I am typically not the romance book type, unless it is a classic or mixed with fantasy or science fiction, but I decided to keep reading the To All the Boys I Loved Before series. I read the first one after the movie got good reviews because as a middle school teacher I like to have a variety of books I can recommend to my students. However, because I teach students who struggle in reading I rarely have students who choose to read outside of school so I don’t feel the need to stuff my reading list with young adult books.
I did enjoy the first book, but at the same time it got on my nerves. This book annoyed me for the same reasons, I deal with teenagers (or pre-teens) all day and the drama reminded me too much of the middle school drama I listen to most days. In addition something about Laura Jean, the protagonist of the book, rang both true and fake at the same time. The idea of just having a few friends and that most of your more childhood friends slip away in high school seemed real. However the reading, baking, making cute crafts aspect of her character seemed unrealistic to me. I may be biased because of the students I work with, but it was hard to believe teenagers like this exist.
For those unfamiliar with the first book/movie be prepared for spoilers. When Laura Jean liked a boy she would write a letter to get the boy out of her system and say goodbye. In the first book her sister mails those letters and Laura Jean ends up fake dating one of those, Peter. Not surprisingly there are pitfalls but this turns in to real love. Though they are apart at the end of the first book they get back together at the start of this book. But teen relationships are nothing but drama so there are many obstacles in the way including other boys and girls, as well as Peter and Laura Jean themselves.
I did enjoy the parts dealing with being in love for the first time and how that feels. Also how you question yourself as a teenager, especially one who is not considered popular. The relationship between Laura Jean and her younger sister felt honest and real.
I will read the last book in the series, I have it on reserve on my library’s e book service, but mainly because it is a quick read and I am curious to know what will happen. For me personally though parts of the teenage drama seemed to go on too long. If you enjoyed the movie the books are definitely worth the read, especially if you don’t want to wait for the sequel to come out.