The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 1
Peter Taylor/Prime Video
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is officially over, with Season 3, Episode 11 now streaming on Prime Video. If you’re disappointed to see the show end after five years, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there’s still hope of a return to Cousins Beach in the future, potentially through another season or a spinoff focusing on different characters.
In the Season 3 finale (read the full recap here), Belly finally chooses Conrad after a tumultuous season. From calling off her wedding to Jeremiah to discovering herself in Paris, Belly ultimately realizes she’ll always be that little girl who wished on every birthday to be with Conrad Fisher.
It took Conrad coming to visit Belly on her birthday, being together, and almost losing him again for her to realize that loving him isn’t so bad after all. She runs after Conrad’s train headed to Brussels before it’s too late, and this time, she’s the one pouring her heart out.
“Conrad, I choose you of my own free will,” she says. “If there are infinite worlds, every version of me chooses you in every one of them.” They kiss passionately on the train, marking a fairytale ending for Belly and Conrad.
The season ends with everyone in good spirits. Jeremiah is now a chef and is finally making a living without his father’s financial support (and he’s found a romantic spark with Denise). Steven and Taylor are planning to move to San Francisco after fully committing to being together. And Belly eventually returns to Cousins with Conrad after spending a bit longer in Paris.
“Nothing beats coming home after you’ve been gone a long, long time,” Belly says in her narration, as she and Conrad pull into Cousins. “And just as it always had, the beach house held a million promises of summer. And what just might be.” The final credits feature a photo montage of Belly and Conrad celebrating Christmas together in Paris.
Is this the end of “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” or could we see Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Taylor, and Steven again? Here’s what creator Jenny Han has said about Cousins’ future.
Will There Be The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 4?
Belly (Lola Tung), Conrad (Christopher Briney). Photo: Erika Doss © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC
Erika Doss/Prime
Unfortunately, there won’t be a Summer I Turned Pretty Season 4 (for now). The series is based on Jenny Han’s trilogy, with each season of the show directly adapting one book in the series.
In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, Han explained her decision to conclude the show after its third season, as well as the support she received from Prime Video not to continue it longer.
“Doing what I think is best for the story has always been my north star, and the story to me fit for these three seasons,” Han explained. “I appreciate that they [Prime Video] respected that. To be able to say when, to be able to call it, is rare when something is doing well and making people money. But I have to be true to myself and what I think is best for the story.”
However, she hasn’t closed the door on revisiting the story in the future, possibly through a sequel or revival that follows the characters later in life.
“Never say never — I never do,” Han revealed to Entertainment Weekly. “If the story is there, then I’m there. As a storyteller, you just get hit with inspiration all the time. If I had a really great idea that I was excited by, that I wanted to keep telling the story, and if [the stars] were excited to do it, then I would be so pumped. It really depends on if I feel like there is more story to tell.”
Lola Tung, who plays Belly, is enthusiastic about potentially revisiting her character in the future. “I love working with this group of people and I love working with Jenny,” Tung told EW. “I think it’s such a privilege to be any part of her cinematic universe, so if I was ever asked, I’m there.”
What About A Spinoff Of The Summer I Turned Pretty?
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 1
Dana Hawley/Prime Video
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 finale included a letter from Han that hinted at a promising future for the franchise, including the possibility of a spinoff.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the love you’ve shown The Summer I Turned Pretty all these years,” the note began. “Whether you’ve been with Belly since the very first book or joined us with the show, I’m so grateful you’ve made Belly’s story part of your summers.”
The creator added, “We put our whole hearts into this show, and we’re so thankful to you for coming along with us on the ride. Maybe we’ll meet again one summer in Cousins. Until then – All of my love always, Jenny.”
Han hinted to the Los Angeles Times she would be interested in making a spinoff, but it “has to feel like genuine excitement for me, because showrunning is 24/7, 365 days a year,” she said. “I feel I have to be there every day to make sure I can stand behind it.
She continued, “I’m definitely open to doing more stories in the universe, it’s just that I want to figure out what the story is that I feel so compelled to tell it that I’m willing to spend the next few years throwing my whole body into it.”
One popular idea among fans is a prequel that explores the friendship between Laurel, the mother of Belly and Steven, and her best friend Susannah (Rachel Blanchard), who is Conrad and Jeremiah’s mom. The show could explore Laurel and Susannah’s relationship, from meeting in college to their marriages, relationship struggles and beyond.
Stay tuned to learn updates about The Summer I Turned Pretty, including any updates in the franchise.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video.