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lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Straight and Easy five-stars !!!
I can't even explain how good it was, the whole trilogy ! I must say each was better than the other and to pick the favorite, definitely the 3rd 'We will always have summer' !
Everything almost felt so real, the plot,characters,emotions, fights,tragedies,hopes and longings...
It depicts the imperfections of relations and all about being human.
I am so glad that I got to read all the 3 parts :)
And to have found my newest favourite couple, Conrad and Belly <3
I can't even explain how good it was, the whole trilogy ! I must say each was better than the other and to pick the favorite, definitely the 3rd 'We will always have summer' !
Everything almost felt so real, the plot,characters,emotions, fights,tragedies,hopes and longings...
It depicts the imperfections of relations and all about being human.
I am so glad that I got to read all the 3 parts :)
And to have found my newest favourite couple, Conrad and Belly <3
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I couldn't get past the fact that they call the main character Belly. I don't know why but it bugged me. Also I'm not as interested in YA as I used to be.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han has had my heart for quite some time. I remember walking by it at Borders (while it was still open!) many many times, dismissing it because I thought the title was stupid. Which, respectively, it kind of is. But, one day after looking through shelf and shelf of books in the YA section and finding nothing of interest, I saw this book again. I read the back and was instantly hooked. A coming of age story about a girl who has always loved her family friend’s son. What more could you want in a summer read, honestly? The entire series is worth the read, if anything, each book gets better and better. The emotional wreckage to your heart will increase with each page.
Belly is a protagonist that gets a lot of hate from readers, they peg her as a whiny, ungrateful teenage girl. Which she is, but I think the way that Han wrote her is a way that every fifteen-turning-sixteen girl can relate to. Who wasn’t whiny and ungrateful at that age? I absolutely was. Belly is realistic, she is imperfect and full of flaws and that’s what makes her so great. She recognizes when she is being whiny, but does it anyway; which is something everyone has done. You recognize that you are being annoying, judgmental, whiny, mean, or selfish and do it anyway. It’s a part of human nature. She also loves more fiercely than any other character I have ever read. She gives and gives and gives and gives, even when she has no indication of reciprocation. A story of "unrequited" love is so cliche, but so so good.
*Sighs* Conrad Fisher. The imperfectly perfect love interest. I don’t think I have ever loved a fictional character more than I love Conrad. He aligns with my taste in men perfectly; tall, brooding and emotionally withdrawn. He is a football playing musician who is smart, the trifecta of boy stereotypes all in one. He’s got it all. He gives and then takes away, it’s what he does best. He is an asshole who is only sweet to her when he wants to be, and even though that is so destructive, I am so attracted to it.
Maybe this series just hit a little too close to home, and Conrad’s actions seem so much like someone else I know. But, this book took my teenage heart and tore it to pieces, in a good way. I re-read it for the 6th time last month, and still cried at the same spots. I was still affected by the same lines and the same scenes. Han’s words strike a chord deep within my soul and to this day still reach down and pick at the scabs that I work so hard to ignore.
If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s an easy read but it doesn’t feel campy or fake. Summer is just around the corner, or maybe it’s already started for you. It’s something nice to read by the ocean, or alone in your dark room. I recommend both.
Belly is a protagonist that gets a lot of hate from readers, they peg her as a whiny, ungrateful teenage girl. Which she is, but I think the way that Han wrote her is a way that every fifteen-turning-sixteen girl can relate to. Who wasn’t whiny and ungrateful at that age? I absolutely was. Belly is realistic, she is imperfect and full of flaws and that’s what makes her so great. She recognizes when she is being whiny, but does it anyway; which is something everyone has done. You recognize that you are being annoying, judgmental, whiny, mean, or selfish and do it anyway. It’s a part of human nature. She also loves more fiercely than any other character I have ever read. She gives and gives and gives and gives, even when she has no indication of reciprocation. A story of "unrequited" love is so cliche, but so so good.
*Sighs* Conrad Fisher. The imperfectly perfect love interest. I don’t think I have ever loved a fictional character more than I love Conrad. He aligns with my taste in men perfectly; tall, brooding and emotionally withdrawn. He is a football playing musician who is smart, the trifecta of boy stereotypes all in one. He’s got it all. He gives and then takes away, it’s what he does best. He is an asshole who is only sweet to her when he wants to be, and even though that is so destructive, I am so attracted to it.
Maybe this series just hit a little too close to home, and Conrad’s actions seem so much like someone else I know. But, this book took my teenage heart and tore it to pieces, in a good way. I re-read it for the 6th time last month, and still cried at the same spots. I was still affected by the same lines and the same scenes. Han’s words strike a chord deep within my soul and to this day still reach down and pick at the scabs that I work so hard to ignore.
If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s an easy read but it doesn’t feel campy or fake. Summer is just around the corner, or maybe it’s already started for you. It’s something nice to read by the ocean, or alone in your dark room. I recommend both.
You know those soaps or television drama's that keep you hooked even though you know it's not exactly high quality television? Those shows that really overexagurate it all, but you just can't seem to switch the channel. Or stop yourself from clicking to another episodes when it involves K- or J-drama's (somehow the asian ones are even more addictive to me). The Summer I Turned Pretty Complete Series was like this for me. Most things were way over the top and this book has drama written all over it. It's addicting and makes for a very easy read. The 800+ pages just fly by. At first I expected this to be a fluffy chicklit for young adults. Just some giddy summer romance with two brothers. I was wrong. While the first book may be like this (and it's so fun that it's not a bad thing), the second and thirth definitely aren't. There's some depth to it and I completely embraced all the beauty in sadness in the second installment.
It's a surprise I even liked this as much as I did. Belly or Isabel is the main character and she frustrated me to no end. She's bratty, she claims things that aren't hers to claim, she's constantly making everything about her, she cries when she doesn't get her way and trust me I could go on and on. I especially hated her toxic relationship with her 'best friend' Taylor. In the first two books they aren't really there for each other at all. Belly goes as far as thinking her 'bff' has the depth and intelligence of an inflated kid's pool. Just when I thought it got better in the thirth book she goes back into drama zone. I haven't been rooting for Belly at all. At one point near the end of the first book I even decided that I wanted her with Conrad, because Jeremiah seemed too good for her. For anyone wondering, later on I did become Team Jeremiah.
Evelyn made a valid point as a comment to one of my status updates nagging about this. She said that it was daring of Jenny Han to write such a character and that's an achievement that the book is still as enjoyable as it is. I do have to agree with her, but it doesn't change my opinion on this book. I want romance to make me earn for a relationship, to feel butterflies in my stomach when the characters fall in love, to giggle and squeel. The Summer I Turned Pretty didn't do any of that, but it did make an enjoyable and addictive read. But in the way you're hooked on rumours or television drama. You just need to know. That being said I did give this book a three star rating. The moments with Susannah in it where really nice and I also liked some dates/moments Isabel had with the boys. And I'm kinda hoping Taylor and Steven still get together somehow.
It's a surprise I even liked this as much as I did. Belly or Isabel is the main character and she frustrated me to no end. She's bratty, she claims things that aren't hers to claim, she's constantly making everything about her, she cries when she doesn't get her way and trust me I could go on and on. I especially hated her toxic relationship with her 'best friend' Taylor. In the first two books they aren't really there for each other at all. Belly goes as far as thinking her 'bff' has the depth and intelligence of an inflated kid's pool. Just when I thought it got better in the thirth book she goes back into drama zone. I haven't been rooting for Belly at all. At one point near the end of the first book I even decided that I wanted her with Conrad, because Jeremiah seemed too good for her. For anyone wondering, later on I did become Team Jeremiah.
Evelyn made a valid point as a comment to one of my status updates nagging about this. She said that it was daring of Jenny Han to write such a character and that's an achievement that the book is still as enjoyable as it is. I do have to agree with her, but it doesn't change my opinion on this book. I want romance to make me earn for a relationship, to feel butterflies in my stomach when the characters fall in love, to giggle and squeel. The Summer I Turned Pretty didn't do any of that, but it did make an enjoyable and addictive read. But in the way you're hooked on rumours or television drama. You just need to know. That being said I did give this book a three star rating. The moments with Susannah in it where really nice and I also liked some dates/moments Isabel had with the boys. And I'm kinda hoping Taylor and Steven still get together somehow.
Nope.
Everything about these books made me cringe so bad. at least writing was simple and easy to get through and that was the only reason i made it past till here.
Love triangles are hard enough to bear but when it's between brothers. ugh.
P.S - "Belly" was so frustrating
- - -
i'm just 50 pages in and i have a strong feeling i won't like this.
Everything about these books made me cringe so bad. at least writing was simple and easy to get through and that was the only reason i made it past till here.
Love triangles are hard enough to bear but when it's between brothers. ugh.
P.S - "Belly" was so frustrating
- - -
i'm just 50 pages in and i have a strong feeling i won't like this.