Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty is the ultimate beachside, coming-of-age romance that BookTok can’t stop talking about.
From the sun-soaked days at Cousins Beach to the messy, swoony love triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, it perfectly captures the highs and heartbreaks of teenage summers. Even if you’ve never had your heart pulled in two directions at the shore, Han’s storytelling makes you feel like you’re right there.
If you finished the series and don’t know what to read next, here are 10 perfect reads to pick up next:
1. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
When Lina travels to Tuscany after her mother’s death, she plans to endure the summer until she can return home. But then she’s given her mother’s old journal, which leads her to uncover family secrets, explore breathtaking Italian scenery, and stumble into an unexpected romance.
2. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Percy spent six unforgettable summers at the lake with her best friend—and first love—Sam. But one night ruined everything.
Now, more than a decade later, she returns home for a funeral and comes face-to-face with Sam again. Told in then-and-now timelines, this story blends nostalgia with second-chance romance.
3. Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren
Macy and Elliot grew up as best friends, bonding over books and secret late-night conversations. Then one devastating moment tore them apart.
Years later, a chance encounter brings Elliot back into Macy’s life, forcing her to confront the heartbreak of the past. This novel hits the same sweet spot as The Summer I Turned Pretty's childhood bonds turning into something deeper.
4. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Liz dreams of a rom-com life with grand gestures and happily-ever-afters. When her childhood crush returns, she ropes her sarcastic neighbor, Wes, into helping her win him over. But as she spends more time with Wes, Liz realizes love might not look like the movies after all.
5. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Taylor’s family returns to their lake house one last time before facing her father’s terminal illness. Between rekindling her old romance with Henry and confronting unresolved friendships, Taylor learns how fleeting and precious summer can be.
6. You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn
Annie, the daughter of country music legends, is reluctantly pulled into the spotlight when she agrees to tour with Clay, a self-destructive superstar with a reputation for trouble. Sparks fly, but their chemistry is complicated by fame, trauma, and trust issues.
7. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
After a whirlwind day together years ago, Fern never forgot Will. When her mother dies and she inherits the family’s lakeside resort, Will unexpectedly reenters her life. But the man standing before her isn’t the same boy she remembers.
8. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
During her family’s summer reunion in Martha’s Vineyard, Meredith agrees to play the annual game of Assassin, hoping to distract herself from grief after losing her sister. Along the way, she meets a charming groomsman, and sparks begin to fly.
9. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Best friends Poppy and Alex couldn’t be more different, but for years they took one summer trip together—until a falling-out ended everything. When Poppy convinces Alex to join her for one last vacation, old feelings resurface. It’s the grown-up, slow-burn version of a best-friends-to-lovers story that The Summer I Turned Pretty fans won't help but fall in love with.
10. 15 Summers Later by RaeAnne Thayne
Fifteen years after the pivotal summer that shaped their teenage years, three childhood friends—Samantha, Jake, and Lila—find themselves back in the small coastal town where it all began. The reunion isn’t just about reminiscing: old rivalries, unresolved crushes, and long-buried secrets resurface, forcing each of them to confront the choices they made as teenagers.
As the summer unfolds, Samantha navigates her complicated feelings for Jake, who has always been the boy she could never forget, while also reconnecting with Lila, whose own life has taken unexpected turns.
Amid beachside bonfires, late-night drives, and heartfelt conversations, the trio learns that time doesn’t erase the bonds of friendship—or the love and regrets of when they were young.
