Author: Jenny Han

Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Posted July 27, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 4 Comments

Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny HanAlways and Forever, Lara Jean
by Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3
Also in this series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before, P.S. I Still Love You
Published by Simon & Schuster, Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 2, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
four-half-stars

Lara Jean is having the best senior year. And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.

Life couldn’t be more perfect!

At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks…until she gets some unexpected news.

Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

Always and Forever, Lara Jean marks the end of the fun. I can’t believe it’s all over. No more Song sisters. No more Peter and Lara Jean. No more contracts. *sigh* No more Peter. Gah. I didn’t want it to end. I had hella anxiety reading this book but I kept pushing myself to finish it because even though I was scared for what was to come, I knew that Jenny Han was going to take care of us in the end and I was right. Jenny Han did take care of us. She wrote a very satisfying ending to such a fantastic series.

In this book, everything is going so well for both Peter and Lara Jean. They’re young, they’re in love and they’re starting their senior year and have prom, senior trips and Beach week to look forward to. They’ve got plans for their future and nothing can bring them down…until Lara Jean gets some bad news that throws their plans out of whack. Then if you add family stuff on both of their sides, things get really complicated for my favorite YA couple in a long while.

Jenny Han writes young love really well. Everything that Peter and Lara Jean went through felt so real and my heart hurt for them during the bad times and I rejoiced like crazy in the good times. These two have come so long and their love has been tested and put through the wringer and that didn’t stop with this book. Gah, they were so young and they acted and reacted like young people do and while that could drive me crazy, more than anything, I was rooting for these two to figure things out. Together. Because they’re Peter and Lara Jean. They’re each other’s lobsters and my romantic heart wouldn’t accept anything less than true happiness with the both of them together.

There’s a lot of goodness in this book and a lot of OMG what’s going to happen moments. I’m glad to have experienced both emotions while reading this book. I loved the send off that Han gave us and thought it was the perfect ending for these guys. I loved Peter’s promposal, his birthday celebration for Lara Jean, his remembered memory of the first time he saw Lara Jean, his amended contract and just Peter. I loved Peter and Lara Jean was the perfect partner for him because her love for him matched his in equal measure. So, I did a lot of sneak reading of this book at work and these two made me freaking cry. I was an emotional mess while finishing up this book but holy cow was I satisfied with the ending.

Peter is my book boyfriend for a second week in a row for that amended contract at the end of this book alone. I was a giddy mess at the end and I adored it and him so much. The determination he showed toward Lara Jean melts my heart. All of that feeling and angst?? Gah, I loved it. Peter Kavinsky in love is a site to behold. I’m so glad that Lara Jean knew the treasure she held in her hand day in and day out.

Jenny Han gets all of my heart eyes this week because I just freaking loved this book. If you haven’t read it, fix that. You won’t be sorry, I promise.

Final Grade

4.75 out of 5

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series

four-half-stars

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Review: P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Posted July 20, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny HanP.S. I Still Love You
by Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2
Also in this series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Published by Simon & Schuster, Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 26, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 337
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
four-half-stars

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

P.S. I Still Love You is the second book in Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series and it really keeps the party going. I started this book immediately after my re-read of the first book for my buddy review with Ames. I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters yet. Mostly, I wasn’t ready to let go of Peter Kavinsky and Kitty Song Covey. Lara Jean really grows on me in this book and I just love the way that she’s growing up.

In this book, Lara Jean and Peter become a real couple and things are looking up for them. Lara Jean is just as into Peter as Peter is into her. When a video of Peter and Lara Jean making out surfaces online, Lara Jean is thrown into the spotlight, a spotlight she never wanted and wasn’t prepared for. Lara Jean was used to spending her nights in, baking whatever caught her fancy and taking care of her Dad and little sister while her older sister was away at college. She loved to read and lose herself in books but then Peter came along and brought her out of her bubble and seeing her try to navigate this new normal with Peter made for a sweet read.

There is much to like about this book. I adored Peter’s efforts to try to protect Lara Jean from the video stuff. I adored seeing him build his own bond with Lara Jean’s younger sister Kitty and I really, really just adored him. His birthday gift for Kitty was the cutest thing ever! His declaration to Lara Jean at the end? Gah, so cute!

There’s a lot going on in this book. There’s Peter’s continued friendship with that little shit Genevieve and then there’s Lara Jean’s budding friendship with John Ambrose McClaren. Her intern job at Bellevue Retirement Home and her friendship with Stormy. There’s also the video and then Lara Jean getting the middle school gang back together again and their game that Lara Jean is determined to win. This wasn’t the easiest book to read but the ending was a lot better than the first book’s ending and we got to finally read the letter that Lara Jean started to Peter in the first book. That was an awesome letter. Lara Jean is a really gifted letter writer. I love her inquisitive personality.

Peter Kavinsky is my book boyfriend of the week. I adored him in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and even though there were plenty of times that I wanted to junk punch him in this book, in the end, his love for Lara Jean was too sweet and I just loved him to pieces.

“I say, “In the contract we said we wouldn’t break each other’s hearts. What if we do it again?”

Fiercely he says, “What if we do? If we’re so guarded, it’s not going to be anything. Let’s do it fucking for real, Lara Jean. Let’s go all in. No more contract. No more safety net. You can break my heart. Do whatever you want with it.”

This was such a sweet scene because it was the night that Lara Jean and Peter became real and gah, first love in all of its glory was written in the pages of this book and I was here for it all.

I’ve mentioned this quite a few times since I’m super excited about this but the movie adaptation of this book comes out next month on Netflix. I have been a huge fan of the Netflix original tv shows and movies that I have watched before so I’m hopeful that this movie will be fantastic.

Here’s the boy that is playing Peter Kavinsky. He is such a great Peter and Brenna is a huge fan of his on Fosters so I’m hopeful that he’ll bring Peter to life wonderfully.

This book packed a huge punch and had me all in my feels through it all. John Ambrose was a great addition to this story and even though I loved him, my heart was truly and completely Peter’s. I really like how different Peter and Lara Jean are and I really like that that works for them. Peter’s personality is so in your face and Lara Jean is more reserved but together, together they were magic and I loved them. What a great book, I thoroughly recommend.

Final Grade

4.75 out of 5

Buy the Book

AMAZON || BARNES & NOBLE || KOBO || GOOGLE BOOKS

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series

four-half-stars

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Buddy Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Posted July 17, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 2 Comments

Buddy Review: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny HanTo All the Boys I've Loved Before
by Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1
Also in this series: P.S. I Still Love You, Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Published by Simon & Schuster, Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers on April 15, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 355
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
four-stars

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.

Lara Jean Song Covey is about to start her junior year of high school. Everything in her life is fine. She’s got a great relationship with her family, she’s got a great but imperfect friend and even though she’s sad that her older sister Margot is goint to Scotland for college, she’s happy for Margot. Sure, she still gets a little pang in her heart at the thought of her boy best friend Josh being in a relationship with her sister but she wrote him a letter and got everything out and she moved on. She really did.

It’s what she does. When she falls in love with a boy and can’t have that boy for whatever reason, she writes them a letter and pours her heart and soul into that letter and then that letter goes into a box for safekeeping because of course, she was never going to send those letters out. So far, she’s written five letters to five different boys.

Things get really interesting when those letters get sent out…

Rowena: Alright, Ames. We’re back in action after a brief hitaus (haha, meaning we have been stinking it up in the last couple of months) and our first book is To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han in preparation for Netflix’s release of the movie next month.

What did you think?

Ames: Ok, first of all, I’m going to say I enjoyed it. But it took me a while to warm up to it in the beginning and Lara Jean annoyed me a bit, but in the end I really like how it all came together. That ending though!!!

What about you?

Rowena: When I got to the ending, I laughed out loud because I was like, “Oh, that’s why Ames was so annoyed” but yeah, I totally would have felt the same way if I didn’t have the next two books to read right away…and I did start the next book right away. I couldn’t help myself.

I enjoyed it too. It didn’t take me long to jump right into the story but I found myself wanting more Peter really early on. He’s such a boy. Josh was super perfect and because of things that we found out about him and Margot, I knew that I wanted Lara Jean to find her own person. Someone that was hers and hers alone and while Peter was still dealing with his nightmare of an ex, Lara Jean was important to him and I loved seeing them fall in love.

I’m super excited about the Netflix movie too. I cannot wait to see this story brought to life. I bet you the movie is going to get the same ending as the book. Haha.

Ames: I would have been rooting for Lara Jean and Josh too, I mean she did like him first. But we find out what we did about him and Margot and Peter was coming across as more interesting anyway. Josh was too known to Lara Jean, there was no challenge there. Peter was the perfect guy to bust Lara Jean out of her bubble, and man does Lara Jean have a big bubble! I think Josh would have kept her in her small world. I did like all the jealousy though between Peter and Josh as the story developed.

Ok, how awesome was Kitty’s character? I loved her! She was so decisive and the sass she threw Peter’s way was cute. I honestly didn’t care for Margot. That ish she pulls at the end, going to their dad? Not cool, sister. And how she barely kept in touch with Lara Jean while she was gone?

Rowena: I adored Kitty! I think outside of Peter, she was my favorite character. I just loved how sassy she was and how caring she was. She didn’t apologize for who she was but she also cared a lot about everyone in her life. When Peter became of those that she cared for, I cheered. I loved seeing the two of them together and I really loved the way that Peter was with her. Kitty’s birthday present from Peter and Lara Jean was the best thing ever. Also? I loved the dance that they did for Peter and Peter’s reaction to it. I hope that made the cut in the movie.

I agree with you about Josh. Josh was perfect and he was very book boyfriendy but I liked that it was Peter, the not so perfect boy who ended up being Lara Jean’s person. I enjoyed the jealousy on both sides with Peter and Josh. I thought Peter was perfect for Lara Jean and I loved that he did force her out of her bubble and I’m so glad that he did because she is so happy and I love it.

Margot annoyed me too when she played the snitch. That wasn’t cool. You don’t ever do shit like that, no matter how mad you are at your sister.

I think I enjoyed this book a bit more than you did because for me? I give this book a 4.5 out of 5. What about you?

Ames: Kitty and Peter becoming friends was definitely a highlight for me. And Peter’s notes! Like the one he gave Lara Jean to say he wanted to drive Kitty to school in his two seater car. *swoon*

Lara Jean annoyed me – she was very immature in my opinion. The way she acted without thinking of the repercussions. Like jumping on Peter because she didn’t want to deal with Josh coming down the hall. HOWEVER, this immaturity was consistent with who she was as a character and a teenager so even though it annoyed me, it was understandable.

Ok, now I feel like a Grinch. I’m giving this 3.75 out of 5. LOL

Rowena: Yeah, Lara Jean was annoying and immature but Jenny Han did a great job of making that a consistent trait of hers and it fit with her inexperience in all things boys and her world being so small so it didn’t bother me at all. And YES, Peter’s notes! Those were the best.

Overall, this book had me all in my feels and I just adored the hell out of Peter. And haha, you are a Grinch for that grade but it’s all good.

Final Grade

Ames: 3.75 out of 5
Rowena: 4.5 out of 5

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series

four-stars

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Week in Review (94)

Posted July 16, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 2 Comments

A few things happened last week that really knocked me on my ass. My workload has since tripled since my boss has been on vacation so I’ve been really busy and stressed over some work-related things and then as I was getting ready for work on Tuesday, my brother called me to tell me that one of our close friends died and it was sudden, unexpected and I’ve been thrown for a loop. So I’ve been dealing with that and trying to be there for my friends and it’s just been a hard week all around. I did manage to lose myself in books so I’m happy about that.

Now, onto the books…

What I’m Currently Reading
Week in Review (94)P.S. I Still Love You
by Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2
Also in this series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before, P.S. I Still Love You, Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Published by Simon & Schuster, Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 26, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 337
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

It’s been an odd week. After the news that my friend David had passed on, I’ve been in a funky mood. I don’t want to go out, I don’t want to be around people but I did want to read. So I did. I was supposed to start A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole and while I still have plans to read it, I started my buddy review book To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han and I just kept right on reading the books. I finished To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before yesterday and immediately jumped into this one. So far, I’m really enjoying it and I’m really loving Peter Kavinsky. Gah, what an adorable book boyfriend. I love him.

What I Read

The Real Deal by Lauren Blakely | 4 out of 5
Every Time You Go Away by Beth Harbison | 3 out of 5
Baby Daddy by Kendall Ryan | 3.25 out of 5
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han | 4.5 out of 5

My favorite read of the week goes to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. I just thought it was the cutest story and I’m super stoked about the movie coming out next month.

My least favorite book is probabaly the Beth Harbison book because it was super slow and not at all what I was expecting or wanted. Oh well.

What I Reviewed

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom | 4 out of 5
I Think I Love You by Lauren Layne | 4.5 out of 5
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts | 4.25 out of 5

What I Posted

Week in Review (93)
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Down with Love by Kate Meader

What I Got

Grumpy Fake Boyfriend by Jackie Lau
Mr. Hotshot CEO by Jackie Lau

What I Got for Review

No new books for review this week. I still haven’t checked anything or requested anything. Maybe next week.

There you have it, my week in review. How was your week?

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