Actors Lana Condor and Noah Centineo return to us with their fairy-tale ending in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: Always and Forever.

Fortunately, production for the installment began long before the pandemic shut anything down, allowing the release of the third and final volume Always and Forever to air on Netflix on time.

While the first To All the Boys skyrocketed with plenty of rewatchers, the sequel, P.S. I Love You, fell flat for many. However, Michael Fimognari, director of Always and Forever, does a good job of delivering on a memorable and entertaining movie this time.

The highlight was watching our main characters, Lara Jean and Peter, mature into individuals supportive of each other’s choices, even heartbreaking decisions.

The name of the volume, “Always and Forever,” becomes their contract believing they can thrive in the midst of attending separate colleges. They battle between life changing decisions and concerns of future regret. 

Together they learned to prioritize each other’s futures and personal growth, agreeing distance couldn’t change what they have. 

“But we’re not like those other couples. We are Lara Jean and Peter,” is a line I couldn’t forget because their understanding of real love was determined by choosing each other over and over again.

Their love story continues to remind others to put your future first and explore what life has to offer you, even if distance separates you from loved ones.

This year’s seniors might feel particularly heartbroken when they see the “Class of 2021” banners in the hallways during the movie and as they watch the senior field trips, prom and graduation on the screen that they will probably never get to experience for themselves in a traditional manner.

But, like I said, the movie is about how strong we can be even when we are far apart, a powerful message that resonates strongly in this movie. As a result, Always and Forever is a charming, if a little bittersweet, movie that many are sure to enjoy.