The Summer I Turned Pretty (TV series)

Last updated

The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty (TV series) Title Card.png
Genre
Created by Jenny Han
Based on The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
Showrunners
Starring
Music by Zachary Dawes
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Marty Scott
  • Deborah Swisher
  • Jenny Zhang
  • Nicole Colombie
  • Sarah Choi
Cinematography
  • J.B. Smith
  • Sandra Valde-Hansen
  • Tarin Anderson
Editors
  • Jamie Kennedy
  • Lauren Schaffer
  • Lindsay Armstrong
  • Alisa Lepselter
  • Sean Fawcett
  • Victor Du Bois
  • Martin Wilson
  • Kate Hickey
  • Isabella Dinh
  • Isla Nobel
Running time39–79 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Amazon Prime Video
ReleaseJune 17, 2022 (2022-06-17) 
September 17, 2025 (2025-09-17)

The Summer I Turned Pretty is an American coming-of-age romantic drama television series created by author Jenny Han for Amazon Prime Video. It is based on her novel trilogy: The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, and We'll Always Have Summer. Lola Tung stars as Belly Conklin, a teenager involved in a love triangle with brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, played by Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno, respectively.

Contents

Production on the TV series began in 2021. It premiered on June 17, 2022, with the first season consisting of seven episodes. [1] Before its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season, which debuted on July 14, 2023, and includes eight episodes. [2] [3] [4] In August 2023, the series was renewed for a third season. [5] The 11-episode third and final season premiered on July 16, 2025. [6] A feature length film was announced following the series conclusion on September 17, 2025, and is set to serve as a direct continuation of the series finale. [7]

Premise

Belly Conklin is about to turn 16, and she is headed to her favorite place in the world, Cousins Beach, to spend the summer with her family and the Fishers. Belly has grown up a lot over the past year, and she has a feeling that this summer is going to be different than all the summers before.

Cast and characters

Main

L-R: Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah Fisher, Lola Tung as Isabel "Belly" Conklin, and Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher TSITP.png
L–R: Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah Fisher, Lola Tung as Isabel "Belly" Conklin, and Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher

Recurring

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 7June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
2 8July 14, 2023 (2023-07-14)August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
3 11July 16, 2025 (2025-07-16)September 17, 2025 (2025-09-17)

Season 1 (2022)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date
11"Summer House" Jesse Peretz Jenny Han June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
Each summer, the ConklinsIsabel "Belly", her brother Steven, and their mother Laurelstay in Cousins Beach with Laurel's best friend, Susannah Fisher, and her sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly has had a crush on Conrad since she was ten, but thinks he sees her only as a little girl. Upon arriving, Belly and Laurel notice that Conrad is acting unusual. Belly tries to confront him about his aloofness, but is interrupted by Jeremiah and Steven, who go with Conrad to a bonfire party on the beach. At the urging of her best friend Taylor, Belly sneaks out to go to the party as well, and sees Conrad kissing Nicole, a girl he escorted to the previous year's debutante ball. After arguing with both Conrad and Steven, Belly sits alone and is approached by a boy named Cam; the two hit it off and end up kissing. Conrad gets into a drunken fight and the police break up the party. Belly decides to accept Susannah's invitation to be a debutante.
22"Summer Dress"Jesse PeretzBecca GleasonJune 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
Susannah and Laurel take Belly shopping for a debutante dress, but the one they buy is not to her liking. Belly attends her first debutante tea and meets her fellow debutantes, including wealthy socialite Shayla. Belly also learns that Nicole has been assigned as her mentor for the season. Cam asks Belly out on a date to a drive-in movie. At Laurel's book signing, Laurel reencounters Cleveland Castillo, a fellow author she previously offended. He tells her his next book on sailing is outside his expertise, and she recommends he ask Conrad for lessons. Bored at the bookstore, Conrad convinces Jeremiah and Steven to crash Belly's date. Belly angrily sends them away, and Cam later drives her home, where they kiss again. Steven meets with Shayla on the beach, and she asks him to be her escort to the debutante ball. Belly and Conrad argue about his interference at the drive-in; he calls her immature and vain, while she accuses him of toying with her feelings.
33"Summer Nights"Jeff Chan Jenny Zhang June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
Belly celebrates her sixteenth birthday with family and friends. Everyone gives her gifts except for Conrad, who claims to have forgotten. Later, Belly and Jeremiah pick up Taylor upon her arrival in Cousins Beach. Susannah hosts a dinner, after which Belly and Taylor go to a party at Nicole's. Steven and Taylor kiss but are discovered by Belly, straining the girls' friendship. Meanwhile, Cam awaits an invite to the debutante ball. Belly finds out that Conrad had bought her a birthday gift but never gave it to her. Before Taylor leaves, she and Belly reconcile.
44"Summer Heat"Jeff Chan Speed Weed June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
The teens prepare for Susannah's big Fourth of July celebration. Belly and Steven's father plans to attend with his new girlfriend, while Conrad and Jeremiah learn that their father, Adam, is unable to make it. At the party, Belly drinks too many margaritas and accidentally reveals Steven's kiss with Taylor to Shayla, who then tells Steven that they are not exclusive; however, they get back together. Belly also teases Conrad about his unspoken birthday gift. Meanwhile, Laurel argues with Susannah, leaves for the bar, and has sex with Cleveland. Once sober, Belly apologizes to Conrad and they nearly kiss, but are interrupted by Jeremiah.
55"Summer Catch" Erica Dunton Marty Scott & Deborah SwisherJune 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
Susannah and Laurel visit a dive bar, where they reminisce good times, and Susannah hooks up with a stranger. Laurel and Cleveland get closer. Belly breaks up with Cam and begins to question whether she's chosen the wrong Fisher brother. After Conrad rejects her, she declares she is done waiting for him. Later, while sharing a midnight swim with Jeremiah, he reveals his love for Belly, and the two kiss.
66"Summer Tides"Erica DuntonBayan WolcottJune 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
At the annual beach volleyball fundraiser, Belly is determined to win. She teams up with Taylor, who fakes an injury so that Jeremiah can partner with Belly instead. However, Taylor's plan fails and Conrad is the one who ends up playing and winning with Belly. While on a boat with Cleveland, Conrad breaks down and reveals what has been troubling him. Belly and Taylor are invited to join Nicole and her friends on Nicole's father's boat. Susannah tells Conrad to escort Belly to the debutante ball. While on the boat, Conrad texts Belly, which Nicole and the others see. In retaliation, they leave Belly and Taylor stranded in the ocean without clothes. Nicole breaks up with Conrad, returns Belly and Taylor's clothes, and tells him about the incident. Belly calls Jeremiah to pick them up, and when both boys show up, she chooses to leave with Jeremiah, and they kiss in his car. Later, Conrad contacts Belly outside and gives her the infinity necklace from her sixteenth birthday, but she rejects him.
77"Summer Love"Erica Dunton Jenny Han & Gabrielle Stanton June 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
On the day of the debutante ball, preparations are underway for the night. Belly plans to attend with Jeremiah, and Susannah and Laurel manage to get her the dress she actually wanted. Steven, having lost his money in a poker game, cannot afford a tuxedo and borrows one from Shayla's father. Jeremiah begins to suspect something about his mother. When the final dance begins, he disappears after learning about Susannah's cancer from her phone. Conrad takes Jeremiah's place and dances with Belly. Afterward, he is confronted by Jeremiah about keeping Susannah's cancer a secret throughout the summer, and Belly and Steven also learn about the news. Susannah agrees to begin treatment. Conrad and Belly kiss by the beach.

Season 2 (2023)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date
81"Love Lost" Zoe Cassavetes Jenny Zhang July 14, 2023 (2023-07-14)
Susannah's cancer worsening means her sons coming to terms with her looming death and their conflict over Belly. Belly wants to resolve the conflict as well but also wants to help the two families stand up to an apparent threat against their beloved summer house. Valedictorian Steven seems to act strangely after his high school graduation.
92"Love Scene"Zoe Cassavetes Jenny Han July 14, 2023 (2023-07-14)
Laurel's book about her friendship with Susannah means an important trip to New York to promote it, which she's reluctant to make. Conrad disappears after Susannah's funeral and an argument with Belly. Belly and Jeremiah search for him and try to resolve the conflict over the triangle involving them and Conrad. The boys learn the threat to the summer home both families loved is their aunt, Julia, who has somehow become its legal owner and intends to sell. Their plan to keep the house in the family faces a disheartening obstacle.
103"Love Sick" Isabel Sandoval Krystle DrewJuly 14, 2023 (2023-07-14)
The summer house is up for sale, but Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad will leave no stone unturned to keep it in the family. While Conrad works on a secret plan, Belly and Jeremiah try a more direct route. But being back in Cousins with the Fisher brothers means Belly cannot escape painful memories of the past year.
114"Love Game"Isabel Sandoval Scarlett Curtis July 21, 2023 (2023-07-21)
Conrad runs to the beach where he has another panic attack; Steven comes to his rescue. The next day, Aunt Julia announces she is adamant about selling the summer house and decides to proceed with the open house, despite strong opposition from Conrad. To beat the heat wave, Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Taylor, and their cousin Skye go to the state fair to play boardwalk games. They meet Cam and relive old memories. Meanwhile, Laurel is at her book launch, unaware of the family drama at Cousins. After a fun-filled day of games and competition, the group gets a huge shock when they return to find Susannah's beloved summer house emptied, affecting them all.
125"Love Fool" Sophia Takal Sabrina SherifJuly 28, 2023 (2023-07-28)
Jeremiah narrates this episode, which begins with the group of kids going to the country club to spend the night. They split up to find food and places to sleep. Steven and Taylor dance together in the ballroom. Jeremiah's narration reveals how jealous he was of Conrad throughout their childhood and Conrad's relationship with Belly. Conrad continues his attempts to save the beach house, inquiring with a friend who was able to use his trust to purchase a car. Eventually, the group decides to sleep on the golf course. Belly confides in Taylor that she will never love anyone the way she loved Conrad, Taylor related that to her experience with Steven, and the two promise to leave first loves behind.
136"Love Fest"Sophia TakalKeith Antone & Cameron J. RossAugust 4, 2023 (2023-08-04)
With the house's sale an apparent done deal, Belly convinces the group to throw a blow-out farewell party the night before it must be turned over to the new owners. Before leaving, Aunt Julia collects everyone's house keys and confesses to Skye that hard feelings from her youth made her more resolute about selling the house. During the party, disconcerting events include an unwanted intrusion from Taylor's estranged boyfriend, Steven's bold protection of and bolder confession to her, another confrontation between Conrad and Jeremiah in which Jeremiah gives his brother a jarring pronouncement, and Belly's heartache when she learns the truth behind Conrad's funeral behavior.
147"Love Affair" Megan Griffiths Vanessa RojasAugust 11, 2023 (2023-08-11)

After Belly's tearful call for help, Laurel returns from New York hurt and angry over Belly keeping her in the dark over the last few days. They have a confrontation over the funeral, resulting in Belly running away to the beach. Afterwards, Laurel apologizes to Belly, confessing her anger over Susannah's death and agreeing to help the boys keep the beach house. After this, the kids begin the hard cleanup following the "farewell" party. Julia at first opposes the idea of keeping the house, but when Laurel expresses empathy towards her, she admits her lack of closure with Susannah and agrees to back out of the sale.

Laurel also convinces Adam to let the house stay in the two families. Adam agrees to sell the house in Boston to buy the house back from Julia. Steven goes home to pursue his relationship with Taylor after the kids help Conrad with an all-night study session to prepare for his final exams at Brown, so he can transfer to Stanford. As Conrad takes the exams, Jeremiah shows Belly around his school, Finch College, which is nearby. Due to Belly's low grades, her counselor suggested she should also consider Finch. When Belly and Jeremiah return to Brown, they share a passionate kiss which is interrupted by Conrad.
158"Love Triangle" Megan Griffiths Sarah Kucserka August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
Conrad's feelings about Belly come to a head when he, Belly, and Jeremiah are stranded in a storm and forced to share a motel room for the night. Steven convinces Laurel to attend a writer's group meeting she fears. Taylor and Steven admit their feelings for each other and finally get together. At the motel, Belly promises Jeremiah she will talk to Conrad. While Jeremiah is sleeping, Conrad tells Belly he still wants her, but Belly says nothing. The next morning, Belly and Jeremiah kiss outside the motel. Conrad leaves the room and breaks down in tears. Belly and Jeremiah drive back to Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Conrad returns to Cousins to clean up the house.

Season 3 (2025)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date
161"Last Season" Zoe Cassavetes Robin Wasserman July 16, 2025 (2025-07-16)
Belly and Taylor enroll at Finch, joining Jeremiah. The story jumps forward to Jeremiah's senior year, where he expects to graduate but can't due to a small hiccup. Belly gets the opportunity to study abroad in Paris for a semester, but hesitates due to Jere's bad news. Steven and Taylor have broken up and are in relationships with Mia and Davis, but are secretly hooking up after a chance encounter in New York. Conrad reminisces to a friend about his first love. Belly overhears a girl in Taylor's sorority, Lacie, bragging about hooking up with Jeremiah in Cabo over spring break, and confronts him.
172"Last Christmas"Zoe Cassavetes Jessica O'Toole July 16, 2025 (2025-07-16)
Belly tries making sense out of Jeremiah's betrayal, while Jeremiah anguishes over the prospect of losing her. Taylor and Steven are caught in the middle and also having their own disagreement---which triggers a devastating consequence. After accepting that Jeremiah had reason to believe they were broken up and he swears never to stray again, Belly reconciles with him and accepts his marriage proposal. Conrad faces a professional crisis and consequence as well, while deciding he can't be part of Susannah's memorial in Cousins and that Jeremiah should give its dedication speech.
183"Last Supper"Catalina Aguilar Mastretta Leah Nanako Winkler July 23, 2025 (2025-07-23)
Steven continues recovering from the car accident while he and Taylor try to sort out their feelings for each other. Belly and Jeremiah consider waiting to announce their engagement, then agree to announce it after the dedication of Susannah's memorial garden in Cousins. Conrad still refuses to attend the ceremony until his friend Agnes convinces him to go to get closure. Laurel and John agree their night together should remain an isolated encounter. After the ceremony, Belly and Jeremiah's engagement announcement doesn't exactly go over well with either of their families.
194"Last Stand"Catalina Aguilar MastrettaDoug StockstillJuly 30, 2025 (2025-07-30)
The negative reaction to the engagement announcement spoils some of Belly's joy in turning 21, but Jeremiah does his best to remove some of the sting with a special gift. Laurel refuses to help her shop for a wedding dress. Steven tells Taylor her mom's financial situation is worse than suspected. Taylor offers to pay the debt and help Lucinda resurrect the shop. Laurel admits to John their marriage failed because she thinks she married too young. Jeremiah's internship at Adam's firm includes having to overcome colleagues who see him as just a "nepo baby". Memories of Susannah giving her the full size bed and her own room in the Cousins summer house bring Belly to tears, knowing both her parents reject her wedding plans and Susannah isn't there for her. When Conrad overhears her, he puts his departure plans on hold to support her and tells her he's going to be a best man.
205"Last Dance" Jenny Han Jenny Han August 6, 2025 (2025-08-06)
Conrad narrates this episode which begins with Jeremiah stuck working late at Adam's firm. This causes Conrad to reluctantly agree to help Belly begin her wedding prep, though he wrestles with reminiscing back to when they were a couple. Jeremiah discovers a critical financial error involving a company the firm wants to acquire, leading a proud Adam to show support for Jeremiah and Belly's wedding intentions and offer to pay for the wedding if it is held at his country club. Belly becomes discouraged at the expensive costs of the wedding. Coincidentally planning to attend the same conference, Steven and Denise take a train to New York together and bond over video games and their career goals. When Jeremiah finally makes it to Cousins for the weekend, he discovers Belly isn't entirely thrilled by his news about Adam. Conrad struggles to keep his remorse over losing Belly to himself.
216"Last Name" Jude Weng Siobhan Vivian August 13, 2025 (2025-08-13)
Belly Conklin faces mounting pressures as her wedding to Jeremiah Fisher approaches. While staying with Adam, who's already sick of her living there, Belly feels increasingly out of place and overwhelmed by the lavish wedding plans. Afterwards, she and Jeremiah look for apartments together but their search is hindered by Jeremiah's credit card debt. Back in Cousins, Belly tours the country club and is overwhelmed at how much bigger the wedding has become. Conrad, knowing how hard it is for her to plan the wedding alone, secretly meets with Laurel and convinces her to come. At the bridal shower, Belly realises she'd incorrectly answered a trivia question about Jeremiah's first dog, Rosie, mistaking Jeremiah for Conrad - which seems to really throw her. The following day at the beach house, Conrad cuts his leg while surfing. After Belly dresses the wound and comforts him, she gives in to her feelings and almost kisses him before he walks away, leaving her shaken.
227"Last Hurrah"Katina Medina MoraSarah ChoiAugust 20, 2025 (2025-08-20)
There is some tension between Belly and Conrad while they clean the beach house together in preparation for everyone's arrival. Laurel is surprised and upset to learn that Adam brought Kayleigh to Cousins beach for the wedding. Taylor agrees to be Steven's wingman when he shows up at Cousins with Denise, and follows through by nudging Denise to make a move. Belly and Jeremiah celebrate their bachelor/bachelorette night with their friends, where Belly confirms that it was Conrad who helped convince her mom to be a part of the wedding, and Conrad learns about Jeremiah's spring break incident. All of this culminates in Conrad confessing to Belly how he feels about her on the beach, and confronting her about defending Jere's infidelity. Belly rebuffs him, insisting that there's nothing between her and Conrad anymore. Once alone, she breaks down and cries.
238"Last Kiss"Katina Medina Mora Sarah Kucserka August 27, 2025 (2025-08-27)
Taylor confronts Conrad on what he said to Belly on the beach. The night before the wedding, Steven and Denise kiss, but both agree to be friends. Belly tells Jeremiah about Conrad confessing to her. The next morning, Jeremiah is missing, and Belly receives a letter from Susannah for her wedding day, which Laurel gives her. After being found by Conrad in Susannah's memorial garden, Jeremiah punches him and disowns him as his brother. Conrad learns that the letter Susannah wrote for Jeremiah was actually addressed to him. Taylor questions Belly on whether she's marrying Jeremiah for the right reasons. Conrad later visits Belly and apologizes for everything, before telling her their time together was worth it and promising to leave her and Jeremiah alone. Jeremiah then confronts Belly about her feelings, revealing he knows about Christmas and forcing her to admit she still loves Conrad. The wedding is called off, and Belly spontaneously decides to go to Paris, seeing Conrad at the airport before she boards her flight.
249"Last Call" Jesse Peretz Sinead DalySeptember 3, 2025 (2025-09-03)
Belly chooses not to approach Conrad at the airport, and boards her flight to Paris. Conrad learns that the wedding was called off and returns to Cousins for Jeremiah, but is told to stay away from Jere by Steven and Taylor. Jere drowns his sorrows and waits for Belly to call, and Steven and Taylor finally admit to still having feelings for each other and decide to give their relationship another shot. In Paris, Belly is informed that there is no room for her in the exchange program, and is devastated. At a cafe, Belly's backpack gets stolen, containing her passport and engagement ring. While tracking it down, she encounters and befriends a group of Parisians who encourage her to stay back in the city. Belly calls Jere, who is angry to learn that she is not returning. A confrontation between the brothers leads to Conrad going back to California.
2510"Last Year"Jesse Peretz Jenny Zhang September 10, 2025 (2025-09-10)
Belly chooses to stay in Paris, taking two jobs to support herself while continuing her college classes online. Taylor and Steven move in together and host a combined Thanksgiving dinner with Jeremiah. After finding out that Jeremiah has lied about going back to college, Adam cuts him off financially, and Denise agrees to let Jeremiah temporarily live with her. Belly decides not to go home for Christmas, and Conrad begins to send her written letters. Steven quits his job to work full-time on his startup with Denise. Jeremiah is invited to Christmas dinner by Laurel, but he finds himself unable to enter the beach house and leaves after Laurel comforts him. Taylor visits Belly in Paris for New Year's and discovers that Conrad has been writing to Belly, but Belly reassures her that she is not writing back. Belly and Benito share a New Year's Eve kiss and begin casually dating. After a friend offers her their apartment, Belly chooses to remain in Paris for another year. On the five-year anniversary of Susannah's death, Jeremiah and Conrad accidentally run into each other at their mom's grave. After an argument, the two reconcile, and Jeremiah tells Conrad to pursue Belly. Conrad buys a plane ticket to visit Paris.
2611"At Last"Jesse Peretz Jenny Han & Sarah KucserkaSeptember 17, 2025 (2025-09-17)
Conrad visits Paris on his way to a conference in Brussels to meet Belly for her birthday. Despite an awkward interaction, they spend the day together as Belly shows Conrad around Paris, then she invites Conrad to a birthday dinner with her friends. They talk through their past and spend a romantic night together, but Belly, still feeling guilty about Susannah's death and the tension between Conrad and Jeremiah, tries to distance herself the next morning. Conrad insists his love is real, not just tied to grief, and leaves for the train station. Realizing she truly loves him and deserves happiness, Belly chases after him, shows him his infinity necklace around her neck, and they reunite with a kiss. Meanwhile, Jeremiah begins to move on with his culinary career and shares a passionate kiss with Denise; Steven and Taylor decide on a future together in San Francisco for Steven's career development, while the parents settle into new dynamics. Some time later, Belly and Conrad return to Cousins and visit the beach house.

Production

Development

On February 8, 2021, Amazon gave the production a series order consisting of eight episodes. The series is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Jenny Han. It is created by Han who also serves as the showrunner and an executive producer. [12] Also executive producing are Gabrielle Stanton, Karen Rosenfelt, Nne Ebong, and Hope Hartman. Stanton is also a co-showrunner for the first season. [13] [14] [15] On June 8, 2022, ahead of the series premiere, Amazon renewed the series for a second season, with Han and Sarah Kucserka as co-showrunners. [2] On August 3, 2023, ahead of the second season finale, the series was renewed for a third season, with Han and Kucserka returning as showrunners. [5] On September 17, 2025, the day the series finale released, a feature film was greenlit to conclude the story on Amazon Prime Video, with Han serving as the writer alongside Kucserka. Han is also set to direct the film. [7]

Casting

On April 28, 2021, Lola Tung, Rachel Blanchard, Jackie Chung, and Christopher Briney were cast as series regulars. [16] [17] In July 2021, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Minnie Mills, and Alfredo Narciso joined the main cast, while Summer Madison, David Iacono, Rain Spencer, and Tom Everett Scott joined the cast in recurring roles. [18] [19] On August 31, 2022, Kyra Sedgwick and Elsie Fisher were cast in recurring capacities for the second season. [20] On April 20, 2023, Mills announced that she had exited the series ahead of the second season. [9] On June 4, 2025, it was reported that Isabella Briggs and Kristen Connolly were cast as new series regulars while Sofia Bryant, Lily Donoghue, Zoé de Grand'Maison, Emma Ishta, and Tanner Zagarino in recurring capacities for the third season. [11]

Filming

Principal photography for the first season took place in 2021 in Wilmington, North Carolina, locations included Carolina Beach, Fort Fisher, and Wave Transit's Padgett Station on N. 3rd Street. [21] [22] [23] Filming of the second season began in July 2022 and concluded in November 2022. [24] [25]

Cast members have confirmed that filming for the third season was initially set to begin in 2023. However, it ended up being delayed due to the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes which happened from May to November 2023. [26] In late January 2024, it was confirmed that the third season had entered into pre-production in the Wilmington area, eyeing a spring start date. [27] [28] On May 14, 2024, it was announced that the third season had begun filming. [29]

Music

Score and soundtrack

The series features an original score by composer Zachary Dawes, released digitally as an Amazon Original album for season 1 on July 1, 2022. [30] [31] Critics have noted that beyond the score, the show leans heavily on prominent pop "needle drops" to underscore pivotal character beats and seasonal time-jumps. [32]

Use of Taylor Swift's music

Taylor Swift's repertoire has been a recurring presence across seasons. Swift's re-recording of "This Love (Taylor's Version)" debuted in the first teaser trailer in May 2022; the full track was released as a digital single shortly thereafter. [33] Season 1 included placements such as "Lover," "The Way I Loved You (Taylor's Version)" and "False God," used at key turning points including the debutante-ball finale. [34] [35] For season 2, trailers and episodes featured "Back to December (Taylor's Version)," "august," and in-episode uses including "Last Kiss (Taylor's Version)," "Invisible String," "Sweet Nothing" and "Exile." [36] [37] The final-season campaign continued this approach: the first full trailer was set to "Daylight" and "Red (Taylor's Version)". [38] [39]

Showrunner Jenny Han has described actively pursuing Swift's catalog for specific scenes, including writing the singer a handwritten note to help secure permissions; PEOPLE summarized how the approach yielded multiple Swift cues across seasons. [40]

Reception and impact

Several outlets have identified the music supervision as integral to the show's tone and storytelling, with Vulture arguing that Swift's songs often function "as if Swift herself is a character on the show." [41] Writing on the series' broader cultural traction, The Guardian likewise noted the "Taylor Swift–heavy soundtrack" as a driver of the show's cross-generational appeal and weekly social-media conversation. [42]

Release

The series premiered on Prime Video on June 17, 2022. [43] The first three episodes of the second season premiered on July 14, 2023, with the remaining five episodes released weekly until the finale on August 18, 2023. [4] Before the release of the third and final season, Prime Video uploaded the first and second seasons of the show for free on YouTube. [44] The 11-episode third and final season premiered on July 16, 2025, with two new episodes, and followed by a new episode on a weekly basis until the series finale on September 17, 2025. [6]

Reception

Critical response

Season 1

For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 88% approval rating with an average rating of 7.1/10, based on 24 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Summer I Turned Pretty doesn't need more time to become a swan, coming out of the gate a solidly charming and sweet rom-com with appeal across generations." [45] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 72 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [46]

Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "As a coming-of-age story, Amazon's The Summer I Turned Pretty is a cut above. Tenderly written and endearingly acted, it's sensitive to the subtle but irreversible shifts in self-perception that come with late adolescence—and at the same time clear-eyed enough to understand that teenagers, up to and including its own blushing heroine, sure can act like clueless jerks while they're figuring out how to wield their newfound powers." [47] Delia Cai of Vanity Fair also gave a positive review, commenting that "the specificity of Laurel's fantasy summer is ultimately what rescues The Summer I Turned Pretty from being too sticky sweet." [48]

Writing for The Playlist, Marya E. Gates wrote, "Although the voiceover in which [Belly] shares [her] feelings is unevenly deployed, it's refreshing to see a story that puts the girl in the driver's seat and gives her the room to work through the contradictions of adolescence and sexual coming-of-age on her own terms." [49] Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media said the series is "as sweet, light, and refreshing as a soda on ice by the swimming pool...[and] tackles the confusion and loveliness of an awkward coming-of-age." [50]

Abby Cavenaugh of Collider noted "though at some points, the love triangle—or quadrangle, with Cam included—can feel a bit forced, overall this story works on many levels. You grow to really care about these characters and want to see them happy," adding "Belly is the star of the show, and Tung sells every moment of it with her luminous performance." [51]

Season 2

The second season holds an approval rating of 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.5/10. [52] On Metacritic, the second season received a score of 71 based on reviews from 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [53]

Some critics welcomed the series' tackling of the heavier themes of grief and loss. [54] [55] [56] [57] Lauren Chval of The A.V. Club said that season 2 raises the stakes of the central love triangle and makes a strong case for a Jeremiah relationship with Belly. [58] Tung's performance received continued praise, with Kayleigh Donaldson of TheWrap writing that "the season is at its best when it focuses on Belly, giving space to her emotional strife and the oft-derided difficulties of being a teenage girl in a world where you're positioned as something between a sex object and a punching bag." [56] [59] The soundtrack also received praise. [54] [60] [57] [59]

Others felt the second season lacks the breeziness and fun of the first season. [61] [59] [62] Though critics noted the narrative stays faithful to the book, some said the integration of flashback scenes was at times confusing and that important storylines were being skipped. [61] [54] [55] [59] Writing for Collider, Therese Lacson gave an overall positive review but noted that the season's addition of new characters meant less time to develop their arcs and the meat of their stories. [60] [57] Nicole Gallucci of Decider wrote season 2's "emotional roller coaster serves as a harsh reminder that life isn't always a beach, but its unique mix of 'miserable and magical' will keep you hooked until the end." [54]

Season 3

The third season has an approval rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 6 critic reviews. [63]

Impact

After the series' debut, all three The Summer I Turned Pretty books entered the top three spots on the Amazon Best Sellers list, with the second book, It's Not Summer Without You, reaching number one. The artists whose music is used in the show have also seen an increase in streams, sales and followers, with some experiencing up to a 6,000% increase in song sales. Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, Lover , resurged in sales and streaming, and re-entered the top 40 region of the Billboard 200 chart as well, after three of its songs—"Cruel Summer", "Lover" and "False God"—were featured in the series. Beyoncé's 2014 single "XO" tripled in sales units following the use of it in the finale. The series also had a significant social media reach, with the hashtag #TheSummerITurnedPretty accumulating over 13.8 billion views on TikTok. It generated over 107,000 global posts over launch weekend and 725 million potential impressions across platforms, according to social analytics agency DMS. [64]

Audience viewership

In September 2023, Vernon Sanders, an Amazon Prime executive, revealed that season 2 of Jenny Han's YA adaptation was the streamer's No. 2 most-viewed series to date among women 18–34, behind only Rings of Power , according to Prime Video. It was also the most-completed series to-date among that demographic. The series had also driven subscription growth that summer, Amazon reported. The Summer I Turned Pretty was among Prime Video's Top 3 series in terms of global acquisition (and, again, No. 1 with women 18-34). [65] On July 28, 2025, it reported that the third and final season drew 25 million viewers globally within its first seven days of the season premiere. [66]

Awards and nominations

AwardsYearCategoryResult
Artios Awards 2024 Television Series – DramaNominated [67]
2025 Nominated [68]
People's Choice Awards 2024 Bingeworthy Show of the YearWon [69]

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