It’s both, like a good cry in the shower. Belly gets her dream guy, but she also loses her innocence and some friendships along the way. The final scene is hopeful—Conrad and Belly dance under the stars, and you can almost smell the saltwater and sunscreen. It’s the kind of ending that makes you want to text your ex, then think better of it, and instead just eat a popsicle.
If you’ve ever had a summer that changed you, you know the feeling. Some summers stay with you like sand in your shoes, no matter how many times you shake them out. This show gets that.
And really, isn’t that the best we can ask for? A story that makes us laugh, cry, and then order a beach towel online at 2 AM? The ending of The Summer I Turned Pretty is a lot like that towel—fuzzy, a little overpriced, but absolutely worth every moment.
Now go enjoy your own summer, or at least rewatch the show with a bowl of popcorn. You’ve earned it.
