It's Not Summer Without You

Belly Conklin begins the summer adrift. Instead of returning to Cousins Beach, where every summer of her childhood was spent with her mother Laurel, her brother Steven, Susannah Fisher, and Susannah’s sons Conrad and Jeremiah, she is home by a pool with friends, unable to accept that Susannah has died. Taylor Jewel urges Belly to move on, especially from Conrad, but Belly cannot separate him from Cousins, Jeremiah, and Susannah. Memories of a happier summer with Conrad only sharpen the emptiness of the present.

The story looks back over Belly and Conrad’s brief, undefined romance. After the previous summer, Conrad called from college and the two grew close through long late-night conversations, visits, and shared concern for Susannah. A winter trip to Cousins became one of Belly’s most treasured memories: Conrad drove overnight to take her there, spoke hopefully about becoming a doctor because of Susannah’s treatment, and shared careful, intimate time with Belly. But by spring, the relationship began to collapse. At Belly’s prom, Conrad was distant, forgot her corsage, resisted the night, and left early. Belly forced the issue and declared them over, though she later admitted she would have taken him back if he had tried.

Susannah’s decline and death changed everyone. Belly’s last visit with Susannah was painful: Susannah dressed up to look well, asked Belly not to hate Conrad, and told her to look after him. At the funeral, Belly tried to support Conrad but found him being comforted by Aubrey, his ex. Hurt and humiliated, she fought with him in the foyer; Conrad called their relationship a mistake, and Belly said she hated him. Jeremiah’s perspective shows the Fisher family’s private grief: Adam Fisher, usually stoic, broke down, while Jeremiah and Conrad mourned separately in the silent house.

In July, Jeremiah calls Belly with alarming news: Conrad has left summer school, missed exams, and cannot be reached. Belly, driven by guilt and longing, lies to Laurel that she is staying with Taylor and joins Jeremiah. Their drive is awkward because Belly has barely contacted him since Susannah died. Jeremiah is hurt by that absence, even as old feelings for Belly return. He remembers noticing her differently the previous summer and feeling jealous when she still looked at Conrad.

Belly and Jeremiah first search Conrad’s dorm at Brown. His roommate Eric and a neighbor, Sophie, provide little until Sophie mentions Conrad said he was going to the beach to surf. Belly secretly finds a Tiffany infinity necklace hidden in Conrad’s desk and realizes it was meant for her, proof of feelings he never properly expressed. Jeremiah calls Adam Fisher and convinces him to let him handle Conrad. Belly and Jeremiah then head to Cousins.

At the beach house, Conrad is hostile and refuses to return to school. Belly is wounded by his coldness, but she and Jeremiah stay. Soon they learn the true reason Conrad came: Adam is trying to sell Susannah’s beach house. A realtor, Sandy Donatti, arrives expecting the house to be empty, and Conrad confronts her, insisting the house is not for sale. He asks Belly not to tell Jeremiah yet, but the secret soon comes out when Adam arrives. Conrad accuses his father of abandoning Susannah and trying to erase her wishes; Jeremiah feels betrayed that Conrad kept him in the dark. The brothers fight, exposing old rivalries and pain over their father.

Jeremiah cools off and returns with alcohol, deciding they should have one last party at the house. Before the party, Belly sorts through childhood objects and memories, recognizing how much of her identity is tied to Cousins. The three watch old home videos of Susannah, drink, and briefly recover a sense of closeness. But the party becomes messy. Belly, jealous when Nicole arrives and overwhelmed by grief, drinks too much and runs toward the ocean. Conrad stops her from swimming, and Belly apologizes for her behavior at Susannah’s funeral. Conrad forgives her but does not offer the closeness she wants. Desperate, Belly calls Laurel and begs her to come stop the sale.

Laurel arrives furious the next morning to find the house wrecked and Belly hungover. Mother and daughter argue brutally; Belly says she wishes Susannah were her mother, and Laurel slaps her. Both are shocked. After Belly flees and returns, Laurel apologizes, admitting she has been absent in her own grief. Belly urges her not to give up on the house. Laurel agrees to call Adam.

Laurel then takes control. She invites Adam for breakfast and confronts him directly, insisting he honor Susannah and think of his sons. Adam finally offers a deal: if Conrad returns to school, takes his exams, and earns at least Cs, the beach house will belong to Conrad and Jeremiah. Conrad resists owing his father and doubts he can pass, but with Belly, Jeremiah, and Laurel pushing him, he accepts.

Belly turns the kitchen into a study center and forces Conrad into exam preparation, with Jeremiah helping make note cards and keep him focused. For a while, the trio works together like a team, and Belly glimpses the old Conrad: disciplined, curious, and reachable. Yet emotional tension grows. Belly ignores Taylor’s calls and decides to stay through the exams. Jeremiah offers her a way out but is hurt when she insists she belongs there too. A conversation about Jeremiah’s ex Mara and Conrad’s ex Aubrey makes Belly accept that Conrad may have loved Aubrey in a way he never openly loved her.

On the morning they leave Cousins, Conrad and Jeremiah toss Belly into the pool in a final playful ritual, softening the goodbye. They drive to Brown together so Conrad can take his exams. While Conrad is inside, Jeremiah confronts Belly about why she abandoned him after Susannah’s death. Belly admits it hurt too much to be near that grief; Jeremiah says he simply needed someone who also missed his mother. Their honesty restores part of their bond.

Conrad finishes one exam triumphantly, smiling for the first time since Susannah’s death, and thanks Belly for coming. But later, while waiting in the car, Belly and Jeremiah kiss. Conrad sees them. Hurt, he confronts Belly and demands back the infinity necklace, saying it was never truly given. Belly realizes that unspoken intention is not enough and returns it. Conrad tells her to go to Jeremiah and claims he never wanted her, devastating her.

A storm traps the three at a motel on the drive home. In the dark, after Jeremiah falls asleep, Conrad quietly tells Belly he did not mean what he said. Belly is shaken, but the next morning Conrad withdraws again and arranges a separate ride back to Cousins. His distance makes the choice clear. Belly decides not to keep returning to someone who gives and takes away. She says goodbye to Conrad without looking back, leaves with Jeremiah, and on the drive home reaches for Jeremiah’s hand. He holds it, marking Belly’s painful but deliberate turn toward a different future.