If You Loved The Summer I Turned Pretty, Read These Books Next
Can’t get enough of The Summer I Turned Pretty? Sitting in anticipation for the new season to drop?
Same.
I loved the books — I listened to them on audio, narrated by the cast. I loved the show — I binged all of season one in one night and eagerly waited each week for each episode to drop.
But what are other books like The Summer I Turned Pretty? I put together a list of books — that I’ve read and still have yet to read — offer similar vibes with emotional love triangles, cozy beach towns, and coming of age magic.
*Books I have yet to read will have an asterisk by them — I’ve sourced these recommendations from friends, bookstagram, and reddit. If you’ve read them, feel free to comment below to share your thoughts!
Beach Vibes:
*Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch — now a movie on Netflix!
*Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid — I’ve heard great things about this one, told in multiple POVs. I’ve read TJR’s Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six, and this one about a rockstar’s children is next on my list!
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune — A childhood friends-to-lovers romance, where two childhood best friends, now estranged, reunite at the lake. A bit of a love triangle once you begin reading.
Beach Read by Emily Henry — Two writers who write different genres and are considered rivals end up living next door to each other in a small, cozy beach town for the summer.
First Loves:
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter — An ode to romantic comedy films, especially those made in the 90s and early 2000s. A beautiful coming of age romance between two teenagers, with fake dating sprinkled in there.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han — If you loved this series created by Jenny Han, pick up her other book series! More love letters, more fake dating, and more sweet romance.
*The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther — A wedding week set at Martha’s Vineyard, a game of assassin, and a slow burn romance.
Others with similar vibes:
My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak — A similar show, but this time, switch the New England vibes to country western. City girl goes to a small town to live with her recently deceased mom’s old friend, who has 12 sons with her husband.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares — It will have you re-watching the timeless movie about friendship, love, and coming of age in no time.
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren — A beautiful childhood friends-to-lovers romance for those who have read all three books and are firmly on the side of Team Conrad.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison — a small town romance about two friends to lovers who have to fake date to save her Christmas tree farm. The small town of it all will have you nostalgic for Gilmore Girls and Cousins Beach.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood — Ali shines in her debut about two scientists who are fake dating, but despise each other. The banter reminds me of Conrad and Belly, a little.
Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake — just finished this queer romance in a small town. The small town of Bright Falls is giving Cousins Beach.