When The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP) first dropped on Prime Video, it was clearly targeted at younger viewers: teens navigating first love, growing up, and summer rites of passage. But as the seasons progressed—and especially with the arrival of season three—the show’s appeal has expanded dramatically. Women well beyond the teen demographic are among its most devoted fans.
Whether drawn by nostalgia, romantic fantasy, or storylines that validate emotions often dismissed in adulthood, many have found in TSITP a mirror for their own pasts—and sometimes present selves. This article explores why so many women love TSITP, diving into its emotional architecture, cultural resonance, and the beloved characters at its heart.
The Premise, the Stakes, and the Hearts Involved
At its core, TSITP follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) and her relationships with two brothers, Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno), in the Summers she spends at Cousins Beach. As Belly matures—through adolescence, grief, self-doubt, and desire—she becomes the center of a love triangle, but also of her own emotional world. Season three, its final season, sees Belly grappling with bigger decisions: studying abroad in Paris, confronting her feelings, and choosing what kind of life and relationship she wants. These stakes may seem “young adult,” but they carry weight beyond the age of the protagonist.
Belly (Lola Tung) in The Summer I Turned Pretty S3 E11
Photo: Eddy Chen
Nostalgia and “Emotional Time Travel”
One of the strongest pulls of TSITP for adult women is nostalgia—and the way the show functions as emotional time travel. For many, it brings back memories of first crushes, summers spent discovering identity, and raw, unfiltered feelings. The vibe recalls early 2000s teen dramas, both in aesthetic and in emotional cadence. As The Guardian reports, TSITP’s use of “sad girl” music—artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Phoebe Bridgers—alongside its emotional framing evokes the wistfulness of youth.
Women in their late 20s, 30s, and 40s seem particularly affected by this. One fan quoted in Elle says the show “reminds me of young love—being wanted by multiple boys and feeling everything for the first time.” Others describe watching it as a return to moments they never fully understood at the time—but understand now. The books may have been read long ago, but watching the adaptation has been a renewed chance to feel what was felt then.
Authenticity in Romance: Not Just Which Brother, But Becoming Yourself
The “Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah” debate has been one of the most visible fan dynamics around TSITP. But beyond rooting interests, many women appreciate that the show isn’t just about choosing between romantic partners—it’s about choosing oneself. In the season three finale, Belly’s arc centers on a journey of self-acceptance: Belly goes to Paris, confronts who she is outside of her relationships, and ultimately chooses Conrad—but also chooses herself by accepting her own feelings and growth.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Jenny Han reflects on how fans sometimes view Belly as a villain, especially when she makes messy choices. Han pushes back, arguing that female characters—especially young ones who are allowed to be complex—are often judged more harshly than their male counterparts. The show lets Belly be flawed, scared, and impulsive. Many adult viewers see that mess and remember themselves behaving similarly.
Conrad (Christopher Briney) in The Summer I Turned Pretty S3 E11
Photo: Eddy Chen
Embracing Emotions: From Melodrama to Meaning
TV criticism sometimes dismisses melodrama as overblown; TSITP, however, leavens its romantic excesses with emotional honesty and psychological richness. The Guardian describes the series as “nostalgia-fueled storytelling” that doesn’t shy away from grief, longing, and heartbreak. These themes are not just dramatic devices—they’re part of what makes the show feel alive. Many adult fans say the show gives permission to feel deeply.
For example, the show addresses loss with the Fisher family’s mourning of their mother (who died of breast cancer). It treats Belly’s decisions—from pursuing love, to considering steep sacrifices (like going abroad)—as emotionally significant. Gretta Rainbow, writing for The Atlantic, notes that TSITP “respects what is small and yet sacred about life,” suggesting that minor choices (Paris vs. staying, saying yes vs. saying no) feel like turning points. These weighty moments are part of what many viewers find cathartic.
@rereadingtherevolution Who would be in The Summer I Turned Pretty if it was made in 2014?!? #tsitp #thesummeriturnedpretty #2014 #2014tumblr #teamconrad #dylanobrien #loganlerman ♬ original sound – Rereading the Revolution Pod
Community, Fandom, and Shared Experience
Part of TSITP’s power lies not just in what’s on screen—but in what happens off it. Weekly episode releases in season three have brought back a ritual of appointment viewing. Fans plan viewing parties, rewatch episodes together, meme scenes, and debate every glance and line. For many women, this ritual becomes a space of connection—discussing romantic gestures, critiquing characters, empathizing with mistakes, and celebrating growth.
These fan communities often cross generational lines. We see moms and daughters watching together; readers who encountered the books in their teens and those discovering the story now both join in. The sexualization of romance (or fear of being judged for loving romance) is sometimes an embarrassment for older viewers—but communal enjoyment helps dissolve the shame.
Representation & Identity: Who’s Seen, Who’s Heard
TSITP’s cast and characters are far from perfect—but that’s part of their appeal. Belly is biracial. The show doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics like mental health: Conrad’s therapy, for example, is shown on screen. These elements matter a lot for women who want to see stories that reflect more than the white, straight, no-questions type of romance. Belly’s world grounded one fan dealing with neurodivergence and past trauma; she says that “certain lingering memories felt fresh… I remember the first time a boy noticed me,”—that universal moment filtered through a self more aware now.
Lola Tung, in an Elle interview, mentions how playing Belly has often mirrored her own journey toward emotional visibility. Tung shares that she was an emotional kid, sometimes afraid to show vulnerability. She adds that being on this show and seeing Conrad in therapy has been important. It’s rare to see young male characters encouraged to engage with therapy in this kind of show.
Belly (Lola Tung) in The Summer I Turned Pretty S3 E11
Photo: Eddy Chen
Why the Timing Feels Right
TSITP released its final season in mid-2025 (season three), with huge anticipation and strong viewership. The Guardian reports that the first two episodes of season three drew about 25 million viewers, many of them women aged 25-54. That’s a signal: TSITP has outgrown its teen label.
What’s more, many adult viewers are living through life phases marked by complexity—dating, heartbreak, growth, sometimes grief. The backdrop of a simpler past (summertime, first love, beach houses, coming-of-age arcs) feels like balm. It taps into a combination of longing for what was, while also recognizing how those early years shaped what is. It’s escapist but grounded—the perfect mix for many women who want both nostalgia and authenticity.
Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah: Why That Debate Matters More Than It Seems
The love triangle has always been central to TSITP—but it’s more than just choosing between two attractive men. For many adult fans, it’s a proxy for different versions of love and longing. Conrad is broody, emotionally intense, and reserved; Jeremiah is more open, dependable, and emotionally available in different ways. Fans align themselves not just by who they want Belly to end up with—but by what ideal of romance they believe in. Is love about intensity, longing, missed timing? Or is it about stability, overt affection, and communication?
Jenny Han has addressed these debates directly. In interviews, she’s noted that while Conrad always felt like the right choice for Belly (both in the books and in the adaptation), she understood the strength of the Jeremiah devotees. She also speaks about how the show allows for vulnerability from all sides—not just Belly, but Conrad, Jeremiah, and the supporting cast.
Lola Tung and Christopher Briney at The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Finale Event on September 17th, 2025, in Paris, France. Photo Credit: Anthony Ghnassia.
Escapism, Yes—but Not Escapism Alone
For many adult fans, TSITP offers “escape with stakes.” It’s dreamy: beach sunsets, summer nights, complicated family dynamics—but also anchored in real emotions and challenges. The grief over Susannah, for example, or Belly’s internal conflict about identity and decision-making, carries weight. The show gives a lot of room, which in many adult lives is often minimized. It validates confusion and heartbreak rather than shutting them down. That’s part of the comfort: TSITP lets you feel without having to pretend you have all the answers.
The Creative Choices That Deepen Resonance
Several artistic decisions amplify the show’s appeal. The soundtrack: TSITP leans hard into pop tracks that evoke longing, heartbreak, and first love. The pacing: Season three’s weekly release structure invites anticipation, discussion, and debriefs. The setting: Cousins Beach, beach houses, sunsets, parental homes—that aesthetic of summers gone by. And the visuals: costumes, set design, scenery, are designed to evoke sensual summer warmth. These choices are not random—critics note they are central to why TSITP often feels cinematic, like a memory you can almost touch.
Critical Reception, Cultural Impact, and Fan Pushback
Critics have generally praised TSITP for its emotional honesty. The Atlantic calls its perspective “what’s special” in that the show treats tender moments with seriousness. The Guardian emphasizes how the show has become a surprise cultural hit in 2025. Many think its success signals that audiences—especially women—want more stories that validate female feelings.
But the fandom isn’t without friction. Adult viewers also see and engage with the messiness: criticisms of character choices, arguments over who deserves what, frustration with what feels like favoritism in narrative, or how certain relationships are romanticized. In Teen Vogue, Han reflects on how Belly is sometimes villainized unfairly, in part because of gendered expectations about women’s behavior. TSITP’s success seems to magnify these debates.
Gavin Casalegno, Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Sean Kaufman at The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Finale Event on September 17th, 2025, in Paris, France. Photo Credit: Anthony Ghnassia.
What It Means for Women: Healing, Validation, and Choice
To many adult women, TSITP is more than entertainment. It’s a space of validation—of first loves, of uncertain decisions, of feeling things deeply. It reminds us that being flawed, wanting romantic connection, being hurt, or messy—all of that is part of growing. For some, it’s healing: revisiting unresolved emotions, seeing characters make different choices, sometimes better ones, or at least more self-aware ones.
The journey Belly makes in season three—of going abroad, learning to exist outside the love triangle world, growing outside the expectations of others—resonates not just as a story of teenage growth, but of emerging adulthood. The message that choosing yourself doesn’t preclude choosing someone else, that self-acceptance can enrich love rather than conflict with it, is deeply meaningful for many.
The Prompting of Conversations: Feminism, Female Agency, and Emotional Labor
Women viewers are also noticing the feminist threads in TSITP—how female desire, agency, and emotional labor are handled. The show portrays not just what Belly wants romantically, but what she needs for herself: growth, listening, space. It also shows what it costs when someone doesn’t get that: conflict, misunderstanding, emotional pain. Seeing Conrad attend therapy, for example, or seeing Belly’s mother, Laurel, have her own struggles, gives weight to the idea that being understood and seen matters.
Looking Ahead: How TSITP’s Ending Cabins the Power of Choice
As TSITP approaches its narrative conclusion, many women are invested not simply in who Belly ends up with—as long debated as that is—but in how she ends up. Does the ending honor Belly’s growth? Does it respect the pain, the choices? The finale in season three delivers on many themes: that choosing love and choosing oneself are not mutually exclusive. As Entertainment Weekly reports, Belly’s choice of Conrad is entwined with her own acceptance and growth. She went to Paris, found parts of herself, and only then could she return to love on her terms.
That kind of ending matters more for adult fans than the cliché “girl picks one boy.” It matters that the show acknowledges the messy middle: grief, time, longing, fear, jealousy, confusion. Then it gives a conclusion that feels like a reward—not just for the romance, but for self-discovery. It’s both closure and promise.
Conclusion: Why Women Love The Summer I Turned Pretty
So, what is it that makes The Summer I Turned Pretty not just a teen romance, but something far more universal? For many adult women, TSITP is emotional time travel—nostalgia for summers, first crushes, heartbreaks; a chance to see identity forming in real time. But it’s also a story that honors female subjectivity: the messy, often contradictory space where desire and doubt, longing and growth, romance and solitude coexist.
In a media landscape full of stories where women are punished for wanting, for making mistakes, for choosing imperfectly, TSITP gives something rarer: grace. It allows us to see a young woman choose, hurt, heal—and choose again. And in that journey, many women see something profoundly familiar: themselves. For them, TSITP is more than a fantasy of first love—it’s a validation of their own stories, the ones they carried in silence or buried under years of responsibility. It’s a reminder that those feelings mattered, and still do. And maybe that’s why, of all the summer shows, this one feels like it was made just for us.
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