TL;DR
Belly’s life is thrown into disarray after the perfect summer at Cousins Beach. Susannah’s cancer returns, Conrad shuts everyone out, and Jeremiah struggles to hold the pieces together. Belly finds herself caught in a love triangle with the two brothers while grappling with loss, grief, and the complexities of growing up.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Author & Writing Background
Jenny Han is a bestselling young adult author known for her heartfelt and relatable stories about love, friendship, and self-discovery. Her writing is characterized by its emotional depth, realistic characters, and evocative descriptions of teenage experiences. Han’s other notable works include the ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ series, which was adapted into a popular Netflix film trilogy.
Key Takeaways
Love Triangle
Belly’s feelings for Conrad and Jeremiah intensify, leading to a complicated and emotional love triangle that drives much of the plot.
Loss and Grief
Susannah’s illness and eventual passing cast a shadow over the summer, forcing the characters to confront their grief and mortality.
Coming-of-Age
The book explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood as Belly navigates her changing relationships and responsibilities.
Family Bonds
The importance of family, both biological and chosen, is emphasized throughout the story as the characters lean on each other for support during difficult times.
Friendship
Belly’s friendships with Taylor and other characters provide a source of comfort and stability as she faces challenges in her romantic relationships.
First Love
The book captures the intensity and confusion of first love, exploring the emotional rollercoaster of infatuation, heartbreak, and jealousy.
Summer Setting
Cousins Beach serves as a nostalgic and idyllic backdrop for the story, evoking feelings of freedom, possibility, and bittersweet memories.
Choices and Consequences
Belly is faced with difficult choices that have lasting consequences for herself and those around her, highlighting the complexities of young adulthood.
FAQ about Summer I Turned Pretty
Is this book part of a series?
Yes, ‘It’s Not Summer Without You’ is the second book in the ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ trilogy.
Is this book appropriate for younger teens?
The book deals with mature themes such as death, grief, and romantic relationships, so it may be more suitable for older teens.
Summer I Turned Pretty Quotes
- “I was in love with a boy who was the ocean, and I was just a girl who loved the ocean.”
- “Grief was like the ocean; it was deep and dark and bigger than all of us. And it was always there, waiting for us to step into it.”
- “Maybe that was the best part of summer: the way we could pretend to be different people, even for just a little while.”