You have to give Jenny Han credit every single one of her books that’s been adapted has become a hit show. Whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, she knows how to play the game. She creates brilliant storylines and chooses actors who make the characters unforgettable.
Even in the finale, Jenny Han adds her own thoughtful touch. Her closing message was something most creators and producers don’t bother with, but it made the episode feel complete.
When she said she’d be changing the ending, it turned out to be more open-ended than expected. Yes, Belly ends up with Conrad, but what I preferred were the more subtle, unfinished storylines like Steven and Taylor. That’s what I love about Jenny Han: she leaves space for the characters to keep growing.
I also thought it was clever to set the finale on Belly’s 22nd birthday, with Conrad showing up in Paris that same night. Even better, Lola Tung (who plays Belly) is actually 22 in real life such a nice detail.
Conrad in this episode was quietly confident and sexy. That line, “I thought you said marijuana messes with white matter” the eye contact, the way he passes the joint it all landed perfectly. And then cutting back to a scene from season one? That was just brilliant filmmaking (or maybe I just loved the way it was shot).
One of the best choices in the finale was weaving in flashbacks to season one. It tied everything together emotionally and reminded us how far the characters have come. The switching between Paris and Cousins Beach also kept things dynamic.
That said, Jeremiah’s new romance with Denise felt a little predictable to me. And while this season wasn’t my absolute favorite, the show overall still delivered.
One of my favorite moments was Belly’s line: “Nothing beats coming home when you’ve been gone for a long time.” It’s simple, but so relatable.
And who knows maybe we’ll get a one-off special in the future. Jenny Han herself has hinted it could happen.
Overall, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a brilliant young adult show. If you haven’t seen it yet, I definitely recommend giving it a chance. I’ll be keeping an eye on all the main actors and cheering them on they’ve got such bright futures ahead.