To All The Boys I've Love Before (2018)

Director: Susan Johnson
Writers: Sofia Alvarez, Jenny Han (author)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Running Time: 99 minutes
Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Israel Broussard
Country: US
Production Companies: Awesomeness Films
Distribution: Netflix Original Film
Certificate Rating: 12
My Rating: 5/5



Based upon the novel of the same name, written by Janny Han, To All The Boys I've Loved Before centres upon Lara Jean, a shy student going into Junior year, who has a secret. She writes soul-baring love letters addressed to the boys who she has fallen in love with in the past. These letters stay hidden within her room with the intention that no one ever sees these but her.

After her older sister Margot breaks up with Lara Jean's best friend, next door neighbour and previous crushee, Josh Sanderson, and moves away to university, Lara Jean learns to battle high school alone. Until one day those boys she previously loved receive the letters she had written. Lara Jean is thrown into the questionable lime-light surrounding those past moments with each boy. After freaking out she learns of a way to take control of the situation, teaming up with the schools heartthrob and one of the love letters addressee, Peter Kavinsky, they plan to turn the situation around for the better for both parties; Lara Jean can escape an embarrassing encounter with Josh, whilst Peter can attempt to prove that he's over Genevieve, his ex-girlfriend who broke up with him...

...although like all teenage romance movies, we know that their fake love affair won't work out that easy.

                                                                                              **************


I had heard of the novel through the online Book-Tube community but never actually got round to reading the novel. It was ultimately a toss up between reading the book before I watched the Netflix Original Film or caving and watching the film first...which is exactly what I did.

I was introduced to the film because of the hype surrounding the book adaptation and its build up to release date. And let's not forget the hype around Noah Centineo who plays love interest Peter Kavinsky.  However the hype did not sway my overall opinion of this film, in fact I loved it. And I almost wished I had read the book before now.

Lara Jean (Lana Condor) is an adorable, sweet and innocent girl; she believes she is a nobody at school, has good friends, Chris and Josh (Margot's ex-boyfriend) and a well knit family, consisting of her older sister Margot and younger sister Kitty who live with their father. Lara Jean is also damn well relatable, she's shy, stays in on a Saturday night to watch 80's movies or reruns of Golden Girls, she loves reading... she's basically me.

The tropes of the teen romance genre is clearly highlighted throughout this film: we have the innocent, shy girl who's secret gets out and has to deal with the problem. In this case the love letters. Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) is the love interest to Lara Jean who takes her on a romantic adventure, pretending to be a cute new couple to help each other out; in this case Peter uses their new relationship to try and get back with Genevieve, and likewise Lara uses Peter to avoid a discussion with Josh, Margot's ex who she also crushed on. In which their tangled love adventure becomes a full display for those at their high school to see.

I also think that some teen movies give the guys bad credit, always seen to be wanting something more out of a relationship. Peter Kavinsky, seen as the school's heartthrob follows the ideal love interest representation towards the beginning of the film however then changes course in the scene where Lara Jean is invited round the Kavinsky's. Their discussion in the kitchen after dinner highlights a more adult approach to the situation, whereas other teen movies could have displayed the characters acting out wildly and arguments ensue regarding subjects spoken at the dinner table. These small discussions throughout the film elevates it from teen to young adult fiction. And let's not forget the cute acts of kindness Kavinsky's character does for Lara Jean as we see them slowly falling for each other.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before can be displayed as a young adult film rather than a teen film. The  plot tries to remove most discussions around sex, and treats the characters with a smart outlook on life. The somewhat ironic scene where Lara Jean and Peter have been videoed in the hot tub on a ski trip and the footage has been released on social media is one of the smallest moments where sex is discussed. The two characters weren't even caught in the act with Lara Jean saying "I've been involved in a porno and I haven't even had sex", however these statements highlight the maturity level that these young adults are trying to make. Yet it does contrast the previous scene where Lara Jean's father tries to have "the talk" where Lara Jean pretty much wants the ground to swallow her whole. These elements we watch have been inspired and reflected from the movies Lara Jean watches; similar tropes in John Hughes' movies, particularly the film Lara Jean watches Sixteen Candles, reflects an almost timeless element to growing up. We can still experience the same issues and hurdles when it comes to dating in the modern age as young adults in movies did almost thirty years ago. However this depiction of dating and falling in love in your teens are reflected by the adult authors of the story, in this case Jenny Han and John Hughes.

Another important element to note is the relationship between Lara Jean and Genevieve. We learn that Genevieve was once Lara Jean's best friend, who ended their relationship over a spin the bottle dare to kiss young Peter Kavinsky. Genevieve, somewhat seen as the "villain" type in the movie, is no more than an anti-hero, the two women are not seen to have a vicious relationship. The jealous Genevieve is the reason that her and Lara Jean aren't friends but we don't see a malicious or somewhat "bitchy" stance like we would in teen films like Mean Girls or The Duff, par one scene after the ski trip. But instead we're brought back to similar vibes and nostalgia of films starring The Brat Pack where, yes they aren't friends, but they aren't going to waste each others breath fighting over lost causes.

One of the most important tropes to young adult films or coming of age films is that we ultimately see the characters grow. The use of the letters being outed helps for Lara Jean to come out of her shell to address rumours and confront people about what really happened. Her letters were a way of putting those feelings of love, or most likely crush, at the time to rest yet they are brought back from the dead to help her grow. At the end of the day Lara Jean is meant to be only sixteen years old and new to the dating game yet to me I forgot her age and saw her as an older young adult.


Wow this was a longer review than I was expecting. To All The Boys I've Loved Before in all surprised me. I admit going in to the film I was expecting similar movies to those I'd seen before but it seems that young adult films these days are taking a much more grown up approach. I really enjoyed this film and honestly could watch it again right now... be right back.


If you loved this film too please comment down below to discuss our love for the story and where a potential sequel could lead us.

Enjoy x

GoodReads: To All The Boys I've Loved Before Novel
IMDb: To All The Boys I've Loved Before