We'll Always Have Summer (The Summer I Turned Pretty)
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-2 review-rating', 'review_body': 'SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!\n\nOn some levels, this series was very well written and very touching. There were moments when I got very choked up and moments when I could really relate to the characters, their experiences, and what they were going through emotionally.\n\nBelly, (the main character) is in love with two brothers (Conrad and Jeremiah) who she grows up vacationing with every summer as a kid. Belly’s character is so beyond annoying in so many ways, you just want to scream. She spends 3 books going back and forth between the two brothers which, by the way, seemed really unhealthy and super dysfunctional to me! The brothers also stomp on her heart so many times it’s excruciating to read and pretty unbelievable that they would do that to a girl so close to them and who they say is almost like a “sister” to them.\n\nThere’s way too much to explain here, but basically, Belly spends her life pining away for Conrad who is pretty much a remote, closed off jerk to her throughout the entire series but is supposedly “in love with her.” You never really get any of those delicious private moments between the two of them to really illustrate that he’s so irrevocably in love with her, or any of those “tingly” moments that make all of the angst worth it. It’s all of the angsty build up, and in my opinion, none of the juicy reward. Everything is described after the fact in flashbacks described by the characters, and not always described well! Even at the end of the series, when she finally ends up with him, after 3 entire books of reading and waiting and playing the will they or won’t they game, you never get a big moment. They get together through a series of letters at the end (3 lousy letters I think it was!!!) and then you read about them running away from their wedding to jump in the pool at the summer house the grew up going to.\n\nThis series is so unfulfilling and unsatisfying as a reader, it’s actually maddening!! I feel like I’ve been duped! I hate when I can tell that the author just had no idea how to wrap things up and just abruptly ends a three book series like this! You don’t ever get to see the main characters finally professing their love or come together after page after page of anguish. It’s like a slap in the face!\n\nI’m trying to save you a lot of frustration with this review, I wish I had saved my time and money!!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "As a 39 year old mom of 2, you wouldn't think that this series would be my cup of tea. Oh, how wrong you would be!\nJenny Han has a way of making you feel every emotion in the best way possible. My grown-up heart was reminded of the days of first loves and dreaming about what future lie ahead.\nFor anyone that enjoys YA books, this series is an absolute must! Have your tissues ready for tears of all kinds!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Absolutely fell in love with these characters and need more books from the series! Read the series in three days and don’t have anything to say except - should I read them again?'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Reading this book series was like having a fun filled summer with your family and friends for the summer and now you have to return to reality. Your waving at all of your favorite characters as you look in the rear view mirror knowing it will be a long time if ever you will see them again, well because life is so unpredictable. This series made me laugh, cry, angry, and hopeful. I indeed recommend this series for all the sappy, romantic people out there.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Belly has loved two boys in her life: Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. Conrad was her first love and the first boy to break her heart. Jeremiah was the one who was there to pick up the pieces.\n\nIn the two years since, Jeremiah has been the perfect boyfriend. He's fun, he's dependable, and he has always loved Belly. But is that enough to build an entire future on?\n\nConrad knows he made a mistake when he pushed Belly away. He knew it even as he pushed harder. When Belly and Jeremiah announce their engagement, Conrad realizes that time is running out if he wants to try to win Belly back.\n\nThe Fisher boys have been part of Belly's life forever. She never imagined that in choosing one of them she might have to break the other's heart in We'll Always Have Summer (2011) by Jenny Han.\n\nWe'll Always Have Summer is the final book in Han's Summer trilogy which begins with The Summer I Turned Pretty and continues in It's Not Summer Without You.\n\nThis book is narrated by Belly with a few chapters from Conrad. My only complaint is I wish we had more from him because it was so fascinating to finally see things from his point of view.\n\nAfter Jeremiah won me over in book two, I wasn't sure what to expect for the end of the trilogy. That I couldn't decide how I wanted this love triangle to shake out speaks volumes to Jenny Han's strengths as an author and how well-developed all of these characters become by the end of the series.\n\nI always know I'm enjoying a series when it becomes impossible to choose a favorite book. I loved meeting these characters in book one, and I loved the way book two flipped everything I thought I knew upside down. But it might be this final book that has become my favorite as I think about the way things finally come together for Belly.\n\nWe'll Always Have Summer is the perfect conclusion to what's become a surprise favorite series. Come for the swoony romance and suspenseful love triangle, stay for the sweet ode to summer and growing up. A highly recommended series.\n\nPossible Pairings: Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian, Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo, Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo, Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland, The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder, The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart, Save the Date by Morgan Matson, When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon,Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I first bought the series of books because of the tv show on Amazon Prime Video. I’m so glad I did because I love the books and finished all three in a week. I will say the show doesn’t go a long with the books which is a little disappointing but the books are so good. I’m not a big reader and I have a 2 year old daughter and work full time so to finish them in a week for me means they are really good. I recommend this series 100%'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2011', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I didn't dislike anything in this book. That never really happens for me, even with my favorite books, so take that as a clue and HOLY S*** go read this book!\n\n(Yes, I'm still reeling from how awesome it was.)\n\nBelly, the Protagonist - Admittedly, when I first started the trilogy with The Summer I Turned Pretty, I thought Belly was rather childish... but that served a purpose. With the sequel, It's Not Summer Without You, she grew, and man, she was grown up here. I could finally relate to her in full -- well, except for the decisions she was having to make. All in all, I've loved seeing the way she's been developed as a character.\n\nThe Other Characters - Where would the Summer series be without the admirable cast of characters? I used to dislike Conrad because I was (duh) siding with Belly and thought that he was such a jerk, but even Conrad gets a thumbs up from me. All the characters were just as wonderfully complex as before.\n\nThe Romance - This book just proves that, despite the trends in recent YA novels, one does not need to meet a paranormal creature to have such great chemistry and memorable romance :).\n\nThe Writing - One thing I have always loved about the Summer series was the writing. It's so simple, so fluid that you slip into Belly's world effortlessly. And if you're like me, you'll realize you haven't put the book down for one second--it's just that good.\n\nThe Beginning - Man, Jenny Han knew how to start with this one off. I'd say she didn't even need that first page--an excerpt from later--because those first chapters? Packed with tension. They were short and to the point, and I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.\n\nThe Pacing - As I hinted at earlier, not once did I feel bored; the pacing was done really well, keeping me hooked without having annoying cliff-hangers at the end of every chapter.\n\nSynthesizing Time - One of the best parts of this series was Jenny Han's synthesis of time--past, present, and future. I loved the symbolism, loved all the memories and the things they revealed about the characters. Her memories never break up the story.\n\nThe Setting - Cousins Beach is just as fitting for this novel as it had been for the others. It's amazing how much this one place could not only represent the time but also the characters, the tone, and the progression of the novel. Like the waves there are ready to pull you in ;) and never let you go. [-insertion of the cheesy metaphor-]\n\nThe Idea - Because really? I don't know about you guys, but I don't generally enjoy love triangles. They always seem to bother me, but that's not the case here. I didn't have family friends like that as I grew up, but boy, Belly makes me wish I did. Perfect escapism. Fun, flirty, and complete. Beach book!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2011', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "The only thing I didn't like about this book is that I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. But I guess that would be a plus. No matter how hard I tried to take my time reading it and stretch it out, I just couldn't.\n\nThis was the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy. I absolutely LOVED reading Conrad's POV. Seeing his thoughts kind of just solidified what I thought he was thinking in the other 2 books. Looking back on Conrad's POV and Jere's POV in the other books, it was clear how different their love was for Belly. I don't doubt Jere's love for her but Conrad loved her deeper...she was entwined with his soul.\n\nI Don't have a long review to write because I just don't want to spoil anything for anyone. My goal here is just to express my pure love for this book and the 2 before it. I was in no way disappointed by these books....love to the core.\n\nREAD THEM NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!! :-)"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'My granddaughter read the series and she enjoyed this book.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Wow just wow about the ending! I’m ecstatic about how this story ended up because I was routing for them the entire time. I’m just in shock how it happened. I wish there was a fourth book to have more time with Belly and Conrad!'}]