I will admit that I originally started this series due to the popularity of the NetFlix series based on these books. The students in my library were requesting the books, and they were always checked out. So I decided to give this trilogy a try.
I really enjoyed the first book. Two mothers take their children to the beach every summer. The children have been going since they were little. This year Belly (the main female character) is 15, turning 16. And all of a sudden boys start to notice. Every year, she was the tag-a-long baby sister, and a nuisance for sure. To be honest, she is still a nuisance to her brother. However, the other 2 boys, Conrad and Jeremiah, seem to see Belly in a new light. Jeremiah has always been Belly's best friend, and she has always had a crush on Conrad. So needless to say the question becomes "are you team Conrad or team Jeremiah?"
Again, the first book was fun and a quick read. The second and third books seemed really long, and to be honest, I sort of lost interest in which boy Belly was going to choose. It was just a bit too much team Conrad vs team Jeremiah for me. However, I am not the audience for which this story was intended. My 9th and 10th grade girls just love these books - all three of them. I feel that The Summer I Turned Pretty is a solid stand alone book. For those of you who are watching the NetFlix series, you might want to read all 3.
I started the NetFlix series and had to turn it off. I was so annoyed with book 2 and 3 that I let it interfere with my enjoyment. I was ready for a "NetFlix and Chill" kind of evening, but what I got was "NetFlix and Frustration." I am sure it is a good series, but I'll have to try watching it later.
Happy Reading!
