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The moment you finished 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' by Jenny Han, you probably felt that bittersweet ache that only comes from leaving behind your favorite characters. With the Prime Video series breaking hearts worldwide and an upcoming feature film on the horizon, the hunger for books like 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' has never been stronger.
So, if you're searching for that same magic — the sun-soaked days at Cousins Beach, the complicated love triangle, the coming-of-age moments that make your chest tight with nostalgia, we have some good news for you. There's a whole ocean of YA romance books waiting to fill that summer-shaped hole in your heart.
And here's a secret: With so many amazing reads on your list, Headway's nonfiction book summaries can help you preview each title before diving in. That way, you can make sure every reading choice hits just right. Think of it as your personal matchmaker for finding your next book obsession and growing on the go.
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Quick summary: Top 5 books like TSITP you can't miss
1. 'Every Summer After' by Carley Fortune: Six summers of friendship turn to love, then heartbreak, before a funeral reunites childhood friends with unfinished business.
2. 'The Summer of Broken Rules' by K.L. Walther: A grieving girl finds unexpected romance during a family reunion game of Assassin on Martha's Vineyard.
3. 'Love and Other Words' by Christina Lauren: Childhood best friends who bonded over books reunite after a decade, confronting their devastating past.
4. 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart: A haunting tale of privilege, family secrets, and lost love on a private island.
5. 'My Life Next Door' by Huntley Fitzpatrick: A girl from a perfect family falls for a boy from a chaotic family next door, complicated by a political scandal.
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Try nowThe 15 best books like 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' to read next
Finding books that capture the same magic as Jenny Han's beloved trilogy goes beyond beach settings and love triangles — it's about discovering stories that understand how one summer can change everything.
These carefully selected reads deliver that perfect blend of nostalgia, first love, family complications, and the bittersweet reality that nothing gold can last forever.
Coming-of-age love stories that hit different
1. 'Every Summer After' by Carley Fortune
Carley Fortune delivers a story about Persephone and Sam through six pivotal summers at a lake house, then jumps forward to show them reuniting after a decade apart.
The childhood friends-to-lovers pipeline hits hard, exploring how one terrible mistake can shatter everything — including Sam's relationship with Sam's mother and his family.
Key themes: Second chances, childhood friendship, family loyalty, the weight of secrets, forgiveness, and how the past shapes the present.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: Just like Belly's summers at Cousins, every return to the lake house in this book carries layers of memory and meaning.
The dual timeline mirrors how TSITP weaves past and present, showing how summer memories can haunt and heal simultaneously. The complicated feelings between old friends echo the Conrad-Belly dynamic perfectly.
2. 'The Summer of Broken Rules' by K.L. Walther
K.L. Walther sets her debut on Martha's Vineyard, where Meredith arrives at her family's annual reunion ready to honor her late sister's memory. She didn't plan on meeting Wit, nor did she plan on the family's elaborate game of Assassin being what brought them together.
Key themes: Grief and healing, family traditions, new beginnings, finding joy after loss, and the power of family support.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The exclusive summer community feel instantly recalls Cousins Beach, while the big, messy, loving family dynamics mirror the Fisher-Conklin relationships.
Like TSITP, this book understands that summer isn't just a season — it's a state of mind where healing becomes possible.
If you're drawn to stories about family bonds, check out Headway's summary of 'Born a Crime' to explore how family shapes us in unexpected ways.
3. 'We Were Liars' by E. Lockhart
E. Lockhart creates an atmospheric tale of the Sinclair family on their private island, where privilege masks devastating secrets and a summer romance turns tragic.
Key themes: Family loyalty versus truth, the cost of privilege, unreliable memory, devastating loss, and the power of denial.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: While darker in tone, this book shares TSITP's understanding that some summers change everything irreversibly.
The private island setting creates that same insular, magical world that Cousins Beach represents, where standard rules don't apply until reality crashes in.
Summer romance that makes your heart race
4. 'Love and Other Words' by Christina Lauren
This dual-timeline romance alternates between past summers when Macy and Elliot were best friends bonding over books in his family's weekend house, and their present-day reunion that forces them to confront their past.
Key themes: First love, the power of words and stories, unfinished business, childhood trauma, and finding your way back to yourself.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The childhood connection feels as authentic and formative as Belly's relationship with the Fisher boys.
The devastating breakup and second chance mirror the way TSITP shows how some people are written into your story so deeply that you can't erase them.
For more insights about deep connections, 'The Art of Loving' summary on Headway reveals timeless truths about relationships.
5. 'Once Upon a Quinceañera' by Monica Gomez-Hira
This rom-com follows Carmen as she reluctantly joins her cousin's quinceañera court, forcing her to spend time with her ex-boyfriend's older brother, Alex, in the humid Miami summer.
Key themes: Cultural identity, family expectations versus personal desires, second chances, sibling complications, and finding yourself between two worlds.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The complicated dynamics of falling for your ex's brother will resonate with anyone who understands the Jeremiah-Conrad situation.
Family celebrations and traditions create the same sense of being swept up in something bigger than just a romance.
6. 'The Map from Here to There' by Emery Lord
Set during one last summer before college, this book follows Paige as she navigates her summer job, friend group, and unexpected feelings for Max.
Key themes: Transitions and goodbyes, the fear of change, finding courage, friendship evolution, and learning to let go.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: This captures that specific TSITP feeling of standing on the edge of everything changing.
The small-town setting and interconnected relationships create the same web of history and emotion that makes every interaction in TSITP feel weighted with meaning.
Love triangles that will destroy you (in the best way)
7. 'Since You've Been Gone' by Morgan Matson
Morgan Matson crafts a mystery when Emily's best friend, Sloane, disappears, leaving only a list of challenges. As Emily works through them, she finds herself torn between two very different guys.
Key themes: Self-discovery through loss, stepping outside comfort zones, the complexity of friendship, unexpected connections, and choosing who you want to become.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The love triangle feels earned rather than forced, developing naturally as Emily discovers who she is without her best friend.
Like Belly learning to see herself outside the Fisher boys' orbit, Emily's journey is really about finding herself.
For more on building authentic relationships, the 'Relationship Goals' summary on Headway offers practical wisdom.
8. 'My Life Next Door' by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Samantha has watched the chaotic Garrett family from her window for years, but when Jase Garrett climbs up to her balcony one night, her perfectly controlled world shifts.
Key themes: Class differences, family secrets, political corruption, choosing between safety and passion, and the courage to defy expectations.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The romance between opposites, complicated by family disapproval, creates tension that rivals any Jeremiah versus Conrad debate.
The way both families become entangled mirrors how the Conklins and Fishers are forever connected.
9. 'Tweet Cute' by Emma Lord
This modern young adult novel set in New York follows Pepper and Jack as they engage in a Twitter war between their family restaurants, while simultaneously falling for each other on an anonymous chat app.
Key themes: Family legacy versus personal dreams, hidden identities, the pressure of perfection, competition and attraction, and finding authenticity in a digital world.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: Though set in high school rather than summer vacation, it captures that same tension between what your family expects and what your heart wants.
The dual identity aspect echoes how Belly is different people in different seasons.
Childhood friends to lovers (because that trope shows what true love is)
10. 'Better Than the Movies' by Lynn Painter
Liz Buxbaum needs help getting her childhood crush, Michael's, attention, so she enlists Wes, the annoying boy next door. Their fake dating scheme becomes complicated when real feelings emerge.
Key themes: Expectations versus reality, the danger of idealizing the past, seeing people clearly, rom-com fantasies versus real love, and growing beyond childhood dreams.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The way childhood history complicates present-day feelings will resonate with anyone who understands Belly's tangled emotions.
The distinction between who you thought you wanted and who you actually need mirrors Belly's journey perfectly.
Dive deeper into love's complexities with the 'Everything I Know About Love' summary on Headway.
11. 'What If It's Us' by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Arthur and Ben's meet-cute at a New York post office leads to a summer romance complicated by exes, distance, and terrible timing.
Key themes: Fate versus coincidence, the challenge of timing, dealing with romantic history, summer in the city, and accepting imperfect endings.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The dual POV gives insight into both characters' insecurities, much like how TSITP shows multiple perspectives on the same events.
The question of whether some loves are meant to be temporary echoes throughout both stories.
12. 'The Summer I Found You' by Jolene Perry
Kate's diabetes diagnosis and Aidan's return from Afghanistan with a prosthetic arm bring two struggling teens together for a healing summer neither expected.
Key themes: Invisible versus visible challenges, learning to accept help, redefining normal, the healing power of connection, and finding strength in vulnerability.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: Their summer together shows that sometimes the best relationships come from supporting each other through the hardest times, just like how the Fisher and Conklin families hold each other through grief.
Heartbreak and healing (for when you need a good cry)
13. 'I Wanna Be Where You Are' by Kristina Forest
When Chloe secretly drives to a dance audition, she doesn't expect to find Eli — her ex-best friend and former crush — hiding in her car.
Key themes: Dreams versus relationships, the cost of ambition, repairing broken trust, road trip revelations, and choosing between safe and brave.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The confined space of their road trip creates the same intensity as those charged moments at the Fisher house.
The way their shared history keeps surfacing mirrors how the past is always present in TSITP.
14. 'When Summer Ends' by Jessica Pennington
Aiden and Olivia's perfect summer romance shatters when a devastating secret emerges, leaving them to navigate the aftermath separately before fate brings them back together.
Key themes: The weight of secrets, trust and betrayal, the lasting impact of first love, forgiveness and redemption, and learning to love after hurt.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: Readers who understand why Belly can't just "get over" her summers at Cousins will relate to this exploration of how one season can haunt you forever. The alternating timelines show how love can be both beautiful and painful.
Want to understand heartbreak better? 'The Mastery of Love' summary on Headway explores building healthy relationships after loss.
15. 'Hot Dog Girl' by Jennifer Dugan
Jennifer Dugan sets Lou's story in an amusement park where her last summer before college becomes complicated when she realizes she's falling for the new girl instead of her longtime crush.
Key themes: Sexual identity discovery, letting go of old dreams, chosen family, the courage to be yourself, and finding love in unexpected places.
Why fans of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' will love this book: The amusement park setting provides the same kind of magical, separate world that Cousins Beach represents — a place where you can become who you really are.
The intensity of knowing summer will end makes every moment more precious.
Your reading journey awaits — start it now with Headway book summaries!
Reading these emotional, transformative stories is one of the smartest ways to train your brain to understand complex emotions and relationships. But let's be real — with 15 YA books like 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' on this list alone, plus all the other fantastic book recommendations from your book club and social media, when will you find time to read them all?
That's where Headway becomes your secret weapon. Not sure which book to dig into next? Use Headway as your personal shortcut — explore summaries first, then decide what's worth the full read. The app's summaries of nonfiction bestsellers help you grasp each book's essence quickly, so you can make informed choices about where to invest your reading time.
With its sleek design, quick formats, and progress tracking, the Headway app is like having a personal book curator in your pocket. Get the app and have a great reading!
Frequently asked questions about books like 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
Does Belly end up with Conrad in the books?
Yes, Belly does end up with Conrad! After calling off her wedding to Jeremiah, she studies abroad in Spain and exchanges letters with Conrad. They reunite at her college graduation in the final book, 'We'll Always Have Summer,' and the book ends with them getting married when Belly is 23. Jeremiah attends their wedding as a guest.
getting married when Belly is 23. Jeremiah attends their wedding as a guest. What's 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' book about?
It's about Isabel "Belly" Conklin, who spends every summer at Cousins Beach with her mom, brother, and the Fisher family. The summer she turns sixteen, everything changes when both Fisher brothers — serious Conrad and playful Jeremiah — start seeing her differently. It's a story about first love, growing up, family bonds, and how one summer can change everything forever.
Will 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' show end differently than the books?
Nobody knows for sure yet! Jenny Han is involved with the show, so it'll likely stay true to the spirit of the books. But TV shows sometimes change endings based on fan reactions and what works on screen. The show has already added new scenes and depth to characters, so small changes are possible while keeping the main story intact.
Does Belly marry Jeremiah in the book?
No, Belly doesn't marry Jeremiah. They get engaged after he cheats on her during spring break and proposes to prove his love. But on their wedding day, Jeremiah realizes Belly will never choose him over Conrad and calls off the wedding.
What book should I read if I liked The Summer I Turned Pretty?
If you haven't already, start with 'We'll Always Have Summer' to complete the trilogy. Then try 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han for more swoony romance. 'The Truth About Forever' by Sarah Dessen captures that summer transformation magic. Love and Gelato' by Jenna Evans Welch brings summer romance to Italy through emotional depth and self-discovery themes.
What reading level is The Summer I Turned Pretty?
It's written at about a 6th to 8th grade reading level, making it easy to fly through. But don't let that fool you — the emotional complexity is much deeper. It's classified as Young Adult (YA) fiction, perfect for ages 12 and up. The simple writing style lets you focus on feeling all the emotions rather than struggling with complicated sentences.
