Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - It's Not Summer Without You

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han

9 reviews

beth_s98's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked this one better than the first in the series, but there were also a lot of parts that were hard for me to get through.

Through them discussing the last days of Beck and her funeral and the feelings immediately after her death, I was reliving my own grief after losing someone to cancer, which was hard. I felt like the book handled it in a good way though. I’m still not sure which of the summer boys I think is a good fit for Belly, but Jenny Han definitely knows how to write a trilogy that keeps you coming back for more.

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madanxiety's review against another edition

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emotional reflective

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

Belly is so aggravating, from the first book to the second. She's always calling other people selfish when she's the one that is.

And when Taylor calls her out on it, she just continues to see herself as the victim. She acts like Conrad broke up with her at prom, but he didn't even - he was just depressed. And like yeah, anyone deserves to have their lover show up for them and proclaim their love, but she just put words in his mouth and self-sabotaged, then did it again and again. Ugh! And idk, I don't like the whole thing with Jeremiah either, because how can he ever feel like more than second best? I just feel like that dynamic is bound to fail. She was right when she said taking his hand was the most good thing she's done in a while (paraphrasing, idr), but like is that enough of a reason to be with him? I don't trust her for Jeremiah, and I don't trust Conrad with her. I did in the last book, but Belly's right that actions speak louder than words. What's crazy is that he ought to be MORE selfish. Like just take what you want, man! Or try to, anyway. All these petty jealousy games between the three of them is so exhausting.

I have mixed feelings now re: my previous review's claim that the show adaptation is better. At least partly, I stand by that claim. In the show, we get to see more perspectives - Laurel, Steven, Conrad - which makes these characters fuller. Whereas, the books (so far) are limited to Belly's POV, with some sprinklings of Jeremiah. I also like that the show makes the characters more diverse - I have a hunch that the author would've made it so in the books were it not for publishers, who tend to perceive diversity as less profitable.

On the other hand, bringing that fullness to the characters simple means there's a LOT going on. I remember my initial reaction to the show was that it was sooo messy. Which, ofc, people live for drama, but I appreciate the slower and more focused pace of the novels.

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thebookpaiges's review

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emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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challenging fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I wanted to read this book because I loved Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I Loved Before series and with this being picked up by Amazon Prime, I was interested to see what was going to happen in the next series. I didn’t enjoy the first book and didn’t have a lot of hope for this book and I'm glad I didn’t because this book was disappointing and made me want to gouge my eyes out.

This book is still based on Belly, who we met in the first book. She is now sixteen years old. She used to count the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But this year, she isn’t looking forward to it. Her and Conrad have broken up and not talking anymore and Susannah, the boy’s mum has recently passed out. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing that summer would never come. However, one night, Jeremiah rings Belly to tell her that Conrad has disappeared. Belly knows what she must do to make things right and it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this is the last summer, it should end the way it started – at Cousins Beach.

You know when you rely on a minor character to bring the comedic effect or just save the book – this book didn’t have any of them. I didn’t realise how much Susannah saved the first book until you read this book and there is no Susannah. Every single one of these characters absolutely annoyed the shit out of me. Belly didn’t learn her lesson from the last book and life in general of “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” - she spends half of the book being unjustifiable mean and then the other half just feeling guilty and trying to apologies. Jeremiah and Conrad both need a slap in the face for letting a girl get in between especially when it’s Belly. Like I love a love triangle in tv shows, but they never seem to work in books, and this was one example of one. Steven was just jealous and was only needed to move the story along. Taylor was right to be upset but didn’t need to dismiss Belly’s feelings about Conrad so much. “Badass” Laurie lives up to her name in the last 2 out of 5 chapters and then again, she’s hiding for most of the book. Belly and Steven’s dad whose name I can’t remember isn’t even in this and Mr Fisher just shows up again to stop us listening to how Belly is feeling guilty or wanting to be in the centre of attention.

The only reason I didn’t DNF this book or give it a one star because there was an additional POV from Jeremiah, I would have preferred it to be Conrad but oh well. I don’t know if I should or would pick up the last book in the series and let’s hope the TV show is better.

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gissellellamas's review

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oddly enough I enjoyed this installment of the Summer series more than the first. Just like in the first book, there are a couple of moments that I found to be somewhat odd and problematic. Ex: Taylor braided Belly's hair and said "I love your hair like this. You look sort of Native American, like a Cherokee princess or something." I just feel that this comment is unnecessary and feels awkward in the context, especially coming from a non-native author and a non-native character. However, I am not native either so it is not really my place to decide whether or not this is problematic, just felt weird to me as a reader. The character development was much stronger in this book and I ended up liking Belly more than I did in the first book, so it didn't make me want to close the book every time she did something.

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michelleub's review

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Usually I am generous with my reviews, but I kind of expected more romance from this. It just felt like a no or barley plot book, just vibes. Which can be fine but it wasn’t actually what I was look for. Still it is probably a great filler book and I heard that the third is actually young adult so I’m hopeful.

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lalaslibrary's review against another edition

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2.75

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theespressoedition's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Here I was, hoping that this sequel would be maybe just a little bit better than the first? But BIG OOF, it was not.

I have basically the same issues with this one that I had with the first:
- Belly is one of the most irritating, self-centered, whiny little brats I've ever read
- Conrad is an a$$hole and doesn't deserve the time of day, let alone all of Belly's love
- Jeremiah is actually the best character and deserves WAY better than Belly... and everyone else in his life
- I'm too old for these books

I truly don't have much else to say except that I'm simultaneously glad and sad I didn't read these at 15. I would've loved them, but they also would've done me zero favors during my growing years.

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hollymileham's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted sad fast-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

4.0

i liked this one more than the first but some of it is so sad and i wasnt prepared for that
taylor is so annoying. SHUT UP
and conrad youre a little dick sometimes but im still on your side

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