Forever and Always, Lara Jean by Jenny Han 4 ✭

Title:	Forever and Always, Lara Jean
Author:	Jenny Han
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Series:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre:	Young Adult, Social & Family Issues, Contemporary
Publish Date:	May 2, 2017
Sold by:	Simon & Schuster
Pages:	337
Ages:	13 & up

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

I read this book in half of a day. It was the easiest read of them all. The finale to the series tackles the end of high school for LJ and Peter. Every relationship in senior year struggles with if they should stay together while they go away to college. LJ and Peter are no different. LJ has changed so much from the start, much like any girl in a long-term relationship. Your whole world revolves around each other. So when LJ doesn't get into the same college as Peter, shit starts to go downhill fast. Thankfully we are over Gen after two books, but Peter is still an emotional child I feel like. He really didn't change at all as a book character, but I am not completely upset about that. I say that because LJ even comments about it herself about him not growing up. He really acts like some boys would act in all the situations of the books. So I am not upset, I just don't like how the book wraps up with the last 10 pages or whatever it was. Put it this way, you will be on your seat till the end waiting to see what their decision is.

You also see how LJ's father getting remarried affects their family. How Kitty feels, which you could probably guess if you read the previous book. Really it is about Margot's reaction, and how the three sisters interact. To be honest, you can see how the conflict there would start. Margot didn't seem impressed with Ms. Rothschild in the least. So her being so far away and the other sisters getting to know Trina, there is bound to be conflict. Kitty is a very vocal person, and with her love for Trina, there was going to be some issues.

The sisters' relationship in this book doesn't have a big focus like the previous books. But I want to tip my hat to the writing for this. Yes, this is a romance, but in a way, these are also sister books. Book One, Lara Jean's connection to Margot and the stresses she has trying to not destroy her relationship with her. Book Two, her and Kitty seem to form a new bond and are closer than the first book. Kitty is invested in LJ and Peter. Book Three, Lara Jean is so stressed with a college that she isn't thinking about everyone before herself. She is trying to not think about her college worries, by baking away every day. So yes, the sister's aspect falls off a little, but I am not upset because this is Lara Jean's story. It is about her this time. 

Check out a Free Sample read of Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han below. You don't even have to leave the page. 

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han 5 ✭

Title:	P.S. I Still Love You
Author:	Jenny Han
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Series:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre:	Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Social & Family Issues
Publish Date:	May 26, 2015
Sold by:	Simon & Schuster
Pages:	353
Ages:	12 & up

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭
Jenny Han has continued Lara Jean's story in the most adorable and total Lara Jean way possible. At the time of my review, Netflix IS going to make a sequel. It deserves it in my opinion. This saga is just so perfect. I will watch the hell out of it.

Since the story is a little changed from the first book to the movie, I can see how the second book will be changed. Although, I don't see it really having to change much. I mean, really what was changed was some character backstory. Who was a first kiss and how, how they all know each other and just a little more background? It's why you can read the books and watch the movie so easy. Again, I am predicting that the book and movie will complement each other just like they did before.

Lara Jean and Peter are actually dating in this book, for real this time. It is sweet and fun. However, Lara Jean has a lot of trouble with the fact that Peter still talks to his ex, Gen, all the time. This is a very real situation. I had a similar one when I was 16. The boy is trying to be friends with the ex, but also trying to still be your boyfriend. You want to hate that he isn't 100% only loyal to LJ, but really if he was able to ditch his ex so easily, what kind of person would that make him? Right so, with that in mind, there is VALUE to this book, other than it being a teen love. Also, another love letter recipient and LJ start getting close. LJ is in a confusing time with her boyfriend always being with his ex, and getting this new fresh attention from a new boy. It is a really confusing time for her. Again, this plays out so natural that you can read right through it so fast.

Another aspect of this story other than the total teen triangle is the affect dating has on a family. Yes, you see this in the first book. The first book was Margot relationship and its effect. This is how LJ's relationship/friendships affect their whole family. How it changes interaction with a sibling and even the parent. There are different ways that LJ father changes for a couple of scenes just because of events that have happened, however, her father isn't there too much to really see that impact. It's more about Kitty. Kitty has been attached to both her sisters' boyfriends. I can relate my little sister still remembers and adores my one ex. She knows nothing of the problems we had, but to her, he was just the best.

I love these characters. I love how the story is playing out. I hope with the final book Peter starts acting like he is growing up because I feel like the progression for him is stagnant. We will see. Always and Forever, Lara Jean is next. I'm hoping to enjoy this one as much as the others.

You should check out a Free Sample read of P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han below, without even leaving the page!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 5 ✭

Title:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author:	Jenny Han
Publisher:	Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers
Series:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre:	Young Adult, Romance, Social & Family Issues
Publish Date:	April 15, 2014
Sold by:	Simon & Schuster Books
Pages:	368
Ages:	12 & up

 Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

My sister and I have been talking about this movie non-stop for a week. She's in her early 20's and I just turned 33 this month. I am a reader, and she really isn't. So I grabbed the book set on Amazon. I got it at a steal using coupons and stuff, $13. For example, there is currently a coupon for $5 off a $20 paperback purchase, which is one of the ones I used when I got my books. I got a set for me and my sister. I'm pretty sure she is going to read these books. She already said she would so that is her Christmas Present.

So I am a big fan of the movie, and I can say, so far, I am a fan of the first book just as much. There are definitely changes between the book and movie. However, it doesn't really make one better than the other in my opinion. They just sort of enhance each other in different ways. It's like the movie Serenity and the show Firefly to me. They are essentially the same story, just done a little different from the same people. You can really see the actor's from the movie fitting in these rolls of the book. I've watched the movie I think three times and just finished the book. All in a couple weeks. This book is definitely something that can be read multiple times, just like the movie.

This book is supremely relatable to a young girl and her first crushes. You get to hear from Lara Jean's perspective of her past major loves that she has moved on from. You get to see more of each individual boys letter that she has written. Jenny Han has done an amazing job of making you understand what Lara Jean is feeling and has gone through. It is believable and realistic. I mean, hell, I still remember mine. I remember all my crushes and my absolute love and the ridiculously embarrassing love letters I wrote to those boys. I can't wait for my daughter to read these when she hits that age because I think these are a sweet way to see another person going through the motions of multiple strong loves. I remember my mom talking to me about boys when I was a kid, and it was embarrassing and I didn't even want to relate to my mom. I feel like as a mom now, who was a boy-crazy teen, I can see these (and the movie) being a really good way to talk to my future teen daughter.

Other than the basic breakdown of the book. I don't have much else to say. I think it is an amazing book. I am really happy that I got this book set. I plan on reading the next book now. As a mom, I would recommend this. To the mom, and to the teen. 

Check out a Free Sample read of Jenny Han's amazing book below without even leaving the page!