P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #2)
by Jenny Han
Publisher – Scholastic
Release Date – May 26th 2015
Buy – Amazon | Book DepositoryLara 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.
This review may contain spoilers from Book 1 – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
I’ll admit that I was a bit disappointed with this novel. It all started with having very high expectations. Darn my expectations. This is what makes me sad when the first book I encounter from this author was amazing and the sequel just didn’t do it for me all. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before had so much more. Was that I read it when it released, with all the hype?! I don’t know… although it did disappoint me in places, in the end it still was an enjoyable read.
“Sometimes I like you so much I can’t stand it. It fills up inside me, all the way to the brim, and I feel like I could overflow. I like you so much I don’t know what to do with it. My heart beats so fast when I know I’m going to see you again. And then, when you look at me the way you do, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”
Lara Jean wrote letters to five boys she loved in all her life, but one of them those boys surprised and changed her life forever. She fell for Peter. P.S. I Still Love You started at a rocky start for Peter and Lara Jean, after she believed that Peter told everyone they had sex in the hot tub. If I’m honest though I wouldn’t be surprised as I did think of him a bit of a tool in the beginning of book 1. But Lara Jean didn’t want to give up on him either, she wanted to be his girlfriend. On New Years Day she had a plan in mind, to get him back. And she did. However, that rocky start was going to get worse when a video was spreading on the internet of her and Peter in the hot tub. It looked like a really hot moment between the and that was all it was, but you know how Chinese whispers start…they never end in the same way.
The way things were starting with Peter and Lara Jean didn’t feel right to me. I felt it was forced, they weren’t progressing from the awkward stage of being fake girlfriend/boyfriend. That’s what they needed to get past, that and Genevieve. In a way I think I partly blame Lara Jean and her infatuation towards Peter and Genevieve. She was definitely entering the childish stage I think and that’s what really got me, she couldn’t seem to get over it. Genevieve this, Genevieve that…it was getting quite repetitive if I’m honest. I felt her maturity sort of slid, rather than growing through her relationship with Peter, she was falling instead. Peter really didn’t help the matter either. They were both as bad as each other. He evaded her questions even when they said they would tell each other the truth. Sometimes he would be on her side especially after the horrifying video moment, but others I felt he would just ignore her in a way. But I did enjoy the jealousy that sparked from him with John, personally I was quite pleased he was like that, then he could what he missing and what he really felt.
The novel itself picked it in the second half in the novel and you know why, because Lara Jean’s letter writing once returned. I have a sentimentality hen it comes to letters or postcards. I just feel that explores so much more of yourself and your feeling without you really realising it. The letter is the action and it’s a lot than words. When Lara Jean wrote those letters, one person didn’t respond and that was John McClaren and now after all this time, she receives a letter in the post from John himself. He explains why he didn’t get it straight away and then they begun writing to each other.
As you all know from the description that there was going to be love triangle, but you know what that didn’t bother me in the slightest. I like the competition for Lara Jean’s heart especially after as they were both boys she loved before. John McClaren was just adorable and the complete opposite of Peter, he was kind, sweet, and caring. I loved how after such a long time that he was the one who saw Lara Jean for who she is from the beginning. I hate to say it and I’m betraying everyone by saying it but I was rooting for John. He had something that I feel for from the beginning and maybe because he wrote some sweet letters back to her.
Regardless of the fact that I may prefer John to Peter, I guess I was torn what was going to happen in the end. But I will leave any further thoughts until you have read it. Sadly I regret to say that it did lack what I loved most about her previous book. That said I still did enjoy the book overall. Jenny Han has a way with words and with romance and I can’t deny that she does make your toes curl and giddy smiles. This is only a duology but I will be looking out for more her novels in future.
Rating – 3.5
So I haven't read this book yet, but I know a few bloggers/readers who'd sworn by its awesomeness. I have this lined up some time soon, though. 😉 Wish me luck.
I'm crossing my fingers for you. The first one is the best!!!
I still have yet to read a book by Jenny Han. HOW MUCH DO I FAIL EMMA! I'm sorry this one wasn't quite as strong as the previous book, but I'm glad you enjoyed it for the most part:)
I need to read her Summer series everyone rates!!! Hope you get to read a book by Jenny soon! 🙂
Oh no! It's too bad this sequel didn't quite live up to its predecessor. I personally love Jenny Han's writing, so I think I'll still give this newest release a try. Thanks for the well written, well thought out review, Emma!
Julia Anne @ Peach Print
It's a shame, but I loved it all the same. Thanks for stopping by Julia! 🙂
I haven't read either of these. I actually read a lot of mixed thoughts about the first one. I'm sorry you loved that and didn't really love the second though.
Oh you should. The first is definitely the best.
I just scanned your review since I have't read the first one but I'm kind of sad you didn't like this as much as the first but not surprised either. It seems more often than not these days, that is how second books work.
Yes it's true you can't seem to get a great sequel, very rare these days. Hope you get to read this series soon! 🙂
I so rarely read YA contemporary romance, it's just not my thing, but I do pick something up occasionally when I think it'll be worth it. That doesn't seem to be the case here, however. Love triangles drive me crazy, and a romance with an unconvicing start doesn't sound appealing either.
Yes love triangle can drive me crazy like this one, but generally I don't mind. Thanks for stopping by Maja! 🙂
Well, bummer. This is second review that mentions disappointment in this second book. Too bad. I loved the first one so much…
I know I loved it as well, hope you get better luck than me! 🙂
Awww, I'm sorry that this one has proven to be disappointing compared to the previous book. I know how everyone anticipated this sequel for MONTHS. It's interesting to see your angle on it as most have been praising, but I've kept my guard up because god knows how many hyped-books have bummed me out when I finally read them. Hope your next read is better!!
Faye at The Social Potato
I was really looking forward to this one after recently reading the first one. But maybe it's a lesson learned about hyped books for sure. My next read was a lot better, thank you! 🙂
I personally wasn't a fan of the first book, so I don't think I'll have the energy to pick this one up. 🙁 I've always thought that Lara Jean wasn't the most mature character, but the way you described her obsession with Genevieve sounds downright childish. And Peter… I'll admit I felt like he was a bit of a tool in book one too. The way you're describing John is making me SURE I'm going to root for him too, and I hate going against what's already a given. D: I don't think I'll be picking this up anytime soon… Awesome review, Emma!
Aimee @ Deadly Darlings
Yes I think this series is a hit or miss with some people. Me it was a hit the first time round and a miss the second time around. Thanks, Aimee!
The immaturity of the characters would annoy me I'm sure. I don't think this series would be my cup of tea. I hope the next book is better for you, Emma. 🙂
Yes those sort of characters always do with me. Well I believe this is a duology so this is how it ends, I'm afraid.
Lara Jean did give me a childish vibe from the first book but I think that's part of her character. She doesn't really know what the heck she's doing and even though it's a little pathetic to not talk to the guy and write a letter without EVER wanting to talk to him, I've sort of done the same thing. Since it didn't bother me in the first book, I don't think the childishness will bother me in this one!
Great review, I love that you explored all sides.
It sounds nice, I didn't know there was a sequel to the first book. I wonder why I was so sure that it wasn't a series. I nned to try book 1 one day.
I have the first book and wanted to read it for awhile. I'm just not in a YA contemp mood though. Glad you still enjoyed this book despite the issues.