The Summer I Turned Pretty

This book is another one that sat on my shelf ever since July 2012 and I wish I read it right away. This would have been a great book to read on vacation since it's a quick light read. This is the perfect summer book.


The story revolves around Belly and her life once she's at the beach house she goes to every summer with her mom, brother, her mothers best friend and her mothers friend's two sons. She has had a crush on the one brother, Conrad for as long as she can remember but she finally decides that this summer will be different and she will move on from him. For a while she does a really good job even meeting a nice guy who is on vacation as well. Of course it can't be that simple. It's not summer without at least a little drama.


For the most part I really liked Belly. She was a nice girl who just wanted her summer to be great. She did get on my nerves sometimes with all of the switching back and forth between guys and the complaining, but it was manageable. The two brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad are completely different from one another. Where Jeremiah is funny and open, Conrad is serious and aloof. Jeremiah is always there trying to make Belly laugh and likes to be goofing off and Conrad prefers to spend time alone and hide in the background.


The romance in this book was sweet and not over the top. It didn't really take away the fact that other things were happening in this story. There are parts that are serious and heartbreaking and it is portrayed in that way and not lightened just for the sake of it being a summer book. The guys are swoon worthy and no matter which one you decide you like better they are both great picks!

I am dying to read the second book in this series by Jenny Han and see what happens.

I love summer!! and summer books!

I loved this book. Before this trilogy, I didn't believe in soulmates - I didn't even like the notion of having that one person who is meant to be with you. However, Belly and her summer boys, their relationships and events, were totally endearing and hypnotizing.

The writing was kind of premature and the language wasn't particularly SAT-style, but I think it matched the innocence of the main character, Belly. Since it was narrated by her mostly, I think it was smart to have her think thoughts that reflected her naive and sweet personality. She explained emotions the way we would actually feel them if we were in her position - vague, inscrutable and confusing. Belly was indecisive, just how any teenage girl would be if she was experiencing that summer.

Surprisingly, this wasn't a fluffy read. It had shocking depth to the story. I liked how the author successfully made you like whichever character deserved it at the time. I couldn't stop thinking about it once I finished reading it. I actually read it online, even though I had put a hold on it in the public library. I was number 114 among 143, but I continued to wait until I got the physical book in my hands, so I could read it again.

It was a coming-of-age series - sad, romantic, sweet, and totally worth the read. Even though the books were really short, and the chapters equally succinct, I would buy the whole trilogy and read them continuously in the hopes that I would meet the brothers some day. They're amazing, and I just wish I could trade places with Belly. By the end of each book, I was happy with the conclusion, but I wanted to cry because there wasn't more. It was bittersweet read, in the best form of the term.

Reader reviewed by Doreen

The summer I turned pretty is a book that once started can not be put down. Jenny Han's words are truly captivating. There is true essence of the character with the feeling like your really in her shoes living out the summer with her. There are times when you laugh so hard you almost fall off your bed and theres times when you cry so much you go through at least 4 tissue boxes. You go through everything with Belly and her experiences at the summer house. I truly wanted to hold on to the memories, the words and never let go. It was a remarkable read. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SECOND ONE. 

Reader reviewed by Kellie

The Summer I Turned Pretty not only perfectly captures the essence of summer--it also nails the awkward, often painful confusion of teenage romance. I read this book in the dead of a winter, and even sitting by the window watching a snowstorm was able to experience the familiar feeling of summer days and nights by the beach.  

     This book offered much more than I anticipated based on the summary.  Belly is a relatable and true character, and her emotions are real.  The relationships are honest and often surprising. The story also presents interesting familial relationships and conflicts, offering a well-rounded picture of Belly's summer experience.

Reader reviewed by Yan

 Okay so I read books before that lose me here and there but The Summer I Turned Pretty takes the cake. I honestly have no idea what the main point of the book is. Was it to show the relationship of Conrad and Belly (Isabel)? If so then the rushing everything in the last chapter does not qualify it. Or was it to showcase the tightness between the two families? Then why would you write half the book solely on Bellys romantic swing. Maybe it was the combination of everythinglove, family, growth, and coming to terms to the present. Even so the execution was choppy.

At first when the author switches back and forth between present summer and past summer I did not like it. The main reason was because I had trouble following the timeline. But then I noticed the age beneath the chapter and it all became clear. Once I got the flow of things I liked how the author reverts back and forth. It gave more detail about Belly and her situation with the summer family.

What I did not seem to like about this book was the non-connection I had to the majority of characters. There were scenes that I had a deep sense of understanding but overall nothing. I guess if I gave more maybe I would have gotten back more. Who knows?

I just do not know what to say about this book. It was finenothing wow, nothing too disturbing to blab on for 5 pages, but nothing really worth picking up.

Overall: I would not really consider this a summer read since it has more of a deeper meaning. More of a fall read when we want to remember summer.

Reader reviewed by Iryna

Belly measures her life in summers.
Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June
and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next
summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most
importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that
Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother
figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one
terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it
all ends up just the way it should have been all along.


I
have five words for you: The Perfect Summer Beach Read. Sure, this
novel like any other does have a few flaws, but other then that, I loved it.

When I first picked The Summer I Turned Pretty
up, all I was expecting was a fun, cute summer read that would remind
me that summer is a time where anything can happen. And I did get that.
From the very first page you can smell the salty air, hear the familiar
music from the beach radio station and feel the sun on your face.
However, under the sand and jugs of ice tea, there's more to this story
of undecided love and friendship.

I think Belly was a good main
character. Not great, but good. Sometimes, I didn't quite understand
her but more often then not when she thought something or did something
I'd say to myself, "That's what I was thinking!" or, "Belly, I totally agree with you." But even more then Belly, I loved the supporting characters. Loved.
From wonderful Susannah who I wished was my mother's best friend to
sweet Cam who I personally fell in love with to the girly Taylor who I
had to laugh and yell at along with Belly.

The flashbacks that
Jenny Han sprinkled through this novel were a great idea. I got to see
a part of the main character that you don't get to often see in books,
and I just thought they were plain interesting.

Now about the
ending . . . I have a few things to say about it. The first time I read
it, I couldn't believe it. In good and bad ways. I kept thinking that
Jenny Han should have led the story down a different path, it should
have been different. But the second time I read this novel, I think I
finally understood. Going down the other path would have been my
decision - not Belly's. And even if Belly had gone that way I don't
think it would have made much sense. Also, the novel kind of has this
unfinished feel to it. Like it has this whole other story that goes
along with it that the author just didn't tell . . . so I'm thrilled to
say that Jenny Han is currently in the works of writing a sequel
called: It's Not Summer Without You.
Yay! I'm super excited to find out what's going to happen to Belly and
the other supporting characters. Write this one quick Jenny, I want to
read it!

P.S. The
cover? At first, I couldn't picture Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad like
that but after reading the book I can't see them any other way. Whoever
did this cover did an absolutely outstanding job on it.

Reprinted here from www.gardenofbooksa.blogspot.com with author's permission.

Reader reviewed by Mariah

This book sounded really light and cute but it turned out to be more of a story about dealing with loss in different ways.

One
of the things I liked was that almost every other chapter the chapter
would talk about on of Belly's memories. The only problem was that I
sometimes could not tell what year it was.

The characters were
well developed and different I found myself starting to like the boys
and wanting them as my boyfriend. The only other problem was that Belly
was a whiner if everything was not perfect she wined which I could not
stand!


reprinted here with author's permission