P.S. I Still Love You Movie Review

*this review contains spoilers for the book series To All the Boy's I've Loved Before

If you've been here a while, you know that I love the To All the Boy's I've Loved Before book series. I re-read it all the time, and I absolutely adored the first movie. Clearly, I was very excited for the second movie adaptation, P.S. I Still Love You to come out. Surprisingly, it took me a long time to actually get around to watching it though. The movie came out in February, and then the world almost ended so I only got around to watching it a couple of weeks ago. Again to my surprise, I didn't like the movie much at all. Here's why:

When the To All the Boy's movie came out, the world fell in love with Noah Centineo. Admittedly, I did too. I didn't know much about him, but he brought Peter Kavinsky to life and I just thought he did a fabulous job. But a couple of months later, the hype kinda wore off. He's said some problematic/douchey things, and honestly it's more like a meme now to dislike him. I'm not a fan of his anymore, but I still like how he portrays Kavinsky and didn't expect anything less for P.S. I Still Love You.

That being said, John Ambrose is my ultimate dream guy. I do overall prefer him to Peter, and I was SO EXCITED when Jordan Fisher was cast in the role. However, my excitement wavered when I watched the movie. Don't get me wrong, I thought Jordan did a fabulous job in the role. He's perfect. But, he was given NOTHING TO WORK WITH. John Ambrose was reduced to a kinda flat, one- dimensional character in this storyline. He was given little to no screen time compared to the huge role he has in the book. I wanted more of him. I NEEDED MORE OF HIM. I felt as if John was reduced to a wimpy secondary character. He was paid dust.

I thought the movie was rushed and disorganized. We don't get to see much of Lara Jean's and John Ambrose's blossoming relationship, and even Stormy was not fully developed at all. Instead we got a little bit of Peter being a dick, a little bit of a starlight ball being planned (Idk why they scrapped the USO party), and then Peter and Lara Jean get back together in a happily ever after. In my opinion, even Lara Jean and Peter's love story wasn't fully fleshed out. They had significantly less chemistry than in the previous movie.

I also thought the conflict was poorly handled in this movie. In the book, Peter messes up a lot and is really moody. However here, I thought that Lara Jean was blamed for most of the issues between her and Peter, and he barely apologizes for all the dumb stuff he pulled. Peter has to work hard in the book to gain back Lara Jean's trust, but here it seems like she takes him back like a lovesick puppy, and she is the one who ends up apologizing for everything. What is up with that?

Overall, I was not impressed. Was this a nice, sappy movie with some lovable characters? Yes. But, it did not capture the complexity of the relationships that the book has. The book is a big change since the first one, and I thought that the movie would reflect that. However, all I really saw was a John Ambrose who had so much potential but was given a weak storyline, and a potentially toxic, and too quick to forgive relationship from Peter and Lara Jean. I'm sad to say this, but this movie fell flat for me.

Have you seen P.S. I Still Love You? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boy's #3) by: Jenny Han

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Published: May 2, 2017 by: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 325
Rating: 5/5 stars

It's senior year for Lara Jean, and life couldn't be more perfect. Her and Peter's relationship is flourishing, and fueled by class trips to NYC, glamorous prom, and her optimism when it comes to college applications. Her father and Ms. Rothschild are also getting married, throwing Lara Jean into wedding planning mode. Love is in the air, until Lara Jean receives news that throws her entire life off balance. Suddenly, she must resort to plan B, and it could change her and Peter's relationship forever.

I am so sad to be letting go of this series :((( This book series was my feel-good, my pick-me-up, my ultimate fluffy books. I could always guarantee that I would enjoy picking up Lara Jean's story, which is why it was really upsetting to me for it to end. Still though, I guess I have the movie to look forward to, and although I'm kinda underwhelmed with the cast, I'm sure I'll get a lot of re-reads out of the books to keep me going.

This book was the perfect conclusion. As usual with this series, I can kinda predict all that was gonna happen, but I never really care with books as sweet and fluffy as these. I was really scared for Lara Jean and Peter to go through some drastic changes in this book, but I could not be happier with how everything turned out and where everyone ended up in their lives. All my ships took flight, and that was good enough for me.

I saw a more mature side to Lara Jean, which I loved. She was confident in her decisions and she knew what she wanted. She wasn't fawning over every little thing now, she was so cool and collected, and very driven. Her character reached its peak.

Jenny Han never fails with me. I wanna thank her so much for creating such lovable characters and a really great story, because sometimes these books were all I needed after a bad day.

Have you read Always and Forever,  Lara Jean? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Ashes to Ashes (Burn for Burn #3) by: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Paranormal
Published: September 16, 2014 by: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 387
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
*highlight white text to reveal major spoilers*

Be prepared for the most rambly review ever, because I really need to rant. That being said, this review is also covered in spoilers, so if you have not read this book, do not highlight the white areas,or don't even read this review at all. Here we go:

Ashes to Ashes was the thrilling, (and somewhat shocking) conclusion to the Burn for Burn trilogy. Here, Mary is back in full force, ready to get revenge on not only Reeve, but also the girls she once trusted. Meanwhile, Kat and Lillia are still trying to come to terms with their futures, and why everything seems to be going wrong ever since Mary disappeared. 

I was quite impressed with this book. Halfway through the series, there is a genre change when more paranormal aspects appear. I thought that this added quite a lot of interest to the book, however some things I felt were left unresolved. I didn't find the characters strong either.

Like I said, I loved the rising action, and the eerieness that was added. I was kept intrigued throughout the entire book, and nothing left me uninterested. I loved how this book contained two genres that worked perfectly with each other, without being cheesy. There were twists and turns that kept me wanting to find out what happens next.

This book however, was kind of a let down in comparison to the other two. I felt as if a lot of the characters annoyed me ,and most of them were impulsive, naive and conceited. Lillia should know better to not go after her deceased friend's ex-boyfriend! Even if they weren't on good terms, it's simple ethics. I found her to be a bit whiny, so oblivious to everything happening, and manipulated by Reeve.

I also didn't like Mary as much. I found her to be kind of harsh in a sense. She went out of her way to make Kat and Lillia's lives miserable, which I don't think was fair. I thought for sure she would kill them in the end. Even though in the end she turned out to be good, I didn't like her actions leading up to it.

Now to that ending, that dreaded ending. The whole series leads up to this dramatic conclusion that: doesn't happen. The book ends in the blink of an eye, and then we get a three page epilogue telling us about all of the character's lives after graduation. It was kind of a waste of time, because I want to know more about what happened to Mary, not that Reeve and Lillia live happily ever after. 

All this being said, I enjoyed reading about the paranormal aspects, and I thought that Kat and Alex provided some great comic relief. They were by far my favourites from this book. I just found that this ending lacked a lot, and I wished Lillia and Mary were portrayed differently. 

Have you read Ashes to Ashes? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

P.S. I Still Love You by: Jenny Han

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Published: May 26, 2015 by: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 337
Rating: 5/5 stars
*highlight white text to reveal major spoilers*

P.S. I Still Love You was the satisfying sequel to Jenny Han's heartwarming love story: To All The Boy's I've Loved Before. Here, Lara Jean picks up the pieces from her failed relationship with Josh, and moves forward with Peter. However their new found love is short-lived when a scandal rocks their school and threatens to ruin Lara Jean's "good girl" reputation. All that, and the threat of Peter going back to his old girlfriend, Lara Jean must make one final decision.

I.Loved.This.Book. I don't know how Jenny Han manages to tug on my heart strings every single time. This book was heartwarming, intriguing, and utterly adorable. Each character came back in full swing, and the ending was so amazing.

When reading To All The Boy's, I found Lara Jean to be a bit naive and annoying. However she really changed! She was so caring to the ones she loved, and was incredibly strong through all that she went through. Her bond with her sisters is unbeatable. There was one character in this book that blew me away even more though: Peter Kavinsky.

Peter was one of those characters who you can't help but love. He may seem a bit narcissistic on the outside, but he cared so deeply for Lara Jean, and was compelled to make things right. I can't say enough about how much I admire his character.

The plot to this book was so climactic, and well-written. It was not cheesy, boring or predictable. The ending was sooooo cute as well. There was fluff, but just the right amount.

Overall, I was so impressed with this ending, and I will miss these books very much.

Have you read P.S. I Still Love You? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Fire with Fire (Burn for Burn #2) by: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Published: August 13, 2013 by: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 517
Rating: 5/5 stars
*highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

Fire with Fire was the thrilling sequel to Han and Vivian's Burn for Burn series. Here, Lillia, Mary and Kat return to try and pick up the pieces from their homecoming accident. But nothing has changed, and the people who have wronged them are still in full force. To top it all off, Mary's been acting weird, and is determined to find out why she is "different" than everyone else.

OMG THIS BOOK WAS INSAANNNNEEEE!!!!! Phew, glad I got that off my chest. This book was suspenseful, passionate and such a surprise! The book captivated me the entire way through, and the ending blew my mind.

The characters came back stronger than ever. Kat was so determined and kept her hilarious self, Lillia was much more caring and powerful, and even sweet little Mary broke out of her shell and fought for what she wanted. The girls now know their limits, and they were a lot more strategic. I found them to be very intelligent.

The plot was so clever, intense and fast-paced. There were so many plot twists, and there was never a dull moment. I couldn't put this book down. The antagonists were as horrid as ever, but they still added to the plot amazingly and kept me wanting to read more. It was one big thrill-ride.

*Now this next paragraph is loaded with spoilers, so I've highlighted the whole thing, if you don't want to know the ending, then skip reading it all together*

Now let's talk about that ending!!! Mary is a ghost?! I knew from the moment her aunt started acting weird that something was up, but I never in a million years would have guessed that Mary isn't even actually in the human-world! My heart was racing when she found out, and when she started talking about taking "a life for a life", that's when I realized that I needed to read the third book. It was so unexpected, but I couldn't have asked for anything more. 

Overall, I loved this book because of how shocking it was. Nothing was what it seemed, and I can't wait to read the third book.

Have you read Fire with Fire? What did you think?

Also, I've just realized that this is my 100'th post! I never in a million years thought I would have made it this far, and here's to 100 more :)

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Burn for Burn (Burn for Burn #1) by: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary 

Published: September 18, 2012 by: Simon and Schuster 

Pages: 368

Rating: 5/5 Stars
*highlight white text to reveal spoilers*

Burn for Burn was the thrilling story of three girls who are trying to get revenge on those who have done them wrong. 

First we have Lillia, who wants to show her old friend who is now dating her freshman sister who’s boss. Then there’s Kat, who wants to put the queen bee of her school in her place. Lastly, there’s Mary, who wants to show the boy who bullied her that she is stronger than he thinks. The girls are not friends, they barely know each other. But they form a pact to help each other make things right.

I loved this book. It was so chilling, so unique, and so entertaining. Everything about the plot line and the characters was just captivating. To the first positive, this book was the most unpredictable book I’ve read. The concept was so different, and there were many plot twists. I couldn’t put it down because every corner had a twist and turn. Secondly, all three girls were so versatile and amazingly written. I loved reading about Lillia’s responsibility, Kat was just hilarious, and Mary was so sweet. I really felt for all three of them.

There were also some characters who I loved to hate. Alex just really grated on my nerves, he was so fake! Rennie was your typical mean girl, she was just awful! Reeve was a straight up jerk. The fact that he almost drove Mary to suicide, made me sick. Then again, these antagonists added to the interest and suspense of the book.

I know that Jenny Han is practically the contemporary queen, so I had high expectations from this book. This is the first book I've read from Siobhan Vivian, so I was curious to see how the two authors would blend in writing styles. I feel like both of them wrote to their full potential, and everything flowed nicely. I will definitely be reading more from Vivian.

Overall, an amazing book. It was such a cool concept and I can’t wait to read the next. That ending was so interesting! I need to see what happens next. 

Have you read Burn for Burn? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by: Jenny Han

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
Published:  April 15th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Rating: 4 Stars 

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone had a great New Year! I was going to do a 2014 survey, but I figured that since I was in a reading slump for the latter part of the year, and my blog hasn't even been up for a year, then there was no point in doing one. There will definitely be one for 2015 of course! Here is my book review: 

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, and I finally got it over break. The book follows Lara Jean Song-Covey, who writes letters to all of the boys that she has developed serious feelings for. However, when the letters are mysteriously delivered, Lars Jean gets caught up trying to convince the boys that she no longer loves them, including her sister's ex-boyfriend whom she develops feelings for again. Lara Jean soon realises that she will have to face the truth in order to make things right in her relationships. 

This book was incredibly charming. I think that the author did a great job at the writing, which was beautifully written and creative.The book was descriptive without being overly dramatic and cheesy, which can happen in a lot of romance novels. This book had just the right amount of humour and romance which I feel kept the book realistic. I also loved the author's use of plot twists. I was afraid that the book would become predictable, but it was not what I expected at all. 

Another thing that was unique about the book, is that it contained family relationships rather then just romantic relationships. Lara Jean and her sisters had a very tight bond, which I found to be incredibly cute and relatable to any teenage girl with sisters. 

There were a few things that could have been improved in the book. For example, Lara Jean was a very annoying character. She was ditzy and impulsive, two of the things that I can't stand in a character. I understand that she is fictional, however she should know like any other person that you should not go after your sister's ex-boyfriend. I felt so bad for Lara Jean's sister because I felt like Lara Jean was betraying her. That being said, there would be no plot if there wasn't any drama between characters. 

The ending of the book was okay, although I felt like I needed more information. The book kind of ended in the middle of a sentence which was really annoying. There is a sequel in the works, ( I don't think I would be able to carry on without one,) but I still feel like Han could have ended the story with some closure.

I rated the book 4 stars because it was interesting without being cheesy, and I loved the contrast in relationships. However I would have liked to have seen more of an ending, and less of an annoying protagonist. Why does the sequel have to be so far away? :(

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Bye for Now!
Emily @ Paperback Princess