It’s the show that features a love triangle between a teen girl and two brothers, a Taylor Swift–fuelled soundtrack, and an alarming amount of hydrangeas… Of course, we’re talking about The Summer I Turned Pretty.
The series adaptation of the Jenny Han book of the same name first launched in June 2022 and quickly became a worldwide hit.
Now, The Summer I Turned Pretty is currently releasing its third and final season, with episodes dropping weekly – and fans are desperate to know whether Belly will end up with Jerimiah or Conrad…
Ahead of the final episode – set to air on September 17, 2025 – WHO sat down with the show’s stars Lola Tung and Rain Spencer and author/showrunner Jenny Han to see if they’d spill any tea.
Read the full interview below…
WHO: Lola, when you first read the books, were you Team Conrad or Team Jerimiah, and has your stance changed now that you’ve filmed all three seasons?
Lola: When I was first cast, I hadn’t read all the books; because I got cast and then I read all the books, so technically, I was nothing yet [laughs].
But, I mean, I don’t know. I think I’ve been pretty consistently team Belly; pretty vocal about it.
Jenny’s looking at me [laughs]. No, but it’s true.
Jenny: Speak your truth.
Lola: I’m very much Team Belly. That is the truth.
WHO: Rain, Taylor is obviously Team Jerimiah; are you?
Rain: I mean, I don’t know; this season she says that she’s Team Belly. What episode is that? Three?
Jenny: Who are you Rain?
Rain: Oh me? I am also Team Belly. I think every time I’ve been asked, I’ve said Team Belly.
Jenny: Is that true?
Rain: I think so.
Lola: That’s my girl.
Rain: Oh, is it true for me? Yes, it’s true for me. I will admit when I watch the show, just as a fan, I do definitely feel all the things. And I’m like, ‘Him.’ But ultimately I am Team Belly.
WHO: Jenny, you’ve previously confirmed that the ending will be different from the books; do you think both Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah fans will be satisfied with the ending?
Jenny: Yeah, I hope so. That’s what I would like. But you know, you can’t please everybody. But yeah, I would hope that they would feel like it was a satisfying story as a whole.
WHO: Lola, you’ve played Belly for three seasons now; what’s something about her that you understand more deeply now than you did when you first started?
Lola: I mean, I’ve always admired her boldness and I guess, sort of determination. I’ve always admired that about her.
And I think as she’s grown up; when she’s younger, and it’s the first season, you get to see her a little more in her physicality and, you know, at the bonfire when she shows up–
Jenny: She can’t help herself [from getting involved].
Lola: Exactly, which I’ve always kind of admired, because I think, sure, it’ll get her into trouble sometimes, but I’ve always had more trouble with [not getting involved], so I think it’s cool to see her do that.
I also think she’s honing that ability as she gets older; it’s less of her being confrontational and more of her saying things that need to be said. And also like fighting for the people that
you love.
Yeah, so I think overall with – sorry, I’m just ranting. Last thing I’ll say is, overall, with everything, it’s just been really cool to see how she’s grown up – and I’ve grown up with her – and see how those qualities have [evolved] and how she’s matured.
WHO: Rain, Taylor and Stephen’s relationship has been tumultuous to say the least – are you rooting for them? Or are you Team Taylor?
Rain: I’m rooting for them [laughs]. Like, of course, I am Team Taylor. But I think it’s both; I am team Taylor and I’m rooting for them.
WHO: Are you guys rooting for them as well?
Jenny: Me? Always! I think that they’re really fun together.
WHO: Taylor Swift’s songs often score Belly’s most pivotal moments; like You’re Losing Me during the cheating reveal. Jenny, do you write scenes with specific tracks in mind?
Jenny: For that scene, I knew I wanted that song for that moment. And I wanted to punctuate it and have it edited specifically that way; so sometimes it’s that.
And sometimes it’s like a happy surprise when the right song hits. Like in season two, looking for the right song for that flashback at the boardwalk, and we used Sweet Nothings.
But that one took a minute to figure that out. And then it was perfect, because it has that sort of toy sound in the beginning of the song that feels really nostalgic and whimsical and like childhood. So it led us into it really nicely.
WHO: Now, we have a theory in the office that there’s going to be a prequel series about the parents; care to confirm or deny our theory?
Jenny: I can deny [laughs].
Lola: I’ve been begging!
Jenny: Not at the moment, not at the moment. No. People have been asking for that; even with the books they were asking for that.
Rain: Yeah, because it’s sweet.
Jenny: Yeah, it’s sweet. It’s just tricky, because I think with any flashbacks, it’s hard, because people get used to seeing the actors playing those characters. And it’s difficult because we love Jackie and Rachel so much as those characters.
Finding that perfect synergy, again, with a younger cast would be a challenge.
But not undoable. I’m just saying it’s not currently [in the works].
WHO: If you could use only one word to describe your experience making the final season, what would that word be?
Jenny: Satisfying.
Lola: Party [laughs]. No, um – oh it’s two words.
WHO: That’s okay!
Lola: I was gonna say full circle.
Rain: Full circle!
WHO: And finally, what’s your favourite episode of this season?
Jenny: Oh, man, I love the finale. So much. And I love my episode that I directed.
Rain: I was gonna say your episode. And the ending. And [episode] ten.
Jenny: Yeah, I love ten.
Rain: I love ten.
Jenny: I love nine too.
Rain: I don’t think I’ve seen nine. I think I’ve seen random ones. I’ve seen ten, but not– anyway, I love ten.
Stream The Summer I Turned Pretty on Prime Video from $6.58/mth, with a 30-day free trial.
