Summer I Turned Pretty Finale: Who Did Belly Choose Before the Cut Scene?
The Summer I Turned Pretty concluded with Belly finally making her decision — but the series finale missed a pivotal book scene, leading to some controversy.
In the last episode, which aired on Wednesday, September 17, Conrad’s (Christopher Briney) visit to Belly (Lola Tung) in Paris leads to them spending a day together. As they reconnect, viewers see flashbacks of their past moments throughout the series. Eventually, Conrad and Belly share an intimate encounter on her birthday, but things take a turn.
Belly begins to question whether she and Conrad were truly meant for each other or if he loved her merely because of his mother’s wishes. Just as it seemed they were on the verge of parting ways, Conrad sets off for the train out of Paris — but Belly realizes she can’t bear to lose him and rushes after him.
This moment culminates in a heartfelt love confession and a flash-forward to Belly and Conrad returning to Cousins Beach together — now as a couple. The only difference? The Summer I Turned Pretty concluded with that final glimpse of Belly and Conrad at the house, diverging from how Jenny Han’s book finishes.
In fact, according to the final book of Han’s trilogy, We’ll Always Have Summer, the epilogue is set in the future on Belly’s actual wedding day. She would begin reading a letter left for her by Susannah, the mother of the Fisher brothers (Rachel Blanchard), and it would be revealed that she was marrying Conrad. The newlyweds would then take a detour to Cousins beach before their reception, providing a poignant backdrop for their final moment as they dip in the ocean.
“This is our start. This is the moment it becomes real. We are married. We are infinite,” are the concluding lines from Han’s novel. “Me and Conrad. The first boy I ever slow danced with, ever cried over. Ever loved.”
However, the Prime Video series didn’t incorporate any of this into the finale, reflecting one of many adjustments made throughout season 3 as Han reimagined her own story.
Keep scrolling for a detailed recap of the entire finale — including where each character ended up and how it differed from the book:
Belly
After a surprise reunion with Conrad, Belly spent the day with him leading up to her birthday. They explored Paris together before she invited him to a gathering with her friends. The two shared a romantic moment back at her apartment, but Belly later found herself questioning Conrad’s true feelings. However, she quickly pushed aside her doubts, and they closed out the season together.
In a flash-forward, Belly returns to Cousins with Conrad.
Conrad
A surprise trip to Paris introduced Conrad to a new version of Belly. As the two rekindled their connection, both seemed eager to revive their romance. Yet, despite their intimate encounter that same night, Belly remained uncertain that Conrad genuinely loved her or if he was influenced by childhood pressures. Heartbroken, Conrad left her apartment, but the separation proved short-lived as Belly caught up with him and they resolved their issues.
Jeremiah
Back in Cousins, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) was seen gearing up for the next chapter of his life. He thrived as an emerging chef, still living with Denise (Isabella Briggs). The two shared a kiss before the finale concluded, but their future remained uncertain since Denise planned to move to California for work. Jeremiah also made strides to mend his relationship with his father after returning to the beach house and confronting his past, enabling him to progress in the present.
Steven
Throughout most of the finale, Steven (Sean Kaufman) focused on plotting his next steps after relocating to San Francisco for work. He expressed to Taylor (Rain Spencer) his desire for her to accompany him, though he didn’t want to overwhelm her. In the end, both Steven and Taylor chose to make the move together, solidifying their commitment to each other.
Taylor
Initially concerned when Steven didn’t disclose his plans to leave Boston, Taylor eventually had a candid conversation with him. This discussion allowed them to clarify their seriousness about one another.
