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 wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
Details: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, 276 pages, 4.07 stars on Goodreads
My Thoughts: I read this around mid-September, as the summer was definitely fading, but this book transported me right back to balmy, carefree days. While the main focus was romance, the book did brush upon more serious topics, making it a little more than just a shallow story. The characters were all multi-dimensional and well-developed, and although the romantic plot was rather predictable, it was sweet, endearing, and moved at a good pace.
The one character I didn't like as much was Belly (short for Isabel, and I really hated that nickname). I could relate to her for the most part, but there were definitely times when she was petty and irritating. I was frustrated with her at times because she seemed so immature, but ultimately, I was able to root for her to the end.
I was disappointed with the ending. It wasn't bad and it did work, but it felt like a cop-out. As I said, this plot was pretty predictable, but I was still hoping for a surprise twist. All in all, I liked the book. It didn't grab me as much as I hoped it would, and I'm not raring to get the next books in the series any time soon, but it's still worth a read if you want something light but not too light, or even if it's just a little too cold outside.
Plot - 2/5
Characters - 3.5/5
Writing - 4/5
Impact - 2/5
Inability to put it down - 2.5/5
Overall - 54% = C+
7 comments:
I haven't read this yet and I'm not sure if I will. Maybe like you said if I want to be reminded of summer when it's cold out. I think it's important to actually like the main character so if she's petty and irritating that doesn't sound good. Great review!
I haven't read this one yet but I did have a HS student come in to the library raving about it. She really loved it and wanted a sequel. So the sequel got added to my next order. Great review! It doesn't look like I need to read it anytime soon. Happy reading!
I've heard a lot of mixed things about this book, and I'm not sure if it's one for me or not. I'll probably check and see if the library has it. Thanks for your honest review! :)
I definitely glanced at that book as I perused the bookstore this summer because the cover caught my eye, but for some reason I never picked it up. Now I'm kind of glad I didn't! I too can see the annoyingness of that nickname! Belly? Seriously! Isabel is a pretty name!
Not a book I would probably read but I love your review! And I wish it were still summer :)
I'm really excited to read this one. I've read lots of reviews on it, and this is one of the few "negative" reviews I've read. Thanks for the review though. I'll kind in mind about the main character.
Sounds like a good summer read but not something to make you think too much or surprise you. :) Great and honest review! Thanks!
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