Parents' Guide to

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Book-based teen romcom has some language, racy talk.

Movie NR 2018 99 minutes
To All the Boys I've Loved Before Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 31 parent reviews

Tiff_frances
Tiff_frances Adult
April 19, 2019
age 10+

Great movie, a MUST watch

This is such a great movie, for those overprotective parents like me, this is a great movie. My daughter told me about it and I was a bit unsure at first but I saw the movie and think it is a great movie. Recomendable to all family’s and a movie you will sure enjoy

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
2 people found this helpful.
hitormissiwannabetracer
hitormissiwannabetracer Adult
December 19, 2018
age 14+

A little inappropriate

There are sexual suggestions and a make-out scene. Like where Lauras' dad gives her a package of condoms. Now you might be thinking, "that will go over my childs' head." You'd be wrong. I knew what sex was when I was in fourth, it has nothing to do with my parents being "bad," but some parents are to loosey goosey with their kids, and don't monitor what their children do online. Then word spreads around school, so on and so forth. If you don't want to believe me then that's on you. By he way your child won't show that they understand jokes, but they do and it makes it really uncomfortable for them.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
2 people found this helpful.
See all 31 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) lives with her dad (John Corbett), a gynecologist, and her two sisters in TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE. The family is close and loving, still mourning their beloved mom's death some years earlier. Lara Jean has few friends and feels invisible in her Portland, Oregon, high school. Lonely, she reads romance novels, fantasizes about boys, and has gone so far as to write secret letters to the five boys she's "loved" over the years. She keeps those letters well hidden in a special box in her closet. Lara Jean's world crashes when the letters get mailed and the secret crushes receive them! To her horror, one of those letters was addressed to Josh (Israel Broussard), the boy who is now her big sister's boyfriend. Salvation comes in the person of Peter (Noah Centineo), her middle school crush, who now suggests that they fake a romantic relationship. That would get her off the hook with Josh and her sister, and at the same time help him get his girlfriend back by making her jealous. But conducting a "fake relationship" isn't as easy as it sounds.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (31):
Kids say (160):

Fans of teen romance will find much to like here, including an engaging performance by Lana Condor as Lara Jean and messages about self-confidence, honesty, and family unity. Especially significant is the fact that an Asian American character is at the center of a film, especially one intended for young people. That's a rare occurrence. On the negative side, there's a fair amount of predictability in To All the Boys I've Loved Before, and the story covers lots of familiar ground and characters -- popularity, romantic rivalries, mean girls, "jocks." Plus, the film resolves complex situations too easily. However, as lighthearted entertainment and a look at a too-little-seen culture, it's a welcome addition to Netflix's blossoming roster of teen romcoms.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Lara Jean changed over the course of To All the Boys I've Loved Before. What did she learn about herself? About her relationship with others? Her place in the world? How do movies like this one help kids with their own self-discovery? What events in your life helped determine who you are?

  • To Lara Jean's dismay, a video showing her kissing Peter in a hot tub circulates online and is misinterpreted. What are some of the ways kids can protect themselves from cyberbullying?

  • To All the Boys I've Loved Before was adapted from a popular book. If you have read the book, did the movie meet your expectations? If not, why? What, if anything, did you miss? If you haven't read the book, did this movie motivate you to do so?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate