I was ridiculously late to the party when it came to watching To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, which is fucking wild because I froth the Jenny Han YA book series something fierce. To the point where I for some reason am writing like a teenager right now (something fierce? OK Mel).
The three-part teen love saga’s first book is the basis for the film’s plot, and while I think Awesomeness Films, the production company, did a bang-up job of bringing the cute romance to life on screen, there’s always going to be stuff the die-hard book fans (me) wish had made it across from the pages to the screen. Except for Harry Potter. Those films are perfection and I’ll hear nothing less.
[jwplayer RfLMYyUD]
Because I work here and therefore get to write about whatever thoughts may just pop into my head, I decided to give you a round-up of the stuff I reckon the film missed.
THE GIRLS’ KOREAN HERITAGE IS MORE OF A FOCUS
I’m so happy they included a scene involving the Covey girls’ PERFECT dad (honestly, he’s daddy. Let’s just admit it) attempting to cook them Korean food because he didn’t want them to lose their late mum’s culture. LOVE.
But there are more beautiful moments in the books that highlight the importance of Korean culture in this cute family, and I GET why the film left some out, but I also… hate it? The biggest example for me is changing the context of Peter and Lara Jean‘s reunion. In the books, Lara Jean is at a family event where she and her sisters are wearing traditional Korean outfits, when she decides to go over to Peter’s house to confess her feelings. It’s this really nice scene where she’s proud of her heritage and her family culture. Plus I just really wanted to see the gorge outfit, OK?
KITTY ISN’T AN ANGEL KID
In the film, Kitty is this mildly quirky, relatively confident firecracker of a kid – but in the books, it’s that x 1000. Kitty was one of my favourite characters in the entire To All The Boys series, primarily BECAUSE she wasn’t this cookie-cutter ~quirky~ little sister.
For example – Kitty’s reason for sending out Lara Jean’s letters? Straight up revenge for Lara Jean antagonising her over a crush she had on Josh (yep, Margot‘s bf). She has way better lines in the books, and she’s just sort of a scene-stealer, which I didn’t find her to be in the film.
CHRIS IS A FLAKY SHIT OF A FRIEND, FOR THE MOST PART
I actually get why the film changed this, but fuck Chris was a really interesting character in the books. She was this flighty, flaky mate of Lara Jean’s and it was one of those friendships that makes zero sense and is entirely based on history – you know, where you become besties in primary school, grow up to become different people, but have this sibling-like bond anyway? Like that.
In the film, Chris is supportive and does things for Lara Jean and not just for her own selfish reasons. The Chris in the books uses Lara Jean’s place as a means for hooking up with boys without her parents knowing, and while she’s still somewhat there for Lara Jean, it’s less consistent.
JOSH IS WAY MORE OF AN OPTION IN THE BOOKS
Something I feel was missing from the film version was the push-pull between Josh and Peter. For most of book one in the series, you’re hoping Josh and Lara Jean can somehow find a way to be together, even though his history with Margot makes it complicated. Then Peter enters the picture and you’re torn between the two love interests for a while.
In the film, Josh just never feels like an option. He’s sort of immediately sidelined as Lara Jean’s past, and Peter is the focus.
LARA JEAN & PETER’S FIRST KISS IS WAY MORE LEGIT
In the film, Lara Jean and Peter kiss during a simple game of spin the bottle. It’s a literal peck between pals, nothing more.
In the book however, their first kiss is a real ~moment~. They’re the last two kids left at a party, and while they sit waiting for their parents to collect them, Peter leans in and gives Lara Jean a real, actual kiss. The way the film paints things a) allows for Gen to seem like more of a cartoon villain (who gets mad over a spin the bottle kiss?) and b) makes Peter’s interest in Lara Jean this sudden high school thing, when it was actually something a bit more long-standing (probably).
LARA JEAN & PETER’S BREAK UP IS OVER THE VIDEO, NOT GEN
When Lara Jean and Peter break up over his ongoing friendship-whatever-thing with Gen, his ex, the video someone leaks of the pair in the hot tub on ski camp is a side issue. The main problem with their relationship, to Lara Jean, is Peter’s involvement with Gen.
While in the books that is still a concern to Lara Jean, the reason she splits with Peter is over the video itself. Peter’s reaction is to remain silent, allowing people to assume the couple had sex in the hot tub. It’s classic high school jock behaviour, and it’s a big deal that Lara Jean calls him out on it and ends things accordingly.
It’s a shame they changed things up on this point in the film, because the book break up really highlights the ongoing issue with pressure on high school guys to be all sexual prowess, while high school girls are shamed for their sexual escapades. Lara Jean does bring this up in the film, but it’s less of a focus than it is in the books.
THE GEN SITUATION IN GENERAL
In the books, Gen and Peter’s closeness after their break up has a really valid reason, which is eventually revealed. I’m hesitant to tell you guys about it because it actually comes to light in book two – but then again the entire hot tub video drama goes down in book two, so I’m assuming even if they make a sequel it won’t include this. Whatever – POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT.
Basically, Gen’s dad has an affair with a girl only marginally older than Gen, which understandably sends her into a tailspin. It’s why she leans heavily on Peter for support, and why he’s more inclined to allow her a bunch of free passes when it comes to her behaviour toward Lara Jean.
Obviously this gives Gen’s villainous character some depth, turning her from a stock-standard mean girl into someone lashing out due to their own private suffering.
Look, overall I loved the film and they did a bang-up job of bringing the Song-Covey girls to life, as well as Lara Jean’s relationships. I’m really just hoping they do a sequel because you guys NEED to meet John Ambrose Mclaren, one of the recipients of Lara Jean’s letters, for real. I know he appears at the end – but he really gets going in book two, and honestly? John Ambrose > Peter Kavinsky, any day.
