Before you ask—yes, you will cry at some point while reading this series. And yes, you will scream internally over Belly’s romantic decisions. Welcome to the emotional rollercoaster that is The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy by Jenny Han: a YA romance so full of sunshine, angst, and love triangle drama that it should come with SPF and a therapy session.
Whether you’re here because of the The Summer I Turned Pretty Prime Video show, a TikTok spoiler that ruined your week, or you’re just wondering “Should I read The Summer I Turned Pretty?”—we’ve got you covered.
This ultimate The Summer I Turned Pretty book review dives into:
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A full trilogy summary (yes, we’re talking It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer, too),
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Character chaos (Conrad vs. Jeremiah—choose your fighter),
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Themes, symbols, and emotional damage,
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And of course, the iconic The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle that launched a thousand fan edits.
Whether you’re Team Conrad, Team Jeremiah, or Team “Belly girl, please,” this review and analysis is for you. Let’s unpack the feels.
About The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy
Or, as I like to call it: “One Girl. Two Brothers. Infinite Teen Angst.”
Okay, so here’s the basic breakdown: The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy is the YA beach read that launched a thousand thirst tweets. Written by the queen of swoony teen drama, Jenny Han (yes, the same author who blessed us with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), this series is like if your most dramatic summer vacation journal grew legs and a book deal.
What’s in the Trilogy?
The series includes three books—each one more emotionally chaotic than the last:
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The Summer I Turned Pretty
Belly gets hot. Boys notice. Drama ensues. -
It’s Not Summer Without You
Sadness. Loss. Road trips. More drama. -
We’ll Always Have Summer
Engagements?! College! Regrets! Even MORE drama.
And just to be clear—yes, our main girl Belly (short for Isabel, not a literal stomach) spends all three books trying to decide between two brothers. That’s the whole vibe. And honestly? We’re here for it.
Genre & Vibes
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Genre: YA Romance / Coming-of-Age / Let’s-Overthink-Everything
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Setting: Cousins Beach, aka a fictional seaside paradise where everyone is hot and no one has a real job
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Tropes: Love triangle, childhood friends-to-lovers, brooding boy vs. golden retriever boy
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Mood: Equal parts nostalgic, romantic, and “why are teenagers like this??”
Why It’s a Big Deal
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It’s a best-selling YA trilogy that’s basically a rite of passage for anyone who enjoys emotional distress wrapped in sunscreen and teenage hormones.
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It inspired a hit TV show that turned Cousins Beach into a bucket-list destination and revived the art of crying to Taylor Swift songs.
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And whether you’re reading it for the first time or hate-reading it for the fifth, one thing’s for sure: this series will have you spiraling.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Summary – Book 1 and the Beginning of the Belly-Verse
Welcome to Book 1, where everything changes the moment Belly walks into Cousins Beach and suddenly everyone’s like, “Wait… when did she get cute?” This is the The Summer I Turned Pretty plot summary you didn’t know you needed, but trust me, you do—because it’s not just a beachy coming-of-age story. It’s an emotional minefield with sunscreen.
The Setup: Belly’s Annual Summer Escape
Every summer, Belly (real name Isabel, but don’t call her that) heads to Cousins Beach, where she’s spent her whole life tagging along with her mom, her mom’s best friend Susannah, and Susannah’s two sons—Conrad (brooding and mysterious, of course) and Jeremiah (golden boy and human Labrador). For years, she was the awkward little sister figure. But this summer? Oh, this summer is different.
Because Belly turned pretty. And now everyone’s acting weird about it.
Cue: The Love Triangle Begins
As if being sixteen wasn’t confusing enough, Belly finds herself caught between the Fisher brothers, her long-time crush on Conrad bubbling to the surface, and Jeremiah suddenly looking at her like she’s not just the kid who used to wear floaties in the pool.
Spoiler: it’s awkward. And messy. And weirdly adorable.
Throw in an unexpected summer romance with an outside boy (shoutout to poor Cam Cameron, who didn’t deserve this chaos), and you’ve got the romantic equivalent of a beach bonfire with absolutely no adult supervision.
But Wait—There’s Sadness Too
This isn’t just a fluffy summer flirt-fest. There’s real emotional depth here, especially when it comes to Susannah—who’s more than just the “cool mom” with great taste in caftans. Her quiet, heartbreaking storyline casts a shadow over the sunny beach days, and it hits hard.
Why This Book Hooks You
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It’s relatable in that “teen girl spirals into overthinking” kind of way.
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It’s romantic in the slow-burn, first-crush, heart-on-your-sleeve kind of way.
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And it’s just messy enough to make you binge the next book immediately, screaming internally about who Belly should end up with.
This is where the The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle kicks off—and if you thought you were emotionally stable, this book will kindly prove you wrong.
It’s Not Summer Without You Summary – Sad Vibes, Sibling Rivalry & Belly’s Bad Decisions
If The Summer I Turned Pretty is all sunshine and “awww, first love,” then It’s Not Summer Without You is its moody, emotionally wrecked older sibling. You know things are about to get real when the sunscreen gets swapped out for tissues.
So, Where Are We Now?
When we last left Belly, she was riding the high of becoming romantically relevant. But now? Everything’s changed. Summer has lost its magic, Conrad is being extra mysterious, and Susannah—aka the heart and soul of Cousins Beach—is gone.
Cue the collective sobbing.
Belly is grieving. The Fisher boys are grieving. And instead of leaning on each other, they’re doing what all emotionally constipated teenagers do best: making terrible choices.
Belly + Jeremiah’s Road Trip of Chaos
After weeks of radio silence from Conrad, Jeremiah shows up out of nowhere with news: his brother has disappeared. Just… vanished. No phone calls. No “BRB, having a crisis.” Just gone. Naturally, Belly agrees to go on a road trip with Jeremiah to find him. Because that always ends well.
What follows is a messy mix of:
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Tense car rides
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Unspoken feelings
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Conrad being peak Conrad (moody, avoidant, and weirdly good at ruining the moment)
Basically, if you thought the The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle was confusing before, buckle up.
Themes? Oh, We Got Themes.
This book leans hard into:
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Grief and growing up
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Letting go of childhood summers
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Trying to make sense of first love when everything else is falling apart
It’s heavier than Book 1, but that emotional weight is what gives it actual depth. And honestly? It kind of slaps.
What You’ll Feel While Reading This
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“Conrad, please communicate with literally anyone.”
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“Jeremiah deserves better… maybe?”
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“Belly, what are you doing? No seriously. What are you doing?”
In terms of The Summer I Turned Pretty full story, this book is the one where things shift. It’s no longer about innocent crushes—it’s about real heartbreak, real choices, and whether or not summer can still save them.
Spoiler: it can’t. Not completely.
We’ll Always Have Summer Summary – Engagement Rings, Red Flags & the Final Belly Breakdown
At this point, Belly’s been emotionally ping-ponging between the Fisher brothers for two whole books—so naturally, Book 3 opens with a total curveball: she’s in college and dating Jeremiah. Seriously dating. Like, monogamous+sharing meal plans serious.
And then he proposes.
Yes. A proposal. Like, with a ring and a whole “marry me” moment.
Pause for Dramatic Screaming
Let’s review: Belly is nineteen, still hasn’t totally figured out how to order food without panicking, and now she’s planning a wedding. To Jeremiah. Who, bless him, is sweet… but also made some very questionable choices recently. (No spoilers, but let’s just say trust issues are on the menu.)
The whole situation is less “young love” and more “reality TV spin-off waiting to happen.”
Enter: Conrad Fisher, the Human Emotional Plot Twist
Just when Belly is knee-deep in bridal Pinterest boards and passive-aggressive glances from her mom, Conrad shows up. With feelings. With confessions. With chaos.
Because of course he does.
If you’re wondering whether this turns into a full-on The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle finale showdown, the answer is: yes. And it’s deliciously painful.
Major Themes and Emotional Collateral
This book explores:
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Commitment vs. comfort
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The fantasy of “forever” and how it changes when you’re barely old enough to rent a car
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The ultimate question: Do we choose the person who makes us feel safe—or the one we can’t live without?
And yeah, there’s still sand and sun and cute dresses—but also full-on existential spirals. Because adulthood is a scam and no one warned Belly in time.
Why It’s a Wild Ride
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The Summer I Turned Pretty characters are older now, but still deeply dramatic
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The plot goes from YA romance to emotional gladiator match
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You will absolutely scream at someone by the end (probably Belly)
So… Who Does She Pick?
No spoilers, but let’s just say: it ends. With a decision. And you’ll either feel totally vindicated or betrayed on a deeply personal level.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Review and Analysis – Why We’re All Emotionally Damaged (and Loving It)
So, what’s the verdict on The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy? Should you read it? Should you recommend it to your emotionally vulnerable friends? Should you scream into a beach towel? Let’s break it all down.
Writing Style – Light, Breezy, Then BAM: Emotional Gut Punch
Jenny Han lures you in with easy prose and summer nostalgia… and then hits you with grief, heartbreak, and the crushing weight of love triangles. It’s like reading a romance novel wrapped in a soft hoodie—and then realizing the hoodie is full of sand and feelings.
She nails the teen voice: awkward, impulsive, overly dramatic, and absolutely convinced that every minor decision is life-or-death. Which, to be fair, is exactly how it feels when you’re seventeen and in love with your best friend’s brother.
Themes and Symbols – Oh Look, Feelings Everywhere
Here’s what keeps this from being just another summer beach read:
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Coming of Age: Belly goes from awkward tween to “maybe I should get married?” over the span of three books. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s real.
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Grief and Healing: Susannah’s illness and loss cast a long shadow over the whole series, giving the story emotional weight and grounding the drama in something deeper than “Who kissed who?”
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First Love vs. Real Love: The eternal struggle. Belly’s torn between what feels romantic and what’s actually right. And sometimes… neither of them is.
Also, if you’re looking for deep literary symbolism: the beach = innocence. The house = memory. The tan = character development (probably).
Love Triangle – The YA Olympics
Let’s not pretend this isn’t the main event. This is the The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle. It’s classic YA: mysterious older brother vs. sunshine younger brother. Moody and emotionally unavailable vs. affectionate and slightly chaotic.
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Conrad: Broody, poetic, allergic to expressing emotions like a normal person.
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Jeremiah: Friendly, loyal, charming… and occasionally making choices that make you scream “WHY.”
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Belly: Making questionable decisions while trying her best. We forgive her. Mostly.
Is it frustrating? Absolutely. Do we love it anyway? Also yes.
Should You Read The Summer I Turned Pretty?
If you enjoy:
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Crying over fictional characters
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Screaming “NOOO” into the void
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Feeling like you’re on a constant emotional beach vacation
Then yes. One hundred percent. Even if you know you’ll end up emotionally wrecked, it’s totally worth it.
Final Rating
Let’s break it down:
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Teen Angst: 10/10
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Love Triangle Turmoil: 11/10
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Emotional Damage: 9.5/10
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Regret About Reading It?: 0/10
The Summer I Turned Pretty Characters – Who’s Who in This Beautiful, Chaotic Mess
Welcome to the unofficial character guide where we explain everyone, overanalyze their choices, and gently roast them (because we care).
Isabel “Belly” Conklin
Occupation: Main character. Professional overthinker.
Superpower: Turning pretty and instantly becoming the center of a romantic crisis.
Vibe: The human equivalent of a Taylor Swift bridge.
Roast: Girl, we love you—but why are you constantly picking the boy who clearly needs therapy over the one who texts back?
Belly is sweet, emotional, and convinced that summer is a personality trait. Her journey is about growing up, grieving, and figuring out that maybe love isn’t just about who makes your heart race, but who shows up when it matters.
Conrad Fisher
Occupation: Mysterious first crush. Walking emotional iceberg.
Superpower: Saying the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time, with perfect cheekbones.
Vibe: The one you doodle hearts around in your high school notebook.
Roast: Sir, you had three books to communicate your feelings. Three. Books.
Conrad is the oldest Fisher brother, carrying the weight of Susannah’s illness, his family’s breakdown, and also—evidently—the entire plot’s tension. He’s smart, serious, and basically allergic to healthy communication. But when he loves? He loves hard. Ugh, unfortunately we get it.
Jeremiah Fisher
Occupation: Golden retriever energy in human form.
Superpower: Making you laugh… and also cry when he inevitably messes up.
Vibe: Your fun, emotionally available crush—until he isn’t.
Roast: We were rooting for you. We were all rooting for you.
Jeremiah is the lovable, extroverted younger brother who’s always been there for Belly—until the moment he isn’t. His arc is about realizing that being the “safe” option doesn’t mean you get a free pass. But honestly, he deserved better than Book 3.
Susannah Fisher
Occupation: Cool mom. Heart of the story.
Superpower: Making lemonade, memories, and emotional devastation feel cozy.
Vibe: That magical adult who makes everything feel okay—even when it isn’t.
Roast: No roast. We don’t touch Susannah. Ever. We cry respectfully.
She’s more than just a mom—she’s a symbol of youth, love, and the fleeting beauty of summer. Her storyline gives the series its emotional core. If you didn’t cry at least once over Susannah, you might be a robot.
Laurel Conklin
Occupation: Belly’s mom. Low-key savage.
Superpower: Weaponized sarcasm and quiet resilience.
Vibe: The mom who drinks black coffee and gives you a novel-length stare.
Roast: She’s the adult in the room, but also occasionally comes off like she’s so over everyone’s drama (and honestly? Fair).
Laurel is fiercely protective, emotionally guarded, and basically has a sixth sense for when her daughter is about to do something deeply impulsive.
Steven Conklin
Occupation: Belly’s older brother. Comic relief with occasional insight.
Superpower: Appearing just enough to remind you that not everyone in this universe is in love with Belly.
Vibe: Sassy sibling who pretends not to care but would throw hands for his family.
Roast: The only one with common sense, and yet tragically underused.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy – Final Thoughts, Regrets, and Emotional Damage (In the Best Way)
If you’ve made it this far—first of all, congratulations on surviving the emotional whiplash. You’ve just lived through three books of sun, sand, grief, growth, and the messiest love triangle this side of YA fiction. So… what’s the final verdict?
Is The Summer I Turned Pretty Worth Reading?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Yes—but only if you’re emotionally prepared to have opinions about fictional teenagers as if they’re your real-life friends.
This isn’t just a cute beach read. It’s The Summer I Turned Pretty full story—a tale about growing up, messing up, falling in love too fast, and trying to figure out what kind of person you want to be. Jenny Han doesn’t just deliver drama—she delivers emotional honesty. And okay, fine, a lot of unresolved romantic tension.
Who Should Read This?
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Fans of love triangles that will emotionally ruin you
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People who enjoy coming-of-age fiction with depth
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Anyone who’s ever had a summer that changed everything (or wished they had)
If you’re a fan of The Age of Innocence and you’re wondering how we went from Edith Wharton’s Gilded Age courtship drama to a YA beach love triangle—trust me, the core is the same: classics just with better tans.
TL;DR – The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy Explained
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Book 1: She turns pretty, everything gets complicated.
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Book 2: Grief enters the chat. Feelings explode. Boys go missing.
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Book 3: Wedding bells, bad decisions, and one last twist of the heart.
By the end, you’ll either be yelling “Team Conrad” or “Team Jeremiah” into the void—or just quietly rooting for Belly to take a gap year and go to therapy (honestly, a power move).
Final Rating:
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Plot: 9/10
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Romantic Drama: 100/10
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Emotional Rollercoaster: Somewhere between “crying at 2am” and “texting your friends in all caps”
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Likelihood You’ll Reread It: High. Especially when you want to feel something.