Book Review : To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1) by Jenny Han

Goodreads Description : 

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them... all at once?

Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1)
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: Contemporary, YA, Chick Lit, Romance
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 355
Source: Purchased from the Bookdepository

I heard so many good things about Jenny Han with her 'Summer I turn pretty' trilogy and the 'Burn for Burn' which I have yet to pick up (IDK why) but the moment I heard the concept of this book I had to pick it up!

The book focuses on  Lara Jean who writes 'good bye' love letters to her crushes, keeps them in a hat box and moves on with life. One day those letters gets send out to the guys she wrote the letters to and has to deal with the fact this boys all know how she used to feel of them. Though it sounds like a haywire situation, she actually gotten to know some of the guys better especially Peter. 

I like Lara Jean from the start. I like watching her grow trough the book having she started out as not so confident and living in the shadows of the older sister Margot to becoming more confident and independent as well as capable of looking after their little sister Kitty, their dad as well as around the house. In a way both her and Kitty did become better with Margot leaving for college as Margot was the head of the house, being an example to her sisters and keeping everything in order.

Margot is a love-hate character. Me being the eldest I could relate to her in some ways like putting siblings before myself and worrying what's gonna happen to the family when I'm off to college but I feel she has a problem of letting go and letting her sister and dad look after themselves. Though she has her good intention of being strict and protective over her family, she really just need to let go and let them learn for themself. I feel like I will have enjoyed Margot more if we gotten to know her better. In fact I think it will be cool if there were a spin-off story on her.

Kitty... gosh I love her to bits! She's wise beyond her years making me sometimes forget she's only Nine. She know's how to wrap you around her fingers as well as is very particular with who she warms up to. However don't mess with this firecracker as she'll mess with you big time! . Basically I though she was gonna be my least favorite character turned to be my most favorite (beside Lara Jean and Peter). 

Lara Jean is my most favorite character in the book! Cute, witty, free spirit and dreamy! I seriously want to be friends with her where we can hang out and bake cookies and cupcakes all day! As mentioned her character development was one of the few things that made the book for me. Yes like most main character I've read she has some flaws like the fact that she was kinda innocent and naive as well as some of the ways she handle her problems were not ideal. Though she still have some room for improvement and growing up to do she matured at the end of the book as well as learn a lesson or two about love (both family and boy wise) which made me smile.

Josh who is one of the boys that Lara wrote the letter to as well as Margot's ex-boyfriend (dun dun dun...) not to mention their neighbor so even after Margot broke up with him they still do see a lot of him. He is obviously close to Lara Jean since they are friends for a long time. Like Margot he is protective over her and Kitty. Though I like him I find him as the 'typical boy next door' aka kinda bland.

Peter... gosh he was a hate-love-hate-love-I-am-so-thorn-with-my-feelings-but-love-you-in-the-end-but-but- character. He started out as a freaking jerk who was using Lara Jean to get back at his ex (*cringe* *cringe* cringe*... okay so Lara Jean 'was' using him to hide her feelings from Josh) with going into a fake relationship (contract and all the works lol that was cute!). Peter surprised me having that he started out as the 'bad boy jock' sorta guy with a very screwy and manipulative ex but once you get to know him he can be as complex as complex gets. Yes he was a jerk in so many parts of the book I literally threw my book across the room out of frustration but he managed to redeemed himself to be quiet a good sweet guy who actually does care for Lara Jean. He show's his sweet, caring compassionate side... swoon... I need a guy like him in my life... lol. In fact most of my favorite LOL and cute moments in the book were the Lara Jean/Peter relationship. And tough I am freaking annoyed with his character, I am at the moment Team Peter! ( Now all we gotta do is kill off the jealous ex-girlfriend... any ideas?? lol)

While the book does have some high school romance and drama, I feel there was a larger focus on family love and drama which I like especially the sisterly love and father daughter love. There were some parts of the book that was emotional and heart warming. I expect this to have some cute and fluffy moments but the book turned out to be more complex than expected.

Random like but any Potter Heads will be happy with the Harry Potter reference xD 

Also in case you don't already notice from this blog (wink wink nudge nudge, check out my other book reviews) I like book with diversity, from the book characters, the place the book is set in or even the authors and this book is an example of that. The author, Jenny Han American Korean. The book talks a lot about Lara Jean's Korean culture and even though their mum (who is Korean) have passed away their dad still try to incorporate their Korean roots into their lives. 

I purposely saved this book so that I could devour after my exams and the wait was worth it! This was a real page turner and there were a couple of times where I shouted "WHAT" out of shock or frustration especially at a particular boom drop at the end where I did kinda predicted not not in the way it happened (I also threw the book at the sofa at one point and got a bit teary eye at another). The ending I was not that happy about... I literally scream 'WHY?!?! WHERE ARE THE LAST LIKE 20 PAGES OF THE BOOK (ala Augustus freaking out on an Imperial Affliction style for you TFIOS fans :P) but hey... they need to leave use hanging for the squeal for a reason since this will be a duology. 

Other than that I enjoyed this book! Sweet, heartwarming but complex reads that's filled with touching emotions (kinda got teary at one part). This is definitely more on the character/relationship driven side than the story. Check this out for likable characters that feels realistic and that you could relate to, a good family and sisterly dynamic relationship as well as unique story line concept. 

NOW GIMME THE NEXT BOOK!! NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!?! WHY 2015!?!?

Who will you write a love letter to??? 

Also Team Josh or Team Peter?? 

*cough *cough *Peter ^^