We’ll Always Have Summer: 7 Major Book Moments That The Season 3 Finale MUST Change

The long-awaited conclusion to Isabel "Belly" Conklin’s iconic love triangle is finally on the horizon, but fans should prepare for significant changes. As of today, December 15, 2025, the highly anticipated third and final season of the Prime Video series, *The Summer I Turned Pretty*, is confirmed to premiere on July 16, 2025, adapting the final book, We’ll Always Have Summer. This season promises to resolve the 'Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah' debate once and for all, yet showrunner Jenny Han has already teased that the TV adaptation will deviate from her 2011 novel, introducing "brand-new elements" and potentially altering the book’s controversial epilogue.

The original novel, a staple of the YA romance genre, sees Belly navigating college, a sudden engagement, and the inescapable gravitational pull of the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. After the devastating events of the previous book, It’s Not Summer Without You, the final installment is a whirlwind of emotional turmoil, culminating in a definitive choice. With 11 episodes planned for Season 3, the show has ample time to expand on the source material, but which pivotal moments from the book are most likely to be altered to satisfy the modern audience and the passionate fandom?

The Complete Cast and Core Story of The Final Summer

We’ll Always Have Summer is the concluding volume of Jenny Han’s trilogy, first published in 2011. The story picks up two years after the events of the second book, with Belly in college and still deeply involved with the Fisher family. The central conflict revolves around Belly's impulsive decision to marry Jeremiah Fisher, which forces a confrontation with Conrad and the realization of her true feelings.

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The TV adaptation, which has already taken creative liberties in Seasons 1 and 2, will bring the central love triangle to a head while expanding on the lives of secondary characters like Laurel Park and Steven Conklin.

• Title: We’ll Always Have Summer (Book 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy)
• Author: Jenny Han
• Original Publication Date: April 26, 2011
• TV Adaptation: The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 (11 Episodes)
• TV Premiere Date: July 16, 2025 (Prime Video)

Returning Main Cast for Season 3

The core cast members are all returning to reprise their roles for the final, 11-episode season:

• Isabel “Belly” Conklin: Lola Tung
• Conrad Fisher: Christopher Briney
• Jeremiah Fisher: Gavin Casalegno
• Laurel Park (Belly's Mother): Jackie Chung
• Steven Conklin (Belly's Brother): Sean Kaufman
• Taylor Jewel (Belly's Best Friend): Rain Spencer

New and Expanded Characters

Season 3 is set to introduce or expand the roles of several characters, including Isabella Briggs as Denise, a new character whose role is currently under wraps but is expected to shake things up in the final year of the story.

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7 Pivotal Book Moments Season 3 is Likely to Change

The television series has consistently modernized and deepened the source material, a trend expected to continue as it adapts We’ll Always Have Summer. Given that Jenny Han herself is the showrunner, the changes are likely to be intentional and aimed at a more satisfying conclusion for a global streaming audience. Here are the seven most significant moments the series is expected to alter:

1. The Impulsive Engagement and Wedding Planning

In the book, Belly and Jeremiah get engaged while still in college, a decision driven by grief, impulsiveness, and Belly's desire to cling to the Fisher family. This premature engagement is the catalyst for the entire final book. The show may dial back the immediacy of the engagement, perhaps turning it into a serious commitment or a symbolic gesture that is less legally binding, to make Belly and Jeremiah's arc less frustrating for viewers. The show has an opportunity to explore the complexities of a young, rushed marriage more thoughtfully, rather than just using it as a plot device to bring Conrad back into the picture.

2. Jeremiah’s Cheating Scandal

One of the most controversial plot points is Jeremiah cheating on Belly while they are on a break. This moment is what ultimately shatters Belly's faith in their relationship and pushes her back toward Conrad. For the TV series, which has worked hard to make Jeremiah a sympathetic and viable romantic option, this plot point is a massive risk. The show might choose to soften the betrayal—perhaps making it an emotional rather than physical indiscretion, or a mutual breakup—to allow Belly’s final choice to be based on genuine love for Conrad, rather than a reaction to Jeremiah’s failure. This is a crucial area where "brand-new elements" could be introduced.

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3. The Absence of Susannah’s Legacy

The entire trilogy is framed by the memory of Susannah Fisher, the boys' mother, and her vision of Belly and Conrad together. While her death is the emotional core of the series, the book's final act sometimes loses sight of her influence. The show, which has beautifully utilized Susannah's letters and flashbacks, will likely incorporate more of her presence into the final season, perhaps through a newly discovered video or journal entry that helps Belly and Conrad reconnect, making their reunion feel more fated and less coincidental.

4. Conrad's Post-College Career Path

In the book, Conrad is a medical student, a path that emphasizes his maturity and responsibility. The TV show has the flexibility to give Conrad a more creative or emotionally driven career that better reflects his brooding, artistic side, or one that directly ties him back to Cousins Beach. A change in his career—perhaps in marine biology or a field related to Susannah's memory—would give him a more compelling reason to be in the same place as Belly for their final confrontation.

5. The Final Epilogue and Time Jump

The book concludes with a significant time jump, showing Belly and Conrad's wedding years later. Jenny Han has already hinted that the TV finale will *not* mirror this epilogue exactly. The show is expected to focus more on the immediate aftermath of Belly's choice, leaving the future ambiguous, or perhaps showing a shorter, more immediate resolution. This change would keep the focus on the coming-of-age journey rather than a neat, fairy-tale ending, which aligns better with modern TV storytelling.

6. Laurel and Steven’s Expanded Role

The TV series has significantly expanded the storylines of Laurel and Steven, giving them richer, independent arcs. In the book, their presence is often secondary to the love triangle. Season 3 will likely continue to explore Laurel’s own romantic life and her relationship with Belly as a mother, as well as Steven’s college experience and his relationship with Taylor. These secondary plots will provide necessary emotional depth and break up the intensity of the central romance.

7. The Cousins Beach House Resolution

The Cousins Beach house is a character in itself, representing the core of Belly's summers. The book’s resolution regarding the house is tied up with Susannah’s will and the boys’ inheritance. The TV show might introduce a more emotional or symbolic resolution, perhaps having the family collectively decide its fate, or having Belly take on a role in preserving it, rather than a purely legal one. This would reinforce the theme that "we’ll always have summer" is about the memories and the people, not just the physical location.

Topical Authority: Why the Ending Matters So Much

The debate between 'Team Conrad' and 'Team Jeremiah' is one of the most enduring in contemporary young adult fiction, making the resolution of We’ll Always Have Summer a high-stakes cultural event. The tension stems from the two brothers representing different types of love: Jeremiah is the safe, fun, and emotionally present choice, while Conrad is the brooding, challenging, but ultimately soulmate-level connection.

By announcing that the TV series will incorporate new elements and potentially change the epilogue, Jenny Han is acknowledging the need to adapt a 15-year-old story for a new generation of viewers. The final season has a delicate balance to strike: honoring the book's definitive 'endgame' while making the journey to that conclusion feel earned and less reliant on the dramatic, sometimes toxic, plot twists of the original text. The July 2025 premiere date marks the beginning of the end for this beloved series, and fans are eagerly awaiting whether the final chapter will be a faithful adaptation or a bold new vision.