Welcome, my book friends!
To listen to my real-time reaction to this book trilogy and TV series, you can check out the full episode on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your thoughts on this series if you’ve read it, or the series if you’ve watched it. I invite you to leave a comment on X (Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.
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Welcome back to another Pages to Popcorn episode, where I dive into a popular story on the page before seeing how it comes to life on the screen. This time, I’m spending the summer at Cousins Beach with Jenny Han’s beloved The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy before watching the hit Amazon Prime series.
I’ve been in the mood for a sweet, wholesome YA summer romance, and this trilogy has been on my radar for quite a while. With its beachy setting, coming-of-age story, complicated friendships, family relationships, and plenty of romantic tension, it seemed like the perfect series to pick up during the final stretch of summer. Plus, after hearing so much about Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, and the infamous love triangle, I’m finally ready to find out what all the hype is about for myself.
This episode is a little bigger than usual because I’m reading all three books in the trilogy and sharing my thoughts along the way. Once I finish the books, I’ll watch the first season of the Amazon Prime series and compare the two versions, including the characters, relationships, storylines, and changes made for the screen.
Will Cousins Beach live up to the hype? Will I have a favorite Fisher brother by the end? And will the TV series capture the summertime nostalgia and romance of the books? Grab your favorite summer drink, settle in with some popcorn, and come along as I experience The Summer I Turned Pretty from page to screen.
Author Spotlight
Jenny Han is a bestselling author, screenwriter, producer, and showrunner best known for creating some of today’s most beloved YA romances. She is the author of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy and the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, both of which became popular screen adaptations.
Han published her first novel, Shug, in 2006 before releasing The Summer I Turned Pretty in 2009. The trilogy quickly became a reader favorite and follows Belly Conklin through several unforgettable summers filled with friendship, family, first love, and a complicated love triangle.
Han later brought Belly’s story to the screen as the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of Amazon Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty series, giving longtime readers a new way to experience the world of Cousins Beach.
You can learn more about Jenny Han here and follow her on Instagram here.
To learn more about the Amazon Prime TV series, get info here.
