The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP) has recently become one of the most talked about TV series on the internet, with multiple social media posts and trends relating to the series. The first season was released back in 2022 but has gained popularity recently with the release of their third season. It is written and directed by Jenny Han, and it is available to watch on Amazon Prime. The entire series is based on Jenny Hans book series “The Summer I turned pretty”, “It’s not Summer Without You”, and finally “We’ll always have Summer” which is the book the 3rd season is based on. Season 3 is the final season and continues the story on a complicated love triangle between the main character Isabel Conklin (Belly) and her two love interests Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher who are brothers. The first two episodes aired on the 16th of July while one episode was released every week, which I believe has been a factor in its growing popularity. The third season is the long awaiting season in which we find out the ending to this love triangle and figure out who Belly chooses to spend the rest of her life with.
It is known that The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 has become popular within social media platforms and is being watched in more than 120 countries. This season has a different approach compared to earlier seasons, it focuses more on Belly’s character development and how life can change at any moment. In addition, the character development of Conrad Fisher, demonstrating his emotional journey and yearning for Belly has been clearly demonstrated in this season. The balance of drama as well as growth and character development have contributed to its success. Ironically, each season of TSITP is released during American summer, which I believe is genius. However, Jenny Hans use of iconic songs within this season’s soundtrack has been a major factor in enhancing the impact on certain scenes within this season. Her song choices perfectly align with music that the younger generation are listening to, creating a deeper connection for the viewers. My favourite song used in the series is Cardigan by Taylor Swift, it is played during an airport scene where Belly notices Conrad waiting for his flight before she leaves for Paris. This song symbolises the heartache towards a person’s first love, which further impacts the representation of this scene.
The Summer I Turned Pretty has not only been entertainment but has been a massive topic within social media platforms. Many videos on social media are predicting who will be Belly’s final decision, “Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah”. Massive discussions are being made on social media, as well as memes, criticisms and predictions. It is becoming a trend beyond social media as famous AFL clubs are joining the trend.
Although the new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty has become extremely popular, there have been aspects in which I believe diminished the quality of the show. Season 3 had emotional, iconic, and growth aspects to most episodes, however, I believe that many episodes were “pointless episodes”. These were episodes that focused on other irrelevant issues rather than the concept in which the audience was expecting. Many of the plotlines seem unoriginal and is mostly shown in other ordinary romance movies and love triangle romance tropes. Additionally, as the show is based on the book many minor details that were discussed in the book was removed in the TV series. As a book lover, when books are turned into TV series or movies it is known that important concepts can be removed which is very frustrating. Small details such as Belly going to Paris instead of Spain have already been changed compared to the book, this makes me worried on other changes such as the outcome of the story, who Belly will choose?
Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty is definitely the best season of the series; it is the ending to a show that has been talked about everywhere. The show incorporates both drama with symbolism and character development which is the reason for its success. Although there are negative factors, it has become a sensational series that has the internet going crazy. As the final episode is released in the next week, who will be the winner of the debate “Team Jeremiah” or “Team Conrad”?
Adam Morolla 
Jessie Goates 
Layla