The Summer I Turned Pretty – Last Stand

Before we get this review started, I’d like to note that I have not read the books (currently reading the series now, though) and my thoughts are based on the show alone. Now, let’s get into the latest episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty. 

After last week’s episode, I fully expected Belly to gain some form of common sense, but that’s not happening is it? She and Jeremiah, after not getting the support they expected from their family, (I mean really, why did they think they would?) get jobs to save up for their upcoming nuptials. Belly picked up a waitressing gig at Behrs and Jeremiah’s dad got him an internship at his company. I thought it was very nice of him to do that since he’s always talked down on Jeremiah, especially when Conrad is involved. To see him at least give Jeremiah a chance was sweet. They’re very determined to make this wedding happen: Belly is even working a shift on her 21st birthday. 

Belly knew birthdays would look different now that Susannah was gone, but surely she wasn’t expecting this. Laurel and John still try to make Belly’s birthday special by making her a special birthday breakfast. Not only that, they give her a bottle of red wine from the year she was born. When they all sit together to enjoy breakfast, Belly brings up the idea of going wedding dress shopping with her mom and she doesn’t get the answer she was hoping for. Laurel is still not on board with the idea of Belly and Jeremiah getting married and it was silly of Belly to think that dress shopping would make her change her mind. 

“Last Supper”- THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, Pictured: Lola Tung as Belly Conklin and Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher. Photo: Erika Doss/Prime © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

She cuts breakfast short when she doesn’t get her way – which if we’re being real here is extremely childish of her. Belly I get it, you want your mother to be happy for you when you tell her you’re getting married, but if she isn’t, maybe sit to think for a bit. Is this really a good idea? 

Another one who just isn’t capable of reading the room, Jeremiah thinks right before a meeting while bringing his father a latte would be the perfect time to talk about the wedding. Specifically whether or not he will be bringing a plus one. Not the time or place for this conversation, Jere. 

When Belly goes wedding dress shopping with Taylor and her mother, Lucinda, it should’ve been the wake up moment. She even said it herself “girls are supposed to go wedding dress shopping with their mothers…that’s the way it’s supposed to be” and yet she insists on going through with this without her mother’s blessing. Afterward, she calls Jeremiah and is devastated that her mother was not there for her when she found her dress. This would’ve been the perfect opportunity for Jeremiah to hear how broken she is and to maybe be the one to say “hey, let’s wait” but he doesn’t. 

“Last Stand”- THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, Pictured: Lola Tung as Belly Conklin and Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah Fisher. Photo: Erika Doss/Prime © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Instead, the day ends with Jeremiah driving to Belly’s place with a cake for her and flowers for Laurel, hoping that he could talk with her. He’s thinking that this talk and I guess the gesture of the flowers would make Laurel change her mind about supporting his and Belly’s wedding. This is the part where Belly started to lose me even more because she’s trying to make it seem like Laurel doesn’t want her to be with Jeremiah. That isn’t the case here; she simply wants Belly to give it more time. She doesn’t understand the rush to get married, which is a fair assessment of the situation. She even says wait until after she’s finished with school and if this was something the two of them still wanted then they can. They still push back. Again, what is this rush? Belly then decides to run away to Cousins with Jeremiah when she doesn’t get her way. This is starting to become a trend for her, huh?

Belly and Jeremiah make it to Cousins, but little did they know, they wouldn’t be alone. Conrad, after that mess of a lunch for Susannah’s memorial, decided to stay behind a bit longer rather than going back to California. There’s something I noticed in this episode and I’m not sure how true this is with what we’ve been seeing but, whenever Belly sees Conrad it’s like her entire world stops. It’s as if nothing else matters and no one else exists except for the two of them. Then when she snaps out of it, she holds on to Jeremiah a little more as if to say “see? I’m happy with my choice – don’t you see?”. There was also this moment where, and please tell me if it’s a reach for saying this, Belly was answering for Jeremiah in a way to make it seem like he’s also successful and it’s not just Conrad. Then she does this thing where she’s mocking Conrad in a way that Jeremiah does. 

“Last Season”- THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, Pictured: Rain Spencer as Taylor Jewel. Photo: Erika Doss/Prime © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

When she said “it’s obviously some big dramatic Conrad secret why he’s still here” I rolled my eyes so hard. Belly why is it a big deal that you’re left alone with Conrad in the house? Why the need to follow Jeremiah to Boston or think about going back home, or staying with your father? Why are all these options coming up when you find out Conrad is around? Then the way she was acting when Jeremiah told her that Conrad said the fact that they were getting married so quickly is ridiculous. Belly thought it’d be fun to mock Conrad again, while she was watching a movie with Jeremiah. That was not like her, and when Conrad overheard them, I felt bad for him. He didn’t deserve that. He instantly booked a return flight home, and I’m happy he did. 

It’s like Jeremiah’s childish behavior is rubbing off on Belly. Do y’all get that vibe? Also, why is it that the minute she says she doesn’t want to leave him for Paris after they’re married, he does nothing to stop her? He simply asks “are you sure?” and then says “good, because I didn’t want you to go either” Seriously? What’s baffling is that the minute he leaves, that mask comes off. She’s no longer pretending to be okay because she’s clearly not. She wants her mother there and it’s killing her that she isn’t, but she obviously doesn’t want to let Jeremiah down. She lays in her bed and cries herself to sleep. 

“Last Season”- THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY, Pictured: Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher. Photo: Erika Doss/Prime © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Conrad is on his way out when he hears Belly crying. What does he do? What he always does of course, put himself last and do whatever it takes to make Belly happy. That’s all he wants, and it doesn’t matter if he’s hurt in the process. This is one of the things I can’t stand with Conrad – he never speaks up. He just takes whatever, and it’s never about what he wants. He just wants to see everyone else happy and that’s just not fair. When Belly finally wakes up, she sees missed calls and messages from Jeremiah. Conrad decided to be his best man and cancelled his flight to stay at the beach house. Now Belly is being nicer to him, but this could also be because Jeremiah isn’t around. He also baked her favorite muffins and wished her a happy belated birthday. Belly thanks him with a hug and the episode ends with Conrad’s inner voice saying “What have I done?” 

I’m feeling so many feelings after watching this episode, and I could talk about it forever, but I’d like to hear from you. What’d you think of the new episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Share your thoughts below, or connect with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs.