Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty brings significant departures from Jenny Han’s original novel We’ll Always Have Summer. While the core love triangle between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah remains central, the show reimagines several major events and character arcs to create fresh emotional impact and suspense.
Key changes include a deeper exploration of Belly’s personal growth, adding scenes that weren’t in the book—like Belly’s college journey and more intense confrontations. Conrad’s internal struggles are given more screen time, making him a more layered character. Jeremiah’s portrayal is also notably different, with more vulnerability and screen presence than in the novel.
One major shift is the expansion of secondary characters’ roles, allowing subplots to grow beyond their book counterparts. New dialogue, modern context, and updated pacing offer a more dynamic screen experience while still honoring the essence of the story.
These creative choices reflect the show’s desire to keep longtime fans engaged while appealing to a broader audience, even if it means diverging from the original timeline and outcomes.
The Summer I Turned Pretty, book adaptation changes, Season 3 TV series
