It’s Wednesday night after work, and I’m at a sports bar in downtown Manhattan. The place looks exactly like you’d imagine a Financial District bar would: men in button-up shirts stand around high-top tables with folded arms, complaining about the current baseball season while games play on TVs all around.
I feel out of place waiting for a friend, but I know things are about to change. Slowly, groups of women start trickling in. The mood shifts suddenly when the TVs switch to a sparkling water ad. The bar turns up the volume, and three wistful notes play over the speakers—the brief theme song of a show so popular that Manhattan sports bars are now hosting watch parties for women like me, who are years older than the show’s main character.
I have a confession: when The Summer I Turned Pretty first came out on Amazon in 2022, I only made it through two episodes. I thought it was too cringey to handle. I believed I’d outgrown hormone-driven love triangles and choices made by characters whose brains weren’t fully developed. Growing up taught me there are far more important decisions in life than who to take to a debutante ball. Plus, the main character’s name is Belly—and nobody questions that?
But this summer, encouraged by a friend, I gave the show another chance—and I realized how wrong I’d been. Once I let my guard down and settled into life in Cousins, the fictional beach town where the show is set, I was hooked. And as my social media feeds adjusted to my new obsession, I saw just how many other adults were just as invested. Video after video showed people screaming at their TVs or crying over the show. Prime reported that 25 million viewers worldwide tuned in for the season three premiere—a 40% increase from season two in 2023.
It’s been a strange summer for American pop culture. After Charli XCX’s Brat defined last summer, there’s been a curious absence of a clear “song of the summer.” Some argue the closest contender is the “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” ad that’s been circulating online. Movie theaters were filled with reboots and sequels like Superman and Jurassic Park, and the most popular TV show seemed to be Love Island, which aired near-daily episodes of dramatic antics until mid-July.
Instead of a catchy pop anthem, this summer’s rhythm has been shaped by constant updates from our rapidly changing world. Americans seem more uncertain about the future than ever, and news notifications can feel like a never-ending barrage for anyone trying to keep up.
In other words, the timing was perfect for a show that offers an escape. As temperatures peaked, the third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty premiered in mid-July and, for many, became the show that saved summer.
The series follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung), whose family spends every summer at the Fishers’ huge beach house in Cousins, a town that resembles Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The story begins the summer Belly turns—you guessed it—pretty, and starts catching the attention of boys, including the two Fisher brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).
In the background of this coming-of-age summer is the cancer diagnosis of Susannah (Rachel Blanchard), the Fisher family matriarch and college best friend of Belly’s mom. Susannah’s illness is a secret to most, allowing the characters to enjoy what seems like a carefree teenage summer. Belly’s biggest—The central question seems to be whether Conrad, the moody older brother and her longtime crush, has feelings for her—or if she should be with Jeremiah, her “best friend” who is clearly drawn to her. Now in its third season, the series has fully leaned into this Austen-inspired love triangle, set against a backdrop of grief. Susannah’s death less than a year after that first summer has only deepened Belly’s emotional influence over both brothers. Their late mother, on her deathbed, called Belly “my special girl” and often referred to her as the daughter she never had.
By the start of this season, Belly—who was 15 in the show’s first season—is about to turn 21 and has made her choice. After an intense but failed relationship with Conrad, she has chosen Jeremiah. The two have been together in college for three years while Conrad was on the West Coast. But even though all three characters act as if everything is settled, it’s clear that things are far from resolved.
As an adult, I’m fully aware of how over-the-top this plot is. A love triangle involving two brothers is practically a flashing sign pointing straight to a therapist’s office. Still, at some point, I accepted The Summer I Turned Pretty as a fantasy world—a pastel-tinted version of our own—and learned to enjoy its endless, wonderful melodrama.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is author Jenny Han’s second major success. She co-runs the series and wrote the trilogy that inspired it. Her other book series, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, was adapted by Netflix and became one of its most-watched original films when it premiered in 2018.
The show feels like a surprise hit for Amazon, which has typically found more success with series aimed at male audiences, like The Boys, Jack Ryan, and Reacher. Netflix has been the go-to platform for originals targeting young women and teens, such as Never Have I Ever, Heartstopper, and XO, Kitty—the spin-off of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
Han has a gift for teen romance, making it feel tender and sincere, and treating emotions often dismissed as trivial with genuine respect. Her stories invite readers and viewers into worlds where the choices these young women make feel deeply meaningful.
There’s an unapologetic earnestness to the show that calls back to early 2000s teen dramas. In The Summer I Turned Pretty, declarations of love are delivered with full emotion, often with the sound of crashing waves in the background. The series also makes the most of its seemingly unlimited music budget—so far, it has featured at least 20 Taylor Swift songs, each heightening the emotional moments. Many have noted that the show films in Wilmington, North Carolina, the same location as One Tree Hill, which premiered over twenty years ago.
Unlike the first two seasons, which were released in batches, this final season’s 12 episodes are being released weekly on Wednesdays. For those of us who grew up with cable TV, it brings back the excitement of rushing home to catch the latest episode. The weekly wait builds anticipation—a rarity in today’s world of bingeable online content. It also shows that traditional scripted TV, released on a weekly schedule, can still captivate younger audiences who are increasingly drawn to platforms like YouTube.
As much as the show reminds me of classics like Gilmore Girls and The OC, its strong online presence makes it feel distinctly modern. The constant stream of fan content—especially on TikTok—creates a shared viewing experience, letting fans relive their favorite moments again and again.Once again, the show leans into drama and invites plenty of commentary and mockery. Of course, it leans heavily into the love triangle at its center. As with any teen love story, viewers have split into “teams,” and who you support suddenly feels like a reflection of your own values. The passion for these characters has grown so intense that Prime Video and the show’s creators have had to remind fans to behave respectfully online. Author Jenny Han even posted on Instagram, telling viewers that “the cast shouldn’t have to endure harassment because of the roles they play.” Amazon echoed this, reminding everyone that “the show isn’t real, but the people playing the characters are.”
Some moments in the third season feel so over-the-top and ridiculous that they seem designed to go viral. (Spoilers ahead!) In one scene from the sixth episode, Conrad and Belly stop at a roadside peach stand. As Belly bites into a peach, juice streams down her chin. Conrad—sporting his signature coastal-dad style with a plain white T-shirt—pulls it out to gently wipe her mouth. The moment quickly became an inside joke on TikTok. Even Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize winner and survivor of an assassination attempt, joined in, posting a photo on Instagram holding a peach with the caption: “counting the minutes until Wednesday.”
For me, the sheer absurdity of it all is a reminder that the show is pure fiction—a world to escape into, like a book open on a poolside lounge chair. I can’t help but root for Belly. We’ve all been young and naive, feeling like every choice we make carries the weight of the world. Tuning in each week feels like a brief return to that time—far from the routines of everyday life, and as nostalgic as summer itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about The Summer I Turned Pretty in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
Q What is The Summer I Turned Pretty about
A Its a comingofage TV show about a teenage girl named Belly who spends every summer at a beach house with her family and their close family friends The summer she turns 16 everything changes as old friendships blossom into complicated romantic feelings
Q Where can I watch it
A All seasons are available to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video
Q Do I need to read the books to understand the show
A Not at all The show stands on its own Reading the books can give you extra background and a slightly different perspective on the characters but its not necessary to enjoy the drama
Q Why is it so popular
A It perfectly captures the intense dramatic feelings of first love and summer It has a fantastic soundtrack beautiful settings and love triangles that keep everyone guessing and talking
Character Relationship Questions
Q Who is Belly supposed to end up with
A This is the central question of the entire series Without giving spoilers she is torn between the two Fisher brothers the reliable steady Conrad and the charismatic outgoing Jeremiah Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah are the two main camps among fans
Q Why do people love Conrad so much
A People are drawn to his brooding mysterious bad boy with a heart of gold vibe Hes complicated and often closed off which makes his moments of vulnerability and care for Belly feel extra special
Q Why do people love Jeremiah so much
A Jeremiah is the sunny fun and openly affectionate brother Hes easy to talk to and makes Belly feel seen and happy which is a refreshing contrast to the tension with Conrad
Q Whats the deal with the moms
A Laurel and Susannah have a deep lifelong friendship that is the foundation of the entire story Their bond is what created the summer tradition and adds a layer of heartfelt emotional depth to the show
Deeper Dive Advanced Questions
