Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… a new life since her “glow up.” Isabel, who goes by Belly, has just turned 15, took off her glasses, changed her wardrobe, and started wearing her hair down. And now she has more attention from boys than she can handle.
Visiting… Cousins Beach, North Carolina, for the summer. She goes there with her family every summer to stay with the Fishers, whose mother, Susannah, is close friends with Belly’s mom. Summer is Belly’s favorite time of the year; she thinks everything magical happens between June and August. But things have gotten more complicated lately—especially with her parents’ divorce a year ago.
Profession… student at Chesterbrook High School where she is the varsity captain of her volleyball team. Belly’s best friend at school is Taylor, someone so uniquely outgoing and blunt that she is called Hurricane Taylor.
Interests… swimming laps, singing pop songs, and drinking pomegranate margaritas.
Relationship Status… single. Belly wants to find love, the full-blown head-over-heels experience with fireworks in the background. Susannah thinks Belly is destined to end up with one of her boys, Conrad and Jerimiah. Belly wouldn’t mind that; she has had a huge crush on Conrad since she was 12. She’s convinced that Conrad doesn’t feel the same way, so she’s meeting other boys this summer.
Challenge… growing up. Belly wants to be treated like a woman, but as the youngest in her family, she is still treated as a girl. This summer, Susannah has convinced her to participate in the debutante ball, which will celebrate her entrance into the adult world. Still loving her stuffed bear animal, Belly is innocent and inexperienced. But this summer may mark her transition into adulthood—with all the complications that come with that. As Belly says, “I thought this summer was going to be like all the other summers, but it’s not. Because I won’t let it be.”
Personality… sweet and reserved… or at least she used to be. Belly is always finding new ways to come out of her shell, surprising the people around her.
