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

June 6, 2015

Edition: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Hardback
Release Date: May 26th 2015
Pages: 337
Series: To All The Boys I've Loved Before #2
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Source: Bought
Links: Goodreads | Author's Website | Buy the book


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?


P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han is a charming and adorable young adult contemporary that won’t disappoint fans of book one, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

I had a lot of fun reading To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before earlier this year, however I finished the book feeling extremely conflicted. I then felt even more argh, once I read the synopsis for P.S. I Still Love You which hinted at another possible love triangle.

So to start my review I'd like to quickly assure readers who had similar anxious thoughts when the synopsis screamed *love triangle alert* , that there is no need to stress.
Lara Jean was a lot more likable in P.S. I Still Love You. It was quite noticeable that she matured greatly, which came in handy throughout the novel. In book one I felt as though Lara Jean was a little too naive and that she acted much younger than her age, but her character definitely grew and developed throughout the story and I believe that’s probably because she started listening to her head and not just her heart.

I wrote in my review for book one that I thought Lara Jean wasn’t always 100% true to herself and I’m happy to say I feel as though she finally found her feet and I’m so proud! Gosh, damn Jenny Han and her lovable characters to whom I grow so attached to.

In To All the Boy’s I’ve Loved Before I enjoyed the scenes between Peter and Lara Jean, however they didn't excite me. But that totally changed in P.S. I Still Love You. I read a majority of the book at school and my friends can tell you that I squealed multiple times. The cuteness was too much for me to handle and I gotta say, they were pretty much goals.

Yet, at the same time Peter and Lara Jean certainly didn't have the picture perfect relationship that is all too common in Young Adult fiction these days. It was realistically flawed as were Peter and Lara Jean as characters. They had their fair share of high and lows which only contributed to the honesty and realism of their romance.

These highs and lows were often quite big, Lara Jean has some fairly stressful complications thrown at her. I wanted to give her a good old hug but I couldn’t cos you know… she’s sadly fictional and all (there goes my dreams of scrapbooking with Lara Jean). But I think Lara Jean and co handled those situations really well. P.S. I Still Love You also discusses some of the double standards between girls and boys and included some feminist talk, which I think is really important so I’m glad Jenny Han went there.
“Society is far too caught up in shaming a woman for enjoying sex and applauding a man.”

—  P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

I really admired that Lara Jean didn’t change herself once she was in a relationship, nor did she abandon her family or friends. She kept her curious and sweet nature and never compromised her values. Go girl! I also love that Peter never made her do anything she was uncomfortable with, he was a much better guy than I thought and I think even I am fell in love with him just a bit (well a lot in a particular Kitty and Peter scene).

Lara Jean's family were majorly present throughout the whole book. This was a relief as parents often go missing in YA. Also, Lara Jean's bond was one of my favourite focuses in book one so I was glad Jenny Han continued to write in some sweet family moments rather than making her grow distant once she got a boyfriend.

As I mentioned earlier, the synopsis of P.S. I Still Love You, hinted at a love triangle which made me very nervous. Yes, there is another potential love interest introduced but I wouldn’t call it a love triangle. I’m so glad it didn’t play a bigger part in the plot. I wanted to dislike John Ambrose but he was super sweet so it was almost impossible, but Team Peter for the win.

While I really enjoyed the storyline of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, I think I liked P.S. I Still Love You even better! I adore this series and I'm predicting a re-read in the very near future. It's a light and fun read but that certainly doesn't mean it wasn't emotional or hooking, it left a lasting impression. The ending was very satisfying, yet it also left some things to the imagination which makes this series being a duology very bittersweet. I miss it already.

If you haven’t jumped on the Jenny Han wagon, I recommend you jump on it right this moment! I mean if the glowing reviews don't convince you, just take a second to admire those gorgeous covers! They literally make beautiful hardcovers, I am in love.
post signature

5 comments

  1. I'm so glad you enjoyed this better than I did, Sunny. Unfortunately, it lacked some elements that I adored in the first book which was a shame for me. Great review nonetheless. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I did like this one, but I loved the first one. The thing that bothered me was all of the relationship drama involving Gen and I don't think it was completely resolved. And I wanted more swoony moments with Lara Jean and Peter. I loved the ending, though, with the Velveteen Rabbit. Great review! ~Pam

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so glad you loved this one! I really really loved the first book so I really can't wait to get around to this one. Lovely review Sunny!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great review Sunny! I really need to get to reading the first book. I am glad you enjoyed this book. Lara Jean sounds like an awesome character.
    Blue Books and Butterflies

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a gorgeous review Sunny! I love the fact that Lara Jean has grown as a character and that her and Peter had a realistically flawed relationship. Lovely review!

    ReplyDelete

Thank for stopping by my small corner of the web, I hope you enjoyed your time here. Feel free to leave a comment, I love reading them. Sending you a thousand lovely days x

© A Sunny Spot. Design by FCD. Header using graphics from Freepik.