It’s Not Summer Without You
By Jenny Han
I willnever look at you in the same way ever again. I’ll never be that girl again. The girlwho comes running back every time you push her away, the girl who loves you anyway.
WARNING- Not exactly spoilery (okay perhaps slightly) but If you have not read, "The Summer I Turned Pretty" I would recommend that you do not read this review.
Reading level: Young Adult Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (April 27, 2010)
Source: Bought
Synopsis- Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach
It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach
But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be.
If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach
"Instead I let the moment pass and I just sighed and leaned back in my chair. The sky was pinky gold. I had the feeling that there was nothing more beautiful than this, that this particular sunset matched the beauty of anything in this world, ten times over. I could feel the tension of the day drifting away from me and out to sea. I wanted to memorize it all in case I didn't get to come back again. You never know the last time you'll see a place. A person."
My Thoughts- It would seem Cousins Beach
Belly is grieving two losses, one being her mothers best friend Susannah who was a mother figure to her, and Conrad who never really called back or initiated any interest after she left. Worse still, her mother seems to be in a world of her own, a world that Belly isn’t a part of. With her best friend forcing her to move on, and her mother ignoring her, she feels completely isolated and filled with loneliness.
Then comes the call, apparently Conrad has been missing for some days and Jeremiah needs her help to find his brother. Does he even have to ask? Belly would go to the end of the Earth for Conrad.
That worries me most of all.
With some lies here and there, and sheer determination the two set of in search filled with hope, only when they do find him the both of them discover that maybe Conrad doesn't plan on coming back anytime soon. For Belly the blow is harder, he barely looks at her and is often impatient, she knows he is grieving for his mother but in the process has become almost cruel as well as dismissive, and often regards her in a disdainful manner.
One of the things I loved about this novel was that we finally get to see things from Jeremiah’s perspective! Through this I finally noticed how much he had fallen for Belly, it made me question if Conrad even deserved her. This instalment is just as humorous and witty as the first. Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah despite the issues they are going through never fail to make me laugh and snicker when my emotions got the better of me.
Like I mentioned in my previous review, despite knowing that Belly has her fair share of lows on this summer vacation, I can't help but envy her. She had this wonderful relationship with Susannah and this undeniable bond and connection with Conrad and Jeremiah, you get this vibe that each summer spent by these two families is almost like their own little getaway and secret hideout that is completely closed of from the real world, maybe that’s what keeps them going back each time.
What does eventually grow into frustration from my part is Belly treating Conrad like a god, he can treat her like absolute crap to the point of breaking her, all he has to do is say her name and she is already running right back to him. I don't call that love; I call that idiotic and foolish. Yes she has the tendency to act immature but I have always found it endearing up until that point.
Belly is hurt when Conrad calls her a child, but she does happen to go over the top at times e.g. Upon having a disagreement she will just retort "I hate you" and I will find myself shaking my head thinking, what in the world are you doing? I found Conrad quite unbearable at some level, I just felt he went way out of line in his attitude towards Belly. He completely knew how she felt about him, so I don't see how he can be so insensitive when she is trying so hard. The thing is, Belly tries to hard, and I often questioned whether she was obsessed with him or rather, obsessed with the idea of being with him. It was almost as though, he could knock her down as many times as he liked, and she would stand back up and take it all over again.
That was thankfully the only issue I had. Jeremiah I really warmed to, he is sweet, caring, sensitive and at large has others interests always at heart, and that really put him in my good books. From not knowing who to choose between the two brothers in the first book, it was obvious that I preferred Jeremiah in this one. Let me just say that Conrad doesn't exactly make himself all that likeable. I have read the synopsis of the third book though, and according to it I might be changing my mind once again. *sigh*
You know what though? Belly is so hard to stay mad at for long, despite her mistakes I tried to remind myself that she is 15, and is still growing and learning. Not to mention that she is just an overall lovely character. Despite my conflicted feelings regarding how she acted towards Conrad, I really grew to care for her and rooted for her constantly.
One thing, that I can not deny is how this series has the ability to tackle issues that teens in general do go through without coming across as overbearing but instead thoughtful, and understanding. Belly's story managed to give me this fuzzy feeling every time I turned a page or a chapter came to a close! The book includes a mix of emotions, at one point I would be in a fit at laughter, but then just as quick holding back tears, which is a pleasant change from my everyday typical read, which either do one or the other and at times.. neither!
The ending is bitter-sweet and left me completely shocked and aching for the next instalment. Thankfully Belly's journey isn't over quite yet, and luckily for me, I plan on riding it with her until the very end!
Where are you "We'll Always Have Summer" I need you now!! :(
I realised it suddenly. I missed him. All this time. When you got to the underneath of it, there it was. There it had always been. And even though he was sitting there only feet away, I missed him more than ever. Underneath my lashes I watched him, and I thought, Come back. Be the you I love and remember.
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