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

 

Summary (from the publisher): To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed.

But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh.

As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Review: This is the story of Lara Jean, a high school girl who has never had a boyfriend but has had intense crushes, which she expresses by writing deep, heartfelt letters to the boys. That she then seals and hides in a box under her bed. Until she finds out that they were somehow mailed, causing all of her crushes to find out and confront her. 

I loved this story! Such a fun young adult coming of age tale about a girl finding her way and learning about love. I particularly loved the story of the three sisters in this novel. Lara Jean is one of three girls who lost their mother at a very young age. Her older sister has stepped in as a pseudo mother figure but things have changed now that she is off to college and has broken up with her high school boyfriend Josh, who also happens to be Lara Jean's good friend and a former crush. There is such a strong sense of family devotion and care between the sisters, as well as the clear understanding that they have had to take on adult roles very young when their mother died and their father is gone for long hours as an OBGYN. 

This is the first of three novels, so it ends rather abruptly. I was rooting for Lara Jean and Peter the whole time. Like many teenage boys, he makes mistakes, but I loved their budding relationship. Author Jenny Han did a great job of immersing the reader in the complicated social world of a teenager, and one caught in the cusp of change both socially at school and within her family with her older sister leaving. A really delightful read. I loved so many of these characters and am excited to read the next in the series. 

Stars: 4