Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1) By: Jenny Han + A Giveaway!

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1)
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 276 Pages (May 5th 2009)
From: Purchased from Amazon

Synopsis: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Review: 4 Stars - Jenny Han’s first book in her Summer Trilogy – The Summer I Turned Pretty was a breath of fresh air, a wonderful surprise and to be honest I have no idea why I’ve waited so long to read this book. I thought it was wonderful from cover to cover and can understand why this series is so loved by many.

This title is the perfect blend of all things summer - vacations, family, friends, the beach and oh, yeah… boys. Through Belly (I was hoping we’d learn how she ended up with such a horrible name. It did drive me crazy until I understood how it came about.), our main female character we get to be a fly on the wall as she lives through a new summer and through a flash back of memories of summers past. The flash backs made Belly and the other characters who shared each summer together into more rounded people. It gives the reader more of an idea of who they all are and what those past summer months were like.

Belly is one of those characters who could walk off the pages and be anyone – a friend, relative, neighbor. She’s real, honest and Han does an incredible job showing what it’s really like to be a teenage girl. The three boys, Belly’s brother Steven, and the two Fisher brothers – Jeremiah and Conrad were bits and pieces of boys I remember from school. I always love when a character is as realistic as those found within the pages here and Han has it down pat. With Belly growing up and teen emotions running high things were bound to change for the group.

With things changing for each character and the summer coming to an end, I wondered what would come next and am thankful that I can pick up the next two books and read to find out.

There was something to love in each of Han’s characters. Her story and writing were wonderful and I couldn’t put the book down. It’s books like this that remind me of my love of contemporary YA and fans of the genre shouldn’t pass this series up, so be sure to pick up or order a copy soon.

Check out the widget (which includes the quiz): http://dearjennyhan.com/always-summer/widget/

Take the quiz: Literary or athletic? Shaggy or clean cut? Take the quiz where, like Belly, you to can find out once and for all if it is Conrad or Jeremiah that you should give your heart to forever: http://dearjennyhan.com/always-summer/.

The book website can be found here: http://www.dearjennyhan.com/alwayssummer.html

Link to the books trailer: http://www.simonandschuster.com/multimedia?video=918483406001

Or, Check out the trailer here:

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book, and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.

GIVEAWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER!

 Enter to win a finished copy of ALL THREE books

in the Summer Series!

Rules and how to enter:

You MUST be at least 13 years old to enter.
Please be sure to fill out the form below for your entry to count.
This giveaway is open to US Only, sorry!
Giveaway ends: June 1st, 2011

A Huge Thank You goes out to the publisher, Simon & Schuster,

who made this giveaway possible.

Good luck to everyone who enters! The winner will be chosen via Random.org. If you have any questions please check my policy page or feel free to email.