Even in the middle of Sept., it is always summer in Cousin Beach. The hit show, “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” premiered its series finale on Sept. 17, 2025. Before hitting screens on Amazon Prime Video, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” was a popular trilogy by bestselling author, Jenny Han. Han is also known for young adult romance novels and series, such as “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.”    

Audiences from all over the world tuned in every Wednesday to watch the new episode of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and root for their favorite brother. The story follows Belly Conklin, played by actress Lola Tung, as she navigates her path in adulthood, while holding onto her treasured summer memories in Cousins Beach, in North Carolina. Childhood love, Conrad, and best friend turned lover, Jeremiah Fisher, are trying to win over Belly’s heart for ‘infinity.’ Actors Chris Briney and Gavin Casalegno are consistently trending on social media platforms, with the debate of who Belly should end up with.   

Tension between both ‘teams’ arose when Han, who also produces her hit show, shared in interviews the ending may look different than what she originally wrote in her third book, “We’ll Always Have Summer.’ However – spoiler alert – ‘Team Conrad’ fans were relieved when the episode ended with a Belly and Conrad reunion in Paris, and a glimpse into their future together sharing the famous Cousins Beach house. The finale included a familiar, fulfilling ending, while showcasing new characters with their plots that brewed throughout the season.  

The show has a wide fanbase, ranging from young teens to young adults who grew up reading the series. Plant High School students are no strangers to the world of The Summer I Turned Pretty and were eager to share their thoughts on the finale.  

Sophia Gudgeon (11) is a major fan and has ‘episode recap’ conversations with her friends at lunch. 

“I thought the finale was a great way to end things, though there were many loose ends,” Gudgeon said. “It was very nostalgic, and made the audience feel like it was the end of an era.”   

After the movie announcement, Gudgeon is hoping for a few more special moments to tie some of the loose ends together, and an endless summer.  

“I hope they continue the summer tradition at the ‘Cousins house’ with their future children,” Gudgeon said. 

Caroline Korhn (12) is also a fan that read the trilogy similar to Gudgeon. However, new moments added in the show left room for surprise and celebration.  

“The one thing that came as a shock to me was Jeremiah and Denise,” Korhn said.  

Jeremiah, one of the two Fisher boys Belly had to choose between, wasn’t left lonely when he was officially rejected by Belly. Han introduced Denise, a new character in season 3, to accompany Jeremiah. 

Reading the books is not the only way fans fell in love with the characters and storyline. Through TikTok and Instagram, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” rapidly spread throughout the online world, grabbing the attention of millions of viewers. The show was awarded a People’s Choice Award for ‘Bingeworthy Show of the Year,’ and became one of the most popular TV shows on Amazon Prime Video.   

Shaye Siambanes (11) said, “I was not surprised at all, I knew my ‘king’ Conrad would his way.” 

Siambanes shared a glimpse into her “The Summer I Turned Pretty” nights she spends with her sisters and mom, “I watch the new episode every week with my mom and sister. It’s become our weekly tradition,” Siambanes said. “My sister drove down to Tampa to watch the last episode, and we were all excited as Conrad fans.”  

Although excitement and anticipation spread worldwide and online before the series finale, somber emotions spread as the series came to an end. As much as fans raved about the ending, they were still left wanting more. Thankfully, this won’t be the last time viewers will see their ‘summer squad.’ During the special season finale event in Paris, France, at the Théâtre Marigny, showrunner Han announced, “The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie!”  The feature film will serve as a continuation and true conclusion of the show. The cast celebrated by meeting fans, taking red carpet photos, and telling the press what they know so far about the movie.   

“There is another big milestone left in Belly’s journey, and I thought only a movie could give it its proper due,” Han said.   

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” fans at Plant and across the world are sure to grab their popcorn and beach buckets in early 2026 or 2027 to see where the story leads.