To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Lara Jean’s father approaches her privately to talk about sex. He tells her that Margot told him about Peter, and as a gynecologist and father, he wants to make sure Lara Jean is being safe, even though he thinks she’s too young to be having sex. Lara Jean is humiliated all over again; that her father would think that of her and that her sister would tell him about the rumor. She assures her father that it’s just a rumor, and he accepts her story.

Margot says she doesn’t even recognize Lara Jean anymore, to which Lara Jean retorts that she definitely doesn’t if she thinks Lara Jean is the kind of girl who has sex in hot tubs in public on a school trip. Lara Jean tells Margot that not everyone has sex, unlike Margot and Josh. This is the ultimate jab, and Lara Jean goes to tell their father about Margot having sex with Josh, when Margot gets them both inside Lara Jean’s room. Lara Jean finally explains the story about Josh, and at first Margot sneers about it. Finally, Lara Jean admits “You have no idea the power you have over me. How much your opinion means to me. How much I look up to you” (346). This gets through to Margot, and she cries, explaining that she had to go away even though she is lonely in Scotland without her family so she can set a good example of strength for her younger sisters. Margot says the Covey family is fine without her, but Lara Jean assures her that they function only because Margot taught her how to do everything. The sisters embrace, and the conflict is over.

On New Year’s Eve, the girls convince Margot to go to a party an old high school friend of hers is throwing and their father goes to a work party. Kitty and Lara Jean are alone at home and Kitty asks her why she’s still sad now that she and Margot have made up. Lara Jean admits the whole truth about Peter and the fake relationship. Kitty admits that she is the one who sent the letters out of anger the day Lara Jean nearly told Josh about Kitty’s crush. Lara Jean is angry at first, but she remembers how she also found a private note in Margot’s room after snooping. Kitty returns Lara Jean’s hatbox.

Lara Jean’s hatbox was a gift from her mother. Her mother had given it to her empty and told her to fill it with the things Lara Jean wants to keep for herself. Kitty tells Lara Jean that there is something inside the box for her. When Lara Jean opens it, it’s all of the notes she kept from Peter Kavinsky. Many of them are the basic routine ones with reminders about dates or food, but some of them are heartfelt and remind Lara Jean that Peter really does love her. Lara Jean decides once and for all that she wants real love and wants to turn away from fear. Kitty and Lara Jean play with sparklers outside, and Josh pops his head out of his house to say hello. Lara Jean knows that whatever changes happen in their relationships, Josh will always be a part of their family. When Lara Jean is back in her room and by herself, she sits down to write another love letter addressed to Peter. This is one letter she intends to send.