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cupofbooksreviews's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have given The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han four out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The summer vibes were immaculate and Han’s writing transported me directly to the summer house where I wanted to bask in the sun and splash in the pool with Conrad, Jeremiah, Belly and Steven.
I watched the tv series before reading this book, which is unlike me but when you have a never ending TBR and are desperate to watch tv shows then sacrifices have to be made! I don’t know if my memory is clouded but I can’t remember Belly being as whiny in the tv show than she was in the book. I understand that we read flashbacks and that she’s presently fifteen (turning sixteen), however there were a lot of things that she did which made me look at her in a very immature light and it infuriated me at times.
Love triangles isn’t my favourite trope but I’m here for the Conrad and Jeremiah content.
I love Jenny Han and want to read everything she’s ever written!
A super fast, summery read which I did enjoy and look forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy!
The summer vibes were immaculate and Han’s writing transported me directly to the summer house where I wanted to bask in the sun and splash in the pool with Conrad, Jeremiah, Belly and Steven.
I watched the tv series before reading this book, which is unlike me but when you have a never ending TBR and are desperate to watch tv shows then sacrifices have to be made! I don’t know if my memory is clouded but I can’t remember Belly being as whiny in the tv show than she was in the book. I understand that we read flashbacks and that she’s presently fifteen (turning sixteen), however there were a lot of things that she did which made me look at her in a very immature light and it infuriated me at times.
Love triangles isn’t my favourite trope but I’m here for the Conrad and Jeremiah content.
I love Jenny Han and want to read everything she’s ever written!
A super fast, summery read which I did enjoy and look forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness and Cancer
ashleyjean6's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A coming of age story set in a seemingly perfect small US beach town. The premise, mother & kids going away Dan's the father's for the summer, reminds me of other books set early in the 1900s near NYC (a la mad men). However this is YA and ALL about the kids, particularly the lone girl, and youngest, in the bunch. There are some problematic passages about diet culture/ body image that I really disliked. They're not even needed!! I'd let my elementary aged daughter read this, except not because of that. (It's not the focus of the book. But those stupid asides are what get stuck in a young girls head). The ending leaves you hanging, so have the next book in the series ready. I also enjoyed the narrator.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Cancer, and Terminal illness
dblue236's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
By the time I got halfway through this book, it was glaringly apparent to me that I am not its target audience. But having said that, I can absolutely see its appeal for teenage girls and if I had read it 20-25 years ago, I probably would have adored it. It's well written and the characters are lovable, and once I learned to get past the massive amount of teen angst, I did enjoy the story. The "big reveal" toward the end was painfully obvious from about 20 pages in, but it was a good bit of escapism and overall I enjoyed it despite being too old and cynical for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Chronic illness, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
lucyatoz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is a young adult story featuring Isabel, or as she goes by her nickname in the book Belly, which I think most teenagers would have bulked at!
This novel has issues. Belly is an annoying teenager, with an internal monologue which did get some what irritating. Jeremiah and Conrad, the son's of her Mum's best friend, are the people who she has spent the Summer with, along with her brother Steven, for a long time. They are your typical American boys, who enjoy swimming, football, playing computer games, and teasing Belly.
It is not my kind of read personally, but wanted to read something that I would not normally read. They are some topics that affect teenagers, such as drinking alcohol and using drugs, which are mentioned but not really elaborated on. Both mother's are divorced, or about to be, with one also having a relapse of cancer, which again is touched on but not really part of the story as such. It is mainly centred around Belly and, for me, this lead to very self-centred story, when it could have been so much more.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on cloudLibrary. I read this for prompt 10, told in a non-chronological order, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
This novel has issues. Belly is an annoying teenager, with an internal monologue which did get some what irritating. Jeremiah and Conrad, the son's of her Mum's best friend, are the people who she has spent the Summer with, along with her brother Steven, for a long time. They are your typical American boys, who enjoy swimming, football, playing computer games, and teasing Belly.
It is not my kind of read personally, but wanted to read something that I would not normally read. They are some topics that affect teenagers, such as drinking alcohol and using drugs, which are mentioned but not really elaborated on. Both mother's are divorced, or about to be, with one also having a relapse of cancer, which again is touched on but not really part of the story as such. It is mainly centred around Belly and, for me, this lead to very self-centred story, when it could have been so much more.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on cloudLibrary. I read this for prompt 10, told in a non-chronological order, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Blood, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
1721egp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Look, it's not bad. This is the kind of book you read while you're laying on the beach and need an easy vacation read or in the backseat during a roadtrip. There's no real plot, but it does end on a cliffhanger that makes you interested in seeing what happens next.
I would've liked to see more character development, for Belly to take some accountability for her actions, but again, I didn't dislike it. The concept is there for a great YA novel with some substance but it just doesn't perform.
I would've liked to see more character development, for Belly to take some accountability for her actions, but again, I didn't dislike it. The concept is there for a great YA novel with some substance but it just doesn't perform.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent and Body shaming
saramoser's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Okay-surprisingly, I got so invested in this. A short, enjoyable coming of age story with lovable characters. I just put the second book in the series on hold. - also looking forward to watching the show!
Listened on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator.
Listened on audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Drug use
tieraneysreadingcorner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i literally only listened to this because lola was the narrator, i loved her in the series so much! i wish more book adaptations would do that… it makes it a better experience imo.
let me tell you how DIFFERENT the book is from the show, i completely loved the show before and after reading this. the added parts made it sooooo much better.
ngl belly was better in the show.. i really forgot how old she was until she started being a whiney brat- like valid bc taylor is ew, but why does this girl think everything is about her? 😂 people have other things going on miss girl.
that’s the major thing i’m glad they rewrote on the show. another thing is seeing more of conrad on the show, obviously this book is told from belly’s POV, but she was so stuck in her own world that she couldn’t see him hurting?? granted shes 15/16 every teenage girl is in their own world.. but forreal girl you can’t have jer, connie AND cam.. you gotta pick.
i really wish there was more conrad in the book, can you tell im team conrad 👀🤭….
jeremiah was less whiney in the book than in the show ngl, the whole thing of him and belly he really took it with grace- WAYYYYY better than the show imo. but i wouldn’t change what they did bc #teamconniebaby 🌝
i will be continuing bc i NEED to know if the second starts off like season 2… is very scene with connie a flashback?? or do we actually get it in real time?? 👀
let me tell you how DIFFERENT the book is from the show, i completely loved the show before and after reading this. the added parts made it sooooo much better.
ngl belly was better in the show.. i really forgot how old she was until she started being a whiney brat- like valid bc taylor is ew, but why does this girl think everything is about her? 😂 people have other things going on miss girl.
that’s the major thing i’m glad they rewrote on the show. another thing is seeing more of conrad on the show, obviously this book is told from belly’s POV, but she was so stuck in her own world that she couldn’t see him hurting?? granted shes 15/16 every teenage girl is in their own world.. but forreal girl you can’t have jer, connie AND cam.. you gotta pick.
i really wish there was more conrad in the book, can you tell im team conrad 👀🤭….
jeremiah was less whiney in the book than in the show ngl, the whole thing of him and belly he really took it with grace- WAYYYYY better than the show imo. but i wouldn’t change what they did bc #teamconniebaby 🌝
i will be continuing bc i NEED to know if the second starts off like season 2… is very scene with connie a flashback?? or do we actually get it in real time?? 👀
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcohol, Grief, and Cancer
hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Drug use, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcohol, Cancer, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying and Body shaming
Minor: Classism and Homophobia
ninaleeray's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book shows the internal workings and external processes and experiences of a young woman being of age, building relationships and dealing with family hardships. A real page turner.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Body shaming, Terminal illness, and Alcoholism
katelynndzindzio's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness