book review; Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han

4/5 stars

This is the finale conclusion ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ trilogy. The movie adaptation by Netflix is coming soon!

I listened to this playlist while reading https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2PIrRrdhdP3nom1appQZX0

From Goodreads,

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?

Strengths

• I love how the author wrote about change and how to adapt with it, the newcomer in Covey’s family and the life continued after graduation.
• The dynamic interaction between the family members slowly revealed and each character’s portrayal more fleshed out after went through the problem.
• I really love Lara Jean’s point of view in this book (compared to the previous one) and I felt like I was in her shoes, together deciding what kind of future she would choose.
• Peter Kavinsky’s character development finally came to see his arc. He grew series by series and it’s amazing to read. I love him with all of my heart.
• I’ve always been #TeamPeter, sorry John Ambrose McClaren.
• This is a story of family, change, and self-discovery. It’s cute and adorable read but if you looked hard enough, you would find the depth and meaning behind that could refelct to our daily life.

Weakness

• It’s a slow paced one and there are certain thing, little details of how was the process Lara Jean bought the dress should be written. At least, the reader knew it was coming. That would be a foreshadow and we could experience the very daily routine of our beloved main character.
• I should give this book 5 stars because I cried but when I finished, I felt that I want more. That’s a selfish thought of me but it felt wasn’t enough. After all, it was really a satisfied read. I’m not good at rating YA Contemporary because my comfort would always be YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi.

My thoughts on why Lara Jean choose Peter Kavinsky instead of John Ambrose, an appreciation post of ‘To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You ‘ premiered yesterday

This is basically the thoughts gathered after finished reading the trilogy and watched two recent movie adaptation.

Lara Jean and Peter is two different sides of the same coin. Both were carved and becoming contrast pattern (to distinguish head and tail) but end up brought up as one identity, that compliment one another. Peter needs someone who will support and understand him (while in book and movie, there were conflicts as Lara Jean dealt with her insecurity). Lara needs someone who will fit her high standard as she loves to read romance novel (well, we readers totally understood this with all of our heart) but being with Peter, she will realize that nothing’s truly perfect. Peter is flawed but he always trying the very best for her. This oppositeness will make them both grow and learn together.

Being with John Ambrose for Lara Jean will be easy for her. He is basically the ‘Jung’ (the connection between two people that can’t be severed, even when love turns to hate) for her. They both reflected like mirror. The similarity is tempting but it might not be good for a long run. Lara Jean will grow and learn more with Peter.

In the third book, Lara Jean mentioned that she couldn’t imagine being with someone who can’t accept her family. Peter is a warmth person and easy going. He knows how Lara Jean valued family and he always trying his best to impress her by winning the heart of Covey’s family. This show how Peter respects her.

Lastly, opposites do attract. Both might seems a bit immature as they are very young in the story but I believe, being with one another, they will grow in somebody they are meant to be and learn the lesson along their shared life’s journey.