While Season 3 of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ is currently being filmed, fans can’t wait to know more about how the beloved Prime Video series is going to end. So, if you can’t wait to get back to Cousins Beach in 2025, we’ve got some book recommendations that will remind you of Jenny Han’s trilogy.
One of the reasons that Han’s series is so beloved are the characters and their relatable struggles, including their romantic entanglements. While Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Steven and company are trying to do their best, they do not always get it right. But, hey, that’s the way it’s supposed to be when you’re a teen.
So, here, we’ve got some teen and young adult stories that mix some of the elements that we love from ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ (TSITP): friendship, romance, messy decisions, coming of age, family, and, of course, summer, beaches and a lot of fun.
Five novels like ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
This book will remind you of TSITP because it also follows childhood friends, who meet during their summer vacations, that start to have romantic feelings for each other. The story centers around 30-year-old Persephone “Percy” Fraser, who reconnects with Sam Florek, a man who was once her best friend and lover, after his mother passes away.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
While this book is for a young adult audience (not teen as TSITP), it also has some of the ingredients of Han’s trilogy: a summer romance, family’s secrets, and a broody protagonist (we’re seeing you, Conrad). In ‘Beach Read,’ romance writer January Andrews and high literature writer Gus Everett help each other get out of a creative block by switching their respective genres during one summer.
Sunkissed by Kasie West
One thing that makes Cousins Beach so special for Belly is that it serves as her escape. If you’re looking for a novel that has the same feeling of escapism, you can try with “Sunkissed.” In this one, Avery is dragged by her family to a campsite. While she doesn’t want to be there, she will start to discover things about herself through a forbidden romance.
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto
Belly’s love life is complicated. And, while there are many opinions, the truth is that it is also entertaining. So, if you enjoy that aspect of TSITP, you could also enjoy this rom-com which follows Chloe, who has to find her perfect escort for her traditional eighteenth birthday party debut. And her family will set her up with some interesting candidates.
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
One of the themes in TSITP is the idea of family, and what it is home. So, if you want to feel the same cozy vibes from a story, we recommend this one. In the book, we follow Samantha Reed, who comes from a conservative family that is a stark contrast to the Garretts next door. But when their son, Jase, sneaks into her terrace, they welcome her into their family as their own. But young love isn’t easy, especially when two very different families are involved.
