“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” hits Netflix as best new teenage rom-com
September 21, 2018
Ever since I binged all three books in Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy last summer, I’ve been obsessing over Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter’s (Noah Centineo) swoon-worthy romance. Their connection as characters (and actors) is undeniable, garnering fans all across the country.
Lara Jean Covey is the half-Korean high school protagonist, who, throughout her life, has written private letters to her childhood crushes. These letters, filled with her most private and embarrassing thoughts, are somehow sent out, leading to her complicated relationship with long-time crush Peter Kavinsky. Peter and Lara hatch a plan to stage a fake relationship to make Peter’s ex-girlfriend jealous, but soon these faux feelings evolve into something more. Lara starts to feel herself unexpectedly falling for Peter, but she doesn’t know how this will affect their current relationship.
As an avid Netflix original movie watcher, I’d say I’m relatively proficient in the art of cheesy teen rom-coms––and this is most definitely one of the best: the casting was spot-on. Centineo has the potential to be the new tween heartthrob, and his performance as Peter has caused him to skyrocket to fame. He is confident yet loveable, a perfect mix for an upcoming star. Condor was also perfectly cast as Lara Jean. She personifies Lara’s vulnerability with a soft strength that is universally relatable to high school girls everywhere.
Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the movie embodied the novels. While many fans of the movie may not even be aware of the novel trilogy, I admired how the movie stayed true to the original vision of the books. It warmed my heart to see some of my favorite realistic fiction books played out on screen.
Ultimately, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a must-see for rom-com enthusiasts everywhere. The storyline is especially heartwarming, and I know that I’ll be impatiently anticipating the sequel to learn more about the fate of Peter and Lara’s relationship (but if you are really interested in the story’s continuation–read the books).
