P.S. I Still Love You

Lara Jean's romantic entanglements complicate themselves further. In the wake of the events detailed in To All the Boys I Loved Before (2014), Lara Jean confesses her love for handsome golden boy Peter. This frees the pair to start a romantic relationship with a clean slate, but over the course of the novel it becomes clear that embarking on a relationship that turns an aggressive blind eye to baggage is never a good idea. When a viral video of a steamy love session between Peter and Lara Jean rears its ugly head and a boy from the past enters Lara Jean's life once more, Lara Jean's life gets complicated. Every character from Han's adored previous novel is back, with new dimensions given to nearly every one of them. Subplots abound, among them two involving Lara Jean's father and Peter's ex-gal Genevieve, but benefitting most from this second look is John Ambrose McClaren, a boy briefly referenced in the former book who is thrust into the spotlight here as Peter's rival for Lara Jean's heart. With all these characters bouncing around, Han occasionally struggles to keep a steady hand on the novel's primary thrust: Lara Jean's emotional development. Han gets the job done in the end, but this overeventful sequel pales to the original where structure is concerned. The author's greatest success remains her character work, and the book does indeed give everyone a solid arc, narrative be damned. A satisfying if slightly lesser sequel. (Romance. 13-17) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-The Song sisters are back, and Lara Jean's boy troubles are even more complicated in this To All the Boys I've Loved Before (S. & S., 2014) sequel. The quixotic middle Song sister has fallen for popular Peter, and they've become a real couple. Navigating the awkward and thrilling aspects of her first relationship, Lara Jean inwardly debates realistic teen quandaries: how far should she go with Peter and whether she'll become one of those girls who forgets about her friends once she has a boyfriend. But when her former best friend and Peter's ex Genevieve continues to wreak havoc on the relationship (including making a video of a very private moment that goes viral) and a former crush comes back into the picture, the teen has to decide if she and Peter are meant to be after all. In this tender romance, Han returns to the angsty push-and-pull of her "Summer I Turned Pretty" series (S. & S.), presenting two viable (and swoony) contenders for Lara Jean's heart. The protagonist is just as lovable, quirky, and kind as in the previous volume, volunteering at a nursing home with gusto and trying to balance out her family's issues (including helping to set up her widower dad with a girlfriend). A semi-resolved ending hints at a possible sequel. Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Dessen, and Kody Keplinger fans will love this volume. VERDICT The sparkling dialogue, heartwarming sister relationships, and honest talk about sex and slut-shaming make this a must-have title for teen collections.-Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
Gr 7 Up-Lara Jean has already discovered that falling in love is easy. Here she learns that being in a relationship is hard. Peter is now her real-life boyfriend, but the consequences of having a boyfriend can take a toll. First, there is the viral video of a make-out session in a hot tub. Who filmed it and, more important, why? And what about John Ambrose McClaren, the recipient of her first kiss back in eighth grade? He moved away, but now they've reconnected. Whether Lara Jean's dad will ever date again is among the unanswered questions that hint at yet another volume. Laura Knight Keating provides Lara Jean with a sweet, mostly innocent voice, her younger but far more worldly sister Kitty with a bit of sass, and Peter with just a slight sense of hesitance. She paces the material well, making this an enjoyable romance with a dose of reality for younger teens. VERDICT Recommend this to fans of the first book and to others looking for romance without too much heavy stuff. ["The sparkling dialogue, heartwarming sister relationships, and honest talk about sex and slut-shaming make this a must-have title for teen collections": "SLJ" 6/15 review of the S. & S. book.]-"Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University"

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.