Lara Jean Covey's life had never been all that exciting for a teenager in high school. Over the course of her life, she had fallen in love with a few boys, but never had the courage to tell them. So, she wrote them each a letter instead to express her feelings. However, her life is turned upside down when her younger sister, Kitty, decides to send them out. With the boys now in possession of the letters, Lara Jean thinks she is doomed. Until one of the recipients of the letters, Peter Kavinsky, gives her a proposition that would potentially benefit both of them: fake dating. Things begin to change when Lara Jean wonders if she is starting to have real feelings for him. 

¨To All the Boys I've Loved Before¨ is a movie adaptation of the bestselling book by author Jenny Han. Actors Lana Condor (Lara Jean Covey) and Noah Centineo (Peter Covinsky) do an excellent job of bringing these beloved characters to life. But as a huge fan of author Jenny Han's work, I believe the movie lacked key elements of the book that would have made it even better. 

Some of the best parts of the book were when Lara Jean and Peter were by themselves, not playing the part of a loving couple in front of the other characters. In the book, the two go to pick up chairs from a sale a few hours away for the antique store that Peter's mother owns. They share real conversations and little moments where the reader can tell that they both are starting to have authentic feelings for each other different from the ones they are faking in front of other people. But these interactions were left out of the movie. We miss out on some of the best moments the two share together, when their real romance began to blossom. 

The book also develops more of a storyline between Lara Jean and Josh, her most recent crush who also received a letter. Her motive for fake dating Peter was to prove to Josh that she was over her crush, but Josh has a hard time ignoring her feelings. Lara Jean's feelings for Josh had been over the course of many years, and we read more in the book that Josh might begin to see Lara Jean in a different way. This storyline adds a new detail to the book that keeps you wondering, what about Josh? The movie rushes through their relationship and leaves the viewer without the possibility of knowing the potential future they might share together. But you will have to watch the movie and read the book to see how Lara Jean ultimately makes her decision.  

I recognize that Jenny Han, the author, played a role in producing the movie adaptation as well, and leaving these parts out of the movie might have been what she thought best. Overall, I would recommend watching the movie to any of those who enjoyed the book, as it does give a good general representation of it. But this adaptation proves my opinion, however, that the book will always be better than the movie.