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Regardless Of Your Age, Have No Shame In Crushing Hard On To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’s Peter Kavinsky Because He’s A Well-Engineered Fantasy

Yes, you’re turned on by the hot tub scene and have probably watched it numerous times. It’s OK.

*Disturbingly Detailed Spoilers Ahoy*

So, you’ve watched To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix and now you can’t stop thinking about Peter damn Kavinsky. I feel you. I’m there too. We’re all there.

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While this is technically a teen movie with teen lead characters, that does not mean that the appeal is limited to teens. It’s a beautiful love story featuring an amazing woman and a beautiful man and we are all only human.

Whether you’re 16 or 60, Peter Kavinsky is a man so carefully constructed out of fictional fantasy that it is impossible to not crush on him.

Even Netflix rebranded their Twitter profile to read “This is now a Peter Kavinsky stan account”.

Finally we were given a leading man who is desirable in a more fulfilling way than merely being good looking, though he is indeed good looking. There is no shame in crushing on this perfectly engineered fictional teenager – because Peter Kavinsky is more of a grown-up than 90% of the leading men in romcom history (and real life history to be honest).

The fact that the 16-year-old character is played by a 22-year-old actor (Noah Centineo) also definitely helps.

But whatever your age, don’t blame yourself for falling for Peter Kavinsky.

When you look closely at the many, many ways he is wonderful, it is clear that this crush was inevitable. So, to make me feel better about having a photo of Peter Kavinsky as my Facebook cover photo, that’s what we’re doing. We’re going to look very, very, closely. Strap in. 

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#1 He woke up like this

The magic of Peter’s character is that he is not changed into a drastically new and improved person by the end of the film via a woman’s labour. In most romcoms the leading man’s character arc relies on their romantic interest doing a lot of heavy lifting to make him into a changed man by the third act.

But from the get go Peter is bloody fantastic and the main thing he grapples with is coming to his senses about the kind of love and treatment he should accept from other people, (looking at you Genevieve).

Peter and Lara Jean help each other mutually. It’s hot because changing men is hard and I am very tired.

#2 He moves the popcorn god dammit

The part where Peter slyly moves the popcorn onto the floor before play-pillow fighting with Kitty as to avoid making a mess is the definition of being considerate. And cute. VERY cute. 

#3 He proudly drinks kombucha because he’s designated driver

I don’t know what I like more: the fact that he’s being responsible about their safety or the fact that his drink of choice is kombucha. Yep, Peter Kavinsky looking after his digestion has me weak.

#4 That part where he drinks a milkshake

Self-explanatory.

#5 He respects Lara Jean’s boundaries

Oooh yeah, baby, respect my boundaries harder, it’s so hot!!! Not a joke! It creates a dynamic more conducive to enjoying sexual interactions. Peter gets it.

In their faux-relationship contractual agreement, Lara Jean specifically tells Peter she doesn’t want him to kiss her, because she doesn’t want all her firsts to be fake. And so, he doesn’t kiss her! Kissing is reserved for their very not-fake interactions – but we will get to that steamy water-soaked scene soon enough.

#6 The hand in the back-pocket spinning manoeuvre

IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT THAT YOU HAVE THE FEELINGS THAT YOU HAVE. No one can watch Peter put his hand in Lara Jean’s back-pocket then tug on it to spin her around into his arms and give her a love note, and feel nothing.

It is a perfectly designed romcom moment that is too suave and coordinated for the average human to come up with on their own, but we can dream. Or practice. 

#7 Those love notes he writes her

The observations Peter includes in his daily love notes signal that he has made an effort to understand her needs and her insecurities. Lara Jean feels invisible, so Peter makes sure to let her know that she is visible – to everyone, but most of all him.

#8 Mission: Get The Yogurt She Likes

The Love Languages we have tapped into here include: Acts of Service AND Receiving Gifts. Double whammy, Peter, nice.

Driving all the way across town to the Korean store to get the yogurt she likes for the drive up to the ski trip is a gesture that says, “Hey, I thought about you, I want you to be happy, and also I’m hella in love with you.” Because we all know that Peter harboured feelings for LJ from the get go.

#9 He talks about his feelings

While Peter is cast as the jock, he clearly does not fall into the classic stereotype. From talking maturely about the reality of being unable to suddenly evaporate all feelings for his long-term ex-girlfriend, to his honesty about his feelings for Lara Jean, Peter is positioned as the more readily open of the pair.

He also handles intimate conversations about Lara Jean’s late mother with extreme empathy and that is the kind of quality we want to see in our leading man.

#10 The part where he breathes and exists

Yes. That is my favourite part too.

#11 HOT. TUB. SCENE.

From beginning to end this scene is irresistible, but especially the end.

You know what I’m talking about. That suave lap move. Still good the 17th time you watch it. So I’ve heard.

But also special shout-out to that part when Peter coyly splashes water at Lara Jean. He is trying to tell her he likes her and she’s not quite catching on and he’s a bit embarrassed having to spell it out and it’s very endearing.

#12 The part(s) where he says “Whoa whoa whoa whoa”

Also see: “Wait wait wait wait” and “Hey hey hey hey”. This boy is here to reassure you and defuse stressful situations like a pro.

#13 When he takes the phone background pictures

Between Peter Kavinsky doing duck face, telling Lara Jean she’s pretty, and saying “Girl, c’mon, you know I already got it”, there was no hope for any of us.

#13 He makes an effort to charm and include Kitty

Family is obviously incredibly important to Lara Jean so Peter goes above and beyond to make her little sister feel comfortable with him and included when they hang out. He is adorable and considerate and unfortunately a fictional character.

#14 When he says he’s way better looking than Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles

First of all, I will not deny that a substantial part of this fictional boy’s appeal is that the actor Noah Centineo is very classically good looking.

The Jake Ryan line is cute because he’s teasing Kitty but also because it’s annoyingly charming when hot boys play a little bit arrogant. I wish it wasn’t, but alas, that is the way we have been conditioned to react.

#15 The part where he stands up for LJ at school

Like Josh says, Peter should have done it sooner, but he does pretty well speaking up against slut-shaming for someone who is meant to be 16. Better than most men, honestly, fictional and real.

#16 When he doesn’t read her note unless she chooses to give it to him

“If you want me to read that then you have to give it to me.” 

Again with the respect of consent! Peter Kavinsky show them how it’s done!

#17 When Lara Jean says “I like you”, but he says “I’m in love with you”

That is some seriously fearless honesty and it’s intoxicating. He’s not afraid of the intensity of his feelings and letting her know it, even though she literally just said “like”. Go Peter.

Also though when he wrinkles his nose and scrunches up his face when he smiles right after telling LJ he loves her I mean aoidfhaodsifhad someone call the AMBULANCE I’m DEAD.

F***. That was a lot longer than I expected. Send help.