Books like The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Belly Conklin spends her summer each year at her family’s beachside vacation home, surrounded by long‑time friends and the Labrador‑wielding Fisher boys, Conrad and Jeremiah. As she approaches her sixteenth birthday, Belly feels ready to step out of her comfort zone and explore deeper relationships. When the family’s beloved grandmother, Susannah Fisher, is diagnosed with cancer, the carefree atmosphere of the summer house is replaced by quiet urgency and new responsibilities. Belly must decide whether to continue chasing romance or to focus on the people and realities that truly matter.
First publish date: 2000
Genre: Coming of Age/Young Adult Coming of Age
Authors: Jenny Han
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4.4 (96 community ratings)
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Books similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty (21 similar books)
Belly spends every summer at Cousins Beach, dreaming of the sea and of Conrad Fischer. When both Conrad and Jeremiah develop feelings for her, she must decide which brother to choose and whom to hurt.
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Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novel follows middle‑school theater enthusiast Callie as she designs a blue‑grass‑tired set for a school play, grappling with teamwork, budgets, and the drama of friendship and family.
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16-year‑old Lara Jean Covey’s secret love letters are mailed by her sister, turning imagined crushes into real‑life drama.
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A chronically ill teenager allergic to the world discovers love and possibility when a new family moves in next door, adding color to her isolated life.
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Teenager Isobel "Belly" Conklin spends a pivotal summer at her mother's best‑friend’s beach house, where she confronts the grief and revelations that reshaped her life after a year of tragedy.
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A heartfelt graphic novel set on a New York‑state beach, following two teenage girls as they confront family turmoil, friendship, and secrets during a summer that threatens to change their lives forever.
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Seventeen‑year‑old Molly Peskin‑Suso keeps her heart guarded, fearful of rejection as she navigates unrequited love and her own insecurities, while her twin sister Cassie pushes her to be bold.
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A grieving teen learns to move forward when a sudden job at a catering business introduces her to new friends and unexpected challenges.
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After Superstorm Sandy, Lucy’s life on the Jersey shore settles into routine—until Connor Malloy returns, stirring feelings and forcing a tough choice.
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Teenager Drea, living with her grandmother in Bellingham, Washington, discovers the power of true friendship while navigating Asperger's, self‑perception, and the complexities of love.
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A humorous glimpse into school life seen through the eyes of quirky, misfit students.
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Jenny's summer gets off to a bad start when her mother decides to take in boarders...and seventeen-year-old Cliff and his mother move in.
Suddenly the house just isn't big enough. Wherever Jenny turns, Cliff seems to be in the way. And even though they are both trying hard, they just can't get along.
When Cliff starts interfering with Jenny's love life, trying to protect her from the one boy she's always dreamed of dating. At first Jenny is furious, but she realizes Cliff is jealous. And Jenny is touched.
Will Jenny's summer turn into something wonderful - and totally unexpected?
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Two best friends discover a shy mermaid named Aquamarine in Capri Beach Club’s pool, sparking a rescue adventure that proves friendship, love and summer magic can change lives.
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Seventeen‑year‑old Caymen Meyers learns that love isn’t measured by money when she meets the richest guy of all.
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Three inseparable high‑school seniors—Angela, Zoe and Maddie—navigate the trials of senior year as they battle rivalry, explore friendship, and face the looming questions of college, sex, and the future of their trio.
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A first‑year high school student, Alice, struggles after a breakup but, with support from family and friends, she learns to rebuild her self‑worth.
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When Seagate Island’s 100‑year summer turns into the rainiest on record, a group of friends and their dogs must find adventure amid stormy weather and sandy shores.
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During the summer before her senior year, seventeen‑year‑old Alice McKinley visits her friend Patrick at college, where a life‑changing event reunites her small Maryland circle for an unforgettable coming‑of‑age adventure.
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Before her senior year, Gloria spends a summer at a Kentucky camp for gifted teens, coping with her grandmother’s loss while forming new friendships and learning to thrive in new surroundings.
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Some Other Similar Books
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The Summer of Broken Rules by Kiersten White
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