The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1)

by Jenny Han

Lola Tung (Narrator)

• ISBN13: 9798200902910
• Publish Date: 20 May 2022 (first published 5 May 2009)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 6 hours
• Language: English

Reviews

[Stephanie]

The Summer I Turned Pretty wasn't automatically a favorite of mine. It took a few days of thinking about it that really made me realize this book will now be one of my favorites. And I have to admit that I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, I usually don't fall in love with books like this one.

The thing about this book was that I related to Belly so much. I have two older brothers and I was always the youngest one of the group and I was always the one tagging along even though I wasn't invited or I was the one left behind. And that's what Belly went through. The thing that really struck me was that this was Belly's last real summer at the beach house, and she was sad about it. She didn't want anything to change. She wanted it to be like it always was. But a lot of things were changing. She isn't the little girl anymore and everyone around her is off doing their own thing now, when Belly just wants to do the regular things they always did.

I'm so glad Jenny Han captured that stage in the youngest siblings life, when the older siblings are to old too be hanging out with their younger sibling, and the youngest is stuck at home still wanting to do the same things they always did. Older siblings don't have to go through this, and probably don't realize that this is how their younger siblings feel.

But of course, that's not what the story is all about, that was what stuck out to me, for obvious reasons. Belly was so caught up in finally being able to be part of Conrad, Steven, and Jeremiah's 'group' that she didn't see what was really happening around her.

I couldn't figure out what Belly saw in Conrad, he was moody most of the time, and sometimes mean. I loved Jeremiah though, he was always so upbeat and trying to make everyone happy and is Belly's best friend. Completely the opposite of Conrad. I found myself wishing she would go for Jeremiah and give up on her crush on Conrad.

This book is not light and fluffy, though it is an easy read. I felt like I only read a few pages when I really read 100 pages. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to have a nice, easy summer read.

[Jo]

Everything that happened this past summer, and every summer before it, has all led up to this. To now. Every year Isabel - Belly - spends a perfect summer at her family friends’ house. There’s the swimming pool at night, the private stretch of sandy beach... and the two boys. Unavailable, aloof Conrad – who she’s been in love with forever – and friendly, relaxed Jeremiah, the only one who’s ever really paid her any attention. But this year something is different. They seem to have noticed her for the first time. It’s going to be an amazing summer – and one she’ll never forget... From Amazon UK

With all the freezing cold weather we've been having in the UK recently, I fancied reading something that would make me feel warm - so what better than a holiday, summer read? I picked this book up half expecting to enjoy it - a love triangle is always enjoyable - but half expecting not to be wowed that much - light, summer reads are normally quick and enjoyable, but not much to write home about. How wrong I was! This book is just brilliant!

At first, I thought I was going to end up disliking it. It's not clear for a while exactly how old Belly is, and she felt quite young. I'm not really the best fan of novels for those at the beginning of the teenage spectrum. Although I'm a big kid, I've matured past that level, and find their interests - or at least the interests teens that age are pretrayed to have - well, uninteresting. And Belly seemed to be one of these young girls who worried about and liked things that just aren't me. But after a few chapters, I realised these were only small things, and she started to seem older. I came to really like her.

One of the things I really liked about this book was how every now and then, a chapter would be dedicated to a summer at the beach house from the past, and would say under chapter number how old Belly was at the time. They're not necessarily in chronological order, but they're linked to things that happen this summer, things that remind Belly of past holidays. It was great to see all the characters at various ages, to see their individual personalities stay pretty much the same, but see them mature.

This is more than just a light read, though. Serious issues are covered, like divorce and betrayal of friendship. It's not always smiles and laughter, there are a fair few sad moments, both in Belly's romantic situation, but also in the much bigger picture. There were so many times when I wanted to hug pretty much all the main characters, and even some of the side characters. For such a quick read, a lot of heart-string tugging moments are packed in, without it being depressing. Though I was close to tears at some points.

This really is a brilliant book! Sad and sweet and lovely all at the same time. A really, really good book, I can't recommend it enough. I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel, It's Not Summer Without You, which will be released in summer 2011. It's going to be awesome!

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