To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Lara Jean believes that the one thing she is better at than Margot is lying, which proves to be untrue later in the novel. Lara Jean lies easily and impulsively. Even if Lara Jean is good at lying, it’s very stressful to make sure the stories she tells match up. Lara Jean’s first lie is a lie of omission. She never mentions that she’s in love with her neighbor, Josh, and even keeps her feelings to herself when her sister begins dating him. Even after Margot and Josh break up, Josh never knows about Lara Jean’s feelings until Kitty leaks her letters. Josh’s reaction suggests that the pair might’ve had a chance for a relationship had Lara Jean been honest in the first place.

Lara Jean’s next lie is more outright. In trying to avoid talking to Josh about her feelings and contain her first lie, she perpetuates another lie by kissing Peter in the hallway and declaring he’s her boyfriend. She later lies again to Josh, saying they broke up, and then must lie to say they’re back together when Peter tells Josh their relationship is going well. While the pair originally envision that their lies will stay at school, they prove harder to contain.