Sunsets, sand, and summer love. For many teenagers, the show The Summer I Turned Pretty is a sweet escape. This show is a coming-of-age drama series based on the best-selling novels by Jenny Han. It follows 16-year-old Belly Conklin’s life as she spends her summers at Cousins Beach with her family and friends. She finds herself caught in a love triangle with two brothers, Jeremiah and Conrad Fisher. While figuring out her love life, she’s also dealing with friendship shifts, family struggles, and the process of growing up.
When the show first came out, in the summer of 2022, it gained a lot of attention, especially in younger age ranges. Its popularity has only grown throughout the years, with 25 million global viewers. The show recently came to an end on September 17, 2025, with the season’s final episode.
Beyond the beach houses and love triangles, the show has become something bigger in teen culture. For many, it’s a comfort show that feels personal. The show touches on the emotions and feelings of living life for the first time.
Senior Juliana Mattis began watching the show in 2022 when it first aired, “I started watching it because I saw it all over my socials. It seemed a lot different than any shows I’ve seen before,” Mattis said.
The Summer I Turned Pretty exploded into teen pop culture. On social media, for the past few years, it’s been impossible to scroll without seeing Cousins Beach outfits, couple ship edits, and debates between #TeamJeremiah or #TeamConrad. Like many others, Mattis first discovered the show through social media. “I saw tons of edits and videos of it on TikTok. Everyone posting their feedback online made it more exciting,” said Mattis.
The show also features trending songs among the younger generation by artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ariana Grande. Many teens link these songs to their own feelings, making the music a huge part of how they experience the show. “I think the music was a big part of the show. Using popular songs definitely made me feel more connected to it,” Mattis said.
During the last episode of the season, Belly finally chooses which brother to be with and to end the drama-filled love triangle for good. “The last episode was amazing. Especially for me because I’m Team Conrad,” said Mattis. After 23 episodes of waiting, the fans finally got their answers. Now that it’s over, fans are left with the memories they made while watching the show. They’ll always remember the connection that was made to the story that reminded them what it’s like to grow up.
