It’s time for our second discussion already! Where did the time go? As some of the participants may have seen in our Twitter group chat, I really struggled with stopping at the end of chapter 49, hahaha. This book is so good! And cute and just everything. I want to know how it ends, but I resisted for the sake of our discussion! I didn’t want my knowing the end of the book to influence my answers, or for me to let a spoiler slip by accident or something. Ah! Beware that there are spoilers for the book in this post and the comments, if you have not yet read this book but still intend to read it!
– About the Book –
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
by Jenny Han
Type: Fiction
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Date published: April 15th, 2014
Source: Personal purchase.
What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once?
Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
– Chapters 25-49 Discussion Questions –
Those of you who have not yet read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny HAn and still intend to read it, don’t read beyond this point (including the comments), because there will be spoilers! You have been warned. But, if you like spoilers…be my guest!
It’s not mandatory that you answer these questions! This is not school, haha. The questions are mainly meant to generate conversations in case some of our readalongers are having a hard time picking something to talk about. Also, feel free to mention and discuss anything which I may not have thought of in the questions below! Please be sure to avoid posting spoilers about P.S. I Still Love You, the next book in this series.
Also! if you do decide to answer the questions in the comments, please number your answers to correspond with the questions. It just makes it easier and less confusing for everyone (including myself)! Thank you!
– The Questions –
- Do you think that Genevieve is biding her time while planning something awful for Lara Jean? Or do you think that she is actually just preoccupied with her college boyfriend?
- Before finding out that this was the case, did you think Margot and Josh had been intimate? Or no?
- Did you expect Peter to go to Genevieve when she “needed him”? Or was that a surprise?
- Was it a surprise to you that Margot disapproves of Lara Jean’s relationship with Peter?
- Did you expect Lara Jean to develop feelings for Peter despite her denials?
- How do you think Peter feels about Lara Jean?
– My Answers –
- I definitely feel like she is planning something quite bad for Lara Jean and possibly Peter as well!
- I figured that they had been intimate … considering how long they’d been together and teenage hormones and all that, haha.
- It was a kind of surprise for me. I mean, I knew she had quite the hold on him, but I didn’t think that Peter would give in so quickly … especially since he’s in a fake relationship meant to sever his social image from Genevieve’s.
- Yeah! I thought she’d be happy for Lara Jean. UNLESS, Margot did in fact break up with Josh so that Lara Jean had a chance to be with him because Margot saw the letters … Dun dun duuuun!
- I didn’t expect her to develop feelings for Peter, but I definitely wanted her to! Josh is off limits!
- Hmm. I think that Peter does like Lara Jean, but either A) Genevieve’s hold on his is too strong, B) he isn’t aware of his own feelings, or C) he’s afraid of getting rejected, despite all of his bravado and confidence.
– Readalong Schedule –
| Date | Chapter Discussions | Discussion Location |
|---|---|---|
| July 23, 2018 | Start reading! | N/A |
| August 1, 2018 | Chapters 1-24 | Here! |
| August 8, 2018 | Chapter 25-49 | This post! |
| August 15, 2018 | Chapter 50-72 | Flavia the Bibliophile |
| August 22, 2018 | Bonus Netflix Movie Discussion | Flavia the Bibliophile |
Do you think that Genevieve is biding her time while planning something awful for Lara Jean? Or do you think that she is actually just preoccupied with her college boyfriend?
A: I think she’s just biding her time. I hope for Lara Jean’s sake, it’s something that she can handle.
Before finding out that this was the case, did you think Margot and Josh had been intimate? Or no?
A: I guess I was just as naive as Lara Jean, because she sounded so convinced that her sister didn’t sleep with Josh that I couldn’t help but believe her.
Did you expect Peter to go to Genevieve when she “needed him”? Or was that a surprise?
A: I’m not putting anything past Gen. I feel like that’s part of her ploy.
Was it a surprise to you that Margot disapproves of Lara Jean’s relationship with Peter?
A: Not at all. Margot won’t ever approve of anyone for her little sister. I think she feels territorial over her sisters.
Did you expect Lara Jean to develop feelings for Peter despite her denials?
A: Yeah, I saw that coming a mile away.
How do you think Peter feels about Lara Jean?
A: I think he’s torn between her and Gen. He doesn’t want to like either one of them, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
1. Ahhh I’m glad that you agree about Gen, but I also dreading what she’ll do to poor Lara Jean!
3. Definitely! I don’t like her at ALL!
4. I guess it makes sense when you put it like that! Hehe. As an older sister…I feel like I should have seen it from that perspective to begin with lol woops!
6. Haha I like how you worded that! The heart does want what it wants!
Well, I’m fiercely protective of my younger cousins and nieces so that’s why I saw it that way. I could be wrong. I’m glad we can unite in our dislike of she-who-shall-not-be-named.
I must have been reading the situation too much from Lara Jean’s perspective. Haha fail! And looool I love that you call her that!
1. I totally think she’s just biding her time. It seems consistent with her character and personality. I just hope it’s nothing too bad!
2. I must say that I was a little surprised at the revelation. Margot seemed very prim and proper and I could feel for Lara Jean when she believed that it couldn’t be the case. It must have been surprising for Lara Jean to find out the truth. But, with that said, I think it’s so common now to think of teenagers and long lasting relationships that this shouldn’t have been as much of a shock to Lara Jean as it was.
3. I think Peter definitely still is holding onto Genevieve so I wasn’t necessarily surprised that he went to help her but I am surprised he wasn’t forthcoming about why he was with her. Especially if his relationship with Lara Jean requires the need to be on the same page about things so that their story is solid. But part of me is suspicious about whether Genevieve truly needed him, or just uses it as a ploy because she knows she still has a hold on Peter.
4. Absolutely not. I feel like while Lara Jean has respected her sister and her decisions and has almost put Margot on a pedestal, Margot can’t seem to act the same way towards Lara Jean. At least I feel that she is a little judgmental of Lara Jean and is more particular about voicing her opinions.
5. I must say that I felt Peter would be more likely to fall for Lara Jean and she would still rebuff him purely because of Josh and how complicated the fake relationship has been. That being said, I think it’s super cute that she’s starting to like Peter despite how many faults she complains he has haha!
6. I think Peter is unsure about his feelings for her. I think deep down he feels more than what he is admitting to himself and to others. But he’s still so hung up on Genevieve that he doesn’t know how he truly feels.
And now, I am off to keep reading because it is so good I don’t want to put it down haha!!
1. Ahhh I agree! So scared for Lara Jean!
2. Yeahhhh I mean Margot is 18 I’m assuming. So, that shouldn’t be too too surprising.
3. I know what you mean! She probably didn’t need him at all.
4. That’s a very good point!
5. I think it’s cute that she started liking Peter too!
6. Very true! Poor Peter! I guess he’s not immune to the emotional stuff either, eh?
Hehe I hope that you enjoy the rest of the book!
THESE ARE AWESOME QUESTIONS- ok now to the answers…
– The Questions –
Do you think that Genevieve is biding her time while planning something awful for Lara Jean? Or do you think that she is actually just preoccupied with her college boyfriend?
Without a doubt, she is up to something. It was never a question to me whether she is or isn’t; I just always assume she is.
Before finding out that this was the case, did you think Margot and Josh had been intimate? Or no?
I honestly didn’t think so! I don’t know why, maybe I am naive through Lara Jean’s eyes but It was a real shock to me for some reason.
Did you expect Peter to go to Genevieve when she “needed him”? Or was that a surprise?
That was another shock. I guess personally, I would have felt betrayed, even if it I was claiming to myself and him that we were in a fake relationship…I just would have been so hurt by that.
Was it a surprise to you that Margot disapproves of Lara Jean’s relationship with Peter?
YES! Like whyyyyyyyyy
Did you expect Lara Jean to develop feelings for Peter despite her denials?
I mean, obviously. Plus, like you said, Josh is OFF LIMITS… and I don’t really like that storyline anyway, so the obvious way for this to go was for Lara Jean to develop those feels.
How do you think Peter feels about Lara Jean?
Man, it is so hard to tell. I think he’s a good guy who likes to play that he isn’t. I dated a guy VERY similar to Peter in middle/high school who acted all tough, but honestly had (and still has) the biggest, softest heart. I think he has feelings for Lara Jean, but I think right now he is WAY too tied up in Genevieve’s business to notice.
Awe thank you so much! I always feel as if my questions are lame hahaha
1. I’m glad that we all agree that Gen is up to something! I don’t feel so paranoid now hahaha.
2. You’re not naive! But we ARE experiencing the story through Lara Jean who can DEFINITELY be naive…
3. I would have been hurt too! It’s about respect…and Peter totally disrespected Lara Jean because he didn’t hide the fact that he went to Gen.
4. I’m glad you agreeeee!
5. Yeah, I don’t want Lara Jean with Josh at ALL! Haha.
6. Awee that’s so interesting that you dated a guy like Peter! My bf now is kinda of like that too haha. All tough on the outside / when we’re with people, but a total loving softie when it’s just the two of us hahaha.
1. I think that Genevieve is biding her time before she makes an attempt to get Peter back because she still thinks of Peter as hers.
2. Before it was discussed, I did assume that Margot and Josh had been intimate. They dated for a long time and seemed very serious so I wasn’t surprised.
3. It didn’t surprise me that Peter went to Genevieve when she “needed him.” He still clearly loves her, even though I think he’s started to develop feelings for Lara Jean too.
4. I’m not surprised that Margot disapproved of Lara Jean’s relationship with Peter. Margot and Peter seem like two completely different people. Margot is very studious and always follows the rules, so I figured if she’d be happy to see Lara Jean with anyone, it would be someone like that and Peter definitely doesn’t fit that description. Also, because Margot and Josh were together for so long, I figured they’d have similar opinions. Josh was very openly against Lara Jean dating Peter so I wasn’t surprised that Margot was too.
5. Yes, I totally expected Lara Jean to develop feelings for Peter despite her denials. As he began to spend time with her and her family and she realized that he wasn’t what everyone expected him to be, I could tell she started to like him.
6. I think that despite Lara Jean not really being his type, Peter has started to develop feelings for her. I’m just not sure that he’s realized it yet.
1. Glad I’m not paranoid and that everyone agrees with me here. Hahaha.
2. Yeah, you’re so right!
3. Yeah I know what you mean. I was hoping he’d be stronger, I guess…
4. When you put it like that….it does make sense!
5. Hehe yay!
I agree! Even though I wasn’t surprised that Peter went to her, I wish that he hadn’t. I just want him to forget about Genevieve and focus on Lara Jean hahaha
Hahaha me toooo!
I think the shiznit is going to hit the fan soon with Gen and Lara Jean. Gen seems like a mean girl and I know she is planning something!!
I did not think they had been intimate. The Song girls seem so close that I truly believed Margot had kept her pact with Lara Jean.
I wasn’t surprised that Peter went to Gen, but I was annoyed. I really don’t like her and her hold on him, lol.
I figured Margot would not approve of Peter. He has a bad reputation and I think Margot knows Lara Jean well enough that she suspects something.
I did. I expected them both to develop feelings. I am also expecting Josh to admit his feelings and have a triangle.
I think Peter is starting to like Lara Jean. It’s obvious and, though I am enjoying the book, it feels predictable.
Very cute book. So far, from the first two parts, I’m thinking that the writing feels a touch on the juvenile side, but I’m wondering if that is to show that it is from a high schooler’s perspective.
1. Hahaha I’m so glad I’m not the only one who has that feeling!
2. You’re so right! My sister and I share everything too…so I was surprised that Margot didn’t talk to Lara Jean about it.
3. Hahaha I was super annoyed too! I think I actually growled out loud hahaha
4. I guess I didn’t really think in advance about what Margot would think of Peter .. because I wasn’t sure if Margot would even find out before Lara Jean and Peter would end their fake relationship. So maybe I would have been surprised either way, haha.
5. I know what you mean about Josh! Gah!
6. See…I had no idea how this book would go at all!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the book too! And yeah I know what you mean about the writing. I guess that Lara Jean is kind of young for her age? I mean she’s never dated anyone before the fake relationship…and prefers to stay at home to going out partying and such. I hope that you enjoy the rest of the book! 😀
I totally think you and me were on the same page throughout the whole book. I did love it and I am glad you did the read along! I should have the next two books in my hands soon! 😀
Woohoo! I have the 2nd book out from the library. But I’m trying to finish at least one of my 6 current reads before I pick something else up hahaha
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