I said I would do it and I did. I picked up P.S. I Still Love You as soon as it was possible. I just HAD to know if Peter forgave Lara Jean! Oh Man, did this turn into a major High School drama circus…..

From Goodreads:

“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.”

In typical High School fashion, love waxes and wanes and waxes again. Peter did take Lara Jean back in the beginning. He never really stopped caring for her; only wanted to give her space so she could figure out that she cared for him too. If only love and life were that simple. Unfortunately, it’s not. Especially when ridiculous teenage girls are involved. Just when Lara Jean and Peter are getting back on steady ground with each other, things happen and it all falls apart. Like in all young relationships, both handled their perspective actions poorly. John Ambrose McClaren tracks Lara Jean down to make a play for her heart after receiving her “Hat Box Letter”. Genevieve starts taking up more of Peter’s time and he refuses to tell Lara Jean what Gen wants with him. Hurt feelings and secrets quickly creates an ever growing abyss between them until finally, Lara Jean calls the relationship off for good.

While I adamantly believe Peter was an idiot for acting as he did, I still don’t think Lara Jean truly deserves him. Given that she’s only newly acquainted with the world of boys, I suppose it’s only natural that all the attention went to her head. However, I can’t seem to get passed the way she handled it. She should’ve stopped with that first letter to John Ambrose McClaren but she didn’t. Lara Jean should’ve respected her boyfriend. But she fed into the relationship, led John on, and lied to Peter about it. She didn’t even tell John that her and Peter were dating. I have a hard time relating to and understanding those that don’t respect their current relationship. No matter if they’re 16/17 years old or not. Through a multitude of immature behavior (throwing a kiss with John in Peter’s face) and self delusion (it’s not my fault because Peter still has the hots for Gen anyway), Lara did nothing but hurt Peter repeatedly – From the fight after the tree house party, to the breakup on her porch, to leaving him standing in the parking lot (twice!) while she drove off with John. In short, I think she’s a complete moron and really just wanted to slap the crap out of her and keep Peter for myself.

For Peter’s part, I think he made a rookie mistake but not one that should’ve earned him the treatment he received. Without giving too much away, Genevieve was going through some major family drama and turned to the one person she trusts above anyone else – Peter. Because it wasn’t his tale to tell and because he’s actually a decent guy, he felt duty bound not to share with Lara Jean what Gen was going through. Major mistake, no matter which way you look at it. I won’t argue that point. He should’ve told Gen that he couldn’t keep secrets from Lara Jean then been open and honest with Lara. When caught between your current girlfriend and an ex-girlfriend, you better choose your current one. Particularly if you love her. Not surprisingly, his omission and outright refusal to let Lara in triggered her insecurities. The kicker came when Lara Jean went to surprise Peter at his Lacrosse game but instead found out that he skipped it (something he never does) in order to spend time with Gen. He’s been with Gen since middle school, she’s the only girl he’s every really been with and, to me, it seemed more like a status relationship than anything based on true feelings. So effectively, Lara Jean is his first real relationship too. Even given that and his own stupidity when it comes to girls, he handled things with a great deal more maturity. He wanted to talk things through. He wanted Lara to understand his dilemma and for her to trust him. He wanted to make it work and move past the jealousy. Lara Jean just couldn’t do that though.

I don’t care that Lara Jean came around in the end and realized that Peter was all she ever wanted. Bottom line, I pretty much hate her. She’s immature, petty, selfish, self-involved, and majorly whiny. I don’t think I’ve come across a character I disliked more. If anything, I suppose I should congratulate Ms. Han on that point. While I liked John Ambrose McClaren, another boy Lara Jean whose feelings she so carelessly used, Peter always had my heart. I said it after the first book, I said it earlier in this review, and I can’t say it enough – Lara Jean is not good enough for Peter.

To me, it felt like P.S. I Love You had an open ending. I’m curious if Ms. Han has any plans to continue their story. I sincerely hope she does though, if only to see Lara Jean be the girlfriend Peter deserves. To see them grow together and become a stronger couple. Call me a romantic, but I always have hope for redemption. Even for an annoying little twit like Lara Jean!

My Rating: 4.0 Bookmarks

Reviews Coming Of Age Contemporary Dating Fiction Jenny Han Love Triangle Romance YA