To all the friends who told me to read this book...

I now get what the big hype was about.
    Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before centers around sixteen year old Lara Jean Covey.  Lara Jean has fallen in love on five separate occasions with five different boys.  To get over these massive crushes, she has written a letter to each boy explaining why she liked them and then tucked them away in a hatbox that her late mother gave her.  Until one day, when the letters that no one was meant to see get mailed out.  Lara Jean must now do some damage control in order to regain some semblance of her old life and relationships back.  If everything goes according to plan, then Lara Jean’s life will go back to normal and all unwanted attention will go away.  That is, unless, she falls in love in the process?
    Han weaves together a quirky and cute love story that will resonate with anyone who feels/has felt awkward in finding their place.  This novel, through incorporating the ingredients necessary for any YA romance novel, also plays to the hopeless romantic that’s hidden in all of us.  Despite being a quintessential love story, Han also sends a message about the importance of family.  Lara Jean and her two sisters, who refer to themselves as “The Song Girls” (as an homage to their mother), are a great example of the strength of sisterhood, even when times are rough.  With memorable characters like the popular Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean’s lively little sister, Kitty, the novel is jammed packed with funny interactions while also creating moments that will make your heart melt.
    I will admit that I did find some of this novel to be a bit predictable, but it might just be because I’ve read so many young adult novels at this point it’s hard to keep track of them all!  I did, however, really like the sisterhood element, especially since the Song Girls are the same age difference apart from one another as I am with my sisters.  I could really relate to Lara Jean making the wellbeing of her sisters and family a priority.  Despite the novel being a bit cliché, I did thoroughly enjoy it and immediately went on Amazon to order the next book because I was so invested in this novel!  I can’t wait to find out where Lara Jean’s story will go next!

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