To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: Chapter 38 Summary & Analysis

At the door of Steve Bledell’s mansion, Peter tells Lara Jean that all she has to do is act like she’s in love with him. He pulls her hair tie out, fluffs her hair, and takes her picture—he needs evidence on his phone, in case Genevieve checks it. Walking into the party, Lara Jean feels proud to be with him. As soon as Lara Jean is in the mansion, Genevieve and Emily call to her. Peter suddenly disappears, so Lara Jean crosses the room to the other girls. It seems like everyone is watching to see what Genevieve will do.

Emily asks how Lara Jean and Peter got together, and Lara Jean insists that whatever Peter said is the story. She’s heard that Genevieve is a mean drunk, which makes her nervous. Seeing her hesitation, Genevieve says it’s fine; she and Peter are over. Lara Jean admits that she and Peter got together right before school started but she sees Genevieve’s eyes change. That was clearly the wrong answer. Genevieve is the kind of person you want to like you, even if you know she’s cruel. She knows how to draw people in. Lara Jean waits for her response, but Genevieve just says it’s “adorable” and changes the subject. Lara Jean excuses herself to go to the bathroom, and when she comes back, she sits on Peter’s lap. She sees Genevieve glare and leave the room. Finally, some success.

Later, Lara Jean sees Genevieve and Peter talking in the kitchen. She doesn’t notice Lucas come up next to her. She tells him she doesn’t know what they’re fighting about; privately, she hopes they’re fighting about her. But Lucas calls her closer and says them fighting is bad—it means they still care for each other. He warns Lara Jean to be careful. Just then, Peter comes over to Laura Jean and tells her it’s time to go.

Out in the car, Peter says he hates Genevieve and asks what Lara Jean said to her. When Lara Jean admits that she said that they got together before school started, Peter groans—he and Genevieve hooked up that weekend. He won’t answer what he and Genevieve were fighting about, but he does say that Lara Jean is doing a good job. Genevieve is jealous.

After a minute of silence, Lara Jean asks how Peter knew he loved Genevieve. Peter refuses to answer at first, but then says he’s only 17 and is too young to know what love is. Lara Jean announces that Peter sounds like a grandpa and accuses him of avoiding the question. They pull up to Lara Jean’s house and stay in the car. Then, Lara Jean says that Genevieve must have a hold on Peter. He doesn’t deny it. Instead, he says he wishes Genevieve didn’t. Lara Jean thinks that she herself probably belongs to her family, but that won’t always be the case. She tells Peter that this whole relationship is just to prove to Genevieve that he doesn’t belong to her.

Then, Lara Jean asks if there’s a difference between belonging with someone and belonging to someone. Peter says that belonging with someone implies there’s a choice involved. To annoy Peter, Lara Jean says that he must love Genevieve if he’s willing to play along with their fake relationship. He notes that she’s never had a boyfriend before, and so she doesn’t know anything. Lara Jean says that’s true, but she has been in love. Peter snorts and says that Josh is a “tool,” and Lara Jean is silly for loving him. Angry, Lara Jean tries to leave the car. The door is locked.

Peter asks Lara Jean to stay and asks why she hasn’t dated before. He knows, for instance, that she turned a boy down when he asked her to homecoming. Lara Jean admits she was afraid—not of that boy, but of being in a relationship with a real person. Peter is paying close attention. He asks how she’s feeling about their relationship, and Lara Jean says she doesn’t like him like that, so it’s fine. They discuss the letter Lara Jean wrote to Peter. He seems to want to hear that Lara Jean still thinks he’s attractive and kind, but Lara Jean fumbles her responses. Rather than apologize, she goes inside. The cupcakes are finished and look pretty good.

Margot emails Lara Jean that evening to ask if she’s considered joining the literary magazine or Model UN. She also reminds Lara Jean that it’s Korean Thanksgiving this weekend, so Lara Jean needs to call Grandma. Lara Jean replies that school is fine, she’s looking into clubs, and she has everything else under control.