The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty Review – Love Game (204)
Maybe things can be like they were before, even just for a night.
Yes, things are different now, and they always will be, there’s no denying that. The idyllic summer our parents create for us when we’re kids begins to slowly, but surely, drift away with each year as we get older. But those moments and memories are still there, serving as our happy place, so when things get tough, we seek out that comfort and try like hell to get it back, even for a brief moment.
Spoiler Alert – this review contains spoilers, proceed at your own risk!
And that’s exactly what the young adults did on The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 Episode 4.
They needed an escape to let go of the heaviness that’s been hanging over them and just feel like a carefree kid again for a few hours; where reality melted and nothing truly mattered.
They were reminded of their close friendship that has brought them so much joy over the years—removed from Susannah’s death, the love triangle, school and their futures, and all the other problems.
They were just living in the bliss and enjoying every minute of it. However, reality was always lurking in the background, waiting to pounce, and we’ll undoubtedly deal with the fallout in the coming episodes, but it was just as important for fans to see this side of the group’s friendship as it was for the characters to relive it. We always hear about how magical their childhood was, yet we’ve never really seen it in action until now.
It was a reset that provided a lot of fun and laughter, but it also allowed viewers to see that Belly has truly grown into her own; a confident young woman, one that is no longer afraid to take up space and do what she wants. She’s no longer the timid girl she was last year, trying to minimize herself or be the girl that she thinks Conrad wants.
Conrad also needs to realize that if he doesn’t get it together soon, he’s going to lose Belly for good. Others will see how great of a catch she is, and they won’t hesitate, plus, she isn’t going to wait around forever putting up with his BS.
While there was definitely a vibe between Belly and Conrad during the carnival scenes, especially as they got competitive and went head-to-head, he mostly seemed oblivious to it, or he didn’t want to let it in because he was afraid that he’d have to face with the consequences of how he treated her.
Conrad chose to live in that childhood space for a bit, while Jeremiah took his chance and faced the Tower of Terror with her. This would’ve been the perfect opportunity for Conrad to make his move, but he didn’t take it, and Jeremiah didn’t let the chance go by, swooping in and showing Belly that he’s always been there for her and always taken care of her and her needs. And it was so effortless to him that it kind of made me reconsider which brother I’m actually shipping.
There was a moment between Belly and Jeremiah, and it cannot be denied. Even Taylor saw it, though we know she’s rooting for Jer.
Steven seemingly gave Conrad permission to rekindle his romance with Belly as he mentioned witnessing the sparks, and while I know he means well, his suggestion completely dismisses Conrad’s past behavior and the heartache she endured. A better conversation would’ve been for Steven to tell Conrad that if he’s going to turn up the heat on the flirting, he cannot hurt his sister again the way he previously did.
And it makes me wonder if Conrad can ever change his ways. He’s well aware of the damage he’s done, and yet he remains blocked off and emotionally unavailable. What’s the point of going in circles? Why would Belly even want to do that to herself? He’s got a good heart, but he has plenty of growing up to do if he wants to prove to Belly that he won’t hurt her again.
As for Steven and Taylor, well, those two just need to tell each other how they feel and get it over with because they could not stop cheesing and flirting with each other. It was cute, especially considering last summer’s fiasco.
And finally—who took the furniture? Their brief summer reprieve was just extended as there’s no way the teens will part ways and leave Cousins behind now that someone is taking the extra step to swiftly get rid of Susannah’s beach house.
They’ve proven that they will do anything to save that home, and when backed into a corner, my guess is that they will call reinforcements like Belly and Steven’s mom, Laurel, who was seemingly rekindling her romance with Cleveland. She deserves a shred of happiness after losing her best friend, so I’m all here for it. Plus, Cleveland understands the importance of Cousins, and he had a relationship with Conrad, so I’d imagine he’d want to save it as well. Bring in the big guns.
The teens mean well, but they are naive when it comes to understanding Aunt Julia’s side of things. I don’t think she’s the villain that they are making her out to be. They are seeing it from a topline perspective as a place that was important to them and keeps the memory of their mother alive, however, they aren’t taking into account the financial burden like how much money is required for upkeep. In the real world, memories aren’t enough to go on.
However, a lot of it is Susannah’s fault as she never let them see things for what they really were—never let them see the flaws—simply wanting to push away all the pain and discomfort to make things perfect. She did that with her husband’s cheating, her cancer last summer, and now, the boys are finding out that she also did that with her fractured relationship with Aunt Julia, who doesn’t have fond memories of Cousins or her sister, which likely plays into her decision to want to sell the place that only harbors pain and resentment for her.
Susannah wasn’t a bad person, by any means, but she may have shielded the boys, so now it’s harder for them to make sense of a crippling reality when they are so used to everything going their way and panning out for them.
Though, I appreciate their enthusiasm and dedication to saving a place that they know meant so much to their mom and became a place where everyone felt safe, loved, and happy, and truly hope there’s a way to reunite them as a family as its clear Sky wouldn’t mind having a relationship with their cousins.
What did you think of the episode? Will the teens find a way to save the Cousins house? Will Aunt Julia cave once she sees the magic? Will Sky play an integral part in saving the beach house and helping their estranged family? It is called cousins after all! Plus, they definitely seem to enjoy their outing and the company of their cousins and their friends.
Share your thoughts below on the fourth episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty! Did you enjoy everyone letting loose for a bit?
It’s been a month since The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 wrapped up, and naturally, I’ve been replaying all of the best moments (read: the ones that give you butterflies) between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, to fill the void.
TSITP hinges on a love triangle between the two brothers and their longtime family-friendly, and when romance is the main focus of a young adult drama, well, you can anticipate that the series will have its fair share of hot and steamy makeout moments, along with plenty of heartbreak… more on that here.
With two seasons currently available to binge-watch on Prime Video—and we patiently await the third season—we’re breaking down all the steamiest moments on the show thus far.
Conrad and Belly Visit the Cousins House in the Winter
The moment when Conrad and Belly let their love totally consume them takes the top spot simply because of how intimately romantic and pure it is. Conrad showed so much care for Belly, making sure that she felt safe and ready. Nothing mattered except for the love and passion they felt for each other in that very moment; the world could melt away as they spent the evening together, cuddled up warmly by the fire. It’s one of the most pivotal Conrad and Belly scenes because it’s followed by so much anger and heartbreak as their relationship takes a nosedive and ends with an explosive argument at Conrad’s mother’s funeral.
Belly and Jeremiah Decide to Be Together
Okay, this kiss, was undeniably hot because it came from such a place of happiness and fullfillment. Belly knew what she wanted, and she went after it. They’d been skirting around their feelings for much of season 2, but there was nothing standing in their way anymore, so they both finally embraced their lust and completely gave themselves over to it. The little tug on his sweater indicated how crazy Belly was about him and how badly she wanted him, making everyone’s heart skip a beat while watching at home. The scene was delivered and executed perfectly by the duo (they understood the assignment)—but the Beyonce soundtrack simply elevated it into one of the most monumental romantic moments on television. It was a dream kiss, so even if you’re not Team Jeremiah, you couldn’t help but be completely enamored by this scene.
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Belly and Conrad’s First Kiss on the Beach
There are so many romantic parts to this scene—the apology, Conrad’s honesty about needing and wanting Belly, and Taylor Swift’s “This Love (Taylor’s Version),” all culminating in the moment she’s dreamt of forever—the first kiss during a sunrise on the beach. After putting Belly through such an emotional rollercoaster through the whole season, Conrad made up for it with an absolutely perfect moment.
Belly and Jeremiah’s Makeout
With Conrad, it’s romantic and sensual, but with Jeremiah, it’s passionate, hot and charged. It’s almost as if Belly and Jeremiah cannot wait to get their hands on each other—and in this case, Jeremiah was waiting. He was waiting for his time with Belly to come, and when it did, he bared his soul to her about his feelings before they embraced in a hot and heavy pool makeout session that’s on every girl’s summer bucket list.
Belly and Jeremiah’s First Kiss in the Car
After Belly’s skinny dipping incident, Jeremiah and Conrad come to the rescue, but she makes it a point to go back home with Jere so she can apologize for ditching him during the volleyball tournament and to thank him for picking her up. In place of their usual playful vibe, there’s an intense chemistry that builds up to their first kiss. Sparks fly in a moment that feels both safe and right, because it’s Jeremiah, but also extremely hot and dangerous, because it’s Jeremiah. Jere checks in on her, proving that he values her and cares for her, while Belly boldly makes the first move, placing his hand on her chest, as her heart pounds in a way that indicates a strong and indescribable connection & attraction—it’s a sign that their romance-to-be was inevitable in season 2.
Belly and Jeremiah on Conrad’s Car
Listen, this scene did a lot of damage to both fandoms, in good and bad ways. They couldn’t hold off on those feelings anymore, simply embracing each other in the heat of the moment, but man, it was poor timing. Conrad walked in on them locking lips on his car, at his college, while he was taking a test. It wasn’t ideal, but it had to happen so that Belly and Conrad could put their relationship behind them (for now) and Jeremiah could finally, officially get his moment. Also, it continues on the “hot and heavy” trend for these two, and despite being Team Conrad, I can’t argue that I see the appeal of Jelly because of their raw and real chemistry and longing for one another.
Steven and Taylor Car Hood Makeout
When you’re young and in love, you make out on and in cars a lot, as evidenced by TSITP. Shortly after Belly and Conrad’s controversial car makeout, Steven and Taylor declared their love for each other in a cute lip-locking moment that came on the heels of a very vulnerable one; Taylor pushing Steven away because, for the first time in her life, she actually cared as much as the person she was in a relationship with. Not only are they both forcing each other out of their comfort zones, but their relationship built up to this moment organically, and it’s so adorable that we can’t help but ship them.
The screen adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty—based on a novel of the same name by Jenny Han—was a breakout hit for Amazon Prime Video back in 2022, and after the second season concluded in August 2023, fans have been eagerly awaiting a third season of the coming-of-age drama.
The good news is that the third installment has already been renewed, but it’s unclear when it might land on the streaming service. As of right now, production has been halted due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Previously, season 2 started production in July 2022 and wrapped filming in November, with the show arriving in the summer of 2023, so depending on the strikes, an optimistic timeline would be late summer 2024, but again, that’s at best.
As for what we can expect, thus far, the franchise has stayed pretty close to the books, meaning that the upcoming third season will be based on We’ll Always Have Summer.
With the success of the series, Prime Video and Han may decide to add additional seasons, but it’s highly possible that a third season could be the final one, forcing fans to say goodbye to Cousins Beach.
Han shared the exciting news of S3 on Instagram earlier this year, revealing that it would include a total of 10 episodes—two episodes more than the first and second seasons.
“We’ll Always Have Summer 🤍 So excited to finally share that we’re coming back to Cousins for Season 3, and this time we’ll have 10 whole episodes. It’s been hard not being able to work on the show because of the ongoing strikes, but we can’t wait to get going on Season 3 as soon as we’re able,” she wrote in the caption.
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The second season dug deeper into the friendship—and love triangle—between Belly (Lola Tung), Conrad (Christopher Briney), and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) that was introduced in the first season, though don’t you worry, Belly’s brother, Steven (Sean Kaufman), and her best friend, Taylor (Rain Spencer), were along for the ride, finding their own love story.
Susannah’s cancer was a major subplot that was woven into the main plot within the first season, with her death having a huge impact on season 2.
You can watch the season 2 trailer below and read all of CraveYouTV’s reviews right here!
Tensions were at an all-time high between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah on The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 Episode 8, especially as a storm blew into town and forced them to spend a night in a one-bed motel right after Conrad witnessed Belly and Jeremiah making out.
The situation wasn’t ideal for anyone, with Belly finding herself smack-dab in the middle of both brothers and slightly conflicted about her feelings. She had two great guys with differing qualities willing to do anything for her. And it was clear that they both cared a great deal about her—but one always felt like the right choice for the moment, while the other always felt like the right choice down the line.
I can’t explain it, but it goes back to what Laurel said to Belly on the phone when her daughter asked for love advice: love has different seasons depending on where you’re at in life. She wanted Belly to have “lots of lovers” before she settles down, and while that’s slightly disturbing to hear from your mom, Laurel’s also right. Belly has been in a conflicted state of being for so long, always trying to choose the right Fisher boy when the world has so many fish in the sea.
But if it must boil down to Conrad and Jeremiah, there is a Mr. Right and a Mr. Right Now.
I do think that Conrad is her person; her soulmate, as Steven pointed out. He’s the one that challenges Belly and the one that she has a deep bond and connection with that scratches way below the surface. But he’s also so complicated that it’s just not something Belly needs right now after one of the toughest years of her life. She doesn’t want someone who is going to put up walls, hold back, or make her doubt herself. And one of Conrad’s biggest faults is that he has a tendency to keep making decisions for the people around him rather than letting them decide for themselves. Case and point—he told Belly he still wanted her and then didn’t let her talk through any of her feelings, simply pulling away because the alternative proved to be too painful.
And those reasons are exactly why Jeremiah is the right choice for her right now. He’s simple, easygoing and fun to be around. He wants Belly to be happy—and will do anything to make it happen and protect her from getting hurt. He’s giving her 100%, and in a relationship, especially that early on in your life, that’s what you want. You want to feel like the center of their world. Belly and Jeremiah have an undeniable connection and love for each other, but it’s not a love that’s going to withstand the test of time like Belly and Conrad’s. It’s merely a crush that they are finally giving the light of day, and when you’re in the honeymoon stage, naturally, it feels invincible and like pure bliss up until it fizzles out.
I’m not discounting Conrad despite Belly’s decision to pursue something with Jeremiah. While Con might prove to be more difficult and frustrating, he’s also crazy about Belly in a way that doesn’t even compare to what Jeremiah feels for her, and his love for her was evidenced in the small gestures that typically go unnoticed—like knowing she prefers Sour Patch Kids to Swedish Fish or that she gets car sick when she reads in a moving vehicle. And Jere is supposed to be the one that knows Belly better than anyone! Plus, when he chose to walk away and allow Belly and Jeremiah to be together rather than standing in the way of their happiness the way Jere did the first time when she and Conrad got together, he did it for her, but he never gave up on the belief that she’d come back to him one day, a fact made clear when he unpacks her room—and the bear— at the Cousins beach house room.
Belly interpreted Conrad’s change of heart the day after he professed his love for her as the “typical” thing he does—gives and then takes away—but there was actually so much more to his behavior that she simply didn’t want to acknowledge. It was easier to let herself believe that Conrad was just being Conrad than to understand why he was acting the way he was because it allowed her to place him in the rearview. Conrad pulled back after telling Belly that he still wanted her because he realized that he’d lost her; he understood how much he hurt her before, and he knew that by standing in the way of her romance with Jere, he’d just be inflicting more pain. Much like Jere, all he wanted was for Belly to be happy, and it was clear that it wasn’t going to be with him. It was one of those “if you love something set it free” moments with the hope that they’d find their way back to each other in the end.
As for Jeremiah, he also displayed plenty of growth when he suggested that Belly and Conrad needed to have an honest heart-to-heart before he could pursue a relationship with her. Jeremiah knows his brother all too well, so when Conrad came into the car acting like an arrogant asshole and making snide comments, he knew that it was coming from a place of hurt because he still loved Belly. He knew that they needed to have an honest conversation about their feelings—which they didn’t because communication isn’t their strong suit—before any decisions could be made. Too much was at stake and too many feelings were involved.
Despite wanting to be with Belly with every fiber of his being, Jere also promised to back down if she chose Conrad, thus keeping his relationship with his brother intact.
And honestly, both Belly and Jeremiah deserved Conrad’s wrath—everything he said was on the money, even if it skewed mean.
It may have gotten messy at times, but you have to hand it to all of them for handling the situation in such a mature way in the end because it’s absolutely not an easy thing to watch the love of your life slip away with your brother. They put their friendship and brotherhood above all, and even as Conrad walked away heartbroken, he asked if they’d all reconnect on the Fourth because they all knew that one of the things that Susannah always wanted was for them to stay in each other’s lives, no matter what.
But man, the pain on Conrad’s face—that cut deep. That boy gave it his all, delivering a performance so realistic that I felt my heart start to ache right alongside him. If he’s broken, I’m broken. He wears pain well though, so his sulking only made him that much hotter. Christopher Briney, you may not have snagged the girl, but you have my heart, and all the flowers for bringing Conrad’s complexities to life in such a nuanced way. It was even more painful to see how happy he was after passing his final and gearing up to tell Belly how he felt, only to see his entire demeanor change and his future catch fire right before his eyes—a perfect day turned into one of the worst in mere seconds.
As for Belly and Jeremiah, they’re cute, flirty, and happy, and it’s a good space for her to be in as she feels rejuvenized and inspired. She even convinced Coach Shaw to let her back on the team at volleyball camp, so it definitely seems like Belly is making the right moves to ensure her own happiness first and foremost right now. It’s also proof that she is open to a future that’s slightly different than she imagined as a young girl when all she saw was Conrad. Though, if I’m being quite frank, she needs to look past the Fisher boys to get some true perspective on dating and relationships before settling down.
Anytime there’s a scene with Susannah, it guts me, but it was also sweet to see one of her final moments with Belly and to truly realize how much she meant to her—it’s exactly why Belly means so much to the boys. It almost feels like by being with Belly, they can stay connected to their mom.
My co-worker also brought up a point that was truly gutting. With Conrad back and working on the beach house, it feels like he’s stuck in the past, while Jeremiah and Belly are moving forward into the future. It definitely speaks to all of their grieving process, however, and I hope by working through his issues alone, Conrad comes out stronger.
Then there’s Taylor and Steven who are too cute for words. They struggled to bring their relationship into the real world briefly because Cousins Beach truly is such a bubble world where you just get caught up in the moment until reality sets in and things look and feel slightly different. Thankfully, Taylor owned up to pushing Steven away because she was scared that he’d break her heart when he went off to college because she cared about him so much and no longer had the upper hand in the relationship (and her fears are fair), while Steven simply wanted to continue being the kind of guy that made Taylor happy.
When it comes to relationships, Taylor and Steven may have the least toxic one of them all. Also, it was fun to see them bicker about their favorite ships as it mimicked exactly what the audience felt when professing their love for either Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah.
There was some great dialogue throughout the episode that kept tensions running at an all-time high, along with plenty of good moments to appease both ships, though, at the end of the day, all you can really ask is that Belly follows her heart (and sticks with her decision) and it led her to Jeremiah this time… and for now.
What did you think of the episode/season? Share your thoughts.
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