The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (Review)

Hey Everyone!
Man, it feels like it's been forever!  Okay, so it's been a week since my last review, however, since for the past three to four weeks I've been rereading The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, for the release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (which, btw, I've seen twice now! :)), it's also sort of nice to be back to reading NEW stuff!

The book I read this time around, is one I've wanted to read for quite a while now.  I would actually say probably since its release in 2009, which was around the time I saw it for the first time at Borders (RIP ;( Borders!).

Well, I finally got the opportunity a few weeks ago, when Amazon had it on sale for I believe $3.99!  So I grabbed at the chance, and finally read it over Thanksgiving Day! :)

BTW, I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving, and had the opportunity to think about everything they are grateful for in their life!  I know I sure have a heft list, and let me just say it did not include a sale item on Black Friday! ;)

Anyway, so now to my review on Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty!

Description from Goodreads:

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Let me add a few things to that description:

Belly is about to turn sixteen, has grown quite a bit to Jeremiah and Conrad's astonishment, and is about to experience her first summer as a "grown up"!

My thoughts:

I heard before reading this book that Jenny Han's writing style for this series, reminds a lot of people of Sarah Dessen's style.  I agree somewhat with that.  I will say that I believe Dessen's style feels almost more realistic, just because of all the issues the main charaters and major characters face in her books, however, Han does a great job too, with a bit of light contemporary young adult cuteness in between...which is something that a lot of Sarah Dessen's books don't have, I feel like (not complaining about it though! I love Sarah Dessen's books!).

I love that this book takes place in the summer! I feel like a lot of great Young Adult books take place during the summer vacation near an ocean or body of water!  Examples: Hailey Abbot is a perfect example with her novel Boy Crazy and her Summer Boys Series, Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride is another, and then there is also Tricia Mills Heartbreak River! All great books!

I just love that feeling of the sand, water, and sun beating down on these characters because it makes me feel like I'm enjoying it right along with them!  I also LOVE beach houses! They always sound so adorable, and even though (okay, I know most of you will think I'm totally crazy for admitting this) but I'm actually not a huge fan of the ocean!  I live about fifteen minutes away from the Pacific Ocean (which btw, is ALWAYS FREEZING!!), and even though I love the feeling of the sand and sunsets look absolutely gorgeous on the beach, I've never been a huge fan of salt water!  Now lakes and rivers are a different story, I LOVE those!  But none the less, I just love the idea of having a perfect beach day, especially when you're not the one having to have sand down your swim suit bottoms haha.  You get to live precariously through some of these awesome characters! :)

Anyway, I thought Jenny Han's character were really likeable!  Belly is very relate able.  She deals with what practically every almost 16 year old teenager deals with.  Boys, summer, first kisses, the difference between friendship and more, and just growing up!  Conrad and Jeremiah seem really great!  Conrad, with his brooding attitude and sometimes a bit selfishness, you still can't help but love with Belly.  And Jeremiah with his sweet, sensitive caring manner, and Belly's best friend had me wishing I was the one he was confiding in!  

I would recommend this book to be read over the summer.  It's a perfect read for the beach!  Or if you're in Australia (or that part of the Earth) where its summer weather right now, read it then! :)  It's a great book on dealing with teenage issues like first love, first kisses, so definitely relate able, like I said above, and I would recommend it for girls (or boys, if you're into these types of light YA novels) between the ages of 14 to 17 or 18.  

Overall rating:

 

I am definitely looking forward to reading books 2 and 3 in the trilogy to find out how Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah's story continues! (I heard some shocking events take place! So it's definitely got me intrigued to find out what happens next!)

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend! :)

The Romance Bookie :)