Few book-to-TV adaptations capture the essence of summer romance quite likeThe Summer I Turned Pretty. The Prime Video series, based on the beloved book trilogy by Jenny Han, has made an effortless leap from page to screen and become one of the best young adult dramas on television. At the heart of the series is Belly Conklin, a young girl on the cusp of adulthood, whose annual visits to Cousins Beach have turned into cherished memories. But it all changes when she grows up and gets caught up in a dramatic love triangle with brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Starring Lola Tung as Belly, Christopher Briney as Conrad, and Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah, the show has successfully brought Han’s characters to life. Andwith Season 3 set to be the final installment, fans are bracing for an emotional chapter in Belly’s life. Since its debut,The Summer I Turned Prettyhas amassed tremendous viewership and a devoted fanbase that’s keen on dissecting key moments on social media.
While the series remains largely faithful to the book, it has also taken some liberties and made notable chances to adapt the story for television. From introducing new characters to shifting the dynamics to better suit the medium, here are 10 huge changesThe Summer I Turned Prettyshow made in the book trilogy.
10Cleveland’s Character
Cleveland Castillo’s presence in the show is an interesting addition that wasn’t in the books at all. Introduced as a scruffy but commercially successful author that Laurel first insults and later re-encounters, he quickly becomes a mentor to Conrad. When Conrad has a mental breakdown, Cleveland is there to offer supper and guidance and an outlet beyond his usual brooding isolation.
Their bond is a quiet but significant shift in Conrad’s arc because it gives a series favorite someone outside his immediate circle to confide in, and we know just how much Conrad needed healing. Cleveland’s overall dynamic with Lauren also adds a much-needed layer to the adult relationships in the series, as their summer fling is less about fooling around and more about heavier themes of grief and change.
One of the most devastating conflicts in Season 2 ofThe Summer I Turned Prettyrevolves around the fate of the Cousins Beach house. In the wake of Susannah’s passion, Conrad and Jeremiah are pretty shaken after hearing that their estranged Aunt Julia, is planning to sell the house. This sets off a desperate attempt by the boys and Belly to save it, which leads to a bunch of emotional confrontations, bitter resolutions, and a last-ditch effort to hold onto the memories tied to their home. The second season’s entire tension and drama are built around this plotline.
In the books, however, the conflict plays out differently. Because Aunt Julia doesn’t exist in the original trilogy, the decision to sell the house is entirely Conrad and Jeremiah’s father, Adam’s. His motivations are mainly rooted in grief. He simply cannot face the memories he made with Susannah in their summer home. But the novel version of Adam cheated on his wife, which also makes him an antagonist. Like the series, it’s Laurel who finally talks some sense into him.
8Taylor & Steven’s Role and Relationship
Taylor and Steven’s dynamic in the show, as individual characters and a couple, is a huge departure from the books, with the series transforming them from barely-there characters intoa fully fleshed-out romantic pairing. In Season 1, Taylor is introduced as Belly’s sassy best friend who can be judgmental and mean, but at the end of the day, she wants what’s best for Belly. Similarly, book lovers know that Steven was hardly ever mentioned in the trilogy as a main character. He spent little time at the beach house in the first part and was off to college after.
But in the series, he shares a beautiful friendship with Conrad and Jeremiah and is the bridge between the Fisher and Conklin families. Taylor’s interactions with Steven in the show are mostly playful and fleeting. However, by Season 2, their relationship evolves from casual flirtation to something deeper. Their heated argument where Taylor calls Steven out for his arrogance during the graduation party only strengthens their bond. Which is to say that the show’s decision to give them more screen time is superb.
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Conrad’s emotional journey is a defining aspect of both the books and the show, but the Prime Video adaptation takes his struggles to a new level by making them more visible. In Season 2, Conrad is weighed down by grief caused by his mother’s passing, leading to withdrawal, misplaced anger, and quiet devastation. His breakdown at the beach house where he lashes out at Belly and Jeremiah, as well as his panic attacks at Stanford, despite being a true academic, are two of the most heartbreaking scenes. They also show that Conrad hasn’t reached a stage where he can process his emotions in a healthy way.
On the contrary, while Conrad’s struggles are present in the books, they are described more subtly, with most of his pain simmering beneath the surface. His avoidance of Belly or schoolwork is less dramatic, making his grief feel more internalized and less expressed. The show amplified this, making his outbursts – like the one with Belly on prom night – more explicit.
6Aunt Julia and Skye Are Interesting Additions
One of the most intriguing deviations from the book trilogy inThe Summer I Turned Prettyseries is the introduction of two new characters in Season 2. Aunt Julia and her nonbinary child, Skye. In the show, Julia is Susannah’s half-sister. She arrives at Cousins Beach with the intention of selling the beloved summer house. Her presence immediately changes the dynamic for the Fisher boys because now they have to contend with a distant relative who has her own complicated history with their mother.
Skye, on the other hand, is young and more in tune with what their cousins are going through. They start off as an outsider but eventually warm up to Conrad, Jeremiah, Belly, and Steven, which adds new energy to the group. Their interactions may be brief, but they are meaningful. In the books, neither Aunt Julia nor Syke exist. The conflict over the house is entirely between Conrad, Jeremiah, and their father, Adam.
5There’s No Debutante Ball in the Trilogy
Another visually striking and narratively worthwhile addition to the Prime Video adaptation is the debutante ball, which serves as a major turning point in Season 1. Han wrote it specifically to the show, and it finds Susannah convincing Belly to participate. The coming-of-age moment not only marks her transition from childhood to young adulthood but also acts as a means to introduce new characters and demonstrate the subtle rivalry between Conrad and Jeremiah.
Not to forget, it features the iconic dance between Belly and Conrad,set to Taylor Swift’s “The Way I Loved You (Taylor’s Version).”However, in the books, the debutante ball does not exist at all. Belly’s summer experiences are more casual. They revolve around beach outings and family traditions. As for the emotional fight between Conrad and Jeremiah, the books play it out at the beach house as well.
4Jeremiah’s Sexuality
Conrad may be the emotionally nuanced golden retriever boyfriend inThe Summer I Turned Pretty, but Jeremiah oozes charm and cool, and his effortless and affectionate personality does not go ignored. In the show, his sexuality is explored in ways that weren’t present in the books. In Season 1, Jeremiah is shown flirting with both boys and girls, making it clear that he is sexually fluid. His kiss with Luke at Belly’s birthday party is a defining moment because it confirms that he is bisexual.
The show paints Jeremiah as someone who is comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t hesitate when he’s attracted to someone. Save for Belly. The books do not strictly portray him as a straight guy, either. He is still flirty, but his bisexuality is never openly acknowledged. The show’s decision to explore Jeremiah’s sexual identity is amazing, and Jenny Han herself stated that “if you look at the books and look at the character, it shouldn’t feel like too much of a surprise.”
3Laurel’s Focus on Her Career
Compared to the books, Laurel’s character is given a much more defined professional arc in the show.The Summer I Turned Prettyon Prime Video portrays her as a novelist struggling to balance her career with her personal life as a single parent. Especially in the wake of Susannah’s illness and passing, where she’s expected to look after Conrad and Jeremiah and make sure they’re doing well.
Her book tour and interactions with Cleveland Castillo flesh her out as a writer and as a woman navigating her own ambitions instead of just Belly and Steven’s mother. In contrast, the books keep Laurel’s career largely in the background. While she is still a writer, her professional life is not the focus of the story. She is a mother to her kids and best friend to Susannah. In a way, the show gives her more agency and shifts the focus fromBelly’s love triangleto the adults.
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2Cam Cameron is Better in The Series
They obviously did not (and will not) end up together, but can we all agree that Cam Cameron is the guy for Belly? Cameron’s portrayal in the show is a refreshing upgrade from his book counterpart, which makes him all the more likable. He is introduced as a sweet, intelligent, and respectful local boy with a passion for marine biology. He shares a natural and easy-going bond with Belly. Right from their first meeting at the bonfire to their drive-in movie theater and his unexpected cameo at theboardwalk games in Season 2, Cam is a breath of fresh air in Belly’s life.
Compared to the book version of him, Cameron is emotionally mature and direct about his feelings. Because the former serves as a temporary distraction for Belly rather than a fully developed character. Fans even argue that if the show weren’t following the book’s endgame, Cam would have been a strong contender for Belly’s romantic journey.
1Diversity in Casting Belly
Perhaps the biggest changeThe Summer I Turned Prettyshow makes to the book trilogy is the casting of Belly as a mixed-race Asian-American character to reflect Jenny Han’s own heritage. Belly’s mother, Laurel, is Korean-American in the series, which makes Belly’s identity an integral part of the story. This representation wasn’t present in the books. In fact, the source material never explicitly states her ethnicity. But she’s often described in ways that suggest she is white.
The casting of Lola Tung in the role of Belly has received praise from fans. Many even appreciate how her interactions with friends and family feel more modern and grounded. The idea is also rooted in Han’s efforts to bring more diversity to her adaptations, as seen inTo All the Boys I’ve Loved Beforemovies.
