Jenny Han Books: Stories That Stay in Your Heart

When you open the cover of a Jenny Han book, the world softens around the edges. Suddenly, you’re daydreaming beside a golden sunlit porch, your heart skipping for first crushes, or penning secret letters never meant to be sent. There is a gentle universality in Jenny Han books—her stories are both intimate and cinematic, stirring readers of all ages to relive the secret crushes and heartbreaks of adolescence. It is no wonder that Books by Jenny Han have become beloved worldwide, not just for the swoon-worthy romance, but for their summer warmth, wit, and whisper of nostalgia.

This article is a journey—a walk through eleven novels and much-loved series, unfolding the tapestry of Jenny Han’s writing in detail and wonder. Get ready to join the circle of lifelong friends at Cousins Beach, step into the secret world of Lara Jean’s letters, taste forbidden revenge on coastal islands, and revisit the awkward, lovely chaos of middle school. Every entry will bring you right to the heart of Jenny Han, books and all—the perfect companion for any reader chasing the feeling of their first summer, or their first love. Let’s dive into the magical shelves of Jenny Han books, savoring the story in every chapter.

Shug (2006)

Every great storyteller has an origin story, and “Shug” is where Jenny Han’s heart first poured onto the page. Annemarie “Shug” Wilcox is twelve, teetering on the edge of adolescence—far too tall, too freckled, and convinced she’s painfully ordinary. As summer fades, so does the comforting predictability of childhood; friendships strain, bodies change, and boys don’t look at you the same way anymore. Shug’s best friend Mark, the boy she’s known forever, is suddenly distant, making her doubt if she can even count on him as life makes its relentless push into the whirlwind of junior high.

With her family pulling her in a dozen directions and her world spinning with new insecurities, Shug clings to the nostalgia for yesterday, desperate for things to stay the same. But Jenny Han, books in hand, isn’t afraid to show that growing up means stepping into confusion—and discovering the triumph hidden in vulnerability. “Shug” charms not only for its bittersweet sincerity, but also for capturing the moment every reader remembers: when childhood slipped quietly into something new, and we all realized we were braver than we thought.

Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream (2011)

Jenny Han books know how to weave gentle humor with the deeper aches of youth, and “Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream” is no exception. Clara Lee is spunky and sweet, fueled by best friends, candy necklaces, and big dreams of winning the Little Miss Apple Pie contest in her small town. Her Korean American family brings laughter, tradition, and a few embarrassing moments—especially when Grandpa interprets her bad dream as a sign of luck just before the big event.

Clara Lee’s world is a riot of bright, quirky mishaps: a school performance gone haywire, a little sister driving her crazy, and the anxiety of speaking in public. Underneath it all is the hopeful heartbeat that defines all Jenny Han books—the journey of figuring out who you are, embracing both stumbles and victories. Kids who crave heroines with big personalities and bigger hearts will find Clara Lee instantly relatable and endlessly endearing, learning that luck is sometimes just a matter of believing in yourself.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy

Few stories evoke as much sun-drenched nostalgia as the legendary “Summer” trilogy. Here, Jenny Han books transcend the page, inviting us into the bittersweet rituals of summer love, heartbreak, and growing up at Cousins Beach.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009)

Belly Conklin’s life is measured by summers—those golden months at Cousins Beach, where every memory is tinged with possibility. The house is always alive with laughter, first kisses, and gentle rivalry between brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, who have been part of Belly’s world since childhood. But this summer, everything changes. Belly, no longer a child, finds herself the center of attention in ways she isn’t prepared for, her old crushes blossoming into confusing, electrifying feelings.

Jenny Han, books always swirling with yearning, taps into every bittersweet ache—first love, sibling rivalry, and the realization that nothing gold can stay. This is a summer where lifelong bonds are tested, and Belly must decide who she is and who she loves, even when the stakes are heartbreakingly high.

It’s Not Summer Without You (2010)

What happens when summer isn’t enough to mend what’s broken? In this spellbinding sequel, Jenny Han books never flinch from the messiness of grief. Loss casts a shadow as Susannah, the boys’ mother and Belly’s second mom, is no longer there—the glue that held their small, sunlit world together.

Belly’s ache is palpable. She tries to forget the past, but a late-night call from Jeremiah shatters her efforts, revealing that Conrad has vanished. With dread and hope, they return to the beach house—where secrets, anger, and loyalty mingle beneath the summer sun. “It’s Not Summer Without You” is about growing up, letting go, and discovering that sometimes, moving forward means returning to where it all began. Jenny Han, books always brimming with emotional complexity, shows us that healing is never simple, but always worth the fight.

We’ll Always Have Summer (2011)

The final entry in the trilogy unspools just as sweetly as the June tides: Belly faces the ultimate choice between two brothers, her future poised between past comforts and the raw vulnerability of first love. Forgiveness doesn’t come easy, and neither does clarity; both Conrad and Jeremiah have their failings, their heartbreaks, and their undeniable hold on Belly’s heart.

Jenny Han books conclude with all the beautifully tangled uncertainty of real life. As graduation nears and wedding bells threaten to upend loyalties, Belly must finally claim her own happiness. The series’ last chapter is a tribute to messy, magnificent teenage years, and a testament to the enduring power of first love and family.

Burn for Burn Trilogy (with Siobhan Vivian)

Jenny Han books have always thrived on the ordinary drama of growing up, but the “Burn for Burn” trilogy plunges into much darker territory—revenge, secrets, and even the supernatural. In collaboration with Siobhan Vivian, Han crafts a suspenseful portrait of high school on Jar Island, where the sweetest faces hide the deepest scars.

Burn for Burn (2012)

Three girls—Kat, Lillia, and Mary—each have a reason to burn their classmates’ carefully packaged reputations. Kat is tired of being trashed by her ex-best friend; Lillia wants justice for her little sister; Mary, haunted by trauma, returns to the island desperate for closure. Their alliance is as volatile as their targets, plotting intricate revenge that threatens to upend the social order.

Yet Jenny Han books never linger strictly in malice. “Burn for Burn” channels the adrenaline of rebellion but never loses sight of pain, loneliness, or the flickers of hope that can redeem even the deepest wounds. As secrets unravel and friendships turn toxic, the lines between right and wrong—and natural and supernatural—blur.

Fire with Fire (2013)

The second installment turns the heat up even further—revenge has consequences, and so does heartbreak. Kat, Lillia, and Mary find themselves deeper than ever in their schemes, forced to live with the wreckage of broken trust, guilt, and new, frightening abilities. Yet Jenny Han, books humming with empathy, reveals that even as the trio’s plans spiral, so do their feelings—for each other, for would-be enemies, and for the boys who both comfort and betray them.

“Fire with Fire” is relentless—full of double-crosses, tangled romances, and the looming knowledge that payback rarely brings peace. Han’s storytelling shines among Jenny Han books as she steers her characters through the flames, showing that the things we do in anger can’t always be undone with an apology.

Ashes to Ashes (2014)

Jenny Han books are never afraid to go out with a bang. In “Ashes to Ashes,” the final book of the trilogy, consequences hit with full force. Mary’s secrets slip free, morphing the story from a mere revenge plot to something far more eerie and tragic. Kat and Lillia, grieving losses and bearing guilt, cling together as the past threatens to destroy their carefully preserved new lives.

But the strength of all books by Jenny Han is in their endings: haunted, beautiful, and unafraid of darkness. As Jar Island faces the truth and the girls confront their own monstrous decisions, readers are left breathless—reminded that the wounds of adolescence, and the longing for forgiveness, can feel truly supernatural.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Trilogy

Arguably the jewel in the crown of Jenny Han books, this trilogy sparked a worldwide phenomenon—a dreamy, laugh-out-loud, and sometimes tearful ode to young love, family, and finding oneself between the lines of unsent letters.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2014)

Lara Jean Song Covey writes secret love letters to every boy she’s ever liked, pouring out her deepest confessions and sealing them away, never to be sent. But when the letters are mysteriously mailed out, her carefully curated world shatters. Suddenly, Lara Jean is forced to confront her crushes in real life—including her charming neighbor Josh, and Peter Kavinsky, the school’s golden boy.

Jenny Han books are known for their mix of humor and heartache. As Lara Jean and Peter concoct a fake relationship to save face—and possibly heal old wounds with his ex-girlfriend—the boundaries between pretend and real blur. Han’s warm, witty storytelling makes Lara Jean’s journey at once unique and universally familiar—a love story for the daydreamers and secret-letter writers in us all.

P.S. I Still Love You (2015)

The sequel sees Lara Jean embroiled in new complications: her relationship with Peter, once just for show, is now achingly real—and achingly fragile. When a boy from Lara Jean’s past re-enters her life, old feelings resurface, challenging her trust.

Books by Jenny Han always glitter with authentic emotion, and here, she dives into first heartbreaks, the confusion of jealousy, and the difficulty of forgiveness. Lara Jean navigates love triangles, embarrassing scandals, and the rollercoaster of senior year, learning that loving fiercely sometimes means letting go, and sometimes means fighting a little harder.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (2017)

By the time the trilogy closes, Lara Jean faces the bittersweet end of childhood. College looms. Her father is remarrying. Margot, her sister, is returning home, and her relationship with Peter is at a crossroads.

Jenny Han books are beloved for their honesty about change: Lara Jean must choose between clinging to comfort and bravely stepping into adulthood. The final book is a love letter in itself—to family, to identity, and to the endless possibility of firsts. With uncertainty in her heart but hope on the horizon, Lara Jean’s journey ends, leaving readers as full and breathless as the first crush of summer.

Anthologies and More

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories (2014)

Among books by Jenny Han, her contribution to this holiday anthology—“Polaris is Where You’ll Find Me”—sparkles with all the warmth and magical realism fans love. It’s a short tale that weaves together first love and festive wonder, featuring teens on the brink of possibility beneath Christmas lights.

Jenny Han Books: A Universal Tapestry

To dive into the world of Jenny Han books is to rediscover the first time your heart skipped a beat—the awkwardness of a first dance, the taste of salt in summer air, the longing for what once was, and the pulse-quickening anticipation of what could be. What sets all books by Jenny Han apart is their heartfelt nostalgia, their gentle honesty about pain and joy, and their extraordinary celebration of the ordinary years that shape us most.

Whether it’s the whimsical dreams of Clara Lee, the shadowed revenge of Jar Island, the sunlit ache of Cousins Beach, or the blossoming heart of Lara Jean, the stories remain long after the final page is turned. Within these Jenny Han books, readers always find themselves—brave, messy, hopeful, and forever yearning for another summer, another letter, another chance to become who they’re meant to be.

The Complete List of Books by Jenny Han