The final chapter beckons: What to expect from The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3

Fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty are preparing to say goodbye. After two emotionally charged seasons, the beloved coming-of-age series will return for its third and final chapter on July 16, 2025. Based on Jenny Han’s bestselling novel trilogy, the Prime Video adaptation has captured hearts with its tender storytelling, complex relationships, and nostalgic summer vibes. Season 3 promises to deliver an unforgettable conclusion—and here’s everything you need to know.

A Journey Years in the Making

Originally published in 2009, Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty was greenlit for a screen adaptation in 2021. The television series follows Isabel "Belly" Conklin as she navigates summers at Cousins Beach, entangled in a love triangle with brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. The show's first season debuted in 2022, with the second following in 2023. But due to delays from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the third installment was pushed to summer 2025.

The upcoming season will consist of 11 episodes—making it the longest yet. Filming updates throughout 2024, including TikToks from Han and the cast, confirmed a North Carolina beach backdrop and a return to the series' signature warmth.

The Story Continues: What Season 3 Will Cover

Season 3 draws from the final book in the trilogy, We’ll Always Have Summer, which features a time jump. Belly and Jeremiah are now in college and still in a relationship. But this season won’t just be about young love; it will explore maturity, change, and life-defining decisions.

“This season is really sweet,” Jenny Han told Entertainment Weekly. “Lola [Tung] and Gavin [Casalegno] have such good chemistry… It’ll be joyful for people to witness.” But don’t expect smooth sailing. Conrad, the brooding older brother played by Christopher Briney, reenters Belly’s life just as she’s envisioning a future with Jeremiah.

As the teaser trailer reveals, Belly’s final summer in Cousins becomes a crossroads. “She finds herself at a turning point,” the teaser’s synopsis reads. “Now on the brink of adulthood, Belly must decide which brother truly has her heart.”

Familiar Faces, Fresh Perspectives

The core cast returns for the final stretch. Lola Tung reprises her role as Belly, flanked by Briney (Conrad) and Casalegno (Jeremiah). Sean Kaufman is back as Belly’s brother Steven, along with Jackie Chung as their mother, Laurel. Rachel Blanchard may appear again as Susannah Fisher in flashbacks, while Rain Spencer, David Iacono, and Tom Everett Scott are also expected to return.

Season 3 will reveal how time has changed these characters. “Conrad’s been away… and now he’s back in the mix,” Han explained. “It’s about rediscovering who they are.”

A subtle easter egg in Season 2 hinted at a key plot twist: a misdirected letter that may shift the dynamics of the entire love triangle. Though the series will stay true to its roots, Han promises a few surprises. “There are things they think they know,” she teased, “and then there’s going to be things that surprise them.”

A Bittersweet Farewell—and a Possible Future

Although Season 3 marks the end of The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, it might not be the last we see of this universe. Jenny Han recently signed a broader deal with Amazon Studios, opening the door for potential spin-offs or adaptations of her other novels.

Reflecting on the series, Han shared: “My priority has always been that I want fans of the book to feel satisfied… but also for them to know this is an adaptation in a new medium.” That flexibility has allowed the show to evolve, while still staying emotionally grounded.

First Look and Teaser Trailer

Early stills from Season 3 show Belly and Jeremiah’s collegiate romance blossoming, Conrad studying to become a doctor at Stanford, and the group reunited at the beach. A touching flashback scene hints at deeper emotional stakes.

The newly released teaser, set to Taylor Swift’s “Daylight” and transitioning into “Red (Taylor’s Version),” captures the emotional turbulence Belly faces when Conrad reappears—candy cane in mouth, heart in hand.

The End of Summer—But Not the End of the Story

As July 16 approaches, fans are bracing for a summer of emotional highs, romantic twists, and heartfelt goodbyes. Whether you're Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, this final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty promises a poignant conclusion to Belly’s journey—and maybe, just maybe, the beginning of something new in Jenny Han’s storytelling world.

Will you be tuning in for one last summer at Cousins Beach?