Belly Conklin has always said that summer is her favorite time of the year because of the beach house, Susannah, and most importantly the Fisher boys, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly, her mom, and her brother Steven have been going to the beach house since before she was born, but this summer is finally the one where things start to change. Jeremiah and Conrad begin to see her as more than just an annoying little girl, and while Jeremiah begins to develop feelings for Belly, her heart is still stuck on the dark and moody Conrad, whom she’s always had a crush on. The teenagers navigate their way through complex feelings and change as Conrad and Steven head to college in the fall and Susannah is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
This book serves as the perfect summer read, with beach vibes, romance, and friendship. Although I didn’t connect to any particular character, I enjoyed how all of the characters interacted with one another. However, I found the relationship between Conrad and Belly irritating at times, as some of their issues could’ve been worked out with simple communication. But, teenage relationships are incredibly complicated, and this book reflects that well.