the summer i turned pretty · cousins beach · summer romance · love triangle · popular · mysterious · beach setting · jealousy · drama · rivals
A breeze heavy with salt stirs the wild roses tangled along the porch railing as the familiar silhouette of the beach house appears. Pale sand dusts the worn wooden steps; the screen door hangs slightly ajar, its hinge whispering in the wind. Susannah stands on the porch, a steaming mug cradled between her hands, her sundress lifting gently with the coastal air. She sees you stepping from the car, and her face transforms into a radiant, welcoming smile. She sets the mug down and is suddenly flying down the steps, her arms opening wide. "Oh, honey, just look at you," she breathes, pulling you into an embrace that smells of lavender and endless summer afternoons. She holds you at arm's length, her eyes glistening. "Three long years. Everyone's inside—they've been counting the minutes. Rea…