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

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Published: May 26, 2015 by Simon & Schuster for Young Readers
Source: Purchased book

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing. [goodreads]

If there is such a thing as a perfect book, this would be it.  I adored To All the Boys I've Loved Before, but it was this sequel that caused my heart to swell way beyond its capacity.  Jenny Han is the queen of YA contemporaries.  Just when I think she can't possibly produce another top of the list favorite, she delivers this beauty to blow all the rest out of the water.

Lara Jean is in love.  The real deal: heart pounding, sweaty palms, butterflies flapping, all in sort of love.  As she navigates this newfound love with Peter K, she's also introduced to new feelings that may or may not induce insecurities and potential heartache, too.  Following these emotions has its ups, and sometimes it can lead to a few downs as well.  I really enjoyed the honest take on what it means to surrender your teenage heart to a boy, and all the wild emotions that emerge because of it.

Jenny Han's authentic approach of a sisterly relationship shines immensely in this follow up novel.  I found myself identifying with this aspect in the first story, only to be reminded of her true genius of writing such a believable, relatable relationship yet again.  She kindles such a rare, beautiful relationship that can only be felt between sisters and projects it on to the page so flawlessly.  Being a sister myself, I saw so much of my own relationships staring back at me.  There's nothing better than experiencing a story which feels so similar to your own.

Another similarity that rang true in my own heart, is the absence Lara Jean feels for her mom.  There is a certain scene in this book, which due to spoilers I will not reveal in detail, that brought me back to a feeling of longing that I too have for my own deceased mother.  It brought on tears -- the rolling down the cheeks, must put down the book, and take a deep breath -- sort of tears.  Literature can be such a powerful thing when it awakens a sorrow you haven't felt that deep in quite awhile.  The bold, naked truth of Lara Jean missing her mother hit me right in the heart.

When I finish a Jenny Han book, I always want more.  It's no surprise.  However, knowing that this is the final chapter in the Song girls story -- even as much as I am going to miss them -- I am content with Han's The End.  It compliments the first novel, but still stands strongly by itself, leaving the reader with a more than satisfied closure.  I've been known as the girl to recommend the Summer series (Jenny Han's previous YA contemp series) to every reader I know.  Watch out, because now I have a new story to recommend and push on to every reader out there.

Thank you, Jenny Han, for gifting the world with your talent and beauty with words.  Never stop writing because I will never stop reading.

Revisiting a Favorite: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY

Have you ever read a book you completely adored and wanted to revisit its magic?  I feel this way often about the books I love, so I thought I'd revisit a few of my favorites.  I'm not sure how reoccurring this post will be, but my hope is to introduce the book to new readers, while rekindling its love in past readers, too.

Book Title: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han (Summer series, book 1)
Published: May 5, 2009 by Simon & Schuster
Original Review: POSTED HERE
About the Book (from goodreads):

Some summers are just destined to be pretty.

When each summer begins, Belly leaves her school life behind and escapes to Cousins Beach, the place she has spent every summer of her life. Not only does the beach house mean home away from home, but her favorite people are there: Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been chasing Conrad for as long as she can remember, and more than anything, she hopes this summer will be different.

Despite distractions from a new guy named Cam and lingering looks from Conrad's brother, Jeremiah, Belly's heart belongs to Conrad. Will he offer his to her? Will this be the summer that changes everything?

Going back to Cousins Beach was like revisiting a place full of warm memories and happy thoughts.  It's been more than three years since I last read the story of Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, and how their summers all began and ended at the same timeless summer beach house.  I could still feel the sand between my toes, and the warm sun beating down on my bare shoulders as I read from chapter to chapter.  When you revisit a book that you already know the ending to, you begin to look at the details a bit closer. 

Am I still in love with this story as I was three years ago, the first time I ventured to Cousins Beach?  Oh yes.  And if it's possible, I think I've fallen in love with these characters in a whole new way.  The first time I read this book, I was always worried about Belly.  She's this young, naive girl, who has fallen madly in love with her childhood friend.  I just knew she'd endure heart ache before the potential for a Happily Ever After would present itself.  This time around though, I was able to let go of those worries and really absorb the character of Belly.  It allowed me to understand her faults in a new light, and know that in the end she needed to stumble and fall a few times in order to appreciate what she had. 

Conrad stole my heart the first time I read this series.  His character was hurting, and you couldn't help but want to reach out as the reader and sooth his pain.  But during my revisit it was Jeremiah who shined a bit brighter.  I was able to see the boy who could always make others laugh, yet harbored his own sort of despair as well.  It was interesting for me to see these characters as they told their stories, yet I found myself focusing on different details I hadn't noticed before.

In the end, the story concludes with the same feelings I had before.  It reminded me of the sadness when beach houses close up for the season, and all its visitors return home for the fall.  Your heart wants it to linger a bit longer... one more swim in the ocean, one last walk on the beach at night.  Revisiting this story ignited my love for this book and reminded me why I adore it so much.  If you're new to the series, I highly recommend visiting Cousins Beach and allowing Jenny Han to transport you to a summer of youth and young love.

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

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Published: April 22, 2014 by Simon & Schuster
Source: ARC on loan from a friend

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. [goodreads]

It's no surprise that I will read anything Jenny Han writes.  She became an instant auto-buy author after I read her Summer series a few years ago.  The way this woman writes speaks directly to my teenage heart.  She knows just the right buttons to push in order to create the most delicious love affair one can have with a literary work.  She is, in my eyes, the epitome of young adult contemporary literature.  Her ability to write such authentic, realistic characters that a girl who is 16 and a woman who is 32 can relate to, is a testament to her craft.  This new novel of her's is every bit amazing as I had hoped it to be, plus so much more.

Lara Jean is the middle sister to older Margot and little Kitty.  These three girls hold a special bond, one I immediately identified with: they are motherless daughters.  After losing their mother suddenly, and way too soon, these three girls had to grow up quickly and learn to rely on one another for much more than just sisterly advice.  Their personalities shined through from beginning to end, leaving me to feel like I knew these girls and could identify them from any angle possible.

But it was Lara Jean's personality that struck a deep chord with me.  She has always lived inside her hopelessly romantic mind, another element of the story I quickly identified with.  She's written love letters to the boys she's been in love with, but they're more like personal journal entries to herself as a send off to when it's time for her heart to move on.  Those letters were never intended to be read, by anyone, so when they accidentally get mailed to each boy, it becomes a mess of all messes.

Jenny Han's humor, along with a fresh new appeal, definitely comes across in this story.  The relationships between Lara Jean and her sisters is the essence of what makes this story so grand.  Being the youngest of 4 girls myself, I definitely related to these moments.  I found myself wanting to go back in time and relive my own memories with my sisters.

I appreciated the fact that the story's synopsis doesn't divulge more information than descriptions about the boys who end up receiving the letters.  It created a much more enjoyable reading experience because it left me wondering about the significance each of these boys would have in Lara Jean's life.  It also presented a bit of a mystery, causing me to guess which boy would become more than just a letter of words and evolve into a real life love story.

From the authentic family relationships, to the well planned character development, TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE was like reading a love letter to my own literary heart.  It poses all the makings of what allows this reader, and I'm sure many others, to fall in love with contemporary YA.  This is truly Jenny Han at her finest.

Waiting On: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
To be published: April 22, 2014 by Simon & Schuster

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… [goodreads]

This book right here is my most anticipated read for 2014.  Jenny Han is among my favorite YA contemporary authors. Her Summer series captured my heart and years later I am still recommending it to every one I know.  I have such high hopes for this story!  I have a feeling it will be another popular recommendation from me... and soon to be favorite as well.  Eeep! Is it 2014 yet?!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

In My Mailbox {70}

I got two special books in my mailbox this week.  Both of which I've read, but since their paperback releases were this week - well I just had to buy them!  I am IN LOVE with the paperback edition of Moonglass. Seriously. That sunset is gorgeous & the scene fits the book so perfectly.  When Jenny Han announced there would be bonus CONRAD material in the paperback of We'll Always Have Summer, well there was no question there.. of course I needed this book!!!

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

We'll Always Have Summer (Summer, #3) by Jenny Han

The bonus material inside We'll Always Have Summer are the letters Conrad wrote to Belly. I won't tell you when or why he wrote them (it may be spoilery), but I seriously screamed out loud when I saw this in one of the letters - CHRISTMAS BEACH COUCH!!!!!!!! If you know me, then you know it's my favorite scene in the whole series (it's in book 2).  I even got Jenny Han to sign my book with it :) Oh Conrad... *sigh*

What's in YOUR mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

(I choose to not comment publicly about the plagiarism controversy that came to light this week in the book blogging community. I will state that I do not condone those actions; however, I do support weekly features that bring books to people's attention & encourages them to read.)

Check Me Out: Guest Post at Lisa The Nerd

Today I am guest posting at the fabulous Lisa the Nerd's blog!  I'm sharing my most favorite book I read in 2011.  Can you guess what it is??  Lisa has been featuring a different book blogger all week long, so be sure to check out the previous posts.  We love our books & we love to share why we adore them so much!

If I haven't convinced you by now to read this series... then perhaps my Book Love 2011 guest post will!

Summer Lovin' Week at GReads!

Who's a fan of those dreamy summer reads that you just want to soak up year round?!  I know I've found quite a few favorites in the YA realm. 

With the official start of summer beginning this week (according to the calendar) I am hosting a week long event dedicated to all those fabulous summer reads we can't seem to put down. 

A few of my book blogger friends will be contributing as well.  So be sure to drop by their blogs & read about their favorite summer reads all week long!  And don't miss out on the GIVEAWAY at the bottom of this post.

Monday 6/20: GReads! - kick off to Summer Lovin' Week 

Tuesday 6/21: The Perpetual Page-Turner: Top Ten List

Wednesday 6/22: Makeshift Bookmark : Soundtracking with Amy & Roger's Epic Detour 

Thursday 6/23: Anna Reads : Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Friday 6/24: Fiction Folio : That Summer by Sarah Dessen

Those who frequent my blog & follow me on twitter may have seen me mention a little known series by an author named Jenny Han.  Yes?? ;-)  The story of Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah at Cousins Beach starts in the first book titled, The Summer I Turned Pretty.  And what a beautiful, un-put-downable story it is.  It's rare I come across a story that captivates me so much that I am thinking about these characters long after I've finished reading it.

It's been a few months since I first met them, yet I still wonder - what are those crazy kids up to at the beach?!  I quickly devoured the second book in the series, It's Not Summer Without You, and then moved on to the third and final book, We'll Always Have Summer.  Jenny Han kept my emotions on one wild literary roller coaster ride!  Never knowing which boy Belly would choose, or not choose.  The story is rich with passion, conflict, love, and friendship.  I was swept away by Jenny Han's writing, only to be dumped out on the sandy shores and then carried back out to sea again.  This series is what sparked my love for summer reads.  If you're in need of something to take pool-side this summer, then I suggest starting here.  It will definitely quench your thirst!

**GIVEAWAY**

Want  a chance to win 5 of our favorite Summer Lovin' reads? 

Then fill out the form below for your chance to win:

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

That Summer by Sarah Dessen

Giveaway Rules: Open to U.S. residents only, one entry per person, ends June 26th. Good Luck!

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

Published: April 27, 2010 by Simon & Schuster
Received: bought from Barnes & Noble

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach? It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come. But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach. {taken from goodreads.com}

The second book in this amazing series by Jenny Han has lived up to the first!  It's Not Summer Without You brings us back to Belly, Jeremiah, & Conrad and what is left of their teenage years at the beach house.  The story picks up right where The Summer I Turned Pretty leaves off, without skipping a beat.  This made the transition between books seamless and flawless.  I knew I had to get my hands on the next book, as soon as I finished the first, & the beginning made me feel like it was a continuation of the story that I fell in love with in book one.

It's fall and Belly is at home, with her mother & brother Steven.  The boys (Jeremiah & Conrad) are back in Boston.  The summer's rays have dissipated behind the chilly clouds, and the carefree attitude that summer once brought has now settled in for a cold winter's nap.  However; with the way things ended at the beach house Belly has hope.  A feeling that something is upon her toys with her in the back of her mind.  That feeling, she soon realizes, belongs to Conrad.  While he is at college, the two of them begin to talk on the phone.  Their nightly chats take form & soon they are what Belly lives for.  Forget the summer, late night talks with Conrad are way better than waiting the crucial winter months before they're back together again at Cousins beach.

Belly makes several attempts to introduce Conrad to her life away from the beach.  He makes a few trips to her house to visit, and even promises to take her to prom.  Meanwhile, Belly's mother is making trips of her own: back & forth to Boston to help Susannah (the boys mother) who is losing her battle with cancer, once again.  This turn of events begins to take a toll on Conrad & he pulls away from Belly, as well as Jeremiah & any one else who has a close relationship with him.  As the summer draws closer, the idea of every one going back to Cousins beach becomes nonexistent.  The good times they once shared there are over shadowed by heart ache & loss.

The second installment in the Summer series took on a more emotional vibe for me.  The plot no longer revolved around Belly and her desires to be noticed at the beach.  Real world issues are introduced & as the reader you start to develop compassion for how these characters learn to deal (or not deal) with these situations.  One thing remains constant though, who will Belly end up with?  Is it Conrad - the broken, misguided true love of her life?  Or is it Jeremiah - the carefree, effervescent best friend who is always by her side?  You must read this book to find out!  I have totally fallen in love with Jenny Han & her ability to consume my desires to read.  Just as this emotional roller coaster picks up speed, the story takes a crashing turn.  I found myself holding my breath in anticipation for whats to follow.  When an author can take the reader on a journey such as this one, a masterpiece has been written.

Stay tuned for my review of the 3rd & final book, We'll Always Have Summer.  It is the perfect ending for such a romantic, heart-felt summer series.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Published: May 5, 2009 by Simon & Schuster
Received: bought from Barnes & Noble online

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along. {taken from goodreads.com}

Wow. Simply freaking wow.  I devoured this book in a day!  I put aside the laundry, the dirty dishes, my job (sort of lol), & read this book like my life depended on it!  It was that good.  Even though I turned the last page not long ago, my mind is still reeling from it.  I am totally & utterly engulfed by this beautifully written portrayal of a young girl's summer that changed her life forever.  It was the summer that she evolved from a girl in to a young woman.  The summer of firsts & definitely not lasts.  This same summer, that she turned pretty, she also opened herself up to what ever the ocean's tides brought in.

Belly is on the verge of turning 16 & she is spending another summer at the beach house with her family.  She's made the same summer trek out to the beach with her mom & brother, Steven, since she was born.  They stay at her mom's best friend's house, Susannah, along with her two boys: Conrad & Jeremiah.  The six of them have a routine that they replicate each summer; from what they eat as their first night's dinner, to the type of sun tan lotion & beverage they drink as they lay under the hot smoldering sun.  Summers at the beach house is what Belly has lived for.  Though her best memories growing up are from this sandy sanctuary, she also has vivid memories of what it means to be the only girl among three older boys & always leaving her left behind.  But this summer - things have changed.  Belly is no longer the little girl with pig tails & braces.  She has shifted in to a beautiful young girl.  A pretty young girl.  And it's Conrad & Jeremiah who have noticed this change.

The story shifts back & forth from Belly's memories of summers spent at the beach.  I enjoyed seeing these experiences through Belly's eyes.  Her first kiss happened at this beach, along with her first love, & her first heart ache.  My stomach dropped when the boys constantly left her behind.  I could totally relate to that feeling, being the youngest sibling in my own family.  The "tattletell" syndrome was all too familiar!  Belly's relationship with Conrad & Jeremiah was always different.  Conrad was the dark, mysterious protector that she has always been crushing on since she could remember.  Jeremiah was the playful, funny, charismatic best friend that she could always count on.  Though her relationship with each boy was different, there was still a common connection: they both cared for Belly, deeply.  It wasn't until this summer that those feelings began to rise & present themselves.

Another element in the book that Belly was struggling with involved family matters.  Her parents had recently gotten divorced & she found herself on the outskirts with her mother.  Not fully understanding the end to her parent's marriage, she forced herself to accept it.  Susannah, her mother's best friend, was the perfect antidote for Belly's worries.  She stepped in & had a way of making the whole world a better place.  Her presence alone could lift Belly's spirits & carry her away to a time & place where everything made sense again.  However, Susannah was dealing with a demon of her own: cancer.  Her boys had a watchful eye on their mother & it was obvious they too were concerned about her happiness & her health, yet they didn't quite know the truth about it all.  In dealing with these issues, Conrad pulled away from the family.  Especially Belly.  Just when she felt herself completely & hopelessly falling for him,  he did what every other confused teenage boy does: he broke her heart.

The setting for this book is what grabbed my attention from the beginning.  The thought of being a teenage girl & spending the summer at a beach house thrilled me.  The idea of waking up to the tide rolling in, the seagulls squawking, & the smells of warm salt in the air tickled at me as I turned the pages.  But it wasn't the hot summer sun that kept me flipping the pages; it was the heat that transpired between Belly & these two boys for whom she's known her whole life, yet somehow have become much more to her than just summer house mates.  If you've ever read a book before that has played out like a movie, then you know exactly what I am talking about.  The words on the page took a life of their own & I was no longer reading, I was there - witnessing these moments as Belly grew up & turned pretty, right before my own eyes.

I should warn you now, you will need the second book (It's Not Summer Without You) immediately after you finish the first!  I made the mistake of not having it in my possession & now I am on a hunt to find it!  I have to know what is in store for the next summer at the beach.  What will become of Belly? and Conrad? and Jeremiah?  Was this their last summer as kids?  Will they now be burdened with the dilemmas of being a young adult?  If you're waiting to read this book as a summer read, I suggest you stop waiting - and grab it now!  Once again I owe Carla from The Crooked Shelf a huge THANK YOU for recommending this book to me.  She knows her stuff!!

*Edit: since writing this review, I have located the 2nd book (read it!) & moved on to the 3rd & final book (thank you S&S galley grab!) - so be on the look out for those reviews to come.