Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family, Responsibility, and Growing Up
Love and Fear
Social Structure, Reputation, and High School
Lies vs. Honesty
Summary
Analysis
In the morning, Lara Jean wakes Kitty up early and begs for a braid crown. Kitty agrees to a side braid and then falls back to sleep, so Lara Jean agonizes over what to wear. Kitty is in the kitchen, ready for school, when Lara Jean gets downstairs. Kitty reminds her that she has a field trip today, so she has to get to school early. Lara Jean didn’t check the family calendar, so she forgot about this. She tells Kitty to come outside and wait with her.
Margot is conscientious and responsible, so it’s unlikely that she would have forgotten something like Kitty’s field trip. This difference between the two older sisters likely contributes to Lara Jean feeling unconfident in her new role as Kitty’s stand-in parent.
Themes
Kitty and Lara Jean are outside waiting for Peter. They watch their neighbor, Ms. Rothschild, spill her hot coffee on her hand as usual (she’s always in a rush). Peter pulls up in his black Audi, and Lara Jean asks if he can drop Kitty off. They argue, since the Audi only seats two, but Lara Jean insists Kitty can ride on her lap. Peter relents, and the girls climb in. Kitty introduces herself as Katherine, and it’s immediately obvious that Peter and Kitty admire each other. She shrieks, though, when Peter says he’s Lara Jean’s boyfriend. Kitty calms down when she learns that Margot doesn’t know yet. As she jumps out of the car, she demands to hear the whole story later.
For Lara Jean, there are bigger problems here than safety: she has to get Kitty to school, or Kitty is going to be disappointed and upset that she missed her field trip. When Kitty introduces herself to Peter as Katherine, it suggests that Kitty is going through the same kinds of growing pains as Lara Jean is. She gets to decide whether she’s going to go by her youthful nickname or the more mature Katherine.
Themes
Peter and Lara Jean argue about whether it’s okay to tell their families they’re dating, and they discuss that Genevieve hasn’t said anything yet. Once Peter parks at school, he leads Lara Jean to the cafeteria, where more people will see them. Sure enough, as soon as Lara Jean and Peter walk in, Genevieve “beams lasers” at Peter. Peter tries to steer Lara Jean to the table where his friends and Genevieve are sitting, but Lara Jean drags him to an empty table instead. She lies that she’s not afraid of Genevieve.
Again, even though Lara Jean feels Genevieve’s “lasers,” it doesn’t seem like anyone cares about her relationship with Peter as much as Lara Jean and Peter do. As they discuss whether their families can know about their relationship, it’s another indicator that their lie is already spiraling out of control.
Themes
As Peter grabs Lara Jean’s hand and traces lines on her palm, she accuses him of “creeping her out” and declares that Peter has no experience with girls in general—just Genevieve. But Peter shrugs and notes that regardless, everyone is watching them. Lara Jean feels itchy, but she kind of likes the attention. Then she meets Genevieve’s eyes and shivers. Genevieve has been scary since they were kids; one time, when Lara Jean was over to play, Genevieve wouldn’t let Lara Jean leave.
People might not care as much about their relationship as Lara Jean thinks they will, but they’re attracting attention, nevertheless. Lara Jean is likely going to become more popular at school simply by associating with Peter. But when she recalls how frightening Genevieve has always been, it shows that there may be consequences to suddenly becoming closer with the popular crowd.
Themes
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It’s time for class, so Peter ushers Lara Jean out of the cafeteria. She loves the feeling of this. It seems like now, suddenly, people are curious about her—she’s become a “Mysterious Girl” and not just a “Quiet Girl.”
Popularity is, at this point, intoxicating for Lara Jean. She’s never been anything but quiet and well-behaved before, and now she realizes she might want to be more than that.
Themes
After school, Lara Jean takes the bus home. A sophomore asks what’s up with her and Peter, but Lara Jean ignores the girl. Instead, Lara Jean reads Peter’s note, which just says that she did a good job today. As Lara Jean smiles, though, she hears the sophomore tell a friend that it’s “weird” Peter would like her, since she’s not pretty like Genevieve.
Other kids are making assumptions about Lara Jean, just as Lara Jean makes assumptions about others. This seems like a widespread practice at Lara Jean’s school, and it means that kids don’t truly get to know one another—they just rely on rumor and hearsay.
Themes
At home, Lara Jean puts on a nightgown and lies in bed until dark, ignoring Chris’s calls. Kitty comes in and asks if she’s sick and then asks what’s for dinner. Lara Jean remembers it’s her night for dinner and asks Kitty if she has money for pizza. Kitty is good at saving money and is happy to lend it out, but she also charges interest. Lara Jean decides she should ask Daddy about getting her a credit card for groceries, like Margot had. Kitty agrees to buy the pizza if Lara Jean tells her about Peter, but Kitty isn’t impressed by Lara Jean’s story. Fortunately, Kitty talks about her field trip over dinner and doesn’t mention Peter. Later, Lara Jean finally picks up her phone. It’s Chris, wanting to know everything. Lara Jean promises to tell her tomorrow.
Lara Jean is so caught up in her personal struggles that she forgets that it’s her responsibility to make sure Kitty eats dinner. This creates tension between Lara Jean’s familial loyalty and her ability to grow up as her own person outside of her family. Importantly, though, Lara Jean comes up with a concrete plan (getting the credit card) that will give her some power and agency within her family, while also helping her feel more mature and in control.
Themes
