The Summer I Turned Pretty feels inescapable. The TV series well into its third and final season, and has been one of the most viral shows by Prime Video ever since it first aired, launching the careers of its lead stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno. All of this is aided by Jenny Han and her fans; the book author and TV showrunner is responsible for many beloved teen romances, among them, “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” “XO Kitty,” and more.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” is based on a trilogy of books first published by Han in 2009. The following books were published within the next two years, telling the story of Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin and the summers she spends at Cousins Beach alongside her mother, her brother, her best friend, and Conrad and Jeremiah, the brothers she falls in and out love with through the years.
While the TV show closely follows the path laid out by the books, there are a few key differences that have appeared as the series has aired its first three seasons.
There’s a big season 3 time jump
One of the biggest differences of the show from the books came in season 3. At the start of season, there’s a time jump between the end of season 2 and the start of season 3, with the series following Belly and Jeremiah as they’re two years into their relationship. Jeremiah is about to graduate college, while Belly is a junior.
In the books, the story picks up shortly after the two get together, with Belly finishing her freshman year and Jeremiah finishing his sophomore year.
Steven and Taylor’s relationship
© Erika Doss/PrimeSteven and Taylor are two major characters in the TV show, with it exploring their romantic relationship over its three seasons. In season three, the pair have broken up and gotten back together numerous times, and are cheating on their current partners with each other.
In the books, Steven and Taylor kiss on the first book, with their romance stopping there.
Conrad’s therapy
© Prime VideoWhile Conrad struggles with his mental health in the books and the show, the latter goes further in exploring it, with Conrad going to therapy in California as he continues his studies in Stanford.
An unexpected car accident
© Erika Doss/PrimeSteven gets involved in a car crash in the show, impacting the characters in the story. This is a new development from the books, which had him as a far more reduced character.
Laurel is an author in the show
Lastly, Belly’s mom, Laurel, has a more expanded role in the series. Throughout the seasons, she has her own side stories, one of the main ones being that she’s an author. In season 2, she publishes a memoir titled “It’s Not Summer Without You,” a direct reference to one of Han’s books, and a nod to her best friend and Conrad and Jeremiah’s mother, who dies at the end of the first season.
In the books, she’s not an author.
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