Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Puffin

Pages: 276pgs

The Story

Some summers are just destined to be pretty.

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.

The Review

Oh wow, why didn't I read this book sooner? I knew bloggers and other authors alike have been non-stop raving about this book since its release back in 2010 and talking about the author's talents in creating the perfect book, but for whatever reason I overlooked this title and hadn't thought much about it until now. And then after I read it, it quickly became one of those rare books that changes your life forever (well, so to speak) and it's by far one of my favourite YA romance books of all time! An unforgettable one to be honest with you.

Reading THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is almost like watching your favourite tv program such as The OC where you're daydreaming about yourself attending those bonfire parties on the beach, hanging out with your friends like the world had stopped just for you - for only you - to enjoy those fun-filled moments that you may never experience again and falling for those beautiful boys with the timeless summer romances that comes along with them. Combining all of those elements together that's exactly what you get inside of this book and if not more than you first expect from it, and no matter the cutesy love . . . it was perfect in every single way.

Belly, the main character, tells her story through the present times and through several flashbacks of past summers - the different memories she had whilst growing up as a kid. Not even once did this distract me, switching back-and-forth, because all of her experiences and memories were needed to truly understand what Belly was going through in the actual book. The heartbreaks she's suffered, the intense feelings she had - and still has - for her long-time unrequited love, and also the strong bond ties that she's never dared to cut with her childhood friends. In this present times story of Belly's, she is now sixteen-years-old and has returned with her mother to the beach house where she used to live in from past summers, and she soon reunites with her friends, brothers named Conrad and Jeremiah. Upon seeing them again, everything from the tension, the jealousy and the heartbreak will soon come to a head, and Belly will need to find out what exactly 'growing up' means for her and for everyone else.

While I do enjoy the summer romances and the teenage themes displayed throughout this book, but what made this story even more remarkable than it was already was the characters and the realism the author brought into her characters - both in the boys and in the girls. For Belly as the main narrator, she was such a gem and was presented in a way where I, myself, could relate to her on many levels. I may not have had two gorgeous brothers as my best friends in my own childhood but her strength to keep going, believing in the best of everyone, and her capability of dealing with the most difficult of all things - love - is something to really admire about her. Some reviewers suggested Belly was 'too whiny' for her own good, but I say she was a girl who was still trying to find herself in the world like all of us must do eventually and no matter the angst she experiences . . . that's what teenagers are. Whiny. Complicated. Confused. Angry. Self-doubting. Naive. It's all written in this book in a way of today and come on . . . we've all experienced teenage angst at least once in our lives.

Lastly, I need to mention the two leading young men of this story. The dark, the alluring, the mysterious, the bad-boy Conrad (the unattainable one Belly has FOREVER loved) and his funny, doting, and charming brother Jeremiah (the one Belly had her first kiss with). In my own past time I've read about many boys with their own sets of appeals, but these two boys right here have really cut it for me - to be one of the best and the most honest of them all. With Conrad's character, he maybe frustrating for the most part, but there's so much more to Conrad's character and personality than meets the eye. After all, he's dealing with a lot of heavy stuff. Whereas Jeremiah, the good guy, is the exact opposite of Conrad. He's the boy that would make any girl happy to be around with. He's the boy that mother dearest would approve of. But like so many fangals out there of this series, it's Team Jerad because you change your minds with who you love more with both of the boys like . . . constantly. Especially when it comes to the boy's love of their mother. For those who've read this book already and have witnessed how the boys love their mother . . . it kind of hits home for me.

Overall, THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY is an absolutely solid and splendid summer story. It's about a young girl deciding to grow up and take control of her live, but also falling in love all over again and find out what it means to be loved by somebody. If you love those sweet romances with the sweetest boys ever presented in a contemporary YA novel, then this book is most definitely something for you! I'm still deciding who I like best - Conrad or Jeremiah? Hmmm it's very hard to choose between them let me tell you!

The Rating
4 1/2 / 5 stars

20 comments:

  1. ERIN!!! Like you did, I'm wondering the exact same thing. "Why haven't I read this book sooner?" Everyone raves about this series and from reading your gushy thoughts on it, I have a feeling I will too. It sounds SO GOOD. And these boys you speak of (brothers, you say?) already have me falling head over heels in love.

    These are the kind of contemporaries I want to read more of. And you are the kind of reviewer who has lead me to see the light. Must. Acquire. Book. A. S. A. P.

    LOVE YOUR REVIEW!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll love these two brothers, Brodie. So you MUST read this book ASAP!

      Delete
  2. YES!!!!! This book is AWESOME. I am Team Conrad by the way! ;P I want to see who you choose AFTER reading the 3 books. But yes, by the time I finished the first book, I couldn't choose between Conrad and Jeremiah because they are both AWESOME. But all I know is that I love the Fishers! ;)

    YOU HAVE TO READ THE 2nd book and the 3rd book soon, Erin! It's FANTASTIC.

    Awesome review! ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I'm more Team Conrad too but it's really hard to choose between them. Really hard. I have actually already read the second book in the series (my review to come) and all I'm waiting on is the third book to arrive on my doorstep. Can't wait to read the third!

      Delete
  3. Like you, I've heard SO many great things about this book, but I still haven't picked it up. Guess I should get on that...huh? Lol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. EEE! OK, I *THINK* I've heard of this before, but now I'm kind of... uh... MUST READ? I've actually heard NOTHING about it before, but it sounds wonderful... I'm kind of... I LOVE reading epic dystopians and crazy, emotionally-intense paranormals, but sometimes some sweet, fun, real is just... needed. I LOVE my Hunger Games and Divergent, but I need it balances with books like Anna. I'm adding this to my TBR for my next sunshine and rainbows fix :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really? I've heard plenty about this book but now I'm glad I've brought it to your attention. Sooooooo worth the read!

      Delete
  5. This sounds awesome. I havent heard of this before but I will definitely add this on my list. thanks for the great review Erin. x
    Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷFICBOOKREVIEWSƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely add this book to your to-read list!

      Delete
  6. This book is a weird one for me. I really liked it when I first read it, but looking back - I really don't like it as much. Plus, it annoys me that her name is "Belly". I just keep thinking of stomachs o_O. Glad you enjoyed it though, I hope you like the rest of the series :).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Belly was definitely a strange nickname but I loved the story regardless. :)

      Delete
  7. To be quite honest, coming into this I thought it was going to be a shallow rather transparent chick... novel (do they have a name for those?) which is why you should really not judge a book by it's cover and/or name. They say that for a reason. They're right. Whoever they are, they know their stuff.

    I was pleasantly surprised by this book, not a favourite but I definetly think it's worth the read. I was kind of in love with Jeremiah. just a little bit.

    Check out my blog when you get the chance? I review books, music and movies, so I'm kind of barking up the wrong tree here (just did a movie review) but it would mean a ton.

    www.dogearedandcoffeestained.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean with not judging by a book by its cover. While a cover is important to me, but I've read many books in the past with not-so-great covers and in the end they turned out to be great reads.

      Anyway glad you still liked this book and I'll definitely check out your blog. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  8. I feel incredibly guilty for not having read this book myself. I know a lot of fans love this series and I really need to get a move on with it. I have a copy on the way though so FINALLY I can find out why everyone loves this book so much. Wonderful review, Erin! I'm glad you enjoyed this. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great review Erin! It's one I keep meaning to pick up but I just haven't been in the mood to read all three book. Glad you enjoyed it though! Donna xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've been meaning to read this series for ages!! I'm so glad you enjoyed this book :D Great review!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great review! I loved this one as well :) The second book is also really good. Can't wait to get to the third! I'm a new follower.

    Rabiah
    Confessions of a Readaholic

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm so glad you loved this and I hope you enjoy the next two books in the series! I agree, it was hard to pick either of the boys!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Aww this sounds like such a perfect summer read! Once the weather warms up I'm so digging into this and any other beach reads I can find. Bring on the angst!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...