Just like practically every college-aged girl, I, too, was obsessed with The Summer I Turned Pretty. Bringing us from the warmth of summer to the chill of the fall, I was sitting on my couch with friends, hooked to each and every episode, even plotting and predicting what was going to happen next. So, to say that this last season and episode were very important to me would be a drastic understatement.
There was a lot that happened this season — so let’s recap. First of all, there is an obvious and continuous love triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, who are brothers. In the first couple of episodes of season three, we find out that Jeremiah cheated on Belly on a trip to Cabo. However, Belly quickly forgives him, and they get engaged shortly after. Because I haven’t read the books this series is based on, I was completely shocked, and continued to be stunned throughout the rest of the season.
In this season, we are also taken through Conrad’s perspective, with complications in his new life in California, as well as his longing feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Belly. He is obviously still in love with her as exemplified through flashbacks, reminiscing on fond memories like when Belly and Conrad spent Christmas together.
While Conrad’s feelings persist, we see complications through Belly and Jeremiah’s engagement, mostly with familial problems. We see throughout this season that Belly’s parents and Jeremiah’s dad disapprove of their engagement, thinking that they are rushing through this and are too young to get married. Honestly, I completely agree with their perspective, especially when we see Conrad’s lingering feelings for Belly.
Although the main focal story surrounds the love triangle, I was also obsessed with the Steven and Taylor subplot. We see their complicated history in every scene containing the two of them, which resulted in them getting together in the end. I think that their love story is underrated and definitely deserves more attention. Their slow-burning, on-and-off relationship is debatably even better than that of Belly and Conrad’s.
Leading up to the wedding, we see Conrad’s growing feelings for Belly, with iconic scenes, such as the unforgettable peach scene. While the wedding is days away, Conrad confesses his feelings for Belly, which complicates everything. Belly tells Jeremiah about his brother’s feelings for his future wife, and creates a lot of tension between the brothers. Belly is obviously confused about her feelings for both of the brothers, and ends up breaking off the engagement.
Belly, in the last couple of episodes, gets on a plane and unexpectedly travels to Paris for her study abroad program that she had planned on taking before the engagement. Although things don’t work out with the school abroad, she ends up meeting some great people who take her in as their own. She even meets a new boy and kindles a slight romantic relationship with him. However, Conrad ends up travelling to Paris before a conference, and confesses his feelings for her again. While at first, they don’t know how to go about this, as they live in different countries, Belly stops Conrad from leaving on a train, and they share a passionate reunion, ultimately deciding to get back together!
I loved this season of The Summer I Turned Pretty. While it was filled with a lot of ups and downs, it ended with the resolutions that my heart, like many fellow viewers, desired. Seeing both Belly and Conrad, as well as Taylor and Steven end up together was the perfect ending for me. I am super excited for The Summer I Turned Pretty movie, which is expected to be released between 2026 and 2027. Happy Watching!