The Summer I Turned Pretty, #2
It's Not Summer Without You
by Jenny Han
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Overview
Jeremiah returns and declares a last-night party, prompting Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad to share pizza, tequila, and old home videos of Susannah. The nostalgia softens tensions; Jeremiah reveals an on‑off ex he doesn’t love, Conrad opens up briefly, and Belly toasts absent loved ones before party guests arrive.
Summary
Belly comes downstairs to find Jeremiah and Conrad watching TV as if their earlier fight never happened. Jeremiah’s smile signals Belly is forgiven. He announces a last-night party with a keg, and the three share pizza and tequila, joking about Belly’s watered-down drink.
Wanting lightness, Belly plays an old home video: twelve-year-old Conrad bristles, Susannah beams on camera, and everyone laughs at a younger Belly on the beach. The memories break the tension; Conrad pours real tequila, and they drink together, the burn loosening them.
While Conrad is away, Jeremiah dares Belly to kiss him, hinting at old feelings. Conrad returns and pointedly mentions Jeremiah’s girlfriend. Jeremiah reveals they recently broke up—an on‑off relationship with Mara—and insists he doesn’t love her, which stings Belly but also clarifies the present.
They play truth or dare. Belly asks Conrad about a past crush, and Conrad admits an awkward failed attempt, briefly opening up and making them all laugh. The fragile camaraderie holds as Belly, emboldened, toasts everyone who isn’t there—her mother, Steven, and especially Susannah—and the boys join her.
Jeremiah lists expected guests from the club and friends like Mikey and Pete. Realizing the time, Belly dashes upstairs to get ready as the promised last-night party approaches.
Who Appears
- Belly (Isabel Conklin)Narrator; seeks forgiveness, sparks nostalgia with home videos, leads a toast to absent loved ones, and readies for the last-night party.
- Jeremiah FisherReturns with plans for a keg party, mixes tequila, jokes with Belly, admits an on‑off ex named Mara he doesn’t love, and restores camaraderie.
- Conrad FisherInitially stoic, then loosens up with tequila and home videos; shares a past crush story and joins Belly’s toast.
- Susannah FisherAppears in home video, her presence softening tensions and anchoring the trio’s shared memories.