'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' Book Review #17

I'm usually the type of person who reads a book before watching the movie if there is one available. In this case, I was bored one night, saw the movie and turned it on. By the end of it, I was in love and immediately purchased the book. Come to find out, it's a trilogy! Yet, I still purchased just the first one.

Picture by @tashaslibrary on IG.

Before I get into my review, here is the synopsis of this cute book by Jenny Han from Goodreads:

"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."

For my TBR (to be read) list, I usually keep up with it by reading the books in the order of which I was given them or bought. It's been working extremely well. Finally getting to 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' I was so excited to finally sit down and read it. However, I find myself, sometimes, going through reading slumps. Sadly, that is why it took me almost a week to finish. I read a little bit each day, surprised at how much of an easy read it was and yesterday, I read well over 200 pages in a day. Crazy, right?

This review is going to be kind of like a pros and cons list and differences between the book and the movie while also praising both. Before I begin, I highly suggest reading the book and watching the book whenever you can!

The only ever book that was adapted into a movie perfectly-- following the book almost exactly --was probably John Green's 'The Fault In Our Stars' if I can remember correctly. So, it's safe to say that when I watched this movie then read the book, I was expecting lots of differences. And yet, it always bothers me how different the two could be.

Kitty, which is Lara Jean's younger sister, in my opinion was "fantasied" in the movie. If anyone has siblings, they know how much of a pain the younger ones can be and vice versa. Kitty just had sarcasm and she was goofy. However, in the book, she stayed mad at Lara Jean and showed true emotions from a younger sister. I know in movies, they just want to cut to the chase which is okay, I guess. My words won't change anything.

Picture by @tashaslibrary on IG.

I was highly disappointing when the movie pretty much dusted Lara Jean's and Josh's relationship under the rug as if there were broken glass. On paper, their friendship was so much more than Lara Jean loving him, then Margot, her older sister dating then dumping him. Especially when the letters came out. Josh tried explaining his feelings towards Lara Jean and even kissed her! But no, in the movie they were just neighbors. The neighbor boy Lara Jean loved but then her older sister started dating him. Then, she dumped him before going to collage and he is off limits. That's it. It's quite irritating they leave out such important parts.

In my own opinion, which everyone has one, is that Peter was kind of douchey in the book. In the movie, not so much. However, his ex girlfriend, Gen, was a complete b***h in the movie to Lara Jean. Yet, in the book, she never really talked to her. You know, they added her to be the "queen B" for the drama effect. It's like they're the complete opposite in the book.

The book was simply REALISTIC while the movie was made for a short chick flick to make your heart hurt from the feels. I get it- I totally get it. And I loved the movie but I feel like they should have added more of Josh and Lara's relationship.

Picture by @tashaslibrary on IG.

Also, I just remembered! I already mentioned how some things were backwards or not there at all in the movie but in the book when Lara Jean explains who her five letters were for. In the movie, Lara Jean and Peter kiss back in 7th grade during a game of spin the bottle where Gen was right there. In the book, they went to a party and all the kids got picked up and Peter and Lara Jean were the only ones left. I remember Peter was talking about her hair smelling like coconuts and then he just randomly kisses her. I don't know. They could have followed the story line a little more than they did but what can ya do?

I've mentioned it before but I will go ahead and say it again: I truly enjoyed the movie as well as the book (the book more because of all the juicy details) and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about high school relationships!