Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad?
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han gives all the summer vibes– the ocean, the boardwalk, midnight swims, beach parties, and hot guys. What else could mean summer?
Belly Conklin measures her life in summers. For as long as she could remember, she’s gone to Cousin’s Beach with her mom and her older brother, Steven, to spend the summer with Susannah and her sons, Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher. But this year is different.
Boys are noticing her for the first time, Susahnah and her mom are holed up in the house, and Conrad is ignoring her, more than usual at least. Yet, with all the change, she can’t help but feel like everything is how it should have been all along.
The main storyline follows Belly as she navigates through the strange summer, struggling to choose between brothers. Aside from being brothers, the two love interests couldn’t have been more different.
Jeremiah Fisher, a boy who radiates golden retriever energy, has always had a sweet spot for Belly. Whether it was a simple friendship or a hidden crush. He’s with her through thick and thin, from her arguments with Conrad to being sick on the couch for days. Jeremiah is the type of boy who would always make sure you feel included and even sacrifice his happiness to make you happy. But he isn’t afraid to go after what he wants, and it’s Belly. But throughout the book, Jeremiah continues being the very thing Belly will always see him as–a best friend.
And then there’s Conrad Fisher, the older, sarcastic, brooding brother who always seems to have a secret. He’s mysterious, keeping to himself all summer with a beer or a cigarette always on him. There’s something different about him this year, and Belly Conklin is utterly captivated by him. Conrad fills every spare thought. He owns her mind and, most importantly, her heart; she doesn’t think she’ll ever get it back. I mean, who wouldn’t fall for the mysterious bad boy?
Except it’s becoming abundantly clear that Conrad doesn’t feel the same way. In fact, the more Belly tries to grow closer, the harder he pushes her away. But Belly is tired of him treating her as if he only sees her as a little sister instead of something more.
So when Cam Cameron comes into the picture, both boys realize she’s not just Steven’s little sister. Hidden feelings from the boys quickly turn into jealousy as Belly spends most of her summer with her new boyfriend, Cam. Suddenly, both boys are fighting for her love, but how is Belly supposed to choose between the boy she’s been in love with since she was ten and the boy who has always been there for her?
Written by Carlie Renee
