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

I didn't like this as much as the first one. The narrator was still great and there was still some good humor. I swear at the end of the first book Genevieve told Lara Jean why they weren't friends anymore and from the start of this book Lara Jean seemed clueless about it. There were other inconsistencies that niggled at me but still...the romance. I see why the girls love this book. ( )

P.S. I Still Love You was decent, but it wasn’t as heartwarmingly sweet and adorable as To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. I know, I know. Second books often don’t live up to expectations. I think the banter and fake dating really got me in the first book. This one… doesn’t have that.

In fact, P.S. I Love Still Love You feels in many ways like a love story (“love” story?) that could show up in anyone’s embarrassing teenage memories. There’s a fewer cute exchanges and smiles and more negative feelings in this one. As the reader, we can see all the red flags in Lara Jean’s relationships. … Actually, I should say, as an adult reader with bad relationships in my past and at least one too many poor decisions to want to mention, I saw a bunch of red flags. I think that the target audience – teens at Lara Jean’s stage in life – may miss them. And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not? P.S. I Still Love You sets itself up as a love triangle story, but it’s more a series of negative emotions. I feel like there are a lot of “Halt! Toxic relationship ahead!” warnings. From both Peter and Lara Jean, if I’m being honest. If readers can see this relationship and go “oh crap, that’s a shitty thing for them to do – WAIT. I’m in a relationship that does that all the time, wtf?” and make positive, healthy change… that’s one thing. But the ending tells me that things will continue in one way or another in Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m still reading the next book. I’m invested, and I didn’t hate it. But I just wish the jealous girlfriend / sneaky boyfriend thing was not a trope. It often reflects real life, but it’s also not healthy.

And, perhaps, my main problem was the way Lara Jean and Peter behaved toward one another and the relationships they had with others, and the secrecy that they guarded so close, and the mistrust. I didn’t like that it was so real-feeling because sometimes… I just want romance to be a fairytale, you know? Something warm and delicious, like homemade hot cocoa. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was more like that. Now it’s getting real. But okay, now that I know it’s getting real, I feel better prepared for Always and Forever, Lara Jean. And now you’ve been warned too.

I continue to really like Kitty. I like how Han uses her as a mirror to some of the things Lara Jean experienced when she was younger. Also? I like how Kitty has her own loyalties. And Margo, too, I liked how Han used Margo today say, “It’s okay to fall out of love.” There’s a lot of different kinds of love stories – romantic and platonic – in this trilogy. I like the parallel nature of the storylines. It’s compelling storytelling..

So – P.S. I Still Love You? Not as sweet and charming as its predecessor, but very much still worth a read. Sometimes, choices the characters make are frustrating. But I can’t say I’ve not made similar choices in my own past. ( )

Ahh John Ambrose McClaren, and a vintage dance party!! What is not to love about the second installment of To all the Boys...Oh right Peter Kavinsky, any hope of a redeeming quality for him was far lost to me in this second instalment. I was very hopeful for him that he would be better, but he lies and manipulates at every turn, and shows signs of controlling tendencies and jealousy that is bordering on scary. This is especially evident next to the docile, respectful John Ambrose McLaren. I really wish this would have ended differently. The more the story is expanded the more I see how seriously dangerous romanticizing Peter's behavior could be to younger readers. Not to mention his instance to hang out with the very toxic Genivive. Dude you broke up, your supposedly in love with someone else yet you are lying to that person and ignoring her feelings on the relationship. I am just so confused as to why Lara Jean and Peter are being admired as such a great couple. Am I the only one to see the red flags? ( )

I enjoyed the first book and really had to know how it would go on. The sequel didn’t disappoint. It’s a really sweet love story everyone could lose oneself in. The narrator once again did a great job. Don’t watch the film, listen to the books. ( )

Nice way to break reveries.
Hey all, I'm not into reviews but I figured that I had to try for this series.
So, as I mentioned before, this book did well to break my reveries of the non-existent-pink-LJ-world my mind subconsciously had created whilst reading To All the Boys I've Loved Before series. In my short review of the book previous to this one in the series, I mentioned terms like character arc, convincingness and flowery; and I'm felling lucky to say that this book met my expectations hardly. I had expected this to be just like the previous one: boring and undeserving. But it showed character development in Peter, which is why I'll be generous. Unluckily, LJ made no improvements at all, except showcasing her very teen-like temper shots and insecurities more often. Not pretty, but not dislikeable either. ( )