A review by courtknee_bee
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Look, I'm as surprised at the 5 star rating as you are, but this book spoke to me... or rather, 17-year-old me. Just like Lara Jean, I had a boyfriend senior year of high school who was not going to the same college as me. (Also like Lara Jean - I was going to UNC!) Jenny Han perfectly captures that bittersweet feeling of knowing that your life is about to dramatically change, and the people you see daily - friends, boyfriends, even family - are not coming with you. Always and Forever, Lara Jean represents a feeling you just don't see much in YA romances, especially since they tend to focus on the getting-together and not what comes next.

Teenaged Courtney could have really used this book in 2009. My high school boyfriend and I didn't make it at separate schools, but I hope Lara Jean and Peter do.