P.S. I Still Love You

megank - P. S. I Still Love You, by Jenny Han, is an amazing sequel following the book, To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Lara Jean and Peter agree to date for real and she experiences her first romance. Through tons of ups and downs, including an inappropriate make out video, an old crush, and an ex-girlfriend, it tears them apart at one point, but they manage to make up in the very end. One of my favorite scenes is when Peter gave Kitty a birthday surprise, with a ride to school and a bouquet of pink flowers. This shows that he really loves Lara Jean and also wants to please Kitty. In this book, there were lots of meaningful quotes, here's on I think I relate to a lot: "“Things feel like they'll be forever, but they aren't. Love can go away, or people can, without even meaning to. Nothing is guaranteed.” Often, people feel like everything is forever in middle school and high school, but it never really is. People can leave whenever and love or friendships can fade away quickly, therefore, I think Lara Jean's reaction to this is splendid. She chose to appreciate everything she has now and risk everything for her happiness with Peter. I would definitely recommend this book to people that've read the last book, it is a pleasant, heartbreaking, emotional, and romantic book that will really let you experience what it's like to be Lara Jean.

Lara Jean's romantic entanglements complicate themselves further. In the wake of the events detailed in To All the Boys I Loved Before (2014), Lara Jean confesses her love for handsome golden boy Peter. This frees the pair to start a romantic relationship with a clean slate, but over the course of the novel it becomes clear that embarking on a relationship that turns an aggressive blind eye to baggage is never a good idea. When a viral video of a steamy love session between Peter and Lara Jean rears its ugly head and a boy from the past enters Lara Jean's life once more, Lara Jean's life gets complicated. Every character from Han's adored previous novel is back, with new dimensions given to nearly every one of them. Subplots abound, among them two involving Lara Jean's father and Peter's ex-gal Genevieve, but benefitting most from this second look is John Ambrose McClaren, a boy briefly referenced in the former book who is thrust into the spotlight here as Peter's rival for Lara Jean's heart. With all these characters bouncing around, Han occasionally struggles to keep a steady hand on the novel's primary thrust: Lara Jean's emotional development. Han gets the job done in the end, but this overeventful sequel pales to the original where structure is concerned. The author's greatest success remains her character work, and the book does indeed give everyone a solid arc, narrative be damned. A satisfying if slightly lesser sequel. (Romance. 13-17) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-The Song sisters are back, and Lara Jean's boy troubles are even more complicated in this To All the Boys I've Loved Before (S. & S., 2014) sequel. The quixotic middle Song sister has fallen for popular Peter, and they've become a real couple. Navigating the awkward and thrilling aspects of her first relationship, Lara Jean inwardly debates realistic teen quandaries: how far should she go with Peter and whether she'll become one of those girls who forgets about her friends once she has a boyfriend. But when her former best friend and Peter's ex Genevieve continues to wreak havoc on the relationship (including making a video of a very private moment that goes viral) and a former crush comes back into the picture, the teen has to decide if she and Peter are meant to be after all. In this tender romance, Han returns to the angsty push-and-pull of her "Summer I Turned Pretty" series (S. & S.), presenting two viable (and swoony) contenders for Lara Jean's heart. The protagonist is just as lovable, quirky, and kind as in the previous volume, volunteering at a nursing home with gusto and trying to balance out her family's issues (including helping to set up her widower dad with a girlfriend). A semi-resolved ending hints at a possible sequel. Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Dessen, and Kody Keplinger fans will love this volume. VERDICT The sparkling dialogue, heartwarming sister relationships, and honest talk about sex and slut-shaming make this a must-have title for teen collections.-Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

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