24 times ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ was too cute to handle

It’s Summer Lovin’ Week here at Mashable, which means things are getting steamy. In honor of the release of Crazy Rich Asians, we’re celebrating onscreen love and romance, looking at everything from our favorite fictional couples to how Hollywood’s love stories are evolving. Think of it as our love letter to, well, love.

Spoilers ahead for To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, though if you’ve ever seen a romcom before, you can probably guess how it ends. 

There’s a lot to be said for watching a romcom in theaters. The picture is better. The sound is clearer. There are fewer distractions, give or take a noisy kid, but it’s also a communal activity.

On the other hand, though, it’s a lot less appropriate to scream at the screen when you’re at a cinema. And that’s important if you’re watching a movie like Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, a romcom so adorable that it took an active effort on my part to keep from yelping out loud.

If you love romcoms and haven’t seen it yet, please X out this screen and come back when you have. If you have seen it, scroll down – we’ve got a lot to talk about. Here are 24 times I squealed, sighed, and shouted (or really, really wanted to) while watching To All the Boys.

1. When Josh comes over, and Lara Jean gives him that look.

I know that look. You know that look. Everyone knows that look. It shouldn’t have taken a secret love letter for everyone in this movie to figure out Lara Jean had the hots for Josh.

2. When Lara Jean’s crushes looked like total dorks in the flashback.

Especially the Model UN guy! He’s exactly the kind of nerd that a nerd like Lara Jean would’ve had the hots for. I know this, because I was definitely the nerd who had crushes on other nerds like that. 

3. When Lara Jean and Peter kiss for the first time.

“Two people pretend to make out as part of an elaborate ploy to avoid something else” is such a ridiculous only-in-the-films trope, and I love it. 

4. When Peter shows up at the café and reveals he has … a personality.

Turns out he’s friendly, straightforward, surprisingly funny, and kind of a gossip. Dude knows everyone’s business. He is also the kind of guy who will address waitresses by the names on their tags, which seems to delight the one who brings him his milkshake. 

5. When Josh asks Peter if he’s taking Lara Jean home.

This was not me yelling because I couldn’t handle the cuteness. This was me shouting at the screen because fuck OFF, DUDE, LET LARA JEAN HAVE HER MAN. You’re not her dad, you’re not her boyfriend, you’re barely even her friend. You’re just some weird neighbor that spends too much time outside. What the hell do you care who’s giving her a ride home?!

6. When Lara Jean and Peter kiss for the second time.

Get it, girl.

7. When Lara Jean and Peter agree to watch each other’s favorite films, which are Sixteen Candles and Fight Club, respectively.

Other pop culture artifacts mentioned in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before include Golden Girls and James Dean. I don’t know why these teenagers have – to paraphrase Peter – “the references of an 80-year-old woman,” but I’m not going to complain.

9. When Peter looks lowkey crushed after Lara Jean reminds him “we’re just pretending.” 

They’re cool, though – they exchange cute messages on Instagram a few minutes later.

10. When Peter and Lara Jean compliment each other for being good listeners.

An underrated quality, especially in dudes!

11. When Lara Jean’s dad gives her all the condoms.

I screamed out of secondhand embarrassment, and then I spontaneously combusted because screaming wasn’t enough. 

12. When Lara Jean finds Peter in the hot tub.

Ooh.

13. When Peter tells Lara Jean he drove all the way across town to buy her favorite Korean yogurt drinks for the trip.

OMG.

14. When Lara Jean gets into the hot tub.

I’M DYING.

15. When Lara Jean and Peter have their first real kiss.

I’M DYING.

16. HONESTLY THE ENTIRE FREAKIN’ HOT TUB SCENE 

ASDFLKJ ;FG I CANNOT HANDLE THE EXTREME LEVELS OF CUTENESS HAPPENING HERE

17. Also, the scene after the hot tub scene. 

More smooching!

18. When Peter uses Lara Jean as a pillow. 

Is there anything more “high school couple” than this?

19. The look on Lara Jean’s face when she realizes Margot is back.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before may be a romcom, but the foundational relationships in her life aren’t with any of those boys – they’re with her sisters. 

20. “Bon Iver wannabe.”

No one in this movie gives Peter enough credit for his wit, because that is a flawless burn.

21. Lara Jean’s lockscreen photo.

When was this taken?? Why were we denied what looks like an amazingly adorable scene????

22. When Lara Jean confronts Gen in the bathroom.

Can we talk about what a great romcom villain Gen is? She’s so nakedly awful that hating her is its own satisfaction, yet not so over-the-top that she stops being believable. Turns out she’s just a champion grudge-holder who can’t get over shit that happened in middle school!

23. WHEN LARA JEAN FINALLY READS PETER’S LOVE LETTERS.

“You looked so pretty today.” 

“It’s so cool how we can talk to each other about real stuff.” 

And, my favorite: “Lara Jean. Everyone was so impressed by your presentation in lit. But especially me. I love having a smartypants fake girlfriend.” A+ “lovelorn teen boy” writing, gang.

24. When Lara Jean and Peter kiss for the last time. 

Did I, a married woman who’s closer to parent-of-a-teen age than actual teen age, clutch one hand over my heart and one hand over my mouth when Peter murmured “I’m in love with you, Lara Jean” because I knew in that moment that I’d never before experienced true love? Ummmm, no comment.

Also, Lara Jean on her tiptoes (while wearing platform shoes!) because Peter is just that tall is the perfect little cherry on top of this deliciously adorable sundae.