P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
Release Date - July 26, 2016

Publisher Website - Scholastic
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 304 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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's books are always fun, light and a great summer read. P.S. I Like You piqued my interest because it had the added element of falling for someone you didn't see face to face. As predicted, this turned out to be a fun, quick read that left me smiling.

Part of the fun of this novel is attempting to discover who Lily's mystery note writer is. It is not a complex mystery and I felt I figured it out pretty quickly, but the more important part of the story is what comes after. What happens after Lily finds out who it is. That creates a whole other story arc that is the heart of the story and one that is really one done.

This novel includes two of my favourite romance tropes in one relationship. The first is falling for someone while not communicating face to face. Lily falls for her mystery note writer because of who he is, and what he shares in the letter. This often allows people to say things they have a harder time saying face to face (especially while just starting to get to know someone) and it made their connection feel realistic. The second trope is too spoilery but, needless to say, Kasie West's version of this trope is perfectly done.

The relationship starts as a bond over music, and that passion for music is laced throughout the story. It gives the romance something to build off of and that makes it entirely believable. I often find that the romance in novels is based off of little more than good looks. Kasie West shows the importance of shared interest and the value in being able to have a conversation with the person you're dating. I, personally, think it made this romance effortless because you believed  that these two characters would fall for each other.

Wrapped inside this book is the message of not judging people by what you see, especially if you don't know them well. They have the ability to surprise as you get to know them, and reveal things about themselves that were not apparent at first. This combined with the family story arcs, added a touch of depth to the story that added nuance to the relationship being built.

If you're looking for a lighter book that end your summer reading before it is the season of pumpkin spice lattes, and falling leaves, this one you should pick up. It has ridiculous amounts of charm, and a love story that will leave you smiling.