Yes, for the simple fact that I could personally connect to many of the memories, but also because it helped me to understand the characters even more and where they are coming from.īelly knows her summer is going to be monumental and I know we have all had that perfect summer the summer where everything changes. Each flashback was a memory from her summers at the beach and I was positively immersed in each one. I adored the glimpses into the Belly's past. I was also impressed by her narration techniques. You become invested in the characters and their situations. This novel is definitely character driven and Han really reels the reader in. Like it had been waiting for me to get there."īrilliant, right? Not only was I mesmerized by Han and her writing style, but also her character development. The wind making my hair feel sticky, the salty sea breeze, all of it felt just right. The air tasted just the same, smelled just the same. "I rolled down the window and took it all in. It was like you were throwing away part of yourself." She and I were still friends, but not the best friends, not like we used to be. "After she left, after that summer, things were the same and they weren't. When you walk on the beach at night, you can say things you can't say in real life." It feels like you could walk forever, like the whole night is yours and so is the ocean. "For me there was -is- nothing better than walking on the beach late at night. There were parts of this novel that I wanted to write down, because it truly spoke to me and was "quotable." Here are a few: I have spent many summers down the shore and often times, while reading this novel, I felt like parts of it were taken straight out of my life! Even if you aren't a fan of "summer" novels, one cannot deny Jenny Han's brilliant writing style.
I, too, define my life by my summers and I instantly connected with her. It's one of the best coming of age novels that I've read in a long time.įirst of all, my feelings towards this book may be bias, because like Belly, I am a summer girl.
Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty is the ultimate beach read, but it is more than just fluff. Belly knows that this is going to be the summer that changes everything and she's right. As they get older and become teenagers, Belly realizes that she has a crush on the one brother. Belly has spent her summers trying to be a part of the "boys club" and their various adventures. This is mostly because of Susannah's fun loving sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly and her brother, Steven, have been spending their summers down there as kids and pretty much living out kid's dream summer.
She can't wait to spend her entire summer at her mom's best friend's beach house.
But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along."īelly lives for summer.literally. 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. 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. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Goodreads says, " Some summers are just destined to be pretty.