The newest season of the hit show, The Summer I Turned Pretty, has taken viewers on a wild ride. From the popular music choices to the jaw dropping plot twists, season three has continuously hooked viewers for weeks. This exciting season started with 2 episodes on Wednesday, July 16th and the finale aired on Sept. 17th. Though the show reached its finale, the excitement did not end there. The same day the final episode was released, the announcement for an upcoming Summer I Turned Pretty movie was shared, keeping the momentum alive. With an 11 episode season and a new movie announcement, The Summer I Turned Pretty continues to be a sensation. Warning, spoilers ahead!
In the first six episodes the timeline shifts from past memories to present, to catch up on the three year jump that happens in the first episode. The premiere episode begins with Belly and her childhood best friend, Taylor, joining Jeremiah, Belly’s boyfriend, at the University of Finch. The show then quickly picks up three years later, with Belly and Jeremiah together, happy at Finch. Later in the episode Jeremiah is devastated to find out that he will not be able to graduate on time because of his own carelessness. Meanwhile, Belly receives the news that she has been accepted to a prestigious study abroad program in Paris and contemplates not accepting because of Jeremiah’s newfound news and her promise to stay with him. In the second episode, Belly and Jeremiah attend a party where Belly overhears the heartbreaking news that Jeremiah cheated on her while on spring break.
This shattering news leads her to reminisce on her Christmas spent with Jeremiah’s brother, Conrad. Worsening her heartbreak, Belly’s brother Steven gets into a life threatening car accident. With all these pressing thoughts, Belly is torn in different directions. She decides to call Conrad in California to see if there’s anything he can do for Steven through Conrad’s medical school. Conrad is able to get advanced help for Steven, saving his life. As tensions are winding down, Jeremiah comes to the hospital to visit Steven. Later, once he has visited, Jeremiah sees Belly for the first time since the break up. He surprises her by swearing to never cheat again, and then proposing, leaving Belly no answer but yes.
In the third episode, the couple decides to announce their engagement at Susannah’s memorial dinner. The news is not received well, especially by Belly’s mom, who forbids Belly to see Jeremiah ever again. The memorial ends with an even deeper divide between family and friends. Belly begins to contemplate if her decision to marry Jeremiah is a good one, or if she is rushing into it. In episode four, the couple overlooks their family’s disapproval of their engagement, continuing to plan the wedding together. Though Belly still has underlying doubts about the engagement, she and Jeremiah begin searching for an apartment to move into together. It becomes evident that they are unprepared for marriage when they cannot afford to rent an apartment.
Episode five shifts to Conrad’s perspective while in Cousins beach, bringing new emotions and viewpoints. It is revealed that Conrad’s feelings for Belly never changed, growing even stronger as they were apart. Because of these strong feelings, Belly tries to push Conrad away and focus on her wedding planning, but when Jeremiah starts complaining about the little things in the wedding, Belly again questions whether she wants to go through with the marriage or if she’d be happier with Conrad. Later in the episode, as Jeremiah joins Belly and Conrad in Cousins to celebrate the fourth of July, tensions arise as jealousy develops in Jeremiah seeing Belly with Conrad. This jealousy shifts to Conrad as the episode ends with Belly and Jeremiah dancing under the moonlight on the dock, with Conrad looking down, eyes filled with love and pain.
The sixth episode brings even more tension between Conrad and Belly as they spend time together before the wedding. The newly engaged couple, Belly and Jeremiah, have made amends with Adam, Jeremiah’s father, and are now living with him temporarily until they can afford their own apartment. Adam uses the fact that he is letting them stay in his apartment as leverage, insisting they use his wedding planner, who is also his new girlfriend, and give him a large say in the wedding.
In episode seven Belly and Jeremiah are going back to Cousins beach to meet up with all their friends and celebrate their last hurrah before they are married. After the day of bittersweet celebrations, the group goes to a bar to celebrate Belly’s and Jeremiah’s bachelorette and bachelor parties. During the party, Belly breaks down in the bathroom and reveals to Taylor she had only ever imagined herself marrying Conrad. After this confession, the night takes a turn. Belly goes searching for Jeremiah, hoping to confide in him with her uncertainties, but instead she finds Conrad. He reveals that he never stopped loving Belly and tells her to not marry Jeremiah, but Belly rejects and dismisses Conrads love confession, telling him to leave.
Episode eight, the day of the big wedding, everyone is getting nervous and excited, when Belly takes Steven aside and tells him what Conrad said, leaving Steven furious. When Belly goes looking for Jeremiah after telling him the news the night before, she can not find him, no one can. Conrad, still in Cousins, takes it upon himself to find Jeremiah and right his wrongs by bringing him a letter written by their late mother. After searching, Conrad finds Jeremiah and gives him the note, the notes turns out to be addressed wrongly, actually written for Conrad about his love for Belly. The misaddressed letter sends Jeremiah into an even deeper spiral of anger, as he punches Conrad. After seeing the letter, Jeremiah realizes that Belly might still be in love with Conrad, and Conrad with her, so he goes looking for an explanation. When he finds her, he tells her to make a choice and tell him if she really loves him. Her answer of only partial love is not enough for Jeremiah, so they call off the wedding. Belly decides to put her life back onto its previous track by taking a flight to Paris.
The last three episodes of the season come with new adventures and growth for all of the characters in a new setting. With a new trailer to promote the episodes, fans were excited to see a different side of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Episode nine starts with Belly boarding a flight to Paris, her friends and family worrying about her because of her abrupt departure. When Belly gets to Paris, she discovers that she lost her spot on the study abroad program. Distraught, she calls her mom, Laurel, who urges her to come home. While Belly is in a Cafe, her backpack is stolen, sending her into panic. While searching for the man who stole her bag, Belly meets friends who become a big part of her new French life. The episode comes to an end with new-found friends and a reason to try to stay in Paris.
Episode ten covers ten months of events of Belly’s new built life in Paris, with a rocky start. While Belly is thousands of miles away, Jeremiah is trying to figure out his life back home now that he does not have Belly or a job. Conrad also has Belly on his mind while back in California, trying to move on.
In the 11th episode, the finale, Belly celebrates her 22nd birthday with a surprise visit from Conrad. She and Conrad spend the day together, reminiscing about their past and enjoying learning about the new people they’ve become over the last year. While spending the day together, the spark they thought had been lost reignited, sending Belly into a worry about ruining their relationship again and sending him away. Belly realizes that she can love Conrad and goes after him to profess her love, ending the show with the two of them together back in Cousins where it all started.
Season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty broughr many unexpected plot twists and captured dramatic moments. Belly faced numerous emotional challenges, but she grew and was able to learn more about herself and who she truly loved. The season wasn’t just about romance, it was about how Belly grew to know herself and who she truly wanted to be with. By the end, Belly had to make hard decisions that could change everything. The season was full of surprises, tears, and unforgettable moments. Fans are now excited to continue The Summer I Turned Pretty journey and watch the new movie unfold!
