The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2: The Ultimate Recap, Finale Breakdown, And Why Fans Are Divided

The highly anticipated second season of The Summer I Turned Pretty arrived in mid-2023, delivering a dramatic and emotionally charged story that pushed Belly Conklin and the Fisher brothers into new territory. Unlike the sun-drenched, carefree vibes of the first season, this installment, which premiered on Prime Video on July 14, 2023, and concluded on August 18, 2023, was marked by profound grief, the collapse of relationships, and a desperate fight to save the one place that held all their memories: the Cousins Beach house. The shift in tone, adapting Jenny Han's second novel It's Not Summer Without You, led to a fierce debate among fans, solidifying the series' status as a must-watch teen drama.

The core of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 centered on the aftermath of Susannah Fisher’s tragic death, which shattered the annual summer tradition and created a chasm between Belly and the Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. This season meticulously explored the different ways grief manifests, intertwining the loss of a loved one with the end of Belly’s first true relationship. The emotional intensity was palpable, leading to a polarizing finale that left 'Team Conrad' and 'Team Jeremiah' more divided than ever, all while setting the stage for an explosive third and final season.

The Core Cast and Characters of Season 2: A Biographical Look

Season 2 saw the return of the beloved main cast, with the addition of two key players who complicate the Fisher family's legacy. Here is a detailed look at the main actors and the characters they brought to life in the second installment:

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• Lola Tung as Belly Conklin (Isabel Conklin): The protagonist whose 16th year was supposed to be her best summer but turned into a year of loss. She navigates her grief, the complicated breakup with Conrad, and the resurfacing of her feelings for Jeremiah.
• Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher: The eldest Fisher brother, emotionally guarded and battling his own grief over his mother’s illness and subsequent passing. His tendency to push people away, including Belly, forms the central conflict of the season. He attends Brown University.
• Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah Fisher: The younger, more outwardly emotional Fisher brother. He steps up to fight for the beach house and re-enters the love triangle, offering Belly a seemingly safer, more stable connection.
• Sean Kaufman as Steven Conklin: Belly's older brother, who also grapples with Susannah’s death and the changing family dynamic. His focus shifts to his future and his rekindled relationship with Taylor.
• Jackie Chung as Laurel Park: Belly and Steven’s mother and Susannah’s best friend. Her storyline focuses on her own struggle with grief and her inability to write her second novel, a powerful exploration of adult loss.
• Rachel Blanchard as Susannah Fisher: Though she passes away before the main events of the season, she appears in numerous flashbacks that detail her final months and Belly's relationship with Conrad (known as the "Jellyfish" or "Bonrad" moments).
• Elsie Fisher as Skye (Isabelle): A new character introduced in Season 2, Skye is Susannah's cousin and the child of Susannah's half-sister, Julia. They are non-binary and become an unexpected ally to the Conklins and Fishers.
• Kyra Sedgwick as Julia: Susannah’s estranged half-sister. She is introduced as the co-owner of the Cousins Beach house and intends to sell it, becoming the season's primary antagonist and the catalyst for the main plot.

The Heartbreak and High Stakes: Season 2 Plot Summary

The second season is a direct adaptation of Jenny Han’s second novel, It’s Not Summer Without You, but with several key changes that kept book readers on their toes. The narrative is split between the present day and flashbacks, showing how Belly and Conrad’s relationship began and dramatically imploded after the debutante ball.

The Aftermath of Loss and the Breakup

The season opens in the fall and winter following the first summer. Susannah has succumbed to her cancer, and her death has had a devastating effect on everyone. Belly and Conrad, who finally got together at the end of Season 1, break up at the junior prom, a moment of profound emotional turmoil. This breakup is a major point of contention and sadness for Belly, who feels abandoned by Conrad's emotional distance and inability to communicate his grief.

The traditional summer at Cousins Beach is canceled, replaced by a pall of sadness. Belly has stopped talking to both Conrad and Jeremiah.

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The Fight for Cousins Beach

The main plot kicks off when Jeremiah calls Belly to tell her Conrad has gone missing from Brown University. This leads Belly, Jeremiah, and Steven on a road trip to find him. They discover Conrad at the Cousins Beach house, but the reunion is short-lived. They learn that Susannah's half-sister, Julia, has inherited half of the house and plans to sell it immediately.

The rest of the season is a race against time. The core group—Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Steven, and new character Skye—must find a way to stop the sale. This involves trying to convince Julia to change her mind and, failing that, trying to raise the money to buy the house themselves. This high-stakes plot forces the characters to spend time together, reigniting old feelings and creating new tension in the love triangle.

The Love Triangle's Defining Choice

Throughout the season, the central conflict remains Belly’s heart. She is torn between the intense, passionate, and often painful connection she shares with Conrad, and the easy, fun, and reliable bond she has with Jeremiah. Key moments that fuel the 'Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah' debate include a tender moment between Belly and Conrad while stuck in a motel, and the emotional confrontation at the beach house where Belly finally admits her feelings.

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In the finale, after the house is saved (thanks to an agreement between Laurel and Julia), Belly is left alone with the brothers. When Conrad decides to return to Brown University to retake his finals, he inadvertently leaves Belly and Jeremiah together. A pivotal scene occurs when Jeremiah tells Belly that he wants to be with her, not just as a rebound, but for real. Belly makes her final choice of the season, kissing Jeremiah and officially starting a relationship with him. The season ends with Belly choosing 'Team Jeremiah,' leaving Conrad heartbroken but seemingly accepting the decision.

Fan Reactions and Topical Authority: Why Season 2 Was So Divisive

The reception to the second season was overwhelmingly positive in terms of viewership, with the show quickly becoming one of Prime Video's most-watched series. However, the critical and fan reception was more complex, largely due to the narrative's necessary pivot to darker themes and the outcome of the love triangle.

The Shift in Tone and The Grief Narrative

Many viewers felt the season was a stark departure from the lighthearted, idyllic first season. The constant presence of grief—Susannah's death, Laurel's depression, and Belly's broken heart—created a more somber atmosphere. Critics noted that while the show handled the grief with maturity, it sometimes overshadowed the "pretty" summer elements that initially drew fans in.

The Final Love Triangle Decision

The most heated debate among the fanbase revolved around Belly's choice. Fans who align with 'Team Conrad' (or 'Bonrad') felt that the season deliberately undermined Conrad's character arc, focusing on his flaws while highlighting Jeremiah's availability. 'Team Jeremiah' (or 'Jelly') fans, however, celebrated the choice, arguing that Jeremiah's consistent support and emotional transparency made him the better partner for Belly at this stage of her life. The finale left the fandom in "chaos," with social media platforms buzzing with analysis and debate over the show's direction.

Key Entities and Themes That Define Season 2

To truly understand the depth of the second season, it's essential to recognize the recurring symbols and themes that provide topical authority to the narrative:

• The Infinity Necklace: A symbol of Belly and Conrad's relationship, given to her by Conrad. Its presence and eventual absence track the rise and fall of their romance.
• The Cousins Beach House: More than just a location, it’s a character in itself, representing childhood, family, and the memory of Susannah. The fight to save it is the season's physical manifestation of the characters' internal struggles.
• Taylor Swift's Music: The soundtrack is a crucial element, with multiple Taylor Swift songs (including those from her *Speak Now* and *Lover* albums) perfectly underscoring the emotional beats of Belly's tumultuous relationships.
• Brown University: Conrad's college becomes a symbol of his future and the distance—both physical and emotional—he puts between himself and Cousins Beach.
• Skye and Julia's Introduction: Their arrival forces the Fisher brothers to confront a previously unknown part of their mother's life and legacy, adding a layer of complexity to the family drama.

What's Next: Looking Ahead to The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3

The good news for divided fans is that the story is far from over. Amazon officially renewed The Summer I Turned Pretty for a third season, which will adapt the final book in the trilogy, We'll Always Have Summer.

The finale of Season 2 has set up a massive conflict for the next installment. Belly is now officially with Jeremiah, but the lingering feelings and the history she shares with Conrad are too significant to ignore. Season 3 is expected to deliver the final, definitive answer to the love triangle, bringing the saga to a close. Fans can anticipate another summer of intense drama, tough choices, and the inevitable return to Cousins Beach, where the Conklin and Fisher families will face their futures.