Always and Forever, Lara Jean

I can’t remember why, after I read To all the boys I’ve loved before and P.S. I still love you in 2017, I decided against reading the third book. It turned out to be my favourite. I loved it!

My own experiences of finishing high school and applying for university were different from Lara Jean’s, and we have some differences in family circumstances and hobbies and so on, too. But nevertheless I find her perspective intensely relatable.

She has strong opinions about aesthetics. She’s nostalgic and interested in old things. She wants to capture memories; she recognises that there’s loss in high school ending, even though she doesn’t want it to go on indefinitely. She enjoys spending time at home and is incredibly close to her show more family. She values knowing people deeply. She’s introspective. She’s stressed by uncertainty and upset when things don’t go to plan -- and she learns to deal with that.

I liked how this book captures Lara Jean’s wonder at the intimacy of knowing another person really well. And I like that, while Lara Jean sometimes worries about their future, she has very few doubts about Peter himself. She and Peter are very comfortable with each other, and very accepting too. I haven’t come across very many YA novels in which a teenage girl is so secure being in a relationship.

Affectionately Peter says, “Lara Jean, only you would look forward to hanging out in a library.”
Actually, judging by Pinterest alone, I’m pretty sure a lot of people would look forward to hanging out in such a beautiful library. Just not people Peter knows. He thinks I’m so quirky. I’m not planning on being the one to break the news to him that I’m actually not that quirky, that in fact lots of people like to stay home and bake cookies and scrapbook and hang out in libraries. Most of them are probably in their fifties, but still. I like the way he looks at me, like I am a wood nymph that he happened upon one day and just had to take home to keep. show less

was i the only one incredibly disillusioned with this finale? i really enjoyed the first two – at times they could be a little too fluffy and cutesy, but i still enjoyed them.

and i was so excited to hear about a third book – i even went to one of jenny han's stops on her book tour (helped along by the fact that it was ~five mins away from me at one of my favorite independent bookstores). it was a really fun experience, plus there was cake and other lara jean-esque goodies. but i was disappointed when i read it. i liked parts of it, and parts of it were just okay. i felt like there was more story to tell here, but this wasn't it. and i don't know if my expectations were too high or what, but i doubt i'll reread this one. i'll show more continue to reread the first two and likely ignore the existence of this one.

2.5/5 stars. 2 seems too harsh

justice for john ambrose mclaren. don't get me wrong, i love peter k, but lara jean just has so much more in common with john. plus i love him and would marry him tomorrow. show less

4.5/5

This was a wonderful conclusion to Lara Jean's and Peter's story. Honestly, I had no idea there even was a third til this book randomly caught my eye at the book store, so this final addition really feels like a gift!

The first half is very fluffy and sweet, even as Lara Jean supplements the stress of senior year with baking and planning her father's wedding. It's the final half that the plot comes more into play- Lara Jean's plans being upended and cracks beginning to show in her relationship with Peter. But the amended contract at the end? I completely melted. Once again, Peter K., as every person who's now seen the ridiculously popular netflix film knows, proves how perfect he truly is.

One other thing I have to mention- I love show more Han's ability to create such distinct personalities in her side characters, especially Margo and Kitty. They never feel like stock characters, as so, so many siblings-to-the-main-character usually do. show less

What to say. I have followed Lara Jean's journey through three books now and this final book hit me in all the right places. Jenny Han did a wonderful job showing a Lara Jean that is on the cusp of adulthood who knows that some things are going to change, but some things no matter what are going to say the same.

"Always and Forever, Lara Jean" shows Lara Jean in her senior year of high school. Lara is focused on getting into UVA. It's been her dream forever to go to that school, and it doesn't hurt that Peter has already gotten into UVA due to an athletic scholarship. However, life throws a monkey wrench into the works (stupid life) and Lara Jean is then forced to make a hard decision about what to do when all of her plans seem to be show more falling apart.

I honestly only have great things to say about this book. Lara Jean and Peter are wonderful together. Jenny Han shows you this high school relationship and it hits you in all of the right places. For the love of all that is holy people, he wants to learn to braid her hair like her younger sister does. He is always worried that her family doesn't like him. He has not pressured her into having sex with him (and yes Lara Jean's virginity is addressed in this book). He wants to throw her dad a bachelor party in order to impress him. He assures her younger sister that no matter what he will be there no matter what (this in reference to Margot's old boyfriend who has virtually disappeared since they broke up). So here I am reading a book falling more and more in love with a fictional character.

Lara Jean is worried with so many changes that all she can obsess about is baking cookies and her father's wedding. Thank goodness there is no love triangle in this book. She loves Peter and he loves her. But she still has her deceased mother and her sister comments about not going to college with a boyfriend echoing in her head. And she has her sister wanting her to embrace her freedom and not being tied down with a boy.

Can I say I wanted to throttle Margot throughout this book? Book #2 she really ticked me off, but in this book she is insufferable towards her father's fiancee and then tries to throw it in her dad's faces she is having sex with a boy and wants them to stay in the same room. My parents would have snatched my soul out of my body if I had tried that. I think the bigger issue with Margot is that she wants her sisters to do what she did and doesn't seem to get (until the very end) that they are their own people with their own hopes and dreams. Margot's boyfriend was a very nice guy and one wonders how in the world you hooked up with someone so cool.

I sometimes wish that we could gotten a book from Peter's POV through three books just because he is also going through some things during this book that I think that Lara Jean was naive towards, i.e. Peter's father abandoned him and his brother, got remarried, and had two other kids. It always drives me crazy when a character starts telling another character to forgive someone. It's their forgiveness to give, not yours.

The writing was perfect. The book begins with a quote from Anne of Green Gables and ends with one too. The flow was great as well. I maybe had a couple of anxious moments cause Han has Lara Jean do something that is pretty hard for her to take back. I maybe had to break out some wine for the last 10 percent of the book.

This book takes place in Charlottesville, VA. We have references once again towards Margot going to Washington D.C., but I would have loved it if Lara Jean had made mention of what was going on in the U.S. right now. How does she feel about things? The reason why I asked this was because there a few references throughout this book that it definitely takes place in our present time after the election (Margot goes and visits the National Museum of African American History and Culture). Due to Lara Jean and her sisters being half white and Korean I thought that possibly they would feel a little uncomfortable with things in their community and city. Heck, there was a white nationalist protest in Charlottesville a few days ago. That's just a minor quibble though, not enough to have me drop a star.

The ending was great and I loved that not all things were resolved. But I go back to that Anne of Green Gables quote and I feel a lot of hope. show less

This was such a bittersweet book!

It was obviously really cute and personally for me, really nostalgic (it took me back to when I graduated high school).

But I'm so sad that the series is over. I just love the character of Lara Jean because I relate to her much. I kind of didn't want to finish the book because I didn't want it end. I'm that attached to Lara Jean and her story.

When it comes to the story and the conclusion, I was satisfied with how Jenny Han ended it. It made sense for the characters and stayed true to who they were.

Overall, this series will forever hold a place in my heart as one of my all time favorites.

If you had asked me, book #2 would've been a very good place to end things. Everyone was happy, settled, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, looking confidently towards the future. I want an unequivocal happy ending in my romance novels. Yes, even in my YA ones! Whoever came up with the notion of liking bittersweet love stories?? *looks at own rating for tragic YA books of Antonia Michaelis* Yeah, so...

As altitude sickness was still kicking my ass (I'm a masochistic holiday traveler, OK?), I figured I might as well finish the series. Admittedly, my enthusiasm for it had reached new lows, and that's saying a lot, what with never having been very excited about it in the first place. At least it was a quick read.

The good:
Chris' and Lara Jean's show more impromptu trip to the University of North Carolina. Now that is what a BFF should be all about, not just constantly trying to drag honor students to parties of dubious reputation

The bad:
The whole college choosing debacle, after being rejected from UVA.
Again, it just really irritates me how colleges in the US seem to value good grades way less than the extra curricular activities, considering they will stop caring about the latter as soon as the admission process is over. Also, what was up with everyone straight up assuming that a transfer was a done deal?! Lara Jean had excellent grades, did nothing BUT study, study, study the entire day, and still didn't get into UVA.

The ugly:
I really and truly hate this trope of couples having to break up when they go off to college. Not that every high school couple should stay together for all eternity, but it's irritating how much everyone just starts out with the default assumption that their feelings would not survive college. *sigh*

And then there was Peter's mom asking Lara Jean to break up with her son, so he wouldn't jeopardize his own college experience. What the hell?! I was half-expecting her to whip out a shiny checkbook, at any moment!

Score: 2.3/5 stars

I HATED Lara Jane's obsession with Peter, before settling on her final choice of college.

I LOVED Lara Jane's eventual college acceptance.

... and finally, I HATED how it was then Peter's turn to feel all blue.

Why do I keep forgetting that YA irritates me so much?!

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Review of the 1st book: To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Review of the 2nd book: P.S. I Still Love You show less

“Heed my advice, Lara Jean. Never say no when you really want to say yes.”

This is my favorite contemporary series. I’m saying it definitively here and now. I absolutely love Lara Jean, the Song sisters, and Peter K. This series is so squeal-inducingly adorable that I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it. This surprising conclusion to the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series follows Lara Jean as her senior year comes to a close and she has to confront the changes that comes with high school ending and growing up. [b:Always and Forever, Lara Jean|30312860|Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #3)|Jenny Han|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474499092s/30312860.jpg|50626344] beautifully and show more authentically captures falling in love, growing up, and the tedious search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Things I Liked:
I LOVE LARA JEAN SONG COVEY. I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character more in my life. I love that she’s crafty, and a bit shy, and loves baking, and cares deeply about her family. She is so freaking charming and adorable. She is my book BFF. We would make cooking together, paint our nails, and I could teach her how to braid her hair! Basically we’d have the best sleepover party ever. Lara Jean is such a realistic and relatable character - we see her grow up and confront the changes and challenges in her life as she falls in love, gets her heartbroken, and graduates high school. She is so authentic and easy to connect with.

Peter K. and Lara Jean have one of the cutest YA romances ever. It’s just tooth-achingly sweet and I love them both dearly. They love and support each other, but are not without their flaws. They fail to communicate and have squabbles, but they also confront all arguments and talk things out. The are so happy and I have a big smile on my face just thinking about them!!!

The Song-Covey family has one of the most functional and realistic relationships ever. I love the Song sisters and their support and love for each other, as well as their bickering and fighting. Their dad is fantastic and I love the addition of Trina into their little unit.

Things I Didn’t Like:
This is just me being greedy but, I WANT MORE!!! I wish we got to see more Stormy and John Ambrose McClaren. I would have loved to see more of Peter and his father’s relationship. I want to see how Peter and Lara Jean make it in college. I just want more, more, more!

This series is so happy making. You guaranteed to have a smile on your face and squeal with joy every 20 pages. This is also a perfect slump busting read. I just love this series so much, and I’m so happy we got this last hoorah with Lara Jean! This will definitely be on my end of the year favorites! show less