Image Credit:  The Summer I Turned Pretty, Amazon Prime Video

*Contains Spoilers*

“Best friends are important. They’re the closest thing to a sister you’ll ever have.”

Words straight from The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP), Jenny Han’s beloved book series first published in 2009. Sixteen years later, I can’t help but wonder if Han knew just how deeply these words would resonate with viewers all over the globe.

This year more than ever, The Summer I Turned Pretty television series has taken over the internet. As many fans joked online, Tuesday became ‘TSITP Eve,’ Wednesday was reserved for watching the new episode, and Thursday through Monday were spent binging edits. While this is the third and final season of the series, it seems as if it has been the most popular. 

It is crazy to believe how nostalgic the first season of TSITP has become. That summer was my first trip abroad since Covid-19 began. I visited Portugal, getting up early for swims just like Belly, desperate for summer to wash away the fears of my final year of A-levels. This time, as I watched the final season with friends, far from home and family like Belly, I’m preparing for my last year of university.  And while I haven’t exactly had two brothers confess their undying love for me, leading to a called-off wedding and an escape to France, life has certainly had its fair share of wild moments.

Elle recently ran an article exploring why so many adult women love the show, and for me, the answer is simple: we see ourselves in it. We have all made mistakes, looked foolish and grown up. 

However, I don’t think that the show is ground-breaking. Don’t get me wrong, I have been obsessed with Jenny Han’s books since I was little – The To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (TATBILB) series, a gift from my cousin, has always held pride of place on my bookshelf. So when The Summer I Turned Pretty was adapted into a series, I couldn’t wait for the world to meet the amazing, complex characters I’d come to love, especially after TATBILB went viral in the late 2010s. 

Still, the show hasn’t invented a new genre, nor is it completely different from the typical love-triangle stories we have seen in classic young-adult media. What makes it special is its authenticity and its ability to portray complex characters. We see two young men grappling with grief in very different ways, all while standing on the threshold of adulthood. The pressure, heartache and anger they experienced following their mother’s death were often underestimated. And, although the topic was sometimes addressed, it’s clear from social media reactions that some younger viewers did not fully grasp the depth of their struggle.

Additionally, the story presents a complex character in Belly Conklin, who is acutely aware of her mistakes and the consequences they bring. She navigates her flaws with a mixture of guilt  and self-reflection, making her both relatable and unpredictable. Her journey highlights how personal growth is often messy and nonlinear, and how acknowledging your errors is just the first step in truly understanding yourself. Although many have been quick to criticize the character, her missteps feel real, like the ones we all make. Some people understand that we all make mistakes and can grow from them, but there are those who will always hold the past against someone, even if it is just a TV show. It reminds me of Rory Gilmore; some people just can’t handle complex young women. 

What stood out to me most this summer was the longing for community. We are constantly told, through the news and on social media, that our lives revolve around scrolling online or working, with older generations quick to remind us that ‘back in their day’ people would gather at pubs or bars without the constant tapping and swiping. The world can often feel heavy, but shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty demonstrate the unique power of shared viewing experiences. 

I was amazed by the watch parties that popped up in cities across the globe, growing larger each week until the September 17 finale. With clips going viral of fans packed into bars, cheering at the screen as if it were the World Cup Final. On the morning of the finale, I wearily stumbled into my flatmate’s room to see if she was awake, ready for our friends to gather and watch what felt like the conclusion of a story sixteen years in the making. Bringing it back to the quote at the beginning, they really are the closest thing I’ll have to sisters. 

Now, I am a sports fan and have spent countless hours screaming at a TV, surrounded by others doing the same; but usually it’s football, and usually men. This time, however, it was a room full of twenty-something-year-old women, shrieking with excitement every time Conrad Fisher appeared on screen or Taylor made a brilliant comment. The energy was just as contagious, but in a completely different, exuberant way. 

What lingered with me most were Belly’s final reflections in the show. She looks back at her younger self, cringing at how obsessed she once was with Conrad or how childish she sometimes seemed. Yet, she comes to understand that perhaps that little girl wasn’t so bad after all. This is the lesson I really will carry with me forever, the reminder that trusting our instincts and having confidence in our own decisions is part of growing, and that it’s okay to embrace the person we once were while still moving on. 

As Scott Street ended and the ‘Christmas in Paris’ photographs appeared, I buried my face in my hoodie, sobbing uncontrollably. And, in between sobs, kept repeating, ‘Why would they play that song?’. Later that night, the official TSITP account announced a movie; no release date, no details, just a promise. 

But at least we’ll always have this summer.