~second read, January 2019~

I’m glad I reread this. It was fun to compare the book to the movie — which I’ve watched at least twenty times. However, this time around, some parts came off as juvenile, though I’m going to blame that on my being older rather than classify it as a fault.

For the most part, I agree with everything I said in my original review. I still don’t like Josh or Margot very much, but Peter has grown on me, thanks to the movie. I’m glad they changed Chris in the movie, because while she was a decent character in the book, in general I feel she has a better personality on screen.

And I approve of all the baking. Lara Jean makes me want to bake all the things.

~first read, June 2016~

LOOK I FINALLY READ IT.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I'd hoped to. The story was simple but fun and engaging, and I really liked Lara Jean. I could relate to her in a lot of ways: we're both short, we both are fairly quiet, we love fashion, and we stay at home more than we go out. I also liked that she and her family are Korean, which is something I've only ever seen before in maybe one book. She's also a little bit older than me, but otherwise, she's the Asian, less bookish version of me. :D

I liked Lara Jean's family too, for the most part. I liked her dad, and the way he tried his absolute best to raise three girls on his own. I think he did a great job. I liked Margot in the first few chapters, but after she left for Scotland I felt disconnected from her and like she became a lot colder. Especially in the end, she went against what Lara Jean needed. I have mixed feelings about Kitty. She was cute and fun, but also kind of a brat. I mean, the reveal in the very end proves that. Yes, she apologized, but sisters should never do something like that to each other. I have to admit, I was slightly disappointed with the family dynamic, since everyone said it was so amazing and realistic. It was realistic, but I wouldn't call it amazing.

My biggest issue was with the love interests, Peter and Josh. Peter was a cocky athlete with only his best interests in mind, and Josh was an introverted fanboy that had been friends with Lara Jean and her family for years. Normally I would've loved Josh, and I did in the beginning. I started to have an issue with him when he tried to tell Lara Jean that Peter wasn't good enough for her. Yes, it was sweet that he was looking out for her and yes, he was right, but he didn't really have any business with that. I had a sort of love-hate relationship with Peter throughout the book, but for nearly the entire second half I thought he was a jerk. Especially toward the end. So as of right now, I ship Lara Jean with no one.

Although I have to say, the Halloween scene was so cute and amusing. Lara Jean dressed up as Cho and Josh dressed up as Harry, coincidentally, and they pretended to cast spells on each other. That made me squee, but that was also the only cute romantic moment I can think of.

Overall, I did like the book, but as you can tell, my two biggest issues were the two things that make the book popular. So, would you say the second book improves and is worth reading? Because I'm not sure whether I want to read it or not. >.