Honestly, it’s hard to believe it has been years since we first saw Lara Jean Song Covey’s secret love letters accidentally mail themselves out. By the time we got to A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre, the stakes felt weirdly high for a Netflix teen rom-com. We weren't just watching a girl pick a boyfriend anymore. We were watching the end of an era.
High school endings are messy. This movie knew it.
The third installment of the To All the Boys franchise—known to Spanish-speaking fans globally as A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre—took a sharp turn from the "fake dating" tropes of the first film. It landed somewhere much more grounded. It dealt with NYU rejections, the terrifying reality of long-distance relationships, and the realization that maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't pick a college just because your boyfriend is going there. Even if that boyfriend is Peter Kavinsky.
The NYC Trip That Changed Everything
Remember the scene where the senior class goes to New York? It’s flashy. It’s loud. It’s peak "teen movie magic." But for Lara Jean, it’s the moment the fantasy of Stanford starts to crumble.
She didn't get in.
That’s a gut punch. Most movies would have had her get in on appeal or find some magical loophole. Instead, the story forces her to look at New York University. And she falls in love with it. Not with a boy, but with a city and a future. A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre works because it prioritizes Lara Jean’s personal growth over the "ship." It’s a risky move for a franchise built on romance, but it’s why the movie feels more "human" than its predecessor, P.S. I Still Love You.
The chemistry between Lana Condor and Noah Centineo remained the engine of the film. You can tell they’d been playing these characters for years. There’s a shorthand in how they move together. But the tension in this final chapter comes from the looming expiration date of high school. It’s a universal fear. Anyone who has ever tried to make a relationship work across state lines knows that "Para Siempre" (Forever) is a heavy promise to make at eighteen.
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Why NYU Was the Real Antagonist
Think about it. In the first movie, the "villain" was Gen. In the second, it was the confusion of John Ambrose McClaren. But in A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre, the antagonist is just... life.
It’s the 3,000 miles between California and New York.
Lara Jean's struggle to tell Peter the truth about her change of heart is painful to watch. We’ve all been there—clinging to a plan because we’re scared of what happens when the plan breaks. The film handles the Stanford vs. NYU debate with a surprising amount of nuance. It acknowledges that Peter’s feelings are valid, too. He’s dealing with his own abandonment issues regarding his father, and the idea of Lara Jean "choosing" to be far away hits him in a soft spot he hasn't fully healed.
Breaking the Rom-Com "Perfect Ending" Mold
Most people expected the movie to end with a wedding or a definitive "we’re together forever" montage. Instead, we got a contract. A new one.
The original fake-dating contract started the whole mess. In A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre, the new contract is a commitment to try. It’s not a guarantee. It’s an admission that things are going to be incredibly difficult.
Director Michael Fimognari, who also stepped in for the second film, used a much more vibrant color palette here than in the previous entries. The Seoul sequences at the beginning of the movie are gorgeous. They ground the story in Lara Jean’s heritage, showing us that her world is getting bigger than just her bedroom or the Corner Diner. This expansion is symbolic. She’s outgrowing the small box she lived in during the first movie.
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Real-World Impact and the "Centineo Effect"
We have to talk about how this movie changed the industry. Before this trilogy, the teen rom-com was arguably on life support. Netflix saw a gap and filled it. Noah Centineo became the "Internet’s Boyfriend" overnight, and Lana Condor became a blueprint for a new kind of leading lady—one who was quirky, introverted, and unapologetically romantic without being a pushover.
Fans often argue about whether the movies lived up to Jenny Han’s books. Honestly? They’re different beasts. The book Always and Forever, Lara Jean has a bit more space to breathe regarding the family dynamics, especially with her dad’s wedding to Trina. The movie compresses this, but it keeps the heart. The wedding scene in the film serves as a perfect backdrop for the bittersweet reality of moving on.
What Most People Miss About the Ending
There’s a specific detail in the final moments. Lara Jean is in her New York apartment. She’s alone.
Usually, these movies end with the couple in the same frame. By ending with her in her own space, A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre makes a definitive statement: Lara Jean is the protagonist of her own life, not just a supporting character in a romance.
She chose herself.
And by choosing herself, she actually gave her relationship with Peter a real fighting chance. If she had gone to Berkeley just to be near him, she would have eventually resented him. That resentment kills relationships faster than distance ever could.
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A Legacy of Letters
The soundtrack deserves its own essay. From "Beginning Middle End" by The Linda Lindas (which became the anthem of the film) to the Spice Girls moments, the music bridges the gap between Gen Z energy and 90s nostalgia. It’s a vibe.
But beyond the aesthetics, the legacy of A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre is about the power of the written word. In an age of DMs and disappearing snaps, Lara Jean’s letters represented something permanent. Something "para siempre."
Even the way she writes her final letter to Peter reflects her growth. It’s no longer a secret she’s hiding in a hatbox. It’s a bridge she’s building toward her future.
Practical Takeaways for Fans of the Series
If you’re looking to revisit the world of Lara Jean or if you’re navigating your own "big move" transition, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the spin-off: If you haven't seen XO, Kitty on Netflix, you’re missing out on the next generation of the Song Covey charm. It shifts the focus to the youngest sister and takes the story to Korea.
- Read the source material: Jenny Han’s prose offers a much deeper look into Lara Jean’s internal monologue that even a 2-hour movie can't fully capture.
- Embrace the "New York" Mindset: Like Lara Jean, don’t be afraid to let your plans change. The thing you’re scared of—like being 3,000 miles away from your comfort zone—might be the thing that actually makes you who you’re supposed to be.
- Re-watch for the details: Pay attention to the color coding in the costumes. Lara Jean’s wardrobe shifts from bright, controlled "twee" styles to more sophisticated, varied looks as she spends time in NYC.
The story ended exactly where it needed to. Not with a "happily ever after" that feels fake, but with a "happy for now" that feels real. That’s the magic of A Todos los Chicos: Para Siempre. It gave us permission to grow up, even if it meant leaving some things behind.