Unraveling Books: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Welcome to this week's Unraveling Books where Caitlyn and I 

write dual reviews :) Enjoy 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
288 Pages
Release Date: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Genre: Contemporary
Level: YA

Goodreads Summary:
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.


Taherah's Review: 5 STARS 
         Cute and one of the best contemporary books I've read in a while, To All the Boys I've Loved Before was definitely a refreshing read and one I recommend to everyone and anyone. I love how it combined all aspects of family, culture, friends, and just rediscovery all into one amazing and funny story :D

      Lara Jean has got to be one of my favorite YA contemp characters. She's a lot different from normal characters leaning more on the normal side especially after a death in the family. It shows the aftermath and how it does affect the family but not as negatively as seen in other books. And I loved seeing her interaction with her family and the change she has to go through as her older sister Margot leaves to college. She learns to deal and be able to become a person she never let herself be. Then there are the letters. I love the whole idea of her writing the letters and just sealing it away. It's most definitely not something I would do but I love that she has the guts to write down all her thoughts without holding back and how it enables her to get over the guy.

     Then there's her family. YA books never really show a tight knit group of family and this was one that showed each relationship and how they each had a special role to play in the book. I really like seeing this because I for one am pretty close with my family and siblings so it was pretty easy for me to relate to her some of her experiences dealing with that. Kitty her younger sister was adorable. Seeing their ups and downs as Lara Jean tries to fulfill Margot's responsibilities and just how close they are despite their age difference was just heart warming. Alas we come to meet Josh, the best friend, the sister's boyfriend turned ex-boyfriend, and the guy she used to love. I for one love their friendship and how close they were able to get with it being pretty platonic. From the beginning, I wasn't a huge fan of her and Josh as a couple but I was totally cool with them being friends. He's always been there for her and it was interesting to see how he reacted to her letter.

     And of course I have to mention Peter. Oh Peter, you person I want to just want to hug the life out of him and just let him know how much I absolutely SHIP him and Lara Jean since the beginning. I love that they have history together. I love that this all started with her randomly kissing him. I love that they were able to find common ground and become friends again. I love how he was easily able to connect with Kitty and just be his amazing self. I love that he was able to show and make Lara Jean do things she probably never would have done if she didn't rekindle their relationship. I just love them together.

     With that ending I am SOSOSOSO glad to hear that there will be a sequel and I'm so excited to read it. I've had my eye on this book for quite some time now and I'm happy to say it most definitely fulfilled all my expectations. Light and full of promise, To All the Boys I've Loved (with it's awesome title and cover) is a book I think everyone should read especially a contemporary fan :D To sum up this whole thing: JUST GO READ IT. NOW. Happy Readings! :)

Caitlyn's Review: 5 STARS

     Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. OhmygoshohmygoshohmygoshOHMYGOSH!!!! I had know idea what I was in for when Taherah told me to read this book. None. At. All. And damn. Just damn. SO I started reading....and kept reading...until I finished...at 2...in the morning...and then I couldn't fall asleep because OH MY GOSH THIS BOOK!!!!!!! It's really funny and amazing and creative and I just can't even begin to explain to you how much I love it!!! And there's a next one *squeals* See, I didn't know this and it ended and I was just like...*dies in a pit of emotions* But then! Taherah told me there was another one and I literally screamed, "Yes!!! Oh thank God there's another one!!!!!"...in public...I got some strange looks...BUT I AM NOT ASHAMED!!! Clearly I love To All Boys I've Loved Before. Jenny Han...is just amazing...and brilliant.

    So Lara Jean. She has got to be one of THE most relatable and normal and amazing main characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. She is so clear headed and level (ok not SO because I mean, who is? But more so than with normal main contemporary character) and sweet and funny and normal. And I love it. I also really enjoy how this book, although a lot of it is romantic relationships its also her relationship with her family. It was really cool to see how she and her family grew together and learned how to rely on each other more. There relationships are really cool and its really cool to have a book where one of the parents died but the family manages to keep going and find their stride, not fall apart. I love her relationship with both her sister's and Chris. Lara Jean is just a really cool, relatable girl and perfect for this story.

   ......Peter. I ship. So hard. Did from the first moment he was mentioned. Oh my GOSH THIS BOY IS SO SWEET AND FUNNY AND AMAZING AND I LOVE HIM AND HE NEEDS TO BE WITH LARA JEAN ALWAYS AND FOREVER BECAUSE I SHIP (If you think about it that was not a spoiler) Peter is so funny, there is this Halloween scene and I fucking love it, I nearly died laughing. And he is so sweet, his relationship with Lara Jean's little sister is one of the sweetest, most amazing things ever and he's just so good and awesome and AAAAHHHHHH I JUST WANT TO SPEND ALL DAY IN CAPS TO PORTRAY MY LOVE FOR THIS BOY!!!! But I won't because none of us need that.

      You just need to read this book. I never do this, I always say of you like contemporary you should read it but you should just read it. You really do. Because All The Boys I've Loved Before is great. Truly absolutely, irrevocably, amazingly, wonderful. I just...ITS REALLY GOOD!! And if you have this you should leave a comment and talk to me because I tried to explain it to people so I could rant to them and freak out but I couldn't tell it right and I really like talking to you guys ;) Happy readings, sorry I'm so pushy, byeeee!!!!