The Summer Series by Jenny Han
Goodreads Description:
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 terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
Why did I pick this?
I received all three of these books from one of my good friends April @ Sim Sational Books. She insisted that I read these because they are a favorite series of hers. So she sent them to me after our other friend Autumn @ The Autumn Review read them. So I was excited to start this series not know what to expect.
What did I think?
April and I have very similar tastes in books so when she said she loved this series I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. And I wasn't. Not in the least.
In The Summer I Turned Pretty, I wasn't sure what to expect but what I got was a huge emotional roller coaster. April was pretty quiet about what goes on in this book. I'm really glad she kept mum about it because I don't think I would've picked it up if I'd have known really.
I will say that this book was by far my most favorite of the three. I loved all of the characters. For each of their flaws and each of their perfections.
The story was very well written and had a nice easy flow that made it simple to follow along. Jenny Han did an amazing job capturing a girl on the peak of becoming a woman and all the trials and heartbreak that come with it.
I recommend this book very highly but will give you the heads up to keep the tissues close because not only will this book break your heart, it will lift it up as well.
Goodreads Description:
It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come. But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started—at Cousins Beach.
What did I think?
This book picks up right after the dramatic ending of
The Summer I Turned Pretty. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed Jenny Han's writing in this series. The flashbacks from summers past in Belly's mind were fun and heartwrenching at the same time.
Belly is becoming a young woman and while she is getting older, she still has the mindset of her 12-13 year old self with the temper tantrums. But what makes this book is the fact that you can really feel Belly grow and become her own person. She starts to realize not everything is about her necessarily and other things are in motion that are out of her control.
This book wasn't as emotional as the first and I will say that I am grateful for that. Truly. I'm not a pretty crier and my husband was getting worried while I was reading the first in the series. But I still loved it just the same.
Goodreads Description:
Belly has only ever been in love with two boys, both with the last name Fisher. And after being with Jeremiah for the last two years, she's almost positive he is her soul mate. Almost. Conrad has not gotten over the mistake he made when he let Belly go even as Jeremiah has always known that Belly is the girl for him. So when Belly and Jeremiah decide to make things forever, Conrad realizes that it's now or never--tell Belly he loves her, or lose her for good. Belly will have to confront her feelings for Jeremiah and Conrad and face a truth she has possibly always known: she will have to break one of their hearts.
What did I think?
Just as in the second book, this third and final book in the series picks up right from where it left off. Things have changed dramatically in Belly's life and she handles them the best that she can. She still has that young-girl temperament that will get a little annoying at times, but hey, don't all of us?
Now she is in college and truly finding out what the real world is like. But what choice should she make? Will it be the right path? Should she choose what her heart or her mind is telling her to do?
I truly love the twists and turns that Han pulls in this series. Once you think you have it figured out, you really don't. This was the perfect ending to the series and I will eventually buy these to keep (in hardback) on my shelf. The covers are gorgeous and they truly are a beautiful story.
Overall final thought for the series:
I am keeping my mouth shut as to what exactly these books are truly about. Mainly, because, well...I went into this series thinking that this series is all about the same thing you usually find with YA. A love story, some suspense...blah blah blah....
But what this series has that no other series I've found has is true heart. Yes, there is a love story in this book. Not only one but many love stories and each one is beautiful in their own way.
I am truly amazed by the depth of these books and the sincerity of feelings and emotions throughout. I completely felt like I was the one in the book. Every heartbreak Belly felt, I felt. Every lift she felt, I felt.
I cannot recommend this series enough.
A personal thank-you to April @ Sim Sational Books for loaning me these books. You truly know how to rock my world. ;-)
