15+ Dreamy Books Like 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' To Binge-Read This Year

Are you suffering from a serious "Cousins Beach" withdrawal? With the massive global success of the TV adaptation, fans of Jenny Han’s trilogy are desperately searching for their next fix of sun-drenched settings, complicated love triangles, and nostalgic coming-of-age stories. As of December 18, 2025, the world of young adult (YA) and new adult romance has exploded with fresh, unique titles that perfectly capture the magic, angst, and heart of Belly's story, offering both teen and adult readers a perfect escape.

The best books similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty blend a vivid, often coastal, setting with deep emotional stakes, exploring themes of friendship, family, and the messy transition into adulthood. We've curated a list of the most recommended and recent titles that embody that quintessential summer romance feeling, from second-chance love stories to brother-best-friend tropes, ensuring your beach bag is full for the foreseeable future.

The Authors Behind Your Next Obsession: A Topical Authority Profile

The "Summer Romance" genre is defined by a few key voices, many of whom have either paved the way for Jenny Han's success or are dominating the charts today with stories that share TSITP's DNA. Building topical authority for this niche means recognizing the literary powerhouses creating these beloved worlds.

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• Carley Fortune: A Canadian writer, editor, and journalist, Carley Fortune is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She has become the reigning queen of "Adult-YA" crossover nostalgia with her hit novels, including Every Summer After (2022) and the highly anticipated This Summer Will Be Different (2024). Her books often feature second-chance romance and lakeside settings, making them an ideal bridge for readers who grew up with Belly.
• Sarah Dessen: Often cited as the original queen of YA summer reads, Sarah Dessen is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels for teens. Her work, such as Along for the Ride and The Truth About Forever, consistently explores themes of self-discovery, summer jobs, and finding your place, establishing the blueprint for the genre.
• Tia Williams: A celebrated American novelist and editor, Tia Williams is known for her bestselling adult novels like Seven Days in June and The Perfect Find (now a Netflix film). Her foray into YA, such as the 2025 release Audre & Bash Are Just Friends, brings her signature witty, deeply emotional style to the teen romance space.
• K.L. Walther: The bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules, K.L. Walther is a contemporary young adult fiction writer known for her fun, high-energy stories. Her work is often set in idyllic East Coast locations, capturing the feeling of family tradition and summer games.
• Kasie West: A prolific YA author, Kasie West is known for her charming, lighthearted contemporary novels like Sunkissed and P.S. I Like You. Her books are perfect for readers who enjoy the pure, sweet romance and banter found in the early stages of Belly and Conrad’s relationship.

The Ultimate List of Books to Read After Finishing the Trilogy

These recommendations are categorized by the core element they share with The Summer I Turned Pretty: whether it’s the intense love triangle, the nostalgic second-chance romance, or the quintessential beach town setting.

The "Adult-YA" Crossover: Nostalgia and Second Chances

These books feature older protagonists but retain the deep, nostalgic feel of a life-changing summer, often revisiting a past love—a perfect fit for readers who loved the time-jump and emotional depth of the later TSITP books.

1. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (2022)

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This is arguably the most recommended "adult version" of TSITP. The story follows Persephone "Percy" Fraser, who returns to the lake house where she spent six summers falling in love with Sam Florek, only to have their relationship shatter a decade ago. It alternates between past and present, mirroring the timeline structure and intense emotional history of Belly's story with Conrad and Jeremiah.

2. This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (2024)

Another hit from Fortune, this novel follows Lucy, who returns to Prince Edward Island (PEI) for the summer and must confront the complicated feelings she has for her best friend’s older brother, a trope that is a direct echo of Belly’s relationship with Conrad. It’s a quintessential PEI beach read.

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3. One Last Summer by Kate Spencer

Clara Millen, a workaholic in her mid-thirties, returns to her beloved childhood sleepaway camp for a reunion. The book is an effervescent second-chance romantic comedy, focusing on the enduring bonds of a summer-only friend group and the possibility of rekindling a past romance, much like the enduring relationships at Cousins Beach.

4. Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune (2023)

A story of missed connections and second chances. Fern agrees to meet Will at a lake resort a year after a perfect day together, but he never shows. Years later, she inherits the resort and he reappears. The focus on a magical, specific summer location and a love that spans years will appeal directly to TSITP fans.

The Pure YA Romance: Beach, Banter, and Love Triangles

These titles are pure young adult fiction, focusing on the high-stakes drama, self-discovery, and intense summer settings that made Jenny Han’s work so popular.

5. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

Set on Martha’s Vineyard, this book follows Meredith, who returns to the island for her cousin’s wedding, the first time since her sister’s death. The family tradition of playing a massive game of Assassin provides a fun, escapist backdrop for a new summer romance, perfectly capturing the "summer tradition" vibe of Cousins Beach.

6. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden spends the summer before college with her father in a beach town, working to make up for the childhood she missed. She meets Eli, a fellow insomniac, and they embark on nightly adventures. This book is a masterclass in summer self-discovery and sweet romance, a must-read for any TSITP fan.

7. Sunkissed by Kasie West

A lighthearted and charming YA romance. Avery is forced to spend the summer at a rustic, technology-free camp. She finds a new connection with a musician who works there, leading to a sweet, classic summer fling that’s all about escaping your comfort zone.

8. My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

Though set on a Colorado ranch, the emotional core is identical to TSITP. Jackie Howard moves in with her guardian and her twelve sons after a tragedy. She finds herself caught between two of the brothers, a classic brother love triangle that will immediately appeal to Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah readers.

9. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is sent to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. While not a beach read, it captures the same feeling of a life-altering, geographically-specific summer/year where the protagonist is changed by a new setting and a compelling love interest.

The Fresh and Diverse Voices: New Takes on Classic Tropes

These recent and upcoming titles bring modern, diverse perspectives to the beloved summer romance template, proving the genre is constantly evolving.

10. Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams (2025)

This upcoming YA romantic comedy follows 16-year-old Audre, an anxious overachiever, who hires 17-year-old "fun consultant" Bash to help her write a self-help book while she's spending the summer in Malibu. While set in NYC and Malibu, it captures the classic "friends-to-lovers" trope with high-stakes summer goals.

11. Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto

Chloe is sent to the Philippines for the summer to reconnect with her roots and meet a string of "kaishao boys" (pre-approved dates). This book offers a fresh, culturally rich perspective on the classic "which boy to choose" dilemma, combining family expectations with a blossoming romance.

12. When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa

A fun, witty adult romantic comedy that follows Mari, who is forced to spend the summer with her ex-boyfriend Javi after a social media disaster. While adult, the forced proximity, summer setting, and history between the characters will resonate strongly with fans of the Belly/Conrad dynamic.

13. Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (2024)

This novel is a recent 2024 release that delivers on the promise of its title. It offers a fresh, feel-good story that critics have tagged as having a love triangle element and a strong summer setting, making it one of the most current read-alikes.

Finding Your Next Summer Obsession: Key Themes to Look For

To ensure you always find a book that scratches that TSITP itch, look for titles that focus on these key literary entities and themes:

The Power of the Found Family Trope

A core element of The Summer I Turned Pretty is the deep, non-biological family bond between the Fishers and the Conklins. Seek out books where the protagonist returns to a place where they have a long, shared history with a friend group or a second family, such as *The Summer of Broken Rules* with its family traditions. This sense of belonging is crucial to the overall feeling of comfort and nostalgia.

The Second-Chance Romance

Belly’s story is a constant cycle of breaking up and getting back together, often with years in between. Books featuring a "second-chance romance," particularly those that utilize the "flashback/flash-forward" structure like *Every Summer After*, are perfect substitutes. These novels capture the enduring nature of first love and the emotional baggage that comes with a shared past.

The Idyllic, Liminal Setting

Cousins Beach is more than a setting; it's a character. Look for books set in a specific, idyllic, and often isolated summer location—a lake house, a remote camp, or a small island like Martha’s Vineyard or Prince Edward Island. These settings create a "liminal space" where the normal rules of life don't apply, allowing for intense, life-changing summer relationships to flourish.

Whether you're craving the deep emotional pull of a brother love triangle, the sun-drenched escape of a beach town, or the wistful nostalgia of first love, the world of YA and Adult-YA romance is richer than ever. Dive into these titles and keep the spirit of summer alive until Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah return to the screen.