The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Review: A Familiar Love Triangle Returns, But Grows Up Slowly

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Review: A Familiar Love Triangle Returns, But Grows Up Slowly

Lola Tung’s Belly begins the final chapter of her coming-of-age journey — but are we still stuck in the past?

Streaming now on Amazon Prime Video | Genre: Romance, Drama | Episodes: 11 | Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5)

Introduction

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 marks the bittersweet end to Jenny Han’s beloved trilogy adaptation. While the Amazon Prime Video series promises emotional growth and adult decisions, the opening two episodes still feel caught in a high school time capsule — despite the promise of maturity.

🌊 Plot Summary: From Paris Dreams to Cousins Beach Drama

Season 3 opens with a time jump. Belly (Lola Tung) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) are now dating and attending Finch University, but their happiness is short-lived. Jeremiah faces graduation delays, and Belly is accepted into a prestigious study-abroad program in Paris.

Meanwhile, Conrad (Christopher Briney), Belly’s first love, is thriving across the country at Stanford, chasing his dream of becoming a doctor. The trio reunites at Cousins Beach for a memorial dedication to their late mother, Susannah (Rachel Blanchard). But with old feelings lingering, what was supposed to be a heartfelt gathering turns into yet another emotionally complicated summer.

🎬 Writing & Direction: Teen Romance vs. Personal Growth

Showrunners Jenny Han and Sarah Kucserka return to steer the final season. Inspired by the classic Audrey Hepburn film Sabrina, the series attempts to echo the charm of old-school romance, but struggles to evolve its characters meaningfully.

The narrative still orbits around the familiar "Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah" dynamic — a formula fans love, but one that now risks feeling repetitive. Instead of letting Belly grow into her identity, the story pulls her back into a cyclical love triangle, undermining the promise of emotional growth.

🎭 Performances: Chemistry Still Lacking

Lola Tung reprises her role as Belly with sincerity, but the emotional weight of her internal conflict feels forced. Both Christopher Briney (Conrad) and Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah) bring charm, but the onscreen chemistry among the trio continues to fall flat.

Jackie Chung, as Belly’s mother Laurel, remains the standout — a grounded adult figure in a sea of indecision. Her presence adds maturity and much-needed depth to an otherwise youthful narrative.

📺 What Works, What Doesn’t

What Works:

Beautiful beach cinematography

Soundtrack filled with current pop hits

Nostalgic callbacks for longtime fans

What Falls Short:

Love triangle overstays its welcome

Lack of character growth

Weak romantic chemistry

✅ Final Verdict: A Slow Step Toward Adulthood

While The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 aims to explore adulthood and self-discovery, it still leans heavily on the comfort of its past formulas. With a two-year gap since the last season, viewers expected evolution — but early episodes feel stuck in emotional limbo.

If the series wants to land its final chapter meaningfully, it must shift the focus to "Team Belly" — giving her the agency and independence promised from the start.

📅 New episodes premiere every Wednesday. The finale streams on September 17, 2025.