Embracing your Inner Lara Jean

Photo via To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Most girls recognize the familiar name of Lara Jean Covey, protagonist of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” series, known for her sensitive mannerisms and polite charms. Since reading the book series when I was younger, I deeply admired and related to her, catching her references and subtle remarks with ease. Whether it was her baking, movie marathons, or her reading, I found myself comforted by the presence of such a character, one that aligned with many introverted teenage girls. In this article, I wanted to share with you the ways I have been able to embrace my inner Lara Jean and cultivate the side of myself that is comfortable with my introverted nature. So, whether you share the same personality type or just want a cookie recipe, I hope you enjoy this compilation of crafts and activities. 

1. Lara Jean’s “Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies”.

Photo via Joyfoodsunshine on Facebook

If you’ve read the books or seen the movies, you would know that Lara Jean is obsessed with perfecting her chocolate chip cookie recipe, hoping to find the right degree of crisp and gooey to enhance the tasting experience. Since then, I have tried to do the same, searching for the perfect mix of ingredients to produce the seemingly “perfect” cookie. Here is a recipe that I believe replicates Lara Jean’s strict requirements of being “Crunchy but soft. Light brown, not pale in color or flavor. A little height but not puffy.” 

Ingredients: 

•1 cup salted butter, softened 

•1 cup granulated sugar 

•1 cup light brown sugar 

•2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 

•2 large eggs 

•3 cups all-purpose flour 

•1 teaspoon baking soda 

•½ teaspoon baking powder 

•1 teaspoon sea salt 

•2 cups chocolate chips 

Recipe 

•Preheat your oven to 375º and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

•Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium-sized bowl. 

•Cream together butter and both types of sugar. 

•Beat in eggs and vanilla for about 1 minute or until the consistency of the mix is light. 

•Mix in the dry ingredients. 

•Add chocolate chips 

•Take about 2-3 Tablespoons of batter at a time and roll them into spheres, making sure each ball is the same size and that they are all evenly spaced out across the baking sheet. 

•Bake in the oven for about 9 minutes or until the cookies just barely start to turn brown. 

•Let the cookies sit on the pan for a few minutes after being taken out of the oven, until transferring them onto a cooling rack. 

One tip I have is to not worry if the cookies are still doughy after just being taken out of the oven. The toothpick method doesn't work in this case; you must let the cookies sit before they harden, or you’ll end up overcooking them.  

                                2. Lara Jean Valentine’s Day Card

Photo via To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

One thing that some people may also recognize is the type of card that Lara Jean makes for Peter Kavinsky on Valentine’s Day. The technique she uses is paper quilling, and it makes an amazing gift for a loved one. It is quite time-consuming, so set aside a few hours to make the card. There are many ways to get it done, but here is a simple version for even the least crafty people. 

1st: Buy colored paper, preferably red, pink, and green, but any color can be fine. Get normal white papers as well. 

2nd: Cut the papers into thin strips, making them long vertically and thin horizontally.  

3rd: Make a 3D heart shape on your card with two identical strips of paper, which establishes the basis of the work  

Roll the non-white papers into little stubs, using normal or hot glue to secure the spirals. Make some of them smaller and some bigger to add variety to the heart. 

4th: Cut thin lines all along the longer sides of two to three white papers, and as you roll the paper into a stub, you will be able to pull the pieces out to make a type of “flower”. 

5th: Once done with as many spirals as needed to fill out the heart, make longer, oval-shaped spirals that will eventually be placed on the borders of your heart (Check the photo to see what I mean) 

7th: Start the most tedious part, the gluing process. This is when you’ll have to get your hands dirty and start hot-gluing the pieces to the card.  

And voilà! You’ve finished your card and can give it to someone you cherish. I thought it was such a fun craft to spend time on, and I recommend you do it too! 

3. Lara Jean’s Movie and Book Tastes 

Anyone who knows anything about the famous character is aware of her unyielding love for rom-coms, whether in book or movie form. The two movies at the center of the first part of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series are 16 Candles and Fight Club, both iconic movies but completely different on many levels. Even though Fight Club was nothing like the movies Lara Jean usually liked, it still played a big part in the rules she and Peter made for their fake-dating contract. If you really want to get in touch with your inner Lara Jean, start with the classic movies that inspired her. Films like Sixteen Candles, When Harry Met Sally, or You’ve Got Mail capture that dreamy, comforting idea of love.  

Being a “Lara Jean” isn’t just about baking, crafting, or watching romantic comedies. It’s about bringing a little softness into a world that can feel overwhelming. It’s about enjoying small, thoughtful moments, like measuring flour with care, rolling paper into spirals, or watching your favorite movie again just because it still makes you happy. 

For a long time, I thought being introverted meant I needed to change to fit in. But characters like Lara Jean showed me that being quiet isn’t boring, and being gentle isn’t weak. There’s beauty in staying home on a Friday night, writing letters you might never send, and caring about the little things. 

So light a candle, watch a movie, bake some cookies, or make that card you’ve been thinking about. Embrace the gentle, thoughtful parts of yourself. You might discover that your inner Lara Jean has always been there, waiting with a tray of warm chocolate chip cookies.