It's Not Summer Without You - Jenny Han (#2 - Summer)

"How do you regret one of the best nights of your entire life? You don't. You remember every word, every look. Even when it hurts, you still remember."

Title: It's Not Summer Without You

Author: Jenny Han

Genres: Young adult, romance
Rate: ☆☆☆

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.

I have to start by saying I liked this a whole lot better than the first book. I felt that it had more of a story and more things happened. Belly was less annoying (hurrah!) and I felt that we learnt more about the characters in the second book of the Summer trilogy.

The story is mostly narrated by Belly but sometimes, it is through Jeremiah's POV and we see more into the brothers' relationship. There is more than what we see on the surface. Conrad has always been the one that Belly wants, even after their relationship ended on a bad note but she can't help herself. She will always choose Conrad. This irked me a lot because Conrad treats her like crap and always pushes her away, whereas Jeremiah is always there for her; he is the funny, easy-going, lively one who actually cares about Belly but she fails to see that. She's a bit of a two-timer as well. I'd call her worse but this books seems very delicate and someone like Belly wouldn't be able to handle being called worse.

All of them grew up drastically. Sure, Belly still resorted to things like, 'I hate you', but she has matured. Her attitude towards Taylor is so fricking irrational. Taylor isn't perfect, she's flawed, but she is making a huge effort with Belly, and being supportive, but Belly thinks Taylor is selfish and that Taylor doesn't understand her. WHY ARE THEY STILL FRIENDS?

This book was okay, I don't really have a lot to say about it, and I long for summers like Isabel's. It's Not Summer Without You deals with love, loss, grief and jealousy, and Han has captures what it's like to be an annoying teenager at their age quite brilliantly.

-C E L I N E