1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,760 Hello, everybody. And welcome to the very first episode of Such a Fun Read, a podcast 2 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,880 where we come together to read a book and chat about it like a book club. I am your 3 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:29,160 resident reader, Cherie Lampley, and I'm very excited to be here with you today. 4 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,920 But before we dive into this week's read, I wanted to give a background into why I decided 5 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:39,880 to start this podcast, who I am, and what you can expect each week. We'll start off 6 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:46,680 with why I started this podcast. I've wanted to create a podcast for years, many, many 7 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:53,720 years, but for some reason, I just never got around to doing it. I did start a YouTube 8 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,880 channel a few years back where I talked about books, a booktube channel, I guess you could 9 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:03,500 call it. But life got busy. And whenever I thought about getting the camera out and making 10 00:01:03,500 --> 00:01:09,000 a new video, something else would just come up. Podcasting has always been in the back 11 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:13,560 of my mind, though. I have a lot more free time nowadays. And instead of getting out 12 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:19,600 the camera, I decided to grab a microphone. As to who I am, like I said earlier, my name 13 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:26,280 is Cherie Lampley, and I'm your resident reader around here. I'm from Ohio. I'm also a huge 14 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:31,760 sports fan. I have a lot of love for Ohio State and the Cincinnati Reds. The Cincinnati 15 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:37,120 Bengals are a step below those two, but I'm still a fan. For some reason, I had to distinguish 16 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:42,520 that, but I guess that's just what I had to do. And if it isn't obvious with me creating 17 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:48,240 this podcast, I am a big fan of reading. I love discovering different worlds when I open 18 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:54,080 a book, I love meeting new characters, and I love the drama. I grew up a fan of soap 19 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:59,600 operas, so drama isn't anything new to me. I was a huge fan of All My Children growing 20 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:06,080 up, and I continue to watch General Hospital every once in a while. I read young adults, 21 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:12,360 middle grade, adult books, contemporary fantasy, romance, science fiction, thrillers, pretty 22 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:18,440 much all the genres. And if a book is popular, I want to read it and discover what the hype 23 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:23,800 is about. So what can you expect from this podcast? Every week, a new book will be discussed. 24 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:29,840 We'll dive into the characters, the drama, the plot, we will get into it. I want to find 25 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:35,120 a fun in any of the books I choose to read. Oh, and the drama, of course. Another thing 26 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:40,920 to expect are spoilers. I'm going to be talking about each book I read, which means that I 27 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:46,760 will be spoiling the book. Just want to give a heads up on that. You've been warned. Also, 28 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,640 if you'd like to know ahead of time what the next book will be for the next episode, you 29 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:57,600 can check out our website at suchafunread.com or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at suchafunread. 30 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:02,760 Alright, I think it's time we actually get into this episode. So the first book for this 31 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:09,280 very first episode of such a fun read is The Summer I Turn Pretty by Jenny Han. So I decided 32 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:15,560 on this book because honestly, I thought it would be a fun, quick read. It is summertime 33 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,680 after all, which is usually when my reading picks up. And that is mostly because I decide 34 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:26,400 on reading cute books like this one. And if you're by a beach or a pool, this might be 35 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:31,400 a fun book for you to read there. Now, another reason I chose this book was because of the 36 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:38,120 TV show. If you aren't aware, The Summer I Turn Pretty is becoming a TV show. In fact, 37 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:43,880 the premiere episode will be this Friday, June 17 on Amazon Prime. I do my best to read 38 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:49,600 books before their adaptations. Well, I haven't always though, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, 39 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:55,160 Twilight, A Song of Ice and Fire to name a few, but that was the past. Now I try to do 40 00:03:55,160 --> 00:04:00,400 my best to read before I watch. Let's get into a bit of backstory on The Summer I Turn 41 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:07,600 Pretty. The author, Jenny Han is a librarian, was a librarian? Is she still a librarian? 42 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:12,200 I guess I probably should look that up. But The Summer I Turn Pretty is her second published 43 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:19,680 novel. It is a coming of age young adult novel that was published on May 5 2009 in hardcover 44 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:25,880 and has 288 pages. It is a New York Times bestseller and I was really excited to dive 45 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:31,920 into it and figure out what happened. The Summer Belly Turn Pretty. Jenny Han is also 46 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:37,480 the author of the To All the Boys I Love Before series. I had read the first two books in 47 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:43,040 that series as well as watched the movies. Never got to the third book was a bit annoyed 48 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,600 at the end of the second one. Maybe I'll read it one day though. But this podcast isn't 49 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:52,760 about To All the Boys I Love Before. Let's get into talking about The Summer I Turn Pretty 50 00:04:52,760 --> 00:05:05,560 with the book summary. Some summers are just destined to be pretty. When each summer begins, 51 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:11,000 Belly leaves her school life behind and escapes to Cousins Beach, the place she has spent 52 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:16,040 every summer of her life. Not only does the beach house mean home away from home, but 53 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:21,760 her favorite people are there. Susanna, her mother's best friend and her sons Conrad 54 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:27,320 and Jeremiah. Belly has been chasing Conrad for as long as she can remember. And more 55 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:32,520 than anything, she hopes this summer will be different. Despite distractions from a 56 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:37,640 new guy named Cam and lingering looks from Conrad's brother Jeremiah, Belly's heart 57 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:43,960 belongs to Conrad. Will he offer his to her? Will this be the summer that changes everything? 58 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:48,420 That is the summary that is on the back of my copy of this book. And now let's talk 59 00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:57,120 about it. And as I mentioned before, there will be spoilers. The first thing I want to 60 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:02,280 say is that I do not like the name Belly. I spent a lot of time while reading this book 61 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:08,200 hoping this was just a nickname and not the name that was on her birth certificate. Luckily 62 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:14,760 for me, finally on page 111, I learned her name is Isabelle. Then I thought, why not 63 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:20,080 Izzy? Why even go with Belly as a nickname? Then I remember from reading that her dad 64 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:25,440 gave her the nickname Belly. Parents just know how to give great nicknames, don't they? 65 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:31,280 And also Belly doesn't like the nickname Izzy, but she does like Bell. So maybe we could 66 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:37,360 have changed it to Bell. Anyway, let's do a run through of the characters. We have our 67 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:44,120 main character Belly or Isabelle, her mother Laurel, her brother Stephen, her mother's 68 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:51,400 best friend Susanna, Beck is her nickname, her maiden name. I like that one. Conrad, 69 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:57,240 Susanna's older son, Jeremiah, Susanna's younger son, Cam, a guy from the beach and 70 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:02,880 Taylor, Belly's best friend. There are some other characters that show up throughout the 71 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:07,840 story, but I say these are the main players. I think I'll do a ranking of these characters 72 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:11,680 after we talk about what happened in this book. So you'll see how I feel about each 73 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:17,560 of them. All right, so the story begins with Belly. I've given up and I've just decided 74 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:23,400 I'm going to use that nickname she was given throughout this episode, whatever. I figure 75 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:28,880 this is the name she was given for this story and everyone calls her that anyway. So I will 76 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:34,840 resign and call her that for this episode. As I was saying, the story begins with Belly 77 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:40,000 on her way to the beach. Her brother Stephen is driving with their mother in the back. 78 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:44,440 They're singing in the car and Belly is excited to get back to the beach house. This is a 79 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,960 beach house that she and her family go to every summer. They meet up with Susanna and 80 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:54,000 her two boys there. While they're driving, her brother decides to ask her if she is thinking 81 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,320 about Conrad. Then her mother chimes in because she thought there might be something going 82 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:03,180 on with her and Jeremiah from what happened this summer before we are kind of getting 83 00:08:03,180 --> 00:08:09,000 set up for which boy will Belly choose. So we go into a bit of backstory about Laurel 84 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:14,000 and Susanna's friendship. They've been friends since they were nine. Then Belly tells us 85 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:19,840 that Susanna told her that she knew that Belly was destined for one of her boys. Continuing 86 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:25,560 on with who will Belly choose? They get to the house and the boys come out to greet them. 87 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:30,640 There are moments with Belly between each of the boys. Both boys notice that Belly isn't 88 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:35,520 the same Belly she had always been. Conrad tells Belly that he liked her better with 89 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:41,360 her glasses and teased her about her freckles. Jeremiah gave her a big bear hug and told 90 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:47,080 her, you just look different. I will say we don't get much description on these characters 91 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:52,840 and their looks or at least how Belly has actually changed. That's an author's choice. 92 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:58,040 Some do it, some don't. Throughout the story, we do get some minor things like puberty happening 93 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:03,360 or the glasses comment that Conrad made. I don't think it has much effect on the story 94 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:08,460 for not including it. I just ended up using my imagination while reading it. So Belly 95 00:09:08,460 --> 00:09:14,520 is back in the beach house, her favorite place with Conrad, her crush and Jeremiah, who is 96 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:19,920 just her friend. And these boys had seemed to finally look at Belly like she was a real 97 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:25,160 girl and not just someone's sister. Throughout this book, we do get some backstory on what's 98 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:30,100 been going on. There are chapters that start telling us Belly's age at the time. These 99 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:35,160 are dispersed throughout the book, not in chronological order, but I'm going to do 100 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:41,320 chronological order today. Age nine, Belly is playing card games with everyone. She's 101 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:46,560 playing hearts with Conrad as a partner because he was good at winning. There was a secret 102 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:52,360 look between Laurel and Susanna when Laurel said that Belly is her father's daughter. 103 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:57,280 Age 10, the moment Belly fell in love with Conrad, she wanted to go with the boys to 104 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:03,040 the beach. They were taking sleeping bags and going to build a fire. Stephen was mean 105 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:09,560 to her. Jeremiah, he joined in on the teasing of her with Stephen, but Conrad was different. 106 00:10:09,560 --> 00:10:15,000 He stood up for her. He told them to cut it out and he said goodbye to her as they left 107 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:21,040 without her. Age 11, Belly and Stephen have a sibling bickering in front of Conrad and 108 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:27,600 Jeremiah. Belly and Conrad share dance. Belly wished for Conrad when she blew out her birthday 109 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:33,440 candles. Age 12, this age gave us the first backstory as well as the last backstory in 110 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:38,920 the book. We first see Conrad asked Belly to go to the boardwalk, but she gets heartbroken 111 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:44,260 when she realizes he went to the boardwalk to see another girl. He only invited her because 112 00:10:44,260 --> 00:10:50,840 he didn't want to go alone. Then Jeremiah tells Belly that he knows she likes Conrad. 113 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:57,200 Age 13, more is talked about Susanna's breast cancer and Belly and Jeremiah get closer. 114 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:02,840 Age 14, Belly brings her best friend Taylor to the beach with her. Taylor was flirting 115 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:08,800 with both Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly was jealous over it, especially with Jeremiah since he 116 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:14,320 was the one reciprocating the flirting with Taylor. Belly has our first kiss with Jeremiah 117 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:19,560 during Truth or Dare. Belly catches Taylor making out with Stephen. So that is a backstory 118 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:25,200 on Belly and her relationship with the boys. Now let's get back to the present day. Belly 119 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:31,320 is now 15 and back at the beach having these boys. She's known forever, looking her differently, 120 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:35,720 as well as a new boy to add to the mix. She also ends up being at the beach there with 121 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:40,680 them without her brother because he leaves early to go look at colleges with their dad. 122 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:45,040 We'll get back to the boys in a moment. Let's talk about Susanna. There is a mention of 123 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:50,620 Susanna not doing certain things like she normally did before, like her being outside 124 00:11:50,620 --> 00:11:56,040 to greet everyone when they show up. She was taking a nap. At that moment, I figured something 125 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:02,000 was going on. Then we find out she has breast cancer and the way her and Laurel were acting 126 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:06,680 that summer, I had a feeling things weren't going well. I was definitely preparing myself 127 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:11,720 for the worst. We did that, get that though. We do get glimpses of Belly seeing there is 128 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:16,940 an issue when she comes home to find that her mother Laurel and Susanna are fighting. 129 00:12:16,940 --> 00:12:22,400 They say it is nothing, but Belly doesn't believe it. Okay, back to the boys. I want 130 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:27,360 to add a quote from the book here. A quote that I think Belly needs to think about a 131 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:33,360 lot. She was talking about Mr. Fisher and Susanna. Mr. Fisher is Susanna's husband 132 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:38,180 and the boy's father. He only shows up in this book for a phone call. And it was mentioned 133 00:12:38,180 --> 00:12:43,760 that he would only come on the occasional weekend in August. Belly thought Mr. Fisher 134 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:49,480 was good looking, but she didn't know if Mr. Fisher was as good looking as Susanna was 135 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:55,160 as beautiful. She does mention that maybe it is because she loves Susanna so much and 136 00:12:55,160 --> 00:13:01,960 didn't know who can measure up to her in her mind. So the quote is sometimes it's like 137 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:06,960 people are a million times more beautiful to you in your mind. It's like you see them 138 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:12,920 through a special lens, but maybe if it's how you see them, that's how they really are. 139 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:19,840 This is what I think Belly has done with Conrad. I don't think she really knows who he is. 140 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:24,520 She's created a version of him that she wants him to be in her head and decided that this 141 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:30,440 is who he is. As I was reading the book, I could not understand why Belly actually liked 142 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:35,800 Conrad. I know we get some back story on how she fell in love with him, which was when 143 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:40,800 he stood up for her, but that still didn't feel like enough. Conrad felt like an elusive 144 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:46,800 character that Belly herself could not describe. Her description of him was that he was dark, 145 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:53,480 dark, dark, unattainable and unavailable. Maybe it is her teenage ways of trying to 146 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:58,280 get a guy that she has no business trying to get. Some of us go through those phases. 147 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:04,360 I get it. It's like she decided one day that this is a guy she wanted and that was it. 148 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:08,880 Susanna says she was going to end up with one of her boys and that one was going to 149 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:14,200 be Conrad. We do know that Conrad had been going through a lot that summer. There is 150 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:19,200 Susanna's cancer and then also a mention of their parents getting divorced because of 151 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:25,400 his father's cheating. Maybe I'm being biased because I didn't really like Conrad's character. 152 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:30,040 I didn't like any of the scenes with Belly and Conrad. He came off a little bit creepy 153 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:36,160 for me. No offense to anyone who likes him. He was just way too protective of her. Jeremiah 154 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:41,200 was someone I felt like Belly had a connection with. I'm not saying Belly should end up 155 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:46,520 with him. I'm good with by the end of the trilogy, she doesn't end up with either. She 156 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:51,680 described Jeremiah as being her friend. He was nice to her and he was the kind of boy 157 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:57,440 that still hugged his mother. He also never got embarrassed apparently. I felt like Belly 158 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:03,120 felt more comfortable being around him, possibly because she thought they were just friends. 159 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:10,320 But the jealousy that Belly had whenever Jeremiah talked to another girl, she was jealous of 160 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:15,360 her friend Taylor when Jeremiah would return the attention. She didn't want to admit to 161 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:20,720 those feelings, but the jealousy was definitely there. I think Belly did have feelings for 162 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:26,280 Jeremiah, but she didn't want to admit to those feelings. But the jealousy was definitely 163 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:32,640 there. Then we have Cam, the guy she meets that summer. Well, meets again. She finally 164 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:39,160 went to a party and she saw him. She very much liked his eyelashes. They started talking 165 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:44,720 and they both realized they had known each other from before. They had met at the Latin 166 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:49,960 Convention in Washington DC in the eighth grade. He also called her Isabel, so he got 167 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,560 some points for me. They chatted for a bit and then there was this weird moment with 168 00:15:54,560 --> 00:16:01,680 Conrad. Again, I'm not a fan of their interactions. Cam did give her his hitty by the end of the 169 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:07,920 night and that was cute. Now Belly has a love interest, a new one, one that is actually 170 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:13,820 interested in her back or will at least admit to be interested in her. She talks to him 171 00:16:13,820 --> 00:16:19,720 on the phone, they go on dates, he comes over, they have a good time. But he also has to 172 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:25,420 deal with the brothers though. That isn't fun. Then another weird thing happens when 173 00:16:25,420 --> 00:16:32,160 Belly goes to a party with Cam. And of course, this weird thing involved Conrad. So Belly 174 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:37,920 was being teased by Conrad and Jeremiah before going to the party with Cam. They even decided 175 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:42,520 to show up, which I don't think they were going to do that before Belly mentioned the 176 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:49,120 party. So at the party, Belly and Cam spot the boys. Belly has jealous moments over both 177 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:54,160 of them. Jeremiah doing karaoke and having the girls watching while googly eyed as she 178 00:16:54,160 --> 00:17:00,360 narrates. Then Conrad being with a girl he was with earlier. Her name is Nicole and she 179 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:06,320 may or may not like the Boston Red Sox. She wears a Boston Red Sox hat. So Cam introduces 180 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:12,640 himself. He says his name is Cam, then adds Cameron. So of course, Jeremiah the jokester 181 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:19,080 decides his name is Cam Cameron. They laugh and Belly kind of pisses me off here. She 182 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:26,360 says she was embarrassed, not for Cam, but of him. Really Belly? This is a guy that you 183 00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:31,080 seem to like and now you're embarrassed of him because Jeremiah and Conrad are laughing 184 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:37,240 at him? Like what's up with that? This is a moment I really knew that Cam didn't stand 185 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:42,900 a chance with her. I didn't necessarily think his chance was that high earlier, but definitely 186 00:17:42,900 --> 00:17:47,520 higher than what it was in that moment. She continues to talk to him throughout the rest 187 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:52,600 of the summer, but then pretty much ghost him at one point after he realized she was 188 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:57,840 only cozying up to him on the couch one night just to make Conrad jealous. But back to the 189 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:03,200 party. It seems Conrad is drunk and trying to get in a fight. Not with Cam, but with 190 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:09,040 some other guy, some random guy. Of course, Belly has to intervene and then Jeremiah does 191 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:15,160 as well. Belly ends up going home with Jeremiah and Conrad leaving Cam at the party. Then 192 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:22,560 Belly seemed to get upset. She believes that Conrad had ruined her first real date. No 193 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:30,000 Belly, that was you. You didn't have to intervene. Conrad is a big boy. I believe he's 18. Yes, 194 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:35,600 yes, he was drunk. Should he have tried to get in a fight when he was drunk? No, but 195 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:40,700 guess what? There really wasn't nothing for you to do. Okay, you didn't have to intervene. 196 00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:44,320 You could have continued on your date, but you know what? That's just my two cents. I 197 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:49,580 mean, if you want to be upset, be upset, but Belly, you need to look in the mirror because 198 00:18:49,580 --> 00:18:54,760 your first date being ruined kind of on you. Then of course there was this moment when 199 00:18:54,760 --> 00:19:00,280 Conrad started playing with Belly's hair in the car. He was about to say something, but 200 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:08,240 Jeremiah returned. So the next day Belly wasn't happy. Conrad had acted like nothing happened. 201 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,320 It was like he didn't play with her hair the night before and about to say something that 202 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:17,360 would change everything. He treated her the same. He didn't ignore her. He just treated 203 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:23,760 her the same. Then she narrates, the thing was whether he was pushing me away or pulling 204 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:30,480 me toward him. I was still going in the same direction toward Conrad. Reading this quote 205 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:38,240 again makes me want to go meditate. I might need a moment. Okay. Anyway, Belly ended up 206 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:44,040 going on another date with Cam to the drive-in for some reason. She did worry that going 207 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,360 to the drive-in meant that they were going to make out. Nothing happened though. Also 208 00:19:48,360 --> 00:19:53,880 for Belly, Cam didn't look over her and laugh with her to the funny parts like Jeremiah 209 00:19:53,880 --> 00:20:00,780 did when they watched movies together. Belly, can you please go a couple hours without thinking 210 00:20:00,780 --> 00:20:06,720 about one of the brothers, especially when you're on a date? After the movie, Cam takes 211 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:12,320 her home. Belly seemed disappointed. He does tell her when he drops her off that the reason 212 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:18,000 why he remembered her at the party was because she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. 213 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:24,280 That is sweet Cam, but your chance is less and less by the day. Speaking of Jeremiah, 214 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:31,280 he remembered to get Belly a birthday gift, unlike someone else. I know, I know Conrad, 215 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:35,000 he's going through things and people go through things differently. I'll leave him alone 216 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:41,140 for now. Belly also didn't tell Cam about her birthday for some reason. Jeremiah ended 217 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:46,360 up getting her a charm to add to her charm bracelet. Very sweet, but let's skip to the 218 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:51,760 part where Jeremiah finally professed his feelings. I was wondering when it would happen 219 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:57,000 while I was reading, but it finally does. He was going to say something I didn't want 220 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:04,360 to hear. He was going to go and change everything. He does in fact say it. He wants her to want 221 00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:09,900 to, but it is always going to be Conrad. He accepts it, but isn't happy about it. Makes 222 00:21:09,900 --> 00:21:16,240 a comment about why is it always Conrad before walking away, which okay. I mean, the next 223 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:21,120 chapter is a backstory where he talks about how his father likes Conrad better. So maybe 224 00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:26,800 that has something to do with it. As I mentioned earlier, her thing with Cam is over. He called 225 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:32,440 the house a few times and she didn't answer. Jeremiah had complained about her feelings 226 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:39,440 and Belly thinks it's time for her to do the same to Conrad. Tell Conrad how she feels. 227 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:46,720 It's going to go great, right? Right? So she tells him how she feels in his response. Well, 228 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:53,540 you shouldn't. I'm not the one. Sorry. I believed him when he said it too. Belly doesn't though. 229 00:21:53,540 --> 00:21:58,440 She goes in on him telling him she doesn't believe him and he's lying. He was jealous 230 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:04,840 of her and Cam. Then somehow he turns it on her. One minute you like me, then Cam and 231 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:10,000 then Jeremiah. You want to have your cake and eat it too, he says. Telling her that 232 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,820 she's the one who has been playing games. I had to flip back through the book and try 233 00:22:14,820 --> 00:22:19,640 to figure out what he was talking about. Now, do I think she had feelings for all three 234 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:25,920 boys at some point? Yes. However, I don't think she was playing games with any of them. 235 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:30,840 Well, maybe Cam a little bit. I mean, the whole trying to make Conrad jealous on the 236 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:37,120 couch, but I really don't think she was playing games. And I definitely don't think she was 237 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:44,560 playing games with Conrad. So they continue to argue and then he shook her. I repeat, 238 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:51,120 he shook her. What? I forgot about that for a moment when I started making the notes for 239 00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:58,520 this episode. Again, Conrad, not my faith. He does stop himself when he realizes he did 240 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:05,440 that. But still, Jeremiah ends up coming out and seeing Bella crying. Him and Conrad end 241 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:10,720 up getting into a fight over Conrad not dealing with things. Nothing to do with belly. Maybe 242 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:16,360 a slight punch from Jeremiah had to do with belly, but it mostly was over family stuff 243 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:21,460 like their mother's cancer and their father's actions. The fight gets broken up by Laurel 244 00:23:21,460 --> 00:23:26,320 and everyone goes their separate ways. We end up getting a touching scene with belly 245 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:33,220 and Susanna. Well touching enough until Susanna tells belly, he needs you. She asked belly 246 00:23:33,220 --> 00:23:39,140 to look after him. Belly didn't need for Susanna to tell her who she meant, but I needed for 247 00:23:39,140 --> 00:23:45,360 Susanna to stop. Conrad has some issues he needs to figure out. And I don't think belly 248 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:50,300 should be the one that holds his hand. This boy needs to do it himself. So belly ends 249 00:23:50,300 --> 00:23:55,440 up going out to find Conrad. She would take care of him like Susanna wanted. I think I 250 00:23:55,440 --> 00:24:01,560 internally screamed at that point. That brought me back to belly partly wanting Conrad only 251 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:06,160 because of Susanna wanting it. And I'm still not happy with Susanna for putting that on 252 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:12,140 her. Belly finds him, Conrad opens up and they kiss. Then there are a couple more chapters 253 00:24:12,140 --> 00:24:17,360 after that. There's a goodbye scene with belly Conrad and Jeremiah out in the pool playing 254 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:22,140 around like they would any other summer. I like that scene. Then the last chapter is 255 00:24:22,140 --> 00:24:27,400 during the wintertime when Conrad calls her and wonders if she is still coming with him. 256 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:31,440 Where in the world are you going belly? I guess I'll have to find out whenever I read 257 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:40,360 book two. I only had a few issues with this book. One Conrad is shaking belly. Not cool. 258 00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:48,040 Not cool at all. And then to chapter 28 was a bit problematic. They are teens but a bit 259 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:55,320 problematic. Taylor says to Conrad, don't be so gay. Jeremiah does call her out on it 260 00:24:55,320 --> 00:25:02,780 and Taylor responds with the I didn't mean anything by a response. So Taylor, yeah, whatever. 261 00:25:02,780 --> 00:25:06,840 Then later in the chapter when belly fights with Taylor over her catching her with her 262 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:13,020 brother, she calls her slutty. Not the best move belly. Okay, let's get to the ranking 263 00:25:13,020 --> 00:25:18,920 of these characters. I'm only going to rank the main players the ones I listed earlier, 264 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:24,440 especially since a lot of them that come in and out are just minor players like Boston 265 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:31,580 Red Sox girl or Mr. Fisher or belly and Stevens father who I don't really remember what his 266 00:25:31,580 --> 00:25:38,360 name was. But anyway, I'm just going to rank the main players. And I guess I'll start with 267 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:46,940 my least favorite. I'm pretty sure you all know who that is. So at the bottom is Conrad. 268 00:25:46,940 --> 00:25:50,520 Maybe I'll start to like them more in the other books whenever I get around to reading 269 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:57,760 them. But now this is where he will stay right above him is his mother Susanna. I really 270 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:03,520 don't like how she put Conrad on belly. I get that she wants her son to be looked after. 271 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:09,060 But don't make that belly's responsibility. Next, I guess I'll put Steven here. He wasn't 272 00:26:09,060 --> 00:26:13,960 there a lot in this book with him leaving early. But when he was there, he was picking 273 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:19,560 on his sister and as a younger sister with brothers, he deserves to be here. Next is 274 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:24,960 Taylor. I didn't necessarily like how she was going after the boys when she knew how 275 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:32,240 belly felt. Then again, it isn't like belly own them. Also, her common chapter 28 is still 276 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:38,540 not cool. Above her. I'll put cam. He didn't really do anything wrong here. He just likes 277 00:26:38,540 --> 00:26:42,880 someone that was already hung up on someone else. He was sweet. Not sure if he'll show 278 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:48,540 back up in the rest of the series though. And above cam I'll put Laurel. She seemed 279 00:26:48,540 --> 00:26:53,760 like a good mom. I know her and belly but it heads every once in a while. But that can 280 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:58,200 happen with mothers and daughters sometimes. I like when belly learned that the dress she 281 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:04,040 wanted was bought by her mother and that Susanna like she thought. Then we have Jeremiah. What 282 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:09,720 can I say? I liked him. Again, I don't think she needs to end up with him. But she should 283 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:16,720 stop being jealous when other girls speak to him. And at last belly. I was kind of surprised 284 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:21,800 I have her at the top. She didn't annoy me but I was rooting for her a lot. I definitely 285 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:28,680 did like her as a main character. Alright, that's all I have for this summer turned pretty. 286 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:33,680 Belly is awesome and I hope that she just has an amazing time throughout the rest of 287 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:40,680 the series. I hope Jeremiah find someone and also belly doesn't get jealous over that person 288 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:48,280 because belly please stop. Also with Conrad. I hope he gets help. I really do. I really 289 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:54,940 hope he gets help. I'm curious if we'll see Taylor again. I know there was some bad blood 290 00:27:54,940 --> 00:28:01,800 between belly and Taylor. But I'm all about girlfriendships. So please let's let's have 291 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:08,540 that. As for Susanna. Yeah, I was mad the character but I mean, breast cancer sucks. 292 00:28:08,540 --> 00:28:12,680 I'm not sure how much more we'll get to see of her throughout the rest of the series as 293 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:17,040 this book felt like the characters were saying goodbye to her. And Laurel there wasn't really 294 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:22,180 a lot with belly's mother. But I'd like to see more. I'd like to see belly and her mother 295 00:28:22,180 --> 00:28:35,080 interact more in the future. Well, that'll do it. I want to thank you so much for listening 296 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:41,320 to the very first episode of such a fun read. I really hope you enjoyed today's episode 297 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:46,160 on the summer I turned pretty. I'd love to know your thoughts. You can find me on our 298 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:52,440 website such a fun read.com or on Twitter and Instagram at such a fun read. You can 299 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:58,980 also if you like send me an email to hello at such a fun read.com. Don't forget to make 300 00:28:58,980 --> 00:29:04,640 sure to read us everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Spotify. So thanks again, and I 301 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:19,880 will see you guys next week.