Fisher’s ineptitude as a father makes Belly appreciate how her own father always remains calm and never gets angry at her for any reason. Susannah had made my mother executor of her will, and there was a lot of paperwork involved with that, I guessed. I was getting pretty sick of Taylor pushing me in this direction and that direction, dressing me up like one of her shabbier, less fortunate dolls. She stood up and started rifling around, pushing hangers over to the side, like she didn’t already know every article of clothing I owned by heart.

Part of me wanted to offer to stay and keep her company, to see if she maybe wanted to see what was on Turner Classic Movies, pop some popcorn.

I stood there and watched Jeremiah stop and talk to people, letting them hug him and grasp his hand. You need to see Conrad face- to-face and tell him you’re over him and you’re not gonna play his games anymore. The characters’ family structure is complicated because of the strained relationship between Conrad and Jeremiah and Belly’s mixed feelings for both of them. I thought about going to Conrad’s room, because even though we weren’t saying anything, it was better when we were together, less lonely. I hated to leave her and I hated to be near her, because she made me remember what I wanted most to forget.

When Conrad sends the woman away and informs her that the house isn’t going to be put up for sale after all, Belly realizes that Conrad didn’t come to the summerhouse to skip his exams and escape his problems. She’d never forgiven Conrad for not liking her the summer I brought her to Cousins, the summer we were fourteen. chapter two It used to be that the week school let out in June, we’d pack up the car and head straight to Cousins.That’s when Conrad looked over and saw me standing in the doorway with a plate of cheese and crackers. The themes of love and loss, family, and identity are explored with honesty and insight, making the book a poignant and moving read.

They drive to Conrad’s university, and Belly and Jeremiah have a heart-to-heart talk while Conrad takes his exams. I thought about saying something else, like how he was one of my best friends and how part of me was almost glad to have a reason to see him again. The main characters, storyline, themes, and style of the book will all be covered in length in this description.I’d never once minded missing out, not even when Taylor told me about the cotton candy machine his parents had rented one year, or the fancy fireworks they shot off over the lake at midnight. Taylor had made a play for Justin at the beginning of the year, before she’d settled on her boyfriend, Davis. Conrad stayed in the guest room, and I lay in my bed awake for hours, thinking about how he was asleep just a few feet away, in my house of all places. Belly understands that Conrad didn’t travel to the summerhouse to avoid his exams and run away from his difficulties when he sends the woman away and tells her that the house won’t be put up for sale after all.