When The Summer I Turned Pretty first premiered on Amazon Prime Video in June 2022, it felt like more than just another YA adaptation; it became an instant cultural moment. Based on Jenny Han’s beloved novel trilogy, the series captured the hazy magic of summer, first loves, and the messy journey of growing up.
Over three seasons, viewers followed Belly Conklin and the Fisher brothers through heartbreaks, family bonds, and self-discovery, all while soundtracked by the kind of music that defines a generation.
But beyond its dreamy seaside setting, the show has had a real-world impact, shaping book sales, sparking online conversations, boosting music charts, and even influencing how streaming platforms approach young adult storytelling.
The Story and Its Themes
At the heart of The Summer I Turned Pretty is Belly Conklin’s coming-of-age journey, caught between two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. While the love triangle drives much of the drama, the series goes far beyond teenage romance. It explores the thrill and confusion of first love, the sting of heartbreak, and the search for identity during those pivotal summers when everything feels like it could change in an instant.
The show also shines a light on family dynamics, especially the bonds between mothers and daughters, and the lasting strength of female friendships. Its seaside setting adds a layer of nostalgia, evoking the feeling of summers past, where time slows down and emotions feel larger than life.
Like the novels it’s based on, the series balances sweetness with realism, showing that growing up is rarely simple but always transformative.
Production and Release Journey
The Summer I Turned Pretty began as Jenny Han’s 2009 novel, the first in her bestselling YA trilogy. When Amazon ordered the adaptation in 2021, Han herself stepped in as creator and showrunner, ensuring the series kept the heart of her books while expanding the story for television. Casting quickly followed, with Lola Tung stepping into the role of Belly and Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno cast as the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah.
Filmed along the scenic coast of North Carolina, the show embraced its summer atmosphere from the start. Season 1 premiered in June 2022 and became an immediate hit, leading Amazon to renew it for a second season before the first even aired. Season 2 debuted in July 2023, expanding the story while tackling heavier themes like grief and change.
The journey to Season 3 wasn’t without obstacles; production was delayed due to the 2023 Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Still, anticipation only grew, and by July 2025, fans were rewarded with the third and final season: an 11-episode run that capped off Belly’s story and marked the end of Amazon’s most successful YA romance series to date.
Reception and Critical Response
From its debut, The Summer I Turned Pretty struck a chord with both critics and audiences. Season 1 was warmly received, praised for its sweetness, charm, and Lola Tung’s luminous performance as Belly. Reviewers highlighted the show’s ability to capture the awkward but beautiful contradictions of adolescence, blending rom-com energy with genuine emotional depth. Rotten Tomatoes reported an 88% approval rating, calling it a “solidly charming” coming-of-age drama that resonated across generations.
Season 2 took the story into heavier territory, tackling themes of grief, loss, and emotional change. While some viewers praised its willingness to explore deeper feelings and the evolving love triangle, others felt it lost some of the breezy fun that defined the first season. Still, performances and the music choices kept fans hooked, even when the pacing or structure drew mixed reviews.
By the time Season 3 arrived in 2025, the series had firmly established itself as a cultural touchstone. The final season dialled up the drama and tension, sparking heated debates among fans, was Belly better with Conrad, Jeremiah, or better off on her own? Critics noted the show’s strong writing, striking cinematography, and an unforgettable soundtrack, but more importantly, its ability to keep audiences emotionally invested until the very end.
Cultural and Social Media Impact
Beyond its storylines, The Summer I Turned Pretty made a remarkable mark on pop culture. Shortly after the show’s debut, Jenny Han’s entire book trilogy soared back onto bestseller lists, with It’s Not Summer Without You climbing to the number one spot on Amazon.
The series also turned its soundtrack into a cultural phenomenon; songs by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and other artists saw huge spikes in streams and sales, with some tracks experiencing up to a 6,000% increase. Taylor Swift’s Lover album even re-entered the Billboard 200, fueled by its use in key emotional scenes.
Social media amplified the show’s reach even further. On TikTok alone, the hashtag #TheSummerITurnedPretty has generated over 13.8 billion views, with fans sharing edits, reactions, and heated debates over “Team Conrad” versus “Team Jeremiah.” Launch weekends brought hundreds of thousands of posts worldwide, creating a wave of online conversation that extended far beyond the episodes themselves.
This mix of literary resurgence, music revival, and social media buzz made the show more than a streaming hit; it became a generational touchpoint, reminding audiences how stories of love and growing up can ripple across culture in unexpected ways.
Audience Reach and Streaming Success
If social media proved the passion of the fandom, the numbers confirmed its scale. Amazon revealed that Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty became its second most-viewed series among women aged 18–34, just behind The Rings of Power.
It was also the most-completed show among that demographic, proving that once viewers started, they were hooked until the very last episode.
The series also drove subscription growth for Prime Video, becoming one of its top three global acquisition titles in 2023. By the time the third and final season premiered in July 2025, anticipation had reached a fever pitch. Within its first week, the season drew 25 million viewers worldwide. For a YA romance drama, those numbers are a testament to how deeply the story resonated beyond its target audience, pulling in viewers across generations.
The Summer I Turned Pretty didn’t just succeed as an adaptation; it became one of Prime Video’s signature titles, proving that heartfelt storytelling can compete with even the biggest fantasy or action-driven series on streaming.
Awards and Recognition
Alongside its cultural buzz and streaming success, The Summer I Turned Pretty earned recognition within the industry. At the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, it won Bingeworthy Show of the Year, a fitting title for a series that fans often watched in one sitting. Its casting team also received nods from the Casting Society of America, with Artios Award nominations in both 2024 and 2025 for their work in bringing Jenny Han’s characters to life.
While the show was never positioned as an awards juggernaut, these honours reflected what made it special: strong casting, authentic performances, and a story that audiences wanted to live inside. The recognition validated its role not only as a pop-culture sensation but also as a well-crafted production that struck the right balance between youthful energy and emotional depth.
Why It Matters: The Lasting Impact
What makes The Summer I Turned Pretty more than just another teen romance is the way it connects across ages and experiences. For Gen Z, it’s a relatable story of first love and self-discovery, told with honesty and emotional nuance. For Millennials and Gen X, it carries a sense of nostalgia, echoing the TV dramas of the past like My So-Called Life or Beverly Hills, 90210, while reminding older viewers of the intensity of their own teenage summers.
The show also revived interest in YA romance on streaming, proving that heartfelt, character-driven storytelling can generate numbers on par with blockbuster genres. Its cultural ripple effect, from boosting book sales to reshaping music charts, showed how one series could influence multiple industries at once.
And at its core, it highlighted universal themes: family bonds, the strength of friendships, and the bittersweet reality that growing up means change.
As Jenny Han’s trilogy closes its TV chapter, The Summer I Turned Pretty leaves behind more than a love triangle. It leaves a legacy of emotional storytelling that resonated across generations, ensuring its place as one of the defining coming-of-age dramas of its time.
Wrapping Up
Over three seasons, The Summer I Turned Pretty grew from a beloved YA novel into a cultural touchstone. It captured the magic and messiness of adolescence while also sparking conversations that stretched far beyond the screen, about love, identity, friendship, and the passage of time. From book sales and music charts to TikTok trends and streaming milestones, the show’s influence reached every corner of pop culture.
As the final season wraps, what remains isn’t just the question of who Belly chooses, but the lasting impression the series leaves behind. Jenny Han’s story reminded viewers of the universality of growing up, the ache of first love, and the enduring pull of summer memories. In doing so, it carved out a special place in the landscape of modern television, proving that sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that feel closest to our own.