"Books Like The Summer I Turned Pretty You’ll Fall in Love With" is a series of posts I recently started for those readers out there who are still trying to figure out what to read after finishing Jen Han's captivating trilogy!
If you’re still not over the beach days, love triangles, and all the emotional chaos of The Summer I Turned Pretty, let me tell you a secret. You’re definitely not alone. There’s just something about Belly’s story that lingers in our hearts long after the final page. Sun-soaked summers, first loves, heartbreaks, and all the messy in-between moments.
And if you’ve already burned through your first round of similar reads on Part 1, I’ve got your back! There are plenty more books that capture that same dreamy, nostalgic, all-the-feels vibe. From swoony romances to coming-of-age stories that hit just right, this second part of the list is packed with books you’ll want to dive into next. But before we get started…
Little disclaimer:
The titles curated in these posts won’t resonate 100% with all fans of TSITP. Some share the same themes as Jenny Han’s novels, while others are simply nostalgic in tone, and some feature all the drama of a well-written love triangle. I’ve included both mainstream titles and lesser-known authors. I’ll be sharing five books per post to allow these recommendations to fully sink in.
Keep an open mind and start growing your TBR!
Books Like The Summer I Turned Pretty You’ll Fall in Love With – Part 2
1. In Honor by Jessi Kirby
A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in what Sarah Ockler calls a “beautiful, engaging journey with heart, humor, and just a pinch of Texas sass.”
Three days after learning of her brother Finn’s death, Honor receives his last letter from Iraq. Devastated, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously sets off to California to fulfill it. At the last minute, she’s joined by Rusty, Finn’s former best friend.
Rusty is the last person Honor wants to be with—he’s cocky and obnoxious, just like Honor remembers, and she hasn’t forgiven him for turning his back on Finn when he enlisted. But as they cover the dusty miles together in Finn’s beloved 1967 Chevy Impala, long-held resentments begin to fade, and Honor and Rusty struggle to come to terms with the loss they share.
As their memories of Finn merge to create a new portrait, Honor’s eyes are opened to a side of her brother she never knew—a side that shows her the true meaning of love and sacrifice.
Themes & The Summer I Turned Pretty Vibes:
✨ Reflective, emotional teen romance
✨Identity + grief + first love
✨Quiet, nostalgic tone
✨Feels like soft, bittersweet TSITP emotion
2. Everything Leads to You by Nina Lacour
"I want you to do something with the place. Something epic."
After being entrusted with her brother's Los Angeles apartment for the summer as a graduation gift, Emi Price isn't sure how to fulfill his one condition: that something great take place there while he's gone. Emi may be a talented young production designer, already beginning to thrive in the competitive film industry, but she still feels like an average teen, floundering when it comes to romance.
But when she and her best friend, Charlotte, discover a mysterious letter at the estate sale of a Hollywood film legend, Emi must move beyond the walls of her carefully crafted world to chase down the loose ends of a movie icon’s hidden life, leading her to uncover a decades’ old secret and the potential for something truly epic: love.
Themes & The Summer I Turned Pretty Vibes:
✨Young adults figuring out identity, love, and adulthood
✨Emotional growth matters as much as romance
✨Lots of longing, first-love energy, and reflective moments
✨Feels like a soft, cinematic summer
3. This is What Goodbye Looks Like by Olivia Rivers
After Lea witnesses a boy die in a drunk driving accident, all she wants is to leave the tragedy in the past. So she decides to move on--to a new town, a new school, and a new chance at life.
But when Lea transfers schools, she finds herself in the same class as Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy who was killed in the accident. As Lea gets to know Seth, she quickly falls for his quick wit and passionate soul. But she also realizes Seth is drowning in grief, and he'll never recover unless the drunk driver who caused the accident is brought to justice.
Soon, Lea faces a choice: She can stay away from Seth and move on from the accident once and for all. Or she can confront the horrible memories of the night she watched a boy die and help Seth seek justice.
Themes & The Summer I Turned Pretty Vibes:
✨Grief and healing arc
✨Intense emotional bonding
✨Quiet romance focus
✨ It is a more serious read but very “first love changes you”
4. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Remy is a cynic when it comes to love. Let down by her absent musician dad and witness to her mother's four failed marriages, she doesn't intend ever to let anyone that close. So when Dexter comes crashing into her life, why is it suddenly so hard for Remy to follow her own rules? He's everything she hates: messy, disorganised, impulsive, and worst of all, a musician like her absent father...
Themes & The Summer I Turned Pretty Vibes:
✨Love vs. idealized expectations of love
✨Emotional slow-burn romance
✨Family influence on romance and identity
✨ Very “first love changes everything” energy
5. Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O'Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah's 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts.
But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.
Themes & The Summer I Turned Pretty Vibes:
✨Summer tour setting
✨Features deep friendships alongside romantic tension
✨ Themes of trust, heartbreak, and learning what love really means
✨ Has a soft, nostalgic, “last summer before everything changes” vibe
End of Books Like The Summer I Turned Pretty - Part 2, To Be Continued…
If The Summer I Turned Pretty left you craving more stories filled with sun-drenched emotions, first loves that don’t quite go smoothly, and the kind of summers that change everything, these books are exactly that same feeling in different forms. From the bittersweet romance and self-discovery in This Lullaby and Open Road Summer, to the creative, heartfelt journeys in Everything Leads to You, and the deeper reflections on love and loss in In Honor and This Is What Goodbye Looks Like, each story captures that same blend of nostalgia, growth, and emotional intensity.
They all share the same core magic: young characters standing at the edge of change, learning that love isn’t simple, summers don’t last forever, and growing up always comes with a little heartbreak. If you loved the emotional pull of Cousins Beach, these books will absolutely give you that same lingering, heart-tugging feeling long, long after the last page.
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About Me
📍Dumbo - New York
I'm Zøe!
I write heartfelt, character-driven fiction featuring resilient teenage heroines navigating personal challenges and striving to become their best selves. Beyond my novels, I love storytelling in all its forms. On this blog, I share narrative-rich travel pieces, offering glimpses into my favorite places, hidden corners, and unforgettable encounters around the globe.
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