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The Summer I Turned Pretty has wrapped up its third and final season on Prime Video, offering fans a satisfying, emotional closure to Belly’s coming-of-age story. Between unresolved tension, personal growth, and echoes of loss, this final chapter clarifies where each character stands—even as the story hints it may not be entirely over.
The bittersweet finale of a long love triangle
In “At Last,” the final episode of the series, Belly (Lola Tung) ultimately chooses Conrad (Christopher Briney), bringing a close to the years-long romantic tension between the two brothers and the girl they both loved. It’s a choice that’s felt inevitable and yet still retains emotional weight, largely because the show has never reduced their relationships to simple team labels. Emotions have always been messy, hard-earned, and beautifully grounded.
Susannah (Rachel Blanchard), though long gone since season one, played a key symbolic role in this resolution. It was her quiet hope, mentioned early on, that Belly would end up marrying one of her sons. Still, Blanchard has emphasized that Susannah never meant to create expectations or pressure. “She wanted what was best for the people she loved,” she explained, adding that in hindsight, her character might have communicated those hopes differently.
When that final beach scene arrived—Belly and Conrad finally meeting each other with maturity and mutual understanding—it felt earned. Not perfect, but honest. And I think that’s what this show always did well: it embraced imperfections. To read Pluribus finale shocks fans as season 2 faces long wait
Grieving, healing and growing up
Even after Susannah’s death, her presence lingered like sunlight behind the clouds. Most of her scenes in seasons two and three appeared in flashbacks, serving as emotional anchors for the characters still learning to live in her absence. Blanchard admitted portraying these scenes was often tough, especially when the themes circled mortality or the fragments grief leaves behind in families.
Belly’s journey, meanwhile, was never just about choosing between two boys. This third season made that even clearer. Her brief time abroad in Paris marked a turning point—and not just for the visible change in haircut that subtly mirrors her mother, Laurel (Jackie Chung). It symbolized Belly finally stepping out of other people’s narratives. Laurel, whose own past has always been more quietly layered, recognized this and let her daughter find her independence, without clinging too tightly.
That shift in their dynamic felt deeply authentic. Parents don’t always get it right, but letting go at the right moment matters, and Chung captured that delicate balance beautifully. For me, it’s one of the most moving parts of the season.
Why fans aren’t ready to let go
Even with closure, there’s a sense among fans—and clearly among the cast—that this world still has more stories to tell. Amazon has confirmed a film continuation of The Summer I Turned Pretty is in development. No plot details or cast announcements yet, but both Blanchard and Chung are eager to return, especially to deepen the mother-daughter connection between Laurel and Belly.
Chung said she’d love to explore scenes where the family dynamics feel whole again, post-grief, post-growth. That sounds like the kind of farewell this story deserves: not wrapped in a bow, but reminding us that life continues after endings. To read Taylor Swift opens up in final Eras Tour docuseries episode
There’s also growing interest in a potential prequel focused on a younger Susannah and Laurel during their youth. Blanchard even floated casting choices, suggesting Elle Fanning or Maddie Ziegler might fit the role of young Susannah, while Chung mentioned Broadway actress Helen J. Shen as a young Laurel. That idea alone teases a rich well of untapped emotional material—friendship, rebellion, first loves in the 90s or early 2000s—and I can already picture the dreamy summer nights and aching decisions the show could depict.
What continues to resonate
The Summer I Turned Pretty found its strength not in plot twists or teen melodrama, but in creating characters who carried emotional truth. It’s a story about growing up through love, grief, family ties, and quiet self-discovery. It didn’t try to be sensational—it tried to be real. And in a landscape of series constantly shouting for attention, there’s something brave in that approach.
What made the series resonate for so many viewers was this unique combination of:
- A multi-generational story about family, not just romance
- Authentic character arcs, especially for Belly and Laurel
- Soft, luminous directing choices that made summer itself feel like a living memory
- Honest portrayals of grief and growing up without skipping the messy parts
All three seasons are currently streaming on Prime Video. The film continuation is on the horizon, though without a release date, the waiting game begins. Still, for those of us deeply attached to Cousins Beach and the characters that lived there, it already feels worth it.
