One sentence summary:
Belly must navigate love, friendship, and family as she returns to the beach house for her final summer before college and comes to terms with her feelings for the two brothers she grew up with.
Book genre:
Young adult, romance, coming-of-age
Main topic of the book:
The complexities of love, friendship, and growing up as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl spending her final summer at the beach house she has known her whole life.
Key ideas:
- The importance of family and childhood memories.
- The confusion and emotional turmoil of young love.
- The power of forgiveness and moving forward.
Main parts of the book and a short summary:
- The Summer I Turned Pretty: The first summer in the series, where we are introduced to Belly and the two Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly must navigate her complicated feelings for the brothers and their changing relationships as they all spend their summer at the beach house.
- It’s Not Summer Without You: The second summer, where Belly and the Fisher family deal with the aftermath of a tragedy and the return of an estranged family member. Belly also must come to terms with her feelings for Conrad and Jeremiah, as they both compete for her attention.
- We’ll Always Have Summer: The final summer before college, where the Fisher family and their relationships are put to the test. Belly must decide between Conrad and Jeremiah, while also dealing with the repercussions of past decisions and family secrets.
Key takeaways:
- The importance of cherishing childhood memories and family bonds.
- The complexities of first love and navigating emotions.
- The power of forgiveness and moving forward.
Author’s background and qualifications:
Jenny Han is a New York Times bestselling author known for her Young Adult novels. She has written multiple series, including “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” and “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” Han has received numerous accolades for her writing, including the ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults and the CLA Young Adult Book Award.
Target audience:
Young adults, particularly teenage girls, who enjoy coming-of-age stories and romance.
Publisher and first publication date:
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2009.