Book Review: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Publisher’s description

Signed, sealed, delivered…

While spacing out in Chemistry class, Lily scribbles some of her favorite song lyrics onto her desk. The next day, she finds that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk, and added a message to her. Intrigue!

Soon, Lily and her anonymous pen pal are exchanging full-on letters — sharing secrets, recommending bands, and opening up to each other. Lily realizes she’s kind of falling for this letter writer. Only who is he? As Lily attempts to unravel the mystery, and juggle school, friends, crushes, and her crazy family, she discovers that matters of the heart can’t always be spelled out…

Kasie West brings irresistible wit, warmth, and sparkle to this swoon-worthy story of love showing up when you least expect it.

Amanda’s thoughts

This is an easy title to recommend to anyone looking for a light, fun romance. Guitar-playing, song-writing Lily Abbott kind of keeps to herself. She hangs out with her best friend, Isabel Gonzales, when Isabel isn’t with her boyfriend, and that’s about it. She’s quietly crushing on senior Lucas, and Isabel wants to try to set her up with someone, but none of that really goes anywhere. At home, life is chaotic. Money is tight, her two younger brothers are wild and need lots of babysitting, and she shares a room with her older sister. When she starts exchanging notes with a mysterious pen pal, she starts to reveal more of herself. Before long, she can hardly wait to reach under her Chemistry desk and grab the note that will be waiting for her. She and her pen pal seem to have a real connection. It would be really easy for Lily to actually figure out who her pen pal is, but she doesn’t want to. She likes the mystery. Me? After day one I would have been getting a hall pass to walk by the classroom every single period and see who was sitting in my same desk. I’m not patient and I don’t like not knowing things. But Lily doesn’t mind.

It’s clear that Lily and her pen pal are totally right for each other, but when Lily learns who the mysterious correspondent is, she can hardly believe it–and not in a good way. She can’t imagine continuing to write to this person… but also, she can’t stop. Lots of confusion, uncertainty, and mistaken assumptions happen as the pen pals fall for each other and have to reconcile their on-paper personas with what they know of each other in “real life.” A fun, cute, quick read perfect to add to your summer reading list. 

Review copy courtesy of the publisher

ISBN-13: 9780545850971

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Publication date: 07/26/2016

Filed under: Book Reviews