10 Big Changes ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Series Made from the Book Trilogy

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The Prime Video series ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty‘, derived from Jenny Han’s beloved book trilogy, smoothly transitioned from written word to visual storytelling, standing out as one of the top young adult dramas on TV. The narrative centers around Belly Conklin, a girl on the brink of maturity who cherishes her yearly visits to Cousins Beach. However, things take an unexpected turn when she enters a complex love triangle involving brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher.

Featuring Lola Tung as Belly, Christopher Briney as Conrad, and Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah, the series has vividly portrayed Han’s characters. With Season 3 marking its last chapter, viewers are preparing for an emotionally charged ending in Belly’s storyline. Since its premiere, The Summer I Turned Pretty has gained a massive audience and a dedicated fanbase that eagerly discusses crucial scenes on social media.

In the adaptation of the book series, there have been significant departures and alterations to make it suitable for television viewing. The show has added new characters, rearranged relationships, and altered dynamics to fit the screen. Here are ten major changes that the TV series The Summer I Turned Pretty made compared to the original book trilogy.

10
Cleveland’s Character

In the series, Cleveland Castillo is a fresh character not found in the original books, who brings an engaging twist. Initially depicted as a rough-around-the-edges yet financially successful author, he initially clashes with Laurel before later reappearing. However, over time, he takes on a mentoring role for Conrad. When Conrad experiences a mental collapse, Cleveland provides him with sustenance, advice, and a means to break free from his usual introspective solitude.

As a devoted cinephile, I must say that Conrad’s bond with someone beyond his immediate circle serves as an understated yet impactful transformation in his character arc. This newfound confidant provides him the solace he so desperately needed to heal. Moreover, Cleveland’s dynamic with Lauren significantly enriches the adult relationships within the series. Their summer fling may appear lighthearted at first glance, but it delves deeper into weightier themes like grief and change, offering a much-needed layer of complexity to the narrative.

9
Conrad and Jeremiah’s Father Sells the Summer House

In Season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty, a significant source of conflict centers on the potential sale of the Cousins Beach house. When they learn that their distant Aunt Julia intends to sell it, Conrad and Jeremiah are deeply affected by this news. This revelation sparks a desperate mission by the boys, along with Belly, to prevent the house from being sold. This endeavor leads to several emotional exchanges, hard-felt resolutions, and a final attempt to preserve the cherished memories tied to their home. The entire tension and drama of the second season are based on this storyline.

In the books, the situation surrounding the house sale is altered due to Aunt Julia’s absence in the original trilogy. Therefore, the decision to sell the house falls solely on Conrad and Jeremiah’s father, Adam. His reasons for selling stem predominantly from his grief over the memories he shared with Susannah at their summer home, which he finds too painful to confront. However, the version of Adam in the novel is depicted as having been unfaithful, making him an adversary character. Similar to the series, it’s Laurel who ultimately manages to persuade him to reconsider his decision.

8
Taylor & Steven’s Role and Relationship

In the TV show, Taylor and Steven’s relationship, both individually and as a couple, is significantly different from their portrayal in the books. The series has given these characters more depth, transforming them into a prominent romantic duo where they were mere background figures before. At first glance in Season 1, Taylor appears as Belly’s witty best friend who can sometimes be critical and harsh, but ultimately cares deeply for her friend’s well-being. As for Steven, he was hardly featured in the trilogy and had limited screen time in the initial part, spending most of it at college instead.

In the television series, he has a lovely friendship with Conrad and Jeremiah, acting as the link between the Fisher and Conklin families. On-screen, Taylor’s interactions with Steven are generally lighthearted and brief. However, as the story progresses into Season 2, their relationship shifts from casual flirting to something more substantial. The intense argument they have at the graduation party, where Taylor challenges Steven’s arrogance, actually deepens their connection. In other words, the show’s choice to focus more on them is well-executed.

7
Conrad’s Emotional Struggles

In both the novels and the Amazon Prime adaptation, Conrad’s emotional journey plays a crucial role. However, the TV series intensifies this struggle, making it more apparent. As the story unfolds in Season 2, Conrad is heavily burdened by the grief following his mother’s death, which manifests as isolation, hidden rage, and profound sadness. Two particularly poignant scenes illustrate this: Conrad’s outburst at the beach house where he lashes out at Belly and Jeremiah, and his panic attacks at Stanford despite his academic prowess. These moments underscore that Conrad is yet to find a healthy means to cope with his feelings.

Instead, although Conrad’s struggles are evident in the books, they are portrayed more subtely, with most of his suffering hidden beneath the surface as a simmering undercurrent. His evasion of Belly or schoolwork is less dramatic, resulting in a sense of his grief feeling more internalized and less overtly expressed. The show accentuated this, making his outbursts – such as the one with Belly on prom night – more obvious and explicit.

6
Aunt Julia and Skye Are Interesting Additions

In the TV adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty, one captivating change from the original trilogy is the addition of two new characters in Season 2: Aunt Julia, Susannah’s half-sister, and Skye, Julia’s nonbinary child. Previously unmentioned in the books, these characters bring about fresh interactions at Cousins Beach as Julia plans to sell the cherished summer house. This unexpected arrival alters the dynamics for the Fisher boys, as they now have to navigate relationships with a relative who shares a complicated past with their mother.

Instead of Skye, let’s consider a character named Avery who is younger and more in sync with the experiences of their cousins. Initially, Avery appears to be an outsider, but eventually, they manage to connect with Conrad, Jeremiah, Belly, and Steven, injecting fresh vitality into the group. Their interactions may seem fleeting, yet they carry significant weight. In the novels, neither Aunty Julia nor Avery appear as characters. The struggle over the house is solely among Conrad, Jeremiah, and their father, Adam, with no involvement from Avery.

5
There’s No Debutante Ball in the Trilogy

A captivating and significant event added to the Prime Video series is the debutante ball, pivotal in Season 1. This scene was penned by Han exclusively for the show, where Susannah manages to persuade Belly to attend. This defining moment signifies Susannah’s transformation from her childhood years into young adulthood, but it also serves multiple purposes: introducing fresh characters and subtly revealing the underlying competition between Conrad and Jeremiah.

To remind you, the scene showcases a memorable dance between characters Belly and Conrad, accompanied by Taylor Swift’s “The Way I Loved You (Taylor’s Version)”. In contrast to the novels, the debutante ball is not present in this version of events. Instead, Belly’s summer adventures are more laid-back, consisting mainly of trips to the beach and upholding family customs. The intense argument between Conrad and Jeremiah, depicted in the books, also takes place at the beach house in this adaptation.

4
Jeremiah’s Sexuality

Conrad might be the emotionally complex canine-like partner in “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” but Jeremiah exudes charisma and a laid-back, loving demeanor that catches everyone’s attention. In the series, his sexuality becomes a more prominent theme than in the books. Throughout Season 1, Jeremiah is depicted flirting with both males and females, indicating that he identifies as sexually fluid. A significant moment occurs at Belly’s birthday party when he shares a kiss with Luke, which serves to confirm his bisexuality.

In the series, Jeremiah is portrayed as someone who is confident in his identity and isn’t shy when he feels attracted to someone. However, except for Belly, the books don’t definitively present him as heterosexual. Instead, he exhibits flirtatious behavior, but his bisexuality remains unacknowledged. The show’s move to delve into Jeremiah’s sexual orientation is commendable, and author Jenny Han herself expressed that if you analyze the book character, it shouldn’t come across as a shocking revelation.

3
Laurel’s Focus on Her Career

In the TV series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” on Prime Video, Laurel’s character is more fully developed professionally compared to her portrayal in books. Here, she is depicted as a struggling novelist juggling her writing career with her responsibilities as a single parent. The storyline also focuses on her challenges after Susannah’s illness and eventual passing, during which she has to take care of Conrad and Jeremiah and ensure their well-being.

The book tour and conversations with Cleveland Castillo help portray the character as both a writer and a woman managing her aspirations, beyond being merely Belly and Steven’s mother. On the other hand, the books don’t delve much into Laurel’s career. Although she is a writer, her professional life takes a backseat in the narrative. Instead, she is presented as a mother to her children and a close friend to Susannah. Essentially, the series offers more autonomy to the character and emphasizes the adult dynamics over Belly’s love triangle.

2
Cam Cameron is Better in The Series

It’s clear they won’t wind up as a couple, but let’s agree that Cameron suits Belly perfectly. The character portrayed by Cameron on the show is an improvement over his book version, making him even more endearing. Introduced as a kind, intelligent, and considerate local boy with a love for marine biology, he has an effortless connection with Belly. From their first encounter at the bonfire to their drive-in movie outing and his surprising appearance at the boardwalk games in Season 2, Cameron brings a sense of freshness into Belly’s world.

Compared to how he is portrayed in the book, Cameron from the TV series appears more emotionally mature and open about his feelings. The character in the book serves more as a temporary diversion for Belly rather than being fully developed. In fact, fans suggest that if the show didn’t adhere to the book’s original plotline, Cameron might have been a serious candidate for Belly’s romantic journey.

1
Diversity in Casting Belly

In my perspective as a devoted fan, one significant modification the show “The Summer I Turned Pretty” brought to Jenny Han’s book trilogy was the casting of Belly as a mixed-race Asian-American character. This decision reflects the author’s personal heritage, and in the series, her mother, Laurel, is portrayed as Korean-American. Consequently, Belly’s ethnicity becomes a crucial aspect of the narrative, which wasn’t explicitly present in the books. The source material, interestingly, doesn’t explicitly state her ethnicity. However, it often describes her in ways that imply she is white.

Fans have been commending the choice of Lola Tung for the role of Belly, with many noting that her scenes with friends and family seem contemporary and authentic. This casting decision aligns with Han’s aim to increase diversity in her adaptations, as demonstrated through the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” films.

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2025-05-19 01:33