The Summer I Turned Pretty (The Summer I Turned Pretty #1) by Jenny Han

*Sigh*


You know when I begin a review with a sigh, it's either really good... or really bad.

This one is exceptional. This is probably the 3rd or 4th time I've read this book in the last 10 years and never has it ever disappointed me. In fact, after a few rough days recently, I was looking for a reread that would be quick and reliable for giving me the feels and making me melt. This book (and entire trilogy) always does that for me. It's a great beach read, but even now, in the middle of January, while I am nowhere near a beach, it still was the perfect dosage of sunshine, romance, and escapism.

Click the cover to read the full synopsis on Goodreads!

Now, I know what you might be thinking. "The Summer I Turned Pretty?" Kind of a silly-sounding name. But that's really what this book is about! Isabel (Belly) spends every summer the same way-in a beach house with her mom and brother, Steven, shared by her mom's best friend and her two sons, Jeremiah and Conrad. Seeing Jeremiah and Conrad every summer has led to the development of friendships of course, but this summer.. This summer is different. Belly is turning 16 and the boys are starting to notice her in a different way. The friendship is still there, but is there something more?

I will admit, there are other covers for this series that, when I first saw, made me swoon. But after rereading book 1 this week (in a single sitting, I might add!), I am so so glad I have the original covers. They capture the feel of the story better, in my opinion.

1. Characters: The characters aren't cookie-cutter flawless. They're real, and I love them all. Honestly, I feel a bit like they're my own friends. Like I know them. Which is ridiculous... right? There are lots and lots of books with characters I enjoy, but there are very few that I feel intimately close to, and these characters are just that. 

2. Story: I gave you a brief rundown of the story already, so I'll skip the re-hash there. But let me just say, this story is beautiful. The fact that it's a trilogy is amazing, but the fact that this first book so solidly sets up a contemporary for later installments is what I love. Most contemporaries are stand-alones, which is fine, but with how developed and intimate (I know I already used that word, but I'm not sure what else to call it!) of a connection Jenny Han creates between the characters, the story simply had to extend beyond this first book. 

3. Author's Writing Style: Jenny Han. What can I say?? She's one of my auto-buy authors. She's never let me down, and I doubt she ever will. 

4. Overall Rating: 5 Stars, of course!!! If it's not on your Goodreads to-read shelf, add it now! You won't regret it. 

5. Similar Reading: For other great contemporaries or summer reads, check out these 3 titles below. You can click the cover of each to visit their Goodreads pages and learn more about them!