<P> 1 . Coming of Age - The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy shows the transition from childhood into young adulthood into adulthood from the first novel beginning with Belly as a child to the third novel with Belly going to college and entering adulthood . In the first book of the trilogy Belly is more cognizant of what her elders, especially Susannah, want from her . However, as the books progress, she deals with bigger and more life - altering situations such as breaking up with Conrad, Susannah's death due to cancer, Jeremiah's betrayal, and ultimately marrying Jeremiah . The novels illustrate the progression from child to adult through the experiences that both Belly and the Fisher boys encounter as they grow into men and women . </P> <P> 2 . Independence - Independence is more greatly emphasized throughout the trilogy as Belly gets older and learns to make decisions on her own, disregarding the opinions of authority figures in her life . For instance, in It's Not Summer Without You Belly explicitly disregards her mother's, Laurel's, wishes and sneaks out of the house in order to go to Cousin's to try and convince Conrad to go back to school . Conrad goes to college in this book and so he experiences a new sense of independence which he has not yet experienced . The impact on those around him, Belly and Jeremiah, is more heavily focused upon rather than Conrad's inner thoughts; although, readers do see the effects that his independent decision making has on him through the lens of Jeremiah and Belly . He squanders his independence and ends up needing the help of Belly's mom, Laurel, in order to save the family's home at Cousin's Beach . It is a good example of the way in which young adult literature displays that even though it seems as though someone is acting independently and alone, that person will not succeed without the help of those around them . </P> <P> Isabel "Belly" Conklin - The main character, narrator, and protagonist in the series . She is the daughter of Laurel and the younger sister of Steven . She is known to have had a crush on Conrad since she was little, but her relationship with him falls apart at the end of It's Not Summer Without You after the two get together for a short time . She then starts a relationship with his brother, Jeremiah, after he kisses her; making his feelings known to her . In We'll Always Have Summer, which sees the two years the couple have been together, she discovers at a frat party that he cheated on her with a girl in his sister sorority (known as the "sorority slut"), which not only results in her physically slapping him across the face (marking the first time she has ever struck someone), but leads her to spend days in bed crying . To prove his regret, he proposes to her, which she hesitantly accepts; however, a result of ongoing fights with her mother (who is furious with her for choosing to marry so young), she stays at Cousin's Beach . Because of this arrangement, her old feelings for Conrad, who is staying there as well, begin to slowly yet just as strongly resurface . Toward the climax of the novel, Conrad, after discovering his brother's infidelity, confesses his love for her in what is known to be the most dramatic and heart wrenching scene in the series . Although Belly blows up at his confession, saying he was too late and that "they were never anything" (leaving Conrad completely heartbroken) her feelings for both brothers are called into question . She and Jeremiah, in the end, call off the wedding and break up for good when realizing that while they had good intentions, they just simply were not meant to be together . It is told in the epilogue (a basic summary of what happened in the years after the novel) that Belly did not hear from Conrad for two years before receiving her first handwritten letter from him, which then come "each and every month" throughout the rest of her college years - eventually, she begins to stay in contact with him . He then shows up at her college graduation, resulting in their reunion and getting back together as a couple (as Belly "just knew"). Conrad proposes a few years later, and the series ends with their marriage . </P> <P> Conrad ("Con") Fisher - The eldest son of Susannah and Mr. Fisher and older brother of Jeremiah . He is known to push away his loved ones aside and to keeping all his emotions and feelings inside and rarely, if not ever, expresses them . In the first book, his character is something of a jerk to everyone, having spent the summer at the beach getting drunk or locked in his room . It is suspected, though, however, that he has developed feelings for Belly, being shown several times as either overly protective or jealous of guys flirting with her . At the end of the novel he and Belly get together . However, the relationship is short lived when Conrad once again slips back into his jerk ways . At the beginning of the second novel, he runs away from college to protect the beach house once he finds out his father intends to sell it . In the end, Laurel shows up and makes a deal with Mr. Fisher that Conrad and Jeremiah can personally keep the house if Conrad returns to college and passes all his exams . The adults leave and Belly and Jeremiah help prep Conrad for his exams the following night and morning . Things seem to go well, but take an abrupt turn for the worse when Conrad walks in on Belly and Jeremiah kissing after Jere finally makes his move on her . In the end, he tells his brother he can have his chance with her, insisting he is over her . </P>

Who does belly end up with in the summer i turned pretty