Review: Books 2 & 3 of the Summer Series by Jenny Han



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 with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.

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."

My Review: I read this one right after The Summer I Turned Pretty and I still maintain my dislike for Belly, she is so immature, but there are 16 year olds who act that way. I really enjoyed being able to get to know Jeremiah's character a little more, and even Conrad's. There was a lot of pushing and pulling between the love triangle as to be expected. Unfortunately it seems that Belly is too self centered give a sacrifice like each of the boys. This wasn't my favorite book of the Summer Series but I think it was a necessary building block. Once again though I absolutely love Jenny Han's writing style!

My Rating: I think I would give Its Not Summer Without You Two Paws and a Stump Wag.  A little middle of the road but thats how I felt. I definately would suggest people reading it if they liked the first one, it has an important role in building the relationships for the third book.


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Synopsis: "It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever"

My Review: Just when everything seems so clear life comes and gets you again. I was glad I forged ahead and read this final book of the Summer series even though I dislike Belly. I have to say she did finally start to mature in this one, still has a temper and gets stubborn but it seems she has learned to keep her mouth shut (sometimes). I wouldn't have made the same decisions she does but I can see she makes them out of love. Unfortunately this book seemed a little rushed, I am not sure if it was the frantic timeline the characters themselves laid out or if it was that there was so much turmoil. I also was a little disappointed at the abrupt ending after all the build up (I am talking about the a couple years later chapter), I felt like it was a little off handed just to throw that ending in there without any emotion.

My Rating: This one was a little harder to rate, but I think I come to the conclusion of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.  It could have been four paws if the last chapter hadn't just rushed past any emotions, I feel like there should have been a fourth book instead of one brief chapter.