The Summer I Turned Pretty

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What significance does the novel’s title, The Summer I Turned Pretty, hold beyond physical appearance? In what ways does Belly “turn pretty” that aren’t related to her looks?

2. Jenny Han alternates between present events and flashbacks throughout the novel. Did this narrative approach enhance your understanding of the characters’ relationships? How does it compare to other coming-of-age stories like The Perks of Being a Wallflower in which past experiences significantly shape the present?

3. Which character’s journey resonated most with you and why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Belly describes summer as the season when her “real life” begins: “My whole life was measured in summers” (5). Do you have a place that feels more like home than your actual home?

2. Throughout the novel, Belly struggles with being taken seriously by the boys who still see her as “Belly Button” rather than as a maturing young woman. When have you experienced a similar disconnect between how you view yourself and how others perceive you? How did you address this gap in perception?

3. Susannah tells Belly that her mother Laurel is her “biggest fan,” yet Belly struggles to see her mother this way. Did your perception of their mother-daughter relationship evolve throughout the story? Did you find yourself sympathizing more with Belly or Laurel as the novel progressed? How does their relationship compare to your relationship with your parents?

4. The ocean serves as a powerful backdrop for pivotal moments in the novel. What bodies of water or natural setting has played a significant role in your own life experiences or memories?

5. Belly experiences intense jealousy when her friend Taylor visits Cousins Beach. Have you ever felt overshadowed by a friend?

6. When Susannah’s cancer returns, each character processes grief differently. How have you coped with difficult news in your life? What strategies have helped you adapt to challenging circumstances?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel was published in 2009 before smartphones and social media dominated teenage life. What aspects of Belly’s summer experiences might be different if the story took place today?

2. Consider the economic differences between the Fisher family and Belly’s family following her parents’ divorce. How do these differences influence the characters’ relationships and summer experiences? What statement does the novel make about privilege and family dynamics?

3. Belly’s parents’ divorce significantly impacts her emotional development and attitude toward relationships. In what ways does the novel portray the effects of divorce on children and teenagers? Do you find this portrayal realistic?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Water imagery appears throughout the novel from ocean swimming to midnight pool sessions. How does Han use water symbolism to reflect Belly’s emotional state and development? What does the ocean specifically represent for Belly?

2. Conrad and Jeremiah represent different relationship dynamics for Belly. In what ways are these brothers foils for each other? What does each character represent about different types of love?

3. The novel is structured with present-day events interspersed with flashbacks to previous summers. Why might Jenny Han have chosen this narrative structure rather than telling the story chronologically? How do these glimpses into the past enhance our understanding of the present conflicts?

4. Susannah’s character serves as both a unifying force and a catalyst for conflict. How does her illness function as a plot device? What role does her relationship with Belly play in the development of the central love triangle?

5. The ending leaves readers without knowing exactly what Belly and Conrad’s relationship status is. What effect does this ambiguous ending have on the overall impact of the story? What might it suggest about the nature of first love?

6. Belly says about Conrad: “The truth was, when I looked at Conrad, all I felt was a yearning that never went away” (233). What does the novel suggest about the lasting power of first love? Do you think Han portrays teenage romance realistically or idealistically?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Create a playlist inspired by The Summer I Turned Pretty with a song representing each character in the novel.

2. The novel is told entirely from Belly’s perspective. Choose a pivotal scene and reimagine it from Conrad’s point of view.

3. Imagine you could spend a summer at Cousins Beach with these characters. Which traditions from their summers would you most want to participate in? Describe a new tradition you want to introduce to this close-knit summer family.

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