Teen Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Her entire life, Belly has spent every summer at her mother’s best friend, Susannah’s, house. There’s lots to love about those summers – spending quality time with each other's families, the beach behind the house, and especially the boys; Susannah’s two sons: Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. Belly has loved Conrad since she was little, but he has never paid her any interest. Jeremiah is her best friend, being there for her again and again. This summer, everything’s different. Belly’s changed, and her childhood dreams of being more than just the little girl just might come true. 

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a must read, a classic, summer love triangle. Han does an amazing job of capturing the feeling of summer into a novel, making the reading experience highly enjoyable and nostalgic. Throughout the book, we learn more and more about Belly’s memories at the cousin’s house through flashbacks at different ages, giving us more insight into her lifelong crush on Conrad. Belly doesn’t have very much character development throughout the book, but there is a noticeable change in the later books as she grows older. The story follows a love-triangle trope, and readers who enjoy this dynamic will thoroughly enjoy the entire series, while those who don’t might find it frustrating.  

This is the perfect summer read that feels like a rom-com – nostalgic and entertaining. It is an amazing book, and can be highly recommended to readers who have enjoyed The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther, and Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch.  

Rating: 4.5/5