Librarian's Pick of the Week: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Author: Jenny Han
Genre: Relationships
Published: 2009
Age: 13+

Synopsis: Belly's never been the kind of girl that things happen to. Year after year, she's spent her summers at the beach house with Conrad and Jeremiah. The boys never noticed Belly noticing them. And every summer she hoped it would be different. This time, it was. But the summer Belly turned pretty was the summer that changed everything. For better, and for worse.

Review: Belly spends every summer at the beach house owned by her mom's best friend, Susannah. While all the usual occupants Belly's brother, her mom, Susannah, and Susannah's sons, Jeremiah and Conrad are present, this year things are different. A note of finality hangs in the air, as Conrad will start college in the fall. He's always been closed off, but now he's taken up drinking and smoking, and gets moody whenever other boys pay attention to Belly. In addition to Conrad, there's Cam, Belly's summer fling, and Jeremiah also seems to have a crush on her. Who will she end up with? Some chapters return to summers past, revealing Susannah's cancer and Belly's first kiss with one brother, Jeremiah, and her unwavering love for the other, Conrad. Han plants enough seeds throughout the book for readers to ascertain what's really going on with Susannah, while keeping Belly who is appropriately self-centered, alternating between typical teenage vanity and vulnerable insecurity clueless. This is a quick, satisfying read, with a poignant conclusion good for budding romance fans. -Booklist

If you're intrigued, don't forget to check our library's catalog for this book!