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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This book is one of my all time favorites that I have read. The main characters name is Belly. Her family including her mother and brother named Steven go down to Cousins Beach every summer and stay with a family friend. Her two sons names are Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly thinks Conrad is the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This coming of age book didn't really thrill me. I never fully connected with Belly (Isabel) as I often found her selfish and immature, although I did quite like the boys, especially Jeremiah who was more friendly and approachable than his older brother, Conrad. |
Newest Reviews
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“Ok, I admit enjoyed reading this. It was cliche and the protagonist was a bit narcissistic but I still liked the book.”
Audrey wrote this review Thursday, April 25, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Belly (her given name is Isabel) tells her story in summers. Everything is great during the summer months and winter is just a time to think and plan for the summer. But this summer is different, Belly’s brother, Steve is going to college in the fall and will miss part of the summer and Susannah’s sons are acting like jerks (Jeremiah and Conrad are Susannah’s sons). Belly does find a friend (boyfriend?) in Cam. Summer romance, mystery and twists and turns in high school romances all during the summer in a beach house with a pool and beach. The story ends so the second book can begin.
Anne Theodore-Howard wrote this review Thursday, April 25, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Connection
This can be placed on a summer reading list for reluctant girl readers. The boy trailers my entice students to read the book.
Students can create time lines to chart the changes in Belly (Isabel) as she reflects on previous summers at the beach. There are several common story threads between Belly’s mom and Susannah. It would be interesting to have students find books that use a similar flash back to tell stories and determine the authors purpose in using flash backs to tell a story.
”“I have finished reading "The Summer I Turned Pretty"... it is about a 15 year old girl called Belly. She spends every summer in "Cousins Beach" with her mom, Steven (Belly's brother), her mom's close friend (Susannah), and Susannah's two sons (Conrad and Jeremiah). Conrad and Jeremiah have always thought of Belly as a little girl however this summer, Jeremiah has suddenly became interested in Belly as he sees that she has changed and is no longer a little girl anymore. However, Belly has always been interested in his brother Conrad. Unfortunately, I disliked the story. Belly, who's actual name is Isabel, was just a plain brat and was ignorant. The moment when Conrad is described, you can tell where the story is going, and surprisingly it takes 3 books to get to the story. I find it such a cheesy teenage love triangle story. Jeremiah's character is not very developed in the story as all we know of him is that he is designated lighthearted best friend. In addition to that, Isabel doesn't really to have anything else to her besides the fact that she "blossomed" overnight and her obsession with Conrad. I wish Jenny Han would talk about some of her hobbies, friends, aspirations, or life outside of the two months that she has spent as "Cousins Beach".
Serena O wrote this review Sunday, April 14, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Isabel constantly keeps obsessing over a "romantic relationship" that she and Conrad share... however this is all going on in her head. An example of how Isabel is ignorant and a brat is when at one point Conrad tells her that there is no way she is leaving a party alone with a strange man that no one knows. Isabel then begins to throw a tantrum and screams and shouts at him. I guess this book is portraying the stereotypical teenage girl, hormonal and self-absorbed.
On the other hand, I loved the relationship between Susannah and Isabel's mom. They always confided in each other about their marriage or hardships in their lives, and how they would visit each other each summer just to reconnect and catch up. I wish the book focused more on this aspect of the book rather than the obsessions of Isabel about Conrad.
In conclusion, I do not think I would recommend this book as it is just a typical, cliche, stereotypical, teenage summer romance love story. I do not think that there is anything else to it besides that. I do not plan on reading the following books of this trilogy. ”“This book is very interesting the book has a great plot and ineresting characters. I could really understand what the characters were going through. i couldn't wait to read the second book.”
Jenna D'Souza wrote this review Monday, April 8, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“very well written book. ”
Lauren "the Awesome" Beury wrote this review Friday, April 5, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“MY FOVORITE BOOK(S) OF ALL TIME. I LAUGHED CRIED AND LIVED WHILE I READ EVERY WORD ON THESE PAGES.”
Katie Forsblom wrote this review Friday, April 5, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A book about a girl named NBelly and her memories and experiemces over Summers. I love how the author does a great job explaining how Belly feels, and reading the book I feel like I'm Belly and I can picture everything she does amd is going through.”
Amanda R. wrote this review Sunday, April 7, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I liked it a lot and couldn't put it down. ”
Sophie E wrote this review Wednesday, April 3, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I heard many reviews for this book that said it was amazing. In my opinion it was good, but it was not great. I felt that the characters were established too early on in the novel, and rather than learning a character I simply was told who they were. Perhaps the novel was too young for me and that's why it was a bit off. I have started reading it's sequel and I hope that it will be a bit better.”
SuperNat wrote this review Tuesday, April 2, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“LOVE LOVE LOVE this book :)”
JessicaGrace wrote this review Friday, March 29, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
