loves when she's ready to let go of her feelings for them. However, one day, her letters are mailed to the boys. One of those boys is her sister's ex-boyfriend, who says he liked Lara Jean first, and her first kiss, who just broke up with Lara Jean's former friend.

At first, I wasn't really into the story. It was okay, but I wasn't feeling Josh. He seemed like a nice guy and all, but there was something about him that just bugged me and I couldn't put my finger on it. I'm not a fan of the whole sister's ex-boyfriend thing, either. Thankfully, that's not the real love story here.

The real love story here is between Lara Jean and her first kiss, Peter. It's kind of funny because Peter is the handsome, cocky athlete who has a crazy ex-girlfriend. That's usually not the kind of guy I cheer for in a love triangle. I usually cheer for guys like Josh. However, Peter and Lara Jean's story falls under the pretend-relationship-becomes-something-more trope, which I happen to be a fan of.

Once Lara Jean started leaning more towards Peter, I was hooked. The book ends on a cliffhanger, so I wasn't too happy about that, but I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

THE GOOD:

1. The premise is intriguing.
2. Lara Jean and Peter's romance is sweet and romantic.
3. It's about sisterhood and family as well.  

THE BAD:

1. Josh and Lara Jean's story isn't going to appeal to everyone.  

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

“I want to say yes, but I don't want to be with a boy whose heart belongs to somebody else. Just once, I want to be somebody else's first choice.”  

READ IT IF:

1. You've written letters to your exes or boyfriends before.
2. You like stories about pretend relationships that become something more.
3. You like stories about the importance of sisters and family. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?