Read every series in the right order

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Books in Chronological Order – Complete Reading Guide
Table of Contents
Quick Answer (TL;DR)
Read the trilogy in this order: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before → P.S. I Still Love You → Always and Forever, Lara Jean. That’s both the publication and in-universe order, so it’s delightfully simple. For formats, paperbacks are easy to tote, hardcovers look great on a shelf, and the audiobooks (narrated by Ali Ahn) are light, charming listens around 9 hours each. XO, Kitty is a Netflix spin-off set after the films—great extra credit once you’ve read the novels.
Introduction
Jenny Han’s Lara Jean Song Covey isn’t just a rom-com icon; she’s a carefully drawn teen navigating sisterhood, grief, culture, and first love with a voice that feels like a long hug from a best friend. The premise that launched a thousand swoons—private love letters accidentally mailed—powers a trilogy that grows up with its heroine: crushes and catastrophes in Book 1, second chances (and a rival!) in Book 2, then the tender stress of senior year and college decisions in Book 3.
This guide from Books in Chronological Order stitches everything together: the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in Chronological Order path, a quick facts table, buy-now links, and adaptation notes so you can sync the books with the hit Netflix films and XO, Kitty.
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Series | To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (trilogy) |
| Primary Genre | YA contemporary romance, rom-com |
| Ideal Age Range | 12+ (publisher guidance for S&S teen list). |
| Reading Difficulty | Easy-moderate: breezy voice, short chapters, realistic teen dialogue |
| Approx. Pages (US print) | Book 1: 368–384 pp (varies by edition); Book 2: 352 pp; Book 3: 336 pp. |
| Estimated Read Time | ~6.5–8 hours per book (typical YA reading pace); ~20–24 hours for the full trilogy |
| Content Warnings | Mild profanity; kissing/teen intimacy; underage drinking references; grief (deceased parent); cyber/viral attention from leaked letters |
| Media Adaptations | Film trilogy on Netflix: 2018, 2020, 2021. TV spin-off XO, Kitty (S1 2023; S2 2025; S3 renewed 2025). |
About the Book Series
The trilogy revolves around Lara Jean Song Covey, a Korean American teen whose secret love-letter habit explodes into public chaos. Han frames each book around a classic rom-com engine—fake dating turned real, an old crush returning at the worst time, the will-we-won’t-we strain of going to college—while grounding everything in the Song sisters’ family life. The charm here is balance: internet-age romance with a timeless beating heart. (And yes, Kitty steals scenes.)
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Books at a Glance
| Title | Amazon Buy Link |
|---|---|
| To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before | Buy On Amazon |
| P.S. I Still Love You | Buy On Amazon |
| Always and Forever, Lara Jean | Buy On Amazon |
Note: Format/edition availability varies by region; US links above. Page counts differ slightly between hardcover/paperback reprints.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Chronological Reading Order
1) To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
The letter-that-shouldn’t-have-been-sent premise ignites one of YA’s great rom-coms. Lara Jean must face five recipients (and a whole school’s worth of fallout) while Peter Kavinsky—golden-boy lacrosse star with more tenderness than his image suggests—proposes a fake dating pact. What begins as damage control becomes real connection, complicated by messy exes, sister code, and the private self becoming public. Read if: you love diary-voice sincerity, baking montages, and the thrill of a perfectly timed hallway scene. US page range: 368–384.
2) P.S. I Still Love You
Lara Jean and Peter are official…but so are lingering doubts. John Ambrose McClaren, a recipient from the past, reenters like a letter boomeranged back, asking: does first love trump possibility? The sequel broadens Lara Jean’s world with volunteer programs, viral drama, and the hard work of choosing someone—on ordinary days, not just swoony ones. It’s the series’ sweetest tug-of-war, and it treats “good guys” with nuance (no mustache-twirling here). US pages: 352.
3) Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Senior year is everything at once: wedding prep for Dad and Ms. Rothschild, sister reunions, college letters, and the invisible math of proximity vs. love. The finale asks whether Lara Jean and Peter can plan futures without shrinking their dreams to fit each other. Expect tenderness, stress-baking, and some of Han’s loveliest father–daughter beats. US pages: 336.
Series Timeline & Character Development
- Lara Jean Song Covey: From interior romantic to intentional partner. In Book 1 she learns to own her feelings publicly; in Book 2 she tests loyalty against curiosity; in Book 3 she practices love as a verb (scheduling, compromise, choosing a school, showing up).
- Peter Kavinsky: Charmer with a learning curve. His trajectory moves from image-conscious to emotionally present, including thorny moments with an ex that force better boundaries.
- Kitty & Margot: Kitty catalyzes the entire plot (mailing the letters) and continuously grounds Lara Jean in playful honesty; Margot models independence and reshapes family traditions when she returns from abroad.
- Themes across the arc: Privacy vs. virality; immigrant family rhythms and rituals; grief as quiet continuity; how “first love” evolves under real-world logistics (college, distance).
- Voice & craft: Han’s prose feels like a friend whispering on a bedroom floor at 1 a.m.—fast, funny, occasionally devastating.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in Chronological Order (in-universe events)
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – fallouts and fake-dating during junior year; family focus after the letters leak.
- P.S. I Still Love You – official couple status, volunteer gigs, and the John Ambrose complication.
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean – senior spring and the summer glide path toward college; family wedding.
This is identical to publication order—nice and tidy.
Novels Sorted by Publication
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before — April 15, 2014 (US HC); ~368 pp.
- P.S. I Still Love You — May 26, 2015 (US); 352 pp.
- Always and Forever, Lara Jean — May 2, 2017 (US HC); 336 pp.
Companion Works
- Movie tie-in editions: Re-jacketing aligned with the Netflix films; page counts may vary slightly (hence the 368/384 split for Book 1).
- Boxed sets: Hardcover and paperback collections from Simon & Schuster; great for gifts.
- Soundtracks (films): Notable tracks include MARINA’s “About Love” for the second film, plus emerging-artist showcases that doubled as character moodboards.
- Spin-off series: XO, Kitty on Netflix, centering Kitty Song Covey; S1 (2023), S2 (Jan 16, 2025), S3 renewal (Feb 2025).
Editions & Formats (hardcover, collector, audio)
Hardcover vs Paperback
- Hardcover: Display-worthy, durable, often the “movie tie-in” jacket you’ve seen on social feeds.
- Paperback: Backpack-friendly and budget-friendly; page counts typically 336–384 for the trilogy titles.
Boxed Sets
- Hardcover and paperback boxed sets combine all three novels; the HC set lists 1056 pages across the trilogy.
Audiobooks
- Narrated by Ali Ahn with an earnest, true-to-Lara-Jean tone. Approximate lengths:
- Book 1: 8h 44m.
- Book 2: 8h 51m.
- Book 3: 8h 47m.
These run a touch longer than many YA romances because scenes breathe; they’re perfect for commutes, chores, or a weekend craft session.
Why Read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Books in Chronological Order?
- Character continuity: Each book builds on the last’s choices; jumping ahead will dilute the carefully paced growth of Lara Jean and Peter.
- Spoiler-safety: The love triangle and senior-year arcs land best as intended—no retroactive “oh, so that’s why” moments needed.
- Adaptation sync: This order mirrors the Netflix films (2018/2020/2021), so you can watch after each book without spoiling later beats.
Author Spotlight
Jenny Han is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books have become foundational to modern YA romance. A former librarian with an MFA from The New School, she writes about love, family, and identity with warmth and cinematic clarity—and she’s taken that sensibility to the screen as executive producer on the film trilogy and creator/EP of XO, Kitty and Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty. She lives in New York and remains deeply involved in adaptation decisions, which is a big reason the films/series feel so true to her characters.
Media Adaptations (films, TV, radio)
Film Trilogy (Netflix)
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (film) — Aug 17, 2018; directed by Susan Johnson. Netflix acquired global rights in March 2018 and launched the film that summer.
- To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You — Feb 12, 2020; directed by Michael Fimognari (the first film’s cinematographer turned director).
- To All the Boys: Always and Forever — Feb 12, 2021, completing the trilogy on Netflix.
Watch trailer here:
TV Spin-Off
- XO, Kitty — Netflix original series created/executive-produced by Jenny Han; Season 1 premiered May 18, 2023; Season 2 premiered Jan 16, 2025; Season 3 renewal announced Feb 2025. Guest/crossover appearances connect it back to the films.
Watch the latest trailer here :
Soundtracks & Standout Songs
- The second film’s soundtrack—released just before Valentine’s Day 2020—features MARINA’s “About Love,” which became an unofficial anthem of Lara Jean’s dilemma.
FAQs
Do I have to read the books before watching the movies?
No, but it’s fun to read Book 1 before watching Film 1, then alternate: Book 2 → Film 2, Book 3 → Film 3. The core arcs line up well.
What’s the ideal age range?
Publishers position the series for 12+; parents/educators should note mild teen intimacy, underage drinking references, and grief themes.
Is there a boxed set?
Yes—hardcover and paperback boxed sets are available from Simon & Schuster.
How long does it take to read?
Most readers finish each book in 6.5–8 hours; the audiobooks run ~8.5–9 hours each.
Are there special/collector editions?
Publishers regularly issue movie tie-in jackets; page counts can vary slightly among reprints (e.g., 368 vs. 384 for Book 1).
Where does XO, Kitty fit?
It’s a spin-off set after the film trilogy, following Kitty to Seoul; treat it as extra stories once you’ve finished the books (or the films).
Final Thoughts
If you’re here for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in Chronological Order, the good news is that this series is purposely linear—one love story growing alongside one girl’s life. Start with the box of letters and end with a box of moving-day memories. Read in order, savor the family dynamics, and—if you want more Covey energy—queue the films and then XO, Kitty. Whether you’re a teen reader, a rom-com scholar, or a parent shopping for an irresistibly sweet series, Lara Jean’s world remains one of the coziest corners in YA.







