**SPOILER ALERT: Before you read this comparison, please note that spoilers will be talked about. If you have not read the book or watched season one of the show on Amazon Prime, I would recommend you do that first before reading. You have been warned.**
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a current obsession of teens to adults on Amazon Prime and is based on the bestselling books by Jenny Han. With season two having just wrapped up, I just jumped on the band wagon. I have finished the entire series up to this point, but I had not read the book, so I decided to. I have now finished the first book in the series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and did so via audiobook voiced by Lola Tung, who plays Belly in the show.
I had really high hopes for the book and you can check out my review HERE. I love, love, love this show. The acting is phenomenal and the characters fit the parts so well. They definitely hit gold in casting. With that, let’s go ahead and compare the two.
When I read this book, I was expecting that constant chemistry between these characters that had known each other their entire lives. The characters on the show gave off flirtatious vibes and little side eyes, which I understand can be difficult to depict in a book, however I did not get much chemistry at all in the book. I felt Belly was significantly more whiney than she was on the show. I love that Jeremiah’s character was so playful still, but not a single hint was given to make me think that he had feelings for Belly until he actually said it. And even then it was kind of a sub par confession. Then they kind of just went back to normal for the most part.
The same can be said about Conrad. He was so mean to Belly most of the time. Constantly berating her or calling her childish, a brat, etc. I mean, what’s not to love? (Sarcasm….) I was told after watching the show and before reading the book that being a Team Jeremiah fan after watching the shows, that I would love Conrad so much more in the book. Honestly I don’t love either of them in the book. At least not yet. I find Conrad demeaning and mean to Belly and then suddenly he’s like okay kissing is good and let’s run off to the house mid-winter? Which, spoiler alert, we don’t see until season two.
I feel like the closest thing from book to movie was Susannah’s cancer reveal and story. That story was very similar in how the children found out and the devastation of it. That part made me just as emotional as the show reveal did and I loved it equally. The Cam story was also pretty close, but I feel like Belly tried way too hard in the book and kind of strung him along, where in the show it seemed like she legitimately liked him, but unfortunately her heart was already taken. The way she treated him in the book and constantly bringing up the boys and trying to get him to ignore them or not like them was weird to me. Again, the chemistry just wasn’t there.
Regarding The Summer I Turned Pretty book and season one, the show wins this one. While I am eager to keep reading with It’s Not Summer Without You, I am nervous to see how much season two and this book are to each other. I have heard there are some major scenes that are the same, but we will see.
But let’s give some props to the casting crew for casting such amazing actors who are also so nice to look at. How can you not fall in love with one of them while watching?
Let us know what you think? Are you Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad? Does your opinion different between book and movie? Which do you like better? Book or movie? Let us know on social media or comment here!
