Waiting on Wednesday (#197): Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Book Three of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: April 4, 2017

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.

But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to? 

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

To All the Boys I've Loved Before | P.S. I Still Love You

"Surprise follow-up" - yeah okay. I knew there had to be a book to follow P.S. I Still Love You! That ending was SO abrupt! I'm a little worried but definitely excited to see where the story goes (even if it looks like my heart will be broken). =)

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

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Book Two of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 26, 2015

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Copy sent by the publisher

Summary (from 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.

What I Liked:

First, I'd like to express my deepest and most heartfelt thanks to Simon and Schuster, for sending me a hardcover copy of this book weeks before the publication date! I know proof copies exist but I am ever grateful for a copy in general. As with anything I receive from publishers... but especially with this book. I have been dying to read this book (I know I'm not the only one). Just a few more days, people!

Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint me. I saw one other person who had a copy, and she felt slightly disappointed by a certain element or two. I personally didn't feel the same way. Anyway, more on that later.

This book takes place pretty much where To All the Boys I've Loved Before left off. Lara Jean is planning on telling Peter how she really feels. And she does. They decide to really be a couple, and make a new contract with sweet things that honestly made my heart swell. More then half the book is focused on Lara Jean and Peter's relationship. But Lara Jean sees how much Genevieve still leans on Peter, and how Peter still runs to her side, despite them being exes and now friends. When one of the boys from Lara Jean's letters writes back, Lara Jean and him reconnect. Peter is pulling away, and this boy is reappearing. Might Lara Jean be in love with both of them?

Let me start by saying that I will get to the romance in a second. I will say for now, to ease everyone's minds, that it is NOT AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS. I promise. This is coming from me, the hater of love triangles. Everybody take a deep breath.

I'll start with family. I absolutely love the strong sense of family that Han weaves through this duology. Lara Jean is close with her older sister Margot and her younger sister Kitty, and their father. I feel like Lara Jean and Kitty's relationship is really spotlighted in this book, though Margot is definitely a part as well. We can clearly see how the family dynamic works, and how strongly this family is. It's so cute to see Kitty meddle in their father's personal life, pushing him to start dating. Lara Jean wants to see her father happy (not just content), her sister at peace with Josh, and her little sister, well, her little is pretty much happy with messing with everyone's business.

More than half this book is spent focused on Lara Jean and Peter. They are dating for real. They have their ups and downs. A big part of this book is a big part of today's society - someone took a video of Lara Jean and Peter doing certain things in a hot tub in To All the Boys I've Loved Before. It goes viral around the school. I love that Han included this in the book and made it such a big deal, because this is a really important theme of the book. The internet is forever, BUT, you as a girl shouldn't feel bad for kissing a guy. There's a huge double standard that exists, and Han really spearheads this double standard. Everyone tells Lara Jean to be more careful, but no one tells Peter anything. Peter is the one to speak out and people listen, whereas Lara Jean is labeled with certain hurtful terms. This part of the book hurt me to read, but it's so, so important in general.

Lara Jean and Peter have other problems too, like Peter keeps hanging out with Genevieve. He's texting her and talking to her and hanging out with her. But it's clear that he's not dating her or involved with her. But to Lara Jean, just the fact that he's around Genevieve bother her. Do you blame her? Personally, if I were in Lara Jean's shoes, I'd be doing the jealous non-trusting routine too. Genevieve is kind of cruel. I liked that Han had this type of drama in the book - it's real and it's legitimate and every girl feels this way about her man's exes. You can't tell me you didn't/don't. Lara Jean's insecurities are real and called for, in my opinion.

Okay. Let's talk romance. I keep saying that more than half the book is spent on Lara Jean and Peter. They are happy. They are together. They have issues but they talk it out. More than HALF the book, guys. The synopsis implies love triangle but...when I got to around page 150 and saw no hint of Boy #2, I KNEW. I just KNEW that the insinuated love triangle wasn't going to be a real thing. Or it wasn't going to be THAT BAD. Call it faith.

Anyway, Boy #2 is really that - Boy #2. He's one of the five boys that Lara Jean wrote a letter too. I expected this, for Boy #2 to be one of the five boys we haven't already met. Trust me, he wasn't much of a "threat". He stood no chance. Lara Jean is one of those people that falls easily, and she was at a vulnerable spot at this point in time when he enters. Boy #2 had no chance, in my opinion. There really was no "choosing" in the end because there was no choice.

I hope that eases everyone's consciences without spoiling things. The "choice" really is made at the very end of the book, but it's not really a choice. What I'm saying is, it's not as bad as the synopsis makes it seem. Really, it's not. I think Simon and Schuster (or Han) wanted to drum up anticipation and play readers by shoving a love triangle down our throats via the synopsis. Trust me, it's not that bad. 

I love the progression of Lara Jean and Peter's relationship. They are sweet together, they are fire together, they are ice together. They learn to trust one another while they hurt each other. They learn to be careful around one another while they take care of one another. Lara Jean does a fair deal of growing up throughout this duology, and in the end, she does what's right for her.

I love seeing her life come together! Remember in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before how Margot would always be pushing Lara Jean to do extra school things and classes and test prep and whatnot?  Lara Jean starts to do a fun extracurricular type of activity that really makes her grow as a person. It's great to see her have a life outside of her family, school, and Peter.

I also loved seeing how Han portrays the idea of sex. Many YA books feature sex, or characters having sex, etc. Lara Jean isn't ready to have sex. She thinks about it a lot, but she knows that she isn't ready. When that video hits the virtual world and everyone thinks she and Peter had sex, she freaks out. I like the message here about sex here - it's okay to not be ready. It's okay not to be having sex at this age. It's okay to say no to a boy. If he cares, he'll want it, but he'll wait. Good for you, Peter. Good for you, Lara Jean, for knowing what you what and sticking to it. I think it's great that this perspective on sex is shown - it's your choice. A lot of YA books have the female protagonist having sex at some point in the series. In this series, Lara Jean isn't ready, and that is okay. It really is.

Anyway. In the end, I was really, really pleased with this book. I think there was a good amount of drama, romance, family, and general societal themes that made this book highly authentic and highly enjoyable. This book really captures a teenage/young adult relationship, from the jealousy to overthinking text messages to low blow insults/jabs. Han really did a wonderful job with this duology, and while I'm not a contemporary fan, I can safely say that this is one of my favorite YA contemporary series.

What I Did Not Like:

I think the only thing that I didn't like is something that very well may have been out of the author's control (or perhaps she wrote it herself, who knows) - the synopsis. The "love triangle" really is NOT THAT BAD. I even hesitate to call it such. I think it was a media thing, to build the anticipation. I'm not trying to spoil things but... readers will be happy with this book. Promise.

Would I Recommend It:

I would highly recommend this book and To All the Boys I've Loved Before. I can guarantee you I'll be rereading this series over and over, as well as pushing it on everyone. I'm not even a YA contemporary fan! You saw this whole week how I struggled with contemporary. I read five YA contemporary novels in a row and this one is the only one I actually enjoyed enough to say that I would recommend it. So. There's that.

Rating:

4 stars. A solid 4 stars! I didn't love it as much as I loved To All the Boys I've Loved Before, but this book (and series) is definitely worth buying! Even if you're not a fan of YA contemporary (like me), you'll enjoy the series. And this one, this conclusion to the duology, was well worth the wait! Despite the horribly written synopsis. Definitely give this book a chance, guys!

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Waiting on Wednesday (#111): P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Book Two of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers

Publication Date: May 26, 2015

Summary (from 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 makes it so amazing.

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Read my review of To All The Boys I've Loved Before!

I LOVED TATBILB! I've been dying to read this sequel since March 2014! D:

Swoon Thursday (#61): To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han!

My heart is pounding like a million trillion beats a minute as I scoot closer to him. I bend my head down and press my lips against his, and I feel his jolt of surprise. And then he's kissing me back, open-mouthed, soft-lipped kissing-me-back, at first I'm nervous, but then he strokes my hair in a reassuring way, and I'm not so nervous anymore. It's a good thing I'm sitting down on this ledge, because I am weak in the knees. 

[...] I lean into him and kiss him. He starts to run his fingers through my hair, and it feels so nice I can't think straight. It's better than getting my hair washed at the salon. I move my hands down his back and along his spine, and he shivers and pulls me closer. A man's back feels so different than a girl's back - more muscular, more solid somehow. 

- ARC, pages 314-315

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Read my review HERE.

GUYS I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I'm honestly not much of a contemporary person, but this book was SO GOOD. I mean, it got five stars from me. FIVE STARS. From ME.

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

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

Book One of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Rating: 5 stars

Source: ARC won from a giveaway

Summary (from Goodreads):

Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

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.

What I Liked:

I don't even know how to begin this review. I read this book several days ago, and I'm writing this review now, NOT because I'm lazy and couldn't write it right away, but because I couldn't find the words to create a review for this book. I still can't, honestly, but the review is supposed to go up on Monday (which you would be reading now), so I have to write something. I already know I'm not going to be doing this book (or my love for this book) justice, so... just know that I love this book so so so so so SO MUCH. Like, a lot.

This book follows the first person narration of Lara Jean, the middle child of three daughters. Her older sister, Margot, is about to go to college in Scotland for her freshman year. Her younger sister, Kitty, is nine years old, and needs her older sisters. Their mother is dead, and their father is a single parent, raising three daughters. 

But then there is the small problem of Lara Jean's love letters being sent. They aren't really love letters - they're Lara Jean's "goodbyes", letters that were for her to have closure, and for no one else to see. Well, someone sent them. And four of the five boys got the letters (one was sent back). Peter Kavinsky was smug and gloating. Josh Sanderson (who is now Margot's ex-boyfriend) was pensive and slightly regretful. Lucas Krapf is gay. McClaren (I can't remember his full name) never said anything to Lara Jean.

So, this story is really two stories - about Lara Jean's family life, and her personal life. I LOVE how Jenny Han focuses on both - many times in contemporary novels, we see the romance side really fleshed out, but the family side not-so-fleshed-out. In this book, the importance of sisterhood is really there. Lara Jean must "grow up" and be somewhat of a better role model for Kitty. BUT, Lara Jean must also keep a relationship with her sister in Scotland. Also, notice how one of of the five boys that Lara Jean used to love is Josh, the next-door neighbor, the best friend, and Margot's boyfriend (right until she went to Scotland). That is something that the sisters must reconcile. 

I promise I have not given anything away, in terms of the romance. I promise. The romance is so, so perfect, in my opinion. I've seen some reviewers say that they weren't feeling the romance, but I LOVED it. Lara Jean decides to take on a fake boyfriend, so that Josh won't think that she is still interested in him, and so that Margot can get back together with Josh when she comes back in December (and in that way, Lara Jean won't be guilty of liking Margot's ex-boyfriend). But with all things, it's hard not to fall for the fake boyfriend.

So, you might think to yourself, but Alyssa, that sounds a bit like a love triangle? Lara Jean and Josh? Lara Jean and fake boyfriend? Margot and Josh? WHAT?! Trust me, it doesn't seem like a love triangle when you are reading the book. One guy and one girl are CLEARLY meant for each other. I love the romance in this book - it is very well-developed and the progression is gradual and subtle. There were specific scenes that were so poignant and beautiful, but they were the smallest things, like the boy putting his head in Lara Jean's lap, or buying her a donut. LOVE IT.

I'm not telling you who ends up with who or who the fake boyfriend is, but I'm definitely all the way on one boy's side. I don't dislike the other, but there are two distinct pairs and I think the author is going in that direction as well. But I think the author is making the characters work for it, which is a tiny bit irritating but totally worth the read.

The plot of this book is straightforward except not. This book starts in the fall (beginning of a school year), and ends around Christmas time. It's about Lara Jean's romantic journey - figuring out her feelings for Josh and the fake boyfriend and even some of the other letter recipients. It's also about Lara Jean's friendship with a not-so-great influence, Chris. It's about her relationship with her older sister, Margot, her young sister, Kitty, and her father. I would even say it's about her friendship with Josh, even though he is one of the boys she was totally in love with, according to her letter.

The author's writing style is so great! It's cute and girly and definitely fits Lara Jean's personality. I was a bit taken aback when I started reading, because the narration was very informal and bubbly and cute, and I'm so used to a more serious tone. But I really liked this - it worked for Lara Jean, and this book. 

I seriously loved this book so, so much, people. I don't think I've said nearly enough about this book, but I think you all understand. I re-read this book about an hour after I finished it, which almost NEVER HAPPENS. It's rare, these days, that I have a desire to re-read books, especially so soon after reading it the first time. Well, this book had that effect on me! I NEED BOOK TWO!

What I Did Not Like:

That it ended. NOT the way it ended, but the fact that it ended. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK?! What madness is this?

Would I Recommend It:

Oh my gosh YES! I'm not a contemporary person, but this book BLEW ME AWAY. I was excited to read it beforehand (which is surprising, since it's contemporary), so I had a feeling that I would be pretty good (I don't read just ANY contemporary novel). Well, this book was not just good, or great - it was FANTASTIC. 

So, contemporary fan or not, you should read this book! It's *kind of* like Rowell's Fangirl - in the sense that anyone can read this book and love it, because it's easy to relate to this heroine and her life in some way or another. I highly recommend to anyone and everyone (which is super helpful, I know. Just trust me). 

Rating:

5 stars. This book was simply AMAZING. I loved everything about it, even the heartbreaking yet beautiful ending. Trust me when I say that I will be HUNTING DOWN every and any advanced reader copy of the second book (if they are printed), because I must read that book AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!