The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Parents Guide

There’s something uniquely painful about the end of a summer not just because the sun fades or the parties quiet down, but because endings, by nature, mean change. And The Summer I Turned Pretty: Season 3 doesn’t shy away from that. Instead, it leans into it heartbreak and all.

This season isn’t here to wrap things up with a neat, dreamy bow. It’s here to say: people grow, people mess up, and sometimes, the hardest part of love is deciding who you are when it’s all said and done. If you’ve followed Belly’s journey from the start the blush of first love, the tangle of heartbreak, the deep grief over Susannah’s passing then Season 3 feels like the most emotionally honest chapter yet. And maybe the most painful.

For longtime fans, it’s a reckoning. For newcomers? Honestly, don’t start here. You’ve got to earn this season. You have to feel what it took for Belly to get here caught between two brothers, two versions of herself, and a future that’s anything but clear.

The Story & What It Tries to Say

The story follows Belly two years after the tumultuous events of Season 2. She’s now in college, engaged to Jeremiah the safe choice, the one who stayed when things fell apart. On the surface, she seems okay. But beneath that, there’s tension. Quiet doubts. Lingering questions. Because Conrad the boy who broke her heart but never really let her go is back. And with him comes every feeling she tried to bury.

We return to Cousins Beach, but it’s different now. The magic of those earlier summers is still there the glow, the music, the friendships but it’s layered with more adult concerns. People are older, bruised, but also stronger. Belly isn’t a wide-eyed girl anymore. She’s a young woman trying to make peace with her past and take ownership of her future.

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The series sticks to the broad strokes of Jenny Han’s We’ll Always Have Summer, but it also makes some bold choices. It adds new arcs, especially for Steven and Taylor, and deepens side characters who’d previously been sidelined. The triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah still drives the plot, but this season is ultimately about identity who we are when no one is watching. Who we are when the summer ends.

What does it try to say? That love isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes it’s about honesty. About forgiveness. About letting go of the fantasy and accepting the reality. And it does a pretty good job of saying all that without ever losing the emotional heartbeat that’s made this show resonate with so many.

Performances & Characters

Let’s talk about the cast because, quite frankly, they carry this season on their backs.

Lola Tung, once again, is the emotional anchor. There’s a quiet strength in her performance this time around. She’s no longer playing the innocent girl torn between two boys. She’s playing a young woman who’s learning how to stand on her own. There’s this scene you’ll know it when you see it where Belly confronts her own indecision. It’s not showy, but it wrecks you. You feel every ounce of her confusion, her guilt, her longing.

Gavin Casalegno gives Jeremiah more depth than the books ever did. He’s still sweet, still the steady hand, but this season lets him show some cracks. Jealousy. Fear. Hurt. He’s not just “the nice one” anymore he’s someone who wants to be chosen for real, not by default. And when he starts to realize maybe he’s not the one… it stings.

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And then there’s Christopher Briney as Conrad. God, this kid is frustrating in the best way. He’s distant, wounded, and yet so deeply vulnerable. Briney walks this tightrope where you want to shake Conrad and hug him in the same breath. There’s a sadness behind his eyes this season that says more than any line of dialogue. His chemistry with Lola is still electric more muted now, more restrained but all the more devastating for it.

Also worth shouting out: Sean Kaufman (Steven) and Rain Spencer (Taylor). Their relationship evolves from background noise to something surprisingly tender. They bring humor, charm, and real emotion to a storyline that could’ve been throwaway, but instead becomes one of the season’s highlights.

Direction, Visuals & Pacing

Visually, the show hasn’t lost its signature glow. The golden-hour lighting, the moody beach walks, the soft-focus nostalgia it’s all still there. But this time, it feels more grounded. Less like a dream, more like a memory you’re trying to hold onto before it slips away.

The pacing is thoughtful. Slower, yes but deliberately so. Jenny Han (who shares showrunning duties with Sarah Kucserka) allows moments to breathe. There are quiet scenes that linger Belly staring out at the ocean, or a loaded silence between the brothers. The show understands that sometimes what isn’t said is more powerful than any monologue.

And I have to say, the music remains a standout character. Swift fans will be thrilled there’s one particular Taylor Swift track that plays during a major turning point, and it absolutely destroys. But beyond that, the score and soundtrack choices continue to elevate the show’s emotional beats without feeling manipulative.

If there’s one criticism? A few middle episodes drag just a touch. Some subplots especially surrounding side characters like Cam feel like filler. But overall, the direction is confident and emotionally in sync with the characters’ arcs.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Parents Guide

Language: You’ll hear occasional moderate profanity words like “damn,” “hell,” and “shit” pop up sometimes. Nothing over-the-top, but enough to capture genuine teenage dialogue. Also, characters occasionally call each other names in emotional outbursts, keeping things realistic

Violence: Violence is minimal mainly teenage tension. There are a few fistfights that lead to nosebleeds and bruises, especially during emotional confrontations. No graphic gore or frightening scenes, but expect a couple of heated moments where feelings boil over.

Sexual Content: This season remains light on nudity and explicit sex. We see a fair share of kissing sometimes passionate, sometimes tender and implied intimacy, like mild bed scenes. Think PG‑13, not explicit. Occasional jokes or comments about bodies and attraction are present, especially during beach and party scenes.

Substance & Alcohol Use: Alcohol is present mostly in teen parties or casual, stress-relief moments. Characters may drink to celebrate or cope, which sometimes leads to poor decisions, like a drunk fight. No heavy drug use, but alcohol is portrayed as part of teen social life with realistic consequences

Emotional & Mental Themes: The season tackles real-life teenage pressures: grief over a parent’s illness, complicated family dynamics, identity crises, and heartbreak. Belly’s emotional journey reflects that messy transition from childhood to adulthood. These themes might actually be a valuable starting point for meaningful family conversations.

Age Suitability: Best for teens 14 and older mature but still within the TV‑14 comfort zone.

Conclusion

Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty isn’t perfect but maybe it’s not supposed to be. Maybe it’s supposed to feel messy, unresolved, a little raw. Because that’s how growing up feels.

For fans of the series, this season is a bittersweet gift. It honors the emotions that brought us here   the flutter of first love, the ache of loss, the weight of choice and it sends Belly off with the dignity she’s earned. The ending may divide viewers. (It already has, online.) But whether you’re Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad or Team “Belly deserves to be alone and figure herself out” this finale hits where it matters most: in the heart.

Would I recommend it? Without hesitation especially if you’ve been on this ride from the start. It’s a beautifully melancholic farewell that lingers long after the credits roll.

Final Score: 8/10.