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

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Title: To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Author: Jenny Han

Length: 288 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: April 15, 2014

Source: e-book (purchased)

Read: June 2014

GoodReads

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

This was my first Jenny Han book and I am really glad that I read it.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was really good. The story was interesting and really had me hooked from the beginning. I read this book pretty much in one sitting. I could not put it down!

The Story:

This story isn't really realistic, but it was still a nice cute read. I liked the premise of the book. It sounded really interesting and unique. I can't think of a book with a story quite like this one.
I was a fan of the "love letter" idea for the story. I think it is great that the character writes a letter to her crush to get all those feelings out, without having to put herself out there.
I am a shy person, so I definitely know the feeling of not wanting to confront a crush. (I definitely wrote about it in a diary instead.) So I found this part to be real.

The letters get mailed out to all of these boys and instantly Lara Jean's life gets a little bit more complicated. Yet these complications seemed to be handled quickly and not with much drama. But I was still interested in finding out what the other boys would say when we got to their letters.

A lot of things happened in this story and it kept me pretty engrossed in wanting to know what was going to be happening next.

But I was left with questions at the end of the story. And I was so happy to realize that there is going to be another book! So I am really looking forward to finding out what comes after the ending of this part of the story.

The Characters:

I liked that Lara Jean was shy and quirky. It made it easier for me to relate with her.

I don't have any sisters, so I don't have the personal connection with the story in that sense, but reading the relationship between these three sisters, really touched me. The relationships felt realistic. It was my favorite character relationships in the story. And their relationship with each other really made me think about my daughters and how happy I am that they have each other. They might fight and get on each other's nerves now, but at least they will (hopefully) be there for each other in the future, when they are older.

I also liked the girls relationship with their father. He is busy with work, but still seems to be able to make time to spend with the girls and are a part of their lives. And I really liked that he was apart of the story. It seems like there are times when I am reading a book where the parents aren't in the story much, so I liked seeing the loving relationship between father and daughters. (And it wasn't a huge part of the story, but I was happy to feel like it was included.)

I had a love-hate feeling towards the boys. There were times where I liked them, then times were I was sure I didn't want her to end up with either of the two boys. There is a love triangle. And I know what side I am on, but I am still really curious to see how it plays out in the next part of the story.

My Recommendation:

If you like contemporary stories that have romance and don't mind a love triangle, then I highly recommend this book. It was a cute, fun, and quick read. It grabbed my attention and made me want to keep reading. And when I finished, all I could think was "I want more".

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

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Title: Second Chance Summer

Author: Morgan Matson

Length: 482 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Classification: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Source: e-book (own)

Read: June 2014

GoodReads

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains. Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve. As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love. (From GoodReads)

My Rating:

Wow, what an emotional read. I didn't start really crying until the last few chapters of the book, but there were several times when the story brought tears to my eyes. But I did cry, I had tears streaming down my face and had to get a box of Kleenex.
If you haven't read this book and plan to do so, I suggest having a box ready...just in case.

Hard to put down book. Even though I knew it was going to be a sad read going into reading it, I didn't want to stop. I became very invested in knowing what would happen and finding out more about these wonderful characters.

The Story:

I think that this story is beautifully well-written. So realistic. It made me think about my life and my family. It made me think about death and how heartbreaking it is.
This story broke my heart, it also made me think about how it is important to try and not take my family for granted because you never know how much time you really have left.
I loved that the family went to their lake house to spend the summer together with the father.
But I also liked that the story focused on them living their lives and not just focusing only on the fact that he is sick.
I like how close the family is and the conversations between them.
And I was really interested in the flashbacks. I was just as interested in knowing what happened the last summer that Taylor was at the lake house as the current summer that was taking place during the book.
I think that this is a good (but heartbreaking sad) read for summer.

The Characters:

The author did an amazing job creating a family that I started caring for right away. I was interested in what was happening with each of them, not just Taylor.

I really cared for her siblings and her parents and everything that they were dealing with and going through having this summer together. I also was very interested in the other relationships that the characters developed throughout the book.
There wasn't a single character in this story that I didn't like or care about at some point while reading.
I also think that the characters were very well developed and written. They felt realistic to me.
I wanted to jump into the story and hug them all.
I was very captivated by these characters' lives.

My Recommendation:

If you love reading Contemporary books that make you stop and think about your life, family, friends, love, loss, etc. then I highly recommend this book. I found the book to be beautifully written and amazing. Heartbreaking and moving.