I am still reading It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han, and I really liked how emotional and real it felt until now. The story shows Belly trying to deal with grief, friendship, and love after Susannah’s death. The summer that used to be full of happiness now feels strange and sad. What I like most is how Jenny Han shows the confusion of being young and not knowing what you truly want. Belly’s relationship with Conrad and Jeremiah becomes more complicated, and she starts to understand that people change, and sometimes love is not enough. There is one moment in the book that really touched me, when Belly talks about how everything is different now that Susannah is gone:
“He winked at me as he came from behind, lifted Conrad up, and launched him into the pool. Jeremiah jumped in too, and he yelled, ‘Come on, Belly!’ So of course, I had to jump in too” (p. 2).
This quotation is important because it shows Belly’s sadness and how she feels lost without the people and the memories that made summer special. It also shows that growing up means learning to let go, even when it hurts. I think many readers can relate to this feeling of trying to hold on to the past while knowing that life keeps moving forward.