Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - The Summer I Turned Pretty

there was no romance anywhere in this book. it felt more like somebody had a crush on someone else for no reason and just held onto those feelings for far too long. i wish there was more attention to family dynamics than this girl longing for a cigarette smoking drunk. i'm praying the tv show shows more details because the concept is strong (kinda) but on paper it was weak.

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gissellellamas's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I think this is the only time I've ever liked a film adaptation more than the book it's based on. Maybe it's just the cast, but the characters are so much more likable in the show. Belly and Conrad were both mostly just annoying in this book. That being said, it's a very quick and mostly enjoyable read, so I would still recommend it. I'm not sure I would rave about it, though. Unfortunately, there were a couple of problematic moments within the writing. One thing I noticed a couple times was the use of the word "gay" as an insult. The first time, Taylor wants to play truth or dare and when Conrad rejects the idea she says, "Don't be so gay." Jeremiah does go on to criticize her for using the word in that sense, but it is played off in a flirty, cute way without any actual repercussions to Taylor. Later in the book, Belly wants to go skinny dipping with Cam and when he, too, rejects the idea, Belly says "Are you serious?" and in the narration, follows that with, "What I really wanted to say was, Are you gay?" What's worse is that the author doesn't really address how this is problematic and acts like it's a normal thing for a teen to say as an insult, which it shouldn't be. In the show, Jeremiah is bisexual, but I haven't seen any indications of that in the book, so I cannot defend the author for including this not once, but twice. Also, Belly gets mad and leaves Cameron for not wanting to go skinny dipping, and this is how they ultimately split up. This feels too much like an insinuation of breaking up with someone because they don't consent to sexual activities. And there is nothing to indicate that the author recognizes that this, too, is a problem. If you overlook these things, the book is decent. However, I think these small additions are reflective of Jenny Han as a person, which is unfortunate because I loved her work in the TSITP show.

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carleyhall's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s been a while since I read YA and I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was such an easy read. I can see why others might not be fond of Belly’s character, but I felt she was a realistic portrayal of a girl in her situation coming of age. She made mistakes and was often petty, but where’s the fun in a perfect main character. I want to root for Conrad but I had trouble connecting with him in this book. I hope he’ll be more developed in the future novels. I enjoy how even Jeremiah and Cam had flaws that are realistic to being a boy their age. I’m also looking forward to a closer look at the relationships between Belly, Steven, and their mother.

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