Who Are The Main Characters In 'This Summer I Turned Pretty'?

Most summaries I've seen zero in on the triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, which makes sense because the series is named after her, but I think Susannah gets short shrift. Her friendship with Laurel and her illness form the emotional bedrock of the whole story—without that ache, the boys' grief and Belly's coming-of-age don't land the same way. Laurel's there as the practical counterpoint, trying to keep her daughter grounded while wrestling with her own feelings about Susannah. Steven, Belly's brother, is often just the comic relief, but his relationship with Taylor and his own awkward attempts at romance add a necessary layer of normal teenage chaos outside the intense Fisher orbit. Cam, the sweet outsider Belly briefly dates, matters because he shows there's a world outside the summer house, a choice she consciously rejects.

If you're into coming-of-age stories with a heavy dose of summer romance and family drama, 'This Summer I Turned Pretty' is like a warm hug mixed with a pinch of heartache. The story follows Belly, a girl who's spent every summer at the beach house owned by her mom's best friend, Susannah. The catch? Susannah's two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah, have been Belly's childhood friends—but this summer, everything feels different. She's no longer the awkward kid; she's caught between first loves, sibling tensions, and the bittersweet reality of growing up. The book (and its TV adaptation) nails that nostalgic feeling of summers that change you forever. It's not just about romance—it dives into grief, friendship, and the messy, beautiful process of figuring out who you are. The Fisher brothers are polar opposites: Conrad's the brooding, mysterious one, while Jeremiah's the golden retriever energy we all adore. Belly's journey between them feels so authentic, like flipping through an old photo album where every snapshot stings a little. And the setting? Coastal vibes, bonfires, and that magical 'summer only' atmosphere make it impossible not to crave a beach trip afterward.

Jenny Han's 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' is basically a coming-of-age love triangle set over a few pivotal beach vacations. The main plot follows Belly Conklin, who's spent every summer at Cousins Beach with her mom, her brother Steven, and her mom's best friend Susannah and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. This particular summer, she's sixteen and feels like she's finally become 'pretty,' and suddenly the dynamic with the brothers, who she's always idolized, shifts dramatically. It's not just about romance, though. A huge undercurrent is Susannah's recurring cancer, which casts a shadow over everything and forces all the characters to confront grief, change, and the fragility of their perfect summer world. What I always liked was how the plot isn't just 'which brother will she choose?' It's about Belly trying to step out of being the little kid sister figure and be seen as herself, while also dealing with this impending loss that threatens to dissolve the only constant in her life. The tension between Conrad's brooding, closed-off nature and Jeremiah's sunny, approachable personality mirrors her own internal conflict between a childhood crush and a potential new, easier love. The whole book feels like the last golden hour of a long day, sweet but with the chill of evening coming on.

I just finished rereading 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' series, and book 2, 'It's Not Summer Without You,' brings back all the emotional rollercoaster feels. Belly is back, of course, and so are the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. Conrad is still that brooding, complicated guy we love to analyze, while Jeremiah remains the sunshine with his infectious energy. Steven, Belly’s brother, also returns, adding that sibling dynamic we all adore. The moms, Laurel and Susannah, are still central to the story, especially with Susannah’s health playing a big role. Even Taylor, Belly’s friend, pops in to stir up some drama. The beach house setting is practically a character itself, tying everyone together in this messy, beautiful web of relationships.