Review Detail

In this first book of the Summer series we meet 15 yr old Belly Conklin (real name Isabel), her brother Steven and their friends Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. They spend every summer together at the Fisher's beach house at Cousins Beach with their moms, Laurel and Susannah "Beck" Fisher who are lifelong friends.

Belly, having grown up with "Beck's" boys has always been plagued by being the "little sister". They've teased her, picked on her, done all the things that big brothers do and she's certainly done her fair share of tattling or pouting just to get her way. The three boys are as close as brothers and have only allowed Belly limited access in their club-like relationship. All that's about to change this summer when she shows up and they see for themselves that little Belly Button isn't a kid anymore...she looks like a real live girl. Watch out boys!

Steven, Belly's older brother is the epitome of "big brother". He's just the right balance of annoying and protectiveness. He notices that his little sister has changed (which totally grosses him out) but at the same time he still wants to be sure she's OK. He goes home early this summer so he can visit colleges with his Dad, leaving Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah to fend for themselves which creates an interesting predicament.

Jeremiah (the youngest Fisher boy), is the closet in age to Belly and they're best friends. He's the funny, outgoing one - the kid that everyone loves to have around, the life of the party. He's also pretty cute.

Conrad Fisher, the oldest of the group is just as hot but more reserved, brooding almost and is the one boy that Belly has been in love with for as long as she can remember. When she thinks about her "forever" she thinks of Conrad. The only problem? He doesn't notice her, he never has, not any more than just plain old Belly. At least, not until this summer...

Laurel and Susannah have known each other forever and have been through the thick and thin of it as friends. They've been coming to the beach house every summer since before they even had the kids and are like second mother's to each others children. Susannah jokes that Belly was born just so she could marry one of her Fisher boys and she would be happy with whomever Belly ended up with. Susannah has a secret though, one that will forever change things at Cousins Beach.

Summer ends an there's both a new beginning and an ending in sight that will only add to the changes they've all experienced this year.