It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han Review

Title: It's Not Summer Without You
Author: Jenny Han
Pages:277
Release Date: May 5th 2011 (UK)
Source: For Review


Last year, all of Belly’s dreams came true and the thought of missing a summer in Cousins Beach was inconceivable. But like the rise and fall of the ocean tide, things can change-- just like that. Suddenly the time she's always looked forward to most is something she dreads. And when Jeremiah calls to say Conrad has disappeared, Belly must decide how she will spend this summer: chasing after the boy she loves, or finally letting him go.


Just a heads up, if you haven't read The Summer I Turned Pretty then there are spoilers.


If you read my review of The Summer I Turned Pretty you will know that it was very emotional for me. Well this book is that x1000. In the last book we learn that Susannah has cancer again and the book starts with addressing her death. The grief was at the very start and had me bawling throughout the whole novel. 


Belly, distraught with grief, takes Susannah's death hard. She finds it difficult to deal with the fact that everything has changed. She can no longer spend summers at the beach house as she did before. It was painful to see her have to go through that after seeing how close she was to Susannah. I really felt for her throughout the novel and I just wanted her to be happy. She made some choices that I definitely didn't agree with but I could understand them.


Conrad just pulled at my heartstrings in this book. He was a complete jerk throughout the book and I just wanted to shake him and make him realise that his life was not over. Some of the things he did (or nearly did) were so sweet and sincere that I just wanted him all for myself. I was very sad to see Conrad and Belly having to deal with the long distance and the effect that had on them.


Jeremiah is just lovely still. It was nice to see his and Belly's friendship and they go to look for Conrad. I would love him as a best friend. He is protective and kind and caring and yes, a very sweet boy. But maybe he is a little too nice for me..


The plot took me a whole new direction to what I was expecting. There were still plenty of flashbacks (which in this series I love). It really padded out the story and made everything make a lot more sense. I also love how this book was still set in summer with just the flashback, despite the flashbacks being so key. It emphasised how much had changed since the summer before.


The ending did not fully satisfy me, but that is okay. There were hints that the next book was going to provide the deciding factor. To be fair there can never be a bad ending of this series, that's what makes it that much better. 


Overall, it was incredibly emotional, I finished in one night. I just couldn't put it down. A sappy romance novel it is not. It is full of such emotion that can't help but draw you in and keep you fascinated and you watch their summer. 


P.S if you have read the book then you will know what I am talking about. I so want that necklace. Being a total maths geek I am so in love!