The Summer I Turned Pretty: What Season 3 Could Mean for Belly and the Fisher Brothers Story

7th September, 2024

Fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty have been swept into a whirlwind of young love, heartbreak, and the endless summers at Cousins Beach.

But as we eagerly await the much-anticipated Season 3, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: What’s next for Belly and the Fisher brothers?

A Longer Wait for a Bigger Payoff

Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty will bring viewers back to Cousins Beach, but not until summer 2025.

Fans who have been holding their breath for a 2024 release will need to wait a little longer due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which delayed production.

Yet, the excitement is building—not only will the next season be supersized with 11 episodes, but it’s likely to introduce deeper character development and new twists, making this a chapter worth the wait.

Is There a Time Jump in Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty?

One of the biggest questions circling Season 3 is whether there will be a time jump, as hinted in Jenny Han’s final novel, We’ll Always Have Summer.

If the show follows its literary source, we’ll see a two-year leap forward, with Belly navigating life in university and still torn between Conrad and Jeremiah.

This time gap opens the door for major changes in the relationships we’ve been invested in since Season 1.

Could we finally see Belly make a definitive choice, or will the love triangle become more complicated than ever?

To explore more about the final book that Season 3 is based on, check out We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han.

Belly’s Decision: Conrad, Jeremiah, or Something Else Entirely?

Season 3 is expected to follow We’ll Always Have Summer closely, which means that the love triangle between Belly and the Fisher brothers will reach its most intense moment.

After two years with Jeremiah, Belly finds herself questioning if he’s really the one for her. Conrad, still pining after Belly, must decide whether to win her back or let her go for good.

This emotionally charged season could redefine Belly’s journey, as she not only chooses between two brothers but confronts who she really wants to be.

Why Is The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Delayed?

For those wondering why Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty is delayed, the answer lies in the broader landscape of Hollywood.

The strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA caused significant production halts across the industry, including this fan-favourite series.

While previous seasons aired in the summers of 2022 and 2023, Season 3 will skip a year and return in summer 2025.

However, the extended timeline gives the creators space to craft a longer and more emotionally rich season, with 11 episodes instead of the typical eight.

What to Expect from Season 3: A Deeper Dive Into Cousins Beach

While we know that Season 3 will adapt We’ll Always Have Summer, Jenny Han has hinted that the show won’t follow the book verbatim.

In a clever nod to readers, Season 2 left an Easter egg during the final episode—a letter mix-up that foreshadows a major plot point in the next instalment.

This small detail suggests that the love triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah could become even more tangled.

But is there a time jump in Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty? Most signs point to yes.

In Han’s final novel, we find Belly at university with Jeremiah, two years after the events of It’s Not Summer Without You.

Fans are bracing for a leap that could see Belly more mature and closer to making a life-altering decision.

Who’s Returning, and Who’s Not?

As far as the cast goes, fans can rest easy knowing the show’s main characters are all expected to return.

Belly (Lola Tung), Conrad (Christopher Briney), and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) are back to resolve their entangled fates.

But Kyra Sedgwick’s Aunt Julia, a character introduced in Season 2, has confirmed she will not be returning.

One of the burning questions is whether we’ll see more of Susannah Fisher, portrayed by Rachel Blanchard. Although her character passed away in Season 2, there’s speculation that she could appear in flashbacks.

After all, her presence still looms large over Cousins Beach, influencing both the Fisher brothers and Belly’s decisions.

Is This the Final Summer at Cousins Beach?

Christopher Briney and Lola Tung in The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022) (Amazon)

With Season 3 marking the conclusion of Jenny Han’s book trilogy, many fans are wondering if this will be the final summer spent at Cousins Beach.

While Prime Video has yet to confirm whether Season 3 will be the show’s last, the creative team has teased the possibility of spin-offs and extensions to the TSITP universe.

Given Han’s close collaboration with Amazon Studios, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more stories unfold beyond the main love triangle.

Vernon Sanders, head of TV at Amazon Studios, has even hinted at future projects, saying the team is already working on “complementary pieces” to The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Where Can I Watch Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty?

For those asking, where can I watch Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, it will once again be streaming exclusively on Prime Video.

With a global audience spread across 240 countries, the series remains one of the platform’s biggest YA hits, promising to bring back the magic of summer Fridays in 2025.

Final Thoughts: Why This Season Will Be Worth the Wait

While the delay in Season 3’s release might feel like a long, hot summer for fans, the promise of a more detailed, 11-episode season has heightened expectations.

With Belly’s decision looming and the possibility of a time jump reshaping the narrative, the stakes have never been higher.

Whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, Season 3 will likely mark the ultimate turning point in The Summer I Turned Pretty.

And who knows? This might just be the beginning of a broader universe waiting to be explored at Cousins Beach.