ellie_gard_1998 's review for:

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

2.25

lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Generally inoffensive and fun, with a pacing and style in which the author has obvious skill. tSITP is for a much younger teen audience (13-15) than I had guessed from the show (which, by the way, is a lot more entertaining than the book) and even though the characters are a little insufferable they're almost cutely so. Every point of conflict stays surface level, however, and Han offers kind of a lazy attempt to soften the gender roles and not so good self-image problems extant in this adolescent holiday haven. I hope young people don't find any of this actually aspirational, but it's a harmless enough fluffy read and I'd offer it to anyone with an interest in petty teen theatrics.