Synopsis:
Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?
It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.
But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started—at Cousins Beach.
Review:
After reading book one a few month’s ago, I was so excited to read It’s Not Summer Without You. Also because I absolutely love the show. I did enjoy this, however, it was a bit depressing actually. It might be my poor memory, but I don’t remember Susannah dying in the first book. Did she or was it bluntly mentioned in this one for shock factor?
It was depressing, but I did enjoy reading it. I’m now wondering how true to the book the next season of the show will be.
I was really hoping for a lot more Belly and Conrad happy moments, but that boy is very dark and broody isn’t he? I’m 100% team Conrad, but boy does he make it difficult to be so in the books. Well, I don’t really like any of the characters in the book, even Belly this time. I understand that they are all grieving, but kissing your ex-boyfriend’s brother, who you showed no previous interest in, in front of him is just crazy.
The narration was very well done again. Same as the first book, Lola is the main narrator, but this time she’s joined by Gavin Casalegno who plays Jeremiah in the show. I will say his performance wasn’t as good as Lola’s as she really acts out the story and puts a lot of emotion into it. Whereas Gavin basically just read the book, he still did great and having the actors narrate the book is the perfect way to make the story more immersive.
Sadly, this wasn’t very summery. I was saving this read to sit on the beach, but I’m glad I didn’t. It didn’t have summer vibes, very much unlike the show. That’s very summery.
However, overall, I did enjoy this read, but I’m struggling to explain why. It was entertaining and very emotional.
Check out Young Creative Press on all socials
You can also check out my StoryGraph here
Like this post? Why not read this one too: Book Confessions: I’ve Never Read A Classic
[…] Like this post? Why not read this one too: Audiobook Review: It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han […]