‘Always and Forever, Lara Jean’ is the Surprise Novel from Jenny Han
STORY: It’s senior year and everything is changing for Lara Jean. While some of it’s exciting, she also realizes that her time at home, just the Song girls and Daddy, is coming to its end. Kitty will be left without a big sister as Lara Jean prepares to head off to college, and Daddy is about to propose to his second chance at love. But the real heartache for Lara Jean comes when she isn’t accepted into her first pick college. always and forever lara jean
Thus begins a series of questions of what she should do. Without college, she and her boyfriend Peter cannot walk to class together and instead will have to do long distance to be together. As everything that comes with senior year (prom, day trips, the beach) rushes in on Lara Jean, she’ll have to decide what’s more important.
ALWAYS AND FOREVER, LARA JEAN BY JENNY HAN | BOOK REVIEW
REVIEW: Somehow despite my best intentions, I always end up reading these novels just prior to their film adaptation. In one way I wish I’d read this novel eons ago, and in another I’m happy I’ve allowed the time with this books so I can soak up their charming affect. Always and Forever, Lara Jean is, as I understand it, the novel we weren’t supposed to get. Jenny Han didn’t intend to write this book, but she did. Fortunately for us, the readers, all this means is another surprise letter from Lara Jean.
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When it comes to remembering books from series that I read a while back, I have a terrible memory. I don’t remember details only that I loved the book. This is true of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (book one). What I know I said was that the sequel (P.S. I Still Love You) didn’t live up to my expectations. This third novel has its ebbs and flows (as any book does), but overall, I think it’s a solid addition; and is certainly a sweet way to wrap up these letters of our heroine.
Lara Jean is a bit controlling (and I wish she’d take responsibility for some things) in this book; I think part of this is genuine love of doing these things (like planning something) and another may be attributed to her feeling that life is falling apart around her.
Despite this quibble, the novel is still lovely. It’s more of Lara Jean’s ordinary wonderful self; more of the impossible-not-to-love Covey family; more friendships and spontaneous outings; and best of all, more Lara Jean and Peter. I still love the dude even with his flaws. He’s good for her and I feel like despite the cliché of no guy being this “good,” I refuse to buy into this, and do 100% believe that in the stage of life he’s in, Peter cares deeply for Lara Jean.
In the end, while this may not be everything readers want, it is a charming, romantic and lovely story. It allows our titular character to find what she really wants (plus has a nice scene with her and Trina) while also being the adorable love story pretty much all of us want. It lives up to its title and is sure to leave any reader with a smile
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Content: this one contains some profanity (a few uses of the f-word, sh*t, etc.) and conversation revolves around a couple who haven’t had sex yet. Nothing ever becomes terribly graphic [they undress and lay in bed], but there is some brief conversation about which “safe sex” items are for what use.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Bought
Publication Date: 2019
Add the Book: Goodreads
Genre: Fiction; Secular, Contemporary Young Adult
Rating: 4 out of 5
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