To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: Let’s Get Sappy!

Sometime in 2014 this book was first published and shortly after there was a me walking in a Kmart pushing my mom to let me go to the book section as always. That me picked up this book and swooned I had to have it. So I begged my mom and she let me buy it. I read it within the following four days.

I was either a freshman or sophomore in high school when I picked this up. The story made me feel warm and fluffy feelings and put a smile on my face. I adored it. I asked my mom to buy the next book later on when that was published, but alas that never happened. Nevertheless, Lara Jean stayed a star in my heart.

Watching the movie the day after it premiered was like stepping into a world of nostalgia. Hearing lines from the book on screen brought back happy and beautiful memories and I couldn’t be more happy for it.

This post is about the movie. How it reminded me that deep inside there is this girl inside me that just wants that whirlwind romance. A reminder that it is ok to want that for myself. Especially when love hadn’t seemed like something that could happen for me right now.. when my life is less then ideal in its chaos.

I’ve never been in a relationship. I’ve had crushes aplenty and maybe at some point I had gotten close enough to touch it, but as is said no cigar. (That saying really doesn’t fit in this fluffy post, but ohh well!!)

What I do know is watching Lara write those letters reminded me of every boy I ever liked and how sometimes I would write my own.. no address included and no longer existing letters, but I wrote them. It feels really embarrassing to even admit it. I think it’s why I connected with her so much. I had people I liked that would never like me back and that’s ok, but it didn’t stop the feelings. It didn’t stop the wonderings and dreams of what could have been.

Her fantasy coming to life as her letters are sent out allowed me to imagine my own coming to pass. So if it takes my story longer.. that’s ok. I’m willing to wait for a love that is right, true, and intensely beautiful. Until then, I just keep on living, pursuing my passions and my dreams.

Jenny Han wrote a story that spoke to me. The other part about seeing representation in the books and on screen is amazing and it’s just another thing to love about it. There are some critiques that could be said about how they handled some of the rep and things they changed, but truly that’s not what this post is about.

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” made me hopeful for romance in the future. It reminded me that I should never feel guilty for hoping for it.

Thanks for reading! What are your thoughts on the movie?

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-Till next time!