Introduction to the Book
Jenny Han’s, The Summer I Turned Pretty, is a relatable teenage story that blends love, self-discovery, and growing up altogether. The main character is Isabelle Conklin. She’s a teenager who spends every summer at a beach house with her mother and her mother’s best friend’s family at Cousins Beach. This summer tradition always makes Conklin feel a comfortable vibe.
As Conklin grows, the little things during summer grow a deeper meaning. Making her strengthen the relationships with her family and the two Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. She starts to cherish every moment and everything around her.
As shown in the title, this is the summer when Conklin “turns pretty”. Her new looks resulted in a change in her relationships, specifically with Conrad and Jeremiah. The brothers she has known for years. While both boys offer Conklin something she needs(Conrad’s emotional depth and Jeremiah’s carefree charm), she struggles to understand her feelings.
Conklin’s Emotional Journey
Han does a great job of showing the chaos of first love and the confusion that comes with understanding these emotions at a young age. The emotional barriers are what make Conklin’s journey so relatable, as she deals with not only her attraction to the two brothers but also her inside battles about who she is becoming.
The novel also goes through the experiences of spending time with loved ones and time passing. The beach house is more than just a summer tradition; it’s a place of nostalgia. For Conklin, the house represents years of memories with her mother and the Fishers. It’s a place of comfort and reassurance.
It’s a place where relationships become both complicated and more mature, and the mood shifts as people change. Conklin’s relationship with her mother, specifically, takes on new dimensions throughout the story. She realizes that her mother isn’t just the woman who raised her but also a woman with her own wants and struggles. This growth and understanding helps Conklin self-reflect on her growth as a person/daughter.
The reality of Growing Up
One of the strongest parts of The Summer I Turned Pretty is the nature of growing up. Han’s writing is warm, writing about the nature of leaving behind the innocence of childhood. The book doesn’t ignore the reality of life. Specifically, relationships, whether it’s the problems between Conrad and Jeremiah or Conklin figuring out who she is.
A Readers Opinion
Although 15-year-old Chloe Daly is a teenager who has read The Summer I Turned Pretty. She has her very own thoughts and opinions on this book. Her first ever thought on reading the book was how “quickly a girl could move on from one guy to another”. In the book, Conklin does tend to switch to Jeremiah and Conrad as she is confused about her feelings.
Daly thought the strongest relationship was between Conklin and Jeremiah. She claims, “Conklin’s relationship with Jeremiah really took a toll on me. It was so clear he had feelings for her, and she had feelings for him”. Even though Conklin is indecisive in the book, it is still very well written and Daly definitely recommends it to people who “have gone through a breakup, or has found somebody other than their original partner”.
Conclusion for the heartfelt Story
Overall, Jenny Han’s talent mixes moments of all emotions, making a story relatable. With its strong descriptions and emotional words, the book lets readers reflect on current and past events. Which makes it a special read for teenagers. The Summer I Turned Pretty is a well-written book that brings family bonds, growing up, and first love so well.
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