If you have been hearing the phrases, “Team Conrad”, “Cousins Beach” or even “two-tier, dark chocolate cake with a raspberry coulis filling and a mirror glaze top”, this is all conversation surrounding the hit show, “The Summer I Turned Pretty”. Since July 16, episodes of the third season have been released weekly. Based on the #1 New York Times Bestseller book series by Jenny Han released in 2009, the show had 25 million viewers in seven days post-premiere, according to deadline.com. This successful production has been discussed on global social media platforms such as Tiktok and within the BVH community. 

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” centers around teenager Isabel “Belly” Conklin, and her complicated relationships between the Fisher brothers: Conrad and Jeremiah. Within season 1, the story shifts into the classic love triangle. Now in season 3, with the characters in college, it appears Belly has made her choice—but has she really?

The story focuses on Belly’s relationships, but there are also many subplots with Belly’s brother Steven, her best friend Taylor and the many characters within the show. The plot offers many points of conflict, which is a large part of what has driven the show into popularity. Students specifically credit the fame to the “love triangle” aspect, which is a romantic situation where two people are in love with the same person. Most importantly, this structure is found throughout many popular teen dramas, and fans believe “The Summer I Turned Pretty” draws such a vast audience because it sparks competition as fans divide between “teams”. Freshman Marlo Smith comments on the popularity of love triangles and how it has affected the show’s popularity.

“Lots of love triangles are very popular, especially when there [are] teams. Everyone gets very competitive and they [feel the need] to watch to see what team [they] would be,” Smith said.

Part of the appeal of these types of tropes comes from the competitive team-like nature of love triangles. This kind of rivalry encourages viewers to pick sides, debate outcomes and stay emotionally invested, which encourages widespread discussion online and in person. Senior Lily Graton builds on said idea by comparing the show to one of the most iconic love triangles in cinematic history. “I think the culture around [the show] has contributed a lot to its popularity, less so the content. It is like the modern Twilight where because you get to choose a team, people are very passionate about the cause. There is a positive culture around it in almost an obsessive way,” Graton said.Fans love competition, and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” delivers just that. While the love triangle is central throughout the series, shows often lean toward one side or the other to appease different teams at different times. Smith believes the show favors one team over the other, ensuring fans are more satisfied with the ending.

“In previous seasons, we didn’t know who Belly was going to end up with and it  was pretty even between the two,” Smith said. “I feel like they completely changed Jeremiah’s character, just to rationalize the fact that she’ll probably end up with Conrad.” 

This shift has significantly impacted the rivalry between Conrad and Jeremiah, with some fans even switching teams of who they believe Belly should end up. Smith, for instance, has changed her allegiance. 

“It used to be Jeremiah, but now I’m [team] Conrad, because I do not like Jeremiah anymore,” she said.

Smith isn’t alone in this change of heart; many fans now share the same frustration with Jeremiah, expressing disappointment in his actions and aligning themselves with Conrad instead. This frustration likely stems from Jeremiah’s treatment towards Belly, particularly his unfaithfulness and how he isn’t as present for her as Conrad is. Many have noticed even more significant changes, not just in the relationships, but in the overall tone of the show. Graton highlights this difference by pointing out that while Season 3 still contains elements of summer fun and happiness, it also discusses deeper topics like dealing with loss, anxiety and family problems.

“I think that season three delves deeper into Conrad’s mental health struggles as well as portraying a lot of themes that are not so prevalent in the past few seasons,” Graton said. “The last few seasons were very fairytale, and this season [shows] what would actually happen [in real life].”

This shift toward more realistic portrayals on real life issues—such as mental health—is reflected in the balance of romance and reality, taking the show away from the classic romantic fantasy and towards more authentic life experiences. While a love confession on the beach may not be realistic, the emotions and struggles of the characters certainly are.

Love triangles and summer romances may not be new, but “The Summer I Turned Pretty” proves they are far from fading out. From smoker vs. surfer, to doctor v.s debt, the show proves that love triangles are not just about choosing between two people—they’re about how time, growth, and life experiences shape us. Marlo Smith sums up how the show is more than just a summer romance, but how it depicts reality.

“[The Summer I Turned Pretty] represents real life because it’s about growing up and figuring yourself out. It shows how despite your best wishes, things won’t always stay the same or work out the way you expect,” Smith said.