A Book Review of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Lara Jean Song, a girl with a habit of

venting all her feelings and thought for each guy
she loved by writing them a letter. The time she
finishes a letter her affection to whom it is
addressed to is also gone and she will move on.
But she never had the intention of letting the guys
know how she felt for them. Instead of sending
she kept the letters in a hatbox, a memento from
her mother. Suddenly her life turned upside down,
the hatbox went missing and all the boys she loved
received her letter.

The book was published on April 15th, 2014 by Simon

Schuster Books for Young Readers with 355 pages. The
author is impressed with its endearing and mellow sense
that more appealing to young readers. The genre
showcases the innocent side of romance and made it
delightful to read.

The plot also gave an emphasis on Lara’s family. The longing for a late mother and a
wife made a massive impact with Lara, Margot, Kittie and her father. Despite losing a mother
the family’s bond is exceptional. The different situation of the family members have is very
realistic. It helps to form an inspiring and a relatable story line.

There are a total five guys who received Lara’s letter. But the love story focuses only
with Peter Kavinsky, Lara Jean, and a meager involvement of Josh, Margot’s ex-boyfriend. Josh
portrays the typical third-party characteristic with his nice guy charm and almost-like-a-family-
member impression. While Peter is the classical leading man. A famous jock with the self-
assured attitude but loyal and a real gentleman at heart. The usual cast in a love triangle scenario.
But Lara depicts a heartening character, a pure girl that takes a relationship gradually. The
romance is not intense though definitely entertaining.

For the author the Song girls signify the importance of one’s identity. In the book they
are Korean Americans, unusual traits in stories. The girls are proud of themselves. Female
adolescences can reflect themselves with the siblings. Similar with the innocence of the heroine,
it may be inspiring for teens.

To All the Boys I’ve Love Before is a mixture of cuteness, light romance and
wholesomeness. The book delivers youthful vibes to the reader. It might not be so enjoyable for
those looking for a mature romance, but it is positively recommendable for younger teens.
 A Book Review of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

“What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you
felt about them… all at once? Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean
Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave
her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for
her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s
ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out
her heart and soul and says all the things she would never
say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only.
Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly,
Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of
control.”

 I first read TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE

when it first came out in 2014. At the time, I rated it 4
stars, and thought it was the cutest thing. Three years ago,
I was a freshman in college. While this wasn’t THAT
long ago, I think that being three years older really did
change my enjoyment of the book. Overall it’s still pretty
adorable and sweet!

This book is incredibly CUTE. Like, that’s one of the only things I have to say about it.
Which isn’t a bad thing! I think it does a lot of things well, like the family parts are great and the
romance is really innocent. There’s baking and crafts and it’s really really sweet.

The family in this book really takes the center stage. Lara Jean, our main character, is one
of three Song girls. Her older sister Margo is about to head off to college in Scotland, and her
younger sister Kitty in still in elementary school. Their father is super involved in their life, but
their mother passed when they were little. The three sisters are incredibly close, especially since
Margot took on a motherly role when their mom passed. They all like to spend time with each
other at home, either having family dinners, baking cookies, or just being around one another,
and it’s really sweet!

With the premise of all of the love letters Lara Jean has ever written to the boys she has
loved getting sent to them on accident, the romance is surprisingly not that intense. It comes
down basically to a love triangle between Lara Jean, Peter K., and Josh. Josh is their next door
neighbor who has been dating Margot for the past few years, and he’s more geeky and down to
earth. He’s very caring and is friends with the entire family. Peter K. is on the lacrosse team,
very handsome, and has a decently big ego. I was not a fan of Peter, who is decent enough but
wasn’t very special as far as I was concerned. I did like that it’s pretty body-positive, and
positively portrays girls who move slowly in relationships and are more innocent.

The Song girls are Korean American, and their identity is so important to the them (as is
ANYONE’S identity) without being the driving force of the story. It’s great great great
representation and I know it has been important to many young women to see a reflection of
themselves in this story. I think the same can be said about the innocence of Lara Jean and her
story, which I think will ring true for young teens in a way they might not see very often.

It’s entirely wholesome and sweet. It feels really, really young though, which might not
be everyone’s favorite thing. TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE is cute and perfect
for younger teens, or anyone looking for the fluffiest kind of YA Contemporary.

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