P.S. I Still Love You (TAtBILB #2) by Jenny Han

Synopsis: "Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing."

Title: P.S. I Still Love You

Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 337

Ages: 13+

My Rating: 3.5 stars

One Word: Super-Cheesy-Yet-Good-But-Not-Good-In-Real-Life-Love

Fave Quote:

 "There's a Korean word my grandma taught me. It's called jung. It's the connection between two people that can't be severed, even when love turns to hate. You still have those old feelings for them; you can't ever completely shake them loose of you; you will always have tenderness in your heart for them."

Review

SPOILERS BELOW!
I'm not even going to dance around the fact that I just wasn't really as impressed as I was with the first novel. This book just didn't have the creativity, thrill, or build up that To All the Boys I Loved Before had. Not only that, but P.S. I Still Love You had me disliking all the characters that I loved from the first novel, including Lara Jean and Peter.

Was Lara Jean always so nosy and blunt as she was in this novel? Seriously, I could never imagine any real life conversation where one isn't at least a little embarrassed about talking about sex, and Lara Jean brings this up multiple times with multiple people! And Peter was even more sneaky about Gen as usual and didn't even apologize for hiding things from LJ! What a messed up relationship.

The plot also did not build up well. I really really would've liked John Ambrose McClaren if maybe he were apart of the story more and LJ's decision between the two guys was a little more serious. Also, I thought Jenny Han could have made a fabulous third book (and spice up the plot!) if Lara Jean picked John over Peter at the end of the novel, and if John were a more important character because otherwise the plot was very flimsy and really didn't have a strong build up like the first one did. I mean, John was basically just a Josh replacement (slightly better though), so I felt didn't really show any sympathy for him.

Aside from that, Jenny Han does know how to make great cheesy love conversations between Peter and Lara Jean (although I would never ever let a guy admit that he "loves spooning" in real life). It was very cute to read and all, I would just personally never want that kind of sappy love relationship in real life. And I was laughing throughout the novel, especially with the Assassin game that they play and of course with Kitty. However, Jenny Han could really have enliven the plot just a bit more. 

★★★1/2

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

Synopsis: "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."

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre: Contemporary YA, Romance
Series: TAtBILB #1
Ages: 13+
Pages: 355
My Rating: 5 stars 
One Word: *sigh* adorbs
Fave Quote:
"He also writes Lara Jean will make Peter's picture her phone wallpaper.
"And vice versa!" I say. I point my phone at him. "Smile." Peter smiles, and ugh, it's annoying how handsome he is. Then he reaches for his phone and I stop him. 'Not right now. My hair looks sweaty and gross.'
'Good point,' he says, and I want to punch him" (179).

Review
FOREWARNING: I typed this on my iPhone (have yet to edit on my laptop) so please excuse all of the grammatical errors

I don't even know what to say... This book was so adorable and cute and I'm actually depressed that it is over.

I'm so used to reading the sci-fi dystopian AKA depressing books, and once in a while I will read one of these contemporary chick-lot books and I'll realize how much I love these types of books. This book was the exact opposite of dystopia. It was a perfect book with perfect moments, like when Han describes Lara Jean's school mornings I just sigh with the perfection. Everything in this book jut feels right and I just wish it was my life, having to choose between two guys.

Of course it wasn't always so perfect, I mean Lara Jean's letters to her past crushes got sent out for crying out loud, but I still thought (since it wasn't my life) that it was a perfect set up for Lara Jean and Peter.

Peter omfg.
"I'm sleepy.' He closes his eyes and snuggles against me.
'Tell me a bedtime story, Covey" (162).

DAMN. I fricken loved Peter so much and I was absolutely 100% rooting for Lara Jean and Peter throughout most of the book. Except in the beginning of the book, I though Han was going to make it a love story between Lara Jean and Josh but boy was I wrong (and happy that I was wrong). I really wanted to find out what letter she writes at the end and I wanted to see Peter's reaction when he receives it, but I guess I'm supposed to use my imagination *sigh*. The only part that I did NOT like was that Peter was all like "I like you Lara Jean but I love Gen too" like NO Peter you need to only love Lara Jean duhh.

Okay, Peter was a great character, but I have to say that Kitty was my all time favorite character. Without her, this book would've only gotten 4 stars. She just made the book so much more perfect; with the puppy and cookie baking and the hair braiding. This girl really makes me wish that I had a younger sibling.

I really loved the connection between Margot and Lara Jean and I can totally relate with them when my own sister left for college. I hated the change with a burning passion but I soon got used to it and it still sucks but whatevs :/. Their relationship with each other was just amazing how they always made up with each other even with harshest of fights (you know what I mean if you read it ;) )

Anyway, the drama, the funniness (I literally cracked up after every page) and the quirky-romance of the book was definitely enough for me to give this 5 stars. This book was adorable and had me smiling all the way until the end. Everything from Halloween to baking with Peter and Kitty to dancing the running man. This book was perfectly quirky and I loved every bit of it.
★★★★★

We'll Always Have Summer (Summer #3) by Jenny Han

Synopsis: It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.




Title: We'll Always Have Summer
Series: Summer #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance, YA
Pages: 291
Ages: 12-17
Date I Finished: July 13th, 2013
My Rating: 5 Stars
My Word: CANTHISHAPPENTOME?

Review

B-t-dubs, don't read this unless you've read this AMAZING BOOK already 'cause...you know...spoilers.

Throughout my teen years so far, I've been expanding the variety of genres of books, and leaving my old favorite: contemporary. Now, I must say that I love Science-Fiction romance more than contemporary romance.

BUT NOT THIS BOOK, BABY!!!

I died. Literally, I think I could die at the end.

BEST. ENDING. EVER.

Okay, I didn't even like Conrad throughout the first book, and I kind of started to like him a little more in the second. BUT, the third book...I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM. Jeremiah started to get so freakin' annoying throughout this book, while Conrad started to get so amazing. Jeremiah would start eating Belly's food, CHEAT on her, get drunk all the time, have his "frat boys" around, and if I were Belly, I'd dump him right at the spot.

I seriously LOVED these specific characters in the last book: CONRAD, because he's so much more sane than Jeremiah, and he is just PERFECT. LAUREL, because she knew Conrad so well, and she is the perfect mom for Belly. And Susannah, because even though she died, she was always thought about, and I think I miss her as much as the characters in the story :O.

It was something about this book...I think it was the ending of every chapter. It made me have to take a deep breath and absorb what just happened. The emotion would pile high inside of me when a chapter ended so beautifully, sad, amazing, suspenseful.

This last book of the Summer series was by far the best. I'll never forget the love shared between Belly and Conrad, and I too hope that I will have that love one day.

Anyway, I'm being too mushy. Might as well stop my review now before I go too in depth by the greatness of the ending of the series. I absorbed every bit, every word of that last chapter. It actually meant so much to me, and made me think of what my future will be with a boy. Here's the quote (last sentence of it all) that can explain why I feel this way.

"This is our start. This is the moment it becomes real. We are married. We are infinite. Me and Conrad. The first boy I ever slow danced with, ever cried over. Ever loved."

This journey through the Summer series has influenced me to do what I want, and if a boy I love loves me for me, then I'll be happy. It was a hilarious, laughable, heartbreaking, influential, memorable, amazing series to watch Belly's journey from her little kid troubles with Conrad, to her heartbreaking decision between the two boys on her wedding day. I will forever love this series, and it will always have a piece of my heart; just like Belly with Conrad :').

 

EDIT: I came across this picture and it reminded me of the book :')
★★★★★

It's Not Summer Wtihout You (Summer #2) by Jenny Han

Synopsis: Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.

But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach.

Title: It's Not Summer Without You
Series: Summer #2
Genre: Romance, Beach Read, Contemporary, YA
Pages: 275
Ages: 12-17
Date I Finished: July 10th, 2013
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
My Word: SUMMERLICIOUS, #TEAMJEREMIAH

Review

Seeing that I haven't gone to the beach yet this summer, (that's too long for me :O) I am starting to have vivid dreams of sand in my toes and water rushing through my ears.

I'm going through beach withdraw :O.

I TOTALLY relate to this book though because my grandma just sold the beach house I've been to ever since I was born last year, and last summer was the first summer I've had without going there :'(. That is the reason I added .5 stars to the rating haha :).

Anyway, this book totally brought all my beach memories back. I've always wanted that 'Summer Story' to share with my friends once school started again, yet that seems impossible because my family is kinda a little overprotective of where I go in the summer. LOL

OK I'm getting off track here. It's Not Summer Without You was definitely more depressing than the first book. It kind of made me super sad when I was supposed to be all happy this summer. Any book that made me cry will get at least 3 stars by me, and this book did the job. Everything was so sad; all except the ending.

I actually think this book would've got a better rating if I didn't compare it to the first book so much. The first book was definitely better with all the romance and twists. Or maybe it was because I read this book in 4 continuing hours and I didn't digest each chapter enough haha! I'm BORED.

This book just gave a reality check to all of the characters. :(

CHARACTERS... I love who Belly picks in the end, but I just wish she wouldn't run away all the time. Like when she said "I don't hate you" then she runs away to the beach. Aside from that, though, she's a good main character, and I envy her for talking to boys that easily haha.
Now Conrad. He's unpredictable, and he totally hides his emotions which makes me like him and not like him at the same time.
Jeremiah: I love his funny, uplifting personality, and I'd totally want him as a best guy friend.
WHY WASN'T CAM IN THIS BOOK? I kind of liked him, and I was kind of curious where he went haha!
AND I wish Steven were at the summer house too with them because I liked him :(.

Anyway, the plot was very depressing obviously, and, like I said, I cried a lot during it. But, there was just something missing. I feel like there could've been a little more action throughout the story. (Maybe I'm just a sci-fi romancy freak LOL)

I already have the third book in my hand, and I'm positive it will be better than the second! Let's hope...

★★★.5