To All the Boys I've Loved Before

By: Jenny Han

Narrated by: Ali Ahn

Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is now a major motion picture streaming on Netflix! 

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them...all at once? 

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved - five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

©2014 Jenny Han (P)2019 Recorded Books

AGREE THAT THE MOVIE WAS BETTER...

I have never really been the type of person who reads a book and then watches the movie, or watches the movie and then reads the book. In my secondhand experience that I have gathered from others, you usually end up disappointed with one or the other. Sigh. I should have stuck to my normal rhetoric.

I fell in love with the movie on Netflix. I had never heard of the book, and once I did, I decided to give it a go. As much as I loved the movie, you could tell that there were certain themes/threads of topic that they didn't pursue. For instance, once Josh got his letter, there were romantic 'what-if' undertones (like what if Laura Jean had told him her feelings BEFORE he dated Margot, while he and Laura Jean were 'just friends'?). How Laura Jean's mother died was never explained in the movie, yet it was integral to the home life of the Coveys (which had been depicted quite often throughout the movie). So that was my reasoning to go to the dark side and become one of those people who watch the movie and then read the book...

And I disliked it EXTREMELY. First of all, it seems like Netflix Disney-ed up the movie, which I appeciated because it was family-friendly for all ages. My 9 year-old niece LOVES the movie as much as I do! But the book is so much more dirty and raunchy. Chris was sleeping around as a teenager and stripping at parties drunkenly in the 9th grade (keep in mind, in the 9th grade you're 14 or 15, much too young for that). Every other word out of her mouth was the B word or the S word or the F word. We watch the movie together, but I could never let her read or listen to this book. Which takes away some of the appeal for me.

Second, Laura Jean was a bit much in the movie at times, but in a cute way. Like how she second-guessed everything. But in the book she just GOT ON MY NERVES!!! Like in the hallway on the ski trip when Peter was telling her how he felt about her. She had to go and start this huge fight even though she knew she felt the same about him! Her attitude, unnecessary dialogue at times, lack of personal accountability, and knack for causing unnecessary arguments and disagreements like the Christmas Talent Party at the end just drove me nuts! It was so bad that several times I had to leave this audiobook and try again later because she annoyed me, and the only reason I kept coming back was because of my love for the movie. I had to see the book to the end.

Peter in the movie came across as the cool guy who at least treated the uncool kids like Laura Jean as humans and then ended up liking her. He seemed like a genuine, kind-hearted, extremely LIKEABLE guy who ended up liking the girl he probably least expected to. In the book, there's hardly a thing that's likeable about him. He seems like a genuine jerk and he had his annoying times, too.

One of my biggest gripes (and this may not bother you as much as it bothered me) was the ending. In the end of the movie, obviously PK and LJ got together, which made it heart-warming and sweet and set things up for the sequel. For these types of books, you usually do have a fairytale ending that warms your heart and makes you want more. But in the book, she gets out her infamous paper to write the dumb words of her infamous letters--a second letter to Peter. This indicates she decided to say good-bye to Peter because she didn't know how to own up to the drama SHE CAUSED that ended up spilling over into her family life. Remember, she only writes letters to say good-bye so she can get her feelings out.

As for the narration, I think her attempts at a guy voice were abysmal. They should have gotten actual male leads to sub for those parts. And all of her voices sounded the same to me. So when she would read the parts of different characters who were communicating with one another, I lost track of who was supposed to be talking. But she was tolerable.

Sigh. Long story short, if you've seen the movie and you liked it, then just like the movie. You don't have to do anything else. You definitely DO NOT need to read this book. Because now I'm disappointed with both of them. The movie told the story better and was more likeable and engaging. But the book had more background so a lot of things made more sense. But it was such a terrible tragedy....

The movie was better

I disliked both Laura Jean and Peter I thought their characters would be more developed more dynamic and have more depth in the books but they were not. I guess as an adult reading a teenage love story I expected too much.

I LOVED this story!

This Story was wonderful. I was unsure if I would enjoy this or not, since it is intended for a younger audience. but ohmygosh, I enjoyed this so much. It is sweet and precious. and the love that persists and grows is so enchanting. I cannot wait to listen to the next audiobooks in this series. I have not seen the movie yet but plan to soon! the narrator is young and her male voices are all the same, but she does a really good job besides that. As long as you pay attention it is not hard to differentiate the characters. I cant wait to hear this narrator progress. overall I am happy with this story and performance. I dont know if you will like this story as much as I do! but if you like mild unadulterated stories then this is a great story to start with. I loved that it was clean and nonsexual. this audiobook was enticing. I appreciate that I gave it a shot for myself. xoxo

perfect for a certain age...

hey my sister recommended this book because she read it when she was 16...

and that's when I should have read it: when I was 16. because my age has clouded my easy understanding of how teens make choices without thinking. I suggest this book to those in the stages where it's easy to fall in love. not when you're already confidently by yourself. it wasn't easy to finish!

the person who reads this story is consistent with voices and accents but! the influx of certain words makes me cringe. a bit rough to listen to! some words are even mispronounced.

the ending is open, of course, because of the fact that it's a series. I'm not tempted to keep reading them, though!

Great RomCom

Super sweet book! Takes me back to high school. Would highly recommend if you want to take a trip down memory lane.

Loved it!

I wasn't read ready for the teenage drama, I knew it would make cry. And the family drama too. Urgh!
I loved Ali Ahn narration, she does know how to tell a story. ❤️

I loved this story!

Even though this was a story about high school kids I loved it as a 31 year old. It had a good story about family and character development. I liked it so much I got the next book because I have to know what comes next.

Made For the Movies

I kept thinking this is the female counterpart of the movie Can't Buy Me Love. Lara Jean and Peter try to avoid the pitfalls of teenage romance by entering into a contract. Said contract will give them the appearance of a legit couple. Both of them would like to escape the scrutiny of their peers. They aren't strangers. As a matter of fact they once were friends, but middle school cliques and jealousy tore them apart. What happens when the jock discovers the quirky girl thinks she loves him?

Obsessed

A little late to get hooked on the books, but I love them so much!!

Must read

I love this from beginning to end. Though its not really the end since theres another one. I thought it is just a novel for the teens but i thoroughly enjoyed it and Im pass 50 😊

wow

what a great story. I know there is controversy over Ali Ahn, but I really love her voice. Would definitely recommend and am going to buy next in series.

Love the story, hate the narrator

The way the narrator reads men's voices is very cringeworthy. Love the books and movies!

my fav trilogy better than the netflix movie

This trilogy makes my heart melt, I've already read the books and I thought that I would listen to the audiobooks and the audiobooks have just made my heart melt all over again I cant wait to listen to the other 2 books.