The Summer I Turned Pretty

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Summer
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I love summer!! and summer books!
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So many people have been recommending this book to me and I’m so glad I finally picked it up because it was so so good! Written by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty was a breathtaking story about a girl named Belly who goes to a beach house every summer with her mom and brother to visit her moms best friend Susannah and her two sons Jeremiah & Conrad. Belly falls for Conrad during one of the first two summers and every summer she falls deeper and deeper in love with him.

Let’s start with Belly. Such an odd nickname right? But it makes the story 10 times more interesting. Anyways Belly is the kind of character who you first think is so childish and annoying but she grows on you by the end. She wasn’t like that to me at first but as the flashbacks started happening I got whole new perspectives of her.

Now on to the boys! First we have Belly’s brother Steven who isn’t a huge part to the story but he is a little part. He’s always teasing Belly like any other brother. Belly’s best friend in the story, the one whose always there for her the one that really understands her Jeremiah. I had mixed feelings for Jere throughout the story first I wanted them to be together then I liked them more as friends and so on. But in the end I’m happy how they ended up. Lastly we have the famous Conrad. I was totally for Conrad the whole time. I don’t know what it is but I kind of have a thing for Dark, messed up guys and Conrad fits in that category.

I feel like the ending of this book would be good to just end everything. Like there didn’t mean to be anymore to the story you just could picture your own ending. But there are a few more books In the series that I’m eager to get my hands on it!
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bittersweet - in the good way
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I loved this book. Before this trilogy, I didn't believe in soulmates - I didn't even like the notion of having that one person who is meant to be with you. However, Belly and her summer boys, their relationships and events, were totally endearing and hypnotizing.

The writing was kind of premature and the language wasn't particularly SAT-style, but I think it matched the innocence of the main character, Belly. Since it was narrated by her mostly, I think it was smart to have her think thoughts that reflected her naive and sweet personality. She explained emotions the way we would actually feel them if we were in her position - vague, inscrutable and confusing. Belly was indecisive, just how any teenage girl would be if she was experiencing that summer.

Surprisingly, this wasn't a fluffy read. It had shocking depth to the story. I liked how the author successfully made you like whichever character deserved it at the time. I couldn't stop thinking about it once I finished reading it. I actually read it online, even though I had put a hold on it in the public library. I was number 114 among 143, but I continued to wait until I got the physical book in my hands, so I could read it again.

It was a coming-of-age series - sad, romantic, sweet, and totally worth the read. Even though the books were really short, and the chapters equally succinct, I would buy the whole trilogy and read them continuously in the hopes that I would meet the brothers some day. They're amazing, and I just wish I could trade places with Belly. By the end of each book, I was happy with the conclusion, but I wanted to cry because there wasn't more. It was bittersweet read, in the best form of the term.
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Oh boy was it pretty
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Reader reviewed by Doreen

The summer I turned pretty is a book that once started can not be put down. Jenny Han's words are truly captivating. There is true essence of the character with the feeling like your really in her shoes living out the summer with her. There are times when you laugh so hard you almost fall off your bed and theres times when you cry so much you go through at least 4 tissue boxes. You go through everything with Belly and her experiences at the summer house. I truly wanted to hold on to the memories, the words and never let go. It was a remarkable read. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SECOND ONE. 
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A "Pretty" Good Book!
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Reader reviewed by Iryna

Belly measures her life in summers.
Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June
and August. 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. 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. But one summer, one
terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it
all ends up just the way it should have been all along.



I
have five words for you: The Perfect Summer Beach Read. Sure, this
novel like any other does have a few flaws, but other then that, I loved it.

When I first picked The Summer I Turned Pretty
up, all I was expecting was a fun, cute summer read that would remind
me that summer is a time where anything can happen. And I did get that.
From the very first page you can smell the salty air, hear the familiar
music from the beach radio station and feel the sun on your face.
However, under the sand and jugs of ice tea, there's more to this story
of undecided love and friendship.

I think Belly was a good main
character. Not great, but good. Sometimes, I didn't quite understand
her but more often then not when she thought something or did something
I'd say to myself, "That's what I was thinking!" or, "Belly, I totally agree with you." But even more then Belly, I loved the supporting characters. Loved.
From wonderful Susannah who I wished was my mother's best friend to
sweet Cam who I personally fell in love with to the girly Taylor who I
had to laugh and yell at along with Belly.

The flashbacks that
Jenny Han sprinkled through this novel were a great idea. I got to see
a part of the main character that you don't get to often see in books,
and I just thought they were plain interesting.

Now about the
ending . . . I have a few things to say about it. The first time I read
it, I couldn't believe it. In good and bad ways. I kept thinking that
Jenny Han should have led the story down a different path, it should
have been different. But the second time I read this novel, I think I
finally understood. Going down the other path would have been my
decision - not Belly's. And even if Belly had gone that way I don't
think it would have made much sense. Also, the novel kind of has this
unfinished feel to it. Like it has this whole other story that goes
along with it that the author just didn't tell . . . so I'm thrilled to
say that Jenny Han is currently in the works of writing a sequel
called: It's Not Summer Without You.
Yay! I'm super excited to find out what's going to happen to Belly and
the other supporting characters. Write this one quick Jenny, I want to
read it!

P.S. The
cover? At first, I couldn't picture Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad like
that but after reading the book I can't see them any other way. Whoever
did this cover did an absolutely outstanding job on it.

Reprinted here from www.gardenofbooksa.blogspot.com with author's permission.

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