The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1)

by Jenny Han

[Angie]

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a very breezy and light Contemporary read about friends, family, first love, and fun. Belly, our narrator, has spent every single summer of her life at a beach house with her brother, mother, and their close friends, Susannah, Jeremiah, and Conrad. Belly has also been in love with Conrad since she was eleven years old, and this is the Summer he might finally notice her as a girl, rather than Steven's little sister.

I really liked how the story jumped from the present to past summers. The chapters are clearly labeled so it was never confusing. It was nice to see just how close these two families have been for so many years, and how they got to where they are now. Things are very different between Belly and boys between when she was little and now. Although, some things never change, like her being treated like a little sister.

Belly does come across as a little immature though. We're told she's smart and artistic, but these things never come through in her actions or thoughts. It's almost like she's still that eleven year old who wants to hang out with the big boys. I also didn't really understand her attraction to Conrad. Even in the flashbacks he seemed kind of aloof and just there. He was particularly nice or funny or anything, and in the present summer he's actually kind of an ass. I just didn't get it. Jeremiah though was a great guy in the past and present, and I wished Belly would take notice.

While there is no real, identifiable plot I still enjoyed watching Belly's sixteenth summer unfold. It's light and fluffy on the surface, but there's a looming bad feeling from almost the beginning. At the end when it's revealed, it's not at all a shock, but I don't think it was suppose to be. It just amplified how self-absorbed Belly was being that she didn't even notice when everyone else did.

Unfortunately, I didn't have an emotional connection to the story, which is what keeps me from rating it higher. I also don't agree with Belly's choice at the end. I feel like she's trying too hard to hold onto the past, but I'm hoping she can learn her lesson in the next book.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.