Jenny Han on ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ series finale and why Belly had to go to Paris

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This article contains spoilers for Season 3 of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”

Okay, so “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is wrapping up, and it’s been such a ride! Belly – Lola Tung plays her – is actually living her dream in Paris right now. And the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah, have both changed a lot after everything that happened with their whole love triangle. Honestly, with only one episode left in the final season, everyone’s totally on the edge of their seats to see how it all ends and who Belly ultimately chooses. I’m dying to know!

Jenny Han, the creator and showrunner who turned her popular young adult novels into this romantic drama, is keeping tight-lipped about whether the show will deliver the happy ending fans are hoping for, or if it will take a different path than the books.

“I really enjoy keeping people on their toes,” Han shared with a smile during a video call, appropriately from France. The season finale, set in Paris and arriving Wednesday, will wrap up a dramatic season that’s been a whirlwind of feelings and challenges as Belly grows up. “I want the audience to be surprised and not know what’s coming… even if some people are eager to find out how everything resolves,” he added.

Calling the latest season of the show ‘restless’ feels like an understatement, much like the small engagement ring Jeremiah gave Belly – it’s sparked a huge reaction online! Every week, fans are obsessively discussing and trying to guess who Belly, who is now studying abroad, will end up with. The suspense is so intense that even minor details in the show – like Sour Patch Kids, specific colors (red, blue, dark gray, and gold), the infinity symbol, peaches, hydrangeas, a stuffed polar bear named Junior Mint, and the Taylor Swift songs – are being analyzed for hidden meaning and considered hugely important to the story.

Thanks to the fifth episode of Season 3 – told through Conrad’s eyes and marking Han’s first time directing – the flower section at Michael’s has taken on a special, almost sacred, meaning, becoming associated with longing and romantic dreams.

Even while on vacation, Han kept receiving thoughtful surprises related to the characters from the book she wrote. The owners of her rental house in Provence sent a note of support for Conrad, a complex character often compared to a young Leonardo DiCaprio, who is learning to express his emotions. Then, at a birthday dinner, the restaurant surprised her with a dessert inspired by Jeremiah and his romantic wedding cake request for Belly – a rich dark chocolate cake with raspberry filling and a shiny glaze.

The adaptations of her novels, like “To All the Boys,” “XO, Kitty,” and now the hugely popular “Summer” series, have become incredibly successful. The third season of “Summer” premiered to 25 million viewers on Prime Video in its first week, reaching the No. 1 spot in 120 countries and becoming the most-watched season yet among young women. Social media buzz was massive, with nearly 200,000 TikTok posts about the show racking up 2.9 billion views in just one month. Brands joined the fun, using the show’s iconic font and referencing viral moments. Viewers also gathered at watch parties and passionately debated the central love triangle, choosing sides between Conrad and Jeremiah – even sparking debates among sports teams and families.

Television

Jenny Han has become a powerhouse in young adult entertainment. After writing popular books like ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty,’ ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,’ and ‘XO, Kitty,’ she’s successfully adapted them into hit TV series. Here, she explains how she created a lasting media empire.

Han is particularly happy to hear that people around Belly’s age are watching the show together and forming a connection with each other.

Honestly, it’s been amazing seeing people watch the show, especially students in their dorms and common areas – maybe even making new friends while they’re at it. It really gets to me because I remember how nerve-wracking freshman year was! The idea that our show could help someone connect with others, or just spark a conversation, is really special. It feels incredible to be a part of building a little community, like everyone’s gathered around watching the Super Bowl.

For the past three seasons, this writer, producer, and screenwriter had complete creative control over the show. She successfully brought to life the most beloved romantic moments from the books that fans were hoping to see, while also making important changes to the story about a teen’s summer experiences with love and loss in the made-up town of Cousins Beach.

Amazon gave her a lot of creative freedom, trusting that she understood her fans best after years of connecting with them as an author. They supported her plan to turn her books into a family drama with a strong emphasis on music, giving the show a substantial budget for a soundtrack designed to either introduce new artists or revive established ones. The show frequently uses songs to reveal what the main character, Belly, is thinking and feeling – recent examples include Ariana Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends” and several Taylor Swift hits like “Cardigan,” “The 1,” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.”

Han made several changes to the show, adding new characters and expanding on existing ones. These included a debutante ball in the first season and a four-year leap forward in time. The series also showed Belly going through experiences not found in the books, such as a Season 2 flashback where she and Conrad become intimate, set to Des’ree’s “Kissing You” from the movie *Romeo + Juliet*, during a snowy trip to the summer house.

Han explains that it felt natural to include this development because the audience had followed the character’s growth so closely and shared so many key moments with her. She wanted to honor that connection. She also believes it’s important for viewers to recognize the genuine affection between the characters.

Television

The stars of the Prime Video series, which is currently airing its second season, are talking about how they’re adjusting to their increased popularity. They’re also giving fans a preview of what’s coming up in the show and how it’s evolved from the original books.

This season, the show’s popularity soared when new episodes of “Summer” were released each week, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they followed Belly’s complicated love life and wondered how her story would conclude. (Unlike in the past, critics didn’t receive early access to the episodes.) The final three episodes, which expand significantly on the original novels, take Belly’s story in a new direction: she’s now in Paris, discovering independence, enjoying the simple pleasures like pain au chocolat, making new friends, and even starting to date someone new. (Say hello to Benito!)

Last week’s second-to-last episode ended with Conrad flying to Paris to find Belly, just as she was getting a significant haircut, signaling she was ready for a fresh start. The show’s trailers have been intentionally suspenseful, hinting that anything is possible.

The final three episodes allowed Han to really show Belly growing up, breaking old patterns, and discovering who she truly is.

Instead of the trip to Spain described in the novel, sending her to Paris after her breakup with Jeremiah was a deliberate attempt to challenge her and encourage growth, mirroring Han’s own experiences as a young adult. She explains that studying abroad often forces privileged young people to confront unexpected difficulties. “It’s a moment of realization that things aren’t as easy as they seem.” She believes that facing these challenges is crucial for self-discovery. “It’s incredibly rewarding to discover your own resilience and find out what you’re capable of when you have to keep going.”

The shift in location might seem unexpected, but viewers have seen clues about it since the beginning of the show. The author named her third book, “We’ll Always Have Summer,” after a famous line from the movie “Casablanca,” and originally suggested Paris as a setting to Amazon Studios. Throughout the series, there are visual references to other classic films, like “Sabrina,” where Audrey Hepburn transforms while navigating a love triangle in Paris, and “Roman Holiday,” which features Hepburn with a new haircut, riding a Vespa, and finding romance.

Han explains that Audrey Hepburn’s time in Paris, where she blossomed into a young woman, was such a strong image that she wanted to give the same experience to the character of Belly.

After the film’s production relocated from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Paris, Belly found herself working at the Écoles Cinéma Club to cover her rent in a small apartment. Interestingly, the theater already displayed a poster for the 1967 Alain Delon film “Le Samouraï.” Han explains, “I had used Alain Delon as inspiration for Conrad’s look in Paris, so seeing that poster felt like a fun little sign.”

According to author Jenny Han, Belly’s time in Paris is really about her discovering independence and having experiences beyond her usual world. This theme of self-discovery before relationships is something Han explores often in her stories, like with Lara Jean in ‘To All The Boys’ and Kitty in ‘XO, Kitty.’ Han believes it’s essential to understand who you are as an individual before fully committing to someone else.

Now that summer is over, Belly isn’t the only one changing. Conrad is also growing – he’s studying to be a doctor, in therapy, and recently made amends with Jeremiah after disrupting his wedding. He seems to be pursuing a relationship with Belly, sending her thoughtful letters, but according to the author, Jenny Han, they’re currently on different paths. Belly is looking for something fresh, while Conrad represents a familiar past. The question is whether their journeys will eventually bring them together.

The intense fan investment in the fictional Fisher brothers has led to strong divisions, prompting Prime Video to issue warnings against online harassment. This came after actress Han, deeply concerned for her fellow cast members, repeatedly asked viewers to be kind in online comments. She explains that people often forget the actors behind the characters and direct hurtful comments about appearance or behavior at the individuals themselves. She emphasizes that fame doesn’t shield anyone from the pain of such negativity.

Even Jeremiah, who was recently called “the internet’s most hated boyfriend” by the New York Times, is starting to win viewers over as the show nears its end. Han hopes that after next week’s finale, people will be able to look back and understand the character’s development. Like the other main storylines in “Summer,” it’s a story about love, loss, errors in judgment, and recovery. As Han points out, personal growth isn’t always straightforward.

Voices

Commentary: When ‘Love Island,’ ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ have to tell fans to back off, should we cry or clap?

It’s good to see shows like ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ and ‘Love Island’ attempting to address online harassment. However, their efforts highlight a larger problem: the entertainment industry, despite its massive profits, isn’t adequately protecting the performers who contribute to its success.

Han really appreciates the character’s arc this season. While many criticized his actions – particularly his connection with Lacie Barone during a break from Belly – Han finds the story deeply sad. The character secretly believed Belly and Conrad were still in love, and that he would always be drawn back to her, regardless of her feelings. He saw his infidelity as a desperate attempt to finally end things, assuming she would never be able to forgive him.

Even when fans get frustrated with her choices for the show ‘Summer,’ creator and showrunner Han focuses on the positive – it means people are truly invested in the story. She emphasizes that it’s okay for viewers to have different preferences between the characters Jeremiah and Conrad, and that the passionate divide proves there isn’t a simple solution to the central romantic question.

Directing for the first time this season taught Han to be comfortable with uncertainty, a feeling she relates to strongly with the character of Conrad. She explains, “I weave pieces of my own life into all my characters, but I especially connect with Conrad because we’ve faced similar challenges. Being the oldest child, I particularly understand his perspective, which makes him easy to write.”

After five years of closely guiding the show’s direction, she was glad the studio allowed it to end after three seasons, despite its popularity. Han explains that prioritizing the story has always been her main focus, and she felt three seasons was the right length. She’s grateful the studio respected her decision, as it’s unusual to have that control when a show is successful and profitable. Ultimately, she needed to stay true to her vision for the story.

She’s open to continuing the story beyond the current series. Many fans are hoping for a prequel focusing on the close friendship between Laurel, Belly and Steven’s mother, and Susannah, Conrad and Jeremiah’s mother. Han hasn’t ruled out the possibility of more stories set in the ‘Summer’ world.

I need to be truly passionate about a project before I commit, because showrunning is an all-consuming job. I feel responsible for every detail and want to be involved daily to ensure it’s something I’m proud of. I’m open to expanding the world with new stories, but I need to find one that really grabs me – a story I’m so driven to tell that I’m willing to dedicate years of my life to it.

As the final episode of “Summer” approaches, Han hopes viewers will watch it together and that it will leave them feeling happy and fulfilled.

She loves seeing fathers and grandfathers watching the show with their daughters and granddaughters, and enjoys hearing people discuss the characters’ actions. However, she asks viewers to be understanding of Belly, explaining that she’s a young woman learning and growing, just like all the characters.

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2025-09-15 13:33