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Hope you're all well!
This is so belated I'm in tears. These photos are basically my summer.
I didn't actually have the time to finish all three so I just read two of them. This is a trilogy and I read the first and second books, 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' and 'It's Not Summer Without You'. Both I fairly enjoyed and at times I did cry. I get very emotionally attached. Shocker. I read them over the months of July and possible the beginning of August.
This review is three months too late, I know and I am very sorry but stuff happens and this blog just went of hold for a long time. I don't know how long I'll be back though because I am not reading that much at the moment. Without further ado, here is 'ma' review.
I thought I should read the books over my summer holidays as they are contemporaries and summer was the best time, as well as the fact these books are set in the summer and they all have the word 'summer' in their titles. However, it's now October and I am a little dodgy on the events that took place in the first and second book of the series cause it's been almost four months since I read them and like I said before, this review is super late and I am sorry but I am also not sorry. I will try my best to remember what I loved and didn't.
Some summers are just destined to be pretty.
When each summer begins, Belly leaves her school life behind and escapes to Cousins Beach, the place she has spent every summer of her life. Not only does the beach house mean home away from home, but her favourite people are there: Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been chasing Conrad for as long as she can remember, and more than anything, she hopes this summer will be different. Despite distractions from a new guy named Cam and lingering looks from Conrad's brother, Jeremiah, Belly's heart belongs to Conrad. Will he offer his to her? Will this be the summer that changes everything?
Some summers are just destined to be pretty.
When each summer begins, Belly leaves her school life behind and escapes to Cousins Beach, the place she has spent every summer of her life. Not only does the beach house mean home away from home, but her favourite people are there: Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has been chasing Conrad for as long as she can remember, and more than anything, she hopes this summer will be different. Despite distractions from a new guy named Cam and lingering looks from Conrad's brother, Jeremiah, Belly's heart belongs to Conrad. Will he offer his to her? Will this be the summer that changes everything?
Firstly, I don't like the whole idea of 'turning pretty'. I'm gonna start with that. These books are somewhat childish to me. I don't like 'turning pretty' because then it just becomes this terrible thing with teenage girls where then assume they have to be 'pretty' to gain attention and to be able to be loved, WHICH IS TOTALLY BONKERS! And should never be promoted especially in books. Don't put it into their minds that they have to suddenly change to start to be noticed. Puberty is another thing but to just suddenly 'become pretty' is ridiculous. I understand this probably wasn't Jenny Hans aim and I can see what she means and she probably didn't mean this. I say all this because, the main character - Belly - hangs out with these two brothers her whole life each summer and when she suddenly turns sixteen they start to look at her 'differently'... *rolls eyes to the back of my head*. Yes, it was probably the puberty BUT BELLY HAS ALWAYS BEEN BELLY FROM THE START, she didn't suddenly change as a person. OH MY GOD! Why is it always what the boys want and what the boys notice? There are bigger, better, time-worthy things in life than just impressing guys.
Did I enjoy the first and second? Yes I did. But I don't like the idea around these books where there is a clear love triangle, maybe even square. This is because the girl in the books will always get tossed around. It's unfair and boring. To be honest, Belly goes through so much emotional trauma I literally cannot believe she is still putting up with this shit. These books, however have a way because Jenny Han is a cinnamon role and I adore her writing, it's very easy to get into but not for everyone.
The thing with love triangles and love squares is that it can be literary genius and amazing and then it can just get predictable, stupid and boring. There is a thin line. It also just gets so frustrating for the reader if it drags on and on, cause then its like "JUST PICK ONE OF THEM OHMYGOD!". There are some books where a love triangle/square is necessary to the plot and what not; then I see it's purpose but for miscellaneous other times it's just there as filler to drag on with ~who will she pick~. Just, unnecessary.
Secondly, the characters are worth it. I think that the characters were written very well especially the main character: Belly. There is a lot of back story with many of these characters as all three books are based from Belly's point of view (first person) and in each book she gets older. So in a sense it is a coming of age trilogy. Belly does really develop from the beginning of the books to the end, even though I haven't read the last book, I'm sure she flourishes in that. The rest of the characters were extremely realistic and also written very well. There are characters like the brothers - Conrad and Jeremiah - that at times I highly dislike and then I like again which is a recurring theme for me. All in all I don't like either brother as her love interest to be honest. They are both pretty bad. I could write and tell you how problematic and dickish they both are but I won't waste your time like that.
Thirdly, I would like to touch on that the writing is really easy to read and flows well. I may have mentioned this at the beginning briefly, but yeah, I have nothing against the writing. The plot is centred around Belly and her Summers as well as her growing older and wiser. I got the trilogy in a box set for such a bargain! I highly recommend if you're interested in the books to start with the first book The Summer I Turned Pretty and work your way down.
Secondly, the characters are worth it. I think that the characters were written very well especially the main character: Belly. There is a lot of back story with many of these characters as all three books are based from Belly's point of view (first person) and in each book she gets older. So in a sense it is a coming of age trilogy. Belly does really develop from the beginning of the books to the end, even though I haven't read the last book, I'm sure she flourishes in that. The rest of the characters were extremely realistic and also written very well. There are characters like the brothers - Conrad and Jeremiah - that at times I highly dislike and then I like again which is a recurring theme for me. All in all I don't like either brother as her love interest to be honest. They are both pretty bad. I could write and tell you how problematic and dickish they both are but I won't waste your time like that.
Thirdly, I would like to touch on that the writing is really easy to read and flows well. I may have mentioned this at the beginning briefly, but yeah, I have nothing against the writing. The plot is centred around Belly and her Summers as well as her growing older and wiser. I got the trilogy in a box set for such a bargain! I highly recommend if you're interested in the books to start with the first book The Summer I Turned Pretty and work your way down.
ALSO SIDE NOTE, HAVE U ALL HEARD Hello BY ADELE?!?!?!??!?! When I listened to it, I swear I was crying about a relationship I don't even have. Here's there link if you haven't heard the song. GO DO IT PLEASE.
p.s
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OMG! Those are such pretty pictures! :)
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