It's Not Summer Without You: 2 (The Summer Series)

I read The Summer I Turned Pretty (the first book) && LOVED it. However, the sequel was somewhat of a letdown. There was really no substance to the character's relationship like in the first one. It was mainly just about trying to save the summer house after the boys mom passes away. Now, don't get me wrong, I was ALL FOR them saving the house, && glad they did. I just didn't think that was the only thing the book needed to revolve around. I think the conflict between Conrad && Belly could of been thought out better. I did like that Belly saw what a great guy Jeremiah was in the end, && ended up with him, that was the highlight of the book. The only other criticism I have is that the very end of the book (when it goes forward a few years) I didn't understand that part at all, && it wasn't really explained well, as I was left a little confused. Overall though I do praise the effort.

This second novel of the Summer series did not go the way I had expected. I was thinking I had it all figured out and then I was thrown for a loop in this book.

First of all, prepare for tears because there are some VERY sad moments. Have the tissues handy and be ready to be just a little bit mad at the author. Be ready to be shocked. I did not see some of the things coming and was like, woah, wait a minute. I liked the book, I really did, I just didn't see it going the way it did.

With how things ended, and how I still feel about where I want the story to go, I am nervous to get moving on with the third book...but I will because Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah have woven their way into my heart and I know they will stay with me ages after I finish the series.

In "It's Not Summer Without You" Susannah Fisher has died leaving a hole in the hearts of all those she loved especially her sons, Belly and her best friend. With her relationship with Conrad on the rocks after a disastrous evening at her Spring prom and looking forward to a dull summer far from Cousins Beach, Belly is surprised by a call from Jeremiah Fisher with the news that his brother has disappeared just before his mid-term exams. Lying to her mother about where she's going, Belly embarks on a trip that takes her back to the summer beach house to confront a surly boy with a shattering secret, and to romance in the arms of her friend Jeremiah, the easy-going, amiable brother.

Told from not only Belly's perspective but Jeremiah's the reader is swept into a contest of wills as both brothers vie for her affection. Shattered by Conrad's betrayal at his mother's funeral and his lack of interest in her, Belly not only struggles to break free of her feelings for the temperamental teen, but finds herself gravitating towards his fun-loving and even-tempered brother Jeremiah.

With a fluid writing style and natural dialogue Jenny Han creates a story that's intense and emotionally-charged as romantic loyalties begin to shift, and emotions run high in the wake of Susannah's passing. Conrad, shattered by the death of his mother finds solace in his anger searching for a reason to live, a new purpose and finding a new enemy as he searches for a solution to the possible sale of the summer beach house. In doing so he alienates Belly further pushing her into the arms of his brother and leaving the reader to wonder if their love is finally dead. Into this page-turner that progresses swiftly as events unfold the author weaves friendship, sibling rivalry, family relationships and the impact of grief on individuals.

In this story Belly Conklin, haunted by guilt after making a scene at Susannah's funeral is determined to find Conrad, make amends and to sever their romantic tie. Strong-willed, impulsive and loyal to Susannah's memory Belly doesn't hesitate to help Jeremiah track Conrad down, but easily falls into an emotional trap that has her getting drunk so she can express her feelings. Conrad Fisher continues to lead Belly on an emotional roller-coaster with his thoughtlessness, distance and destructive moodiness while Jeremiah craving her love wins her affection with his strength, kindness and devotion. The characters which also include a loving and supportive Laurel Conklin and a heartbroken, determined Adam Fisher all add to high-energy and drama of a riveting story that you can't put down.

I liked "It's Not Summer Without You" and can't wait to read how Jenny Han ends this fascinating story in the final book

This picks up several months after book one in The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy. If you are expecting to go into this seeing the romance between Belly and Conrad, you will be disappointed. This is focusing on how their relationship ended more so than getting to see any of their time together.

This is really dealing with loss and grief. It was emotional, but I was left a little disappointed. I did cry once, but I felt the emotional parts could have been done better.

Belly is still annoying at times. I did not really buy into the romance between her and Jeremiah either.

Overall, I did not love this as much as I thought I would. I still enjoyed it and plan to finish the series.

Reading It’s Not Summer Without You drew me back into Belly’s world, the one dominated by her summers at Cousins Beach and her relationships with her mother, her brother Steven, and their family friends, Susannah, Conrad and Jeremiah. It was, as always, impeccably done, and I couldn’t put the book down until I’d finished.

A lot has changed since readers last encountered these characters. Belly is older now, slightly more mature. She’s also suffering from the effects of her “relationship” with Conrad, which translates into nursing a broken heart. While the story does revolve around Belly, I was definitely paying more attention to Susannah/Beck’s boys – Conrad and Jeremiah – this time around.

I started the book off unsure how to feel about Conrad, especially after the light he’d been painted in during the previous novel. Gradually, I found my anger and frustration intensifying until I was nearly at the point where I hated him. I was so close to losing it… and then revelations come to light and I just couldn’t bring myself to hate him. Instead, I sympathized with him. But just when I thought it was okay, he did something that had those feelings of intense dislike came rushing back in. He frustrated me again and I wanted to talk some sense into him!

Jeremiah, on the other hand, really grew on me in this book. It’s clear from the very start that he’s devoted to Belly, and that his feelings for her have continued growing even during the time they were apart. What really won me over when it came to him was his willingness to step aside if Conrad had loved Belly and really wanted to commit to being with her. The selflessness of that act was certainly enough to woo me!

The character I missed most in this book was Susannah. Her death seemed to have left everyone feeling lost, and I felt their sadness as deeply as if it were my own. The loss of her presence lent a very melancholy feeling to the book, and it permeated most of the plot too.

Reading about their mini-reunion at the beach house was a bit of a soothing balm to her loss though. The beach house brought back good memories, and reminded me of moments they’d shared during their history at it. It was a little sad for them to be there without Susannah, but I still found it brought comfort to read about it.

Jenny Han’s writing is certainly easy to read, and she had some beautiful passages written in this book. I love how she was able to capture the essence of what a first love is really like – the strong infatuation, the unwillingness to let go or believe that it isn’t meant to be. I also love that she shows us that there’s another kind of love – the kind you choose and make a concerted effort to enjoy.

It’s Not Summer Without You was another emotional roller coaster ride of a book detailing Belly’s experience with Cousins Beach and the two boys she’s known forever. The story is compelling in its believability, and I found myself completely absorbed in its pages once I’d started. I highly recommend this book, its predecessor and the final book!

In the sequel to The Summer I Turned Pretty, Conrad goes missing. Belly hadn't been to the summer house in a while, so she was quite happy when she got a call from Jeremiah, though not as happy when she found why he was calling: he wanted her help with finding Conrad, because Belly knows Conrad quite well. They actually dated for a few months a while ago, and Belly absolutely loved Conrad, though he seemed to have neglected her quite often and treated her badly, though it may have all been because his mother was extremely sick.

Belly and Jeremiah end up finding Conrad at Cousins Beach, and also find that he left school right before midterms and he seems to just be hiding out in the Beach House. We also find out that the Cousins House is going to be sold, so Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad do everything that they can to try to stop that from happening because the beach house is a huge part of their life, especially their childhood.

I read the first book in this trilogy a while ago, and all that I remembered was that I just thought it was "okay". I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. So I went into this sequel not really expecting much besides a light contemporary read. I was absolutely thrilled to find that I really loved this book. It was much more interesting than the first book and we found out a lot of information between Conrad and Belly, as well as Susannah during her sick days and what she was like.

I think this series would make pretty good movies, now that I think about it. As soon as I finished this book, I really wanted to read the next one!

A perfect summertime read. I've been wanting to reread this series and as it's summer, I knew this would be the perfect choice.

This book (and the series as a whole) has all the aspects of summer you want to read about: a beach town, a summer romance, and friendship. The details are specific enough to make you feel like you are there, living that summer dream, even if in reality you are caught up in everyday life.

Definitely a good series to read and I can't even say it's my last reread because I always seem to come back to it when summer comes along.

This book was a great read, especially during the spring/summer or at the beach. I read this book because I wanted to read a coming-of-age story about romance (basically a typical teenage love story). I also read the first book a while ago and wanted to read the second because I enjoyed the first one a lot. This book ended up being surprising in a good way, and met my expectations, if not exceeded them. In the first book, romance is the central theme, while in this book, the focus is shifted (I will not mention exactly how). The new focus of this book is deeper and more emotional which made it very easy to read. I connected with this book because I have experienced losing a family member, as did the characters in this book did. I think that this book is definitely for teenage girls because it is a typical love story and a slight tear-jerker. It teaches readers about two different types of boys and how differently they treat girls, in both good and bad ways--perfect for teenage girls trying to understand the different personalities of teenage boys. The book also becomes emotional as the characters deal with a very close loved one who passed away from an illness, and many teenage girls seem to enjoy books that can make readers cry.

My Thoughts: Please note, this review WILL contain spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty.

In The Summer I Turned Pretty, I came to know all the characters and learned that Belly has always had strong feelings for Conrad. She likes Jeremiah too, but the connection she felt with Conrad was incredibly strong. At the end of book 1, we are lead to believe that Conrad and Belly will finally be together. And they were...for a while. Then things went terribly wrong, leaving Belly heart broken and confused. Conrad becomes distant and doesn't act like himself. This is the first summer Belly will not be spending at Cousins Beach. When Susannah died it changed everything. Belly feels lost. Lost without the beach house, lost without Susannah and lost without Conrad and Jeremiah.

This book is just as good as the first. The characters are growing up and getting older, and with that comes the problems that go along with that. I continued to be pulled in to the story and felt myself invested in these peoples lives. The tension between Conrad and Belly was heartbreaking. The author wrote them so well that I could feel what Belly was feeling. Belly ends up spending the summer at the beach house after all and old feelings reemerge, along with some new. The end of this book gives the readers another twist that sets up the next book. To be honest, after reading this book I have no idea who Belly will end up being with in the end, Conrad or Jeremiah. Or maybe neither. OH THE SUSPENSE.

In this book, you get chapters written not only in Belly's point of view, but Conrad and Jeremiah's as well. This was very well done and helped add more depth to the characters that I already love.

Another PERFECT beach read. Those who loved the first book in this trilogy need to pick this one up asap.

Favorite Quotes:
"No matter what you do or how hard you try, you can't stop yourself from dreaming."

"I didn't want to make the same mistakes my parents made. I didn't want my love to fade away one day like an old scar. I wanted it to burn forever."

Bottom Line: It's Not Summer Without You cemented my love for this story and these characters even more. Well done. 5/5

I think everyone deserves fair warning: The book is mildly heartbreaking but in a good way (if that's even possible).

To me, this book had more substance. For one, you can see a noticeable change in Belly (who I found to be very annoying in the first book). There was still the usual I-want-Conrad-but-I-can't-have-him drama but this time around it wasn't only about that. She matured and finally she had a bigger reason for her heartache - not just Conrad. The biggest heartbreak in the book gave me a reason to feel attached to Belly because I wasn't in her little bubble anymore. The chaos in Belly's life made the story more enjoyable for me. (and that totally doesn't sound evil at all. Totally.)

Futhermore, Jenny Han told the story better this time. I think having a few chapters in Jeremiah's perspective helped give depth to the story; it was like a balance was created. Because quite frankly, reading an entire book written in Belly's perspective alone was tiring. Add that to the heartache and viola! A well-shaped plot.

However (there's always the however), inasmuch as this book was better than the first, there were still a few things that needed ironing out. For example it wasn't really clear why Conrad and Belly broke up during prom. Sure he was having issues but it just felt so sudden and off. Then again maybe Han intended for that effect to get through so we can sympathize with Belly. It worked for me though! I felt Belly's pain when they broke up because the description was vivid and not because I can relate to it in anyway. Kapish? Just the same, I felt like Conrad becoming distant wasn't as gradual as it should've been seeing that Belly was still excited and hopeful about prom.

Another one is Belly's sudden interest in Jeremiah. (Bella Swan complex much?) I know they've been bestfriends since forever but with the way Belly's obsessed (in love, potatoe potatow) with Conrad, it was hard for me to grasp how the heck she can suddenly find Jeremiah attractive that way. (I wonder if a kiss can easily turn things around like that) Again, I'm just looking for the gradual change that can logically explain things. (then again maybe my think-logically-mindset is just ruining the experience for me) Or maybe Belly was just so eager to get over and stick it to Conrad that she just went for it. Possibly.

I think the most creative part in the book was the cliffhanger set "two years later." It will definitely leave you curious and wanting more. It sure did make me read the third book to see how it got there so that's gotta be good. Overall, it was definitely better than the first one and it will leave you wanting to read the last book.

This really turned into a fantastic series! I reviewed book 1, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and it was a great book but I wasn't sure when I would get to read the rest of the series. Recently, I was in a "summer book" mood and read It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer in 1 day! I was completely mesmerized by the beautiful setting, characters, and plot.

It's Not Summer Without You takes place a year after book 1. It's summer again and Belly is dealing with the aftermath of a horrible loss. Summer isn't going to be the same, but even with her friends back home trying to make her have a fun summer, she can't stop thinking about Cousins Beach.

Jeremiah calls Belly and says that no one knows where Conrad is. She immediately leaves with him so they can hopefully track him down and convince him to come home. It seems obvious where he is but it surprises her to find out exactly why he ran away.

While at Cousins, lots of memories come back from the year before. We get a chance to discover how Belly and Conrad's relationship had developed and changed over a short amount of time. I loved that the story brought up these details. Readers can follow their current situation while seeing what exactly brought them to that place.

This is one of those series where, even though we have a love triangle, I never exactly could pick a side. Jeremiah and Conrad were amazing, and frustrating, in their own ways. Jeremiah was the more sweet, loving personality, while Conrad was more mature (sometimes!) and heartwarming character. He always seemed to be having an internal battle with himself but when he let his true feelings show, wow, watch out! It will make you fall in l-o-v-e!

It's easy to see how these characters grew and matured over the course of a difficult year. Jenny Han has created characters that you feel you actually know once you finish the book. They are so realistic, imperfect, and passionate that it's impossible to not feel something as you go through their story.

It's Not Summer Without You is a heartwarming tale of loss, love, and friendship like no other I have read. It's the perfect summer read!

** Contains MAJOR spoilers of Book #1 `The Summer I Turned Pretty' **

Susannah is gone and Belly's heart with her. There will never again be a summer with Susannah at the house in Cousins - no more singing along to Aretha Franklin, no more blueberry muffins and no more heart-to-hearts with Belly's pretend-mother. Susannah is dead, and Belly's sadness engulfs the summer season . . .

Belly is seventeen and spending her first summer without Susannah and her summer boys, Jeremiah and Conrad . . . and maybe that's for the best.

Following the explosive last summer vacation, Belly finally admitted her feelings to Conrad. Heart on sleeve, Belly revealed all - every ounce of love in her heart - and Conrad wanted her right back. For six whole months they dated long-distance while he was away at college. Speaking on the phone every night and even sneaking out to the summer house for one memorable evening. While his mother was slowly dying, Belly was Conrad's constant in a suddenly turbulent life.

. . . So it's pathetically sad how they ended. With Belly crying at her Prom and Conrad walking away, not even looking back.

Then Susannah died and Conrad slipped even further away. In the process, Belly cut herself off from Jeremiah, right when he needed her most.

Now Conrad has run away. Jeremiah and Belly know where he has taken refuge, but not why. Belly lost her best friend and first love when Conrad rejected her months ago, but her summer boys need her now and she won't turn her back on either of them.

`It's Not Summer Without You' is the second book in Jenny Han's YA contemporary romance `Summer' trilogy.

I was crying from the first page of this book. Susannah's death was inevitable since the tragic reveal of her worsening condition in `The Summer I Turned Pretty'. Still, I was blubbering like a fool for the first half of this book.

Susannah's passing is the carrying tragedy of the follow-up book. Her death impacts everyone - Belly's mother, Laurel, is withdrawn and distant since losing her best friend. Conrad has become self-destructive, and Belly is heartsick at losing her pretend-mother. Susannah's loss is felt by all, even the reader. She was just a lovely presence in the first book, and clearly an impact on Belly's young life. The sorrow of her death reverberates throughout this second novel.

But Han's trilogy is focused on young love. And for that reason I found myself crying for the romantic heartbreaks in Belly's young life as for the more saddening and maddening death of Susannah.

When `The Summer I Turned Pretty' ended, Belly and Conrad were embarking on a tentative and tender new romance. When `Without You' begins, Belly speaks haltingly about her and Conrad's disastrous break-up, and a fall-out that has yet to be fixed. This second book doesn't have the same year-leaping flashbacks as `Turned Pretty' did, instead Han slowly revisits Belly and Conrad's crumbling relationship bit by bit. And it is a disaster; of epic proportions (at least it is for a sixteen-year-old girl). The height of Belly's heartbreak comes at her prom, where she is left crying and bedraggled, watching Conrad stride away and knowing that they are over (if they were ever even together?).

Now, in the grand scheme of plot Susannah's death is far more gut-wrenching than Conrad and Belly's collapsed puppy love. But I absolutely bawled my eyes out during Belly's recount of her prom-date heartbreak. I think it's because Han is so evilly and wonderfully good at recounting the disasters of youth. You feel Belly's crushed hopes with visceral tenderness as Han forces you to remember your own first love, and the inevitable first heartbreak. She deftly conjures those feelings of crushed dreams and tormented love - all of it felt deeper and was heightened for being your first. But it's even worse for Belly - for most people first loves are classroom disasters and playground fancy - but Belly had known Conrad her whole life, and loved him for almost as long. His rejection of her is a tragedy from a much greater height.

I really didn't like Conrad in this book. Objectively, I can see his appeal (and understand his crush-worthiness for a young Belly). Conrad is smart and reclusive; he keeps to himself and doesn't trust easily. But when he loves you, he protects you viciously and gives so much of himself. There's an addictive quality to him - this unattainable, gentle soul. But he's also somewhat selfish, and cowardly in his love for Belly. I couldn't get past his prom debacle, nor his subsequent ill-treatment of the heart-wounded Belly. I understand his appeal, but as far as I can tell, he has done nothing to earn Belly's devotion.

Now, Jeremiah is a different story all together. Jeremiah is a goofball who is never happier than when he's making other people laugh. Part of `Without You' is told from Jeremiah's perspective - and for the first time we get to understand his angst at being Conrad's shadow (to their father, and now Belly). We read his changing feelings of protective love towards the girl who is his best friend. I loved Jeremiah! He is such a sweetheart, and I hate that he feels second-best in all things to Conrad (especially Belly). I can't wait to read how that all changes in the final book . . .

`It's Not Summer Without You' continues Jenny Han's ludicrously addictive `Summer' trilogy. In this instalment Belly deals with loss and heartbreak in one disastrous year, devoid of summer. She learns the perils of loving and starts to understand that a person's first may not necessarily by their last, unfortunately so . . .

NOTE: Contains potential spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty, book #1.

In It's Not Summer without You, Jenny Han picked up where she left off with The Summer I Turned Pretty, the summer after all of Belly's dreams came true with Conrad, one of the boys she spent every summer with at Cousins beach, the boy she always loved, Suzannah's son.

Just like in The Summer I Turned Pretty the characters grew, emotions were raw and tested, feelings were laid on the table, and trust, loyalty and strength were huge players in this second installment of our main character's story, Belly. Only, this time many things were left unsaid, explanations not even needed and choices had to be made with extra care.

Some things in Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad's story would and will never be the same. Summers would never be the same, they couldn't. Some things can not be undone no matter how hard anyone may wish for them to be, and this is evident in several pivotal moments within this story. Somehow, even when things seemed completely hopeless, the groups loyalty and friendship shined through, if even for just a few moments. If they couldn't have their carefree summers back the group, including Belly's mom, still tried to keep a hold on their trust in each other when they really needed it.

Typically, the second book of trilogies can go easily over looked but I actually loved this story and thought it stood out from it's predecessor. It was spot on with the emotional growth and distress with where readers of the first book would have expected it to be making it all the more heart wrenching. The changes in the point of view made it even more real, adding an additional depth to the story and to the characters.

Jeremiah is a character we really benefited from Han's writing style in this second installment. While Conrad, the eldest of the two, was the one summer boy who kept to himself and fought the internal battle of his feelings, never asking for help, Jeremiah is the one who was always the bigger mystery to me. In ways he was more reserved then Conrad, he was just better at being the boy Belly knew, putting that reassuring smile on his face. This time around, Jeremiah was able to express what really was going on in his mind, telling his own story and pulling several together.

Belly showed her true age in this book with her worries, fears, and inexperiences but at the same time she showed how much she truly did grow up. Though, I completely understand some people may be turned off by Belly's at-time bland attitude and the fact she sits perfectly between two brother's, I think it is all part of the story and adds to the charm. While her story is quite cliché I don't think it detracts from the story. Afterall, isn't most of life one big cliché?

It's Not Summer Without You is beautifully written and heart wrenching and easily ropes you in. My only qualms with this book come from the last page. The cliff hanger Jenny Han left us with is a BIG one, I'm not really sure how I'll hold out until the third installment of this story comes out but I know it tops my wishlist.

Cover: 5
Characters: 5
Plot: 5
Overall: 5

On the cover: Again, like with The Summer I Turned Pretty, the cover of It's Not Summer Without You has a calm aura about it which can pull you in if you are a sucker for having sand between your toes and obvious love triangles.

Other Books in Series: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (Summer #1)
Next In Series: We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han (Summer #3)

I am officially in love with Jenny Han's "Summer" series. Wow. This series is addicting and beautifully written. After reading and loving The Summer I Turned Pretty a few weeks ago I knew I had to pick up the sequel as soon as possible. I was in no way disappointed and I am now anxious to crack open the third, and, final, book in the series.

I love getting into the world of Belly and her friends and family and reading about the experiences she has.

The book starts off a few months after the first book ended and a lot has happened. I don't want to spoil anything but know that Belly is dealing with a lot of emotional and romantic turmoil. I am so glad we get to see more of Jeremiah and Conrad in this installment and to get to know them even better. We got to see another side of Jeremiah and by the time I finished It's Not Summer Without You I can firmly say I am Team Jeremiah.

Jenny Han has crafted a set of characters so real and complex that I wish I could go inside the book and visit Cousins and spend time with the main characters. Belly is a girl I have liked and admired from the start. She is in no way perfect and she knows it. Belly doesn't worry about what other people think of her and is determined to do the right thing. She has a lot on her plate but stays strong and by the end of this sequel she has learned a lot about herself and the people she loves. Jeremiah and Conrad, the two brothers she has grown up with since she was young, are once again key characters and the love triangle is even more intense.

There are quite a few flash backs that help the reader understand what transpired from the time the first book ended and the second one began and also memories from visits to the Cousins beach house years and years ago. The dates at the top of the chapters help a lot and even so the chapters flowed well and I was never lost or unsure of what was going on. One thing I loved about this book that wasn't in The Summer I Turned Pretty was that Jeremiah got his own chapters! Yay! Several chapters were told from his point of view and I loved getting inside his head and getting to know and understand him that much more.

This series will suck you in and spit you out emotionally battered. I was alternately laughing and crying and the ending left me eager to start book three- We'll Always Have Summer. If you haven't read the first book in the series I don't recommend reading this one first. Definitely pick up The Summer I Turned Pretty and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. The "Summer" series has a permanent place on my favorites shelf and won't be leaving any time soon.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

This book was definitely better than the first. Finally getting to see belly older and a little more mature. Although Beck wasn't really a blood relative, it was so obvious that she meant the world to belly and her family as well. Both of the boys grieved differently and they clearly needed belly to help...although her being in the middle doesn't really help with this love triangle and no one to truly discuss their feelings...

Also reviewed for my blog, The Vintage Bookworm. [...]
Wow. That's all I can say right now about this book. I loved it. The beginning made me really happy and then something got thrown out at me and I literally dropped the book. I couldn't believe it. It made me terribly sad. I'm not going to go into detail because I don't want to spoil anything, but oh my God. My heart really broke when I read that first line about it.

This book was a lot different than the first. Which took some time to getting used to. It was amazing though. Before picking this book up, I was saving it. I was saving it to read and then read the third and final book right after it. But after picking up several books and failing to read them during my Read-a-Thon, I knew I had to pick this up. Even though the books I had started and put down were books I was looking forward to reading. And it's not the books, it's just the complete rut I was in. I wanted to read, but just...couldn't. But wow, this really yanked me out of it!

Belly has done a lot of growing up. A LOT. And so had Conrad, Jeremiah, and even Steven. How can you not with what happened? My heart goes out to them. There were a couple of small chapters in this book that was in Jeremiah's point-of-view, which I loved. I was glad to get into his head and wonder what was going on inside there.

Overall, I can't say much more about this. I love this series. It's very well written and beautiful. If you haven't read it yet, do it soon. You won't be sorry.

Title Thoughts: Fits so perfectly!

Cover Thoughts: I really like it. Love how the brothers are on opposite sides and how they are looking the other way. I also like how she is looking the same direction as one of them.

WARNINGS: Cuss words here and there.

I was thrilled when I got my hands on this book. I'm truly addicted to this series and waiting until I can get my hands on the next one might as well be filed under cruel and unusual punishment. We are returned to summer, but this time we don't go to the beach.

Everything is different and we see Belly's and Jeremiah's point of views, which I loved. I cried off and on the whole book. I couldn't help it. I've grown attached to these characters and to see them hurt, made me hurt. Han definitely knows how to write. She knows how to hook her readers until the very end, because once I picked this book up, I didn't put it down until I was finished. I couldn't if I wanted to.

Addict's Last Words: Not having the next book in my hands as soon as I finished this one has been horrible. I need it ASAP.

To Buy or To Borrow: Buy!

Favorite Quotes: "That's when I finally got it. I finally understood. It wasn't the thought that counted. It was the actual execution that mattered, the showing up for somebody. The intent behind it wasn't enough. Not for me. Not anymore. It wasn't enough to know that deep down, he loved me. You had to actually say it to somebody, show them you cared. And he just didn't. Not enough."

"I didn't want to make the same mistake my parents made. I didn't want my love to fade away one day like an old scar. I wanted it to burn forever."

IT'S NOT SUMMER WITHOUT YOU is the second installment in the series by Jenny Han, following THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY. The story picks up after the summer.

Belly relates her history with Conrad and what has happened since they kissed at the end of summer. She knew he would call in the fall, and eventually he does. The two have a tenuous relationship, but that all falls apart when Conrad's mother, Suzanne, dies.

Suzanne was the bond that kept the two families close. Each summer, they would be together at the house at Cousins' Beach. Now, with Suzanne gone, the threads are unraveling.

Belly receives a call a few months after the funeral from Conrad's brother, Jeremiah. Conrad has gone missing from summer school at Brown. He asks Belly to help him try to find Conrad. Without telling her mother, Belly and Jeremiah set off to find Conrad.

They quickly figure out that he is at the beach house. At first, Belly and Jeremiah think Conrad is running away from everything. But soon they learn that Mr. Fisher, Conrad and Jeremiah's father, plans to sell the house. The kids can't let that happen. But with little hope, they throw one last party to remember their summers at the beach.

IT'S NOT SUMMER WITHOUT YOU is a bittersweet novel of loss and love. Belly has loved Conrad since she was a small child and everyone knows it. But Conrad is so different from Jeremiah and wants to be left alone. They are all grieving for Suzanne in different ways, but join as one to save the only thing that has brought them together every year and has made them a family.

Don't expect this novel to have all the answers, though! The ending leaves the reader eagerly anticipating the follow-up; WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE SUMMER is due out in May 2011.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

Cousins Beach...it is the Alpha and the Omega and to Belly it is nothing without Conrad and Jeremiah. Every summer they spend together in Susannah's beach house. How can they all be together now that Susannah is gone?

This is the story of love...every form of it. The romantic kind, the brotherly kind, the platonic kind and the unconditional kind. These families whose lives have been continually joined at the hip have lost the thing that holds them together. Friendship. A best friend has been lost. How do you recover from that? How do you deal with the loss of your mother? Your best friend? Your first love?

Together.

I loved "The summer I turned pretty" and I love love love "It's not summer without you" Belly is a girl I understand. Unsure about most things but so totally sure about her heart. This story is personal and it transports you back to your first major crush and that feeling when he finally touched you...back to summer vacations that you remember like yesterday...back to seemingly endless summer nights and hot days filled with the smell of saltwater and suntan lotion...back to hope!

I am invested in these characters and I really hope there is more to come...Belly, Jeremiah and Conrad are not done yet.

"I don't want to make the same mistakes my parents made. I didn't want my love to fade away one day like an old scar. I wanted it to burn forever." - Belly

This series and this author was recommended by the library I go to so I am trying to give them a try. Unfortunately, while other people seem to really enjoy these books, they are just not for me. The storyline itself is cute, just like her other books, but cute is the word that describes everything about this book and all her others. The problem is cute is not a compliment in this case. The first thing that hits me is the main character's nickname is Belly. Now I have heard a lot of weird names in books, but try to tell me one teenage girl who would let herself called that.

It's Not Summer Without You is even more captivating than the first book in Jenny Han's summer trilogy (and that's saying a lot, because I pretty much inhaled The Summer I Turned Pretty). I read this installment in one sitting, savoring each word and getting caught up in Belly's boy drama.

Like the first book, It's Not Summer Without You mixes in some mature subject matter - the death of loved ones and family issues - with its romantic drama. Han's writing conveys a lot of subtleties and character nuances despite, or perhaps because of, being fairly simplistic. The way she words Belly's feelings manages to be poignant without shifting into an overly poetic or flowery style, and I really loved that understated eloquence.

A few succinct chapters are told from Jeremiah's point-of-view; these are a great addition to Belly's narrative, as they set up future events and clarify his feelings, making him an even more sympathetic character. Conrad, of course, continues to be inscrutable, the quietly compelling opposite of his brother. As for Belly, her flaws and occasional immaturity are beautiful. Really. She's such a teenager, but also so funny, heartfelt, and earnest in everything she does that she remains likable throughout.

The last chapter offers the same sort of abrupt cliff-hanger that concluded The Summer I Turned Pretty. I don't really favor that kind of ending, but it certainly left me pining for the third and final book. It's Not Summer Without You is full of boys, tequila, sand, and decisions, both good and bad. Even more so than the first book, it eloquently conveys all the turmoil and elation of growing up.

This book picks up right where the previous book left off. It goes back and forth between the past and the present. Everyone is dealing with the death of Susannah but Conrad is spiraling downward and Jeremiah believes that he and Belly can stop Conrad from destroying his future. Things get even worse once Conrad realizes that his dad is going to sell their summer house. Belly heart is constantly being broken by Conrad and still she loves him more and more, Jeremiah wishes she would love him the way that she loves Conrad. Events happen and Belly realizes that she has been chasing Conrad and hoping he falls in love with her but she should have realized that the love she was searching for wasn't in Conrad but in Jeremiah. Jeremiah is willing to give her what she has been wanting; all she has to do is accept it. I loved this book as much as I have the first and yes I will be reading the next book in the series.

Full review posted on http://myraidinklings.wordpress.com

This series is remaining steady for me throughout the 2nd book. Although I would still categorize it as a light summer read, I would say the 2nd book is a little more “intense” compared to the first one. In this novel, I felt a higher connection for the characters. I wish that we would get more insight into the “in-betweens” of the summer though, but I get that the novels are supposed to only take place in the summer. Jenny Han’s writing remains very sweet throughout this book as well. Therefore, the second book of this novel also receives a 4/5 stars from me.

Review:
Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah always counted the days until they met back at Cousins Beach. They never questioned it. They knew that they would be together every summer, and that is just where they wanted to be. But this year everything has changed; this summer is different. This summer is the summer when they lost Susanna, and Conrad stopped caring. It seems that every thing good is gone, which leaves Belly wishing for summer to never come. But when Jeremiah, out of the blue, calls Belly saying that Conrad is MIA from college, she knows that something is up! There has to be a reason for Conrad to pack up and leave. He wouldn't have done that without one of them. That is just not like him. Belly has to help make things right. That can only happen with the three of them together again at Cousins, where it all began and might end!

I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all my friends! This book is nearly impossible to put down! It is a friendship and a romance novel all in one! It's terrific! The story line is great; and if you love to read, I'm sure you will absolutely love it! This book, I think, is aimed toward teenage girls. It's told from a teen girl's perspective and is a book teenage girls can relate to. I hope you enjoy it!

Educational Value: 5 - When I picked this book out, I picked it as a free read not expecting any educational gain from it. That is not how it turned out. I learned a lot about character and friendship from this novel! It definitely gives a good example of true friends having to fight (even with each other) for each other!
Entertainment Value: 5 - This book was amazing and deserves way more than a 5 in my book! It was a great read and I couldn't put it down! The connections and relations between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah are truly special! I suggest that teenage girls read it; you will truly enjoy it!

This review was first published on Kid's Corner @Kindle Nation Daily.

[...]

@EbookBelle

This novel picks up after Susannah has passed away, her funeral has taken place, and the next summer is rolling around. Belly has broken up with Conrad, but still loves him with all of her heart. She has a lot going on in her life, but she can't seem to stop thinking about Conrad. Even when Jeremiah is so madly in love with her.

Belly is such a frustrating character! One minute she's after Conrad and the next she's after Jeremiah. She can't seem to find what she wants and Conrad isn't helping. He doesn't want her, but he doesn't want her to be with anyone else either. I just wanted to tell him to grow up already! I can't stand it that he is constantly making her think that he cares about her and will one day show his love. This is a story about the love lost, lessons learned, and the idea that everyone needs to move on eventually. Belly learns a lot during her few days at Cousins this summer. She learns life lessons that she will never forget and makes plenty of memories, both good and bad.

No matter what happens in book #3, I will always be team Jeremiah <3. Han's writing is heartfelt and makes you connect well with the characters. She makes it frustrating to read about, but understandable through the eyes of a 17-year old girl. I don't know about anyone else, but I can remember having the same type of feelings as Belly. I think Han does a great job of portraying Belly as your typical indecisive teenage girl.

It's Not Summer Without You was another wonderful installment in the Summer series with the same lovely writing and humor as the first book, which I loved. I disliked the beginning, where there was a bit of shock as we're going along, everything is fine, la-di-da, then bam, it turns out it's a daydream and nothing is like we thought. Did anyone see Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode where the gang is enjoying a spectacular Thanksgiving meal, all smiles and happy, then Buffy and her mom are in the kitchen slicing a pie, it falls on the floor, then bam, she's staring at her dead mom and the whole Thanksgiving thing wasn't real? Same thing. (I'm not spoiling anything here because this whole scene was included at the end of the previous book.)

Okay, now that that's out of the way, we can move on. This book mostly took place at the beach house we know and love, though it's different this time. Belly and Jeremiah head there to look for Conrad who's gone missing. They find him and end up spending a few days there, dealing with their issues.

This time we got to know Jeremiah and to see things from his perspective, instead of just Belly. We learn a lot more about him and his feelings and I can safely say that after reading this book, I am officially on Team Jeremiah. I really enjoyed the chapters that were from his point of view. Jenny Han was able to make them interesting and genuine, like she really knew how to get into the male mind. We learned more about Belly and Steven's mom and her friendship with Beck (Susannah) and more about the boys' home and parents. There were no new characters, so Han was able to focus on the main players that we already knew, and flesh them out even more. Conrad is again mostly a quiet broody guy who just grunts and calls Belly immature. Just like the first book. Really, what does Belly see in him? I can't figure it out.

This book had more of the same dialogue that I loved in the first one. A little sarcasm, but mostly straight to the point. I like that these people (mostly) don't play games. I thought Belly was a little immature in the way she did some things, and her mom and the boys' dad did some things I wouldn't expect from the parent of a teenager.

There was some sadness as everyone dealt with the loss of Susannah. Each character handled their grief a different way, and nobody was right or wrong, though I thought Belly handled it poorly. But at least Jeremiah called her out on it.

I was not at all impressed with the audio part of the book. The narrator had a very young sounding voice, and I had a hard time remembering that Belly was not as young as the narrator sounded. It was quite distracting. She also had a way of making everything sound `valley girl,' especially Belly's friend Taylor. I don't know if that was done on purpose, but I kept thinking `like wow, Taylor is like a total valley girl.' Also, she had a tendency to end her sentences in a whisper. She would be talking normal and then just drift off, like someone told her to quiet down. On the plus side, she did a very good job of establishing whose point of view we were in for each chapter.

Reviewed by The Busy Bibliophile.

For every summer since she can remember, Belly went to the house on Cousins Beach with her brother Steven, her mother, her mother's best friend Susannah, and her boys Conrad and Jeremiah. While they are all mostly like family, Belly has loved brooding Conrad since she can remember. Things finally started to happen between them last summer. Then other things happened, and this year no one is going to Cousins.

Belly can't believe how boring and pointless life at home seems this summer. Taylor, her best friend of many years, tries to help her snap out of her funk over Conrad, but Belly just isn't into dressing up and can't bring herself to flirt with other guys. Taylor and the other girls are getting tired of her lack of participation, but she can't stop thinking about the past year. At home, her mother is in a haze of grief as Susannah has recently died from cancer. Belly can hardly believe it either --- that a woman who was like a second mother to her is gone.

Before she passed away, Susannah was thrilled that Conrad took Belly to her prom. Belly practically had to beg him to do so, but no one knows that. She thought that since they had spent a great night in the winter at the summer house talking and kissing, she meant something to him. But when he doesn't bring her flowers, or want to dance, and then leaves her at the prom early, she realizes his feelings don't match hers. Her emotions boil over at Susannah's funeral, and she feels she has severed contact with Conrad forever.

Then Jeremiah calls. Conrad has disappeared from his summer school program and is in danger of failing. He wants Belly to help him find Conrad before he fails completely. They spot Conrad at Cousins, bringing everything full circle. None of them can move forward without sorting their feelings and grief about Susannah. And they must band together to save the house.

Anyone who has felt the anguish of unrequited love or the loss of someone close will understand Belly's feelings. Hanging on to a longtime crush is not good for anyone, and this story shows lots of hope for Belly's future. While a great summer and beach read with its wonderful setting, the book is also filled with feeling.

At times it is confusing as the point of view changes through different characters, including Jeremiah. But that technique helps readers understand and sympathize with what they are all going through. With this follow-up to THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, Jenny Han will continue to draw fans as she portrays mature, real, thoughtful teens who are about more than flirting and appearance.

I really love this book..usually the sequel is not as good as the 1st one but im telling you this is waaaay better than the first one and i hope it keeps getting better..On the first book they give us a glimpse of Belly and Conrad's romance but in this book, they're more complications and Belly faced heartaches, enlightenment and the ending really stoked me with the cliffhanger but then it gives you an open door how Belly's love and life will turn out..I usually get frustrated when the heroine didn't choose the guy that i want and this one i was really OK who ever Belly will pick. Conrad has all this brooding going on for him and Jeremiah got all this good-guy sort of thing..Looks like Belly chose the right guy and im just looking forward with the third book and im sure its gonna be awesome just like the two other books..

I really love this book..usually the sequel is not as good as the 1st one but im telling you this is waaaay better than the first one and i hope it keeps getting better..On the first book they give us a glimpse of Belly and Conrad's romance but in this book, they're more complications and Belly faced heartaches, enlightenment and the ending really stoked me with the cliffhanger but then it gives you an open door how Belly's love and life will turn out..I usually get frustrated when the heroine didn't choose the guy that i want and this one i was really OK who ever Belly will pick. Conrad has all this brooding going on for him and Jeremiah got all this good-guy sort of thing..Looks like Belly chose the right guy and im just looking forward with the third book and im sure its gonna be awesome just like the two other books..

I started this book today and despite being so tired. I needed to finish.
We have much more Jeremiah in this boo, which made me happy. Character development was great. However, Belly is more immature and the love triangle was hit hard .
But what was that final? I NEED TO KNOW. OMG!

After finishing the first book in the summer series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. We have a lot of sad part in this book that almost made me want to cry. We also get a couple flashbacks from the summer house when Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah were younger.

Belly finally starts to see that maybe Conrad just wasn't right for her and that Jeremiah is the one who has always been there for her. I was really glad that Jeremiah finally showed his feelings for Belly because Conrad has made her life a mess with his mixed messages.

The ending of this book was abrupt and confusing, but I can't wait to read the third and final book in the series called: We'll Always Have Summer coming out on April 26, 2011.

This book was absolutely amazing. I couldn't put the book down. It had it all: heartbreak, love, and family conflict. It's Not Summer Without You was sad too because Belly was still in love with Conrad when she went to the funeral and saw him with another girl. But what she didn't realize, until she stumbled across the infinity necklace in Conrad's dorm, was that he thought that she was still important to him. The love and hatred that Conrad has shared with Belly makes the reader want to make things right between them, but Jeremiah, Conrad's brother, has been madly in love with Belly the whole time. To know the whole story, read the book yourself! It's a must read.

A tear jerker. All over Jenny Hans books are. Her way of describing Belly's feelings towards Conrad, her mom, Suzanna, ect. makes you feel like you're there and apart of it. Most likely a book for girls who are looking to be apart of a summer romance unlike anything you and i could imagine having ourselves. and struggling through life decisions we make every day. Every page is a cliff hanger, you will never want to put the book down. I finished this book within a day of buying it. I have never read a book like this, that it is capable of giving the reader butterflies, and laughing out loud, and sobbing. Really gives you that "oh my gosh" feeling.

Even though some people might hate love triangles , I can't get enough of them. This book is amazing. Sometimes i found myself laughing & other times crying. But I just love this book. All I can say is that she has way too many flashbacks but they're very helpful .