Brianna's Reviews > We'll Always Have Summer

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

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2516202
's review
Jan 09, 12

bookshelves: favorites
Read on March 22, 2011 — I own a copy, read count: 10

My playlist...
some of the songs I had the urge to listen to when reading:
Should've Said No by Taylor Swift
You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry
Ellis the Trellis by Bicycle Voice
Digital Love by Daft Punk
Last Christmas by Wham!
More of You by Mozella
Riding in my Car by She & Him
Cath by Death Cab for Cutie
Islands in the Stream by Feist
Heard it all before by Meiko
Take It Back by She & Him
Everything You Wanted by Kele
For Sentimental Reasons by Nat King Cole
Do You Remember by Jack Johnson
We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
Superman by Taylor Swift

The final installment of the summer series is not to be missed. Bittersweet, but it had to come sometime. Overall this book was an excellent read. The first of the series will forever be my favorite, but this one comes close. As it opens we learn that Belly is 18 and about to finish her first year of college. She has been dating Jeremiah since the summer she entered her senior year. Belly learns new things and is upset by them, but decides to set what she knows to the back of her head and go on with life. From there we see her grow from what she endures. Feelings pop up out of nowhere and we see how she deals, just like every other summer novel, but it is sweeter to read. We finally get to see Belly drive off into the sunset with her new last name. Confessions are made, hearts are broken, and tears escape.

We also get a look at Belly and Conrad building a friendship. Doesn't seem to exciting, but it is so sweet to read. It's just a different side of both of them. Or a new side because they are older in this book.

SOME Questions I got! Hope they don't contain any spoilers. You should be able to get into the book not knowing anything! It makes the last read more enjoyable. Being surprised with what is going on is priceless!

1. Was there any drastic change in Belly?
You notice a different tone in Belly now; she is not the hopeful, love sick little 16 year old anymore. I can't say that she isn't completely mature, though some of her choices near the end of the novel prove that she is capable of making good decisions that benefit her well being.

2.How has the family coped since Susannah's death?
It seems that both families have both come to terms that Susannah is truly gone. Though throughout the novel there are parts that her boys needed their mother. To have her there and not to judge them.

3.Did Steven make an appearance (I say this because I love the brother-sister relation between them.)
Steven is actually in this novel, as in the first two we barely saw him if it was not for one of Belly's memories. He is not always agreeing with Belly because he does have to play the role of her big brother. There talks were comforting. I lost my twenty-year-old brother several months ago so I was tearing up a bit.

4.Does it still give the whole sweet summer vibe like the last two?
I would have to say that no, this one did not give of that magical summer vibe. In the past we saw Belly laying out on the beach, letting the day go by just swimming in the ocean. But this book revolves around one thing, I'm sure everyone knows what that is. Belly is too busy with planning and fighting off her true feelings. But in the end of that, in my mind Belly sees the beach house a place with endless possibilities and it is true.

5. In the end, was the boy Belly left, heart broken? Did she leave him wondering or did she give an explanation?
Knowing what kind of person Belly is, you wouldn't even have to ask. Of course she gives an explanation. In the kind of situation it was, I just wouldn't be a good thing. I kind of predicted what they would have happened if she chose the boy I knew she loved best. You just have to take a good look at the personalities. The boy she leaves is heart broken, but...I don't want to ruin it so I will leave it at that.

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Quotes Brianna Liked

Jenny Han
“He came up and kissed me on my forehead, and before he stepped away, I closed my eyes and tried hard to memorize this moment. I wanted to remember him exactly as he was right then, how his arms looked brown against his white shirt, the way his hair was cut a little too short in the front. Even the bruise, there because of me.

Then he was gone.

Just for that moment, the thought that I might never see him again… it felt worse than death. I wanted to
run after him. Tell him anything, everything. Just don’t go. Please just never go. Please just always be near me, so I can at least see you.

Because it felt final. I always believed that we would find our way back to each other every time. That no matter what, we would be connected—by our history, by this house. But this time, this last time, it felt final. Like I would never see him again, or that when I did, it would be different, there would be a mountain between us.

I knew it in my bones. That this time was it. I had finally made my choice, and so had he. He let me go. I was relieved, which I expected. What I didn’t expect was to feel so much grief.

Bye bye, Birdie.
Jenny Han, We'll Always Have Summer

Jenny Han
“Do you remember infinity?”
Slowly, I turned around. “What about it?”
Tossing something toward me, he said, “Catch.”
I reached out and caught it in the air. A silver necklace. I held it up and examined it. The infinity necklace.
It didn’t shine the way it used to; it looked a bit coppery now. But I recognized it. Of course I recognized it.
“What is this?” I asked.
“You know what it is,” he said.
I shrugged. “Nope, sorry.”
I could see that he was both hurt and angry. “Okay, then. You don’t remember it. I’ll remind you. I bought
you that necklace for your birthday.”
My birthday.
It had to have been for my sixteenth birthday. It was the only year he ever forgot to buy me a birthday
present—the last summer we’d all been together at the beach house, when Susannah was still alive.”
Jenny Han, We'll Always Have Summer

Jenny Han
“He was marrying my girl, and I couldn’t do anything about it. I just had to watch it happen, because he was my brother, because I promised. Take care of him, Connie. I’m counting on you .”
Jenny Han, We'll Always Have Summer

Jenny Han
“I spun away from him. I didn’t need his pity.
I started walking in the opposite direction of the house. I didn’t know where I was going, I just wanted to get away from him.
He called out, “I still love you.”
I froze. And then slowly,
I turned around to look at him. “Don’t say that”
Jenny Han, We'll Always Have Summer


Comments (showing 1-28 of 28) (28 new)

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message 1: by Mia (new) - rated it 5 stars

Mia Hey Great review!!Aaww I feel really bad for the boy that gets heart broken (and I think I have pretty much figured out who that is by reading other people's reviews)I wish there was a way that everyone could end up happy:(


Edel Hackett okay does anybody else have this problem.....

so you hear shes going to be with a guy at the end..(all good so far...cause im not heehee)....so guy at the end, em, ya so, you automatically think yay conrad...riiiiight (unless your jere fans, i like jere but he aint the guy for belly) so she defo gonna be with conrad....but youve still got to wait to read the book so you start thinking maybe thats to predictable maybe she not with conrad....(so you start to panic...naturally) and then this is what youve got



a seriously panicked, confused, impatient girl, dying to read the book (A.K.A. me lol...and you?????) xxxxx loved the review just doubled my panic/impatience/confusion.....hehe


i cant wait for more steven.....i love their relationship too it reminds me of how me and my brother are fighting one minute best (slight exaggeration) friends the next heehee.

I am so sorry to hear about your brother xxxxxxxx


Brianna Thank you for the nice comments! I know the boy was heart broken and will always love Belly but in some way I think he gets over it. It's weird but that is what I think.


this,is,my,username.. AWWWWW thank you so much!!!! ive been waiting the whole time!!


Sylvia I'm so excited!! Brianna can you please email me the first chapter?? sswirly21@aol.com
Also, is taylor in the book? Because in the 2nd one they don't make up so i was just wondering if she comes back???


Sylvia Please reply if you can send it! Thanks so so much!


Sylvia Sorry about all the comments but one question
In taylor swift- Superman..the begining says tall dark and super manly..So does that mean she choses conrad cuz hes dark and tall!!!?? I hope she does!


Brianna Taylor is in the second book!


Brianna Jordan wrote: "AWWWWW thank you so much!!!! ive been waiting the whole time!!"

sorry it took so long! I just had to map it all out. I didn't want to give you a crappy review!!!


Brianna Sylvia wrote: "Sorry about all the comments but one question
In taylor swift- Superman..the begining says tall dark and super manly..So does that mean she choses conrad cuz hes dark and tall!!!?? I hope she does!"


;D


message 11: by Olga (new) - rated it 5 stars

Olga Okay, I've been reading like ALOT of reviews of those who got ARC books of it and am seriously panicking!!! I have a feeling it might be Conrad though. I read the lyrics of the playlist and those tell me she does pick Conrad but IDK. I THINK and am seriously HOPING and PRAYING she does. Cuz obviously Im Team Conrad. i love Jeremiah i really do, I just think he and Belly make a better brother and sister relationship than a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. But someone at least email me and give me SOMETHING to chew on until April 26th is here!!
writergrl14@yahoo.com
and no IDC about spoilers. IDK i just love my spoilers and when i get the book love it just as much because they get me all pumped up and all.


message 12: by effie (new)

effie oh and I heard that "Someone Like You" by Adele is a very, very good overall song for this book :)


Brianna Just red the lyrics an it is definitely a song I could see from conrads view. How crazy! :) that does go good for the book.


message 14: by Mia (new) - rated it 5 stars

Mia I just finished the book too and i've been listening to your playlist. Great song choices!! All the songs work so well especially Superman by taylor swift. I can picture that song from Belly's point of view about a certain someone:D


message 15: by Mia (new) - rated it 5 stars

Mia Oh someone like you by Adele is perfect from Conrad's point of view.


Sylvia Mia wrote: "Oh someone like you by Adele is perfect from Conrad's point of view."

Oh my gosh i just listened to the lyrics for someone like you and i completely agree its like spot on! Wow. The book was amazing.


Brianna It is pretty crazy haha I can picture him thinking it.


message 18: by effie (new)

effie yeah, i don't get the props for finding the song tho! haha, it was a random blogger. it's a pretty amazing song though.

and wow guys, i have a three page research paper due tomorrow, and instead i finished WAHS today. it was amazing stuff. but is it just me or do you guys feel so, so sad now!? we won't ever hear from Belly, and Con, and Jere again.


Maggie ^ I agree. I hate that it's over now :'(


message 20: by Mia (new) - rated it 5 stars

Mia I totally agree too. i am Soooooooo sad I honestly think Jenny Han should right a whole book based on the last few pages of the WAHS. Wouldnt that be awesome, to find out about all the stuff that happened that she describes in the last few pages but in more detail. I would LOVE that OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111


message 21: by Olga (last edited May 04, 2011 03:23pm) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Olga Mia wrote: "I totally agree too. i am Soooooooo sad I honestly think Jenny Han should right a whole book based on the last few pages of the WAHS. Wouldnt that be awesome, to find out about all the stuff that..."

IKR?!?! I feel like we were cheated out of the more important moments after the events of WAHS. I mean, we just got a summary of what happened afterwards. Yeah yeah we get the ending and a summary for Belly and who she ends up with and all but still we want DETAILS and everything!! Or even just a simple epilogue!! Like where they were at ten years later!! (Like idk....KIDS maybe!?) I personally hated that part. Yeah Im happy with the ending but still we need details you know? Maybe we should get a petition for Jenny Han to do an unexpected FORTH book or something. Send her a letter or something. Just an idea.


Casey ^^ DEFINITELY AGREE 150%! I mean i feel like I have waited all this time for her to choose her man to have it only be summed up in a couple of paragraphs. BULLL! but i really do love this book series aloooooooooooooot. I'm just mad, i feel like the ending was just teasing me or something....grrr


message 23: by Olga (new) - rated it 5 stars

Olga Casey wrote: "^^ DEFINITELY AGREE 150%! I mean i feel like I have waited all this time for her to choose her man to have it only be summed up in a couple of paragraphs. BULLL! but i really do love this book ser..."

Same here! Especially... (POSSIBLE SPOILERS ALERT AHEAD) Conrad's proposal!!! Sure, we get to see JEREMIAH'S marriage proposal! But Conrad's? No! Or when Conrad and Belly get back together? NO!! Yeah I know point is how it ended where the pieces fell together and all. I'm happy how that was. But still, I would have LOVED to have seen those two!!! Conrad when HE proposed and at Belly's college graduation when she saw Con and they got back together. But if we arent for SURE gonna get an unexpected Forth book then maybe someone should call up a Television studio and recommend The Summer Series. ABC Family, anyone? I SERIOUSLY DO think someone SHOULD!!!! NOT KIDDING!!! I will POST THIS on EVERY Summer chat page if I have to. I already sent an email to Jenny about it. (FYI her email is jenny@dearjennyhan.com) WE NEED TO GET THIS SERIES A TV SERIES ADAPTION. IK i sound crazy but i seriously think this series is worthy of it just as much as it deserves it. Jenny Han as been on the top 20 bestseller list for weeks now - just with We'll Always Have Summer ALONE!!! GET THIS SERIES A TV SHOW!!!


Casey Olga wrote: "Casey wrote: "^^ DEFINITELY AGREE 150%! I mean i feel like I have waited all this time for her to choose her man to have it only be summed up in a couple of paragraphs. BULLL! but i really do love..."

RIGGHT!?! haha, and also i really wish i could see what his letters said when he sent them to her or at least what Susannah's letter said! AND They never even had a real kiss, he only kissed her on her forehead and hand. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH :/


this,is,my,username.. i agree with you too! i loved the books and all and am happy with how it ended but i mean the two people i wanted to see together (and happy) the most i didn't get to..


Brianna I'm happy with the way it ended because I got to mak up my own ending. I have a pretty good imagination so yeah, the wedding the honeymoon and careers and family! All that good stuff! Make it what you want, that way you won't be dissapointed :) ignore my comment if you don't agree, most liley you guys will, but who cares! I know I don't! Jenny Han didn't even have to share this wonderful series with the public but she did so stop criticizing and be happy with what we have!!!


Brianna Oh and I think if ABC family took on summer series it would be ruined!!!! Can you say tainted, jut like pretty little liars!!!!


Kayla i just thought of a great song to add to your playlist, Thinking of you by Katy Perry.


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