Hello everyone! Happy August! How are you? Did you read any awesome books I now need to add to my TBR right this second? Give me all the books!
So… I’m currently binge-watching the second season of The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon Prime and I’m obsessed! I already loved the books back then and I think they did a great job with the TV adaptation (god, I’m always so scared when they’re turning a beloved book into a movie or TV show, in my head it’s like “please don’t butcher it, please don’t butcher it”…).
Anyway, I decided to make you a list of 10 books that match the vibes of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Amazing books about first love, grief, friendships and summers spent in little seaside towns. It sounds good, doesn’t it? Well…there you go!
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10 YA books to read after binge-watching (or reading) The Summer I Turned Pretty
Our Way Back to Always, Nina Moreno
It’s about Lou and Sam, two childhood besties who fell out years ago. Now, it’s their senior year and Lou is an introverted romantic who’s bearing the weight of her mother’s expectations and Sam is the golden boy with plenty of friends who’s still mourning the death of his father. When Lou finds their bucket list from middle school, she sets out to finish the list and, in a stroke of fate, Sam decides to tag along. It’s an effervescent romance about childhood best friends reconnecting that’s full of sunny days, warm nights, first kisses, and mended hearts. This book feels like a big hug!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Summer of Broken Rules, K.L. Walther
Meredith has been going to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer for as long as she can remember. But this summer is the first one back since the death of her sister. It will all be overwhelming but her family has a tradition of playing the ultimate game of Assassin and it’s the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. This story is filled with heart, emotions, with a big, warm family and a soft romantic relationship. A lovely read!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Some Mistakes Were Made, Kristin Dwyer
Ellis and Easton have been inseparable since childhood. But a rash decision forces her to move halfway across the country. Now Ellis hasn’t spoken to Easton in a year and when his mother invites her home for a celebration, Ellis suddenly finds herself tangled up in a web of heartache, with the boy she never stopped loving. This book perfectly captures the pain and passion of first love in a visceral way. It’s heartbreaking, poignant and the characters are full of vulnerability!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Emmy & Olivier, Robin Benway
Emmy and Oliver were going to be best friends forever, or maybe even more, before their futures were ripped apart. But now Oliver is back, and he’s not the skinny boy-next-door that used to be Emmy’s best friend. This book is much more than a romance, it’s a coming-of-age story about friendships, family, growing up, life in a small town and learning to be something on your own, separate from your friends and family. It’s touching, refreshing and it’ll definitely leave a smile on your face!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Along for the Ride, Sarah Dessen
Auden has just finished her senior year and looks forward to spending the summer like she usually does: staying home and studying. However, she decides to spend the summer at the beach town where her dad and his new family reside. There, she meets her first group of real friends and Eli, an ambiguous and secretive young man. A meaningful and touching summer read with relatable and flawed characters you’ll definitely be rooting for!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks
Seventeen-year-old Ronnie’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to North Carolina. Three years later, she remains alienated from her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer with him. This is a heartbreaking story about love in its myriad forms. So many emotions!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Second Chance Summer, Morgan Matson
Taylor’s family isn’t perfect. Everybody’s a little too busy and they’re not all that close, but they’re all happy, until Taylor’s Dad learns he has cancer. The family decides to spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains. There, Taylor discovers that her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend… An emotional read about family, friendship, forgiveness, courage, and second chances. Prepare the tissues!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Sky Is Everywhere, Jandy Nelson
Seventeen-year-old Lennie, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life – and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. This book will give you all the feels! It will make you cry, it will make you laugh, it will give you hope and you’ll feel uplifted after reading it! A very touching story!
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
My Life Next Door, Huntley Fitzpatrick
The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase climbs her terrace and the two fall fiercely in love. Don’t let the cover fool you, this one is much more than a cute summer romance, it’s a lot more hard hitting. A beautiful story about family, redemption, love and doing what’s right.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids, Sarah Ockler
Elyse was destined for stardom – until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, she can’t even speak. Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to seaside town Atargatis Cove. There, she meets Christian, an insolent, arrogant, and completely charming playboy. But he’s also the only person who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue and challenges her to express herself. Wildly inspiring and vividly romantic!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty books
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For more books recommendations, check out these blog posts:
- 20 Most Anticipated YA Books for 2023
- 10 adult books on my radar
- 10 awesome adult books I recently added to my TBR
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What did you think of my list? Any favorites of yours? Do you have any other story that matches the vibes of The Summer I Turned Pretty?
What did you think of the TV adaptation? Any other book you’d like to see come to life on the big or small screen?
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I haven’t read any of these but I sure would like to read Summer I Turned Pretty series once I finish To all the Boys I loved Before. Amazing list!
Yaay, I hope you’ll enjoy it! 😊
Thank you so much 🥰
Happy reading! 😘😘
I’ve never read The Summer I Turned Pretty. It’s so good the tv adaption is just as good as the book. As you said, that always is a worry with adaptations. I’m sad to say the only book on your recommendation list I read is Second Chance Summer. I really enjoyed it a lot. I have to check out these other books and The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Yes, it’s always so scary when a beloved book is being turned into a movie or tv show!
Yaaay, I hope you’ll enjoy it! 😊
Thanks for stopping by, happy reading 😘😘
Yeah, you never know what to except. I hope I enjoy it. From what I’ve heard, it sounds really cute.
Yeees 😊
I’ve read half of these, but ‘Our Way Back to Always’ is one I haven’t read and is piquing my interest! Thanks for sharing. Such a fun list!.
I hope you’ll get to read it soon, it’s so good! 😍
Thank you so much, happy reading! 😘😘
I’m not really into the books (except for the nostalgic and summer vibes) but the tv shows are great! I’ve read Along for the Ride (the Netflix movie is also not bad!), Second Chance Summer, and The Last Song and they definitely have similar vibes! I have to add the others to my TBR so thank you for the recommendations 🙂
Yeees 😍
You’re very welcome, I hope you’ll enjoy them 😊
Happy reading! 😘😘
The Sky is Everywhere definitely has a connection with TSITP books. That whole love triangle.
Yes, totally!
Thanks for stopping by, happy reading! 😘😘
Haven’t really watched The Summer I Turned Pretty, but I keep hearing such good things about it! I read The Summer of Broken Rules this month and it was definitely the perfect summer read ☀️ Second Chance Summer is also on my TBR!
You should give it a try 😉
Oh yes, the perfect summer read indeed 😍
Yaay, loved this one!
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading 😘😘
Summer of broken hearts sounds so lovely!!
It’s really is! 😍
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘😘