Too. Many. Feels: P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU (Jenny Han) -- Book Review

P.S. I Still Love You

Author: Jenny Han

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

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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. 

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Titus the Bear with Lara Jean

AHHHHHHHH! The book that was with me in my sickbed. Let me first just sum up the roller coaster of emotions that you'd feel by reading this book. Mainly, it would be:

AAHHH THIS IS SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE--NOW THIS MAKES ME WORRIED--THAT'S CUTE--OMG WHAT JUST HAPPENED--NO NO NO--NO YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT--WHAT THE HELL---HMMM WILL THIS WORK---I STILL LIKE THAT ONE THOUGH--WHOA---WOOOOOH---HELL YES---OH MY GOD BE STILL MY BEATING HEART---YES YES YES--NOW THAT'S HOW YOU END A BOOK

So, basically, you'd really be treated to SO. MANY. FEELS. once you read P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU. You see, ever since I finished reading TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE at around the same time last year, I've waited for the sequel already. This is one of those series that are good for your heart, you know. Light, real, and would really make you feel things.

**This might be spoilery so please stop reading if you hate spoilers**

Anyway, P.S. I Still Love You is the continuation of Lara Jean and Peter's story. What I like about this story is the fact that it picks up from where the first book left off. It has that certain amount of excitement--the spark that you're probably looking for in a love story--and would really make you feel for Lara Jean, especially if you've been in her shoes (or close).

That New Year's Eve Dinner was...really "kilig". It's simple, but kilig, and damn that contract! Haha! Super cheesy, but hey, they're young! How many times have you actually made extremely sane decisions when you were young? Not a lot, eh? So, yeah, I think that's what made it cute for me. Also, there's the fact that both of them were trying to understand where it would go; they were both trying to understand how they could make the relationship work. 

Also, those text messages? Those should I call or not call stuff? They're super real! 

“So I take Peter’s hand; I put it on my heart. I tell him, “You have to take good care of this, because it’s yours.” 

I like their chemistry. That's the main reason why I was TEAM KAVINSKY in the first place. They just have SO. MUCH. CHEMISTRY between them that you can't help but root for them; you can't help but wish that things would really work out between them, and for them, because there's just so much promise in there. And things like these could really give you hope. 

And of course, there's conflict. Lots of it, actually. There's Genevieve, and I thought Josh would still come into play but alas! Jenny Han treats us to this new (well, not really new, as he's one of the recipients of Lara Jean's letters) guy. A guy who's also charming, and cute, and nice, and kind and all that, but somehow, he just didn't work for me. (Again, TEAM KAVINSKY)

I have to admit...I kind of felt worried when the whole Kavinsky Mess started happening. I was like, OH NO. No, you did not make me love and root for him just to mess him up this way. I was like, is this a sign that bad boys really cannot change? That Chuck Bass would be "Chuck Bass" for life? Because, seriously, some of the things Kavinsky did in this book were just...cringe-worthy. HAHA! I mean, I just didn't want to believe he would do that (Especially the Necklace Thing. And Anabel Lee). I thought it was unnecessary, but then I realized that:

 1) He's young, he's gonna eff up. You'd expect that people won't, but realistically speaking, it happens.

 2) The people we love could really break our hearts. How they make up for it is what matters.

3) Every Love Story really has to have some conflict for it to work. 

“I say, “In the contract we said we wouldn’t break each other’s hearts. What if we do it again?” Fiercely he says, “What if we do? If we’re so guarded, it’s not going to be anything. Let’s do it fucking for real, Lara Jean. Let’s go all in. No more contract. No more safety net. You can break my heart. Do whatever you want with it."

So, when the whole thing was redeemed, I was, of course, happy. I couldn't be happier. You know, when a book plays on your emotions, it's something good. When it makes you think, when it pulls at your heartstrings, it's amazing. Even when you don't often agree with the author, what matters is that he/she made you feel something. And if you've been following my reviews for some time now, you'd know I don't give 5 stars just like that--but this one deserves it.

"There's a Korean word my grandma taught me. It's called Jung. It's the connection between two people that can't be severed, even when love turns to hate. You still have those old feelings for them; you can't ever completely shake them loose of you; you will always have tenderness in your heart for them."

Another thing I liked about this? It's the fact that it kind of makes you reflect on the people you once had in your life. It makes you realize that not all relationships are meant to be forever--and that's okay. It makes you remember some of the people you had in your life, especially those who aren't there anymore, because that's life, you know? You meet people, some of them make a mark on your life, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be there forever. And there is nothing wrong with that. 

Jenny Han surely exceeded my expectations. Can't wait to read more from her! A Kitty spin-off, maybe? Yes? 

Toodles!

14 Books for 2014

I have a confession to make: After reading over a hundred books by July, I've pretty much slowed down on reading the last couple of months this year (boo, I know).

I learned that it's actually my anxiety that caused me to have such short attention span. There were days when I'd start reading a new book and I'd end up not finishing it at all. There are also a couple of books in my shelves that I haven't gotten to read yet--and that never really happened before, at least not because I was lazy. And well, I've also been busy with work, like a lot, coz I enjoy it and I know that's not an excuse to be such a lazy reader, but yeah, well, things happen.

Anyway, that does not mean that I don't read anymore. Of course it doesn't. It's just that I'm currently only reading short ones and all these articles, but I'll get back my "I can read extremely long books with no problem whatsoever" groove soon. And besides, I was able to read  (insert number here) this year so that's not bad.

(side note: as of now, I'm reading Pretty Little Liars: Vicious, so yeah, there's some progress right there... ^^)

 

That said, here are my favorite books of 2014. (14 for 2014!). (I know it's early but before I hibernate again and get sucked up in all these things, let me do this now) Some of these were published this year, some weren't, but the point is that I read them all these year. And ta-daaaa, here they are:

1. Dwellers (Eliza Victoria).

 Oh my god, this one is really, really good. I couldn't count the number of times that I read this in the past couple of months. It's a weird but good bedtime story (at least for me hihihi). I like how it's not just about the horror, but how it incorporated some elements of weird romances, plus a whole lot of pain and craziness into it. And I LOVE the characters. Each of them had their own unique traits, even if most of them were downright crazy. Celeste stood out from the pack, in my opinion, She's just different, and assertive, and deep--and I really like her.

2. The Descendants (Kaui Hart Hemmings).

 I've seen the movie years ago and it became one of my favorites and when I read the book, I realized how great they both were and it's just really amazing. I like how realistic this story is and the way it was written was just on point. 

3. This Star Won't Go Out (Esther Earl with Lori and Wayne Earl).

  

 This one's really special and it's one of those stories that will stay with me forever. It's not just a story--it's a real story. Reading Esther's thoughts, seeing some of her drawings, and just feeling like you know her--even for just a while--is just something else. Most importantly, you'd realize how big her heart was and how much she loved--and is loved. Even my guy is touched by this one--we love it to pieces. Oh and it's Goodreads' Best Memoir/Autobiography for 2014, too, yay!!!

4. We Were Liars (E.Lockhart).  

Oh man, this book broke my heart in more ways than one. It's just on a league of its own and you'd definitely feel for the characters. Plus, you'd also get to think about why things are that way, or how events in the story came to be And once you get to the end, your brain will just be rattled and you'll probably say "Why oh why", or "NOOOOOO!" and that's the reason why this book rocks, for me. Oh, and it also won a Goodreads Choice Award for best Young Adult Fiction! Woot!

5. The Heiresses (Sara Shepard). 

 It's like, this adult version of Pretty Little Liars (which I am obviously obsessed with) but it also has different elements to it. Plus, the characters feel so real and you kind of wish that you live in their world (but not be part of the whole fiasco lol)

6.  The Kitchen when it Sizzles (Chrissie Peria). 

 This is one of those books that just made me want to read again after being lazy. It's beautiful and sexy in all the right places plus it would really make you feel "Kilig"--and to me, that's kind of a mark of an effective love story: when you feel "kilig" and want to be part of the story yourself.

7.  Landline (Rainbow Rowell). 

 Ah, Rainbow Rowell is a gem, isn't she? I like this novel primarily because it deals with the harsh realities of love and relationships. I like how it makes you think about what you have in life, and why things work out or why they don't. It's not your usual mushy love story, but it's great because it's more realistic than fictional and that's really good. And this is also Goodreads' Best Fiction for 2014!!! <3

8. Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon (Edgar Calabia Samar).

 

This is also another book that I read over and over again--and it's in Tagalog! Hooray! It's one of those local books that I'm truly proud of coz it's so good. You have this average guy as the hero and it's written in a real world perspective which makes you think that "hey, what if that really happens?" and the thought will probably scare you. 

9. The Silkworm (Robert Galbraith).  

Can JKR do anything wrong? No, absolutely not. I like Cuckoo's Calling better, though, but this one is also great because you learn a lot from it. PLUS CORMOROBIN!!!! You can't go wrong with that. 

10. Heat of the Moment (E.A. Martelle).

 

This story is special to me and even if I didn't know it from the beginning, I'd still say that it's amazing. Really will make you "kilig" plus if you're looking for a story that's steamy and classy but will just really make you want to read more, I'd say you do have to read this one. 

11. (Un)breakable (Kesh Tanglao).  

While this one may not really happen in real life, you still wouldn't help but feel "kilig" over what goes on in it. And sometimes, that makes a story great, too: when you know that something may be impossible but you still put some hope into it.

12. To all the Boys I've Loved Before (Jenny Han).  

This is seriously one of the cutest, most romantic, and "kilig" books that I read this year--and possibly for all time. It's simple, it's not trying to be deep and all that stuff, but you'll love it because of that. And my friend Alyssa and I have fangirled over this over and over and over...hihi

13. Grimm's Fairy Tales. 

  

Because why not? I found a great copy this year and I instantly bought it. It's nice to read all those fairy tales again, though some of them were really weird. Like Cat Skin! Oh my god, I can't even.

14. The Geography of You and Me (Jennifer E. Smith). 

 I think I read this one in one sitting because it's just sooooo "kilig" and though it'll also break your heart, it's a story that's just pretty realistic, too, so that makes it one of the best love stories ever.

So, that's it. Here's to more years of reading (and hopefully, I'll get back to my reading streak in full force soon). Xx