Always and forever, Lara Jean

Nostalgia hangs heavy in the air as Lara Jean and Peter wind their way through senior year. Their romance is now solid with well-established pastimes, such as sharing favorite movies and testing Lara Jean's latest batch of chocolate chip cookies. But next year will bring college and the possibility of separation. The suspense of waiting for word from college admission offices, particularly in a town dominated by a large university, is perfectly rendered. Lara Jean, an insightful and authentic narrator, strives to relish the final moments of high school, while mustering the courage to forge her own path onward. Readers of the first two novels will enjoy these final chapters with Lara Jean, which are short on old drama and long on character growth. Those who are starting the series with this novel may find the pace a bit languid. Nevertheless, Han reveals just enough of old subplots to pique curiosity for new readers and reignite interest for her loyal fans. A must-have conclusion. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Fans of Han's best-selling series will turn out in droves to get their hands on this conclusion to Lara Jean's story.--Colson, Diane Copyright 2010 Booklist

Gr 9 Up-Lara Jean romances her way through her senior year of high school. Everything seems to be in her favor; she has the cutest and most adoring boyfriend, she's on the verge of perfecting her chocolate chip cookie recipe, her father is engaged to their next-door neighbor, and she has college to look forward to in the fall. There is only one problem: she's on pins and needles waiting for her college acceptance letter. When it finally arrives, Lara Jean's picture-perfect world begins to fray at the edges. What's a girl to do: Listen to the head or the heart? This is skillfully narrated by Laura Knight Keating, who manages to capture the ups, downs, and naive beauty of teenage angst and romance. VERDICT Readers will eat up the satisfying conclusion to this laugh-out-loud romance trilogy.-Erin Cataldi, Johnson County Public Library, Franklin, IN © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Lara Jean prepares for college and a wedding.Korean-American Lara Jean is finally settled into a nice, complication-free relationship with her white boyfriend, Peter. But things don't stay simple for long. When college acceptance letters roll in, Peter and Lara Jean discover they're heading in different directions. As the two discuss the long-distance thing, Lara Jean's widower father is making a major commitment: marrying the neighbor lady he's been dating. The whirlwind of a wedding, college visits, prom, and the last few months of senior year provides an excellent backdrop for this final book about Lara Jean. The characters ping from event to event with emotions always at the forefront. Han further develops her cast, pushing them to new maturity and leaving few stones unturned. There's only one problem here, and it's what's always held this series back from true greatness: Peter. Despite Han's best efforts to flesh out Peter with abandonment issues and a crummy dad, he remains little more than a handsome jock. Frankly, Lara Jean and Peter may have cute teen chemistry, but Han's nuanced characterizations have often helped to subvert typical teen love-story tropes. This knowing subversion is frustratingly absent from the novel's denouement. An emotionally engaging closer that fumbles in its final moments. (Romance. 14-17) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Nostalgia hangs heavy in the air as Lara Jean and Peter wind their way through senior year. Their romance is now solid with well-established pastimes, such as sharing favorite movies and testing Lara Jean's latest batch of chocolate chip cookies. But next year will bring college and the possibility of separation. The suspense of waiting for word from college admission offices, particularly in a town dominated by a large university, is perfectly rendered. Lara Jean, an insightful and authentic narrator, strives to relish the final moments of high school, while mustering the courage to forge her own path onward. Readers of the first two novels will enjoy these final chapters with Lara Jean, which are short on old drama and long on character growth. Those who are starting the series with this novel may find the pace a bit languid. Nevertheless, Han reveals just enough of old subplots to pique curiosity for new readers and reignite interest for her loyal fans. A must-have conclusion. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Fans of Han's best-selling series will turn out in droves to get their hands on this conclusion to Lara Jean's story. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 9 Up—A bittersweet conclusion to the charming YA romance series. Lara Jean Song Covey embarks on her senior year with lots to look forward to—her widower father's wedding, a trip to New York City, graduation, and college with her adorable boyfriend Peter Kavinsky. But when her plans for the future start to unravel, the middle Song sister (who has never been good with change) questions what her heart truly wants. Featuring the same endearing sister relationships, mouthwatering descriptions of Lara Jean's cooking, and timeless coming-of-age conflicts, this final volume in the series will continue to delight Han's fans. Though the protagonist has grown over the three books, she is still the thoughtful, crafty, dreamy girl next door with whom readers first fell in love. Just as the characters have grown up, so have the series's themes—the couple discuss the practicalities of their "first time," and Lara Jean gets her first hangover. The beginning of the novel is mostly conflict-less, while the second half is filled with big life choices, breakups and makeups, and lots more. However, the pace is in keeping with the rush of senior year. Peter and Lara Jean's romance takes center stage, but above all, Lara Jean learns to choose for herself, which is refreshing. VERDICT Sparkling dialogue, swoon-worthy scenes, and likable characters make this a gem of a selection for most YA collections where Sarah Dessen, Nicola Yoon, and Jennifer E. Smith are popular.—Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal