Reviews with content warning for Death - To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1
Genre: Contemporary YA
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: April 15, 2014

T H R E E • W O R D S

Charming • Quirky • Fast-paced

📖 S Y N O P S I S
Lara Jean Song keeps five love letters - one for every boy she's ever loved - in a box her mother gave her. She has poured out her heart in these letters, writing everything she's too afraid to say out loud, because they are for her eyes only. That is until her secret letters are mailed out and her love life utterly changes.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I was having some serious FOMO surrounding this book, so I finally took the plunge. Lara Jean felt so authentic and relatable, even though I'm in my early thirties. There is definitely nothing overly profound going on, but it's still a well written, sweet feel-good story. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Song family and their unique dynamic. At times, I wanted to transport myself into their cozy home.

This definitely had typical YA vibes, but I am definitely looking forward to continuing on with this series soon.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of Sarah Dessen
• anyone looking for something light
• young readers

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"When someone's been gone a long time, at first you save up all the things you want to tell them. You try to keep track of everything in your head. But it's like trying to hold on to a fistful of sand: all the little bits slip out of your hands, and then you're just clutching air and grit."

Content Warnings

oobaswag's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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thecourtofreading's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-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

4.75

"if you were mine, i would never have broken up with you, not in a million years."

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nytephoenyx's review

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is such a sweet and heartwarming book. It has its conflicts and its moments, but for the most part, my heart was so full with the slow flow of falling in love. There’s really nothing like falling in love for the first time, a fluttering that inspires so many cliches. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before captures it very well.

There are a lot of different relationships in this book and I find them interesting on all levels. First of all, Lara Jean and her sisters. There’s a different relationship between each of the three sisters. They’re nice sometimes and choice other times and all three of them are developed enough to feel individual. As far as sibling relationship go, this is a pretty good one.

Then, there’s Lara Jean and the various boys. This one is a bit more complex. I very much appreciated the breaking of individual stereotypes, but the love triangle was very… love triangle-y. As far as love triangles go I thought it was generally well developed. I liked Peter Kavinsky more than I thought I would. I also liked that nobody – especially the boys and especially the sisters – were perfect. And I loved that both Peter and Josh fell for Kitty. The relationship felt more rounded.

In general, the setting was really well done, too. Lara Jean was a high schooler in a YA book who actually went to class! Startling, I know. It was really easy to get immersed in this world because it felt a lot like the one I grew up in (albeit without cell phones, which really dates me, I know). To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is good because it feels possible. Sure, Lara Jean needed a push, but the day-to-day of the story and the flirting and series of small heartbreaks really well illustrated high school relationships.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the ending. There was nothing actually wrong with it, but from a personal perspective I just… wish it was a happier ending, you know? But this is a trilogy and there is plenty of time for happily ever after. Additionally, happily ever after doesn’t need to mean that the romance is a success – there are so many other ways to end with a positive spin. And I do feel like Lara Jean learned a lot throughout To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. But still. I was rooting for the love story, any love story. I wanted the butterflies.

If you were to ask me if I think you should read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, the answer is a resounding yes. This was such a feel-good book. I think the writing was excellent, the characters well-developed, the setting realistic, and the overall enjoyability of the book was great.

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skyesreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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booksthatburn's review against another edition

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DNF at 25%
It’s sweet and cute and the plot hinges on a relationship trope that stresses me out to the point that I basically can’t watch any sitcoms ever. It’s not right for me.

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danajoy's review against another edition

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lighthearted

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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