We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han Summary

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han is the final book in The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, following college freshman Belly Conklin as she navigates an engagement to Jeremiah Fisher while confronting unresolved feelings for his brother Conrad. The novel explores themes of first love, heartbreak, and difficult choices as Belly must decide between the two brothers she's loved since childhood, culminating in a dramatic wedding day and an epilogue that reveals her ultimate choice.

Jenny Han is a New York Times bestselling author born in 1980 in Richmond, Virginia, best known for writing popular young adult romance series. She wrote The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy and the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series, both of which have been adapted into successful screen productions—the former as a Prime Video series and the latter as Netflix films. Han holds an MFA in creative writing from The New School and has become a prominent voice in contemporary YA literature.

We'll Always Have Summer is perfect for young adult readers who enjoy emotional romance novels, fans of love triangle storylines, and anyone who has followed Belly's journey through the trilogy. The book appeals to readers aged 14 and up who appreciate coming-of-age stories about first love, heartbreak, and making life-defining choices. It's particularly compelling for those who want closure on Belly's romantic journey and prefer character-driven narratives with beach settings.

We'll Always Have Summer is worth reading for fans invested in Belly's journey, as it provides emotional closure to the trilogy's central love triangle. The novel offers a mature exploration of young love, consequences, and choosing between head and heart, though readers should note it deals with themes like infidelity and broken engagements. As a New York Times bestseller, it successfully concludes Jenny Han's beloved series with a satisfying, if bittersweet, ending that rewards patient readers.

In We'll Always Have Summer's ending, Belly cannot tell Jeremiah she doesn't love Conrad anymore, leading them to call off their wedding. The epilogue reveals that after studying abroad in Spain and receiving letters from Conrad, Belly eventually marries Conrad several years later. The final scene shows Belly and Conrad running to the beach on their wedding day, with Jeremiah attending with a date, indicating all three have found peace and moved forward.

We'll Always Have Summer takes a more mature, emotionally complex approach than the first two books, as Belly faces adult consequences and difficult choices during college. While The Summer I Turned Pretty and It's Not Summer Without You focused on teenage romance and grief, this final installment explores themes of commitment, forgiveness, and choosing one's life path. The novel features fewer lighthearted beach moments and more intense relationship drama, including an engagement, wedding planning, and the resolution of the Conrad-Jeremiah-Belly love triangle.

The love triangle in We'll Always Have Summer centers on Belly Conklin torn between Jeremiah Fisher, her current boyfriend and fiancé, and Conrad Fisher, Jeremiah's older brother and her first love. After Jeremiah's infidelity and subsequent proposal, Belly struggles with her enduring feelings for Conrad, who finally confesses his love for her. The triangle reaches its climax when Belly must choose on her wedding day, ultimately admitting she still loves Conrad and cannot marry Jeremiah, though it takes years for her and Conrad to finally unite.

Belly ultimately chooses Conrad because he represents her first and deepest love, a connection she realizes she never fully moved past. Throughout We'll Always Have Summer, despite being engaged to Jeremiah, Belly cannot shake her feelings for Conrad, especially after he confesses his love the night before her wedding. When Jeremiah asks her to say she doesn't love Conrad anymore, Belly cannot lie, revealing the truth that Conrad has always held a piece of her heart, making their eventual marriage years later feel inevitable.

We'll Always Have Summer explores themes of first love versus mature love, the consequences of choices, and forgiveness after betrayal. Jenny Han examines how grief shapes relationships through the loss of Susannah Fisher, the complexity of love triangles within close-knit families, and the courage required to be honest about one's feelings. The novel also addresses coming-of-age during college years, the tension between familial approval and personal desire, and the idea that true love requires both people to be ready at the same time.

Susannah Fisher, though deceased before We'll Always Have Summer begins, remains central to the story through her memorial garden dedication and letters she left for her sons' wedding days. Her memory influences Belly's relationship with both Conrad and Jeremiah, as they all continue grieving her loss. The mix-up of Susannah's wedding letters—where Jeremiah receives Conrad's letter—becomes a pivotal plot device that forces Conrad to confront his feelings and provides insight into Susannah's wishes for her sons' happiness and their relationship with Belly.

We'll Always Have Summer receives criticism for Belly's indecisiveness and her choice to accept Jeremiah's proposal while still loving Conrad, which some readers view as selfish or immature. Critics also note the rushed engagement and wedding timeline feels unrealistic for college freshmen, and the treatment of Jeremiah—who proposes after cheating, then loses everything—can feel cruel. Some fans were disappointed by the time jump in the epilogue, wanting more on-page resolution between Belly and Conrad rather than learning about their marriage years later through summary.

We'll Always Have Summer confronts infidelity when Belly discovers Jeremiah had sex with another girl during their spring break separation, devastating her despite them technically being broken up. Jenny Han explores the complex emotions of betrayal, forgiveness, and whether past mistakes can be overcome through Jeremiah's proposal as an attempt to prove his commitment. The novel also addresses emotional betrayal when Conrad confesses his love the night before Belly's wedding, and Belly's inability to fully commit to Jeremiah while harboring feelings for Conrad, showing that emotional infidelity can be as damaging as physical.