Lara Jean Song Covey (Lana Condor) finds herself torn between two wonderful guys, Peter and John, in To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, - but who does she end up with, and why? Back in 2018, To All the Boys I've Loved Before took the world by storm thanks to its charming and swoon-worthy love story, and a sequel was soon ordered with a third film on the way to close out the trilogy. Based on the book series by Jenny Han, To All the Boys follows Lara Jean as she copes with the terrifying reality of her secret love letters being sent out to all her past crushes.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You picks up where the first film left off, with Lara Jean happily dating heartthrob jock Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo). However, their storybook romance soon encounters obstacles in the form of another one of Lara Jean's letter recipients: John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher). Lara Jean had a deep crush on John Ambrose in middle school, but lost contact with him after he moved away. However, the two are pulled back together when they end up volunteering at the same senior citizens home. Much like Peter, John Ambrose received his letter and is now very aware of Lara Jean's past crush on him, which might not be as far in the past as Lara Jean expected.
As Lara Jean and John Ambrose get closer, things between her and Peter become more strained. Despite their initial promise to not break each other's hearts, Lara Jean worries about not being a good girlfriend for Peter, and the presence of his ex-girlfriend Gen (Emilija Baranac) hangs over them. The breaking point comes when Lara Jean discovers Peter has been spending time with Gen, and that it was Gen who leaked the infamous video of Peter and Lara Jean in the hot tub from the first film. Thinking that Peter would rather be with Gen, Lara Jean breaks up with him.
What Happens In To All The Boys 2's Ending
Devastated by her breakup with Peter, Lara Jean spends a lot of time reflecting on what went wrong and what she'll do now that her fairytale romance is over. This leads her to reach out to Gen to clear the air between them. Lara Jean tells Gen that Peter has always wanted to be with her, but Gen insists that isn't the case. Peter's crazy about Lara Jean, and he's told Gen that many times. Gen also reveals the reason why Peter has been spending so much time with her: her parents are divorcing, and Peter's been helping her through it.
Still confused about her feelings, Lara Jean attends a star-themed party at the senior citizens home. She's goaded into dancing with John Ambrose, and she admits that she and Peter broke up. John Ambrose offers to get some air with her outside. The two play around for a bit before pausing and sharing a kiss. All it does is confirm for Lara Jean that Peter is the one she truly wants. She apologizes to John Ambrose and rushes back inside. After getting some words of encouragement from Stormy (Holland Taylor), one of the residents at the home who has taken a liking to her, Lara Jean leaves with the intention of running to Peter.
However, she doesn't have to run far, because Peter has just arrived. Peter puts himself out there and shares his true feelings for Lara Jean, giving her permission to break his heart. Lara Jean's response? She tells Peter she loves him, and the two reconnect with a sweet kiss.
Why Lara Jean Chooses Peter Over John Ambrose
For most of P.S. I Still Love You, Lara Jean wrestles with her feelings for Peter and John Ambrose. While she and Peter have formed a deep connection through their fake relationship from the first film, Lara Jean had a deeper crush on John Ambrose in middle school. Additionally, dating Peter means frequently being at the center of attention and having to deal with Peter's popularity with other girls. Lara Jean finds greater comfort in being with John Ambrose because they are both more introverted and spent more time together as kids. Lara Jean admits this much to a friend while at a party as she watches Peter play beer pong with a large group of friends.
In the end, however, she realizes her heart truly lies with Peter. She never fully explains why; she just realizes while kissing John Ambrose that she wishes he was someone else. But this could be explained by the realization that her feelings for John Ambrose were rooted in childhood, and that she's grown into someone else who wants different things. Lara Jean and Peter's feelings for each other are newer and stronger, and in the end, John Ambrose didn't stand a chance.
Will John Ambrose Return (After Lara Jean Kisses Him)?
Fans of the franchise (and book series) will know there's one more installment in Lara Jean's story. Always and Forever, Lara Jean has already been confirmed by Netflix and could premiere next year. Considering how P.S. I Still Love You left things with John Ambrose, there's a chance he could return. John Ambrose is last seen standing outside in the snow, reeling from his sudden kiss and rejection from Lara Jean. He respects Lara Jean's feelings, but that hardly means he's happy about them. Plus, Lara Jean's quick goodbye didn't give John Ambrose a lot of closure.
Vague spoilers for the third book ahead: John Ambrose does appear in Always and Forever, Lara Jean, but his role is much smaller. Of course, what happens in the book doesn't really matter, because adaptations rarely follow their source material to a T. In fact, P.S. I Still Love You, while still following the book fairly closely, has some notable changes. If the third film is anything like this one, fans likely haven't seen the last of John Ambrose - though hopefully they won't have to worry about him coming between Lara Jean and Peter again.
What To All The Boys 2's Ending Means For The Series' Future
With Lara Jean and Peter back on track, expect the third To All the Boys to pick up with them in a good place. They've overcome some pretty tough obstacles now, and with John Ambrose politely accepting Lara Jean's decision and Gen and Lara Jean clearing the air, things are certainly looking up for "Covinsky". Of course, the mere idea of a third installment promises not everything will be perfect for the starry-eyed couple, but at least now they're a bit more prepared to face whatever is to come.
For Lara Jean specifically, the events of P.S. I Still Love You serve as a kind of wake-up call - one that helps her to mature as a person. Early on in the film, Lara Jean sees her relationship as the happily ever after she's always dreamed about. While that works for the rom-com world she lives in, it's also rather naive. This is further shown when she and Peter promise to never break each other's hearts, which is not something a person can truly promise. Peter is her first boyfriend, they're both in high school, and no relationship is perfect. Lara Jean goes into the relationship with rose-colored glasses, and the obstacles she and Peter face teach her that she can't always expect perfection. Life isn't like the romance novels she pores over; relationships can evolve, and people can change.
By the end of P.S. I Still Love You, Lara Jean has learned this lesson. She sees that the perfect romance she was striving for doesn't exist and now can acknowledge that they're stronger by not trying to be perfect. As Lara Jean says, she and Peter are still at the beginning of their relationship. Whatever comes in the third installment, the two of them will confront it as a more mature couple.
