Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - P.S. I Still Love You

Now that I’ve completed the second book in this series, I will say that there is something about this series that draws you in. I got through this book so quickly, and am already anticipating starting the final one. I love the storyline as a whole, and the characters are all so interesting and loveable! Jenny Han knows how to work the emotions! On the flip side, however, I just couldn’t get behind some of the plot points of this book. Lara Jean was too caught up in Peter and Gen throughout the duration to substantially grow and consider other options. Also, I think Peter really needs to examine his actions and put himself in LJ’s shoes, to see why things he did bothered her so much. I LOVED John Ambrose McClaren’s character, and wish that his present plot with LJ was lengthened a bit. I feel that he was too quickly brushed off and the “resolution” came a little too quickly.

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themiscyra_anna's review against another edition

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emotional tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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nytephoenyx's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective 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

3.25

P.S. I Still Love You was decent, but it wasn’t as heartwarmingly sweet and adorable as To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. I know, I know. Second books often don’t live up to expectations. I think the banter and fake dating really got me in the first book. This one… doesn’t have that.

In fact, P.S. I Love Still Love You feels in many ways like a love story (“love” story?) that could show up in anyone’s embarrassing teenage memories. There’s a fewer cute exchanges and smiles and more negative feelings in this one. As the reader, we can see all the red flags in Lara Jean’s relationships. … Actually, I should say, as an adult reader with bad relationships in my past and at least one too many poor decisions to want to mention, I saw a bunch of red flags. I think that the target audience – teens at Lara Jean’s stage in life – may miss them. And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not? P.S. I Still Love You sets itself up as a love triangle story, but it’s more a series of negative emotions. I feel like there are a lot of “Halt! Toxic relationship ahead!” warnings. From both Peter and Lara Jean, if I’m being honest. If readers can see this relationship and go “oh crap, that’s a shitty thing for them to do – WAIT. I’m in a relationship that does that all the time, wtf?” and make positive, healthy change… that’s one thing. But the ending tells me that things will continue in one way or another in Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m still reading the next book. I’m invested, and I didn’t hate it. But I just wish the jealous girlfriend / sneaky boyfriend thing was not a trope. It often reflects real life, but it’s also not healthy.

And, perhaps, my main problem was the way Lara Jean and Peter behaved toward one another and the relationships they had with others, and the secrecy that they guarded so close, and the mistrust. I didn’t like that it was so real-feeling because sometimes… I just want romance to be a fairytale, you know? Something warm and delicious, like homemade hot cocoa. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was more like that. Now it’s getting real. But okay, now that I know it’s getting real, I feel better prepared for Always and Forever, Lara Jean. And now you’ve been warned too.

I continue to really like Kitty. I like how Han uses her as a mirror to some of the things Lara Jean experienced when she was younger. Also? I like how Kitty has her own loyalties. And Margo, too, I liked how Han used Margo today say, “It’s okay to fall out of love.” There’s a lot of different kinds of love stories – romantic and platonic – in this trilogy. I like the parallel nature of the storylines. It’s compelling storytelling..

So – P.S. I Still Love You? Not as sweet and charming as its predecessor, but very much still worth a read. Sometimes, choices the characters make are frustrating. But I can’t say I’ve not made similar choices in my own past.

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