A movie adaptation of the popular young adult novel To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was confirmed today on twitter by Jenny Han herself.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before tells the story of Lara Jean Covey, a quiet high school Junior whose two favorite things are baking and spending time with her two sisters. This all changes when her box of old love letters is unexpectedly sent out her former crushes — including her neighbor/ex-boyfriend to her older sister Margot, Josh.
In order to save face and circumvent any sort of conflict, she begins a fake relationship with another recipient of an old letter — popular high school jock Peter Kavinsky — and fantastic shenanigans and squee-inducing storylines ensue.
Earlier today on Twitter, Jenny Han sent out a tweet with some very exciting news for longtime fans of Lara Jean Covey and the Song girls:
a little love note from me to you pic.twitter.com/vUxJvKUinn
— Jenny Han (@jennyhan) July 21, 2017
This prompted a deluge of excited tweets from long time fans and fellow authors alike:
I cried when I saw the book cover so I'm probably gonna cry when I see the movie https://t.co/LtBVsYYhP9
— Scylla T. (@scyllatov) July 21, 2017
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @jennyhan this is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ??❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ https://t.co/rI9ZQC2WAg
— Tahereh Mafi (@TaherehMafi) July 21, 2017
Congratulations! This is SO EXCITING!
— Holly Black (@hollyblack) July 21, 2017
Lara Jean's story has been a favourite of mine for years! ❤❤ I'm so excited to see it translated to film!! Congratulations!
— Brittany (@killy_swan) July 21, 2017
She then followed it up by tweeting out two photos, the first introducing Lana Condor (X-Men: Apocalypse) as title character Lara Jean Covey:
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you…Lara Jean! Repost from my darling @lanacondor pic.twitter.com/3Rz2G9wbUs
— Jenny Han (@jennyhan) July 21, 2017
And the second showing Lara Jean with older sister Margot, played by Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars), and younger sister Kitty, played by Anna Cathcart (Descendants 2),:
When I saw @lanacondor @JanelParrish @CathcartAnna all together, my heart just burst. #toalltheboys pic.twitter.com/8fjLjsiq3d
— Jenny Han (@jennyhan) July 21, 2017
Jenny Han has long wanted to see a big screen adaptation of her beloved novel, but didn’t want to be forced to compromise on changing the race of the three Asian-American sisters. In a Hollywood culture that has a long history of whitewashing its Asian-American roles, this turned her quest for a movie adaptation into a rather lengthy battle.
Seeing three Asian-American actresses in lead roles is a huge victory for those of us who have longed to see Asian-American representation on the big screen rather than the Asian-American erasure, and is a sentiment that was echoed by many on twitter reacting to the news:
So, so happy for you and YES – incredibly excited to see strong, smart, complicated Asian American women onscreen. Congratulations!
— kat yeh (@yehface) July 21, 2017
I am in tears; this is so wonderful! Thank you for standing firm, knowing and believing in the importance of Asian representation. ??
— Rebecca Tran (@beckietran) July 21, 2017
jenny, i am so so happy for you. it makes me so happy that there will FINALLY be a ya romance movie with an asian lead. <3
— ㅤ (@hiiileee) July 21, 2017
As a hapa girl, this book brought me so much joy from high school into college&I'm ecstatic to see Asian Americans represented in the film!
— Zøe (@thezobelle) July 21, 2017
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