The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty” is a young adult novel by Jenny Han. The story follows Belly, a teenage girl who has spent every summer of her life at the beach house with her mother, brother, and their family friends, the Conleys. This summer, however, things are different. Belly’s mother is getting married and Belly is starting to realize that her feelings for Conrad, the Conley’s oldest son, may be more than just a childhood crush. As Belly navigates the ups and downs of love and friendship, she also struggles with her own insecurities and the pressure to grow up and become the person she wants to be.
Throughout the book, Belly’s relationships with the Conley boys, Conrad and Jeremiah, are central to the story. Belly has always had a special bond with Conrad, but as she starts to see him in a different light, she finds herself torn between her feelings for him and her loyalty to Jeremiah, Conrad’s brother. The story also explores the theme of family and the bonds that hold people together, as Belly struggles to come to terms with her mother’s new relationship and the changes it brings to their family dynamic.
The novel is written in a relatable, honest, and authentic voice that captures the struggles of growing up and falling in love. It is a coming-of-age story that explores the complexities of teenage relationships and the search for self-identity. The book also explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the complexities of family dynamics.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first in a trilogy, followed by It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer. The series is a heart-warming and nostalgic read that will resonate with anyone who has ever had a summer romance or struggled to figure out who they are and what they want in life. It is a must-read for fans of contemporary young adult fiction.
After reading, and loving, Jenny Han’s series ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’, I thought I’d check out another series from the author and came across ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’.
I really enjoyed Belly’s story and the love triangle blossoming between her and the two brothers. It was a really fun dynamic, being as before this Summer happened – Belly was an outsider, the ‘little sister’ they didn’t want to hang around with except when teasing her, etc. The boys treated her differently and after all those years of desperately hoping she’d be welcomed in to the group – also including her older brother, Steven – she had finally found her way in.
If you love a story that has you picking a team, this one is the one – Team Conrad? or Team Jeremiah? Personally, I was definitely more #TeamJeremiah because he was the most genuine and lovely brother of the two, treating her as the best friend she had always been. Even if that meant pushing his long-lasting feelings towards her away and accepting the fact that the only person she’d have her eyes on that Summer,