Posted January 10, 2019 by lynlynsays Movie Reviews

Movie or Book? Thoughts on To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before Movie

to_all_the_boys_i've_loved_before_poster — © Netflix

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

Directed By Susan Johnson

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was the movie I anticipated to watch in the summer of 2018. However, my expectations fell short.

As an adaptation of the book, the movie cut some major sequences and elements that I felt were necessary to have in the film. The film only focused on the main storyline: Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship. Yet an essential part of their relationship development as well as how Lara Jean becomes her own person is how she deals with her feelings for her sister’s, Margot, boyfriend, Josh. In fact, her feelings for Josh caused a bit of a misunderstanding with her sister, Margot. I wished that the movie didn’t leave out this important subplot because it is this subplot that we see Lara Jean grow as a young woman.

Also, I didn’t like the ending of the movie because it was completely different from the book’s ending. The book leaves us with a cliffhanger. The movie’s ending was more complete in which Lara Jean and Peter confess their feelings for one another. This ending implies that there won’t be a sequel since the main characters got together but the movie leaves room for the possibility of a sequel by introducing John Ambrose in the mid-scene end credits.

I hope that there is a sequel because the actress and actor that play the leads have great chemistry. Also, we will get to see more conflict in their relationship as a new guy enters into the picture, John Ambrose.

Personally, I prefer the book over the movie. If you want to see my thoughts on the first novel, you can check it out here.

4/5