To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han is a novel that follows a high school Junior named Lara Jean. Lara Jean is quite a romantic through her constant daydreams, her love of romance novels, and the love letters she writes to get over her crushes, but she doesn’t actually want to act on these dreams of fairy tale romances. One day, her love letters get out and her five past crushes learn all of her deepest feelings, including the ex-boyfriends of her sister and her rival. In the frenzy of making sure her sister won’t find out, she and Peter Kavinsky, her rival’s ex, agree to fake a relationship and Lara Jean’s life dramatically changes. Suddenly she’s going to parties and lacrosse games and hanging out with a huge group of friends. Despite what she would’ve thought before the letters, she actually enjoys it and is starting to get really close to Peter. But it’s all fake, right?
This is one of my favorite books and has merited many rereads with its page-turning drama and relatable people. The characters that the author creates are extremely detailed to the point that I feel I know them as close friends. One of my favorite characters is Kitty, the mischievous younger sister that causes trouble and tries to act like an adult in the most hilarious ways. This novel is romantic, light, and the perfect book for anything from a cozy day inside to a day at the beach. Another great thing about this book is that they made an awesome movie that is almost as good as the actual novel. I would give this book four and a half stars out of five because it has a great plot, complex emotional events, and is an excellent feel-good novel. If you like books with film adaptations, characters who are super close with their siblings, YA romance novels, or books about high school, pick up To All the Boys I Loved Before and follow Lara Jean’s story.
Review Written by Ada, 9th Grade