The Summer I Turned Pretty Summary. it is published by Simon & Schuster, it is a 2009 novel by author Jenny Han. A young adult romance, The Summer I Turned Pretty follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin’s journey to adulthood over one unforgettable summer.
As Belly navigates the challenges of growing up and her first love, she recalls moments from summers past that have affected her relationship with the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly learns that change is inevitable and what it means to take risks for what one wants. This study guide refers to the S&S Books for Young Readers, Reprint edition.
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| The Summer I Turned Pretty Summary |
The Summer I Turned Pretty Synopsis
As far as teenager Isabel Conklin is concerned, summer is the only season that matters. For Isabel, nicknamed “Belly,” winter and spring are merely waiting periods. Not only is her birthday in August, but each June, she, her mother, Laurel, and her brother, Steven, travel to Cousins Beach to spend three months with the Fisher family, at their beach house on the Atlantic Coast.
Laurel Conklin and Susannah Fisher have been best friends since childhood, and now spend summers together with their children. Susannah has two teenage sons: Conrad, the eldest, is about to attend his freshman year of college, and Jeremiah is still in high school. The Fisher boys have been a source of friendship and fascination for Belly for as long as she can remember, and she’s been harboring a crush on Conrad for years. Both families have faced challenges; Susannah had cancer, and the Conklins recently divorced.
The summer that Belly turns sixteen, major changes impact everyone staying at the Fisher’s beach house. After the Conklins arrive, the two families begin to settle in for what at first seems like a typical vacation—but it soon becomes clear that this summer won’t be the same as those before. Belly has blossomed into a beautiful young woman, and both boys notice the change in her appearance. However, Conrad’s moodiness makes Belly feel more distant from him than ever before. She learns that Conrad has quit the football team, broken up with his girlfriend, and started smoking. Initially, the cause of Conrad’s sullen mood is unclear. As the story progresses, the reader learns more about the difficulties facing the Fisher family.
Fearing that Conrad will never reciprocate her feelings, Belly tries to ignore her crush on him. Soon after her brother Steven leaves to tour colleges with their father, Belly begins to pursue a relationship with a boy named Cam. They meet at a beach party and realize they had met once before when they were thirteen, at a convention for Latin students in Washington, D.C. Cam and Belly begin to date, and she likes that he is different from both Jeremiah and Conrad. Cam is “straight edge,” which means that he does not drink alcohol, do drugs, or practice other risky behavior. Although she appreciates this, Belly also becomes frustrated with the lack of physical intimacy between the two of them. She wishes that he would kiss her without asking first and take part in more risqué activities like skinny-dipping.
Flashbacks throughout the novel show moments from different summers from the years that Belly was age ten through fourteen. Several chapters focus on the previous summer, when Belly’s best friend Taylor comes to Cousins Beach to visit for a week. In the past, Belly was something of a non-threatening sidekick for her pretty friend. However, during the visit, Taylor notices that Belly is becoming attractive in her own right and begins to see her as competition for male attention. On the other hand, Belly unfavorably compares her own appearance to that of her friend, who wears makeup and flattering clothing. Belly has her first kiss with Jeremiah during a game of truth or dare, and is mortified that Conrad and Steven watch it happen. By the end of Taylor’s visit, the two girls are still friends, but are not as close as they used to be.
Although Belly and Cam date throughout the summer, romantic tension between Belly and Conrad grows. At a house party, Conrad becomes aggressive with a young man in his twenties. To prevent them from coming to blows, Belly steps between them to break up the argument. Later, as she sits alone with Conrad in a car, he gently strokes her hair. He is on the verge of saying something to her, but the moment passes.
Toward the end of the novel, Belly’s attraction to Cam wanes, and after Jeremiah reveals his interest in her, she can no longer deny her crush on Conrad. Unwilling to let her affection remain unspoken, Belly confronts Conrad and tells him that she loves him. He rejects her, which leads to a physical altercation between the Fisher brothers. After Laurel breaks up the fight, Belly discovers the secret behind underlying tension in the house; Susannah’s cancer has returned, and she does not have long to live. Belly switches her attention from romance to supporting the Fisher family through their painful time. She comforts Jeremiah, promises Susannah that she’ll look after Conrad when she’s gone, and listens to Conrad express his devastation. Belly and Conrad share a kiss, but Conrad explains he is too distraught about his mother to start a relationship now.
At the end of the summer, the Fishers and Conklins clean up the house and spend one last day at Cousins Beach. Several months later, Conrad drives from Boston to see Belly in the middle of winter. After her mother goes to sleep, Belly sneaks out of her house to meet him, suggesting the start of a relationship between the two teenagers.
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The Summer I Turned Pretty Themes
Coming of Age: At the heart of the story lies Belly's journey of self-discovery as she enters her sixteenth summer. She grapples with changing emotions, newfound desires, and the challenges of navigating her place in the world. This theme unfolds through her evolving relationships with friends and family, especially the love triangle with the brothers Conrad and Jeremiah.
First Love and its Turbulences: Belly's experiences with Conrad and Jeremiah introduce the joys and heartbreaks of first love. The novel explores the intensity of teenage emotions, the confusion and excitement of romantic attraction, and the inevitable pain of heartbreak.
Friendship and its Significance: The strong bond between Belly and Susannah, her mother's best friend, and Susannah's sons, Conrad and Jeremiah, form the backbone of the story. This theme highlights the importance of friendship in navigating life's challenges, offering support, understanding, and a sense of belonging.
Loss and Grief: The shadow of Susannah's terminal illness hangs over the summer, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story. Belly and the others confront grief, loss, and the importance of cherishing loved ones.
Family Dynamics and Motherhood: The novel portrays the contrasting parenting styles of Laurel, Belly's mother, and Susannah. This exploration touches on themes of communication, trust, and the different ways mothers navigate their relationships with their children.
Identity and Self-Discovery: Belly's journey throughout the summer involves questioning her identity and seeking to understand who she wants to be. The novel explores themes of self-acceptance, individuality, and finding one's voice amidst societal expectations.
Secrets and their Impact: Throughout the story, secrets and misunderstandings create tension and complicate relationships. This theme emphasizes the importance of honesty and open communication in maintaining trust and building lasting connections.
Summer as a Catalyst for Change: The idyllic setting of Cousins Beach amplifies the emotional intensity of the summer and serves as a catalyst for change. Belly's experiences during this defining summer shape her future and leave lasting impressions on her life.
Questions about The Summer I Turned Pretty Plot
Who does belly end up with? Belly marries Conrad in The Summer I Turned Pretty books. The betrayal leads to their and Belly's move to Spain. In the meantime, Conrad keeps sending her love letters, confessing all his feeling for her.
Does Belly lose her virginity to Conrad? In the second episode, it's revealed that Belly loses her virginity to Conrad by the fireplace in the house at Cousins Beach after the snow at the beach scene. “I felt like that's where Belly was in her journey,” Han tells Variety. “These two characters were very much in love and had known each other their whole lives.
Is The Summer I Turned Pretty ending sad? “Not only is it about her and Jeremiah ending the season together but also about her moving forward out of this grief and out of this confusion with everything, so it's a really hopeful ending and a really lovely thing to see.
Do Belly and Jeremiah get married? But, fans of Belly and Jeremiah might want to look away now as in the books written by Jenny Han, Belly ends up marrying Conrad. Yes, really! In Jenny Han's third book, We'll Always Have Summer, Belly breaks up with Jeremiah after two years when she discovers he cheated on her while they were on a break.
Do Belly and Jeremiah sleep together? While Belly came close to believing she was ready to give her virginity to Jeremiah, even seriously considering consummating their relationship during a trip to the beach house one time, she ultimately decided against it.
How long was Belly in love with conrad? Belly says she doesn't know, but Taylor calls her out and teases her about wanting to make-out with Conrad Fisher whom Belly's been in love with since she was 12. Taylor says she has to take action, but Belly says it doesn't matter what she does because Conrad doesn't see her that way.
When did Conrad fall in love with Belly? While Belly had a childhood crush on Conrad, he never returned the feelings, and her crush was largely known in the family. It is only in The Summer I Turned Pretty that Conrad finally began returning her feelings after she "blossoms" into a beautiful young girl and he finally takes notice of her.
Why did Conrad break up with Belly? What began as sweet phone calls turned into dates, including an intimate night spent at the Cousins Beach house. But after Susannah's death, Conrad's grief created distance between him and Belly leading to their breakup at prom.
Why did Belly choose Jeremiah? In the scene from episode 6, Belly tells Conrad how much their relationship means to her, but he doesn't express the same urgency and willingness to fight for them. Han says Belly wants someone who will fight for her, and Jeremiah becomes the right choice for her, ensuring happiness without drama.