Nostalgic, and lighthearted, The Summer I Turned Pretty is the essence of a relaxing beach read. In her sophomore novel, Han crafts a delectable balance between the airy summer laziness and the emotional tensions between Belly and the two boys - Conrad and Jeremiah. Switching between past summers and the summer at hand, Han creates a roaming tension of emotions, pasts, and desires that all come together in The Summer I Turned Pretty. 
 After her stellar debut Shug, Han had some pretty big shoes to fill - but I don't think she disappoints. Effortless and seemingly romantic, The Summer I Turned Pretty has everything it takes to make a novel a summer read - hot boys, crushes, and sweet fun in the sun. Han gives all the characters a distinctive voice - easy and sweet, but with a past. Her recount of past summers and little details stands out and allows the reader to become emotionally involved with the characters. 
 However I'll admit The Summer I Turned Pretty had its missteps. The characters - Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, were a little flat for me since they seemed to obey a strict set of stereotypes - moody boy, boy-next-door, etc. Yet, some things infuriated me, such as the constant shifting of the novel towards something, or rather the novel just went around vaguely - aimlessly. The plot seemed to take to the back burner, as Han tends to emphasize the emotions and interactions of characters. Since Book 1's of trilogies tended to set the stage for the next ones, it's forgivable. 
 But overall, The Summer I Turned Pretty is simple, realistic, and something that might be happening at the local beach; a calm interlude into life but chock full of tension and romance in one memorable summer.