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  • OCTOBER 1, 2025

    The summer I (finally) turned pretty obsessed: Review of the Amazon TV series

    When I say my life was consumed by Netflix’s My Life with the Walter Boys, I’m not exaggerating…I watched it EIGHT times through, and I wasn’t even close to being done obsessing over it. So when everyone – from friends to followers to (of course!) my mom – started telling me that my next step had to be Amazon’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, I resisted. Honestly, I wasn’t ready to move from Silver Falls to Cousins Beach. But after enough nudging, I finally gave it a shot. And I’m SO GLAD I did.

    Because what I discovered wasn’t just “the next thing to watch” – it was a whole new obsession.

    Love Triangle Déjà Vu… But Not Quite

    Like The Walter Boys, The Summer I Turned Pretty revolves around a love triangle, this time centering on Belly, who is caught between two brothers – brooding and complicated Conrad, and goofy and carefree Jeremiah. People warned me this was the hook that would pull me in, and they weren’t wrong.

    But here’s the thing: while the premise sounds similar, the execution is totally different. This series has its own flavor, its own rhythm, its own unique heart. And while I thought I’d spend the whole time comparing it to The Walter Boys, I didn’t. I was too busy falling headfirst into Cousins Beach.

    Team Jeremiah (…At First)

    Confession time: I was Team Jeremiah in the beginning. Gasp! I know, I know – controversial. But hear me out. Jeremiah’s warmth, lightheartedness, and easy way of being there for Belly – it made total sense to me. He was fun, safe, steady.

    But then came Conrad. And once his layers started peeling back, I felt that shift. The weight of his feelings, the intensity of his connection with Belly – it was undeniable. That kind of quiet, overwhelming love doesn’t just come around everyday. And when it hits, it hits hard.

    When a Show LITERALLY Takes Your Breath Away

    The Belly and Conrad romance isn’t just compelling – it’s consuming. Their chemistry is so magnetic that at one point, during one of their scenes, I literally stopped breathing. I’m not exaggerating. The headache, the dizziness, the works. It took me a few seconds to realize that I hadn’t been breathing because I was so lost in the moment. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just a show – it was an experience.

    The Pull of Cousins Beach

    Beyond the love triangle, what makes The Summer I Turned Pretty so unforgettable is the world it creates. Cousins Beach, with its iconic summer home, becomes more than just a backdrop – it’s a character in and of itself. The summers, the traditions, the memories layered in every scene…they all tap into something universal. It’s about growing up, letting go, and holding on, all at once.

    It reminded me how certain places carry pieces of our hearts, and how relationships – romantic, familial, and everything in between – are tied to those spaces. The show captures that in a way that feels both nostalgic and timeless.

    The Obsession Is Real

    I’ll admit, I didn’t just watch the show…I rearranged my life around it. When the recent finale dropped at 3 AM Eastern Time, I set my alarm and woke up to watch it the moment it was available. Not just a season finale – a series finale. And it was worth every lost hour of sleep.

    Then, because I couldn’t let go, I dove straight into the books. I just finished the trilogy (separate review coming soon!), and the fact that a movie adaptation is on the horizon only fuels my excitement. I’ve rewatched certain scenes over and over, and every time they hit me just as hard. I just find I must remember to breathe.

    Final Thoughts

    The Summer I Turned Pretty is everything I hoped it would be and more: heartfelt, swoony, and emotionally-intense. It’s a story about love, yes. But it’s also about family, friendship, and the bittersweet passage of time.

    For anyone who loved My Life with the Walter Boys, this series scratches the same itch while still feeling (and standing) entirely on its own. And for me? It went from being a hesitant “next watch” to an all-consuming obsession that I’ll carry with me – just like the sweet memories of summer.