Book Blog - The Summer I Turned Pretty Series (Jenny Han)
WARNING!!! THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!
So I’ve gotta say my expectations for this series wasn’t too high. And by that I mean, I thought it’d be a lot like Girl Online and I’d feel super old reading it because of how juvenile everything was and how unrelatable it’d be...
But I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of substance in this series! There is so much character development and while my family definitely doesn’t have a summer beach house and I’ve never obsessed over a guy since I was 8, I still found so many relatable things in this series. Love? Yes. Unreciprocated love? Absolutely. Heartbreak from the unreciprocated love? You already know it. Loss? Unfortunately yes. Growing up? Well, I would hope this would be relatable!!! haha
**Also, sidenote, I wrote these reviews/reactions after each book, so stay tuned for the complete series thoughts at the very end! :)
The Summer I Turned Pretty was a bit of a slow start as the first book always is; getting to know the characters and places and relationships. But once I felt established in the story, I was hooked. I was a little annoyed at how freaking obsessed Belly was/is with Conrad. Like sure, have a crush. But dear god, like she should not basically have a panic attack every time he even looks in her direction!!
So yeah... I thought her reactions to him were a little over the top and was very pleased when she had met Cam. I really enjoyed his character and was upset that she basically ghosted him when he had done absolutely nothing wrong. I felt bad for him in the end.
And of course, one iota of attention from Conrad and Belly is head over heels at the drop of a hat - even though he treats her like absolute shit most of the time.
I was so freaking upset for Jeremiah, too. That poor boy laid his little heart on the line and Belly could not care less... I know she did, but I just cringed when she was telling Conrad how she felt. Like literally cringing.
And again, I just don’t get her fascination with him in the first place. She deserves so much better... *cough cough* Jeremiah *cough* But alas, Conrad decided to give her a glance at the end and I gotta say, I didn’t care for it. Luckily there are 2 more books still!
It’s Not Summer Without You was not what I had been expecting at all. The first book looked like Belly was getting her happy ending, and since it involved Conrad, of course, she didn’t get it. Shocker. But it took a little too long for my liking to get to the reason why they weren’t together anymore. And I was tired of hearing Belly complain and mope and pine for Conrad still. It was exhausting to read about so I don’t know how her friends kept up with it!! hahaha
On a serious note, Susannah’s whole story absolutely breaks my heart. She was truly the glue that held everything together. Everything and everyone. When she died, it wasn’t surprising to see everyone kind of fall apart. It really touched a nerve and hit home with me just being able to relate to a person like her who changes the lives of everyone around. As much as I don’t care for Conrad when it comes to Belly. I honestly do care about him as a person. Sure, he deals with things the wrong way, but he is who he is and everything he does has a reason behind it and I’m glad they showed more of that side of him.
Which brings me to Jeremiah. Oh, how I loved reading his chapters!! And WOW did things get juicy QUICK!!
I was not expecting any of that to happen towards the end but praise Jesus I’m so glad it did! Also loved seeing Belly grow up in that moment and realize that she needed to move on if she ever wanted even a chance at happiness. So Book 2 definitely tops Book 1. Let’s just hope Belly and Jeremiah last a bit longer than Belly and Conrad did and I’m not reading Chapter 1 finding out that they’ve already broken up...
*I wrote this commentary as I was reading the book, so enjoy my inner thoughts hahaha ;)*
We’ll Always Have Summer started out MUCH better than Book 2! I mean way to just start off nice and calm with Belly in college studying for finals and acing them and going to take a nap and then nonchalantly mentioning Jeremiah in her bed. LIKE WAIT WHAT BACK UP. YES THANK YOU I’M SO HAPPY!!
And then immediately taking this happiness away from literally ALL OF US in the very next chapter... Stupid boys...
AND THEN JESUS CHRIST THIS BOOK IS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER AND I’M ONLY ON CHAPTER 11?!?!
And excuse me, why is she freaking dreaming about CONRAD?!?! I will be so mad if they end up together...
Also, props to Tayler for chilling the fuck out. Well, sort of. But like she’s growing up and she is a really great friend to Belly!
Oh no. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh NOOOOO. Uh-uh. NOPE. I refuse.
Jeremiah’s chapters were welcomed because Jere is sweet and charming and funny and NICE TO BELLY. Why the HELL does Conrad have his own damn chapters??! I mean it’s nice to find out what he’s actually thinking for once, but DO NOT make me start feeling sorry for him. NO.
Again, if she ditches sweet Jeremiah for him, I will be livid. LIVID.
Ok, fam. Like calm down. Sure they’re ‘young’. But is it necessary to react like that?! To outright REFUSE to go to your only daughter’s wedding? Especially when everyone knew one of the boys would marry Belly eventually. Like this shouldn’t be a shocker. I don’t get the dramatics of it.
Great. Of COURSE, Conrad is staying in Cousins, too. This won’t turn into anything. Nope. Never.
Ok. Wedding plans. More wedding plans.
Sweet baby Jesus. I can’t handle this.
Ok. Phew. Everything is fine. Wait. What? NO. What’s happening?!? BELLY JUST SAY NO. DIDN’T YOU LEARN ANYTHING FROM D.A.R.E.?!?! JUST SAY NO!!
So. Just finished Book 3. Not happy. I just will NEVER understand going back to some guy who hurts you over and over and over. I will never approve of that and I will judge you for doing that. It’s not okay and I don’t care how ‘in love’ you think you are. People who love you don’t continuously hurt you. Period. God, I’m so disappointed in the way this story turned out.
Positives? Jenny Han is a fantastic storyteller. Homegirl can WRITE!
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