There have been long periods on this blog where I’ve wanted to write about books I’ve loved but . . . I haven’t read anything I’ve loved.
This is not the case this summer. And it is a delightful feeling.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han might be my favorite read of the summer so far, actually. I’ve been waiting for a copy for months and it didn’t disappoint.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Since their mother died years earlier, Margot has taken the lead in the family, taking care of her younger sisters, Lara Jean and Kitty.
But now Margot is heading off to college in Scotland, and Lara Jean is going to have to keep everything running smoothly (their dad is a doctor and although he’s a good dad, he’s gone a fair amount).
Already nervous about living without Margot, who she’s always been extremely close to, Lara Jean starts out life as the oldest with a bang, smashing Margot’s car within just a few hours of her departure.
And that quickly seems insignificant when the love letters she’s written to the five boys she’s liked over the years (and stowed away, never to be shown to anyone) somehow get mailed to their (un)intended recipients.
Horrifyingly, one of those recipients is her next-door neighbor, Josh, who is not only one of her closest friends but also Margot’s boyfriend of the last two years.
Desperate to keep from ruining her friendship with Josh (and having Margot ever find out she liked Josh in the first place), Margot pretends she’s dating Peter Kavinsky, who was also the recipient of a love letter and her first kiss, some four years earlier. Peter has just broken up with his long-time girlfriend, and he’s willing to go along with the scheme because he thinks it’ll make his ex-girlfriend crazy with jealousy.
Of course, if you think it’s complicated having your secret love letters sent out, just try having a ridiculously handsome pretend boyfriend who you don’t actually like that much. And trying to keep your relationship with the boy you DO like (Josh) somewhat normal while also not betraying your sister. Yes, it’s all very complicated (and amusing).
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was one of those books that was just delightful from beginning to end. I didn’t really realize until about 3/4 of the way through that I had no clue how this was going to play out. And I loved that. It’s so unusual to read something that you don’t know from basically the first 10 pages who will end up with whom and the basic way it’s going to unfold.
And it’s just so nicely written. The characters are real and well-rounded, the dialogue is funny but not unbelievably so, and it’s nice to read a book where a family is generally happy and functional (obviously, the sisters bicker and there are family tensions, but there are no giant issues).
I also love that the moments where Lara Jean does crazy things (for instance, when Josh confronts her at school about the letter, and in a flash of pure idiocy, she says she’s dating Peter and then runs down the hall and kisses him out of nowhere) are actually believable. It’s the kind of crazy thing you could actually imagine someone doing when they feel desperate and without options.
And let’s talk about how much I LIKE Lara Jean. She’s fairly quiet and has lived most of her life (happily) in Margot’s shadow. She’s not sure what she wants to do with her life, and she mainly likes spending the weekends at home with her sisters and dad. She quietly likes a variety of different boys over the years, but has never really done a thing about it.
And her fake relationship with Peter works beautifully to really let you into Lara Jean’s world. I loved the initial awkwardness between them and then the eventual friendship they develop as they become comfortable with each other. I love that you get to see why all the girls are in love with Peter, but you can also see the things that made Lara Jean immune to him after middle school. And Lara Jean also gets a taste of what it’s like to be dating someone popular and confident – it’s much different than what her own school experience has been like.
There are a few things that strain credibility. I can buy that you would write love letters with no intention of sending them. I can’t really buy that you would ADDRESS those envelopes that you never intended to send (but then, I can barely force myself to address envelopes that I do intend to send, so maybe other people aren’t as lazy as I am).
But over all, it’s about as good a YA book as I’ve read in years. I kind of want to give a copy to everyone I know.
Seriously, if you’re looking for an addition to your YA summer reading list, add To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before book immediately.
Happily, Jenny Han wrote both a sequel and then a third book to round out the trilogy and they are both EXCELLENT (I included the final book in my 2017 Summer Reading Guide here).
I’ve also read several other books by Jenny Han, including The Summer I Turned Pretty series, which started out strong but waned by the end for me, and the Burn for Burn series she co-wrote. The Burn for Burn trilogy has a completely different feel, but I blazed through it on audio in a couple of weeks.
And as you probably already know, Netflix made a full-length movie version of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and it is really well done. I threw a viewing party the day it came out and then wrote many many thoughts about the movie here (spoiler: I loved it).
Lastly, if you loved To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before book, just as much as I did, below are some other books to check out that are similar!
books like to all the boys I’ve Loved before
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
This charming story is all about high school senior Liz who loves romantic comedies and has a long-time rivalry with her neighbor and classmate Wes. But then Michael, the boy she loved since she was a little girl, moves back to town, it looks like Wes is her best chance to make her own movie ending come true. Another fabulous one by Lynn Painter is The Do-Over ! You can’t go wrong with either title!
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
I LOVE Sarah Dessen, and this one has more substance than you’d expect from a YA romance. After her father’s death, Macy wants to control everything about her life. But after accidentally landing a job at Wish Catering, she learns to make new friends and finally faces her grief. (full review here)
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
Janette Rallison’s books are just laugh out loud funny. This one, about a teenage girl determined to make her young brother’s wish come true before he goes in for surgery, is sweet hilarious and romantic. (full review here)
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
This is one of my all-time favorite YA novels about a teenage girl making all the normal decisions about staying home with her family and boyfriend or going to Julliard upon graduation. Until there is a terrible accident and all those choices are suddenly replaced by just one choice. (full review here)
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
This was one is always on my most recommended book list! After I listened to the audio and could’t’ stop laughing while I was trying to run in my neighborhood. Don’t even bother with the book – just get the audio version and you can thank me later. It’s a re-telling of the story of Lady Jane Gray (who was queen of England for less than two weeks) and they take every sort of liberty you can imagine with this story, history be darned. I promise you will laugh your face off. (Full review here)
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Kasie West is a delightful young adult author! If 17-year old Caymen has learned anything from her mom, it’s that rich people cannot be trusted. Until she meets Xander, who is not only filthy rich, but is the only person who seems to really understand Caymen. Just as Caymen’s walls are starting to fall down, she finds out that money does have a bigger part in her and Xander’s relationship than she ever thought.
Dairy Queen Series by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
I feel like the Dairy Queen trilogy is one of the more underrated young adult series. D.J. Schwenk’s family owns a Wisconsin dairy farm, and thanks to her father’s poor health, D.J. finds herself running it primarily by herself. Her mom is working two jobs, her older brother are off to college on football scholarships, and her life would be complicated enough but then Brian Nelson, the star quarterback of the rival football team starts working alongside her. They slowly become friends (and there might be a possibility of more?) but that all seems impossible when D.J. gets a spot on HER high school football team and they are now rivals. I loved this book so much and the other two books are just as good.
I love this one, too and am so excited to read the sequel, especially since the ending was a bit up in the air.
I'll have to look for this one as I need something spectacular to read before summer ends. I did read The Goldfinch which was excellent but not a summer fun read.
I've heard good things about this book, but wasn't sure if I wanted to read it or not. (My TBR list is nearing triple digits :P) I think you convinced me to check it out though!
So is this a YA that you'd recommend to an actual YA? I have a 12-year-old who's sick of kid books, but I'm struggling to find books that I actually want to let her read.
I wouldn't give it to a 12 year old. There a bit of swearing in it and although her relationships are all very innocent (a few kisses in the whole thing), she's aware of other characters who are having sex.
Thanks, Janssen! Super helpful. One of these days I'd love for you to make a list of YA books that you'd actually let your tween/teen read.
I've just added this book to my hold list. Can't wait to read.
Maybe this is wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm not lying when I say that that in the last five years, the only novels that I REALLY loved have been young adult novels. So weird.
Added to my list. Thanks for the recommendation.
Can't wait to read this one!!
I finished this one last night and I think I loved it every bit as much as you did. I am so excited to hear that there will be a sequel, because I am dying to know what comes next!