The Summer I Turned Pretty Author: Jenny Han Natalia (12) 4/5 The Summer I Turned Pretty is a young adult novel written by Jenny Han. The story revolves around Isabel “Belly” Conklin. Belly’s mom, Laurel, is best friends with Susannah Fisher, who has two sons - Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher. The Conklins spend every summer at the Fisher’s beach house where they make memories and have the summer of their lives.
The novel primarily focuses on the year Belly turns sixteen and life starts to change significantly. Belly becomes more aware of her physical changes as well as her inner feelings. This lands Belly in a love triangle with both Fisher boys - Jeremiah “Jere” and Conrad. Belly has had a crush on Conrad ever since she was little and has only ever had eyes for him. Belly begins to form a deeper connection with Jere after he confesses he’s always loved her but was waiting for her to notice him like she notices Conrad.
Things take a turn for the worst when everyone finds out Susannah has terminal cancer and only has months left to live. Conrad, who’s known about his mother’s sickness before the others, begins to act out as he has no one to talk to. This makes Conrad a bit of an outcast with the crew as everyone thinks he’s changed and looks at him as always being angry. After Susannah’s sickness is out in the open she promises her boys she will try one more medical trial in hopes of getting better. The Summer I Turned Pretty touches on different topics, such as, self-discovery, family and love. This novel is the first of a trilogy followed by It’s not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer.