We'll Always Have Summer (Reprint) (Summer I Turned Pretty)

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Like in The Summer I Turned Pretty, this next book in the series ends with a mysterious preview of what’s to come. “A couple of years later” gives us a snapshot of Belly’s wedding day. Whom do you think she will marry? Why does Jenny Han conclude the novel in this way?

Susannah jokes about her cancer. What was the effect of this comedic moment on the characters in the novel? How did it affect you, as a reader?

A Taste For Love by Jennifer Yen…

Jenny Han gives us plenty of opportunities to compare and contrast Jeremiah and Conrad—who they are as individuals, as well as who they are as they relate to Belly. Belly is constantly evaluating the two brothers. A few times in We’ll Always Have Summer, she even confuses the two—like when she realizes that it was Conrad who found the dog, Rosie, and not Jeremiah. A similar mix-up occurs at the very end of the book, when Jeremiah opens his letter from Susannah, only to realize that the letter inside was really for Conrad: “My mom must have mixed up the envelopes. In the letter she said she only got to see him in love once. That was with you.” Can you think of other similar mix-ups? What do we learn from these mix-ups? I mean, I love Jelly, but a 1000% no. Not like this. If they were going to get married, I wanted them to do it right and not because he felt guilty for finding out he cheated on her and he wanted to give her a band-aid in the shape of a ring. While Conrad has not gotten over the mistake of letting Belly go, Jeremiah has always known that Belly is the girl for him. So when Belly and Jeremiah decide to make things forever, Conrad realizes that it’s now or never—tell Belly he loves her, or lose her for good. The family dynamic between Conrad and Jere was so complex it made me cry for both of them because they were brothers and one of them would be hurt. I mean, family is family and you don’t intentionally hurt family. But Ernie has a point that if she’s the one, then you have to go for it rather than live with that regret. I rolled up two paper balls in my lap and threw them at my two friends. “Dance break,” I sang out as I pressed play on my computer. I did a little shimmy in my chair.

I didn’t have a specific answer to that question. There hadn’t been one specific moment. It was like gradually waking up. You go from being asleep to the space between dreaming and awake and then into consciousness. It’s a slow process, but when you’re awake, there’s no mistaking it. there was no mistaking that it had been love.” (pg. 161) At the garden dedication event, Conrad arrives late and the narration switches to his point of view. Conrad still loves Belly, though he’s aware he has no right to discuss his feelings with her since he treated her badly when they were together and she’s now in a long-term relationship with his brother. 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. What effect did presenting this story over three books have on you, as a reader? Would the story be any different if it were compressed into one, comprehensive novel? Taylor was a crappy friend, not me. She was the selfish one. I was so angry, my hand shook when I put on my eyeliner, and I had to rub it off and start all over again. I wore Taylor’s blouse and her shoes and I pulled my hair all to one side too. I did it because I knew it would piss her off.”

Toys

I ran up to the front door, and I didn’t have to turn around to know that Cam would wait until I was inside before he drove away.” I’ve only ever loved two boys–both of them with the last name Fisher. Conrad was the first, and I loved him in a way that you can really only do the first time around. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t know better and doesn’t want to–it’s dizzy and foolish and fierce. That kind of love is really a one-time-only thing. Now that I thought about it, I was hungry, but I was also sleepy. “Maybe a little later,” I said, closing my eyes. To be honest, if Jere knew Belly so well, he should have sensed how stressed she was and stepped up 👏🏼! But he didn’t 🙃.

All of that love and pride I had in him, it turned to hate. And then I started to hate myself, who he’d made me. . . That scared me. I didn’t want to be the kind of man who cheated on his wife. I didn’t want to be the kind of man who put work before his family, who tipped cheaply at restaurants, who never bothered to learn our housekeeper’s name. Whilst I love this series (Definitely love it more since the TV series aired, which has only helped elevate the books), I feel completely short-changed by this books ending. My two great loves. I think I always knew I would be Belly Fisher one day. I just didn’t know it was going to happen like this.” (opening snippet) About Conrad overheard Redbird (Tom), one of Jere’s friends, talking about how Jere had sex in Cabo when Belly and him were “dating.” Conrad thought htey were still dating, but honestly, the fury that raged through Conrad at knowing Jere cheated on Belly, had me screaming! Beat him up, Conrad! Actually, don’t beat Jere up, but you know, beat him up for cheating!!! But Conrad was always going to look out for Belly and defend her.I cannot even express the absolute joy I felt reading how she was dating Jeremiah—-the guy who would treat her right. And he did!!!!!! How do Belly’s experiences in The Summer I Turned Pretty and in It’s Not Summer Without You represent her coming of age? Is Belly a child, or an adult? Can she be both at one time? At what point does she grow up? What factors have accelerated or delayed her entry into adulthood? He’d probably meet some random homeless guy and become best friends with him, and then he’d tell me the man’s life story the next day. Not that there were any homeless guys on our end of the beach. Not that I’d ever seen a homeless person in Cousins, for that matter. But if there was, Cam would find him.” I just applaud Jenny for making me hurt for Jere and how pained he was to know that Belly would never love him the same way, for Conrad who was losing the love of his life and his brother, and for Bely who had to break one of their good hearts. I grieved for their brothers hip and friendships. It was so hard to read that conversation and the last part of the book in general 💔. Taylor glared at her. “I’m helping my big sister plan our end-of-year breakfast, so I have to be on call tonight.”