The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

(Image credit: Netflix)

Remember the days when teenagers split into teams over their love for Edward and Jacob from The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)? Well, now we foresee another wave of fangirls taking sides when Netflix releases the anticipated, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. The romance flick, based on the novel by Jenny Han, continues with our lead protagonists, Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo), who finally proclaimed their love to the world. It’s all rainbows and butterflies – until John Ambrose (Jordan Fisher) resurfaces from Lara Jean’s past.

During the first film, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018), Lara Jean’s sister, Kitty (Anna Cathcart) mailed five love letters to five boys who Lara Jean had secret crushes on. One by one, they start to emerge from her fantasies to confront her with the letters, including her current boyfriend, Peter. Lara Jean and Peter had agreed to keep up a façade to spike the jealousy of his ex-girlfriend Gen, but they soon developed real affections for one other.

The sequel sees another recipient, John Ambrose, volunteering with Lara Jean at Belleview, a residence for senior citizens, and confessing that he was thrilled to find out that someone actually had feelings for him. This revelation sparks up a love triangle between Lara Jean, her boyfriend, Peter, and her childhood love, John Ambrose. Can she love two boys at the same time? Possibly, but a tough decision must be made.

The soundtrack explores pop culture with music by Billie Eilish and Backstreet Boys that earned much-deserved rounds of sing-along sessions. The rom-com is perfect for couples sharing their date night with Netflix or girls longing for a heated love triangle featuring the “wholesome internet boyfriend” Centineo. His on-screen chemistry with Condor is woven from their true friendship that was forged behind the scenes, while newcomer, Fisher wins the hearts of viewers with his pearly white smile and smooth attitude.

Director, Michael Fimognari perfectly captures the “chick flick” element in his approach. He explores the reality of love, with scenes in Lara Jean’s bedroom contemplating between her two love interests, and other – awkward – scenes with Lara Jean, Peter, and John Ambrose together in the treehouse, fighting over the last slice of pizza. The narration of Lara Jean’s thoughts through voiceover has become a staple for Netflix originals, which allows the viewer to tap into the character’s innermost reflections. The ending sets the table for the final part of the trilogy, To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Lara Jean as it wraps up with Lara Jean picking her favourite.

What about you? Are you team Peter or team John Ambrose?

To celebrate, everybody in the Middle East can watch the first part To All the Boys I’ve loved Before until the 9^th of March, 2020 here!