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A review by isabelthearcher
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
2.0
2nd Read: February 2021
2.5 stars
The bad aspects weight out the few things I enjoyed about this book
Pros:
Family dynamics and the development of growing up, not living with your family anymore - relatable issues. John Ambrose McClaren, yeah he was perfect and LJ treated him like trash and I want to give him a hug. She should have chosen him in the end. Stormy, what an iconic character, giving the best life advice and also being a bad b even in a nursing home. Sex and consent talk !!!! Yes !!!! So, so important to see in a YA fluffy romance, people need to be educated to talk about these things from a young age!
“All this? It’s a privilege to worship at this temple, do you understand my meaning? Not just any young fool can approach the throne. Remember my words, Lara Jean. You decide who, how far and how often, if ever.” - Stormy
Cons:
There was no plot.
I understand it's the second book in a series and the reveal that Peter and Lara Jean are together is super fun, blah blah blah. However, if you want me to read a 300+ page book and the only points are that - I NEED MORE!!!
The constant Gen babbling in Lara Jean’s head.
I fully understand the point that Gen has in the story, an ex-best friend and girlfriend. An antagonist to Peter and LJ’s relationship, comparing yourself to other people - relatable issues for a teen relationship I get it. However she is so two-dimensional and Lara Jean has to think about her every five seconds. LJ might as well be in love with Gen for all this talk, and honestly this book makes me want to puke at another sight of a straight relationship. Gen’s secret is revealed to be that There’s nothing else to Gen’s character or personality or just anything?? Yeah Gen deserves better characterisation if I’m honest. FINALLY at the end of the book Lara Jean says something about it was her fault for constantly bringing up Gen and I’m like gurl I’ve been in your head for 600 pages, tell me something I don’t know.
“It’s only then that I realise: Peter wasn’t the one who needed to get over Genevieve. It was me. All this time with Peter, I’ve been comparing myself to her, all the ways I don’t measure up. All the ways our relationship pales next to theirs. I’m the one who couldn’t let her go. I’m the one who didn’t give us a chance.”
Referring to the past, all the time.
Lara Jean is always reminiscing about her past to the point where it seems the author has given her such little backstory that this one summer where they had their first ‘boy / girl’ party has influenced the rest of her life. Most of the major plot points literally come from this random game of spin the bottle: In my personal life, I don’t bring up an event that happened five years ago every five seconds with people around me and in my head. It’s so childish in a way? I’m not sure how to describe it as just annoying.
Weird off-putting themes of ‘feminism’
From the start of the book when LJ approaches Peter to give him the letter, he alludes it’s her fault as he was waiting for her to call him because “It’s called playing hard to get.” There is also lots of possessive behaviour exhibited from Peter, especially when LJ’s around other guys. I do think that line is dangerous from abusive to aww he’s jealous and YA author’s need to be careful of the influence that a fictional romance can have. Furthermore Stormy is also sprouting advice and warning to LJ and anytime Stormy says something about womanhood Lara Jean’s like ‘oMg I dIdN’T rEaLiSe YoU wErE a FeMiNiSt!’ It infuriates me so much, like shut up I’m sorry. By respecting your own body you don’t need to label it with ‘i’M a FeMiNiSt” obviously there are different sides of opinions of feminism. But this book takes feminism as anything to do with being an individual woman, and this really puts me off the book. Maybe I’m taking too critical of an eye to this book, however it did leave a sour taste in my mouth.
Cringe Factor.
It’s a 2015 read, I should expect it from a fluffy romance contemporary. But even with the first book, I didn’t curl up in a ball from embarrassment that much. Just so many things of this book were just like ahbsbhadhgdsa no.
“He’s jealous! The very thought of it warms me up like hot soup.”
“‘What are you doing?’ I whisper.
‘Building the anticipation.’
Quickly I say, ‘Let’s just kiss.’”
And the LAST LINE of the book was:
“And then I’m in his arms and we’re hugging and kissing, and we’re both shaking, because we both know - this is the night we become real.”
More like in a real-good relationship, because they don’t do ‘it’.
1st Read: September - October 2019
3 Stars
I enjoyed this book as a cute contemporary romance. After just reading Eleanor and Park, I got rather bored at the end because of the lack of chemistry between Lara Jean, Gen, Peter and John. I thought the end wrapped up waaayyyy to fast and everyone doubted LJ just because she felt unsure. A bit of a disappointing book. Overall, fun to read, but nothing literary spectacular about it either.
2.5 stars
The bad aspects weight out the few things I enjoyed about this book
Pros:
Family dynamics and the development of growing up, not living with your family anymore - relatable issues. John Ambrose McClaren, yeah he was perfect and LJ treated him like trash and I want to give him a hug. She should have chosen him in the end. Stormy, what an iconic character, giving the best life advice and also being a bad b even in a nursing home. Sex and consent talk !!!! Yes !!!! So, so important to see in a YA fluffy romance, people need to be educated to talk about these things from a young age!
“All this? It’s a privilege to worship at this temple, do you understand my meaning? Not just any young fool can approach the throne. Remember my words, Lara Jean. You decide who, how far and how often, if ever.” - Stormy
Cons:
There was no plot.
I understand it's the second book in a series and the reveal that Peter and Lara Jean are together is super fun, blah blah blah. However, if you want me to read a 300+ page book and the only points are that
Spoiler
‘Daddy’ is finding a date, Gen has a ‘big secret’ and McClaren is back in town…. Oh and the Belleview USO party or somethingThe constant Gen babbling in Lara Jean’s head.
I fully understand the point that Gen has in the story, an ex-best friend and girlfriend. An antagonist to Peter and LJ’s relationship, comparing yourself to other people - relatable issues for a teen relationship I get it. However she is so two-dimensional and Lara Jean has to think about her every five seconds. LJ might as well be in love with Gen for all this talk, and honestly this book makes me want to puke at another sight of a straight relationship. Gen’s secret is revealed to be that
Spoiler
her Dad is cheating with a younger girl and she’s still mad at Lara Jean for kissing Peter in like seventh grade or something??? Ok fine but being mad for what five years? Having family issues sucks but is that it?“It’s only then that I realise: Peter wasn’t the one who needed to get over Genevieve. It was me. All this time with Peter, I’ve been comparing myself to her, all the ways I don’t measure up. All the ways our relationship pales next to theirs. I’m the one who couldn’t let her go. I’m the one who didn’t give us a chance.”
Referring to the past, all the time.
Lara Jean is always reminiscing about her past to the point where it seems the author has given her such little backstory that this one summer where they had their first ‘boy / girl’ party has influenced the rest of her life. Most of the major plot points literally come from this random game of spin the bottle:
Spoiler
McClaren started to like LJ, Gen saw Peter and LJ kissing, it was actually Peter’s first kiss because he made a lie about his first, it was also LJ’s first kiss, Gen’s awfully jealous personality.Weird off-putting themes of ‘feminism’
From the start of the book when LJ approaches Peter to give him the letter, he alludes it’s her fault as he was waiting for her to call him because “It’s called playing hard to get.” There is also lots of possessive behaviour exhibited from Peter, especially when LJ’s around other guys. I do think that line is dangerous from abusive to aww he’s jealous and YA author’s need to be careful of the influence that a fictional romance can have. Furthermore Stormy is also sprouting advice and warning to LJ and anytime Stormy says something about womanhood Lara Jean’s like ‘oMg I dIdN’T rEaLiSe YoU wErE a FeMiNiSt!’ It infuriates me so much, like shut up I’m sorry. By respecting your own body you don’t need to label it with ‘i’M a FeMiNiSt” obviously there are different sides of opinions of feminism. But this book takes feminism as anything to do with being an individual woman, and this really puts me off the book. Maybe I’m taking too critical of an eye to this book, however it did leave a sour taste in my mouth.
Cringe Factor.
It’s a 2015 read, I should expect it from a fluffy romance contemporary. But even with the first book, I didn’t curl up in a ball from embarrassment that much. Just so many things of this book were just like ahbsbhadhgdsa no.
“He’s jealous! The very thought of it warms me up like hot soup.”
“‘What are you doing?’ I whisper.
‘Building the anticipation.’
Quickly I say, ‘Let’s just kiss.’”
And the LAST LINE of the book was:
“And then I’m in his arms and we’re hugging and kissing, and we’re both shaking, because we both know - this is the night we become real.”
More like in a real-good relationship, because they don’t do ‘it’.
1st Read: September - October 2019
3 Stars
I enjoyed this book as a cute contemporary romance. After just reading Eleanor and Park, I got rather bored at the end because of the lack of chemistry between Lara Jean, Gen, Peter and John. I thought the end wrapped up waaayyyy to fast and everyone doubted LJ just because she felt unsure. A bit of a disappointing book. Overall, fun to read, but nothing literary spectacular about it either.