The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Biggest Book Changes

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Star Lola Tung Teases “Bittersweet” Final Season (Exclusive)

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty. 

It’s not summer for Belly Conklin without her love triangle.

And with the first two episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty’s season three out, the Finch University student (Lola Tung) has found herself stuck between brothers Conrad Fisher (Chris Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) once again.

Just like the final book in Jenny Han’s trilogy, We’ll Always Have Summer, Belly—who chose the youngest Fisher brother at the end of the second season and book—navigates the reality of getting engaged to Jeremiah after learning that he cheated on her while on spring break. 

It doesn’t help that Conrad—whom she romanced before dating his younger brother—continues to have a hold on her. After all, as Belly’s mom Laurel Park (Jackie Chung) said in season one, “Conrad is the sun and when the sun comes out, the stars disappear.”

With the Prime series coming to an end after three seasons, fans may be surprised by some of the changes in the last installment, both big and small. For instance, the show jumps forward a bit as Belly is finishing up her junior year at Finch, whereas she was wrapping up her first in the book. 

Meanwhile, Steven Conklin (Sean Kaufman)—who takes up very few pages throughout the trilogy—continues to explore his messy on-and-off relationship with Belly’s best friend Taylor Jewel (Rain Spencer).

Prime Video

Nonetheless, Jenny is hopeful that fans will love what they chose to keep and change as they bid farewell to Cousins Beach. In fact, she believes the finale has a “very satisfying ending … as far as a TV show goes.” 

“For me as a storyteller, I have to feel good about what I’m making, and I have to feel proud of it, and I have to be excited by it,” the author told TheWrap in an interview published July 14. “I just write what I think is the best story, and that’s what I’ll stand by.”

She emphasized, “I’m always thinking about my book fans.”

The Summer I Turned Pretty is released on Prime Video every Wednesday until Sept. 17.

To see all the biggest changes that TSIP made in season three, keep reading.

Erika Doss/Prime

A Bigger Time Jump

While We’ll Always Have Summer begins with Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) finishing up her freshman year at Finch University, season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty actually takes place at the end of her junior year. 

That means, by the time Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) cheats on Belly with Lacie Barone (Lily Donoghue), they had been dating for four years in the series, not two.

Erika Doss/Prime

No Rebrand For Belly Conklin

Before Belly opens her dorm room ahead of her freshman year—a flashback that takes place in the first five minutes of the season premiere—her brother Steven Conklin (Sean Kaufman) quickly scribbled “Belly” over her full name, “Isabel,” on the door. In subsequent scenes, her college friend Anika Johnson (Sofia Bryant) calls her Belly.

However, in the book, Belly didn’t correct anyone who called her by her government name.

“I didn’t plan to start going by Isabel. It just happened,” she said in the book. “I remember the way I fumbled with my key and how I looked up at the door and saw it. ‘Isabel,’ it was in glue-on rhinestones.”

Then, she introduced herself as Isabel to her roommate Jillian Chapel and moving forward, it’s what everyone at Finch called her.

Erika Doss/Prime

An Homage to Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean Covey

Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before—the first in its own trilogy, later adapted for Netflix— might’ve been published three years after We’ll Always Have Summer, but the series was sure to pay homage with small Easter eggs.

For instance, Belly had a photo of her and Jeremiah dressed up as Peter Kavinsky and Lara Jean Covey on her dorm wall. The novel’s sequel, P.S. I Still Love You, was a hint in the crossword puzzle Conrad Fisher (Chris Briney) was doing with Belly during Christmas.

Erika Doss/Prime

Conrad Is Looking Within

The TV series began exploring Conrad’s mental health struggles, including anxiety attacks, during the first season while he tried to keep it together after learning that his and Jeremiah’s mom Susannah Fisher (Rachel Blanchard) was diagnosed with cancer again.

By the third, the Stanford University student was seen sitting with a therapist before he planned his return to Cousins Beach for a dedication in Susannah’s honor. During his session, he and his doctor explored his concerns around attending the event, although he doesn’t delve into his complicated love triangle. At least he’s there, right?

Erika Doss/Prime

Bonjour Paris!

In the series, Belly learns that she was taken off the waitlist to study abroad in Paris the following semester, which means she can’t room with Anika in the fall. (Jeremiah hadn’t even proposed at this point.) 

However, in the book, she changes her boarding plans because of her unexpected engagement. Anika still understands as she tells Belly in the text, “I’m not mad. I mean, yeah, it sucks that we won’t be living together, but I’ll figure something out.”

Erika Doss/Prime

Steven and Taylor’s Romance

While Taylor Jewel (Rain Spencer) and Steven’s relationship isn’t explored in any of the books, their on-and-off romance becomes a secondary storyline in the latest season. Although Taylor is dating frat boy Davis and Steven is dating Mia, the pair had been having an affair since reuniting in Manhattan during spring break (the same week Jeramiah cheated on Belly).

After Steven tells Taylor, while they’re driving, that he broke up with Mia so they could try to rekindle their relationship, an overwhelmed Taylor demands that he pull over. When she gets out, Steven is T-boned by another car while making a U-turn, which puts him in a medically induced coma. Don’t worry, though, he makes a full recovery. 

Although the same can’t be said for their relationship—at least at this point in the season.

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