The Summer I Turned Pretty: Was the Ending Satisfying?

On Wednesday (17), the final episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty aired. It is one of the major literary adaptations produced by Prime Video. Without a doubt, it is the biggest in terms of numbers. According to news outlets, this season drew more than 25 million viewers in just its first few weeks.

The show became a true phenomenon on social media, boosted local economies where people gathered to watch together, and divided fans worldwide into Team Jeremiah and Team Conrad.

Watch the trailer for the third and final season of "The Summer I Turned Pretty"

Inside The Summer I Turned Pretty

The series is adapted from the novels by Jenny Han. Just like the show, there are three books: The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009), It’s Not Summer Without You (2010), and We’ll Always Have Summer (2011). Each season follows the order of the books closely, but as with any adaptation, there are elements in the show that are not in the novels. Examples include Steven (Sean Kaufman) and Taylor’s (Rain Spencer) romance, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) being bisexual, a deeper and more intimate look at the friendship between the mothers Laurel (Jackie Chung) and Susannah (Rachel Blanchard), and their relationships with their ex-husbands.

The main focus of the story, however, is the love triangle between Belly (Lola Tung) and the Fisher brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). Since childhood, Laurel has taken Belly and her brother Steven to spend their summers at the Fisher family’s beach house in Cousins Beach.

Susannah and Laurel met in college and developed such a strong bond that they felt like sisters. Their kids grew up together and became best friends. What neither of them expected was that between Belly and the Fisher brothers would emerge a great love capable of testing that lifelong bond.

From an early age, Belly admired Conrad, the older and more charming brother. His protective yet mysterious nature may have sparked her feelings. Conrad seemed like the ideal match for the dreamy, romantic girl who experienced a fairytale each summer at Cousins Beach.

The road to the third season

With the background set, it is time to understand how the story reached this somewhat inconclusive ending and why fans became so divided over the Fisher brothers, even though Belly had always loved Conrad.

Conrad, played by Christopher Briney (Mean Girls, 2024), carries a bad boy aura without fully being one. He is mysterious and reserved, but beneath that exterior lies someone sensitive, intelligent, kind, and full of qualities anyone could admire. Still, with his mother’s illness and other struggles, Conrad closed himself off and pushed away those who tried to get close.

Although Belly was in love with Conrad, and everyone knew it, this was the moment Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) stepped in. Belly was turning 16 and preparing for Cousins’ Debutante Ball. She needed a date, and Jeremiah volunteered, but he backed out after learning about his mother’s illness; something Conrad had already known, which explained his distant behavior.

This created a rift between the brothers, complicated their relationship with Belly, and intensified the competition for her love. At the end of season one, Belly and Conrad sealed their feelings with a kiss.

Where emotions peak and fans choose sides

At the beginning of season two, it became clear that Belly and Conrad’s romance, which started at the end of season one, did not last outside Cousins Beach’s summer magic. They argued, grew apart, and broke up offscreen before the season began.

With Susannah ill and later her death, everyone was devastated. Conrad withdrew further, becoming cold and distant, while Belly felt left out. Jeremiah stepped in as her emotional support. Kind and reliable, he became her safe harbor while Conrad remained absent.

Season two revolved around this love triangle, now centered on Belly and Jeremiah, who grew closer and shared increasingly intimate moments while Conrad kept his distance. In the end, Conrad admitted he could not give Belly what she deserved. Belly chose Jeremiah, not because she stopped loving Conrad, but because he was not emotionally available.

All or nothing: Who did Belly choose, Jeremiah or Conrad?

If there was already a spark of competition between the brothers, by season two it turned into a full rivalry for Belly’s heart. With Conrad distant and Jeremiah by her side, especially after Susannah’s death, Belly chose Jeremiah.

In the book, the time skip is two years, but in the show it is about four. Belly and Jeremiah attend the same university and spend most of their time together. Jeremiah is close to graduating when, on a college trip, he cheats on Belly with someone from his team. They break up briefly, but she forgives him, believing their love is stronger than anything else.

Convinced of their future, Jeremiah proposes marriage. Belly accepts without hesitation. Their parents are upset, Conrad is shaken, but they move forward with the wedding plans. In both the book and the show, much of the plot revolves around the consequences of this decision. The twist: the wedding never happens. After much reflection, they realize they are not ready, and most importantly, Belly still loves Conrad and cannot deny it.

What should have been the ending turns into stalling

In the book, the cancellation of Belly and Jeremiah’s wedding is the ending. Afterwards, there is an epilogue with a letter from Susannah to Belly, meant to be read on her wedding day, just like the Fisher brothers. In the letter, Susannah confidently writes that Belly is married to one of the brothers, and she is right. Belly eventually marries Conrad.

In the show, the cancellation happens in episode 8, leaving three more episodes to wrap things up. Expectations were that Belly would go abroad as an exchange student, Conrad would write her letters, and after some time, they would finally reunite.

In the final three episodes, Belly undergoes a transformation. She matures, becomes stronger and more confident, and develops greater self-esteem and self-love. These qualities had seemed missing in earlier seasons, when she was emotionally dependent on the boys and even her mother. For Team Single Belly fans, this was her peak.

Conrad travels to Paris for Belly’s birthday. The longing and love they had suppressed for so long become impossible to ignore. Belly hesitates, afraid of falling back into the same painful cycle, but this time it works. They reunite and return to Cousins as a couple.

Episode 11 felt rushed and extremely disappointing. Even with the movie announcement, the series could have had fewer episodes or concluded with the book’s ending, showing Belly and Conrad’s reunion, their relationship, and eventual marriage. A movie was not necessary just for that.

The other characters received satisfying end games: Steven and Taylor move to California together; Jeremiah discovers his passion for cooking and starts a relationship with Denise (Isabella Briggs); and the parents remain friends, living peacefully.

But for Belly and Conrad, the scene of her running after him on the train left not only the character breathless but also the viewers. In the end, it felt like stubbing your toe against the wall.

Jenny Han has left fans with high expectations for the movie. Although confirmed, it has no release date or details yet. Still, the expectation is clear: Belly and Conrad’s wedding.