Book Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

September 4, 2023

I know, I know, I already did the show review, but the book is so different that it deserves it’s own review. I will warn you now, though, that this will have spoilers for both the book and the show.

I will start out by saying, the book is so different than the show. The timeline in the show is much different as are some of the characters. It is hard not to compare the book and the show, especially because I loved the show so much. This is not to say that I do not love the book, it is just hard having watched the show first, not to make that my standard or starting point.

So, I will start out with the comparisons that I have:

I loved show Susannah much more. I was much more connected to her and felt much more of a connection to her.

The show had a lot more of a connection between Belly and Jeremiah. Which made the future fight seem a little more realistic.

Steven was gone for most of the summer in the book, which made it feel a little more realistic that she would have the time to get to flirt with the boys while he was away.

Taylor was hardly in the book. All of the stuff with Steven happened when they were 14 rather than when Belly was turning 16. So not terribly long before, but enough before that it makes a difference. In the book, they are no longer as close as they seem in the show, and I am not mad that that was changed for the show. I think their friendship is really sweet and, I have not read the second book yet, so I am not sure if there is a relationship between Steven and Taylor in the second book, but I really like it in the show, so it is a sweet addition from Jenny.

I really loved the book and I am excited to dive into the second book, but I may take a break and come back to these books when the weather is a little nicer ( or a little less nice so I can remember what summer is like ).