“The Summer I Turned Pretty” is a show that has been popular since 2022, when its first season made its debut on Prime Video. Season 3, which has been long anticipated by many fans across the globe, came out July 16th, 2025 and fans have had mixed reactions. The show, which revolves around a love triangle between a teenage girl named Belly and two brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, has been long popular, due to its Taylor Swift centered soundtrack, summer aesthetic, and appeal to teenagers. Based on the hit novel trilogy by Jenny Han, viewers had high hopes and expectations.
Season 3, the final season of the show, released episodes once a week every Wednesday and has gained a substantial amount of attention online. Viewers of all age groups are invested, from middle school children, to teenagers, to parents. The show has been strongly advertised through its social media, behind the scenes content, and cast interviews.
However, the big question remains: did Season 3 actually live up to expectations, or did it fall flat? While some fans were excited to see how the story ended, others feel that the pacing has dragged on too long and the love triangle has become messy and repetitive, with unnecessary storylines, a broad time jump, and irrelevant characters being introduced. Fans have also started to complain about how the show took a rustic shift in its setting, no longer delivering its signature summer aesthetic and nostalgic atmosphere, and starting to feel like watching a different show altogether.
On the positive side, the show continues to embrace its popular soundtrack, featuring artists such as Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, SZA, and Justin Timberlake. The show also continues to tackle themes that young audiences can resonate with, such as nostalgia, loss of a loved one, the dynamics of friendships, and the bittersweet experience of growing up. Even though some critics argue that the character development this season is weaker, and some plots feel unnecessary or rushed.
To conclude, Season 3 is both a hit and flop. While it ties together the end of the story in an exciting way, and continues to closely follow the storyline of the books and its beloved characters, it struggles to capture the spark which made the first season so addictive. The teenage-summer aesthetic no longer fits in, and the time jumps have made the plot inconsistent and irrelevant. For fans of the books, and the main character’s story, it is a satisfying conclusion. But for casual viewers, it may not entice them or feel worth the weekly wait. Overall, I would rate Season 3 as a 3 out of 5, because it wraps up the story with a satisfying ending, but lacks the energy, gratification, and entertainment of the initial seasons.
