To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before changed the way that I think about a teenage rom-com. It opened my eyes to the complexity of any relationship – to the fact that every person has their own issues, things that we couldn’t figure out, and things that our hearts led us to.
I’ve always loved a Jenny Han book, the woman crafts words like no one else can. Her stories are filled with emotion, relatability, and a way of making you believe in all the things that love can bring.
And those things are what led me to sitting down and watching P.S. I Still Love You.
And I am so glad that I did.
If you aren’t familiar with the series, I suggest that you sit down and watch both films on Netflix.
It’s a new year and Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) are no longer pretending to be a couple. They ARE a couple. And, as Lara Jean navigates a trove of official firsts with Peter — her first real kiss, her first real date, her first Valentine’s Day — she finds herself leaning more on Kitty and Margot (Anna Cathcart and Janel Parrish), Chris (Madeleine Arthur), and an unexpected new confidant, Stormy (Holland Taylor), to help her manage the complex emotions that come with this new chapter of balancing a relationship and figuring out her authentic self. But when John Ambrose (Jordan Fisher), another recipient of one of Lara Jean’s old love letters, enters her life again she must rely on herself more than ever as she’s confronted with her first real dilemma: Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?
Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the swoon of P.S. I Still Love You.
Our official REVIEW will come out in a few days, but right now – we didn’t want to spoil anything for anyone.
LANA CONDOR SHINES
There is nothing that Lana Condor can’t do.
When you read the books, you get an idea of Lara Jean, but what Lana Condor brings to life has you looking at life and wishing that you could be that vulnerable.
Lara Jean is smart, witty, and captivating. She’s grown from the first movie and yet at the same time remained the beautiful soul that you fell for and wanted to be friends with during the first movie.
Ok, as we all remember, Lara Jean’s sister, Kittie, sent out love letters that Lara Jean had written. Big surprise – John Ambrose wrote her back. Like an actual letter. Does anyone do that anymore?
For Lara Jean her feelings for John complicate things. She doesn’t know what is happening. I mean, haven’t we all been there?
In a performance that is both funny and sometimes heartbreaking, Lana Condor delivers a performance that captures an innocence and strength that girls of all ages can look up to.
Some highlights of Lauren Jean in P.S. I Still Love You –
- LJ and Kittie sitting with their cousin and telling her about Peter. It made me laugh and also made me root for the popular girl being put in their place.
- LJ and Jen talking. I think that it shows that it is good to talk to your friends, figure out what happened, and to also remember the good times. We never know how someone else feels or sees things until we speak to them.
- LJ volunteering. That whole situation was beautiful and such an evolution for LJ.
- That ending scene. You’ll see what I mean when you watch it.
I WENT TEAM JOHN AMBROSE FOR A HOT SECOND
I never in my life thought that I would sway from Team Peter. But John Ambrose made me reevaluate. Jordan Fisher is a star.
But you probably already knew that.
John Ambrose made me think about what Peter and LJ’s relationship truly is. Are they meant to be for right now? Are they perfect forever? The two of them are so young and LJ has never been in a relationship before.
Jordan’s performance as John Ambrose makes a girl turn her head. You think about the choices that you make and is the safe bet the right choice? Who knows.
For Lara Jean, she’s oblivious to the choices that are there. One has to wonder if she knows the big life that she is living.
John Ambrose is the safe bet, but he’s the guy that makes you realize what you want in life. He’s the guy who reminds you what it’s like to live and not exist. He awakens the things that you didn’t remember that you had in you.
And we all need one of those people in our lives.
LJ didn’t see that her feelings for John Ambrose were bringing out the things that she couldn’t say to Peter and wouldn’t allow her to feel.
Jordan Fisher will have you second guessing if you want to put the safe bet aside for now. And it takes a special actor to draw you that deep in.
EXCELLENT SCRIPT
So many times now a days when a book is adapted it looses what makes the book truly special. But somehow with this series, they manage to capture everything that made this book series special.
I think that is part of the reason that we are all drawn in. Because the writing is so relatable and makes you remember all the reasons that you love the books.
These characters are all brought to life by a flawless cast and well, that with the writing – makes it absolutely perfect.
WAIT, PETER WAS A DICK?
My only big issue with this movie is that for a second – it made me hate Peter and I never did in the books.
I don’t know what it was – but I feel like Peter had a 180 with his attitude. Maybe it was that I didn’t like jealous Peter? I’m not sure.
I know, I know – drama is part of any story. But the thing is when you love a character so much you don’t want to hate them. You want to always believe in them.
TEAM LJ & PK FOR THE WIN
Just wait and see… you’ll know what I am talking about.
