Jenny Han’s book series ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ consists of three books published between 2009 and 2011, narrating the love-filled adventures and misadventures of Belly Conklin, a young girl who has gone from being the ‘ugly duckling’ of her class to a girl everyone notices. With these physical changes and the discovery of first love, the story unfolds at Cousins Beach, the place where her family vacations every year.
Jenny Han’s book series has been adapted by Prime Video for the series ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty,’ with the first season released in 2021 and the second in 2023. The adaptation faithfully follows Han’s books and has been a huge success for the platform. If you continue reading, you’ll find some spoilers in the text.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ (2009)
The story follows Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin, a young girl who spends her summers at her mother’s beach house with her childhood friends, the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been in love with Conrad for years, but this summer, she begins to realize that her feelings for Jeremiah might be deeper than she thought.
As the summer progresses, Belly faces a series of challenges that test her friendship with the Fisher brothers and her own identity.
‘It’s Not Summer Without You’ (2010)
Belly returns to Cousins Beach to spend the summer with the Fishers after a difficult year. Conrad has disappeared, and Jeremiah is struggling to cope with the death of Susannah, their mother.
Belly realizes that she is still in love with Conrad, but she is also drawn to Jeremiah, his brother. As the three of them struggle to find their way, they confront a tragedy that will change everything forever.
‘We’ll Always Have Summer’ (2011)
Belly and Jeremiah have been together for two years and are happy together. But when Belly hears a rumor that Jeremiah has been seeing another girl, everything changes, just before she is about to marry him. Belly realizes that she is still in love with Conrad, but she also knows she must not hurt Jeremiah.
As Belly grapples with her true feelings, she will face a decision that will change her life forever.
Which TSITP Book Should You Read Next?
If you want to know what will happen in the Prime Video series, the next book to read in the series is ‘We’ll Always Have Summer.’ It is the last in the saga and presumably will also be the last in the series, which has been renewed for one more season (the third).
The release date for the new and final season is currently scheduled for 2025, and it will consist of eight episodes, just like the first and second seasons.
