“The Summer I Turned Pretty” series on Prime Video attracts large numbers of fans every year. Season 3, released July 16th, set a new record for Prime Video and attracted 25 million global viewers. The show, starring Lola Tung as Belly, is about a teenage girl who falls into a complex love triangle with two brothers she has known her whole life: Jeremiah, played by Gavin Casalengo, and Conrad, played by Christopher Briney. Belly’s love interest constantly shifts throughout the seasons and has finally settled on one brother: Jeremiah, or so we think. So far in the messy Season 3, the books and the TV show don’t necessarily align completely. Some people miss the little details that the book had and the show left out. The time jump and setting throw many fans off; the show starts in the summer before Belly’s senior year of college, a significant time jump that wasn’t presented in the books. At the end of episode 7, Conrad finally admits to Belly his long-lasting love for her, which fans had predicted. The show will be making some changes to the ending, although the overall finale may remain the same as in the books. Jenny Han, the author and co-director of the series and show, has expressed hope that fans will enjoy the new direction from the original book telling.
Students around Fairview have their own opinions on the show. Students are split into 85% Team Conrad and 15% Team Jeremiah. “I am team Conrad, because he never cheated and he makes Belly’s happiness a priority, even if that means they aren’t together,” said Lily Auglspaugh (9).
“Jeremiah is better; he’s helped Belly grow as a person and in character development. They’ve been through a lot of hard times together, so I feel like they can relate better,” said Ruby Yurk (9).
The title, “The Summer I Turned Pretty”, refers to Belly’s physical transformation; Belly “turns pretty” in many other ways throughout the seasons. “I think she finds herself a little bit more and discovers more about herself,” said Norah Chandler (9). “She’s also just discovering who she wants to be and the things she wants to do, and Jeremiah also conflicts with that. She was going to find herself and do all these programs in Paris, and he kind of conflicted with that. But I think turning pretty isn’t just about her having a glow-up. It’s also about her just finding herself and finding the people she wants to be with and who she wants to be,” said Chandler. She also feels as if Belly has been involved in the complicated love triangle for far too long: “I’m honestly team anti-Belly at the end of the day. I think it’s very unfair because she’s literally tearing apart a family in a way; she can’t make up her mind. I understand that, but I also don’t because you’re tearing apart brothers.”
Belly and Jeremiah weren’t the only relationship making and breaking this season; Belly’s brother, Steven, and Belly’s best friend, Taylor, have been on and off all 3 seasons. Fans were excited about this addition, as Steven and Taylor were not originally together in the books. When Steven becomes close with Denise, a girl who works with him, Taylor realizes it’s best to let him go; she only wants what’s best for him. Taylor and Stevens’ relationship is more developed and receives more screen time in the show, allowing fans to see different relationship dynamics. In Episode 8, Steven and Denise realize they don’t work together as a couple and would rather stay friends. This opening is giving fans a glimmer of hope that Taylor and Steven might end up together by the end of the season.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” has had over 25 million global viewers throughout the years and has become increasingly popular among teenagers. Season 3 has been a long-awaited finish to the show and has gained an incredible amount of support and engagement from fans. “I love ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’. It’s a really memorable show, super dramatic. I need some drama in my life, and it was very satisfactory,” said Chandler.
On September 17, the day the last episode of Season 3 aired, Jenny Han, the author, announced that there would be a spinoff movie that fans could look forward to. “I’m really excited for the movie because I can’t wait to see how Conrad and Belly’s relationship turns out,” said Simran Greene (9). The end of the very anticipated Season 3 is now only the beginning.
