The Summer I Turned Pretty

⤿ Reading period: July 27 - July 27, 2025⤿ Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ SHOULD I SAY THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY OR THE SUMMER I TURNED TO GOING FROM A LITTLE BOY TO AN EMOTIONALLY UNAVAILABLE BOY? absolutely, the second one.I tried to read the books because I thought: "I need to know if the movie and the book gives off the same vibes" and I was so WRONG.The Summer I Turned Pretty possesses the quintessential elements of a nostalgic and heartfelt summer romance, YET it ultimately fell short of my expectations in several significant ways. The prose, while straightforward and accessible, often veered into territory that felt overly simplistic and repetitive, which may not resonate even with its intended young adult audience. The narrative’s pacing was uneven, with entire chapters devoted to seemingly inconsequential moments that neither advanced the plot nor enriched the characters in any meaningful way.This lack of momentum left me yearning for a more engaging exploration of the themes at play, as the story meandered through trivialities rather than delving into the emotional depths that could have elevated it.At the heart of this disappointment lies the protagonist, Belly, whose character development felt lacking and, at times, frustratingly immature. Rather than embodying the relatable charm one might hope for, she often appeared self-absorbed and indecisive, particularly in her romantic entanglements with the two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. This constant oscillation between them came across as more exasperating than enchanting, detracting from the potential for genuine connection. Belly’s preoccupation with being perceived as “pretty” overshadowed her character’s growth, making it difficult to forge a deeper bond with her. Her sense of self-worth seemed inextricably tied to the opinions of these boys, a portrayal that felt disappointingly antiquated for a modern protagonist, ultimately diminishing the story’s emotional impact.The dynamics between the male characters in the narrative unfolded in a manner that felt more draining than captivating. Conrad, intended to embody the archetype of the enigmatic and brooding love interest, instead presented as emotionally distant and unapproachable, lacking the necessary character development to engage the audience. His portrayal left much to be desired, as the layers that typically enrich such a character were conspicuously absent. On the other hand, Jeremiah exuded a warmth and charm that could have made him a more appealing choice; however, the author failed to provide him with the depth required to elevate him to a serious rival in the romantic stakes.The overall romantic tension suffered from a palpable absence of genuine chemistry and emotional resonance, which rendered it challenging for readers to invest in any of the potential pairings. The interactions between the characters felt superficial, lacking the intricate buildup that typically accompanies a compelling love story. As a result, the audience was left feeling detached, unable to fully support or root for any of the relationships presented. The missed opportunities for deeper connections and emotional exploration ultimately diminished the allure of the love triangle, leaving it feeling flat and uninspired.Belly be like: Am I truly in love with Conrad? Perhaps it’s time to leave Cam behind. But then again, Jeremiah has such a charming nature, but like should I do something to see what Conrad will do.Like GURLLL DECIDEEE, THEY ARE HUMANS. But I guess not anymore.The characters left me feeling profoundly frustrated. Belly, in particular, was difficult to support; she came across as superficial, excessively preoccupied with her looks, and overly eager for validation from the Fisher boys. It was tiring to witness her incessant complaints about feeling overlooked or unappreciated, especially when she displayed little emotional growth or self-awareness. As for Conrad, his brooding demeanor bordered on emotional unavailability, and the narrative seemed to expect readers to find that appealing. More often than not, he pushed others away without explanation, which rendered him more rude than profound. Jeremiah, felt underdeveloped, as if he existed solely to fuel the love triangle. None of the characters resonated as authentic or relatable; they drifted through a picturesque beach town without engaging in actions or dialogues that would evoke genuine concern. I found myself yearning for a moment of maturity, for someone to embrace their feelings and behave like a real person, but that moment never arrived, leaving me thoroughly disappointed.────୨ৎ────⤷ Thank you for reaching to this point here and I’m really glad and thankful for you, love you ⟡.

It’ll never get old. One of my top comfort reads

lets be real here but tv show > book

Honestly I don't know what I was expecting from this book. But this was absolutely so heartwarming. I do not like romance novels, they're just kind of thick to me. I don't find them interesting whatsoever but this one I literally started reading this. I think 3 days ago and I was just slowly but surely knocking it out. But for the past like 3 hours I've done nothing but sit here and finish reading this book and I couldn't put it down. I love books where I can literally just read it and the imagery of every single thing. And the book is absolutely just 100% vivid like I can see exactly every single thing I can see every facial expression every movement. Every time I can hear every sound and those types of books are these types of books that literally captivate me and I can't do anything but read them like I literally couldn't cut it down. Even when I was doing other things I'll try to multitask. It was so easy for me to still live. At least see what was happening.

The book was okay but it wasn't really my type.I did watched the series too but only season one and had a hard time enjoying/loving it, therefore not really my thing - both the book and the first season. Maybe I just don't understand the hype at all, I don't know

It's a sweet, nostalgic summer read with all the love triangle drama you’d expect. Belly’s story gave me all the feels, though some moments felt a bit predictable and too cheesy... even for me! 

I need to say... It was an incredible book. It captured the summer feeling very well and the characters are well written. I love the book, I do. This is a summer book, I think if I had read that book in the summer, it would be a different feeling than now reading it in winter. I hope everybody who will read this book enjoyed it as much as I did.