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Quick answer: If you loved The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, try It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum and Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.
Belly Conklin has spent every summer at Cousins Beach with her mother’s best friend, her brother and the two boys she has loved since she was little, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. The summer she turns sixteen, everything changes. Jenny Han’s trilogy, and the TV series based on it, made the love triangle a modern coming-of-age classic. The picks below share its beach settings, nostalgic summers, first love and family ties. Most are YA romance, with a few adult picks for readers who’ve grown up with Belly.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love The Summer I Turned Pretty
Readers love The Summer I Turned Pretty because it captures the feeling of growing up. Jenny Han writes about the way childhood friends become something else, how one summer can change everything and how families keep going when mothers get sick. Belly’s longing for Conrad and her bond with Jeremiah feel honest, and the beach house, bonfires and sunset drives are made for nostalgia. Fans argue forever over who she should choose, which keeps the story fun, even years later.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about The Summer I Turned Pretty: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| It’s Not Summer Without You | Jenny Han | YA romance | The second book |
| We’ll Always Have Summer | Jenny Han | YA romance | The final book |
| To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before | Jenny Han | YA romance | More Jenny Han |
| Anna and the French Kiss | Stephanie Perkins | YA romance | Swoon-worthy travel romance |
| Along for the Ride | Sarah Dessen | YA romance | Summer beach towns |
| Tell Me Three Things | Julie Buxbaum | YA romance | Anonymous pen pals |
| Every Summer After | Carley Fortune | Adult romance | Grown-up readers |
| Emergency Contact | Mary H.K. Choi | YA romance | Messy first loves |
| Eleanor and Park | Rainbow Rowell | YA romance | Intense first love |
| The Sun Is Also a Star | Nicola Yoon | YA romance | One day in New York |
| We Were Liars | E. Lockhart | YA mystery | Summer houses and secrets |
| Beach Read | Emily Henry | Adult romance | Grown-up summer romance |
| Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | Classic | Sisters and love |
| Dumplin’ | Julie Murphy | YA romance | Confidence and small towns |
| The Boy Next Door | Meg Cabot | Romance | Light, funny stories |
1. It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Belly and the Fisher brothers face a summer without Susannah. It’s emotional and quieter.
2. We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
The last book brings Belly’s love story to its conclusion, years later.
3. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Lara Jean’s secret love letters get mailed to every boy she’s ever liked. It’s sweet and funny.
4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
An American girl is sent to boarding school in Paris and falls for a charming classmate. It’s a favorite.
5. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
A girl who can’t sleep spends her summer at the beach and finds a night-owl friend. It’s thoughtful and sweet.
6. Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
A grieving teen gets anonymous emails from a classmate who offers help. It’s funny and sweet.
7. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
A woman returns to the lake town where she fell in love as a teen. It’s nostalgic and emotional.
8. Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
Two teens form a bond through texting. It’s honest and funny.
9. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a school bus in 1986. It’s raw and unforgettable.
10. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Two teens meet on the last day before a girl’s family is deported. It’s lyrical and romantic.
11. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
A wealthy family’s summer island hides a secret. It’s lyrical and shocking.
12. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two writers swap genres for a summer. It’s funny and emotional.
13. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Four sisters grow up in Civil War-era New England. Many fans of Belly’s story love Jo and Laurie.
14. Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
A plus-size teen enters a beauty pageant to protest. It’s warm and funny.
15. The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot
A gossip columnist gets caught up in a mystery involving her neighbor. It’s a fun, light read.
How to Pick Your Next Read After The Summer I Turned Pretty
- Want to finish the trilogy? It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer.
- Want more Jenny Han? To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
- Want travel romance? Anna and the French Kiss.
- Want a summer town? Along for the Ride.
- Want grown-up romance? Every Summer After and Beach Read.
- Want a classic? Little Women.
The Summer Trilogy and the Series
The trilogy is The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer. The Prime Video series changes some plot points, so readers who watched first may be surprised. The books include mild romance and some difficult family scenes, including a parent’s illness, so they suit readers 13 and up. If you want to read about how summer love grows up, Jenny Han’s To All the Boys series is a great next step.
Related: what age The Summer I Turned Pretty is appropriate for and books like Happy Place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like The Summer I Turned Pretty?
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Along for the Ride are the closest matches.
Do I need to read the books to watch the show?
No, but the books have more of Belly’s inner thoughts, and some storylines are different.
What age is The Summer I Turned Pretty for?
The books are written for readers 13 and up.