Summer, #1
The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
Contents
chapter thirty
Overview
In a nostalgic flashback, the house’s shared soundtrack leads to an impromptu dance night. Susannah pulls Jeremiah onto the floor, and Conrad teaches Belly the shag, guiding her into the close “cuddle.” The moment becomes Belly’s most intimate experience with Conrad yet, deepening her long-standing feelings.
Summary
Belly recalls how summers at the beach house revolved around a small stack of CDs: Susannah’s morning Police, afternoon Dylan, and dinner Billie Holiday, with free-for-all nights that mixed Jeremiah’s rap and Laurel’s Aretha. The familiar soundtrack set a playful, communal mood.
One night, Belly puts on a beach-shag compilation. Susannah pulls Jeremiah from a poker game with Steven, Conrad, and Laurel, and they start dancing. Watching them, Belly itches to join and first asks Steven, who refuses.
At Susannah’s urging, Conrad takes Belly’s hand and shows her the shag steps—“one-two-three, rock step.” Nervous and eager to impress, Belly fumbles while Steven and Laurel offer unhelpful commentary from the sidelines.
Conrad, patient and careful, positions Belly’s arms and demonstrates the close “cuddle.” Belly prolongs the move, pretending confusion so they can repeat it. The closeness becomes the most intimate she has ever been with Conrad.
Conrad spins Belly, and the dance swells into pure joy for her, fixing the night in memory as a peak moment of connection and hope.
Who Appears
- Belly (Isabel Conklin)Narrator; longs to dance, learns the shag from Conrad, savoring their close “cuddle.”
- Conrad FisherReluctantly agrees to dance, patiently teaches Belly the shag and the close cuddle step.
- Susannah FisherSets the house’s music mood; joyfully dances with Jeremiah and encourages Conrad to dance with Belly.
- Jeremiah FisherDrawn from poker to dance with Susannah; part of the household’s playful music nights.
- Laurel (Belly’s mother)Watches from the couch, comments on Belly’s stiffness; earlier hums along to the house’s music.
- Steven ConklinRefuses to dance and teases Belly about the beat while observing from the sidelines.