Summer, #1
The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
Contents
chapter twenty - seven
Overview
Laurel and Susannah host a dinner to meet Cam, exposing tensions among the boys and Belly’s embarrassment. Jeremiah needles Cam about vegetarianism and kissing, while Conrad remains distant. Later, on a moonlit walk, Cam guesses Conrad likes Belly; she corrects him, revealing Jeremiah was her first kiss.
Summary
Laurel remarks that Belly has been spending a lot of time with Cam, and Susannah gently asks Belly to invite him to dinner. Belly reluctantly agrees, and Cam accepts. Susannah cooks a tofu stir-fry for vegetarian Cam, while Jeremiah grills burgers; Conrad avoids the meal, briefly appearing only for water.
At the table, Jeremiah prods Cam about not eating meat and jokes about Belly kissing “meat-eater” lips, embarrassing Belly. Cam stays polite and, to defuse it, gives Belly a quick peck. Laurel jokes awkwardly about boundaries, further mortifying Belly. When Belly tries to move dinner to the porch, Cam urges her to stay, and the moment settles into a more comfortable normal.
After dinner, Belly and Cam walk the beach. Cam says he wasn’t sure she’d wanted him there; Belly reassures him with affection. Cam asks which of the Fisher boys was her first kiss, guessing Conrad based on how Conrad looks at her. Belly denies it and reveals it was Jeremiah.
Who Appears
- Belly (Isabel Conklin)Narrator; brings Cam to dinner, endures teasing and embarrassment, then shares a revealing beach conversation.
- CamBelly’s boyfriend; polite vegetarian, endures Jeremiah’s teasing, kisses Belly at dinner, later probes her first kiss.
- Jeremiah FisherTeases Cam about vegetarianism and kissing; grills burgers; unwitting subject of Belly’s first-kiss reveal.
- Laurel (Belly’s mother)Hosts dinner, makes awkward jokes about boundaries, initially notes Belly’s absence from the house.
- Susannah FisherKindly insists on meeting Cam and smooths over dinner tension with gentle humor.
- Conrad FisherStays aloof, skipping dinner; his perceived feelings for Belly are noted by Cam.