Release Date: August 7th 2014
Pages: 422
Source: review copy from publisher
Age Range: Young Adult
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.
After reading this book I clearly wonder about the synopsis. First, only one letter is send out in the story. I though that the letters being send out and the consequences that would have on her (potential) boyfriend would be the main focus of the story. It wasn't. The main spotlight was on Lara Jean's family situation, being her older sister Margot (who is in Scotland for college), her younger sister Kitty and her widowed father. Since the mother of the family has passed away, the eldest daughter Margot has somewhat taken over the mother role in the family.Now that she is in Scotland, Lara Jean misses her terribly and sometimes wonders in situations what Margot would have done. The second thing that happens is when Margot just has gone to Scotland, Lara Jean starts datingJosh, who lives across the street. What was unclear though to me was if Josh was Margot's (ex) boyfriend of just Lara Jean's old crush. She also starts something with her classmate Peter Kavinsky, who received one of the
letters. I couldn't figure out which guy she liked or why, and I will even admit for a bit it got so confusing. And then suddenly she comes to a solid conclusion about who she has feelings for and the book ends. No grand finale, no final conclusion, not even a cheesy happily ever after. It just ended, out of the blue leaving you with a million questions.
This is a book I highly anticipated reading. Was it worth waiting for? Not so much. This is a book very aimed at younger teen girls. Lara Jean is older but her behavior, especially being so clingy and relying on her older sister makes her sound much younger.
Overall I was not blown away by this book, but maybe the next book in the series will make up for it!
