“It’s Not Summer Without You” is a three-part young adult novel series by Jenny Han that follows the life of Belly and her relationships with Conrad and Jeremiah, two brothers. In the second book, Belly is dealing with the death of her mother and struggles to move forward with her life. Meanwhile, Conrad and Jeremiah have their own issues to deal with.
Belly spends the summer at Cousins Beach, where she feels lost and alone without her mother. Her best friend Taylor is also going through a tough time dealing with her eating disorder, which has caused a rift between the two of them. Conrad is still struggling to come to terms with his parents’ divorce, and Jeremiah is trying to get over his breakup with Belly’s cousin Sophie.
Their lives intersect again when they receive an invitation to Susannah’s wedding, the mother of Conrad and Jeremiah. The trio decides to attend the wedding together and reconnect, spending a lot of time together. Belly realizes she still has feelings for Conrad but also starts seeing Jeremiah in a new light.
As the summer goes by, Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah spend more time together and open up to each other about their fears, hopes, and dreams. Belly learns that she doesn’t have to choose between the two brothers. She can love them both, but in different ways.
Towards the end of the book, they go on a road trip together to spread Susannah’s husband’s ashes. During the trip, they have heart-to-heart conversations and come to a better understanding of each other. Belly realizes that she has grown and changed and so have Conrad and Jeremiah.
In the climax, Belly has to make a difficult decision about choosing between Conrad and Jeremiah. However, she realizes that she can’t choose between them, as she is not in love with either of them. She decides to focus on herself and figure out what she wants in life.
In the end, Belly returns to Cousins Beach and feels like she has finally found her place in the world. She understands that she does not need a boy to define her and can define herself. “It’s Not Summer Without You” is a compelling coming-of-age novel that explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. It is a must-read for those who want a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel.