We opened this Fully-Booked: Literary Podcast episode right in the thick of August romance coverage, and what better time to chat about a summer love story than at the tail end of summer itself? Meaghan and Shirin were deep into discussing the book adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty, both the Amazon Prime series and Jenny Han’s original book trilogy.
At the time of recording, not all episodes of Season 3 had dropped due to weekly releases (which, let’s be honest, everyone finds annoying). Still, the hosts were ready to unpack everything up to that point, especially because Shirin had read all the books, and both had followed the show from the beginning.
They started with a refresher: the TV series does follow the books relatively closely, and their opinions about each installment, both written and on-screen, have shifted over time.
Season 1 (and book 1) had that fresh, fun, summery charm. It felt innocent, and the main character, Belly, made sense as a slightly naïve 17-year-old experiencing a whirlwind of firsts.
But as the story progressed into Season 2 and now Season 3, the magic wore off. Shirin flat-out said she didn’t even want to talk about Season 2 because she disliked it so much. Meaghan, on the other hand, pushed through, though not without frustration.
Note
The following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
From Charming To Cringey: Character Dynamics Breakdown
As the hosts broke down the major players, Belly’s evolution, or lack thereof, became a focal point.
In the books, she came across as whiny and immature. On screen, though, Lola Tung’s portrayal makes her a bit more palatable. Still, even in the show, Belly remains overly forgiving and awkwardly goofy in moments that feel forced.
There’s a disconnect between how she’s meant to grow and how she’s written or directed. Now that she’s supposed to be in her early twenties, the teenage innocence is harder to swallow. It’s like the showrunners forgot to let her grow up.
Jeremiah, Belly’s fiancé in Season 3, drew the most heat. Shirin made it clear: she’s never liked him. He’s selfish, emotionally immature, and carries a strong “golden child” vibe. His cheating while “on a break” felt like a lazy excuse and a clear echo of Friends (Ross, anyone?).
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The worst part? He didn’t even confess.
Belly had to overhear it at a party. Meaghan and Shirin both agreed that he embodies the same traits as his father, Adam, another selfish, emotionally absent character who bailed when things got hard. They even speculated that if Belly were to get seriously ill, Jeremiah would probably walk out.
In contrast, Conrad, though flawed, seems more grounded. He’s making efforts to improve himself, and while the books write him as a bit too possessive (with some icky lines about “my Belly”), the show offers a slightly more tempered version.
Steven, Belly’s brother, may be dumb at times, but he isn’t malicious, and his dynamic with Taylor is one of the few relationships that feels real and interesting.
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A major recurring theme in this episode was how much more compelling the side characters and their subplots are compared to the main love triangle.
Shirin and Meaghan both said they care way more about what’s happening with Taylor and Steven, Laurel and John, or even Taylor’s hot mess of a mom than anything between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah.
Laurel and Belly’s mother-daughter relationship, in particular, stands out for its emotional complexity and solid acting. These are the moments that feel grounded in reality, offering something relatable to hang onto amid the soapy chaos.
When Belly gave up a study abroad trip to Paris for her wedding plans with Jeremiah, Meaghan and Shirin practically screamed in frustration. That decision, along with Jeremiah’s lazy mistake of missing a school email and having to repeat a semester, just reinforced how uneven the effort is in their relationship.
Belly is constantly making sacrifices, while Jeremiah keeps coasting. Meaghan shared that she only kept watching because she wants to see how the other storylines shake out, not because she cares whether Belly ends up married.
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Family Drama And Realistic Stakes
Laurel’s reaction to Belly’s engagement also sparked debate. Meaghan and Shirin agreed it was too much, even if her anger made sense.
John, the dad, on the other hand, played it cool. He chose to support his daughter, even though he disagreed with her choice. His approach was more “be there now, and say I told you so later if it blows up”, which feels way more effective than emotionally withdrawing. The hosts were split on Steven’s response, though. His flip-flop from “you guys need to grovel” to agreeing to be Jeremiah’s best man felt rushed and lazy from a writing standpoint.
Both hosts returned several times to the idea that these characters create drama where there doesn’t need to be any. They’re wealthy, educated, and full of opportunity, yet they repeatedly throw it all away for bad relationships and impulsive decisions.
Belly giving up Paris, for example, felt like a manufactured disaster. As Meaghan said, they’re “finding reasons to fuck it up, like, on purpose.” It’s hard to root for people who don’t seem to value their own chances in life.
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Comparing Jenny Han’s Adaptations
Toward the end, the conversation turned toward Jenny Han’s other work, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and how it stacks up.
Both hosts agreed that those books and movies were stronger. Lara Jean, the main character, stays in high school the whole time, so her youthful personality feels more believable. The storylines are tighter, the characters more endearing, and the overall tone is more balanced.
Even the movies are better produced. There’s humor, emotion, and a sense of growth that The Summer I Turned Pretty lacks, especially in the later seasons.
By contrast, this show started off promising, but quickly dipped into the same pitfall as The Kissing Booth, another franchise the hosts loved to hate. The first installment had a kernel of charm.
By the end, though, the characters were unbearable. Shirin and Meaghan didn’t hold back in calling out the lazy writing, flat character arcs, and frustrating decisions that plague both the books and the show.
They wrapped up with a few final thoughts: they’ll likely check in again after Season 3 ends, just to share final impressions. But at this point, they weren’t expecting any huge turnarounds.
If Belly ends up with Conrad, maybe there’s a sliver of redemption, but they’re mostly here for the peripheral characters and some closure. If you’re still watching, it’s probably for the same reasons, just trying to see it through.
