P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #2) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Apr 26, 2019 Rincey rated it liked it

Shelves: poc-author

Listened to this one over the course of a slow work day, which was a nice way to pass the time. But really just because of John Ambrose McClaren.

10 likes · Like · see review

Jun 22, 2019 Jenny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Last fall, I watched and enjoyed the Netflix adaptation of Jenny Han’s first book about Lara Jean, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. A few months later when I read (but did not review) the novel the film was based on—I was pleasantly surprised. The book was even more complex and nuanced than the movie—especially with the relationship between Lara Jean, her two sisters and her father. There is more about her Korean heritage in the book and about her father’s attempts to keep her deceased mother’ Last fall, I watched and enjoyed the Netflix adaptation of Jenny Han’s first book about Lara Jean, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. A few months later when I read (but did not review) the novel the film was based on—I was pleasantly surprised. The book was even more complex and nuanced than the movie—especially with the relationship between Lara Jean, her two sisters and her father. There is more about her Korean heritage in the book and about her father’s attempts to keep her deceased mother’s traditions alive.

In P.S. I Still Love You, Jenny Han picks up where her first book left off—with Lara Jean celebrating New Year’s Day with her family and with a letter to Peter in her coat pocket—a letter of apology and one that directly expresses her strong feelings for him. Though Peter and Lara Jean’s relationship has changed from “contractual” to romantic, things do not go smoothly. A video of Lara Jean and Peter’s romantic moment in a hot tub (on a school trip) surfaces and goes viral on social media. Also, Lara Jean is having difficulty controlling her feelings about Peter’s continuing relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Genevieve, who claims to be going through a “rough time.” When they were younger, Lara Jean and Genevieve were best friends but now she is basically Lara Jean’s nemesis.

As things get complicated, Lara Jean finds herself distracted by the appearance of John McLaren, one of her crushes from middle school (who was one of the five letter recipients from To All the Boys I Loved Before). It turns out that McLaren had just gotten the letter (long story) and has written her back. As they begin to reconnect, Lara Jean wonders if she can have feelings for two boys at one time.

There are no car chases or potential apocalypses here, but rather a detailed and thoughtful story of one young woman’s first real relationship with all the misunderstandings and moments of awkwardness you might expect. Lara Jean is smart about some things but has a lot to learn about others, and it is a pleasure watching her navigate her way toward adulthood--especially surrounded by a great supporting cast of family and friends. I’m rooting for her and Peter (especially because I have the charming Noah Centineo in my head as I read) but I know that no matter what happens, Lara Jean will be fine.
...more

Like · see review

Jun 16, 2018 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-fiction, coming-of-age, ya-romance

Many reviews of this YA romance complain about the ending. In the love triangle set up, it does feel like the wrong winner was victorious for Lara Jean's heart. This is an totally understandable point, but that bothered me less than the overall uninspired plot as a whole. I love these characters, two of the three Song sisters, their dad, their neighbor, and some great side character friends and I want to pluck them from this and plop them into a different story.
Han introduced these characters in ...more

Like · see review