The widely popular series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (TSITP) concluded its third season recently, marking a significant moment for its dedicated fan base. The show has captivated audiences since its debut, particularly resonating with young viewers navigating their own transitions and emotional complexities.
Amelia Taylor, a sophomore from Potomac, Maryland, reflects on her journey with the series, which began during her junior year of high school in 2022. Seeking a distraction from academic pressures, she turned to TSITP, a coming-of-age story about a girl named Belly who navigates relationships with two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah, during summer vacations. This seemingly simple premise evolved into a profound exploration of love, loss, and growing up, mirroring the experiences of many young viewers.
Belly’s character, portrayed as awkward yet relatable, resonated deeply with Taylor and her peers. Throughout the series, Belly grapples with her feelings for both brothers while facing the harsh realities of life, such as the death of Conrad and Jeremiah’s mother, Susannah, from cancer. Taylor highlights how these narrative arcs provided a sense of connection during a time when many young people were adjusting to life post-COVID-19 restrictions.
The summer of 2022 represented a turning point, as society began to emerge from the pandemic. Taylor notes, “We had lost two vital years of socializing and found ourselves on the wrong side of a new decade.” Many viewers, including Taylor, found solace in Belly’s journey, which mirrored their own struggles to navigate adolescence in a rapidly changing world.
As the series progressed, so did Taylor’s own life. By the time the third season premiered in the summer of 2025, she had graduated high school and moved to Baltimore to begin her college journey. This new phase of life brought its own challenges and lessons, yet the anticipation for each Wednesday night episode of TSITP became a steadfast routine.
Taylor recounts the communal experience of watching the finale with friends, where the room was filled with laughter and lively discussions. “We ordered boba and cheesecake,” she shared, emphasizing the shared excitement among fans who had watched the series from the beginning. The finale sparked reflections on the past three years, leaving viewers both nostalgic and contemplative about their own growth.
Despite the emotional turmoil depicted in the show, Taylor acknowledges that the writing had its flaws, and the characters often made questionable decisions. Yet, the immersive experience of watching each episode provided an escape from her own reality. She humorously noted, “If the episode is boring, I’m irritable; if yet another character cheated, everyone around me seems suddenly less trustworthy.”
As the series concluded, Taylor expressed mixed feelings about the end of an era. Although she has a desire to focus on her studies and future endeavors, she recognizes the impact TSITP had on her life. “If someone asked me what it felt like to be a 16-year-old girl in 2022, I’d show them TSITP,” she stated.
The show’s ability to capture the nuances of adolescence and the complexities of relationships has solidified its place in the hearts of many viewers. As Taylor navigates her college experience, she carries with her the lessons and nostalgia from Belly’s journey, which continues to reflect the trials and triumphs of growing up.
The anticipation of a TSITP movie looms in the future, but for now, Taylor is ready to focus on her college experience while cherishing the memories created alongside this beloved series.
