To All the Book Boys We’ve Loved Before
Watching Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky fall in love in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix really got us thinking about all the boys that we’ve loved before. Kudos to Lara Jean, though, for handling the situation so well. If my high school diary entries got out, then…well, it was nice knowing you! Instead of subjecting you to secondhand embarrassment, we’ve written some love letters to all the book boys that we’ve loved before…
Dear Edward,
It was there, sitting in the lunchroom, when Bella first laid eyes on your inhuman beauty. And in that same moment while reading, I fell unconditionally and irrevocably in love with you, too.
Edward, you really are the whole package. Wonderful family, musically gifted, and fantastic abs. Even though at times it creeps me out when you watch Bella sleep, no fictional character has come close to your perfection, and I’m almost positive no one will. The thing that truly makes my heart stop beating about you, is your aversion to Bella being anyone but herself. You showed me what an all-consuming, unconditional love looks like. Sadly, we’ll never experience that together since vampires don’t exist.
You can quote Shakespeare to me anytime, Edward. *swoons*
Love,
Morgan
Dear Levi,
I know when it started: The Emergency Kanye Dance Party.
There were many moments in Fangirl were I sensed your kindness and warmth: while you were reading Cath’s fan fiction, going bowling with her, making her your fancy Starbucks drinks. But it was The Emergency Kanye Dance Party scene that made me fall for you.
At that point in my reading life, I was sick of porcelain doll boys that were shiny and perfect and made no mistakes. But Levi, you were goofy. In that scene, and all the others, you weren’t afraid to be a little weird, and ultimately to be yourself. Years after reading Fangirl, you still make me swoon, with your sweet nature, thinning, floppy yellow hair, and basic farmer Carhartt jacket.
You’re not perfect Levi, because you’re better than perfect. You’re textured, and flawed, and real…except not actually real, which makes me very sad.
I’d read The Outsiders aloud to you anytime.
Love,
Natali
Dear James Lancer,
If you were a demon, I’d sell my heart to you in a heartbeat. I’m not sure if I’d even want it back when the time runs out.
I have to admit—I didn’t like you at first. I mean, Dee did think you were homeless when she first met you, but your artistic charm and gentle humor got me. Not that many book boys draw me in as much as you did. You are the epitome of everything I look for in a YA: flirty, daring, charismatic—too bad we can never be.
You were my first love when I started at LBYR and I will forever be reminded of you every time I hear the rhythm of my heart.
Forever yours,
Valerie
Dear Owen,
On the brink of autumn, on a rooftop in New York City, you and Lucy started falling in love. And then, two weeks later, you went in separate directions…quite literally.
Looking back, I keep wondering about all the boys I just met at the wrong time and what would have happened if we’d met earlier, or later. Those boys are now all thousands of miles away. And I wonder if they ever still remember me the way I remember them.
That’s what’s so compelling about you and Lucy, and The Geography of You and Me. Even when you were countries apart, you kept finding small ways to go back to her, through postcards and whispers of memories. I don’t know what love really is, but I do think that when we have an emotional connection with someone it’s undeniable. Sometimes it’s so rare that we’ll cross oceans for it, because I do think that’s where love begins.
Well, I keep going back to you, Owen.
Love,
Natali
Dearest King Cardan,
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Forever, but also never,
Valerie
