Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the third and last book in Jenny Han’s well-known series, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. In this book, Lara Jean is finishing high school and thinking about her future. She’s in love with Peter, her family is undergoing changes, and college decisions are approaching soon.
Everything feels exciting, but also a little scary. If you’ve read the first two books, this one finishes Lara Jean’s story in a kind and careful way. It’s full of moments about love, family, growing up, and learning that plans don’t always work out the way you want—but that’s okay.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the storyline, my thoughts on the book, what readers are saying, and other books you might enjoy if you liked Lara Jean’s path.
Plot Summary
“Never say no when you really want to say yes.”
― Jenny Han
Storyline
Always and Forever, Lara Jean follows Lara Jean as she enjoys her last year of high school. Everything seems to be going well—she’s happily dating Peter Kavinsky, spending time with her close family, and making plans for college. Her dream is to attend the same school as Peter, and she hopes everything will unfold just as she had thought.
But life has other plans. When she doesn’t get into her top choice, Lara Jean must figure out what she truly wants. Can their relationship survive if they attend different colleges? Can she stay close to her family while pursuing her dreams?
This book conveys the sensation of being right before a significant change. It’s about learning to let go of the plan and believe that things will work out—even if it’s not how you thought they would.
Characters and Character Arc
Lara Jean begins the story as someone who likes things to stay the same. She bakes, does crafts, and plans her life carefully. However, throughout the book, she begins to understand that growing up means making difficult choices and taking risks.
She becomes more independent and learns to choose her path, even when it doesn’t align with what she had planned.
Peter Kavinsky remains kind and loyal, but he also reveals a more vulnerable and uncertain side of himself. He’s scared of losing Lara Jean and doesn’t know how to deal with change. He grows by learning to support her, even if that means facing the unknown.
Margot, Lara Jean’s older sister, encourages her to think more critically and make informed choices. Kitty, her younger sister, brings jokes and energy, and her dad helps Lara Jean understand what love and family really mean. Together, they all help her become who she’s meant to be.
Themes and Plotline
This last book looks at several important ideas:
- First love vs. future goals – Lara Jean and Peter must ask themselves if love is enough when life takes them in different directions.
- Family traditions and changes – The Song-Covey family is changing. New people are joining their family, and old routines are being replaced.
- Letting go of the past – Lara Jean sees that growing up means saying goodbye to some things so she can welcome new ones.
- Learning about yourself and growing up – At the center of it all, this is a story about a young woman figuring out who she wants to be and finding the courage to pursue that life.
This book is filled with kind moments, difficult choices, and the kinds of feelings many people experience when they’re about to embark on a new chapter of their lives.
What Genre (and Tropes) Does It Focus On?
When you pick up Always and Forever, Lara Jean, you’re not just getting a love story. You’re stepping into a part of someone’s life—a part full of choices, change, and big feelings. Let’s take a closer look at the type of story this is and the familiar themes it explores.
About the Genre
Always and Forever, Lara Jean is a present-day young adult (YA) romance. This means the story takes place in today’s world, focusing on the everyday lives of teenagers. This book explores themes of love, family, and growing up. It has a calm, warm tone and explores real-life experiences, such as choosing a college, making life-changing decisions, and leaving childhood behind.
It’s also a growing-up story, where we see Lara Jean learning about herself, becoming more sure of what she wants, and standing on her own as she heads toward adulthood.
About the Tropes
This book includes a few familiar story ideas that readers often enjoy in teen romances:
- High school sweethearts – Lara Jean and Peter are a couple trying to stay close as everything around them begins to shift.
- College plans creating problems – Their different school choices make things harder and lead to tough talks about what’s next.
- Sweet, slow-building romance – Their relationship grows through small moments, letters, and quiet feelings.
- Tight-knit family – Lara Jean’s strong bond with her sisters and dad is a big part of what makes her who she is.
- Graduation time and big changes – The story happens at the end of senior year, when life feels like it’s moving fast.
What to Expect
If you decide to read this book, here’s what you’ll find:
- A warm, people-focused story that pulls you into Lara Jean’s everyday world.
- Honest high school emotions, like being scared of change but excited about what’s coming.
- A love story that feels true—gentle, steady, and based on real connection.
- An ending that gives peace and a hopeful look forward, even if everything doesn’t go as planned.
This book is a great choice for anyone who enjoys real-life stories about love, family, and self-discovery.
Ratings and Reviews
“Being vulnerable, letting people in, getting hurt… it’s all part of being in love.”
― Jenny Han
Goodreads Rating and Number of Ratings
Always and Forever, Lara Jean has a rating of 4.00 out of 5 on Goodreads, with over 267,000 ratings and more than 23,000 reviews.
Goodreads Reviews
Readers on Goodreads had a lot to say:
- “Hands down my favorite Jenny Han book EVER. This was the perfect conclusion and it filled me with joy and warmth and nostalgia. I’m so in love with this book.”
- “I love how it handles the stress and uncertainty surrounding graduating high school and starting college. I love how it handles changing family dynamics. And I love how much Lara Jean has matured throughout the series while also remaining her sweet self.”
These reviews show how much readers connected with Lara Jean’s story and how relatable her journey felt.
Amazon Reviews
On Amazon, the book has a strong 4.7 out of 5 stars rating from over 15,000 readers.
Some highlighted reviews include:
“Always and Forever, Lara Jean was one of my most anticipated books this year! I adored To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You and was happy with that conclusion, even though I desperately wanted more of Lara Jean and Peter K’s story. High expectations would be an understatement, but I’m happy to say I was not disappointed.”
Readers loved the emotional depth, relatable decisions, and the way the book wrapped up the trilogy.
How the Book Sets Itself Apart?
Unlike many high school romance books, this one puts a big focus on family, personal growth, and tradition. Yes, there’s romance, but Lara Jean’s path is really about figuring out who she is, what she wants, and learning that it’s okay to follow her own way. That’s what makes this story different and feel more real.
Other Books in the Same Series
Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the third and last book in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. If you’re new to the series, here’s what to read first:
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – This is where it all begins. Lara Jean’s secret love letters accidentally get sent out, and her quiet world suddenly turns upside down.
- P.S. I Still Love You – In this second book, Lara Jean deals with the ups and downs of her new relationship while figuring out what love really means.
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean – The final part, where Lara Jean faces big life choices and learns that sometimes love means letting go of the plan.
Reading the series in order helps you follow Lara Jean’s full story—from her first crushes to making choices about her future.
Who Should Read This Book?
Always and Forever, Lara Jean is a great book for readers aged 13 and up. It’s clean, sweet, and full of real emotions without any bad language or mature content, making it perfect for teens or anyone who enjoys feel-good stories. The romance is light and thoughtful, and the focus on family, growing up, and making hard choices makes it easy to relate to.
If you liked The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. Both books share a warm, kind style with strong family ties and real teenage experiences, all told through a main character who’s learning how to grow and love at the same time.
Book Recommendations if You Liked Always and Forever
- What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
- Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
- Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
- The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
- Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Conclusion
Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the perfect ending to a sweet and heartfelt series. It’s all about love, change, and finding your own way when life doesn’t go as planned. If you’ve followed Lara Jean’s story from the start, this book finishes everything in a way that feels real and satisfying.
It talks about big choices—like college and relationships—but in a way that’s easy to understand and connect with. You’ll laugh, maybe cry a little, and finish the book feeling hopeful. With clean content and easy-to-relate-to characters, it’s great for teens or anyone who enjoys a cozy, people-focused romance.
If you like stories that mix love with family and learning about yourself, this book is for you. And if you haven’t read the first two books yet—start there! You’ll want to enjoy Lara Jean’s full story from the beginning.
More from This Author
Jenny Han is a bestselling author who writes young adult books that are full of heart. Her stories usually focus on love, family, and finding out who you are. She’s really good at writing characters that feel real and easy to connect with—especially for teens. Her books often show big life changes, like starting high school, falling in love for the first time, or figuring out what comes next.
Some of her most well-known books include:
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – the first book in Lara Jean’s story
- P.S. I Still Love You – the second book in the same series
- The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy – about a girl who spends every summer at the beach with her two closest family friends, and the feelings that come with growing up
- Burn for Burn series (written with Siobhan Vivian) – a little more dramatic, with mystery and revenge mixed in
If you enjoy kind, thoughtful stories about love and growing up, Jenny Han is an author worth reading!
