It’s Not Summer Without You Book Review
It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS
Date: 10-31-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 7.2/10
Book Cover Rating: 8.4/10
(My personal opinion)
Title: It’s Not Summer Without You
Author: Jenny Han
Pages: 312
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Subplots: Summer Read
Romance Level: 2/3 (no spice, but prominent part of plot)
Series: Summer #2
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
First Published: 2010
Number of Editions: 140
Goodreads Rating: 3.76/5
# of Goodreads Ratings: 654,211
Amazon Rating: 4.4/5
# of Amazon Ratings: 42,234
Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 14+
Movie/TV Show?? : TV show!
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Multi, First Person
Hook: Belly has been going to the summer house all her life- but not this year. After all, it could never be the same now that Susannah is gone. Everything in Belly’s life seems to have changed since then- most obviously in the people she spends time with. She’s been trying to spend more time with Conrad, but he’s been acting differently. That’s why, when Jeremiah calls her saying Conrad left without any word, she’s so worried. Jeremiah and Belly decide to try to find him. They end up at the summer house- a fitting place for what seems like the end. But, with just the three of them there, and no lack of strong emotions (most of them negative), ‘perfect’ resolutions seem out of the picture. Will this truly be the end for Belly? The end of summers in Cousins? The end of spending time with the Fisher boys?
My Review
Main Characters:
Isabel (Belly) Conklin- Belly is a 16 year old girl. She LOVES summer, and feels that the rest of the year is in anticipation of it. She does not like being treated as a kid (though often is), and has a bit of an impulsive streak. She can be sweet and kind, but is also stubborn at times. She has been going to the summer house for her whole life.
Conrad Fisher- Conrad has also been going to the summer house for his whole life. He is 18 years old. He is adventurous and bold, but also often described as ‘dark and brooding.’ He often deeply suppresses his emotions.
Jeremiah Fisher- Jeremiah is Conrad’s younger brother so, of course, he’s been going to the summer house for his whole life too. He is 17 years old, and plays football. He is more expressive and likes having a good time.
These characters were so contradictory. One minute they’d be super relatable and fun, and the next I would be groaning about how cliche and dramatic they are. I will say- they felt more purposeful in this book. They went through more growth, and felt deeper.
Character Rating: 6.1/10
Setting:
This book takes place in Cousins Beach, North Carolina.
I loved the coastal, calm setting of this book. It is really cool how Jenny Han can make the Summer House setting feel so unique in comparison to other places. There were fewer descriptive details in this book compared to book one, but I’m assuming that’s just because we have already learned the descriptions of most places.
Setting Rating: 8.7/10
Plot:
This was a huge improvement! One of my main criticisms of book one was the lack of real plot or depth. This book was much better- it had an actual storyline, clearer goal, and generally more purpose to it. That’s not to say it was perfect- it was still simplistic and shallow to a certain extent. There were also plenty of side-plots, and distractions, but I’m still really happy with the improvement.
Plot Rating: 6.6/10
Writing:
Similarly to book one, Jenny Han’s writing matched the book well. Fairly simplistic, with a carefree read vibe. Her writing was super easy to follow, and there wasn’t even an opportunity to be confused. Again, this book’s writing made it feel like a relaxing comfort read.
Writing Rating: 8.5/10
Ending:
Another of my main critiques of book one was the lack of a build-up, cliffhanger, or really any kind of ending in general. Another area of improvement in this book- there was a decent build-up to the ending! You had questions that you actually wanted discover the answers to. When it comes to cliffhangers…… I guess there are a few small ones…. but nothing particularly hooking (as always, my opinion and others might totally disagree). At this point, I do want to read book three, but I’m not in a huge hurry.
Ending Rating: 6.3/10
The Overall:
Overall, I was really happy with the improvement in this book. Book one had many areas that fell short for me- cliche characters, lack of plot, and lack of ending. This book definitely wasn’t perfect, but I did notice improvement. For example, this book had a much more purposeful storyline to it. The ending was also much better- with a decent build-up, and a few, small cliffhangers. The characters were still cliche and shallow at times, but had slightly more growth throughout this book. Again, this book felt like a simple, comfort read. It was definitely better than book one, but still has room for improvement.
Overall Book Rating: 7.2/10
I would recommend this book
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Author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and more
Co-showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty
Her books have been published in a variety of languages
Born in Virginia
For more information, view Jenny Han’s website: jennyhan.com
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Extra!! For those who have read this book, are you team Conrad or Jeremiah??
What did you think of this book??
Reach out below anytime! Whether to share your opinion of this book, comment on mine, ask for similar suggestions, or ask for more clarity/spoilers for this book. I’d love to answer any questions, share more opinions, or hear your thoughts!! Thanks so much!!
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