A couple weeks ago, I reviewed Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. I loved the book because it perfectly captured the awe and sweetness and excitement and heartbreak of growing up. Jenny Han wrote a sequel to that book called P.S. I Still Love You, which I’m reviewing here. It picks up pretty much right where TATBILB ends, so I will do my best to refrain from any specific details or spoilers. Suffice it to say, you shouldn’t read this one without reading the first. The sequel isn’t made to stand alone.
Sadly, I wouldn’t really recommend that anyone read this one if they loved the first like I did. It’s not that the sequel is bad or ruins the first book. Instead, it just felt very unnecessary. I liked where the first book ended. The first book told complete story of a specific time in Lara Jean’s life and left her open to new adventure. This one answers some questions that I liked unanswered, and answers them in ways that I wouldn’t necessarily prefer. So, if you loved the first book, think twice before reading this one.
However, if you’re like me and couldn’t get enough of the Covey sisters, Kavinsky et. al, P.S. I Still Love You gives you the chance to spend more time with everybody (or almost everybody – I won’t give anything away). Sometimes, in an open world video game, even once you beat it, it’s still fun to wander around in the world you spent so much time in. You don’t want to leave This is the kind of the same. Some of the magic and excitement are gone, but the characters are still endearing.
Lara Jean is more worldly and tougher, and experiences are more nuanced. I think the book still rings true (although some situations are heightened), but a lot of high school experiences aren’t super fun and I would rather not have relived them via Lara Jean.
To those keeping score, Lara Jean’s little sister, Kitty, is still the hero.
I’m reading To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before right now, and so far, I’m really not feeling it all that much. I love that Margot goes to St. Andrews, because I spent four years of my life there and met my now husband while there, but Lara Jean is a bit grating with all her insecurities. I get that she needs to get out of her perfect older sister’s shadow and learn that she is pretty great in her own right, but I keep wanting to shake her. Kitty’s pretty awesome though.
I hope it ended up landing better for you by the end! I was the male Lara Jean in high school so it was probably less grating for me.