The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

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☀️ The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Five-Word Review: Teen love triangle at beach
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5)

👙 First Thoughts

Okay, let’s be honest: I only picked this one up because my 14-year-old daughter Alice is reading it—and I got curious. The Summer I Turned Pretty has absolutely exploded in popularity, especially since it became a hit TV series on Amazon Prime. It’s clear this book isn’t written for me, but I gave it a shot anyway.

And the verdict? Not terrible. Not great. Just...fine. A sweet, easy read with beach vibes, a little love triangle tension, and that classic coming-of-age energy. But also: the nickname “Belly”? Immediate half-star deduction. Who signed off on that?

🌊 Plot Summary (Spoilers Ahead!)

Welcome to Cousins Beach, a fictional seaside paradise in North Carolina. Every summer, Isabel “Belly” Conklin, her mom Laurel, and older brother Steven spend the season at the Fisher family’s beach house, where they reunite with Laurel’s best friend Susannah “Beck” Fisher and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah.

Belly is 15 now, and something about this summer feels different. She's noticed a shift in how people look at her. For the first time, she feels pretty—and she wonders if the Fisher boys might finally start seeing her differently too, especially Conrad, who she’s had a crush on since she was 10.

But things aren’t exactly sunshine and popsicles.

  • Conrad is aloof, moody, and suddenly smoking.

  • Jeremiah is playful and flirty.

  • Steven leaves early to tour colleges with their dad.

  • Susannah’s husband is MIA.

  • The adults are quietly dealing with something serious beneath the surface.

Belly tries to move on from Conrad by dating a boy named Cam, who is sweet and thoughtful, but it's clear from the start that he’s not the one. At parties, Conrad gets weirdly protective when she’s with Cam, sparking hope (and confusion). Jeremiah is also clearly crushing on her. Cue the classic love triangle vibes.

Eventually:

  • Belly and Cam break up.

  • Jeremiah confesses his feelings again (ouch).

  • Belly tells Jeremiah she still likes Conrad.

  • She tells Conrad directly, and he shuts her down.

  • Then—plot twist—Susannah reveals her cancer is back and terminal.

  • Conrad, shaken by the news, later admits to Belly that he does have feelings for her. They share a kiss on the beach.

In the final scene, months later, Belly gets a late-night call. It’s Conrad, outside her house, asking to see her. And yes, she sneaks out.

🏖️ Summer Vibes, Love Triangles & Teen Angst

This is classic teen beach-read material. There are parties, sunsets, sibling bickering, quiet crushes, messy feelings, and an undercurrent of grief. While it’s not exactly unpredictable, it delivers what it promises: melodrama, emotion, and just enough heart to keep you reading.

Do I wish some of the characters were fleshed out a little more? Absolutely. Was Belly kind of passive for most of the story? Yep. But I also get that this book is more about feeling your way through a summer that changes you than about a complex plot.

And for what it’s worth, Jenny Han’s writing is light, digestible, and perfect for binge-reading.

📚 If You Liked This, You Might Also Enjoy:

  • 💌 To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – Another teen romance trilogy by the same author, with more lovable characters and a swoonier lead.

  • 🏄 We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – A summer mystery full of secrets, privilege, and a major twist.

  • 📖 Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch – Set in Italy, but still gives those summer romance and self-discovery vibes.

  • 💔 The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther – Perfect for fans of beach-house drama and second chances.

  • 🌅 Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson – More emotional than romantic, but definitely gives the bittersweet summer experience.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Would I have loved this at 14? Honestly, probably yes. As an adult, it’s sweet but forgettable. The plot plays it safe, the characters aren't super deep, but it’s a quick, brain-off read with plenty of summer feels. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you want.

Will I keep reading the series? Maybe. I’m curious to see where the triangle goes, and apparently Jenny Han dials things up in later books. But next time, I’m skipping the nickname Belly. 🙃

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