I’ve finally finished off the third and final installment in the To All The Boys I Loved Before series by Jenny Han. This story, Always and Forever, Lara Jean, wraps up her high school career and her and Kavinsky make decisions on college.
This story was probably one of my favorites. For two books and movies, we have watched Lara Jean do a lot of things because of Peter Kavinsky. While I love their story, I encourage girls in high school to not make life long decisions based on their boyfriend. Do what is best for you. We got to watch Lara Jean do just that. Comparing the two though, this book was probably the most different than the movie.
Let’s start with the schools. In the book, both Peter and Lara Jean want to attend UVA. Apparently it’s been their lifelong dreams. In the movie, they plan to attend Stanford. That’s a pretty big difference. Part of the appeal of UVA to Lara Jean is that she can stay close to her family, she loves the campus look, and she can drive home on weekends and do laundry and stay in her own bed. Plus Peter already has early admission for Lacrosse. However, in the movie not only do they want to go to Stanford, but then Lara Jean falls in love with New York City. Of course, this makes the movie far more dramatic on the big screen because California and New York are as far as you can be apart, causing much strife amongst the couple. In the book it is far less dramatic because when Lara Jean doesn’t get into UVA, she does get into UNC, which is only 4 hours away from UVA. I’d find a 4 hour separation more doable than a 3,000 mile separation. But that’s just me. I get they had to make it more dramatic in the movie, but I kind of liked the idea of Lara Jean wanting to stay closer and liking those eastern schools. It just seemed to fit more with her personality.
That part of the story was the major storyline throughout the story, but one other big difference was the break up. In the book, Lara Jean and Peter break up for like a week. Was it even a week? It was like a month I believe because Lara Jean was going off to Korea to spend time with her family and the book just skips over that actual trip. It felt very short because they glossed over that trip and most of Lara Jean’s emotions. In the movie, they break up way earlier on and seem to be apart much more than the book. Of course, again, this adds to the dramatics and emotions as we see them both moping about.
The last difference I want to discuss is the ending. The book has Peter show up at the wedding and apologize and the two decide to work out the distance no matter what. In the movie, Peter shows up AFTER the wedding to surprise her with her yearbook in which he wrote the same letter. The setting was gorgeous of course because of the wedding tent and twinkling lights above. Not too terrible of a difference, but just more to it. I feel like them getting back together was quick and almost forgettable compared to the rest of the story.
Overall, I am sad to say I prefer the movie over the book. The book was great, don’t get me wrong, but the story was just more exciting on screen. I do not say that often either. I’m a book lover through and through. Either way, make sure you pick up the books and swing over to Netflix and watch the movies as you read.
PICK UP YOUR COPY OF Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han:
And make sure to watch on NETFLIX.
