Does Belly Study Abroad In The Books

Okay, let's talk about something that has plagued fans of Jenny Han's books for years. If you've read The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy and also watched the Amazon series, you might have noticed something interesting. The details don't always match up, and one of the biggest head-scratchers involves Belly's college adventure.

The Big Question: Does Belly Study Abroad In The Books?

So here's the deal. Many fans are curious about whether Belly Conklin studies abroad during her college years in the original book series. And honestly, it's the kind of question that keeps you up at night when you're supposed to be writing a midterm essay.

The short answer? No, Belly does not study abroad in the books. It might feel like a huge plot hole, but Jenny Han chose a completely different route for Belly's college journey.

What Actually Happens In The Books?

In It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer, Belly ends up attending Flintridge Prep and later Providence College. She's living the classic American college dream, not the backpacking-through-Europe dream.

There's no semester in London, no fancy gap year in Paris, and no conveniently timed classes in Florence. Her college life revolves much more around her relationships with Jeremiah and Conrad than international flights and currency exchanges.

You know how some of your friends post epic photos from Barcelona while you're drinking lukewarm coffee at the campus library? That's basically the gap between what some fans hoped for and what Jenny Han actually wrote.

Why Do People Think She Does?

Here's where it gets amusing. The TV adaptation on Amazon Prime adds a study abroad element that the books simply don't have. And if you're like most humans in 2024, you probably watched the show first and then went back to the books.

Home - Let's Go Abroad

So of course your memory gets a little scrambled. It's like finding out your favorite childhood gore college course was actually just intro to accounting. The brain just... blanks out on reality.

Fans also mix up details because there are three books packed with twists, turns, and enough love triangles to make your guidance counselor weep. Keeping it straight in your head is basically a full-time job.

The Study Abroad Fantasy Is Real Though

Let's be honest. The idea of Belly studying abroad feels perfect for her character. She's growing, finding herself, and figuring out which handsome boy she should have picked in the first place.

A study abroad semester would have been the perfect backdrop for that personal growth. Imagine Belly navigating London while her love life falls apart back home. Absolute cinema.

Step-by-Step Guide to Studying Abroad

But Jenny Han clearly had other plans. She wanted to keep Belly close to the familiar setting of the beach house and the boys who defined her world for years.

How Does This Affect The Story?

You know what? The story works beautifully without any study abroad subplot. Belly's growth happens right where she's always been, and there's something kind of poetic about that.

Sometimes stepping away from your comfort zone doesn't mean booking an international flight. Sometimes it means facing hard truths in your own backyard, which honestly sounds more terrifying than any passport stamp.

Think about it. You don't need a one-way ticket to Lisbon to become a better person. Sometimes you just need one honest conversation with your ex-boyfriend to start the transformation.

What does Belly’s letter to Conrad say in The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Bottom Line

So if you wandered into this article wondering about Belly's backpacking plans, now you know. She stays in the US, and her college years are entirely domestic.

The books handle college life without any international excursions, and honestly? It still delivers all the emotional chaos we love. Sometimes keeping things close to home hits harder than you'd expect.

And hey, at least you don't have to stress about keeping track of yet another storyline. Your brain deserves this small victory. We all do.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go reread the trilogy and pretend I don't know how it ends. Again.