When The Summer I Turned Pretty series dropped on Prime Video, it was no surprise that teens and early Gen Z fell in love with it. But I have to admit: I didn’t expect Millennials like me, and even Gen X viewers, to be completely hooked too.
And now here we are, already in season 3, with the story barreling toward its finale.
I don’t know about you, but every week, I’m counting down to Wednesday after work so I can get home, slip into my PJs, and watch the new episode on my couch. And I know I’m not the only one!
Your coworker, your older cousin, your younger sibling, your best friend who swore she was “over” teen dramas, and even the boyfriends and husbands, they’re probably all secretly (or not so secretly) watching the show too.
Whether you started watching from the very first season or just jumped in because the final season is getting all the hype, it doesn’t matter. The show has somehow become a full-blown, multi-generational obsession, and TBH, I get why.
1. It’s everywhere on social media
Social media is flooded with The Summer I Turned Pretty posts that make you stop scrolling. It’s practically impossible not to be curious about the show with so many posts about it everywhere.
The “this is 100% your look, Connie baby!” edits, all the funny “The Summer I…” posts (also 10/10 marketing), the hilarious memes the fandom comes up with, and even Jeremiah’s “two-tier dark chocolate cake with a raspberry coulis filling and a mirror glaze on top!” — I love them all!
My only problem is having to avoid scrolling on TikTok or Instagram every Wednesday morning so I don’t spoil the new episode for myself. Oh, and every week I’m also fighting the urge to stay up until 3AM to watch the new episode the second it drops!
2. It’s super nostalgic
I mean, is it really a surprise that the generation who grew up rooting for either Team Edward or Team Jacob is now caught up in Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah? The love triangles? The dream of a romance that could change everything? We grew up on this stuff! It’s practically our DNA!
For Millennials like me, this show feels like a time machine. We’re the ones who lived through the Twilight craze, dissected every Damon vs. Stefan moment in The Vampire Diaries, and sobbed through the messy romances on One Tree Hill.
The Summer I Turned Pretty taps into that exact same, swoony, dramatic energy, and the “your whole world shifts for love” kind of storytelling that defined our teenage years. No wonder we can’t look away.
And let’s be real, part of the obsession comes down to Conrad himself. Christopher Briney has the same quiet intensity and heartthrob energy that Leonardo DiCaprio gave us back in the day. He’s basically Leo in a different font — and every woman can see it!
3. It gives us all the feels
That’s the thing about The Summer I Turned Pretty: it makes you feel everything again.
I mean, how many of us felt our hearts flutter when Conrad stepped in at the debutante ball? Or how many of us were in shambles watching his forehead-kiss confession to Belly as she got ready for her wedding? Or when we read Susannah’s letter to Conrad?
And then, after moments like these, how many of us ladies just want to run to our partners and tell them how much we love them? Or how many of us end up just sitting there, imagining a dream boy of our own?
And not to mention, the acting makes it all hit even harder. When the characters are happy, we’re happy. And when they’re sad, we feel it too. Every moment feels raw, emotional, and completely believable. It’s the kind of acting that makes you live in those moments with them.
4. The music hits all the right notes
I don’t know about you, but I keep wondering what kind of gazillion dollar music budget the show has, because every episode is PACKED with amazing songs.
There are so many new hits from Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, and more. But there are also older classics we all know and love, like The Cranberries, U2, and one of my personal favourites, Bon Iver‘s Skinny Love.
I love how the music is always tied to the story. Each song highlights the emotions on screen, makes a scene hit harder, or adds an extra layer of meaning. makes the whole show even more addictive.
Oh, and speaking of Taylor Swift, are you just as excited as I am for her new album coming out soon? I’m wondering if Jenny Han will sneak an unreleased song into the final episodes!
5. The fashion is everything
Every episode I’m frantically looking up where to find Belly’s tops and dresses. The way she mixes effortless summer vibes with playful, romantic pieces is just too cute. I’m obsessed with her yellow sundress, and the exact outfit she wore to her brother Steven’s graduation!
And I know I’m not the only one taking style notes. You can bet other ladies are out there trying to dress their man in Conrad-inspired polos just to capture a little bit of that dreamy style!
Oh, and shoutout to the official The Summer I Turned Pretty merch at American Eagle! They totally nailed the soft, cute, summery vibe of the show. I basically want every single piece for my home loungewear collection (except for the #TeamJeremiah shirts, of course)!
At the end of the day, The Summer I Turned Pretty is impossible not to love. I promise you’ll be hooked from the very first episode!
So tell me — are you as hooked as I am, or are you about to start bingeing too? Let me know in the comments!
The Lilac Blog 